DE819988C - Process for separating gas mixtures according to their molecular weights - Google Patents

Description

Process for separating gas mixtures according to their molecular weights To the natural oxygen content of the air for furnaces. Gas generators, metallurgy and to increase ceramics, are the well-known technical manufacturing processes of pure oxygen, such as fractional distillation of liquid air and water electrolysis Too expensive for the large quantities used. The thermal diffusion could so far, despite the very good selectivity of the Clusius method, for large amounts of gas technically cannot be used because their thermal efficiency is too unfavorable.

According to new theoretical knowledge, the undisturbed, purely thermal Movement of the gas molecules in faded out rays in a pure vacuum is not one steady, uniform, relative, but a graduated, quantum, absolute. When gases flow through technically obtained pressure differences in straight tubes, Channels etc. with a uniform cross-section and smooth walls are superimposed on the gradual movement of the individual molecules of the uniform, parallel aligned Flow movement of the whole gas mass. In an isothermal gas mixture, at horizontal flow, by a kind of interference the light molecules upwards, the heavy pushed down.

According to the new method, by flowing in a uniform, Isothermal current obtained by blower through horizontal, thermally insulated, empty Separation channels gas mixtures, e.g. B. air, approximately into several components according to molecular weights divided up. A better and faster separation effect is achieved by combining achieved with the already known thermal diffusion.

To avoid convection and eddy currents, the temperature must be Walls and gases should be the same as possible, but it is not at a certain height bound.

Fig. I is the schematic longitudinal section of a separating channel with a rectangular Cross-section. The temperature and speed of the gas mixture are controlled by a short, slightly permeable, vertically arranged equalizer I with fillers Balanced from metal with good thermal conductivity. The gas flow in which the light Molecules have partially or completely separated from the heavy ones at the end of the separation channel divided by horizontal dividers 2 and the so separated portions flowing sucked off. The spacing and number of dividers depend on the composition of the gas mixture: and number of the desired fractions. The current in the separation channel is by adjustable flow regulator 3 against the inevitable pressure fluctuations in the pipelines protected.

The separation can take place in continuous flow on several stages in series Separation channels are distributed, each of which until the desired purity is achieved takes up a pre-separated share. In the case of very large quantities, the first Levels are divided into several parallel-connected separation channels, their equivalent Shares are combined for further separation. To save space and space, you can the dividing channels with a rectangular cross-section next to or on top of each other with alternating Current direction can be established.

The thermal diffusion takes place in a gas mixture in which there is a temperature gradient a migration of the light molecules to the places of high temperatures is obtained. The in itself low separation effect is in a static gas mixture by the disordered Heat movement is canceled again, so it can only be used in flowing gas layers will.

K. C 1 u 5 i u 5 used according to patent specification 701 oI6 for small Gas quantities in high separating tubes the temperature difference required for thermal diffusion, at the same time through the thermosiphon effect in a closed circuit flow that is to be separated To feed the mixture in countercurrent in laminar layers past each other. After the Patent specifications 544 386 and 733 079 is the gas mixture to be separated in the open Flow passed through tubular separators with a radial temperature gradient. According to 733 079, the well-known diffusion separation of gas mixtures is replaced by porous Walls, due to a high temperature difference between these porous walls and the other walls delimiting the diffusion space, combined with thermal diffusion. In order to increase the separation effect, the separation space is completely or partially filled with z. B. stoneware balls filled. The three processes are technically larger for separating Gas quantities have not been used, nor are any other applications of thermal diffusion known for these purposes.

To the new separation process by interference buoyancy with the thermal diffusion to be combined, heating and cooling elements are to be installed in the equalizer (Fig. 2, No. 4) that a uniform temperature gradient is maintained from top to bottom, which is transferred to the gases flowing through the large metal surface. In the case of air, radiators are sufficient as the lower unheated layers of the equalizer be cooled by the air flow itself. In order for the thermal diffusion the uniform Gas flow in overflowing, almost isothermal layers with von up to divide down falling temperature in which the gas molecules separate up and down according to their molecular weight by buoyancy and thermal diffusion, there are three possible designs: I. Fig. 2. Following the equalizer the separating channel is created by heatable, horizontal intermediate floors that are easily permeable to gases of reticulated or parallel tensioned electrical resistance wires 5 in the same high, superimposed micro-separation channels divided. The temperature of the intermediate floors is to be set so that it follows an evenly graduated temperature gradient form below and in each micro-separation channel the same temperature difference between upper and lower intermediate shelf is retained. Flows in the micro-separation channels the divided gas flow in laminar isothermal layers in which the light Molecules upwards, the heavy ones pushing downwards into the next micro-separation channel.

