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 In large industrial air separation plants
atmospheric air is filtered, compressed, and cooled. The contaminants (primarily moisture,
carbon dioxide and heavy hydrocarbons) are removed and are either frozen out in a
reversing heat exchanger or absorbed by a molecular sieve. The air is then separated in a
four column system.The columns are trayed distillation columns with vapor rising through
holes in the trays as liquid travels across them, and then down to the next tray. As the
vapor rises, it contains a higher percentage nitrogen, which is the lower boiling point
constituent. As the liquid descends the column, it becomes richer in the higher boiling
point constituents of air, oxygen and argon. The first column produces nearly pure
(99.9999%) nitrogen vapor, and oxygen rich (40%) liquid. The second column produces nearly
pure oxygen liquid at the bottom, and nearly pure nitrogen vapor at the top. A side stream
which is rich in argon is removed from the second column. The sidestream is removed at
a point where the vapor rising through the trays is about seven to fifteen percent argon,
with the balance being oxygen.
This stream is then distilled in a third column which produces a product stream which
is about 98% argon and 2% oxygen. The remaining oxygen is removed in a catalytic oxidizer;
then any trace amounts of nitrogen are removed in a fourth distillation column.
In plants which are designed to produce large amounts of cryogenic liquids, a
freestanding nitrogen liquefier is usually used to liquefy the nitrogen vapor produced off
of the distillation columns. This liquefier consists of a large compressor and a pair of
matched expansion turbines which drive booster compressors. Nitrogen is circulated and
compressed by the compressor, and then by the booster compressors. The heat of compression
is removed in heat exchangers by cooling water. The high pressure nitrogen is then
expanded through the turbines which remove energy from the high pressure stream by driving
the booster compressors. This lowers the nitrogen to its liquefaction temperature.
The plant is designed to be operated by a single operator from the main control room
which overlooks the facility. A distributed control system collects process data
throughout the plant and sends the information via coaxial cable to the control room.
There, the information is displayed on an operator interface consisting of two CRTs and
keyboards where the operator and a supervisory control monitor control and optimize the
process.
Local customers including hospitals, chemical, and food companies are served by liquid
tank trucks.
Matheson Tri-Gas Air Separation Plant Locations |
 Albuquerque, New Mexico
8200 Washington NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
Phone: (505) 823-2606
Fax: (505) 857-9172 |
 DeLisle, Mississippi
7635 Kiln-Delisle Rd
Pass Christian, MS 39571
Phone: (228) 255-6661
Fax: (228) 255-6686 |
 Irving,
Texas
5240 Valley View Lane
Irving, TX 75038
Phone: (972) 252-8488
Fax: (972) 252-6549
|
Irwindale,
California
16125 Ornelas St
Irwindale, CA 91706
Phone: (626) 334-2905
Fax: (626) 334-0293 |
 Odessa, Texas
2121 E. I-20 Service Rd.
Odessa, TX 79766
Phone: (915) 335-0205
Fax: (915) 335-9001 |
San Antonio, Texas
7999 MG Road
San Antonio, TX 78251
Phone: (210) 522-1333
Fax: (210) 647-3813 |
 Stafford, Texas
10430 Mula Rd.
Stafford, TX 77477
Phone: (281) 495-0773
Fax: (281) 530-8907 |
Vacaville, California
871 Eubanks Dr
Vacaville, CA 95688
Phone: (707) 447-5753
Fax: (707) 447-2072 |
Waxahachie, Texas
3680 North I-35 East
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Phone: (972) 923-9953
Fax: (972) 923-9979 |
Westlake, Louisiana
2745 Houston River Rd
Westlake, LA 70669
Phone: (337) 439-6544
Fax: (337) 439-6586 |
 West Palm Beach, Florida
18000 Beeline Hwy
Jupiter, FL 33478
Phone: (561) 775-0080
Fax: (561) 776-9376 |
