Refrigeration – Processes – Circulating external gas
Patent
1991-05-31
1992-08-25
Capossela, Ronald C.
Refrigeration
Processes
Circulating external gas
62 31, 62 34, F25J 304
Patent
active
RE0340383
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to improvements to a process and apparatus for the cryogenic distillation of mixtures, which comprise oxygen, nitrogen and argon, e.g. air. The improvement comprises effectuating intimate contact of the liquid and vapor phase streams utilizing a structured packing to effectuate the intimate contact in at least [those] one of the regions of the distillation column system where argon concentration is within the range from about 0.6 to about 75 volume percent[,] and [operating the process such that] the densimetric superficial gas velocity [in those regions] is at least 0.06 feet per second. [The present invention also relates to a method for improving a cryogenic distillation apparatus having at least one distillation column for the separation of mixtures containing oxygen and argon, comprising the step of replacing the distillation trays with a structured packing in at least those regions of the distillation column system where the concentration of argon is in the range from about 0.6 to about 75 volume percent.] The present invention also relates to the use of structured packing to reduce the HETP (height of packing equivalent to a theoretical plate) in a region of a distillation column system separating oxygen and argon by intimately contacting a liquid phase stream containing oxygem and argon, and a vapor phase stream containing oxygen and argon at an argon concentration within the range from 0.6 to 75 volume percent and a densimetric superficial gas velocity of at least 0.06 feet per second.
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Bennett Douglas L.
Ludwig Keith A.
Witmer George S.
Woods Charles M.
Air Products and Chemicals Inc.
Capossela Ronald C.
Jones II Willard
Marsh William F.
Simmons James C.
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