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Comparison of several air separation methods: Deep cryogenic air separation, membrane separation air separation, pressure swing adsorption air separation. Separation principle: Air is liquefied, and separation is achieved based on the different boiling points of oxygen and nitrogen. Separation is achieved based on the differences in the solubility and diffusion properties of different gas molecules in the membrane. Pressure adsorption and pressure reduction desorption are used to achieve separation by taking advantage of the different adsorption capacities for oxygen and nitrogen. The device is characterized by a complex process flow, a large number of equipment units, and high investment costs. The process flow is simple, with few pieces of equipment and few automatic control valves, but the investment required is high. The process flow is simple, with few pieces of equipment; there are many automatic control doors, resulting in lower investment costs. Process characteristics – Operation at low temperatures of 160–190°C, as well as at normal temperature. Operational features include a long startup time, typically ranging from 15 to 40 hours; the system must operate continuously without interruption, and any short-term shutdown results in a long time required to restore normal operation. It has a short startup time, generally ≤20 minutes, and can operate continuously or intermittently. It has a short startup time, generally ≤30 minutes, and can operate continuously or intermittently. Maintenance characteristics: The equipment has a complex structure, requires high precision in processing, presents significant challenges in terms of maintenance techniques, and incurs high maintenance costs. The equipment has a simple structure, and the maintenance techniques required are not complex; however, the maintenance costs are high. The equipment has a simple structure, low technical complexity for maintenance, and low maintenance costs. The characteristics of civil engineering and installation include a large footprint, high requirements for factories and foundations, and high project costs. The installation period is long, the technical difficulty is high, and the installation costs are high. It requires little space, has no special requirements for the factory building, and has a low cost. The installation period is short, and the installation cost is low. It requires little space, has no special requirements for the factory building, and has a low cost. The installation period is short, and the installation cost is low. The energy cost for gas production is 0.5–1.0 KW·H/Nm3. Taking the energy consumption per unit of gas produced by RICH membrane nitrogen production equipment as an example, the electricity required to produce nitrogen with a purity of 98% is 0.29 KW·H/Nm3. Taking the energy consumption per unit of nitrogen produced by RICH normal-temperature pressure swing adsorption nitrogen generation equipment as an example: the electricity consumption to produce 98% pure nitrogen is 0.25 KW·H/Nm3. Safety: Operation in ultra-low temperature and high-pressure environments can lead to localized accumulation of hydrocarbons, posing a risk of explosion. Operation at relatively high pressures at room temperature does not cause localized accumulation of hydrocarbons. Operation under normal temperature and pressure prevents localized accumulation of hydrocarbons. The output and purity of adjustable gas products cannot be adjusted, resulting in poor flexibility; the output and purity of gas products can be adjusted, offering better flexibility. The output and purity of gas products can be adjusted, offering good flexibility. Economical gas products are available in a wide variety, with high purity, and are suitable for large-scale gas production and consumption applications. It requires low investment and low energy consumption, and is suitable for small to medium-scale applications where the nitrogen purity ranges from 79% to 99.99%. The energy consumption for nitrogen production via membrane separation is not significantly different from that of pressure swing adsorption when the nitrogen purity is below 99%; however, its economic efficiency is inferior to that of pressure swing adsorption when the nitrogen purity is above 99.5%. The membrane separation oxygen production process is not yet mature; the purity of the oxygen produced is generally between 21% and 45%, and it has hardly been put into industrial use. It requires low investment and low energy consumption, and is suitable for small to medium-scale applications with oxygen purity of 21%–95% and nitrogen purity of 79%–99.9995. The RICH brand of energy-saving pressure swing adsorption nitrogen generation systems offer excellent economic performance; in particular, those with a nitrogen purity of over 99.9% demonstrate the unparalleled advantages of the pressure swing adsorption air separation method. Note: Other gas supply methods represent extensions of the air separation industry mentioned above; the gas supply process involves additional intermediate steps that increase the cost of gas use, and their operability is poor. Among these, transport-based and cylinder-based gas supply methods pose significant safety risks.