Industry Characteristics
The
world industrial gases market has a turnover of approximately
35 billion Euro (year 2003).
Within Europe, the industry employs 55,000 people, has 4 million customers
and 4.5 million delivery points. The gas production is approximately
200,000 tons per day.
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products are manufactured by the industrial gases companies
in plants,
and then supplied to customers by one of three basic
methods of supply:
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The
method chosen depends on plant location and the quantities
of product required.
In addition to the above, industrial gas suppliers also sell or lease equipment
to their customers for gas applications, and build production plants for their
own use or for sale to others. They also offer support services, product and
process knowledge and safety guidance to the markets that they supply. |
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Air gases - principally oxygen,
nitrogen and argon, but also in some of the larger plants krypton, xenon
or neon - are generally produced to high purity specification in cryogenic
(low temperature) plants. The products can be in either gaseous or liquid
form. Adsorption technology, by pressure swing or membrane are other
technologies used to produce oxygen and nitrogen, generally at slightly
lower purities.
These plants are generally sited close to large customers. Nevertheless,
the network of transmission pipelines in Europe through which the product
is supplied stretches for 5,000 kilometres.
Other gases such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide are manufactured by steam
reforming of natural gas or from hydrocarbon feed-stocks, and purified
by cryogenic or adsorption technologies. Both are supplied in gaseous form;
hydrogen can also be liquefied in a separate cryogenic plant.
Carbon dioxide is manufactured by taking feedstock from the reforming process,
from other chemical or combustion processes or from natural wells removing
unwanted impurities, and then liquefying it in an industrial refrigeration
plant. It can be supplied in gaseous, liquid or solid ("dry ice")
forms.
Other industrial gaseses are produced in special installations, and are supplied
in pure form or as mixtures with other gases. |
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