Process for the production of crude argon
AssigneeLinde Aktiengesellschaft
InventorWilhelm Rohde
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Abstract
A process is disclosed for producing gaseous crude argon by low-temperature rectification of air wherein a portion of the compressed air is further compressed. The further compressed air is partially liquefied by countercurrent heat exchange with evaporating crude argon obtained in the liquid phase, this crude argon being under elevated pressure.
Claims22
In a process for the production of a gaseous argon enriched product stream by low-temperature rectification of air wherein an air feedstream is compressed, prepurified, cooled and fed into a high-pressure stage of a two-stage rectification column and wherein an argon enriched product stream in the liquid phase is obtained downstream of the two-stage rectification, the improvement comprising:
- branching off a partial stream of the compressed air prior to cooling;
- further compressing, cooling, partially engine-expanding and delivering said partial stream to a low-pressure stage of said two-stage partial rectification column;
- and
- branching off a portion of said further compressed partial air stream, prior to engine expansion, and bringing said portion of further compressed air into heat exchange with said enriched argon product stream in the liquid phase.
A process according to claim I, wherein said feedstream after prepurification is cooled by countercurrent heat exchange with at least one process product stream(s).
A process according to claim wherein said high-pressure stage of said two-stage rectification column is operated under a pressure of about 5.0-7.0 bar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.