The working principle of the pre cooling system of air separation equipment is mainly based on heat exchange and refrigeration cycle. It includes the following key steps:
Air compression: Firstly, air is compressed to a higher pressure level by a compressor in order to enter the pre cooling system for cooling. This step not only increases the density of the air, but also helps to remove some moisture and impurities.
Heat exchange: Compressed air enters the heat exchanger of the pre cooling system. Here, air exchanges heat with low-temperature media (such as liquid nitrogen, cooling water, etc.) to lower the temperature of the air. During this process, components such as moisture and carbon dioxide in the air may begin to condense or solidify, laying the foundation for subsequent separation processes.
Refrigeration cycle: Some pre cooling systems also include a refrigeration cycle, which further reduces the temperature of the air by circulating refrigerant in the system. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the air in the evaporator and evaporates, then releases heat in the condenser and condenses back into a liquid state. This cycle is continuously repeated to achieve continuous cooling of the air.
Purification treatment: During the pre cooling process, the purification devices in the system (such as filters, adsorbers, etc.) will remove solid impurities, moisture, carbon dioxide and other components from the air, ensuring that the air entering the subsequent separation equipment is sufficiently pure.