EP0710809A1 - Process and apparatus for expanding and compressing at least one gaseous stream - Google Patents

Process and apparatus for expanding and compressing at least one gaseous stream Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0710809A1
EP0710809A1 EP95402338A EP95402338A EP0710809A1 EP 0710809 A1 EP0710809 A1 EP 0710809A1 EP 95402338 A EP95402338 A EP 95402338A EP 95402338 A EP95402338 A EP 95402338A EP 0710809 A1 EP0710809 A1 EP 0710809A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flow
stage
compressor
booster
sending
Prior art date
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Application number
EP95402338A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0710809B1 (en
Inventor
Bihan Hervé Le
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Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Original Assignee
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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Publication of EP0710809A1 publication Critical patent/EP0710809A1/en
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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
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04012—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of warm gaseous streams; details of intake or interstage cooling
    • F25J3/04018—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of warm gaseous streams; details of intake or interstage cooling of main feed air
    • 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
    • F25J3/04109—Arrangements of compressors and /or their drivers
    • F25J3/04139—Combination of different types of drivers mechanically coupled to the same compressor, possibly split on multiple compressor casings
    • 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
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04284—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams
    • F25J3/04309—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of nitrogen
    • 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
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04284—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams
    • F25J3/04309—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of nitrogen
    • F25J3/04315—Lowest pressure or impure nitrogen, so-called waste nitrogen expansion
    • 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
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04375—Details relating to the work expansion, e.g. process parameter etc.
    • F25J3/04381—Details relating to the work expansion, e.g. process parameter etc. using work extraction by mechanical coupling of compression and expansion so-called companders
    • 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
    • F25J3/04412—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 in a classical double column flowsheet, i.e. with thermal coupling by a main reboiler-condenser in the bottom of low pressure respectively top of high 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
    • F25J2200/20—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification in an elevated pressure multiple column system wherein the lowest pressure column is at a pressure well above the minimum pressure needed to overcome pressure drop to reject the products to atmosphere
    • 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
    • F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
    • F25J2230/24—Multiple compressors or compressor stages in parallel
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/902—Apparatus
    • Y10S62/91—Expander

Definitions

  • EP-A-0.557.935 describes a process of this type, in which the first flow is air to be distilled, the second flow is nitrogen at the medium pressure boosted in booster 110 and third flow is a waste gas expanded in turbine 113 which is coupled to the booster.
  • DE-A-28.54.508 describes a process of this type, in which a part of the air is first boosted in the booster then expanded in a turbine coupled to the booster, and then sent to the column low pressure of a double column.
  • DE-A-25.57.453 describes a solution to this problem with a process whereby the second flow is a fraction of the first flow, which is the air to be distilled.
  • the second flow booster 5 is coupled to a turbine 6 which serves to relax the nitrogen gas at medium pressure (the third flow).
  • the prior art then recommends recovering the energy from the turbine on a generator or dissipating energy on an oil brake.
  • the invention aims to improve energy performance or reduce the investment costs of these known methods.
  • An air flow is sent to a multistage compressor 5 5A, 5B, 5C. After being compressed in the first stage 5A, the flow is divided in two. A first flow is compressed in the second stage 5B. A second flow 2 is boosted by a booster 7 to a pressure close to that of stage 5B and then mixed at the first flow. All the flow of reconstituted air is compressed in stage 5C before being cooled in the exchange line 11 and sent to the distillation column 13, to be there separate.
  • One of the products of the separation is a flow of nitrogen 3 withdrawn from the head of the medium pressure column 13 at a pressure of approximately 6 bar.
  • a fraction 31 is relaxed to a pressure close to the pressure atmospheric in turbine 9 then sent to the cold end of the line of exchange in which it heats up by yielding its frigories to the flow of air sent to the distillation.
  • the turbine 9 is coupled to the booster 7 and so part of the expansion energy is used to boost the second flow air 2.
  • the invention could be realized in a installation comprising a single-stage compressor, a booster and a turbine coupled to the booster.
  • a single-stage compressor a booster and a turbine coupled to the booster.
  • We would compress a first flow of one gas mixture in the compressor and a second flow of a mixture gas in the booster, the two compressed gas mixture flows then being mixed.
  • gas mixtures can be gases almost pure and that the gas mixtures compressed by the compressor and the booster do not necessarily have the same composition.

