Optimizing The Operation Mode Of Air Separation Unit With HYSYS Simulation Model

Firstly,the application and development of industrial gases,and the basic composition of the whole low-pressure hydrogen-free argon air separation process were introduced.The external compression and the internal compression KDON-12000 processes were established using HYSYS process simulation software.In the HYSYS simulation process,the external compression KDON-12000 process focused on the simulation study of the effect of adjusting the bypass flow of expanded air on the liquid argon yield and argon extraction rate,while the internal compression process simulated the effect of adjusting the yield of liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen,and the extraction amount of argon fraction on the liquid argon yield and argon extraction rate.Through the simulation and comparison of various working conditions,the following results were obtained:1.In the external compression air separation process,the flux near the expanded air moderately increased the liquid argon yield and argon extraction rate,but the yield and purity of oxygen slightly decreased.2.In the internal compression air separation process,the yield of liquid argon and the extraction rate of argon were high when the yield of liquid oxygen was more than the normal.The yield of liquid argon and the extraction rate of argon were less,and the purity of oxygen decreased obviously when the yield of liquid nitrogen was more than the normal.3.When the extraction amount of argon fraction was increased,the yield and the extraction rate of liquid argon and the purity of liquid oxygen were all improved.If the extraction amount of argon fraction was not reasonable,the crude argon column could not work normally,and even affected the normal operation of the upper column of the air separation unit.Through the simulation and comparison,the optimization direction has been pointed out for the actual operation.The air separation operator should appropriately adjust the operating conditions of air separation device according to the demand of customers and the liquid market,so as to maximize the economic profit of the air separation device and realize the best operating conditions of the air separation device.