Method and installation for air distillation with production of argon
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorsFrançois De Bussy, Frédéric Staine, Bernard Saulnier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for air distillation with production of argon using an air distilling installation (1) comprising an air distilling apparatus (2) in particular with double column, and at least one column for producing impure argon. The installation has dimensions for supplying argon with a nominal yield ρn of argon extraction at the impure argon producing column output. For reduced argon production requirements corresponding to a required yield ρ of argon extraction at the impure argon producing column output, with ρ≦ρo≦ρn where ρo is a predetermined optimal yield, the argon extraction yield in the impure argon producing column is maintained at the value ρo.
Claims24
Air distillation process with production of argon, which comprises:
- providing an air distillation plant comprising an air distillation apparatus fluidly connected to at least one column for production of impure argon;
- said plant being designed to deliver argon with a nominal argon extraction yield ρn at an outlet of the impure-argon production column;
- and
- for reduced argon production requirements corresponding to a necessary argon extraction yield ρ at the outlet of the impure-argon production column with ρ≦ρo≦ρn, where ρo is a predetermined optimum yield, maintaining the argon extraction yield at the outlet of the impure-argon production column at approximately the value ρo.
A plant for the production of argon by air distillation, which comprises:
- a feed line for supplying air to be distilled;
- a heat exchanger through which said feed line passes;
- an air distillation apparatus having an inlet fluidly connected to said feed line, and an outlet;
- at least one impure-argon production column in fluid communication with said air distillation apparatus;
- and
- at least one branch line for sending at least a portion of argon extracted in excess into said heat exchanger or into said distillation apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.