Integrated Air Separation and Oxygen Fired Power Generation System

An integrated air separation and power generation system comprising:

• an air separation unit to receive compressed air and produce at least two product streams including a stream of primarily oxygen;
• an air compressor located upstream from the air separation unit to feed compressed air to the air separation unit;
• a plurality of turbines coupled to the air compressor to drive the air compressor when drive gas flows through the turbines;
• and
• at least one combustion unit to feed drive gas to at least one turbine;
• wherein a portion of the oxygen stream produced by the air separation unit is fed to the at least one combustion unit.

A method of providing power to an air separation unit via an integrated power generation system including a first turbine, a second turbine, an air compressor, and a combustion unit, wherein the first and second turbines are coupled to the air compressor, the method comprising:

• reacting oxygen with a hydrocarbon fuel in the combustion unit to produce a drive gas for the first turbine;
• driving the air compressor by feeding the drive gas from the combustion unit directly through the first turbine and subsequently through the second turbine;
• generating a compressed air stream by the air compressor as a result of the air compressor being driven by the first and second turbines;
• feeding the compressed air stream from the air compressor to the air separation unit;
• processing the compressed air stream in the air separator unit to yield at least two product streams including a stream of primarily oxygen;
• and
• feeding a portion of the oxygen stream produced by the air separator unit to the combustion unit.