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

Abstract

The procedure consists of compressing a first flow of a gas mixture in a compressor (5) with at least one compression stage (5A, 5B, 5C), compressing a second gas mixture flow to a higher pressure in a compressor (7), expanding a third flow of a gas mixture in an expander (9), recuperating at least part of the energy generated by the expander with the compressor (7), and feeding at least part of the second flow back to one stage (5B) of compressor (5). The first and second flows are of air destined to be distilled in an air distillation plant, while the third gas flow is a product of the distillation plant (13). Appts. is also claimed.

Description

La présente invention est relative à un procédé et à une installation de compression et de détente d'au moins un flux gazeux, procédé du type selon lequel :

  • on comprime un premier débit d'un mélange gazeux dans un compresseur à au moins un étage ;
  • on surpresse un deuxième débit d'un mélange gazeux dans un surpresseur;
  • on détend un troisième débit d'un mélange gazeux dans une machine de détente ; et
  • on récupère au moins une partie de l'énergie générée par la machine de détente avec le surpresseur.
The present invention relates to a process and an installation for compressing and expanding at least one gas flow, a process of the type in which:
  • a first flow of a gas mixture is compressed in a compressor with at least one stage;
  • a second flow rate of a gaseous mixture is boosted in a booster;
  • a third flow of a gas mixture is expanded in an expansion machine; and
  • at least part of the energy generated by the expansion machine is recovered with the booster.

EP-A-0.557.935 décrit un procédé de ce type, dans lequel le premier débit est de l'air à distiller, le deuxième débit est de l'azote à la moyenne pression surpressé dans le surpresseur 110 et le troisième débit est un gaz résiduaire détendu dans la turbine 113 qui est couplée au surpresseur. EP-A-0.557.935 describes a process of this type, in which the first flow is air to be distilled, the second flow is nitrogen at the medium pressure boosted in booster 110 and third flow is a waste gas expanded in turbine 113 which is coupled to the booster.

DE-A-28.54.508 décrit un procédé de ce type, dans lequel une partie de l'air est d'abord surpressée dans le surpresseur puis détendue dans une turbine couplée au surpresseur, et ensuite envoyée à la colonne basse pression d'une double colonne. DE-A-28.54.508 describes a process of this type, in which a part of the air is first boosted in the booster then expanded in a turbine coupled to the booster, and then sent to the column low pressure of a double column.

Ces procédés, en augmentant le taux de détente dans la turbine, permettent de réduire le débit turbiné à production frigorifique donnée ou d'augmenter la production frigorifique à débit turbiné constant avec, en général, une amélioration des performances de l'installation. These processes, by increasing the expansion rate in the turbine, reduce the turbine flow at a given refrigeration output or to increase the refrigeration production at constant turbine flow with, in general improvement of installation performance.

Dans certains cas, il n'y a pas de moyen simple de réaliser un procédé de ce type ou simplement de récupérer sur un surpresseur l'énergie mécanique produite par la turbine. Par exemple, quand la turbine détend de l'azote soutiré de la colonne moyenne pression d'une installation de séparation d'air, il est peu intéressant de réchauffer cet azote, disponible à basse température afin de le comprimer et de le refroidir ensuite pour l'envoyer à la turbine, ce qui augmente l'investissement dans la ligne d'échange. In some cases, there is no simple way to achieve process of this type or simply recovering the energy from a booster mechanics produced by the turbine. For example, when the turbine expands nitrogen withdrawn from the medium pressure column of a air separation, it is not very interesting to heat this nitrogen, available at low temperature in order to compress it and then cool it to send it to the turbine, which increases investment in the line exchange.

DE-A-25.57.453 décrit une solution à ce problème avec un procédé selon lequel le deuxième débit constitue une fraction du premier débit, qui est l'air à distiller. Le surpresseur 5 du deuxième débit est couplé à une turbine 6 qui sert à détendre l'azote gazeux à moyenne pression (le troisième débit). DE-A-25.57.453 describes a solution to this problem with a process whereby the second flow is a fraction of the first flow, which is the air to be distilled. The second flow booster 5 is coupled to   a turbine 6 which serves to relax the nitrogen gas at medium pressure (the third flow).

Toujours dans le cas de DE-A-28.54.508, il peut se faire que la production frigorifique désirée nécessite un débit turbiné inférieur ou égal à ce que permet la distillation. Ici, la réduction du débit d'air turbiné n'apporte aucune économie et il n'y a alors aucun intérêt à augmenter la pression d'aspiration de la turbine puisque l'on n'est pas intéressé par la réduction du débit turbiné qui en résulte. Still in the case of DE-A-28.54.508, it may happen that the desired refrigeration production requires turbine flow less than or equal to what distillation allows. Here, reducing the flow of turbined air does not bring no savings and there is no point in increasing the pressure of the turbine since we are not interested in reducing the resulting turbine flow.

