Automatic load adjustment

A process for adjusting a change in load in an air separation unit and/or for adjusting operations during the startup of an air separation unit, said process comprising varying at least one set value of an adjustment value from a starting value to a final value, setting the target value of a correcting value based on said starting value and said final value of said adjustment value, running up the value of said correcting value from its starting value to said target value using a parameter-dependent transfer function, measuring a control variable, comparing the value of said control variable to a comparison value, and, if the value of the control variable deviates from the comparison value, correcting at least one parameter of the transfer function,

• wherein the adjustment values are selected from the amount of gaseous oxygen, liquid oxygen, gaseous nitrogen, liquid nitrogen, gaseous argon, liquid argon, or combinations thereof, and, wherein at least one of the values liquid level, pressure, temperature, flow or analysis is measured as a control variable, and
• wherein, before said adjustment value is varied from its starting set value to its final set value, the new final set value is examined to determine if it results in an unstable condition and, if it does result in an unstable condition, a new corrected final set value is determined.