Process and apparatus for the start-up of an installation for the production of inert gases

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE START-UP OF AN INERT GAS PRODUCING DEVICE IN WHICH A FUEL IS COMPLETELY BURNED WITH AIR AND WHEREIN, DURING REGULAR OPERATION WHICH FOLLOWS AN INITIAL START-UP PERIOD, THE SUPPLY OF AIR OR FUEL TO SAID GAS PRODUCING DEVICE IS CONTROLLED IN RESPONSE TO THE INERT GAS COMPOSITION MEASURED BY A GAS ANALYZER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CONTROLLING THE AIR OR FUEL SUPPLY TO SAID INERT GAS PRODUCING DEVICE DURING SAID INITIAL START-UP PERIOD ACCORDING TO A SET POINT, AUTOMATICALLY AND SEPARATELY CALIBRATING SAID ANALYZER DURING SAID START-UP PERIOD, SAID STEP OF AUTOMATICALLY CALIBRATING SAID ANALYZER DURING SAID START-UP CALIBRATING THE MAXIMUM ING AIR THROUGH SAID ANALYZED FOR CALIBRATING THE MAXIMUM OXYGEN CONTENT AND PASSING AN OXYGEN-FREE INERT GAS THROUGH SAID ANALYZER FOR CALIBRATING THE MINIMUM OXYGEN CONTENT, AND THEN CONTROLLING SAID AIR OR FUEL SUPPLY BY SAID ANALYZER, WHICH HAS JUST THEN CALIBRATED, AFTER COMPLETION OF SAID START-UP PERIOD TO PROVIDE FOR CONTROL OF SAID AIR OR FUEL SUPPLY BY SAID CALIBRATED ANALYZER DURING SAID REGULAR OPERATION IN PLACE OR SAID SET POINT CONTROL.