NEWTEK : Research On High-Efficiency Argon Extraction System Modification And High-Purity Gas System Optimization Scheme

 

With the in-depth advancement of the "dual carbon" goals, the transformation of traditional industries towards green and efficient development has become an inevitable trend. As a basic supporting industry, the gas industry faces dual demands for efficient resource utilization and product quality upgrading. Relevant policies issued by the National Energy Administration clearly propose promoting the coordinated development of the new energy industry and traditional industries, with the demand for specialty gases such as high-purity argon continuing to surge in high-end manufacturing fields like photovoltaic and semiconductor.

At the same time, existing industrial gas systems generally have pain points: most air separation units supporting coal chemical projects in northwest China fail to realize argon recovery, with crude argon directly discharged; some high-purity gas production equipment suffers from low efficiency and poor continuity; liquid gas storage is prone to instability due to temperature influences. Newtek , deeply engaged in the field of gas separation and equipment renovation, has developed targeted integrated optimization solutions based on market needs and technical accumulation, helping enterprises solve problems such as resource waste, low efficiency, and unstable storage.

 

 

 

Core Optimization Ideas

 

Foundation of Argon Extraction Renovation

Referring to the current status of air separation units in coal chemical enterprises in Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, and other regions, most configured argon enrichment towers can only produce crude argon with an argon content of approximately 96%, with oxygen and nitrogen as the main impurities, failing to meet the requirements of GB/T 4842-2017. The core of optimization lies in achieving deep removal of oxygen and nitrogen components from crude argon through tower upgrading and process reconstruction, thereby improving liquid argon production capacity and purity.
 

Multi-Technology Synergistic Empowerment

Integrate the advantages of three key patented technologies: adopt a single-valve dual-detector gas chromatography valve system to achieve accurate multi-component detection with one injection; apply a dual-adsorption section purification device to ensure continuous production of high-purity gas; equip an intelligent temperature-controlled liquid storage system to improve the stability of liquid gas storage through real-time temperature control and pressure monitoring, forming a closed-loop optimization of "recovery-purification-detection-storage" full process.

Taking two sets of 55,000 m³/h air separation units of a chemical enterprise as a case study, their crude argon emission reaches 900 m³/h, the supporting existing storage equipment lacks intelligent temperature control functions, and the efficiency of high-purity gas detection is low. Based on this, the scheme design is carried out.

 

Integrated Optimization Solutions

Basic Upgrade Type

 

●Core Configuration

Argon extraction renovation: Add a Crude Argon Tower I, use the original argon enrichment tower as Crude Argon Tower II, equip with a Pure Argon Tower to remove nitrogen components, retain the original storage tank, and add a basic temperature control module.

Auxiliary system: Equip a single-valve dual-detector gas chromatography valve system with two quantitative loops and two chromatographic columns to realize real-time detection of argon purity; adopt a conventional purification device to meet basic purity requirements.

●Key Review Items

Adaptability of the diameter, packing quantity, and reflux ratio of the original argon enrichment tower.

Installation space for the new tower cold box and bearing capacity of the pile foundation.

Compatibility of the control system with the interfaces of detection instruments.

●Expected Effects

Liquid argon production capacity of approximately 350 m³/h, O₂ content ≤ 1×10⁻⁶, N₂ content ≤ 2×10⁻⁶; high-purity gas meets purity standards, and liquid storage temperature fluctuation is controlled within ±2℃; single detection time is shortened by 30%, and instrument purchase cost is saved by 40%.

 

High-Efficiency Synergy Type

●Core Configuration

Argon extraction renovation: Use the original argon enrichment tower as Crude Argon Tower I, remove the old condenser, add a Crude Argon Tower II and a large-volume condenser to improve the efficiency of oxygen component removal.

Auxiliary system: Integrate a dual-adsorption section high-purity gas purification device to achieve continuous purification through alternate operation of adsorbents; equip an intelligent temperature-controlled storage system with a cooler, real-time monitoring, and automatic control modules; continue to use the single-valve dual-detector detection system.

