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US 5,778,699 AGranted
Process and installation for the production of argon by cryogenic distillation
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorBernard Darredeau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An installation for the production of argon comprising a double column (1, 3) and an argon purification column (5). An auxiliary column (9) serves to effect the nitrogen-oxygen separation, and is supplied by a stream from the low pressure column (3). Therefore, nitrogen does not contaminate the stream sent to the argon purification column (5).
Claims17
In a process for the production of argon by cryogenic distillation of air, comprising the steps of:
- i) separating air into a fraction enriched in nitrogen and a fraction enriched in oxygen in a medium pressure column of a double column;
- ii) sending at least one portion of the two fractions to an auxiliary column;
- iii) withdrawing a stream rich in argon from the low pressure column and sending it to an argon purification column;
- iv) producing pure argon at the head of the purification column;
- the improvement comprising the steps of:
- v) sending a stream withdrawn from an intermediate level of the low pressure column to an auxiliary column;
- vi) withdrawing said stream rich in argon from said low pressure column at a level above said intermediate level.
4 more elements
In an installation for the production of argon by cryogenic distillation of air comprising:
- a double column comprising a medium pressure column thermally connected to a low pressure column;
- an argon purification column;
- means to send a stream rich in argon from a withdrawal point of the low pressure column to the argon purification column;
- the improvement wherein the installation further comprises:
- an auxiliary column;
- means to send a stream withdrawn from an intermediate level of the low pressure column to the auxiliary column;
- the means to send the stream enriched in argon to the purification column being connected at a level above said intermediate level.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.