US 8,192,525 B2 · Method and system for producing carbon monoxide by cryogenic distillation

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing carbon monoxide consisting, during an adsorption step, in using N adsorbers (4A, 4B), wherein N is equal to greater than two, each of which follows, at an offset; the same period T cycle during which adsorption and regeneration phases succeed each other, in exposing, at the beginning of the adsorption phase, each adsorber to an eluting phase during which only a part of a nominal flowrate of the mixture is transferred to the adsorber until said adsorber is substantially carbon monoxide saturated while at least the second adsorber is maintained in the adsorption phase and a purified gaseous mixture is partially liquefied for producing a liquefied gaseous mixture, in storing said mixture in a capacity (7) and in transferring the liquefied gaseous mixture from the capacity to at least one column (11) for the separation thereof into a carbon monoxide rich product and, during at least one part of the adsorber eluting phases, the liquid level in the container is decreased and during at lest one part of the cycle outside of the eluting periods, said level is increased.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method for producing carbon monoxide and, hydrogen by separating a gas mixture, comprising an adsorption separation step followed by a cryogenic separation step in which:

a) during the adsorption step, N adsorbers are used, with N equal to or greater than two, which each follow, in a staggered sequence, the same cycle of time T, during which an adsorption phase and a regeneration phase occur in succession, and, at the start of the adsorption phase, each adsorber is subjected to an elution phase during which only part of the nominal flow of the mixture is sent to the adsorber until it is substantially saturated with carbon monoxide, while maintaining at least one other adsorber in an adsorption phase;
and
b) characterized in that throughout the cycle, a purified gas mixture is partially liquefied to produce liquefied gas mixture, the said liquefied gas mixture is stored in a vessel and liquefied gas mixture is sent from the vessel to at least one column for separating into a carbon monoxide rich fluid and, during at least part of the adsorber elution phases, the liquid level in the vessel drops and, during at least part of the cycle outside the elution phases, this level rises.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for producing carbon monoxide by cryogenic distillation

Life of this patent

Method and system for producing carbon monoxide by cryogenic distillation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11