The invention relates to: a method for monitoring a process engineering installation, in which a model of the process engineering installation is used to ascertain values of at least one performance parameter of the process engineering installation from actual values of at least one operating parameter of the process engineering installation that occur during operation of the process engineering installation, wherein the model is used to ascertain comparison values of the at least one performance parameter of the process engineering installation from setpoint values of the at least one operating parameter, and wherein mutually corresponding values and comparison values of the at least one performance parameter are taken as a basis for ascertaining at least one performance gap in the operation of the process engineering installation and to a process engineering installation.

A supply quantity adjustment device 500 comprises: a total demand quantity calculation unit 502 that calculates a total demand quantity used at a supply destination, based on plant information; an excess/deficit information setting unit 503 that compares the total demand quantity and a flow rate set value and sets a first calculated pressure value; a backup coefficient setting unit that sets a backup coefficient set value based on a reference gasholder pressure, the first calculated pressure value, a reference backup pressure set value, and a measured gasholder pressure value; and a production coefficient setting unit that compares a production pressure set value obtained by adding the reference gasholder pressure and a first pressure output value with the measured gasholder pressure value, and sets a production coefficient so as to modify a variation in the quantity of product gas produced by the air separation apparatus.

The invention relates to a system for controlling an argon flow rate of a fluid at the outlet of an assembly of at least one distillation column in order to reach a target dioxygen level (SP). The system comprises: a sensor arranged so as to measure a dioxygen level (PV) in a fluid containing argon at the outlet of the assembly of at least one distillation column; a regulator arranged so as to determine a required argon flow rate variation (Δ.sub.regul) according to the difference between the dioxygen level measured by the sensor and a target dioxygen level; a controller arranged so as to generate a control signal relating to a targeted argon flow rate, said targeted argon flow rate being determined according to the required argon flow variation determined by the regulator and variations in the dioxygen level measured by the sensor; and a valve, controlled by said controller, which is arranged so as to modify the argon flow rate of the fluid at the outlet of at least one distillation column in order to achieve the targeted argon flow rate.

In a method for regulating a device for separating air by cryogenic distillation, during the change from a low-flow mode to a high-flow mode, two flow rates of reflux sent to the low-pressure column of a double column are increased more rapidly than the flow rate of gaseous air sent to the medium-pressure column of the double column in order to ensure the stability of the oxygen content in the argon bulge of the low-pressure column during the mode change.

Provided is a packed column capable of achieving sufficiently high distillation performance even with the height of its gas-liquid contactors reduced. The packed column is a packed column which includes a gas-liquid contactor 17, 18 inside a tubular body 16 and a liquid distributor 19 in the upper most portion and causes descending liquid and ascending gas to contact each other in the gas-liquid contactor. The operation pressure is in the range of 200 to 1500 kPaG. The relative volatility is in the range of 1.9 to 3.1. The gas-liquid contactor is vertically divided into at least two parts. A gas disperser 20 is provided at at least one position between a lower one of the gas-liquid contactors and an upper one of the gas-liquid contactors, the gas disperser uniformly dispersing the composition of the ascending gas rising from the lower gas-liquid contactor toward the upper gas-liquid contactor.

A supply quantity adjustment device 500 comprises: a total demand quantity calculation unit 502 that calculates a total demand quantity used at a supply destination, based on plant information; an excess/deficit information setting unit 503 that compares the total demand quantity and a flow rate set value and sets a first calculated pressure value; a backup coefficient setting unit that sets a backup coefficient set value based on a reference gasholder pressure, the first calculated pressure value, a reference backup pressure set value, and a measured gasholder pressure value; and a production coefficient setting unit that compares a production pressure set value obtained by adding the reference gasholder pressure and a first pressure output value with the measured gasholder pressure value, and sets a production coefficient so as to modify a variation in the quantity of product gas produced by the air separation apparatus.

An air separation unit comprises: a first waste gas control valve which is provided in a first waste gas pipe; a first waste gas flow rate control unit which measures a gas flow rate in the first waste gas pipe and adjusts a degree of opening of the first waste gas control valve so that a measured value which has been measured reaches a preset first waste gas flow rate set value; a second waste gas control valve which is provided in a second waste gas pipe; a regeneration gas flow rate control unit which measures the gas flow rate in a regeneration gas pipe and outputs a first output value based on a measured value which has been measured and a preset regeneration gas flow rate set value; and a control unit which uses, as a target set value of the flow rate of a second waste gas, a value obtained by subtracting the first waste gas flow rate set value of the first flow rate measuring unit from the flow rate set value of the regeneration gas flow rate, compares the first output value with a second output value based on a value obtained by subtracting the measured value of the first flow rate control unit from the measured value of the regeneration gas flow rate control unit, controls the degree of opening of the second waste gas control valve on the basis of the lower of the values, and adjusts the second waste gas flow rate.

The invention relates to a system for controlling an argon flow rate of a fluid at the outlet of an assembly of at least one distillation column in order to reach a target dioxygen level (SP). The system comprises: a sensor arranged so as to measure a dioxygen level (PV) in a fluid containing argon at the outlet of the assembly of at least one distillation column; a regulator arranged so as to determine a required argon flow rate variation (?.sub.regul) according to the difference between the dioxygen level measured by the sensor and a target dioxygen level; a controller arranged so as to generate a control signal relating to a targeted argon flow rate, said targeted argon flow rate being determined according to the required argon flow variation determined by the regulator and variations in the dioxygen level measured by the sensor; and a valve, controlled by said controller, which is arranged so as to modify the argon flow rate of the fluid at the outlet of at least one distillation column in order to achieve the targeted argon flow rate.

A cryogenic liquid sampler is provided. The sampler includes an inner volume and a useful internal length, a cryogenic liquid inlet conduit in fluid connection with an inlet valve, a weir tube in fluid connection with the inlet valve, wherein the weir tube comprises at least one weir hole, wherein the weir tube extends a predetermined distance into the inner volume, a cryogenic liquid outlet conduit in fluid connection with inner volume and in fluid connection with an outlet valve, and a purge tube in fluid connection with the outlet valve.

A cryogenic liquid sampler is provided. The sampler includes an inner volume and a useful internal length, a cryogenic liquid inlet conduit in fluid connection with an inlet valve, a weir tube in fluid connection with the inlet valve, wherein the weir tube comprises at least one weir hole, wherein the weir tube extends a predetermined distance into the inner volume, a cryogenic liquid outlet conduit in fluid connection with inner volume and in fluid connection with an outlet valve, and a purge tube in fluid connection with the outlet valve.