Rare gases recovery process for triple column oxygen plant

A process recovering rare gases from a multiple column oxygen plant, wherein the multiple column oxygen plant comprises a higher pressure column, a lower pressure column, and an intermediate column, said intermediate column comprising a bottom reboiler and a top condenser, the process comprising the steps of:

• providing a first oxygen rich liquid stream containing rare gases from the higher pressure column, and introducing said first oxygen rich liquid stream to the intermediate column at a location near the bottom reboiler, such that at least a portion of the first oxygen rich liquid stream is heated by the bottom reboiler;
• removing a second oxygen rich liquid stream rich in rare gases from the bottom of the intermediate column, and vaporizing said second oxygen rich liquid stream in the top condenser;
• thereby producing a vaporized oxygen rich stream and a liquid purge stream concentrated in rare gases,
• removing the liquid purge stream concentrated in rare gases from the top condenser;
• and
• removing a third oxygen rich liquid stream lean in rare gases at a location that is at least one tray above the bottom reboiler, and introducing said third oxygen rich liquid stream to the lower pressure column.

A process for recovering rare gasses from a multiple column oxygen plant, wherein the multiple column oxygen plant comprises a higher pressure column, a lower pressure column, a middle pressure intermediate column, and a low pressure intermediate column, said middle pressure intermediate column comprising a first bottom reboiler and said low pressure intermediate column comprising a second bottom reboiler,

• wherein the second bottom reboiler of the low pressure intermediate column acts as a condenser for the middle pressure intermediate column, such that vapor leaving the middle pressure intermediate column has substantially the same composition as condensate leaving the second bottom reboiler, the process comprising the steps of:
• providing a first oxygen rich liquid stream containing rare gases from the higher pressure column and introducing said first oxygen rich liquid stream to the middle pressure intermediate column at a location near the first bottom reboiler;
• removing a second oxygen rich liquid stream rich in rare gases from the bottom of the middle pressure intermediate column and introducing said second oxygen rich liquid stream to the low pressure intermediate column;
• removing a first liquid purge stream concentrated in rare gases from the low pressure intermediate column;
• and
• removing a third oxygen rich liquid stream lean in rare gases at a location that is at least one tray above the first bottom reboiler and introducing said third oxygen rich liquid stream to the lower pressure column.