The process begins with the intake of air from the atmosphere. Atmospheric air is compressed, purified, cooled, and separated. The air is cooled to about -300°F (-185°C) and then, relying on different boiling points, separated into its elemental components in the form of liquid oxygen, argon and nitrogen.

The purification of the air is performed by a reliable rapid pressure swing adsorber (RPSA). The air compressor is a reliable, air-cooled, oil-flooded rotary screw machine. The refrigeration for liquefaction is provided by PCI’s highly reliable PLS turboexpander. The bearing system has a self-contained internal passive lubrication system (PLS). The bearings are located outside the cold section of the system and operate at ambient temperatures. The oil is fed to the bearings by capillary action on wicks. As a result, the lubrication system requires no pumps, filters, valves, etc. This provides for a very simple and highly reliable refrigeration system.

Once into production, the plant is fully automatic. When cryogenic product (LIN or LOX) is generated to the proper levels, it is automatically transferred to a receiver. All plants are thoroughly tested before shipping.