ICPR2006 Technical Chairs

In a process for the production of oxygen by two-stage low-temperature rectification of air wherein the air is cooled in a primary heat exchanger, and the product oxygen is withdrawn from the low-pressure stage and warmed by heat exchange in a heat exchanger separate from the primary heat exchanger with a gaseous stream fed to the high-pressure stage, a gaseous stream fed to the high-pressure stage, a gaseous stream being withdrawn as the compensating stream from the high-pressure stage, warmed at least partially in the primary heat exchanger countercurrently to the entering air, and expanded in at least one turbine, the improvement which comprises recooling the compensating stream prior to entering the turbines, by heat exchange with the product oxygen in said heat exchanger separate from the primary heat exchanger.