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US 7,263,859 B2Granted
Process and apparatus for cooling a stream of compressed air
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorPatrick Le Bot
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Process and apparatus for cooling a compressed gas stream which utilizes one or more elongated vessels having a substantially vertical orientation. Each vessel has one compartment for indirect heat exchange between the compressed gas stream and a cooling stream and a second compartment for direct contact between the compressed gas stream and a liquid stream. The two compartments are separated by a barrier, which allows for upward passage of air, but prevents the downward passage of liquid. The design permits one to use the heat present in the compressed air efficiently.
Claims12
A process for cooling a gas stream in an apparatus comprising:
- a) providing at least one elongated vessel having a orientation, substantially vertical, wherein said elongated vessel comprises:
- (i) a first end and a second end;
- (ii) a first compartment for indirect heat exchange between a gas stream and at least one cooling stream to produce a cooled gas stream;
- (iii) a second compartment for direct contact between said cooled gas stream and a liquid stream to produce a further cooled gas stream;
- and
- (iv) a barrier which separates said first and second compartments, and when in use, allows for the upward passage of gas, but prevents the downward passage of liquid;
- b) introducing the gas stream into said first compartment proximate to said first end, removing said further cooled gas stream from said second compartment proximate to said second end;
- c) introducing at least one cooling stream into said first compartment removing said warmed at least one cooling stream from said first compartment;
- and
- d) introducing a liquid stream into said second compartment proximate to said second end, and removing said warmed liquid stream from said second compartment proximate to said barrier.
7 more elements
An apparatus for cooling a compressed gas stream comprising:
- a) an elongated vessel having an axis oriented, in use, substantially vertically, comprising:
- i) a first end and a second end;
- ii) a first compartment for indirect heat exchange between the compressed gas stream and at least one cooling stream;
- iii) a second compartment for direct contact between the cooled compressed gas stream and a liquid stream;
- iv) a barrier in which said first and second compartments are separated, and when in use, allows for the upward passage of gas, but prevents the downward passage of liquid;
- b) a conduit for introducing the compressed gas stream into the first compartment proximate to the first end;
- c) a conduit for removing the cooled compressed gas stream from the second compartment proximate to the second end;
- d) a conduit for introducing the at least one cooling stream into the first compartment;
- e) a conduit for removing the warmed at least one stream from the first compartment;
- f) a conduit for introducing the liquid stream into the second compartment proximate to the second end;
- and
- g) a conduit for removing the warmed liquid stream from the second compartment proximate to the barrier.
9 more elements
An air separation apparatus, comprising:
- a) a compressor;
- b) a conduit for sending air to the compressor;
- c) An apparatus for cooling a compressed gas stream comprising:
- i) first and second elongated vessels having an axis oriented, in use, substantially vertically, wherein each said vessel comprises a first end and a second end;
- ii) said first vessel comprises a compartment for indirect heat exchange between a compressed gas stream and at least one cooling stream to produce a cooled compressed gas stream;
- iii) said second vessel having a compartment for direct contact between said cooled compressed gas stream and a liquid stream;
- iv) a conduit for introducing said compressed gas stream into said first compartment proximate to its first end;
- v) a conduit for removing said cooled compressed gas stream from said first compartment proximate to the second end;
- vi) a conduit for introducing said cooled compressed gas stream into said second vessel proximate to its first end;
- vii) a conduit for removing a further cooled compressed gas stream from said second vessel proximate to its second end;
- viii) a conduit for introducing said at least one cooling stream into said first vessel;
- ix) a conduit for removing said warmed at least one cooling stream from said first vessel;
- x) a conduit for introducing said liquid stream into said second vessel proximate to the second end;
- and
- xi) a conduit for removing said warmed liquid stream from said second vessel proximate to its first end;
- d) a conduit for sending air from the compressor to the cooling apparatus;
- e) a conduit for sending air from the cooling apparatus to a further cooling apparatus;
- f) a column system comprising at least one distillation column;
- g) a conduit for sending air from the further cooling apparatus to a column of the column system;
- and
- h) a conduit for removing a product from a column of the column system.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.