Process and plant for producing a variable gas output
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorsLionel Barry, Xavier Vigor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In this process, the apparatus for separating the feed gas is connected to the delivery side of at least one variable-rotation-speed compressor, whose speed is controlled on the basis of the measurement of a parameter representative of the flow of gas product. The process is useful in the production of nitrogen from atmospheric air.
Claims18
Process for separating a compressed feed gas, for the purpose of delivering to a user a variable output of a gas product, by means of a variable-capacity separation apparatus fed by a compression apparatus including a first, variable-rotation-speed compressor and a second, fixed-rotation-speed compressor connected in parallel with said first compressor;
- the process comprising:
- compressing only a portion of the flow of feed gas by means of at least said first, variable-rotation-speed compressor;
- compressing a predetermined flow of said gas by at least said second, fixed-rotation-speed compressor;
- measuring at least one parameter representative of the gas output demanded by the user;
- and
- controlling the speed of rotation of the first compressor according to the measurement.
Plant for separating a compressed feed gas, for the purpose of delivering to a user a variable output of a gas product, the plant comprising:
- a variable-capacity separation apparatus having an inlet;
- a compression apparatus for compressing the feed gas, and having a delivery side connected to the inlet of said separation apparatus;
- said compression apparatus comprising, in parallel, at least a first, variable-rotation-speed compressor having a variable-speed drive, and at least a second, fixed-rotation-speed compressor;
- measurement means for measuring at least one parameter representative of the gas output demanded by the user;
- said measurement means being connected to control means for controlling the variable-speed drive.
A range of gas separation plants having staggered capacities, comprising:
- a common separation apparatus, at least one common variable-speed compressor, and at least one fixed-speed compressor;
- and
- means for driving the variable-speed compressor at different speeds depending on the plant capacity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.