Regarding the main cooling liquid level issue in air separation units
Thread Content
I would like to ask the experts: what effects can a consistently low liquid level in the main cooler of an air separation unit have on the system?
This will result in a decrease in the reflux liquid at the bottom, an increase in the nitrogen flow rate, and over time a reduction in the purity of the nitrogen!
Currently, submersion-type main coolers are still more common, and full submersion is required for operation. In the external compression process, care must be taken regarding safety when the level of the main cooling liquid is low; it’s also important to monitor the levels of acetylene and hydrocarbons. With the internal compression process, safety issues are not significant. However, in either case, if the level of the main cooling liquid is too low, it will result in insufficient heat exchange surfaces, which can disrupt distillation in both the upper and lower columns; in severe cases, this may lead to products that do not meet the required standards~~