L'art antérieur préconise alors de récupérer l'énergie de la turbine sur une génératrice ou de dissiper de l'énergie sur un frein à huile. The prior art then recommends recovering the energy from the turbine on a generator or dissipating energy on an oil brake.

L'invention a pour but d'améliorer les performances énergétiques ou de réduire les coûts d'investissement de ces procédés connus. The invention aims to improve energy performance or reduce the investment costs of these known methods.

A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet un procédé du type précité, caractérisé en ce que :

  • on envoie au moins une partie du deuxième débit surpressé en aval d'un étage du compresseur.
To this end, the subject of the invention is a method of the aforementioned type, characterized in that:
  • at least part of the second boosted flow is sent downstream of a stage of the compressor.

L'invention a également pour objet une installation de compression et de détente d'au moins un flux gazeux comprenant :

  • un compresseur à au moins un étage ;
  • un surpresseur;
  • une machine de détente couplée au surpresseur;
  • des moyens pour envoyer un premier débit d'un mélange gazeux au compresseur ;
  • des moyens pour envoyer un deuxième débit d'un mélange gazeux au surpresseur et pour envoyer au moins une partie du deuxième débit surpressé en aval d'un étage du compresseur; et
  • des moyens pour envoyer un troisième débit à l'aspiration de la machine de détente.
The subject of the invention is also an installation for compressing and expanding at least one gas flow comprising:
  • a compressor with at least one stage;
  • a booster;
  • an expansion machine coupled to the booster;
  • means for sending a first flow of a gas mixture to the compressor;
  • means for sending a second flow of a gaseous mixture to the booster and for sending at least part of the second boosted flow downstream of a stage of the compressor; and
  • means for sending a third flow to the suction of the expansion machine.

D'autres caractéristiques et les avantages de la présente invention ressortiront de la description suivante d'un mode de réalisation donné à titre illustratif mais nullement limitatif, faite en relation avec le dessin annexé, sur lequel :

  • la figure unique représente schématiquement une installation conforme à l'invention.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of an embodiment given by way of illustration but in no way limiting, made in relation to the appended drawing, in which:
  • the single figure schematically represents an installation according to the invention.

Un flux d'air est envoyé à un compresseur 5 à plusieurs étages 5A, 5B, 5C. Après être comprimé dans le premier étage 5A, le flux est divisé en deux. Un premier débit est comprimé dans le deuxième étage 5B. Un deuxième débit 2 est surpressé par un surpresseur 7 jusqu'à une pression voisine de celle de l'étage 5B puis mélangé au premier débit. Tout le flux d'air reconstitué est comprimé dans l'étage 5C avant d'être refroidi dans la ligne d'échange 11 et envoyé à la colonne de distillation 13, pour y être séparé. An air flow is sent to a multistage compressor 5 5A, 5B, 5C. After being compressed in the first stage 5A, the flow is divided in two. A first flow is compressed in the second stage 5B. A second flow 2 is boosted by a booster 7 to a pressure close to that of stage 5B and then mixed at the first flow. All the flow of reconstituted air is compressed in stage 5C before being cooled in the exchange line 11 and sent to the distillation column 13, to be there separate.

Un des produits de la séparation est un débit d'azote 3 soutiré de la tête de la colonne moyenne pression 13 à une pression d'environ 6 bar. Après avoir été réchauffé partiellement dans la ligne d'échange 11, une fraction 31 est détendue à une pression voisine de la pression atmosphérique dans la turbine 9 puis envoyée au bout froid de la ligne d'échange dans laquelle elle se réchauffe en cédant ses frigories au flux d'air envoyé à la distillation. La turbine 9 est couplée au surpresseur 7 et donc une partie de l'énergie de détente sert à surpresser le deuxième débit d'air 2. One of the products of the separation is a flow of nitrogen 3 withdrawn from the head of the medium pressure column 13 at a pressure of approximately 6 bar. After having been partially reheated in exchange line 11, a fraction 31 is relaxed to a pressure close to the pressure atmospheric in turbine 9 then sent to the cold end of the line of exchange in which it heats up by yielding its frigories to the flow of air sent to the distillation. The turbine 9 is coupled to the booster 7 and so part of the expansion energy is used to boost the second flow air 2.

En variante, on peut turbiner une fraction de l'azote impur ou de l'azote pur soutirés de la colonne basse pression d'une double colonne sous pression, après réchauffement partiel dans la ligne d'échange 11 et envoyer cet azote au bout froid de la ligne d'échange 11. Alternatively, a fraction of the impure nitrogen or of pure nitrogen withdrawn from the low pressure column from a double column under pressure, after partial heating in exchange line 11 and send this nitrogen at the cold end of the exchange line 11.

