Process and apparatus for the production of impure oxygen
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorsJean-Louis Girault, Philippe Mazieres, Jean-Pierre Tranier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to this process: the medium pressure column is operated under a pressure which is higher than six bars and is preferably at least equal to about 9 bars absolute; a first vaporization gas which is less volatile than the nitrogen from the top of the medium pressure column is condensed in the vat condenser of the low pressure column; and nitrogen from the top of the medium pressure column is condensed, it is thereafter sent under reflux to the top of the medium pressure column, at a level of the low pressure column located above said vat condenser application to apparatuses for air distillation with double column associated with a gas turbine.
Claims25
Process for the production of impure oxygen by air distillation in a double column comprising a medium pressure column and a low pressure column comprising
- - operating the medium pressure column under a pressure higher than 6 bars;
- - condensing a first vaporization gas which is less volatile than the nitrogen at the top of the medium pressure column, in the bottom condenser of the low pressure column;
- - condensing nitrogen from the top of the medium pressure column, at a level of the low pressure column located above said bottom condenser;
- and
- - introducing the thus-condensed nitrogen as reflux at the top of the medium pressure column;
- wherein a second vaporization gas, which is more volatile than said first vaporization gas but is less volatile than the nitrogen at the top of the medium pressure column, is condensed at a level which is intermediate between those of said condensations.
Apparatus for air distillation comprising double column comprising a medium pressure column and a low pressure column, means to provide to the medium pressure column air to be distilled under a medium pressure of at least about 9 bars absolute, the low pressure column comprising at least two superposed vaporizers-condensers, including a bottom vaporizer-condenser, means for supplying said bottom vaporizer-condenser with a first vaporization gas which is less volatile than the nitrogen at the top of the medium pressure column, means for supplying the second vaporizer-condenser with nitrogen from the top of medium pressure column to produce condensed nitrogen, and means to introduce the thus-condensed nitrogen as reflux into the top of the medium pressure column;
- wherein the low pressure column comprises two vaporizers-condensers above the bottom vaporizer-condenser, including a vaporizer-condenser supplied with said top nitrogen and an intermediate vaporizer-condenser supplied with a gas which is less volatile than said top nitrogen and more volatile than said first vaporization gas.
Process for the production of impure oxygen by air distillation in a double column comprising a medium pressure column and a low pressure column comprising
- - operating the medium pressure column under a pressure higher than 6 bars;
- - condensing a first vaporization gas withdrawn from said column which is less volatile than the nitrogen at the top of the medium pressure column, in the bottom condenser of the low pressure column;
- - condensing nitrogen from the top of the medium pressure column, at a level of the low pressure column located above said bottom condenser;
- and
- - introducing the thus-condensed nitrogen as reflux at the top of the medium pressure column.
Apparatus for air distillation comprising double column comprising a medium pressure column and a low pressure column, means to provide to the medium pressure column air to be distilled under a medium pressure of at least about 9 bars absolute, the low pressure column comprising at least two superposed vaporizers-condensers, including a bottom vaporizer-condenser, means for withdrawing from said column and for supplying said bottom vaporizer-condenser with a first vaporization gas which is less volatile than the nitrogen at the top of the medium pressure column, means for supplying the second vaporizer-condenser with nitrogen from the top of medium pressure column to produce condensed nitrogen, and means to introduce the thus-condensed nitrogen as reflux into the top of the medium pressure column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.