EP1230522B1 - Evaporator-condenser and corresponding air distillation installation - Google Patents

Evaporator-condenser and corresponding air distillation installation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1230522B1
EP1230522B1 EP00958698A EP00958698A EP1230522B1 EP 1230522 B1 EP1230522 B1 EP 1230522B1 EP 00958698 A EP00958698 A EP 00958698A EP 00958698 A EP00958698 A EP 00958698A EP 1230522 B1 EP1230522 B1 EP 1230522B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heat exchanger
condenser
exchanger body
reboiler
confinement chamber
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP00958698A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1230522A1 (en
Inventor
François Fuentes
Marc Wagner
Claude Gerard
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LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Original Assignee
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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Application filed by Air Liquide SA, LAir Liquide SA a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude filed Critical Air Liquide SA
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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
    • F25J3/04763—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
    • F25J3/04006—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
    • F25J3/04412—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
    • F25J5/00—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants
    • F25J5/002—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants for continuously recuperating cold, i.e. in a so-called recuperative heat exchanger
    • F25J5/005—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants for continuously recuperating cold, i.e. in a so-called recuperative heat exchanger in a reboiler-condenser, e.g. within a column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D9/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D9/0006—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the plate-like or laminated conduits being enclosed within a pressure vessel
    • 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
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/32—Details on header or distribution passages of heat exchangers, e.g. of reboiler-condenser or plate heat exchangers
    • 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
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/42—Modularity, pre-fabrication of modules, assembling and erection, horizontal layout, i.e. plot plan, and vertical arrangement of parts of the cryogenic unit, e.g. of the cold box
    • 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
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/44—Particular materials used, e.g. copper, steel or alloys thereof or surface treatments used, e.g. enhanced surface
    • 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
    • Y10S62/903—Heat exchange structure
    • 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
    • Y10S62/905—Column

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vaporizer-condenser of the bath type, comprising at least one heat exchanger body, having a multitude of flat passages for countercurrent circulation of two fluids from one or more distillation columns, according to a same direction, and at least one sealed containment enclosure of a fluid containing the or each heat exchanger body, the enclosure of containment comprising a central section of generally cylindrical shape along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the central section of the said each containment enclosure being substantially orthogonal to the flow direction against the flow of fluids in flat passages of the corresponding heat exchanger body.
  • substantially orthogonal' includes deviations up to 30 °, or 20 °, preferably 10 ° of the strict orthogonality.
  • a vaporizer-condenser of this kind is known from DE-A-1152432 in which the confinement enclosure is delimited in part by the body heat exchanger, the liquid bath of the vaporizer being exclusively outside the containment element.
  • the invention applies in particular to distillation plants of air with double column, ie with medium pressure column connected thermally with a low pressure column, equipped with vaporizers-condensers of the aforementioned type.
  • liquid oxygen which is in the vat of the low pressure column is vaporized in the vaporizer-condenser by heat exchange with the nitrogen gas taken at the head of the medium pressure column.
  • the temperature difference between oxygen and nitrogen made necessary by the structure of the vaporizer-condenser imposes the pressure of operation of the medium pressure column.
  • a first solution would be to increase the height of the body heat exchanger of the vaporizer-condenser to increase the heat exchange surface.
  • such an increase in height induce a hydrostatic overpressure within oxygen passages that would tend to increase the temperature difference and that would harm the good operation of the vaporizer-condenser.
  • Another solution would be to multiply the number of passages dedicated to oxygen and nitrogen, for example by increasing the number of juxtaposed heat exchanger blocks that make up the body exchanger and which operate in parallel within the vaporizer-condenser.
  • the low pressure column overcomes the vaporizer-condenser which overcomes itself the medium pressure column.
  • the central section of the vaporizer-condenser sealed enclosure is then constituted by a ferrule of vertical axis of revolution. This ferrule is preferably of the same diameter as the ferrules defining the columns medium pressure and low pressure.
  • the object of the invention is to solve this problem by providing a vaporizer-condenser of the aforementioned type, which can operate with reduced temperature differences and which makes it possible in particular to produce double-column, relatively simple and low-pressure air distillation installations. expensive to build.
  • the subject of the invention is a vaporizer-condenser according to claim 1.
  • the invention further relates to an air distillation plant according to claim 13.