En variante encore, on peut turbiner au moins une partie de l'azote produit dans une simple colonne type HPN, ou le résiduaire, après vaporisation dans le condenseur de tête de cette colonne. L'azote ou le résiduaire sont réchauffés partiellement dans la ligne d'échange. In another variant, it is possible to turbinate at least part of the nitrogen produced in a simple HPN column, or the waste, after vaporization in the head condenser of this column. Nitrogen or waste are partially heated in the exchange line.

On pourrait également envisager d'utiliser un deuxième surpresseur couplé soit à la turbine 9, soit à une turbine indépendante. On alimenterait ce deuxième surpresseur avec de l'air soutiré en amont de l'étage 5A, au moins une partie de l'air surpressé étant renvoyée en amont de l'étage 5B et en aval de l'étage 5A. We could also consider using a second booster coupled either to turbine 9 or to an independent turbine. We would supply this second booster with air drawn upstream of stage 5A, at least part of the compressed air being returned upstream of stage 5B and downstream of stage 5A.

En faisant varier les taux de compression du surpresseur 7 et des étages du compresseur 5, on pourrait renvoyer le débit de gaz surpressé au refoulement de l'étage 5C, au lieu de celui de l'étage 5B. By varying the compression ratios of booster 7 and compressor 5 stages, we could send the boost gas flow back to the delivery of stage 5C, instead of that of stage 5B.  

De façon plus simple, l'invention pourrait se réaliser dans une installation comprenant un compresseur à un étage, un surpresseur et une turbine couplée au surpresseur. On comprimerait un premier débit d'un mélange gazeux dans le compresseur et un deuxième débit d'un mélange gazeux dans le surpresseur, les deux débits de mélange gazeux comprimés étant ensuite mélangés. More simply, the invention could be realized in a installation comprising a single-stage compressor, a booster and a turbine coupled to the booster. We would compress a first flow of one gas mixture in the compressor and a second flow of a mixture gas in the booster, the two compressed gas mixture flows then being mixed.

Il est à noter que les mélanges gazeux peuvent être des gaz quasiment purs et que les mélanges gazeux comprimés par le compresseur et le surpresseur n'ont pas forcément la même composition. It should be noted that the gas mixtures can be gases almost pure and that the gas mixtures compressed by the compressor and the booster do not necessarily have the same composition.

Claims (12)

