Back to results
US 6,385,996 B2Granted
Process and installation for separation of air by cryogenic distillation
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Aodirectoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorJean Renaud Brugerolle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an apparatus for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation, the overhead gas of a mixing column is sent to the passages for warming a bottom reboiler of the low-pressure column of a double column fed with air to be distilled. The production of oxygen in the bottom of the low-pressure column is increased.
Claims32
Air separation plant for producing an oxygen-rich fluid by cryogenic distillation, comprising:
- a double column comprising at least one medium-pressure column and a low-pressure column which includes a reboiler for vaporizing liquid in the bottom of the low-pressure column;
- a mixing column;
- means for sending cooled and compressed air to at least the medium-pressure column;
- means for sending an oxygen-enriched liquid from the medium-pressure column to an injection point of the low-pressure column and a nitrogen-enriched liquid from the medium-pressure column to the low-pressure column;
- means for sending gas to the bottom of the mixing column;
- means for sending a second oxygen-enriched liquid from the low-pressure column to the top of the mixing column, the second liquid being less volatile than the gas feeding the bottom of the mixing column;
- means for withdrawing an oxygen-rich fluid from the low-pressure column;
- means for sending at least one portion of a gas from the mixing column to passages for warming the reboiler,
- wherein the means for sending the second liquid further comprises means for withdrawing the second liquid from the low-pressure column at a level at least 5 theoretical trays below the injection point of the low-pressure column.
6 more elements
Air separation plant for producing an oxygen-rich fluid and argon by cryogenic distillation, comprising:
- a double column comprising a medium-pressure column and a low-pressure column which includes a reboiler for vaporizing liquid in the bottom of the low-pressure column;
- an argon column comprising a condenser;
- a mixing column;
- means for sending cooled and compressed air to the medium-pressure column;
- means for sending a first oxygen-enriched liquid from the medium-pressure column to the condenser;
- means for withdrawing an argon-enriched gas from a first level of the low-pressure column and means for sending the argon-enriched gas to the argon column;
- means for sending an oxygen-enriched liquid and a nitrogen-enriched liquid from the medium-pressure column to the low-pressure column;
- means for at least partially vaporizing oxygen-enriched liquid in the condenser and means for sending at least one portion of the vapor and/or air to the bottom of the mixing column;
- means for sending a second oxygen-enriched liquid from the low-pressure column to the top of the mixing column, the second liquid being less volatile than the gas feeding the bottom of the mixing column;
- means for withdrawing an argon-enriched fluid at the top of the argon column;
- means for withdrawing an oxygen-rich fluid at the low-pressure column;
- and
- means for sending at least one portion of a gas from the mixing column to passages for warming the reboiler.
10 more elements
A process for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation for producing oxygen with a double column comprising:
- a medium-pressure column;
- and
- a low-pressure column which includes a reboiler for vaporizing liquid in the bottom of the low-pressure column,
- comprising the steps of:
- sending cooled and compressed air to the medium-pressure column;
- sending an oxygen-enriched liquid and a nitrogen-enriched liquid from the medium-pressure column to the low-pressure column;
- sending gas to the bottom of the mixing column;
- sending a second oxygen-enriched liquid from the low-pressure column to the top of the mixing column, the second liquid being less volatile than the gas feeding the bottom of the mixing column;
- withdrawing an oxygen-rich fluid from the low-pressure column;
- sending at least one portion of a gas from the mixing column to passages for warming the reboiler.
7 more elements
Process for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation for producing oxygen and optionally argon with a double column comprising:
- a medium-pressure column;
- a low-pressure column which includes a reboiler for vaporizing liquid in the bottom of the low-pressure column;
- and
- an argon column comprising a condenser and a mixing column,
- comprising the steps of:
- sending cooled and compressed air to the medium-pressure column,
- sending a first oxygen-enriched liquid from the medium-pressure column to the condenser;
- withdrawing an argon-enriched gas from a first level of the low-pressure column and sending the argon-enriched gas to the argon column;
- sending an oxygen enriched liquid and a nitrogen-enriched liquid from the medium-pressure column to the low-pressure column;
- at least partially vaporizing oxygen-enriched liquid in the condenser and sending at least one portion of the vapor and/or air to the bottom of the mixing column;
- sending a second oxygen-enriched liquid from the low-pressure column to the top of the mixing column, the second liquid being less volatile than the gas feeding the bottom of the mixing column;
- withdrawing an argon-enriched liquid from the top of the argon column;
- withdrawing an argon-enriched liquid from the top of the argon column;
- withdrawing an oxygen-rich fluid from the low-pressure column;
- and
- sending at least one portion of a gas from the mixing column to passages for warming the reboiler.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.