  • 'Substantially horizontal' means horizontal or having deviations of up to 30 °, preferably 10 ° of horizontality. Obviously the exchanger body inside the enclosure must remain horizontal for its operation to be ensured.
  • the low pressure column 3 overcomes the medium pressure column 2.
  • a vertical shell 10 maintains the head of the medium pressure column 2 spaced from the vessel of the low pressure column 3.
  • the main heat exchange line 5 comprises, in the example shown, five heat exchanger blocks 11. These exchanger blocks 11 are connected in parallel with the rest of the installation 1 but, for clarity, the connections of only one of these blocks have been shown in Figure 1. The nature of these connections will appear more clearly when describing the operation of the installation 1 which will be made later.
  • the vaporizer-condenser 4 comprises two heat exchanger bodies 13 (FIG. brazed aluminum and which are each arranged in a sealed enclosure and cylindrical 14 oxygen containment stainless steel or aluminum ( Figure 2).
  • a single heat exchanger body 13 and a single enclosure 14 for oxygen confinement are visible in FIG.
  • a vaporizer-condenser according to the invention can not have only one exchanger body and therefore a single enclosure of confinement or at least three exchanger bodies, each having its own pregnant.
  • Each body 13 has a height between 800 and 1400mm.
  • the vaporizer-condenser 4 being symmetrical with respect to a plane P whose trace is visible in Figure 4, only half of the Structure of this vaporizer-condenser 4 will be described below. So, a only heat exchanger body 13 and a single sealed enclosure 14 will therefore be described in the following.
  • the heat exchanger body 13 has a generally elongated shape along a horizontal axis X-X horizontal or substantially horizontal and comprises, in the example shown, five blocks of heat exchanger 16 with similar brazed and contiguous plates.
  • the five blocks 15 are substantially identical; their number is chosen according to the size the vaporizer, thus facilitating the dimensioning, because identical blocks will be mass produced. So there can be at least five or more five blocks 15.
  • the heat exchanger body 13 is symmetrical by relative to a longitudinal, vertical and median plane Q whose trace is visible in Figure 4.
  • Each heat exchanger block 16 comprises a stack of brazed rectangular parallel plates 17 which define two by two passages dedicated alternately to nitrogen and oxygen.
  • the spacing between the parallel plates 17 is provided by spacer waves which also fulfill the function of thermal fins.
  • the flat passages blocks are oriented transversally to the dimension longitudinal of the enclosure 14.
  • a passage 18 dedicated to nitrogen is visible in FIG.
  • the main heat exchange region 19 includes a wave spacer with vertical generators.
  • Each input distributor region 20 is in the shape of a right triangle, arranged at an upper corner 22 of the passage 18 and includes a spacer wave generators horizontal.
  • the two input distribution areas 20 meet at the median plane level Q, the major bases of these regions 20 in triangle rectangle being horizontal.
  • the structure and layout of the outlet collecting regions 21 is analogous to that of the input distributor regions 20, these regions 21 being each disposed at a lower corner 23 of the passage 18.
  • the passage 18 is closed around its periphery by bars vertical and horizontal except on the one hand at the level of the small bases 24 vertical triangular input regions 20 and small bases 25 triangular regions of exit 21, and secondly, at the level of liquid nitrogen introduction means which will be mentioned later.
  • the small bases 24 and 25 of the input and output regions 21 five heat exchanger blocks 16 form on each side of the body heat exchanger 13, respectively a series of entrance windows and a series of horizontally aligned nitrogen exit windows.
  • Each series of entrance windows 24 is hermetically capped by an input box 28 of semicircular section, which extends along the five heat exchanger blocks 16.
  • Each input box 28 is arranged in the vicinity of the corners 22 of the nitrogen passages 18 and has a height, according to the vertical, significantly higher than that of the small bases 24 of the dispensing regions entry 20.
  • Each passage of nitrogen 18 further comprises in the vicinity of the edge bottom of each box 28, means 30 for introducing into the passage 18 liquid nitrogen present in the bottom of the box 28.
  • These means 30 are in the form, for example, of a triangular region communicating with the bottom of the input box 28. Such a triangular region converges towards the plane Q and includes a spacer wave with inclined oblique generators down and inside of the passage 18. According to a variant not such means for introducing liquid nitrogen can not be not understand wave to guide liquid nitrogen or be constituted by a bar regularly pierced with orifices.
