US 7,617,701 B2 · Process and installation for providing a fluid mixture containing at least 10% carbon monoxide

Abstract

In a process for producing a mixture containing at least 10% carbon monoxide (73) by cryogenic separation of a feed gas containing at least carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane, the feed gas (1) is separated to produce a first gas enriched in hydrogen (71), the feed gas is scrubbed in a methane wash column (7), a carbon monoxide enriched stream (13) from the bottom of the methane wash column is separated (19) to produce a stream further enriched in carbon monoxide (23), the stream further enriched in carbon monoxide is separated to form a carbon monoxide rich stream (31,49) and a liquid methane stream (27), at least part (72) of the carbon monoxide rich stream is mixed with the first gas enriched in hydrogen to form the mixture containing at least 10% carbon monoxide as a product stream.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A process for producing a mixture (73) containing at least 10% carbon monoxide by cryogenic separation of a feed gas (1) containing at least carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane as principal components in a separation unit in a system of columns including a methane wash column (7), comprising the steps of

a) treating the feed gas to form a first gas stream enriched in hydrogen;
b) scrubbing the feed gas or a gas derived from the feed gas with a liquid methane stream (9) in the methane wash column;
c) withdrawing a second gaseous stream enriched in hydrogen from the methane wash column;
d) separating a first carbon monoxide enriched stream (13) from the bottom of the methane wash column to produce a second carbon monoxide enriched stream;
e) separating the second carbon monoxide enriched stream to form a third carbon monoxide rich stream and a liquid methane stream (27);
f) sending at least part of the liquid methane stream to the methane wash column;
and
g) mixing at least part of the third carbon monoxide rich stream with the first gas stream enriched in hydrogen to form the mixture containing at least 10% carbon monoxide as a product stream.

5 more elements

An installation for producing a mixture (73) containing at least 10% carbon monoxide from a feed gas containing at least carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane as principal components by cryogenic distillation including:

a) a first separation means (7, 75) for treating the feed gas to form a first gas stream enriched in hydrogen;
b) a methane wash column (7);
c) means for sending at least part of the feed gas (1) or a gas (79) derived from the feed gas to the methane wash column;
d) means for sending a liquid methane stream (9) to the top of the methane wash column;
e) means for sending liquid from the bottom of the methane wash column to a second separation means (19);
f) means for removing a second hydrogen enriched stream (21) and a first carbon monoxide enriched stream (23) from the second separation means;
g) means for sending at least part of the second carbon monoxide enriched stream (23) to a third separation means (27);
h) means for removing a third carbon monoxide rich stream and a methane rich stream (27) from the third separation means;
i) means for mixing at least part of the third carbon monoxide rich stream with the first gas stream enriched in hydrogen to form the mixture (73) containing at least 10% carbon monoxide as a product gas.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process and installation for providing a fluid mixture containing at least 10% carbon monoxide

Life of this patent

Process and installation for providing a fluid mixture containing at least 10% carbon monoxide

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18