Talk:Cryogenic gas plant

Most common element in the world[edit]

It is stated that "Oxygen is the most common element in the world". Really? Somehow I thought it was hydrogen... 129.16.180.119 (talk) 20:06, 8 February 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I know its years later but it probably meant the earths crust Cleave and Smite, Delete and Tear! (talk) 18:49, 1 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Suggest merge[edit]

Cryogenic nitrogen plant is the same article with the name of the product element changed. Suggest a merge as one plant produces both products. --Wtshymanski (talk) 02:53, 25 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]

It has to be said: that before I read the articles, I would have agreed with you. But reading the articles suggests that this is not the case - and they certainly are not the same article with different names. The article on the nitrogen plant suggests that it produces 'pure' nitrogen but only an 'oxygen rich' liquid which is used in regenerating parts of the plant.

The oxygen process article has a noticeably different process, and claims it produces 'pure' oxygen, but no attempt is made to separate the nitrogen from argon and that mixture is vented to atmosphere.

I had always believed that nitrogen, oxygen and argon (not mention a few other noble gases) were all produced by the same fractional distillation process (and I recall this is what I was taught in industrial chemistry at uni). This would benefit from someone more knowledgeable taking a look and checking if the two products really do come from different plants or if they come from the same plant. DieSwartzPunkt (talk) 12:42, 25 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Historically, they have been made in the same plant. But these plants were only able to achieve moderate purities. The oxygen was suitable for welding but little else. The nitrogen was also only of 'industrial' purity. For high purity products, dedicated plants are required and it is these that are described in the two articles.

Some of the older plants are still in use for producing welding quality oxygen, but there is virtually no market for the relatively impure nitrogen which is generally returned to the atmosphere from these plants. Since the modern plants are not the same, the articles are not suitable for merging. –LiveRail < Talk > 17:17, 27 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]

A citation would be useful. --Wtshymanski (talk) 20:57, 27 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, as a literal expert on both plants, the VAST majority of cryogenic plants produce both LOX, LIN, (a few but not all also produce Argon and the VERY large one produce exotic gasses like Xenon, Krypton, Helium (This is the same if its Linde, Messer, Air Liquid (as the industry is small thanks to mergers). They all produce ultra high purity gasses (thats why you have to go cryo for pure gas, vs membranes for things like portable air seperators). LiveRail is 100% wrong and I can bring citations from Messer or Linde or even Air Liquid if he wants to try this Cleave and Smite, Delete and Tear! (talk) 17:56, 1 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]