  • Each set of exit windows 25 passages 18 dedicated to the nitrogen is capped hermetically by an outlet box 32, of section semicircle radius inferior to that of the input boxes 28.
  • Each box 32 extends longitudinally along the five exchanger blocks 16.
  • Each output box 32 is arranged in the vicinity of the lower corners 23 of the passages 18 dedicated to nitrogen and has a height, according to the vertical, superior to that of the small bases 25 of the collecting regions output 21.
  • FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a passage 34 of the heat exchanger body 13 dedicated to oxygen.
  • a passage 34 like all passages 34 dedicated to oxygen, comprises a single spacer wave 35 with generators vertical.
  • This passage 34 is closed on its lateral sides by two bars vertical 36 and opens outward at its edges horizontal upper 37 and lower 38.
  • the exchanger body 13 also comprises, at its level front end (right in Figures 1 and 3) an inlet manifold 39 nitrogen gas, symmetrical with respect to plane Q.
  • This inlet manifold 39 comprises an inlet conduit 40 rectilinear and horizontal, and two ducts output 41 bent and each connected to the front end of a box entrance 28.
  • Each output box 32 includes, at each block heat exchanger 16, a vertical sleeve 42 connection.
  • Two pipes 44 collection of incondensable noble gases extend horizontally on either side of the heat exchanger body 13 the along this one.
  • Each collection line 44 is located at a level intermediate between the input box 28 and the output box 32 corresponding.
  • These pipes 44 are connected to the ends upper sleeves 42 and open at the end before the heat exchanger body 13, in a conduit 45 collector of incondensable rare gas outlet.
  • This outlet manifold duct 45 is horizontal and symmetrical with respect to the plane Q.
  • Cross ducts 46 bent are disposed under the heat exchanger body 13 and connect the lower ends of the sleeves 42 for connection to a pipe 48 longitudinal liquid nitrogen outlet collector and which extends horizontally practically the entire length of the exchanger body 13, symmetrically relative to the plane Q.
  • the sealed enclosure 14 comprises a central section 50 of generally cylindrical shape, in the form of a ferrule Y-Y axis of revolution.
  • This ferrule 50 is closed so at its front end by a front partition 51 and, at its rear end by a rear wall 52.
  • the partitions 51 and 52 are of concavity directed towards the interior of the enclosure 14.
  • the enclosure 50 has, in its front partition 51, three passages circular guides arranged one below the other, respectively 54, 55 and 56 whose sections correspond respectively to those of the inlet duct 40 of the inlet manifold 39 of nitrogen gas, the conduit 45 collector of incondensable noble gas outlet and outlet pipe 48 of liquid nitrogen.
  • Another passage 57 for supplying liquid oxygen is provided in this front partition 51 between passages 54 and 55.
  • a passage 58 (FIG. 1) for withdrawing liquid oxygen is provided in the rear wall 52.
  • a purge 59 is provided in the bottom of the central section 50 of the sealed enclosure 14.
  • the heat exchanger body 13 is disposed in the enclosure 14, their longitudinal axes X-X and Y-Y being parallel.
  • the conduit 40, the outlet manifold 45 and the collecting duct of output 48 exit outside the sealed enclosure 14 respectively by passages 54, 55 and 56.
  • the two sealed enclosures 14 are disposed with their longitudinal axes YY parallel and horizontal.
  • the sealed enclosures 14 are connected symmetrically with respect to the plane P to a common gaseous oxygen evacuation pipe 60, which extends above sealed enclosures 14, parallel to their longitudinal axes YY.
  • the vaporizer-condenser 4 is arranged next to the columns medium pressure 2 and low pressure 3 above the main line heat exchanger 5, the height of which has been reduced in FIG. facilitate representation.
  • the vaporizer-condenser 4 is supported by the heat exchange line 5 by means of spacers not shown.
  • a part of the heat exchanger body 13 of the vaporizer-condenser 4 is disposed at an intermediate level between the lower column vessel pressure 3 and the head of the medium pressure column 2.