Procédé de compression et de détente d'au moins un flux gazeux dans lequel : a) on comprime un premier débit d'un mélange gazeux dans un compresseur (5) à au moins un étage de compression (5A, 5B, 5C) ; b) on surpresse un deuxième débit d'un mélange gazeux dans un surpresseur (7); c) on détend un troisième débit d'un mélange gazeux dans une machine de détente (9) ; d) on récupère au moins une partie de l'énergie générée par la machine de détente avec le surpresseur (7) et e) on envoie au moins une partie du deuxième débit surpressé en aval d'un étage (5B) du compresseur. Method for compressing and expanding at least one gas flow in which: a) a first flow of a gas mixture is compressed in a compressor (5) with at least one compression stage (5A, 5B, 5C); b) a second flow of a gaseous mixture is boosted in a booster (7); c) a third flow of a gas mixture is expanded in an expansion machine (9); d) at least part of the energy generated by the expansion machine is recovered with the booster (7) and e) at least part of the second boosted flow is sent downstream of a stage (5B) of the compressor. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel on comprime le premier et le deuxième débit dans au moins un étage (5A) du compresseur avant d'envoyer le deuxième débit au surpresseur. Method according to claim 1, in which the first and second flow in at least one stage (5A) of the compressor before sending the second flow to the booster. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel ledit étage du compresseur est le premier étage (5A). The method of claim 2, wherein said stage of the compressor is the first stage (5A). Procédé selon la revendication 2 ou 3, dans lequel on dérive le deuxième débit en amont d'un étage du compresseur et on renvoie au moins une partie dudit deuxième débit surpressé en aval de cet étage. Method according to claim 2 or 3, in which the second flow upstream of a compressor stage and return at least part of said second boosted flow downstream of this stage. Procédé selon la revendication 4, dans lequel le point de dérivation du deuxième débit et le point de renvoi de celui-ci sont séparés par au moins un étage de compression. The method of claim 4, wherein the point of bypass of the second flow and the point of return thereof are separated by at least one compression stage. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le premier débit et le deuxième débit sont distillés, après compression, dans un appareil de distillation, et le troisième débit est un produit gazeux soutiré de l'appareil. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first flow and the second flow are distilled, after compression, in a distillation apparatus, and the third flow is a gaseous product withdrawn from the device. Procédé selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le premier et le deuxième débits sont des débits d'air. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and the second flow rates are air flow rates. Procédé selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le troisième débit est soit de l'azote soutiré d'une colonne moyenne pression de l'appareil, soit de l'azote impur soutiré de la colonne basse pression d'une double colonne sous pression. The method of claim 7, wherein the third rate is either nitrogen drawn from a medium pressure column of the device, or impure nitrogen withdrawn from the low pressure column of a double column under pressure.   Installation de compression et de détente d'au moins un flux gazeux comprenant : un compresseur (5) à au moins un étage (5A, 5B, 5C) ; un surpresseur (7) ; une machine de détente (9) couplée au surpresseur (7) ; des moyens pour envoyer un premier débit (1) d'un mélange gazeux au compresseur; des moyens pour envoyer un deuxième débit (2) d'un mélange gazeux au surpresseur et pour envoyer au moins une partie du deuxième débit surpressé en aval d'un étage (5B) du compresseur ; et des moyens pour envoyer un troisième débit à l'aspiration de la machine de détente. Installation for compressing and expanding at least one gas flow comprising: a compressor (5) with at least one stage (5A, 5B, 5C); a booster (7); an expansion machine (9) coupled to the booster (7); means for sending a first flow (1) of a gas mixture to the compressor; means for sending a second flow (2) of a gas mixture to the booster and for sending at least part of the second boosted flow downstream of a stage (5B) of the compressor; and means for sending a third flow to the suction of the expansion machine. Installation selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle le premier et le deuxième débits sont des débits d'air destinés à être distillés dans un appareil de distillation d'air, et le troisième débit un produit de cette installation. Installation according to claim 9, in which the first and the second flow rates are air flows intended to be distilled in a air distillation apparatus, and the third flow a product of this installation. Installation selon l'une des revendications 9 et 10, comprenant un premier étage (5A) du compresseur pour comprimer le premier et le deuxième débit, des moyens pour envoyer le deuxième débit du premier étage au surpresseur (7) et des moyens pour envoyer le premier débit aux deuxième (5B) et un troisième (5C) étages et au moins une partie du deuxième débit surpressé au troisième étage. Installation according to one of claims 9 and 10, comprising a first stage (5A) of the compressor to compress the first and the second flow, means for sending the second flow of the first stage at the booster (7) and means for sending the first flow to second (5B) and third (5C) floors and at least part of the second boosted flow on the third floor. Installation de séparation d'un mélange gazeux par distillation cryogénique comprenant : un compresseur (5) à au moins un étage ; un surpresseur (7) ; une machine de détente (9) couplée au surpresseur (7) ; des moyens pour envoyer un premier débit (1) d'un mélange gazeux au compresseur; des moyens pour envoyer un deuxième débit (2) d'un mélange gazeux au surpresseur et pour envoyer au moins une partie du deuxième débit (2) surpressé en aval d'un étage (5B) du compresseur ; et des moyens pour envoyer un troisième débit d'un mélange gazeux à l'aspiration de la machine de détente. Installation for separating a gas mixture by cryogenic distillation comprising: a compressor (5) with at least one stage; a booster (7); an expansion machine (9) coupled to the booster (7); means for sending a first flow (1) of a gas mixture to the compressor; means for sending a second flow (2) of a gas mixture to the booster and for sending at least part of the second boosted flow (2) downstream of a stage (5B) of the compressor; and means for sending a third flow of a gaseous mixture to the suction of the expansion machine.
EP95402338A 1994-10-25 1995-10-20 Process and apparatus for compressing a gaseous mixture to be distilled and for expanding at least one gaseous stream Expired - Lifetime EP0710809B1 (en)

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FR9412715 1994-10-25
FR9412715A FR2726046B1 (en) 1994-10-25 1994-10-25 METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR EXPANSION AND COMPRESSION OF AT LEAST ONE GAS STREAM

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EP0710809B1 (en) 2001-02-21
DE69520134T2 (en) 2001-07-19
JPH08226758A (en) 1996-09-03
CN1133392A (en) 1996-10-16
DE69520134D1 (en) 2001-03-29
CN1086445C (en) 2002-06-19
US5560223A (en) 1996-10-01
FR2726046A1 (en) 1996-04-26
BR9504523A (en) 1997-05-27
FR2726046B1 (en) 1996-12-20

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