Process and apparatus for recovering inert gas

An apparatus for recovering an inert gas comprising:

• a first reaction unit comprising means for adding an amount of oxygen to a raw gas containing at least a carbonaceous combustible component and an inert gas in a high concentration, said amount of oxygen being larger than the minimum amount needed for complete combustion of the carbonaceous combustible component, and reactor means for reacting said carbonaceous combustible component with the oxygen to thereby produce a first gaseous product containing inert gas, carbon dioxide and moisture;
• a first removing unit comprising means for removing at least the carbon dioxide in the first gaseous product formed in said first reaction unit;
• means for feeding said first gaseous product from said first reaction unit to said first removing unit;
• a second reaction unit comprising means for adding an amount of hydrogen to the first gaseous product remaining after said first removing unit, said amount of hydrogen being larger than the minimum amount needed to completely react said oxygen remaining in said first gaseous product, and means for reacting the oxygen remaining in said raw gas with said hydrogen to thereby produce a second gaseous product containing said inert gas and moisture;
• means for feeding said first gaseous product from said first removing unit to said second reaction unit;
• a second removing unit comprising means for removing the moisture in the second gaseous product which is formed in said second reaction unit;
• means for feeding said second gaseous product from said second reaction unit to said second removing unit;
• a refining unit comprising means for removing remaining impurities, including hydrogen, in the second gaseous product remaining after said second removing unit to thereby obtain said inert gas in a high purity;
• and
• means for feeding said second gaseous product from said second removing unit to said refining unit.

A process for recovering an inert gas, comprising:

• a step of removing heavy hydrocarbons in a raw gas containing at least carbonaceous combustible components and an inert gas in a high concentration;
• a step of heating the raw gas remaining after removal of the heavy hydrocarbons to produce a heated raw gas;
• a first reaction step of adding an amount of oxygen to the heated raw gas to react the combustible component in said raw gas thereby forming a first gaseous product containing inert gas, carbon dioxide and moisture, said amount of oxygen being larger than the minimum amount needed for complete combustion of the carbonaceous combustible component;
• a first moisture removing step of removing the moisture in the first gaseous product produced in the first reaction step;
• a carbon dioxide removing step of removing the carbon dioxide in the first gaseous product remaining after the first moisture removing step;
• a second reaction step of adding an amount of hydrogen to the first gaseous product remaining after said carbon dioxide removing step to react the oxygen remaining in the first gaseous product with said hydrogen thereby forming a second gaseous product containing inert gas and moisture, said amount of hydrogen being larger than the minimum amount needed to completely react said oxygen remaining in the first gaseous product;
• a second moisture removing step of removing the moisture in the second gaseous product produced in the second reaction step;
• and
• an inert gas refining step of removing remaining impurities, including hydrogen, in the second gaseous product remaining after the second moisture removing step and recovering said inert gas.

An apparatus for recovering an inert gas, comprising:

• a heavy hydrocarbon removing unit comprising means for removing heavy hydrocarbons in a raw gas containing at least carbonaceous combustible components and an inert gas in a high concentration;
• a first reaction unit comprising means for adding an amount of oxygen to the raw gas remaining after said heavy hydrocarbon removing unit, said amount of oxygen being larger than the minimum amount needed for complete combustion of the carbonaceous combustible component, and reactor means for reacting said carbonaceous combustible component with the oxygen to thereby produce a first gaseous product containing inert gas, carbon dioxide and moisture;
• means for feeding said raw gas from said heavy hydrocarbon removing unit to said first reaction unit;
• a first removing unit comprising means for removing the carbon dioxide and the moisture in the first gaseous product produced in said first reaction unit;
• means for feeding said first gaseous product from said first reaction unit to said first removing unit;
• a second reaction unit comprising means for adding an amount of hydrogen to the first gaseous product remaining after said first removing unit, said amount of hydrogen being larger then the minimum amount needed to completely react said oxygen remaining in said first gaseous product, and means for reacting the oxygen remaining in said first gaseous product with said hydrogen to thereby produce a second gaseous product containing inert gas and moisture;
• means for feeding said the first gaseous product from said first removing unit to said second reaction unit;
• a second removing unit comprising means for removing the moisture in the second gaseous product produced in said second reaction unit;
• means for feeding said second gaseous product from said second reaction unit to said second removing unit;
• a refining unit comprising means for removing remaining impurities, including hydrogen, in the second gaseous product remaining after said second removing unit to thereby obtain said inert gas in a high purity;
• and
• means for feeding the second gaseous product from said second removing unit to said refining unit.