  • Nitrogen gas from the head of the middle column pressure 2 is introduced through the inlet manifolds 39 into the two input boxes 28 of each heat exchanger body 13. This Nitrogen gas is distributed, by the distributing regions 20 uniformly across the width of the passages 18 dedicated to the nitrogen of this body heat exchanger 13. The nitrogen then flows vertically downwards in the regions 19 of the passages 18 by gradually condensing.
  • Liquid nitrogen possibly present in the bottom of the boxes 28 is introduced in the regions 19 of the passages 18 thanks to means of introduction. This liquid nitrogen then flows vertically down with condensed nitrogen in regions 19.
  • Liquid nitrogen is collected at the bottom of regions 19 of passages 18 through the output collector regions 21 and then returned to the two output boxes 32.
  • the incondensable fraction contained in this nitrogen flow is sent through the collection lines 44 and the conduit outlet manifold 45 to the outside atmosphere.
  • Condensed nitrogen from passages 18 is collected by the transverse conduits 46 and through the outlet manifold 48 and then returned to the head of the medium pressure column 2.
  • Liquid oxygen from the bottom column pressure 3 is introduced into each enclosure 14 of oxygen confinement through the passages 57 formed in their partitions before 51. This liquid oxygen forms a bath in each chamber 14 which fills the majority of the interior volume of this waterproof enclosure 14.
  • the face upper heat exchanger body 13 corresponding flush slightly above the liquid oxygen bath.
  • Liquid oxygen bath travels vertically upwards in the passages 34 of the heat exchanger body 13 considered in counter-current vaporizing the nitrogen circulating in the passages 18.
  • LP "poor liquid” (almost pure nitrogen), taken at the head of the medium pressure column 2, is expanded in an expansion valve 62 then injected at the top of the low pressure column 3.
  • Impure nitrogen or "waste" NR withdrawn from the top of the low pressure column 3, is reheated at the crossing of the main line heat exchange 11.
  • Gaseous oxygen, taken from the bottom of the low pressure column 3 is heated at the crossing of the main heat exchange line 5.
  • Liquid oxygen, withdrawn via passages 58 of the sealed enclosures 14 and pump 8, is vaporized at the crossing of the main heat exchange line 5.
  • the purges 59 make it possible to evacuate the impurities that accumulate at the bottom of the enclosures 14 for oxygen confinement.
  • the structure of the vaporizer-condenser 4 and the position of the speakers watertight 14 makes it possible to reach heat exchange surfaces relatively large by juxtaposition of heat exchanger blocks 16.
  • vaporizer-condenser 4 the cost of such a vaporizer-condenser 4 is relatively reduced because of the relatively small diameter of the central sections 50 of the containment 14 oxygen containment and simplicity of the structure of 14.
  • the size of the vaporizer-condenser 4 is also relatively small because of the small diameter of the sections central 50 of the speakers 14.
  • the circulation of the different fluids between the head of the middle column pressure 2 and the tank of the low pressure column 3 and the vaporizer-condenser 4 can be ensured by limiting the pumping means.
  • the length and floor area of the heat exchange line 5 are comparable to those of the vaporizer-condenser 4.
  • the height of the medium pressure column 2, and therefore the height at which the vaporizer-condenser 4 must be positioned practically corresponds to the height of the main heat exchange line 5 plus the height necessary for the various connections of this line 5 with the rest of the installation 1.
  • the height of the support struts of this vaporizer-condenser 4 is limited.
  • the structure and presence for each heat exchanger body 13 of the collector 39, the single outlet manifold 45 and the pipe Exit collector 48 make it possible to limit the number of these junctions. In Indeed, it is necessary to provide for such junctions only at the level of the inlet duct 40 of the inlet manifold 39, of the outlet manifold duct 45, and the front end of the outlet manifold 48.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a variant of the invention that differs from that of Figures 1 to 5 in particular by the following.
  • a portion 70 of the inner side of the central section 50 of each enclosure 14 is constituted by a flank 71 of the heat exchanger body 13 correspondent.
  • the general cylindrical shape of the central sections 15 is no longer a revolution.
  • Each heat exchanger body 13 has no structure symmetrical and comprises, for each passage 18 dedicated to nitrogen, a only triangular entry distributing region and only one region outlet collector 21 triangular which each extend over the entire width of the passage 18 considered.
