Process and installation for separation of air by cryogenic distillation integrated with an associated process
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorAlain Guillard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a process for separation of air by cryogenic distillation integrated with an associated process, air is separated in a separation unit (1), fluid is sent from the separation unit to an associated process, steam (3) is derived from the associated process, at least part of the steam is used in the separation unit and at least one fluid stream (11) is sent from the air separation unit to the atmosphere, at least when the steam is used in the air separation unit.
Claims33
A process for separation of air by cryogenic distillation integrated with an associated process comprising the steps of
- a) cooling compressed and purified air to a cryogenic temperature in a heat exchanger by heat exchange with fluids separated in an air separation unit,
- b) separating compressed, purified and cooled air in an air separation unit to produce at least one fluid enriched in oxygen and/or at least one fluid enriched in nitrogen,
- c) sending at least part of one said fluid to an associated process,
- d) deriving at least one stream of steam from the associated process,
- e) operating the air separation unit to use at least part of said steam from said associated process, wherein said operating comprises a stream of steam;
- and
- f) producing work with at least one steam turbine, wherein said work is used to supply at least part of the energy needs of at least one member selected from the group consisting of:
- i) at least one main compressor compressing air treated in the air separation unit;
- ii) an air booster compressing air which has already been compressed to a superatmospheric pressure;
- and
- iii) a compressor for gas enriched in oxygen or nitrogen.
An installation of air by cryogenic distillation integrated with an associated process including:
- i) at least one air compressor for compressing air to be treated in an air separation unit,
- ii) an air separation unit comprising a purification unit, at least one heat exchanger, and at least one cryogenic distillation column,
- iii) means for supplying compressed air from the main air compressor to the air separation unit,
- iv) means for removing a fluid enriched in a component of air from the air separation unit and sending it to an associated process,
- v) means for transferring steam from the associated process to the air separation unit, and
- vi) means for sending at least one fluid stream from the air separation unit to the atmosphere, without previously sending the fluid stream to regenerate the air purification unit.
An installation for separation of air by cryogenic distillation integrated with an associated process including:
- i) at least one air compressor for compressing air to be treated in an air separation unit,
- ii) an air separation unit comprising a purification unit, at least one heat exchanger, and at least one cryogenic distillation column,
- iii) means for supplying compressed air from the main air compressor to the air separation unit,
- iv) means for removing a fluid enriched in a component of air from the air separation unit and sending it to an associated process,
- v) means for transferring steam from the associated process to the air separation unit,
- vi) means for sending at least part of the steam from the associated process to the heat exchanger, and
- vii) means for sending a cryogenic fluid from a column of the air separation unit to the heat exchanger to be warmed by indirect heat exchange with the steam, said heat exchanger being connected to the means for sending at least one fluid stream from the air separation unit to the atmosphere and/or to the associated process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.