Air separation unit by cryogenic distillation

Air separation unit by cryogenic distillation, the air separation unit comprising:

• a first column;
• a second column thermally linked to the first column;
• a first argon column;
• a second argon column having a condenser disposed on top of the second argon column and is configured to condense a gas enriched in argon from an upper portion of the second argon column;
• a first conduit configured to send cooled, compressed and purified air to at least the first column;
• sending second conduit configured to send at least one fluid enriched in nitrogen from the first column to the second column;
• a third conduit configured to send at least one fluid enriched in oxygen from the first column to the second column;
• a fourth conduit configured to send a gas enriched in argon from the second column to a lower portion of the first argon column;
• a fifth conduit configured to send a gas from an upper portion of the first argon column to a lower portion of the second argon column;
• removing sixth conduit configured to remove an argon rich fluid from the upper portion of the second argon column;
• a pump;
• and
• a seventh conduit configured to remove argon enriched liquid from the lower portion of the second argon column and send the argon enriched liquid to the upper portion of the first argon column via the pump,
• wherein the lower portion of the first argon column is raised above the ground by a first supporting structure, the pump being positioned within the first supporting structure, such that the pump is at least partially underneath the lower portion of the first argon column,
• wherein the second argon column is positioned between the first argon column and the first and/or second column,
• wherein the pump is contained within a first insulated enclosure and the first argon column is contained within a second insulated enclosure,
• wherein the first insulated enclosure is contained at least partially or entirely within the first suppporting structure,
• wherein the first insulated structure is contained partially within the first supporting structure and partially within a second supporting structure.