AU2010258490A1 - Apparatus and method for separating air by cryogenic distillation - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for separating air by cryogenic distillation Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2010258490A1
AU2010258490A1 AU2010258490A AU2010258490A AU2010258490A1 AU 2010258490 A1 AU2010258490 A1 AU 2010258490A1 AU 2010258490 A AU2010258490 A AU 2010258490A AU 2010258490 A AU2010258490 A AU 2010258490A AU 2010258490 A1 AU2010258490 A1 AU 2010258490A1
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Prior art keywords
column
condenser
vaporizer
pipe
supplying
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AU2010258490A
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AU2010258490B2 (en
Inventor
Marie Cognard
Richard Dubettier-Grenier
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LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04151—Purification and (pre-)cooling of the feed air; recuperative heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04187—Cooling of the purified feed air by recuperative heat-exchange; Heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04193—Division of the main heat exchange line in consecutive sections having different functions
    • F25J3/04206—Division of the main heat exchange line in consecutive sections having different functions including a so-called "auxiliary vaporiser" for vaporising and producing a gaseous product
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04078—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression
    • F25J3/0409—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression of oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04406—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system
    • F25J3/04418—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system with thermally overlapping high and low pressure columns
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/04872—Vertical layout of cold equipments within in the cold box, e.g. columns, heat exchangers etc.
    • F25J3/04878—Side by side arrangement of multiple vessels in a main column system, wherein the vessels are normally mounted one upon the other or forming different sections of the same column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/04872—Vertical layout of cold equipments within in the cold box, e.g. columns, heat exchangers etc.
    • F25J3/04884—Arrangement of reboiler-condensers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/04896—Details of columns, e.g. internals, inlet/outlet devices
    • F25J3/04915—Combinations of different material exchange elements, e.g. within different columns
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/34—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification using a side column fed by a stream from the low pressure column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/50—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification using multiple (re-)boiler-condensers at different heights of the column
    • F25J2200/54—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification using multiple (re-)boiler-condensers at different heights of the column in the low pressure column of a double pressure main column system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2235/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams
    • F25J2235/50—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams the fluid being oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2250/00—Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
    • F25J2250/02—Bath type boiler-condenser using thermo-siphon effect, e.g. with natural or forced circulation or pool boiling, i.e. core-in-kettle heat exchanger
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2250/00—Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
    • F25J2250/04—Down-flowing type boiler-condenser, i.e. with evaporation of a falling liquid film

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Emergency Medicine (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to equipment for separating air that includes a first average pressure distillation column (1), a second low-pressure distillation column (2), a third low-pressure distillation column (3), a first condenser-vaporizer (9, 9A), a second condenser-vaporizer (5) arranged in the tank of the second column, a pipe (33) for supplying air to the first column, a pipe (35) for supplying a nitrogen-enriched liquid from the head of the first column to the head of the third column, at least one pipe (23) for supplying the liquid from the tank of the third column to the first condenser-vaporizer, a pipe (25) for supplying a liquid of the tank from the first column to the third column, a pipe (21) for supplying the liquid from the first condenser-vaporizer to the second column, a pipe (15, 19) for supplying gas from the head of the second column to the tank of the third column, wherein the first, second, and third columns are arranged side by side.

Description

WO 2010/142894 PCT/FR2010/051101 Apparatus and method for separating air by cryogenic distillation 5 The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for separating air by cryogenic distillation. It is known, for a conventional apparatus for separating air (of the "double column" type), to 10 install: e the low pressure column above the average pressure column with heat exchange carried out by the vaporizer; 15 0 the low pressure column and the average pressure column side-by-side, with liquid return pumps (either liquid oxygen from the low pressure column to the vaporizer-condenser or liquid nitrogen from the vaporizer-condenser to the average pressure column) and 20 pipes for transporting gas (return of gaseous oxygen from the vaporizer-condenser to the low pressure column and the transmission of gaseous nitrogen from the average pressure column to the vaporizer-condenser). 25 It is known that the first arrangement makes it possible to obtain improved energy performance as it saves loss of pressure in the gas return pipes (predominant effect) and energy from the liquid return pumps. 30 It is known, for an apparatus for separating air having two vaporizer-condensers in the low pressure column, to install: 35 * in arrangement 1: the low pressure column (with its two vaporizers) above the average pressure column (figures 1 and 4, FR-A-2724011).
