Integrated air separation process
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorsOvidiu Marin, Olivier Charon, Bao Ha
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Abstract
An integrated air separation process produces an O2-enriched gas stream and an N2-enriched gas stream in an air separation unit. The N2-enriched gas stream is heated in a first heat exchanger associated with a first boiler and then power is generated from the heated gas stream. The O2-enriched gas stream is introduced with fuel to a combustor associated with the first boiler, producing flue gas. At least a portion of the flue gas exiting the first boiler is used to generate power. In a preferred embodiment, another portion of the flue gas exiting the first boiler is recycled to the first boiler, as a temperature controlling fluid.
Claims31
An integrated air separation process, wherein the process uses at least an air separation unit, a first boiler and a second boiler, comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing air to the air separation unit;
- (b) separating the air into at least an O2-enriched gaseous stream and an N2-enriched gaseous stream;
- (c) introducing at least a portion of the N2-enriched gaseous stream, having a pressure of at least 3 bars (300 kPa), into at least one heat exchanger associated with the first boiler;
- (d) generating power by introducing the N2-enriched gaseous stream exiting the first boiler into a first means for generating power;
- (e) directing the N2-enriched gaseous stream exiting the first means for generating power into at least one heat exchanger associated with the second boiler;
- (f) introducing water into at least one of the first boiler and the second boiler to generate steam;
- (g) introducing at least a portion of the O2-enriched gaseous stream, having a pressure of at least 3 bars (300 kPa), and fuel to a first combustor associated with the first boiler to produce a flue gas;
- (h) introducing a temperature controlling fluid into the first boiler to control the combustion temperature at a predetermined temperature less than the combustion temperature of fuel and the O2-enriched gaseous stream alone;
- (i) generating power by introducing at least a portion of the flue gas stream exiting the first boiler into a second means for generating power;
- and
- (j) directing at least a portion of the flue gas stream from the second means for generating power to the second boiler.
An integrated air separation process, wherein the process uses at least an air separation unit and a first boiler, comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing air to the air separation unit;
- (b) separating the air into at least an O2-enriched gaseous stream and an N2-enriched gaseous stream;
- (c) introducing at least a portion of the N2-enriched gaseous stream, having a pressure of at least 3 bars (300 kPa), into at least one heat exchanger associated with the first boiler;
- (d) generating power by introducing the N2-enriched gaseous stream exiting the first boiler into a first means for generating power;
- (e) introducing water into the first boiler to generate steam;
- (f) introducing at least a portion of the O2-enriched gaseous stream, having a pressure of at least 3 bars (300 kPa), and fuel to a first combustor associated with the first boiler to produce a flue gas;
- (g) introducing a temperature controlling fluid into the first boiler to control the combustion temperature at a predetermined temperature less than the combustion temperature of fuel and the O2-enriched gaseous stream alone;
- and
- (h) generating power by introducing at least a portion of the flue gas stream exiting the first boiler into a second means for generating power;
- so that the total efficiency of the integrated process is in a range of from about 40% to about 60%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.