Air Liquide starts up new US air separation unit
Air Liquide said on Monday that it started up a new air separation unit (ASU) at its facility in Geismar, La., seeking to increase its supply of nitrogen, oxygen and argon to customers in industries such as refining, natural gas and chemicals.
The new production unit has increased the site’s production capacity, enabling Air Liquide to expand its customer base while further supporting industrial growth and economic development in Louisiana, according to the company.
In December 2011, Air Liquide announced an agreement to supply Nucor Steel’s new direct reduced iron (DRI) facility in Convent.
Michael Graff, CEO of American Air Liquide Holdings, said: “Air Liquide is very pleased to announce the expansion of our business in Louisiana, a state that prides itself on having one of the best business climates in the nation.”
The new ASU will produce high-purity oxygen, nitrogen and argon for medical and industrial use.
These products are delivered to customers via ground transportation and through Air Liquide’s extensive Mississippi River Pipeline system.
Fourteen of the company’s air separation units are connected to the pipeline, supplying industrial gases to more than 30 customers along the Mississippi River.
The new ASU is one of three at Air Liquide’s facility in Geismar.
The first ASU became operational in October of 1999, and the second in February of 2000.
All three are currently operational.
The Geismar complex also includes a hydrogen purification unit (HPU), a gogeneration plant that supplies approximately 80% of the electricity used to power the facility, and a transportation depot - Air Liquide’s largest in the US in terms of output.
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