WO 2010/142894 PCT/FR2010/051101 -2 e in arrangement 2: the bottom section of the low pressure column on the floor surface and the top section of the low pressure column above the average pressure column so as to carry out heat exchange 5 directly via the overhead vaporizer of the average pressure column (figures 2 and 3 of FR-A-2724011). e in arrangement 3: the low pressure column (with its two vaporizers) to the side of the average pressure 10 column (US-A-6134915, EP-A-0195065). It is known that arrangements 1 and 2 permit an equivalent energy performance to be obtained. In both cases, there is loss of pressure in the gas pipes and 15 no liquid return pump). There is no document which proposes to position the upper part of a low pressure column on the floor surface, or even an upper part of the low pressure 20 column which does not contain a condenser-reboiler. Surprisingly, for very low-energy methods using a double column with at least two vaporizers in the low pressure column, the conclusion is drawn that the best 25 performing arrangement in terms of energy consumption is to install: - the average pressure column on the floor surface, 30 - the upper section of the low pressure column on the floor surface, - the lower section of the low pressure column on the floor surface. 35 The main reason is that the difference in pressure between the average pressure column and the low pressure column is typically less than 2 bar absolute WO 2010/142894 PCT/FR2010/051101 -3 pressure, which necessitates the installation of a pump for raising liquid in the case where sections of the low pressure column are installed above the average pressure column. 5 According to a subject of the invention, an apparatus is provided for separating air comprising a first distillation column capable of operating at an average pressure, a second distillation column capable of 10 operating at a low pressure, a third distillation column capable of operating at a low pressure or at the low pressure, a first condenser-vaporizer, a second condenser-vaporizer arranged in the bottom of the second column, a pipe for supplying air at least to the 15 first column, a pipe for supplying a nitrogen-enriched liquid from the head of the first column to the head of the third column, at least one pipe for supplying liquid from the bottom of the third column to the first condenser-vaporizer, a pipe for supplying a liquid from 20 the bottom of the first column to the third column, a pipe for supplying liquid from the first condenser vaporizer to the second column, a pipe for supplying overhead gas from the second column to the bottom of the third column, the first, second and third columns 25 being arranged side-by-side, possibly all being arranged on a floor surface. Preferably, the second column contains at least a third condenser-vaporizer placed above the second condenser 30 vaporizer. An apparatus element, for example a liquid oxygen vaporizer, capable of operating at a cryogenic temperature, may be arranged below one of the columns 35 and wherein the two other columns and the element are placed directly on the floor surface.
WO 2010/142894 PCT/FR2010/051101 -4 Pressurization means may be connected to the bottom of the second column and to the liquid oxygen vaporizer. The first condenser-vaporizer may be above the first 5 column and connected to the head of the first column to permit reboiling by a gas from the first column. Preferably, the apparatus comprises just one pump connected to two of the columns. 10 The pump may be connected to the two pipes for supplying liquid from the bottom of the second column to the first condenser-reboiler. 15 A gas pipe may connect the first condenser to the bottom of the third column. The head of the second column and/or the third column may be at a lower level than the first condenser 20 reboiler and preferably lower than the head of the first column. The packing densities in the first column may be lower than the packing densities of the second column and/or 25 of the third column. Preferably, the third column does not contain a condenser-reboiler. 30 The second column may also contain a third condenser reboiler in addition to means for exchanging heat and material arranged above the third condenser-reboiler. The pipe for supplying overhead gas from the second 35 column to the bottom of the third column may be connected to a pipe for gas vaporized in the first condenser-reboiler.
