A method and backup system for backing up a supply oxygen in an air separation plant in which during normal operation, a stream of oxygen-rich liquid is pumped through a main flow path, extending from a surge tank to a heat exchanger, to deliver an oxygen product. The surge tank receives the oxygen-rich liquid from a bottom region of the lower pressure column of the plant. Additionally, during normal operations, a stream of the oxygen-rich liquid is also introduced to a reserve storage tank through a backup flow path. During a transient operation, where the air separation plant has ceased operation, the surge tank is isolated and liquid is pumped from the surge tank through an auxiliary flow path to an auxiliary vaporizer to continue the supply of the oxygen product and the surge tank is replenished with oxygen-rich liquid previously stored in the reserve storage tank.

A gas purification device including two adsorbers, each having a lower portion and an upper portion, a gas compressor, a heater, a set of exchangers, a first assembly of pipework and valves, and a second assembly of pipework and valves, wherein the first assembly of pipework and valves is located on the floor or on a metal structure proximate to the lower portion, and the second assembly of pipework and valves is located high up along the same vertical axis as the first assembly of pipework and valves proximate to the upper portion.

An apparatus for distillation at cryogenic temperatures can include a cold box module comprising framing and having an upper module section and a lower module section, wherein the upper module comprises a roof; an upper column section disposed within the upper module section; a lower column section disposed within the lower module section; a plurality of support saddles attached to the upper and lower module sections that are configured to provide structural support for the upper and lower column sections when the upper and lower column sections are in a horizontal position during transportation; and means for limiting longitudinal movement of the lower column section when the lower module section is in a horizontal position during transport, wherein the means for limiting longitudinal movement are connected to the lower column section and the lower module section.

A method for constructing a cold box module and resulting apparatus is provided. The method can include providing a cold box module having framing and an upper and lower module sections, introducing an upper column section longitudinally into the upper module section while the upper module section is substantially horizontal; introducing a lower column section longitudinally into the lower module section while the lower module section is substantially horizontal; releasably attaching the lower column section to the lower module section using shipping saddle spacers and support saddles; and attaching a skirt attachment to the lower column section and the lower module section, wherein the skirt attachment is configured to limit longitudinal movement of the lower column section when the lower module section is in a horizontal position during transport. After erecting the cold box module at the installation site, the shipping saddle spacers can be removed and the upper column section is lowered using a jacking system located on the roof of the cold box module.

A method for installation of a cryogenic distillation apparatus is provided. The method can include the steps of: providing an upper module section having an upper column section disposed within and secured to the upper module section, wherein the upper module comprises a roof; providing a lower module section having a lower column section disposed within and secured to the lower module section; erecting the lower module section from a horizontal position to a vertical position at an installation site; lifting the upper module section from a horizontal position and attaching the upper module section, while in a vertical position, to a top portion of the lower module section; lowering the upper column section, independent of the upper module section, toward the lower column section; and welding the upper column section and the lower column section together.

The jacking system and method for using it to lower an upper column section without the use of a crane is provided. The jacking system is configured to be disposed on a roof of a cold box module and may include: a structural assembly; and a plurality of suspension rods supported at an upper end by the structural assembly, wherein the plurality of suspension rods is configured to provide support to the upper column section

An assembly table for use in a remote manufacturing yard is provided. The assembly table is configured to be collapsible thereby allowing for a reduced footprint during transportation. The assembly table can include a central support base; a plurality of arms attached to the central support base; a secondary support member attached to each arm configured to provide support for and give height to the assembly table when in use; and a centering guide attached to each arm, the centering guide configured to receive a bottom portion of a partial shell, the centering guide located at a predetermined location of its own arm.

A liquefactor for a gas includes a framework (O) containing at one end at least one plate-and-fin heat exchanger (E), each plate having a length and a width, and the plates being arranged with their length parallel to the length of the framework and at the other end a turbine (M) to provide cold to the at least one heat exchanger, the framework being orientated such that the turbine is positioned beneath the at least one exchanger.

A pre-fabricated or shop-built structural support assembly cold box structures containing distillation columns or other cold box equipment in an air separation unit is provided.

A method of transporting at least one panel intended to form part of a distillation apparatus in which a first, possibly partial, enclosure is built to contain an element of a distillation apparatus that is to operate at a temperature other than ambient temperature, at least one panel is attached to the first enclosure, the first enclosure attached to the at least one panel is transported to an erection site, the at least one panel is detached from the first enclosure and used to finish building the first or to build the second enclosure or to build a completely different element of the plant.