Fluid recovery process and apparatus

A separation system comprising:

• a compression system;
• a first heat exchanger;
• a first column and a second column, the first column being a high pressure (HP) column operating at a pressure that is higher than the second column, the second column being a low pressure (LP) column operating at a pressure that is lower than the first column;
• a first reboiler-condenser;
• and
• a second reboiler-condenser;
• the compression system, the first heat exchanger, and the HP column positioned and arranged so that a feed gas is compressible via the compression system before the compressed feed gas is fed to the first heat exchanger and at least a first portion of the compressed feed gas is feedable to the HP column after passing through the first heat exchanger;
• the HP column positioned and configured to produce a first HP nitrogen-enriched vapor stream and a first HP oxygen-enriched stream;
• the first reboiler-condenser positioned to receive at least a portion of the first HP nitrogen-enriched vapor to form an HP condensate so that a first portion of the HP condensate is recyclable to the HP column;
• the LP column positioned and configured to output a first nitrogen-enriched stream, a first LP oxygen-rich liquid steam, and a first argon-enriched vapor stream, the first LP oxygen-rich liquid stream having an oxygen content of at least 98 mol % oxygen;
• an argon column positioned and configured to receive the first argon-enriched vapor stream output from the LP column to form a first argon-rich vapor stream that is feedable to the second reboiler-condenser and an argon-depleted liquid stream that is feedable to the LP column;
• the second reboiler-condenser positioned and configured to at least partially condense the first argon-rich vapor stream;
• and
• separation the system configured such that the first nitrogen-enriched waste stream output from the LP column is mixable with the first LP oxygen-rich stream output from the LP column for forming a mixed nitrogen-oxygen fluid stream to feed to the second reboiler-condenser to provide at least a portion of a refrigeration duty of the second reboiler-condenser for the at least partially condensing of the first argon-rich vapor stream.