WO 2010/142894 PCT/FR2010/051101 -5 The apparatus element is preferably a liquid oxygen vaporizer, arranged below the third column. The difference in pressure between the operating 5 pressure of the first column and the pressure of at least one of the second and third columns is preferably less than 3 bar, preferably 2.5 bar, preferably 2 bar. The difference in pressure between the operating 10 pressure of the top of the second column and the bottom of the third column may be less than 1 bar, preferably less than 0.5 bar, preferably less than 0.2 bar. The invention will be disclosed in more detail by 15 referring to the figures which show apparatuses for separating air according to the invention. In figure 1, the apparatus comprises a first column 1 operating at an average pressure, a second column 2 20 operating at a low pressure and a third column 3 operating at a low pressure which is slightly less than that of the second column 2, the low pressure columns preferably operating at a difference in pressure of less than 500 mbar (and preferably 200 mbar) measured 25 between the bottom of the column 3 and the top of the column 2. The difference in pressure between the average pressure column 1 and the low pressure column 2 or 3, measured in the middle of each column is less than 3 bar, preferably 2.5 bar, preferably 2 bar. 30 The three columns 1, 2, 3 are placed on the floor surface 27, but the third column 3 is raised as a product vaporizer 11 is placed below said column. It is naturally possible to place the vaporizer 11 elsewhere 35 and to place the column 3 directly on the floor surface 27. The floor surface 27 consists of a concrete base or other planar surface.
WO 2010/142894 PCT/FR2010/051101 -6 A compressed air flow 33, which is purified and cooled is passed into the bottom of the first column 1 where it is separated, forming an oxygen-enriched flow 25 and a nitrogen-enriched flow. The oxygen-enriched flow 25 5 is passed to a lower level of the third column 3. The nitrogen-enriched flow condenses in the overhead condenser 9 of the first column. Said condenser 9 is cooled by a flow of liquid 23 pumped from the bottom of the third column 3 and pressurized by a pump 13 which 10 is also placed on the floor surface 27. The vaporized liquid 17 from the condenser 9 is mixed with an overhead gas 15 of the second column 2 to form a gaseous flow 19 which supplies the bottom of the third column 3. The head of the column of the second column 2 15 is supplied by a liquid 21 from the condenser 9. The second column 2 contains one or two, or more, reboilers, including a bottom reboiler 5 and possibly an intermediate reboiler 7. Said reboilers may be 20 heated up by any suitable means, including an air flow, whether cold compressed or not, or a nitrogen flow, whether cold compressed or not. A flow of gaseous or liquid oxygen 29 is withdrawn at a low level of the second column 2. Said flow of liquid may be pressurized 25 by a pump (not shown) and passed to the vaporizer 11 to form a pressurized gaseous flow. A liquid nitrogen flow 35 is expanded in a valve and passed to the head of the third column 3 and a 30 nitrogen-enriched gaseous flow 31 is withdrawn at the head of the third column 3. Preferably, the head of the third column 3 is lower than the head of the first column 1, thus facilitating this transfer by gravitational flow. 35 The difference between figure 2 and figure 1 is that figure 1 shows a condenser 9 which is a bath vaporizer, whilst figure 2 shows a film vaporizer 9. In this case, WO 2010/142894 PCT/FR2010/051101 -7 the flow 21 withdrawn from the condenser is a two-phase flow and passed to the head of the second column as in figure 1. No flow 17 is produced. 5 Figures 3 and 4 are variants of figures 1 and 2, respectively showing the case where the vaporizer 11 is absent or placed elsewhere other than below one of the columns. In this case, the three columns rest directly on the floor surface 27. 10 Figures 5 and 6 respectively show variants of figures 1 and 2, where the second column contains just one reboiler, the bottom reboiler 5. In this case, the second column is naturally shorter. The bottom reboiler 15 5 may be heated by nitrogen or air, which is possibly compressed, or possibly cold compressed. According to the invention, it is understood that at most one, or even two, pumps are necessary. The first 20 pump is the pump 13 used for raising liquid from the bottom of the third column to the overhead condenser of the first column. The second pump, used in the case where the oxygen is required in pressurized form, is used to pressurize the liquid oxygen. For raising the 25 other liquids, such as the liquid 25, the difference in pressure between the columns should suffice to entrain the liquid. The first column 1 contains relatively low packing 30 densities (for example a density of 250 to 500 m 2 /m 3 ) and the second and/or third column contains relatively high packing densities (600 to 1000 m 2 /m 3 ) in order to achieve the highest possible first column 1, and the lowest possible second and/or third column 2, 3 so that 35 the flow may take place by gravitational force between the vaporizer located above the first column to the second and/or to the third column. The passage of the WO 2010/142894 PCT/FR2010/051101 -8 liquids in the pipes 21, 35 is facilitated in this manner.

