An integrated apparatus for said compression, cooling, and purification of air comprising:
- a) an adiabatic compressor for compressing an air stream to produce a compressed air stream;
- b) at least one heat exchanger and conduits for sending said compressed air stream, a first pressurized stream at a first pressure, a second pressurized stream at a second pressure, to said at least one heat exchanger to produce a first warmed pressurized stream, a second warmed pressurized stream, and a cooled compressed air stream;
- c) a turbine and a conduit for sending said first warmed pressurized stream to said turbine;
- d) means for transferring at least part of said work produced by said turbine to said adiabatic compressor;
- e) a cooling unit by heat exchange with water;
- f) a conduit for sending said cooled compressed air stream thereto to produce a further cooled compressed air stream;
- g) a purifying unit using a TSA process and a conduit for sending thereto said further cooled compressed air stream;
- and
- h) a conduit for sending at least part of said warmed second pressurized stream to at least one of said cooling unit and said purifying unit.