Characteristics of krypton and xenon extraction in small air separation unit

Krypton and xenon are high boiling point components in air, with a low content in air and always mixed with gas oxygen or liquid oxygen in the small air separation units，large air separation units and liquid air separation plants tower. The extraction of krypton and xenon has the following main characteristics.

1. because of the low content of krypton and xenon, their extraction has to be concentrated and purified several times, and the final yield is also low.
2. krypton and xenon have high boiling points and are always mixed with oxygen, so their extraction is primarily a process of separating oxygen from krypton and xenon.
3. with the concentration of krypton and xenon, hydrocarbons are also concentrated, increasing the risk of explosion, so while krypton and xenon are concentrated, the hydrocarbons have to be continuously removed by means of catalysis.

Dear Air Separation signed a contract for the supply of KDONAr-8000/2000/240 air separation equipment for a polyol plant with an annual production capacity of 180,000 tonnes and a polypropylene plant with an annual production capacity of 200,000 tonnes. The large air separation unit adopts ambient temperature molecular sieve pre-purification, air-boosted turbine expander to provide the required cooling capacity, double tower full low-pressure distillation, liquid oxygen self-pressurisation, liquid storage system, the control of the whole large air separation unit is completed by the DCS system, the process and technology follow the most advanced and common domestic and international practices. The plant was successfully commissioned at the trial stage, with all indicators meeting production standards, opening up new markets for Dear in clean energy technology.