Liquid air is air that has been liquified by compression and cooled to very low temperatures. It must be kept in a Dewar flask, as at room temperature, liquid air can absorb heat rapidly and revert to its gaseous state. It is often used for freezing other substances, and as a source of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and other inert gases.

Properties

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Liquid has a density of approximately 870 kg/m³, though the density may vary depending on the elemental composition of the air. Since gaseous air has 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, the density of liquid air at standard composition is calculated by the decimal percentage of the components by their respective liquid densities. See liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen.

Melting Point: -216.2°C Boiling Point: -194.35°C

Creation of Liquid Air

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The most common process for distillation of liquid air is the two column Linde cycle using the Joule-Thomson effect. Air is fed at high pressure >60 psig (520 kPa) into the lower column, in which it is separated into pure nitrogen and oxygen-rich liquid. The rich liquid and some of the nitrogen are fed as reflux into the upper column, which operates at low pressure <10 psig (170 kPa), where the final separation into pure nitrogen and oxygen occurs. A raw argon product can be removed from the middle of the upper column for further purification.

References

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http://www.wessingtoncryogenics.co.uk/Liquid%20Air%20Data%20Sheet.pdf

Atmosphere | Coolants