Refrigeration – Processes – Circulating external gas
Patent
1992-12-16
1994-05-17
Bennett, Henry
Refrigeration
Processes
Circulating external gas
62 24, 62 31, 62 37, 62 38, 62 41, F25J 304
Patent
active
053117441
ABSTRACT:
A cryogenic air separation process and method in which air is cooled and after compression and purification then rectified in a rectification column to produce an oxygen rich liquid. An argon-oxygen stream containing liquid lean in nitrogen is separated to form oxygen and argon streams. Argon vapor is condensed to supply reflux to the argon column. An oxygen rich liquid stream is expanded to a pressure at which the oxygen rich liquid is at or below the condensation temperature of the argon vapor and is then vaporized against condensing the argon vapor. The vaporized oxygen rich liquid is then introduced into a nitrogen stripper column and nitrogen is stripped therefrom by a stripper gas to produce the argon-oxygen liquid which is introduced into the argon column. The nitrogen stripper column is regulated to operate at a predetermined pressure range so that the entry level at which oxygen enters the nitrogen stripper column has a pressure level no greater than the pressure of the oxygen rich liquid after expansion. Argon is removed from the top of the argon column as a product. The process and apparatus can be operated to produce high purity argon vapor or liquid very lean in nitrogen and oxygen with the use of trays and/or structured packing as liquid contacting mass transfer elements in the columns. Additionally, high purity oxygen and nitrogen products can also be produced by such process and apparatus.
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Krishnamurthy Ramachandran
Sweeney Paul A.
Bennett Henry
Cassett Larry R.
Kilner Christopher B .
Rosenblum David M.
The BOC Group Inc.
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