Optimization of Cryogenic Air Separation Distillation Columns

Cryogenic air separation distillation columns are widely used in industry, which consume a large energy and need to produce a huge amount of need of nitrogen, oxygen and argon products with high purity. Of pervious optimal researches on cryogenic distillation column, few considers argon column due to the complex degree of process. In this work, rigorous optimization model of cryogenic distillation system with argon column is presented and detail simulation is carried out. The simulation result shows that through optimization, oxygen extraction percentage increases considerably and argon extraction percentage is also greatly improved. It indicates that optimization of this work is promising and feasible in improving productivity and profit of cryogenic distillation system