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US 5,410,885 AGranted
Cryogenic rectification system for lower pressure operation
OwnerJames Smolarek, Kevin J. Potempainventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A double column cryogenic rectification system wherein lower pressure column bottoms undergo additional rectification within a once-through downflow reflux condenser by countercurrent direct contact flow with vapor generated by condensing higher pressure column shelf vapor enabling the higher pressure column to operate at a reduced pressure thus reducing feed compression power requirements.
Claims13
A process for the cryogenic rectification of feed air comprising:
- (A) providing feed air into the higher pressure column of a double column and separating the feed air by cryogenic rectification within the higher pressure column into nitrogen-enriched vapor and oxygen-enriched liquid;
- (B) passing oxygen-enriched liquid into the lower pressure column of the double column and producing by cryogenic rectification oxygen-rich liquid within the lower pressure column;
- (C) passing oxygen-rich liquid into the upper portion of a downflow reflux condenser and vaporizing a portion of the liquid flowing down the downflow reflux condenser by indirect heat exchange with nitrogen-enriched vapor to produce oxygen-rich vapor;
- (D) passing oxygen-rich vapor in countercurrent direct contact flow with downflowing oxygen-rich liquid within the downflow reflux condenser to produce oxygen-richer liquid;
- and
- (E) withdrawing oxygen-richer liquid from the lower portion of the downflow reflux condenser having an oxygen concentration which exceeds that of the oxygen-rich liquid passed into the upper portion of the downflow reflux condenser.
3 more elements
A cryogenic rectification apparatus comprising:
- (A) a double column comprising a first column and a second column;
- (B) means for passing feed into the first column and means for passing fluid from the first column into the second column;
- (C) a downflow reflux condenser and means for passing fluid from the first column into the downflow reflux condenser;
- (D) means for passing liquid into the upper portion of the downflow reflux condenser and means for passing liquid and vapor in countercurrent direct contact flow within the downflow reflux condenser;
- and
- (E) means for withdrawing liquid from the lower portion of the downflow reflux condenser.
3 more elements
A process for the cryogenic rectification of feed air comprising:
- (A) passing feed air into a single column and separating the feed air by cryogenic rectification within the single column into nitrogen-rich vapor and oxygen-enriched liquid;
- (B) passing oxygen-enriched liquid into the upper portion of a downflow reflux condenser and vaporizing a portion of the liquid flowing down the downflow reflux condenser by indirect heat exchange with nitrogen-rich vapor to produce oxygen-enriched vapor;
- (C) passing said oxygen-enriched vapor in countercurrent direct contact flow with downflowing oxygen-enriched liquid within the downflow reflux condenser to produce oxygen-richer liquid;
- and
- (D) withdrawing oxygen-richer liquid from the lower portion of the downflow reflux condenser having an oxygen concentration which exceeds that of the oxygen-enriched liquid passed into the upper portion of the downflow reflux condenser.
2 more elements
A cryogenic rectification apparatus comprising:
- (A) a single column and means for passing feed into the column;
- (B) a downflow reflux condenser and means for passing fluid from the column into the downflow reflux condenser;
- (C) means for passing liquid into the upper portion of the downflow reflux condenser and means for passing liquid and vapor in countercurrent direct flow contact within the downflow reflux condenser;
- and
- (D) means for withdrawing liquid from the lower portion of the downflow reflux condenser.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.