Structual support assembly for cold box structures in an air separation unit

Abstract

A pre-fabricated or shop-built structural support assembly cold box structures containing distillation columns or other cold box equipment in an air separation unit is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pre-fabricated structural support assembly for an air separation unit, the pre-fabricated structural support comprising:
 a structural frame;   a plurality of platforms connected to the structural frame;   at least one ladder or stairway connected to the structural frame or one or more of the plurality of platforms; and   a plurality of piping or ducts connected to the structural frame or to the one or more of the plurality of platforms, the plurality of piping or ducts configured to be fluidically interconnected to one or more cold box structures of the air separation unit;   wherein the platforms are configured to support one or more persons and the at least one ladder or stairway is configured to connect the plurality of platforms and allow one or more persons to move between platforms;   wherein the pre-fabricated structural support assembly is configured to be transported to a location of the air separation unit and further configured to be affixed and fluidically interconnected to one or more cold box structures of the air separation unit.   
     
     
         2 . The pre-fabricated structural support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the structural support assembly is configured to be anchored to a concrete foundation at the location of the air separation unit. 
     
     
         3 . The pre-fabricated structural support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the structural frame further comprises one or more braces configured to provide partial support of the one or more cold box structures against seismic forces and wind forces acting on the one or more cold box structures. 
     
     
         4 . The pre-fabricated structural support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of platforms further comprise at least one extendable platform that is configured to be retracted during transportation to keep an in-transit height and/or an in-transit width below a prescribed dimension, and the at least one extendable platform further configured to be extended when affixed to the one or more cold box structures of the air separation unit. 
     
     
         5 . The pre-fabricated structural support assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: one or more insulated enclosures disposed on at least one of the plurality of platforms. 
     
     
         6 . The pre-fabricated structural support assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more insulated enclosures are configured to house cold-end equipment selected from the group consisting of heat exchangers, subcoolers, condensers, expansion joints, storage vessels, cryogenic valves, cryogenic pumps, and cryogenic piping or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The pre-fabricated structural support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein some or all of the plurality of piping or ducts are insulated with aerogel insulation. 
     
     
         8 . The pre-fabricated structural support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of piping or ducts is configured to be fluidically interconnected with at least two cold box structures of the air separation unit. 
     
     
         9 . The pre-fabricated structural support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of piping or ducts is configured to be fluidically interconnected between at least two locations on a single cold box structure of the air separation unit. 
     
     
         10 . The pre-fabricated structural support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-fabricated structural support assembly is configured to fit on a trailer and transported via truck to the location of the air separation unit. 
     
     
         11 . The pre-fabricated structural support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-fabricated structural support assembly is configured to fit on a rail car and transported via train to the location of the air separation unit. 
     
     
         12 . The pre-fabricated structural support assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more structural bases and configured to provide a base for the one or more cold box structures of the air separation unit wherein the one or more cold box structures of the air separation unit are disposed on the one or more structural bases such that the one or more cold box structures of the air separation unit are elevated off the ground.