Process for refrigerating, corresponding refrigerating cycle and their application to the distillation of air
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorOdile Guilleminot
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The incoming compressed air is partly expanded in a high pressure turbine, after which a portion of the expanded air is again expanded in a low pressure turbine. The inlet temperature of the latter is clearly higher than that of the high pressure turbine. Application to the production of liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen.
Claims14
Process for producing refrigeration by expansion of a fluid in a high pressure turbine, followed by expansion of a portion of the fluid originating from this turbine in a low pressure turbine, comprising passing the fluid through heat exchange means having a warm end and a cold end, prior to introduction into each of the turbines, and withdrawing said fluid from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into each of said turbines, the point of withdrawal of the fluid from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into said high pressure turbine being closer to said cold end than the point of withdrawal of the fluid from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into said low pressure turbine, whereby the inlet temperature of the high pressure turbine is lower than that of the low pressure turbine.
Process for air distillation in which compressed air is cooled and expanded at medium pressure in a high pressure turbine (12), and a portion of the air so expanded is sent into a double distillation column, while remaining air thus expanded is again expanded until reaching about atmospheric pressure in a low pressure turbine (9), comprising passing the air through heat exchange means having a warm end and a cold end, prior to introduction into each of the turbines, and withdrawing said air from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into each of said turbines, the point of withdrawal of the air from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into said high pressure turbine being closer to said cold end than the point of withdrawal of the air from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into said low pressure turbine, whereby the inlet temperature (T1) of the high pressure turbine is lower than that (T2) of the low pressure turbine.
Refrigerating cycle, of the type comprising a circuit for circulating a cycle fluid, at least one cycle compressor (36, 37), a high pressure turbine (12;
- 12A), and a low pressure turbine (9;
- 9A), said circuit comprising means for sending at least a portion of the cycle fluid which has been compressed by the compressor into the high pressure turbine after cooling to a first temperature (T1), and means for sending at least a portion of the fluid originating from the high pressure turbine into the low pressure turbine after warming to a second temperature (T2), said sending means comprising heat exchange means having a warm end and a cold end, and means for withdrawing said fluid from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into each of said turbines, the point of withdrawal of the fluid from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into said high pressure turbine being closer to said cold end than the point of withdrawal of the fluid from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into said low pressure turbine, whereby the inlet temperature (T1) of the high pressure turbine is lower than the inlet temperature (T2) of the low pressure turbine.
In a process for producing refrigeration in a refrigeration cycle of the type comprising at least one cycle compressor (36, 37), a high pressure turbine (12;
- 12A), and a low pressure turbine (9;
- 9A), said process comprising sending at least a portion of a cycle fluid which has been compressed by the compressor, into the high pressure turbine after cooling to a first temperature (T1), and sending at least a portion of the fluid originating from said high pressure turbine, into said low pressure turbine after warming to a second temperature (T2);
- the improvement comprising passing the fluid through heat exchange means having a warm end and a cold end, prior to introduction into each of the turbines, and withdrawing said fluid from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into each of said turbines, the point of withdrawal of the fluid from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into said high pressure turbine being closer to said cold end than the point of withdrawal of the fluid from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into said low pressure turbine, whereby the inlet temperature (T1) of the high pressure turbine is lower than the inlet temperature (T2) of the low pressure turbine.
In apparatus for air distillation, comprising a high pressure turbine (12), in which compressed air to cooled and expanded at medium pressure, a double distillation column into which a portion of the air so expanded is sent, and a low pressure turbine (9), in which remaining air thus expanded is again expanded to about atmospheric pressure;
- the improvement comprising heat exchange means through which said air passes, said heat exchange means having a warm end and a cold end, and means for withdrawing said air from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into each of said turbines, the point of withdrawal of the air from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into said high pressure turbine being closer to said cold end than the point of withdrawal of the air from said heat exchange means prior to introduction into said low pressure turbine, whereby the inlet temperature (1) of the high pressure turbine is lower than the inlet temperature (T2) of the low pressure turbine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.