Separation of gas mixtures
AssigneeThe BOC Group, Inc.
InventorJohn Terence Lavin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An heat exchange-cum-rectification apparatus comprises a heat exchanger having a first set of passages for separating by dephlegmation a first flow of compressed vaporous air into nitrogen-rich fluid and oxygen-enriched liquid air, and, in heat exchange relationship with said first set of passages, a second set of passages for separating by stripping reboiling an oxygen product from the oxygen-enriched liquid air. A valve is provided for reducing the pressure of the oxygen-enriched liquid air intermediate the said first and second sets of passages.
Claims11
An apparatus comprising (a) a heat exchanger having a first set of passages for separating by dephlegmation a first flow of compressed vaporous air into nitrogen-rich fluid and oxygen-enriched liquid air, and a second set of passages connected to said first set of passages for receiving said oxygen-enriched liquid air, thereby to separate by stripping reboiling an oxygen product from the oxygen-enriched liquid air, each of the first and second passages having a top and a bottom, the second passages alternating with and in a heat exchange relationship with said first set of passages and the top of said second passages connected to the bottom of said first passages so that said second passages are refluxed with said oxygen-enriched liquid air, and (b) means for reducing the pressure of the oxygen-enriched liquid air intermediate the said first and second sets of passages.
A method for separating a flow of compressed vaporous air comprising subjecting the flow of air to dephlegmation in a first set of heat exchange passages so as to form nitrogen-rich fluid and oxygen-enriched liquid air, pressure reducing the oxygen-enriched liquid air, and separating by stripping reboiling an oxygen product from the pressure-reduced stream of the oxygen-enriched liquid air in a second set of heat exchange passages in heat exchange relationship with the first set of passages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.