Claims (14)

1. An apparatus for separating air comprising a first distillation column (1) capable of operating at an 5 average pressure, a second distillation column (2) capable of operating at a low pressure, a third distillation column (3) capable of operating at a low pressure or at the low pressure, a first condenser vaporizer (9, 9A), a second condenser-vaporizer (5) 10 arranged in the bottom of the second column, a pipe (33) for supplying air at least to the first column, a pipe (35) for supplying a nitrogen-enriched liquid from the head of the first column to the head of the third column, at least one pipe (23) for supplying liquid 15 from the bottom of the third column to the first condenser-vaporizer, a pipe (25) for supplying a liquid from the bottom of the first column to the third column, a pipe (21) for supplying liquid from the first condenser-vaporizer to the second column, a pipe (15, 20 19) for supplying overhead gas from the second column to the bottom of the third column, the first, second and third columns being arranged side-by-side, possibly all being arranged on a floor surface (27). 25
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an apparatus element, for example a liquid oxygen vaporizer (11) capable of operating at a cryogenic temperature, is arranged below one of the columns (1, 2, 3) and wherein the two other columns and the element 30 are placed directly on the floor surface.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, comprising means for pressurization connected to the bottom of the second column (2) and to the liquid oxygen vaporizer 35 (11).
4. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the first condenser-vaporizer (9, 9A) WO 2010/142894 PCT/FR2010/051101 - 10 is above the first column (1) and is connected to the head of the first column to permit reboiling by a gas from the first column.
5 5. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, comprising just one pump (13) connected to two of the columns.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the 10 pump (13) is connected to the two pipes (23) for supplying liquid from the bottom of the second column (2) to the first condenser-reboiler (9, 9A).
7. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding 15 claims, comprising a gas pipe (17, 19) connecting the first condenser-reboiler (9) to the bottom of the third column (3).
8. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding 20 claims, wherein the head of the second column (2) and/or the third column (3) is at a lower level than the first condenser-reboiler (9, 9A) and preferably lower than the head of the first column (1) and the packing densities in the first column (1) may be lower 25 than the packing densities of the second column (2) and/or of the third column (3).
9. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the third column does not contain a 30 condenser-reboiler.
10. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the second column (2) also contains a third condenser-reboiler (7) in addition to means for 35 exchanging heat and material arranged above the third condenser-reboiler. WO 2010/142894 PCT/FR2010/051101 - 11
11. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe (15, 19) for supplying overhead gas from the second column to the bottom of the third column is connected to a pipe (17) for gas 5 vaporized in the first condenser-reboiler (9).
12. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus element is a liquid oxygen vaporizer (11), arranged below the third column 10 (3).
13. A method for separating air using an apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the difference in pressure between the operating pressure 15 of the first column (1) and the pressure of at least one of the second and third columns (2, 3) is less than 3 bar, preferably 2.5 bar, preferably 2 bar.
14. The method for separating air using an apparatus 20 as claimed in one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the difference in pressure between the operating pressure of the top of the second column (2) and the bottom of the third column (3) is less than 1 bar, preferably less than 0.5 bar, preferably less than 0.2 bar.
AU2010258490A 2009-06-12 2010-06-04 Apparatus and method for separating air by cryogenic distillation Ceased AU2010258490B2 (en)

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CA2762315A1 (en) 2010-12-16
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US20120118013A1 (en) 2012-05-17
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