Simulation and Sensitivity Analysis of the Air Separation Unit for SNG Production Relative to Air Boosting Ratios

Cryogenic air separation unit produces various gases such as $N_2$, $O_2$, and Ar by liquefying air. The process also varies with diverse production conditions. The one for SNG production among them has lower efficiency compared to other air separation unit because it requires ultrapure $O_2$ with purity not lower than 99.5%. Among factors that reduce the efficiency of air separation unit, power consumption due to compress air and heat duty of double column were representatives. In this study, simulation of the air separation unit for SNG production was carry out by using ASEPN PLUS. In the results of the simulation, 18.21 kg/s of at least 99.5% pure $O_2$ was produced and 33.26 MW of power was consumed. To improve the energy efficiency of air separation unit for SNG production, the sensitivity analysis for power consumption, purities and flow rate of $N_2$, $O_2$ production in the air separation unit was performed by change of air boosting ratios. The simulated model has three types of air with different pressure levels and two air boosting ratio. The air boosting ratio means flow rate ratio of air by recompressing in the process. As increasing the first air boosting ratio, $N_2$ flow rate which has purity of 99.9 mol% over increase and $O_2$ flow rate and purity decrease. As increasing the second air boosting ratio, $N_2$ flow rate which has purity of 99.9 mol% over decreases and $O_2$ flow rate increases but the purity of $O_2$ decreases. In addition, power consumption of compressing to increase in the two cases but results of heat duty in double column were different. The heat duty in double column decreases as increasing the first air boosting ratio but increases as increasing the second air boosting ratio. According to the results of the sensitivity analysis, the optimum air boosting ratios were 0.48 and 0.50 respectively and after adjusting the air boosting ratios, power consumption decreased by approximately 7% from $0.51kWh/O_2kg$ to $0.47kWh/O_2kg$.

SNG 생산용 공기분리공정의 공기 재 압축비에 따른 민감도 분석

심랭식 공기분리공정은 공기를 액화시켜 질소와 산소, 아르곤 등 다양한 산업가스를 생산하며, 가스생산조건(순도, 종류)에 따라 공정 또한 달라진다. 그 중 SNG 플랜트 공급용 공기분리공정은 99.5% 이상의 초고순도 산소 생산을 요구하기 때문에 공정의 효율이 타 공기분리공정에 비해 떨어지며, 공정효율을 낮추는 요인에는 공기압축에 의한 소모동력이 대표적이다. 본 연구에서는 SNG 플랜트에 적용하는 공기분리공정의 에너지 효율 향상을 위하여 소모동력과 관련된 공기 압축 설비의 민감도 분석을 수행하였다. 민감도 분석을 위해 ASPEN PLUS를 이용해 공기분리공정을 모사하였다. 모사 결과, 99.5% 이상의 산소 18.21 kg/s를 생산하였으며, 33.26 MW의 동력이 소모되었다. 모사된 공정 중 공기압축설비는 주 압축기 1대와 2대의 재 압축기가 있으며, 2대의 재압축기에서의 공기압축비 변화에 따른 고압질소, 저압산소, 저압질소의 유량과 순도에 대한 영향과 공정 내 소모동력 변화에 대해 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 99.5% 산소, 99% 질소(고압), 90% 질소(저압)를 생산하기 위한 최적의 운전조건은 재압축비가 각각 0.48, 0.50가 되었으며, 재압축비 조정 후 $0.507kWh/O_2kg$에서 $0.473kWh/O_2kg$으로 소모동력도 약 7%가량 줄었음을 확인하였다.