●Key Review Items

Adaptability of the new condenser to the original pipeline and renovation workload.

Linkage between the adsorbent switching logic of the purification device and the control system.

Installation space and energy consumption matching of the cooling mechanism of the storage tank.

●Expected Effects

Liquid argon production capacity of approximately 750 m³/h, purity meeting high-purity argon standards; continuous operation of high-purity gas production without interruption, purification efficiency increased by 50%; liquid gas storage stability improved, loss rate reduced to below 3%; shorter investment payback period and significant comprehensive benefits.

 

Comprehensive Upgrade Type

 

●Core Configuration

Argon extraction renovation: Replace the original argon enrichment tower with a new integrated Crude Argon Tower to maximize argon extraction capacity, equipped with a high-efficiency Pure Argon Tower system.

Auxiliary system: Adopt an upgraded high-purity gas purification device to optimize adsorption and desorption efficiency; equip a large intelligent storage tank with multi-parameter real-time monitoring, automatic alarm, and remote control functions; upgrade the gas chromatography detection system to improve data accuracy and response speed.

●Key Review Items

Coordination between the foundation construction of the new crude argon tower cold box and the existing equipment layout.

Matching between the peak energy consumption of the entire system and the enterprise's power supply and energy supply.

Compatibility of the intelligent control system with the enterprise's existing production management platform.

●Expected Effects

Liquid argon production capacity of 900 m³/h, purity indicators exceeding national standards; high-purity gas production efficiency increased by 60%, product purity stable; liquid storage realizes full-process intelligent management and control, with significantly improved safety and practicality; strong technical leadership, adapting to the long-term needs of high-end manufacturing.

 

Scheme Comparison and Optimization

Based on the Total Cost of Ownership evaluation system, combined with benchmark conditions such as 8,330 operating hours per year and a tax-included market price of liquid argon of 1,016 yuan/ton, a comprehensive comparison of the three schemes is conducted.
 

Scheme	Core Advantages	Initial Investment	Operating Cost	Investment Payback Period	Application Scenarios
Scheme 1	Lowest investment, low renovation difficulty	Benchmark	Benchmark	Approximately 12 years	Small and medium-sized enterprises with limited budget and basic needs
Scheme 2	Balanced production capacity and benefits, lowest total cost	Approximately 7% higher	Approximately 118% lower	Approximately 5.2 years	Enterprises pursuing cost-effectiveness and requiring continuous and stable production
Scheme 3	Highest production capacity, most advanced technology	Approximately 26% higher	Approximately 169% lower	Approximately 4.9 years	Enterprises supporting high-end manufacturing and oriented towards long-term development

Comprehensive analysis shows that Scheme 2, focusing on "equipment reuse + key upgrades", balances production capacity improvement, cost control, and technical stability, realizing efficient synergy of argon extraction recovery, high-purity production, and intelligent storage. Its initial investment increase is controllable, operating costs are significantly reduced, the investment payback period is short, and the total equipment cost is the lowest, making it an economically optimal solution suitable for the needs of most industrial enterprises.

 

Conclusion

The optimization and upgrading of industrial gas systems should be based on the actual needs of enterprises to achieve full-chain synergy of resource recovery, product purification, detection and monitoring, and safe storage. The integrated solution proposed by Newtek integrates the core technologies of argon extraction renovation and the advantages of patented equipment, effectively solving the pain points of traditional systems such as resource waste, low efficiency, and unstable storage.

After the renovation of the two sets of air separation units of the case enterprise with Scheme 2, the expected investment payback period is about 5 years, and the internal rate of return reaches 20%. It can not only meet the demand for high-purity argon in photovoltaic, semiconductor and other industries in the region, but also reduce energy consumption and resource waste, achieving a win-win situation of economic and social benefits. In the future, Newtek will continue to iterate technical solutions, provide customized services for different industry scenarios, and help the green and efficient development of the industrial gas field.