Process and apparatus for cryogenic separation of air with mixed gas turbine
AssigneeLinde Aktiengesellschaft
InventorDimitri GOLUBEV
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Abstract
In this process and apparatus for cryogenic separation of air, the separation column system comprises a high-pressure column, a low-pressure column and a crude argon column. A mixed gas stream produced by mixing gaseous oxygen and a gas stream from the evaporation space of the argon top condenser, is work expanded in a mixed gas turbine.
Claims15
Process for cryogenic separation of air in a separation column system comprising a high-pressure column, a low-pressure column, a main condenser, which is a condenser-evaporator having a liquefaction space and an evaporation space and brings high-pressure column top and low-pressure column bottom in heat-exchange relationship, and a crude argon column having an argon top condenser, which is a condenser-evaporator having a liquefaction space and an evaporation space, comprising
- compressing a total feed air stream,
- cooling the compressed feed air in a main heat exchanger,
- introducing at least a portion of the feed air into the high-pressure column,
- introducing at least one fraction from the high-pressure column directly or indirectly to the low-pressure column,
- introducing an argon transition fraction from the low-pressure column to the crude argon column,
- introducing a liquid cooling fraction from the high-pressure column into the evaporation space of the argon top condenser,
- withdrawing a gaseous oxygen stream from the low-pressure column,
- mixing the gaseous oxygen stream with another gas stream having a higher nitrogen content than the gaseous oxygen stream to form a mixed gas stream,
- warming the mixed gas stream in the main heat exchanger,
- work expanding the warmed mixed gas stream in an expansion machine and
- completely warming the expanded mixed gas stream in the main heat exchanger, wherein
- the above stream having a higher nitrogen content is withdrawn from the evaporation space of the argon top condenser.
Apparatus for cryogenic separation of air comprising a separation column system comprising a high-pressure column, a low-pressure column, a main condenser, which is a condenser-evaporator having a liquefaction space and an evaporation space and is configured to bring high-pressure column top and low-pressure column bottom in heat-exchange relationship, and a crude argon column having an argon top condenser, which is a condenser-evaporator having a liquefaction space and an evaporation space, and further comprising
- a main air compressor for compressing a total feed air stream,
- a main heat exchanger for cooling the compressed feed air,
- a main air compressor for compressing a total feed air stream,
- a main heat exchanger for cooling the compressed feed air,
- means for introducing at least a portion of the feed air into the high-pressure column,
- means introducing at least one fraction from the high-pressure column directly or indirectly to the low-pressure column,
- an argon transition line for introducing an argon transition fraction from the low-pressure column to the crude argon column,
- means for introducing a liquid cooling fraction from the high-pressure column into the evaporation space of the argon top condenser,
- means for withdrawing a gaseous oxygen stream from the low-pressure column,
- means for mixing the gaseous oxygen stream with another gas stream having a higher nitrogen content than the gaseous oxygen stream to form a mixed gas stream,
- means for introducing the mixed gas stream into the main heat exchanger for warming,
- an expansion machine for work expanding the warmed mixed gas stream and
- means for completely warming the expanded mixed gas stream in the main heat exchanger,
- wherein
- means for mixing the gaseous oxygen stream with another gas stream having a higher nitrogen content are connected to the evaporation space of the argon top condenser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.