Distillation system with partitioned column
AssigneePraxair Technology, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Lockett, Dante P. Bonaquist, Richard A. Victor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A distillation system, particularly useful for the cryogenic distillation of feed air, employing a first column and a partitioned second column whereby three separate product streams may be withdrawn from the partitioned column.
Claims16
A distillation column system comprising a first column and a second column, said second column containing a longitudinally oriented partition extending through at least a part of the length of said second column to define a partitioned section, means for providing feed into the first column, means for passing reflux fluid taken from the first column into the second column, means for withdrawing waste from the partitioned section of the second column, and means for withdrawing product from the partitioned section of the second column.
A cryogenic rectification method comprising:
- (A) passing feed air into a first column and separating the feed air by cryogenic rectification within the first column into a nitrogen-enriched fluid and an oxygen-enriched fluid;
- (B) passing nitrogen-enriched fluid from the first column into a second column as reflux, said second column containing a longitudinally oriented partition extending through at least a part of the length of said second column to define a partitioned section;
- (C) passing oxygen-enriched fluid from the first column into the partitioned section of the second column;
- (D) withdrawing waste fluid from the partitioned section of the second column;
- and
- (E) withdrawing fluid having an argon concentration of at least 70 mole percent from the partitioned section of the second column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.