An air separation unit (ASU) is a process unit designed to separate atmospheric air into its main components – mainly nitrogen, oxygen and argon – featuring a high degree of purity. ASUs play an important role in industries such as steel production, chemical processing, medical applications and energy.
The hydrogen production unit using the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) method is designed to make high-purity hydrogen from a mixed gas flow. It is particularly common at plants where hydrogen is generated as a primary product (such as steam methane reforming) or as a by-product that needs to be purified for reuse or sale.
A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen production unit is designed to output enriched oxygen extracted from feed gas (most often atmospheric air). This unit is particularly useful when high purity oxygen is required on a smaller scale or when cryogenic ASU technology is uneconomical.
Steam methane reforming is the most widely used industrial method for producing hydrogen, especially from natural gas (primarily methane). The process converts methane and steam into hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
A hydrogen recovery unit is used to capture and purify hydrogen from process flows or waste gases containing hydrogen along with inert gases and other impurities. This unit is critical to maximizing hydrogen utilization and improving overall process efficiency, especially at plants where hydrogen is both produced and consumed.