What are the functions of oxygen from air separation unit
Apr 06, 2021
Author:
DEAR AST
Oxygen production by air separation unit plays an important role in metallurgy machinery, chemical energy, national defense industry and other fields.
- The iron and steel industry: (1) in converter steelmaking, the function of oxygen is to use high-purity oxygen to oxidize carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon and other impurities in iron. The heat generated by oxidation is enough to maintain the temperature required in the steelmaking process, shorten the smelting time and improve the quality of steel. (2) When making steel in electric furnace, oxygen blowing can accelerate the melting of furnace charge and oxidation of impurities, and save the consumption of electric energy. (3) The oxygen enriched blast furnace can increase the amount of pulverized coal injection, save coke and reduce fuel. (4) In the smelting of non-ferrous metals and heavy metals, the heat needs to be supplied by fuel combustion. In order to strengthen the smelting process, reduce energy consumption and reduce the amount of harmful flue gas, oxygen rich instead of air is used for smelting, and the production capacity of unitcan be improved.
- Chemical industry, synthetic ammonia production process, oxygen is used in high temperature cracking of heavy oil, gasification of pulverized coal, etc., in order to strengthen the process and improve the fertilizer production. In addition, in the natural gas reforming production of methanol, ethylene, propylene oxide, desulfurization and recovery, also need to consume a lot of oxygen.
- In energy industry, oxygen is needed to keep the temperature of oxidation layer in the furnace when coal is pressurized.
- In the mechanical industry, oxygen can be used as combustion aids for acetylene, which can produce high temperature flame for metal cutting and welding, and melt the metal.
- In the national defense industry, liquid oxygen is mainly used, and the combustible material has strong explosive property after soaking liquid oxygen, which can be used as liquid oxygen explosive or as combustion booster of rocket.
- In medical terms, oxygen is also a first aid and auxiliary treatment substance for patients.
Therefore, air separation unit has a wide range of functions in many fields.
