A method of purifying air via a pre-purification unit (PPU) of an air separation unit (ASU) system having a pre-PPU chiller that is upstream of the PPU to cool compressed air before the compressed air is fed to the PPU can include passing air through an adsorber of the PPU to pass the air through a bed of adsorbent material within a vessel of the adsorber. In response to the pre-PPU chiller being determined to have an issue resulting in the pre-PPU chiller being tripped or requiring the pre-PPU chiller to be taken off-line, continuing to operate the ASU system at a full capacity even though nitrous oxide (N2O) within the air output from the PPU exceeds a first pre-selected threshold and is below a second pre-selected threshold associated with carbon dioxide (CO2) breakthrough. An ASU and a PPU can be designed to implement an embodiment of the method.

A process for the production of a liquid oxygen stream and a liquid hydrocarbon-rich stream by the cryogenic rectification of an inlet air stream, including dividing the inlet air stream into a first portion, and a second portion. Cooling the first portion, and the second portion against a cooled multicomponent refrigerant circuit, thereby producing a first cooled portion, and a second cooled portion. Condensing the first cooled portion, thereby producing a condensed first portion, then introducing the condensed first portion into one or more distillation columns. Expanding the second cooled portion in a turbo-expander, thereby producing an expanded second portion, then introducing the expanded second portion within the one or more distillation columns. Producing within the one or more distillation columns at least a waste nitrogen stream, a nitrogen enriched stream, and an oxygen enriched stream.

A process for the production of a liquid oxygen stream by the cryogenic rectification of an inlet air stream, including dividing the inlet air stream into a first portion, and a second portion. Cooling the first portion, and the second portion against a cooled multicomponent refrigerant circuit, thereby producing a first cooled portion, and a second cooled portion. Condensing the first cooled portion, thereby producing a condensed first portion, then introducing the condensed first portion into one or more distillation columns. Expanding the second cooled portion in a turbo-expander, thereby producing an expanded second portion, then introducing the expanded second portion within the one or more distillation columns. Producing within the one or more distillation columns at least a waste nitrogen stream, a nitrogen enriched stream, and an oxygen enriched stream. Withdrawing the oxygen enriched stream from the one or more distillation columns as a liquid oxygen stream.

A hybrid process of air separation and gas liquefaction, including dividing a compressed multicomponent refrigerant stream into a first portion and a second portion, introducing the first portion into a gas liquefaction system, thereby producing a first multicomponent refrigerant return stream, and introducing the second portion into an air separation system, thereby producing a second multicomponent refrigerant return stream. Wherein the first multicomponent refrigerant return stream and the second multicomponent refrigerant return are recompressed in a common compression system, thereby producing the compressed multicomponent refrigerant stream.

A nitrogen liquefier configured to be integrated with an argon and nitrogen producing cryogenic air separation unit and method of nitrogen liquefaction are provided. The integrated nitrogen liquefier and associated methods may be operated in at least three distinct modes including: (i) a nil liquid nitrogen mode; (ii) a low liquid nitrogen mode; and (iii) a high liquid nitrogen mode. The present systems and methods are further characterized in an oxygen enriched stream from the lower pressure column of the air separation unit is an oxygen enriched condensing medium used in the argon condenser.

A method is provided for determining a state of a distillation column having multiple column stages for separating a feed fluid stream into individual fluid components. The state is determined by means of a model in a manner dependent on pressure differences prevailing between adjacent column stages. In the model, both gaseous and liquid flows between adjacent column stages are brought about by the pressure differences prevailing between adjacent column stages. A substance quantity flow characterizing gaseous flow between two column stages is given by {dot over (N)}.sub.V.Math.R.sub.V=C.sub.V.Math.Δp.sub.V. A substance quantity flow characterizing liquid flow between two column stages is given by {dot over (N)}.sub.L.Math.R.sub.L=C.sub.L.Math.Δp.sub.L. Δp.sub.V,L is a total pressure difference between two adjacent column stages. R.sub.V,L is a coefficient of resistance between two adjacent column stages and C.sub.V,L is a conductance value of flow between two adjacent column stages.

A polymerizable LC material comprising one or more reactive mesogenic compounds, one or more chiral compounds and a block copolymer that comprises at least one polyfluorooxetane block bonded to a polyether block, said polyfluorooxetane block having a repeating unit of the formula ##STR00001## Further, a method for its preparation, a polymer film obtainable from a corresponding polymerizable LC material, a method of preparation of such polymer film, and the use of such polymer film and said polymerizable LC material in optical, electro-optical, decorative or security devices.

A device and a method for producing hydrogen and byproduct oxygen by using green electricity electrolyzed water are provided. The device comprises an oxygen purifying system, a heat exchange system, an air separation compression and expansion system, an air separation rectification system and a liquid oxygen storage system. The method comprises the following steps: first, purifying oxygen prepared by electrolyzing water by green electricity to remove impurities such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and water in the oxygen, then feeding the pure oxygen into the heat exchange system, performing heat exchange liquefaction to obtain liquid oxygen, coupling the liquid oxygen generated by rectification of the air separation rectification system, and obtaining pressurized oxygen through the heat exchange system and the air separation compression and expansion system.

An integrated industrial unit is provided, which can include: a nitrogen source comprising an air separation unit that is configured to provide pressurized gaseous nitrogen and liquid nitrogen; a hydrogen source; a hydrogen liquefaction unit, wherein the hydrogen liquefaction unit comprises a precooling system, and a liquefaction system; and a liquid hydrogen storage tank, wherein the precooling system is configured to receive the gaseous hydrogen from the hydrogen source and cool the gaseous hydrogen to a temperature between 70K and 100K, wherein the precooling system comprises a primary refrigeration system and a secondary refrigeration system, wherein the liquefaction system is in fluid communication with the precooling system and is configured to liquefy the gaseous hydrogen received from the precooling system to produce liquid hydrogen, wherein the liquid hydrogen storage tank is in fluid communication with the liquefaction system and is configured to store the liquid hydrogen received from the liquefaction system.

System for purifying argon by cryogenic distillation, comprising a single column surmounted by a top-end condenser, a fluid inlet in the lower part of the column, a fluid outlet in the upper part of the column, and N distillation sections where N≥4, of which at least the two uppermost sections of the column are equipped respectively with a first liquid distributor and with a second liquid distributor, the second distributor being capable of performing a function of mixing together liquids that fall onto the distributor, each of the first and second distributors being positioned above the respective section and of which the two lowermost sections of the column are respectively equipped with a (N−1)th and an Nth liquid distributor capable of performing a function of mixing together liquids that fall onto the distributor, and which is arranged above the respective section, the first, second, (N−1)th and Nth distributors each being dimensioned to contain a maximum height of liquid head, that (those) of the first and second distributors being greater than that (those) of the (N−1)th and Nth distributors.