Technical assistance: Which part of the air separation system uses circulating water?

It's very simple. The role of circulating water in process units is heat exchange. As the medium on the cold side of the heat exchanger. In air separation units, this is mainly because air separation requires compressors, and compressors need to be driven by steam turbines. The steam that has done work inside the turbine needs to be condensed into turbine condensate, which is then refined into demineralized water at the demineralization station, before being supplied to the boiler to generate steam. Circulating water enters the condenser and then returns to the circulating water system.

Compressors, whether oil-cooled or water-cooled, require circulating water for cooling; the same is true for refrigeration units. Circulating water is also used in towers where it comes into direct contact with gases. It’s not possible to explain the manufacturing process in just a short time; you need to go to the site to see it. The factory’s automatic control system is straightforward to understand, and someone who knows the process well can explain it to you. Only by visiting the site can you gain a proper understanding of it.

The compressor cooling section requires circulating water for cooling

Circulating water is used for cooling the coolers at various stages of air compressors, boosters, nitrogen compressors, expanders, and other similar equipment.

As a supplementary note, water coolers, oil coolers, and condensers all use cooling water

Air compressors need to be cooled with circulating water, while freeze-dryers require water cooling

Air compressors, oxygen compressors, expanders, water-cooled towers, and air-cooled towers.

Energy is consumed during air separation production, but compared to the raw material air, the total amount of energy used for products such as oxygen and nitrogen that we produce remains almost unchanged; in other words, the value of H changes little. We use our equipment as tools to consume energy (electricity) in order to obtain the products we want. But where does all the energy consumed go? I believe it is mainly taken away by the circulating water, which is then used for cooling. This conclusion can be derived from the law of conservation of energy. Circulating water is equivalent to the blood in the human body.

First, the compressor needs to compress the gas; during this compression process, a large amount of heat is generated. This heat must be dissipated, and oil is typically used for cooling. The heat is then removed by water flowing through the condenser, which cools the oil before it can be used to cool more gas. The hot water releases its heat into the air through a cooling tower or heat exchange equipment, after which the cooled water returns to the condenser, and this cycle repeats continuously； The other part is the refrigeration unit; the principle is the same. First, the refrigerant releases heat, and the oil carries away this heat, which then enters the condenser, where the oil is cooled down by water ； The compressed refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator, absorbing heat and further cooling the gas. Actually, it’s mainly the heat released during gas compression.

Cool and dehydrate the compressed hot air.

They are used in the air compressors of our factory; refrigerators come in air-cooled and water-cooled types, and they are also used in pressure boosters

Circulating water: 1. Three main units: air compressor cooler, booster pump cooler, turbine shaft seal extractor cooler, turbine waste steam water cooler, oil coolers for the three main units； 2. Pre-cooling system: Low-temperature water. 3. Expander: Oil cooler. 4. Nitrogen compressor: Inter-compressor cooler. 5. Air compressor station: Air compressor inter-compressor cooler. Desalinated water: 1. Molecular sieve system: Steam heater. 2. Turbine: Main extractor cooler, waste steam condensate. 3. Water-bath vaporizer. That’s all I can think of for now; I’m still a beginner and need experts to add more details! !

Supplement: Circulating water: Water flushing of air compressor impellers; Desalinated water: Water injection at the last stage of the turbine