2. Fig. 3. Small, Evenly spaced, parallel, good heat-conducting metal sheets are attached through which the gas flow in narrow isothermal layers with graduated temperature gradients is divided, floating on top of each other due to their different specific gravity remain separated even in the empty part of the separation channel.

3. Fig. 4. The whole separation channel is acting as a compensator Packing body made of highly thermally conductive metal with built-in heating and if necessary Filled with heat sinks, which divide the gas flow into narrow layers.

The intermediate floors, which must be easily permeable to gases, and the fillers only serve to transfer their temperature to the gases and to distribute them of the gas flow, but not as porous separating layers.

In all three versions, the gas flow is at the end of the separation channels divided by metal dividers. Due to the better separating effect, in the case of multi-component mixtures several fractions can be won at the same time.

Thanks to the quick and easy temperature equalization between the large metal surfaces and the gases flowing through is the thermal beneficial effect the combined process is particularly favorable. The temperature difference can be proportionate kept low and thus .hwärme from heating gases very economical for heating the radiator can be used for any other technical heating medium can be applied. The combined methods can very largely be used separating gas quantities, the required purity of the portions to be recovered and the available heat or other heat sources. The cheapest The ratio of the factors causing the separation is to be determined by test series, in which all factors except one to be changed according to plan are to be kept constant are.

The combined methods I and 3 are not just for separating of gases, but can also be used for separating vapors according to their Nilol weight, when the lowest temperature is kept above the lowest dew point, e.g. B. for the separation of alcohol and water, nenzene and benzine hydrocarbons, for drying gases and vapors, since water vapor with a molecular weight of I8 is essential is lighter than almost all technically used gases and vapors.

PATE NTA N 51 'B c E: 1. Procedure for separating gases according to their Molecular weights, characterized in that the gas mixture to be separated in a uniform, isothermal current flows through horizontal, empty separating channels (Fig. I).

Claims (1)

2. The method according to claim I, characterized in that when flowing in into the separation channels temperature and speed of the gas mixture through an easy Permeable compensator balanced with fillers made of highly thermally conductive metal be (Fig. I, Nur. '). 3. The method according to claim I and 2, characterized in that on End of the dividing channels the gas flow through horizontal dividing plates (Fig. I to 4, No. 2) is divided and the so separated parts are sucked off fluently. 4. The method according to claim I to 3, characterized in that the Gas flow in the separation channels through adjustable flow regulators (Fig. 1 to 4, No. 3) is protected from the pressure fluctuations in the pipelines. 5. The method according to claim I to 4, characterized in that the Separation in continuous flow on several stages in series Separation channels is distributed. 6. The method according to claim I to 5, characterized in that for Increasing the separation effect through simultaneous thermal diffusion in the equalizer built-in heating elements and, if necessary, heat sinks (fig. 2 to 4, no. 4) a uniform one Temperature gradient from top to bottom is maintained on the flowing through Gas flow is transmitted, and following the equalizer through the separation channel heatable, horizontal intermediate floors that are easily permeable to gases (Fig. 2, No. 5), whose temperature is set so that it has a uniformly graduated temperature gradient from top to bottom, divided into superimposed micro-separation channels which divide the gas flow into isothermal laminar layers in which the Separate light molecules from heavy ones. 7. The method according to claim I to 6, characterized in that on the equalizer parallel, good heat-conducting metal sheets with small, even Distances are set (Fig. 3, No. 6), which narrow the gas flow in isothermal lines Divide layers with graduated temperature gradients, which, by their different, specific weight floating on top of each other, also in the empty part of the separating channels remain separate, in which the light molecules separate from the heavy ones. 8. The method according to claim I to 7, characterized in that the entire separating channel through fillers made of good heat-conducting material, which act as a compensator Metal is filled with built-in heaters and, if necessary, heat sinks (Fig. 4, No. 4), which divide the gas flow into narrow layers in which the light Separate molecules from heavy ones.