AIR SEPARATION
Reliable solutions for air separation
The specific demands of oxygen separation require robust, highquality valves and components.
By Joshua Ruiz, Valmet Flow Control
The demand for oxygen in manufacturing continues to grow each year. Oxygen applications range from medical use to metal fabrication and beyond, underscoring the extreme importance of air separation technologies. Separating oxygen from the air is not an easy task and often requires valves that meet specific standards to support the process. Proper valve selection alone can have a substantial impact on how a unit operates. Although oxygen in the air we breathe is safe, once separated into pure oxygen, it presents new potential hazards. Along with varying temperatures and differing elements flowing through the valves, it is crucial to ensure the right products are initially installed.
Multi-step process
The process for separating oxygen consists of several steps, which are all equally important. The process begins with the dryer or Molsieve units, where excess water or impurities is removed from the feed air. The air then travels to a cooler, which lowers the temperature of the feed. In the next step, it moves into a distillation column, where the elements are separated, before eventually being moved to storage or distribution for use.
Extreme cold
Long-term exposure to cold temperatures as low as-184 ° C(-300 ° F) requires that the valve assemblies’ internal components be compatible with the process. This means that all soft goods and metallic parts of construction must be rated to the lowest temperature range. Because oxygen can play a key role in combustion, certain material standards must also be met to maintain safety as a top priority. Valmet’ s cryogenic valves use specific materials that have been tested by either BAM or WHA, recognised global organisations that set material policies and requirements for materials used in oxygen services to ensure compliance with our customers’ process needs. As a valve supplier to ASUs( air separation units) for many decades, we have and continue to offer solutions on a global scale. With thousands of installations in place, we guide customers on the appropriate construction models and required materials to meet their process needs.
38 Valve World February 2026 www. valve-world. net