Air Separation

Construction considerations for air separation units (ASU) must balance a number of factors.

An air separation plant separates atmospheric air into its primary components, typically nitrogen and oxygen, and sometimes also argon and other rare inert gases.

Fortunately, SPG Construction team members have extensive experience building ASU’s for customers like Linde, Praxair, Air Liquide, Air Products, MG Industries, UGI, and others

Construction logistics and implementation timelines are key considerations, particularly in areas that are difficult to access.

Many ASU’s are shoe-horned into existing plant environments, and the movement of construction equipment such as large cranes must be planned and phased, and the ASU equipment itself must be carefully brought through the plant and set. Often this is through plant environments with 24/7 ongoing operations, no-spark requirements, low overhead power lines, pipe bridges, and more. ASU cold boxes may be 200’ high. Modular construction is also a key consideration.

Plant owners also often face a number of financial constraints. Rapid return on investment is essential in today’s increasingly competitive economic climate. Companies must look at both capital and operating expenditure (CAPEX and OPEX) over the entire plant lifetime to ensure a realistic assessment of total cost of ownership. Our experience has been that once the contract is signed, and a construction start date is agreed on – the owner is expecting a fast track project with a very important deadline and startup date.

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