  • a single input box 28 and a single output box 32 are connected to each heat exchanger body 13 on its side 71. These boxes 23 and 25 are located outside the containment enclosure 14 of corresponding oxygen.
  • Nitrogen gas is brought from the head of the middle column pressure 2 to the two input boxes 28 via a common intake manifold 73 and two sets of pipes 74.
  • the inlet manifold 73 is horizontal and symmetrical with respect to the plane P.
  • Each series of conduits 74 comprises transverse pipes 74 regularly spaced from each other and feeding the same box 28.
  • This outlet manifold 75 is connected to each box output 32 through a series of transverse conduits 76 regularly spaced apart from each other.
  • This outlet collecting duct 77 is connected to each box 32 through a series of transverse pipes 78 regularly spaced apart from each other. The condensed nitrogen is therefore returned to the head of the medium pressure column 2 through the pipe outlet collector 77.
  • the liquid oxygen supply of each chamber 14 of Oxygen containment is provided by an inlet manifold 80 disposed in the chamber 14 considered parallel to the Y-axis, and breakthrough regular distribution offices.
  • the withdrawal of liquid oxygen from each enclosure 14 is provided by a series of pipes transverse 81 opening into the bottom of the enclosure 14 and by a outlet collecting duct 82 horizontal, symmetrical with respect to the plane P, and common to both speakers 14.
  • FIG. 6 also makes it possible to simplify the structure heat exchanger bodies 13 and their connections to the rest of the installation 1.
  • inlet manifold 80 the pipes transverse 81 and the common outlet manifold 82 allow to ensure a good circulation of liquid oxygen in the bath of each 14. It should be noted that such conduct may also be provided in the variant of Figures 1 to 5.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another variant of the invention which distinguishes mainly from that of Figure 6 by the following.
  • each box of exit 32 has a section covering three-quarters of a circle and a corner cap lower 23 of the exchanger body 13 corresponding.
  • each passage 34 dedicated to oxygen presents an input distributing region 87.
  • This region 87 is shaped rectangular triangle, is disposed at the lower edge 38 of the passage 34 and extends across the entire width of this passage 34.
  • the region 87 converges towards the side 71 of the heat exchanger body 13.
  • the small base 88 of the inlet dispensing region 87 is located at the flank 89 of the heat exchanger body 13 opposite the flank 71.
  • the passage 34 is closed on its lateral sides by two vertical bars 36, except at level of the small base 88 of the input distributing region 87, and by a horizontal bar 90 at the lower edge 38 of the passage 34.
  • this variant simplifies the structure of the heat exchanger bodies 13 and their connections to the rest of the distillation plant 1.

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Abstract

The invention concerns a bath-type evaporator-condenser (4), comprising at least a heat-exchanger plate (13), having several flat passages (18) for counter-current circulation of two fluids along a common direction, and a sealed chamber (14) for confining a fluid containing the or each heat-exchanger plate, the confinement chamber comprising a central section (50) generally cylindrical along a longitudinal axis (Y-Y). The longitudinal axis of the central section of said or each confinement chamber is orthogonal to the counter-current circulation direction of the fluids in the flat passages of the corresponding heat exchanging plate. The invention is applicable to double-column air distillation installations.

Description

La présente invention concerne un vaporiseur-condenseur du type à bain, comprenant au moins un corps d'échangeur thermique, présentant une multitude de passages plats pour la circulation à contre-courant de deux fluides, provenant d'une ou plusieurs colonnes de distillation, selon une même direction, et au moins une enceinte étanche de confinement d'un fluide contenant le ou chaque corps d'échangeur thermique, l'enceinte de confinement comprenant un tronçon central de forme générale cylindrique selon un axe longitudinal, l'axe longitudinal du tronçon central de ladite ou de chaque enceinte de confinement étant substantiellement orthogonal à la direction de circulation à contre-courant des fluides dans les passages plats du corps d'échangeur thermique correspondant.The present invention relates to a vaporizer-condenser of the bath type, comprising at least one heat exchanger body, having a multitude of flat passages for countercurrent circulation of two fluids from one or more distillation columns, according to a same direction, and at least one sealed containment enclosure of a fluid containing the or each heat exchanger body, the enclosure of containment comprising a central section of generally cylindrical shape along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the central section of the said each containment enclosure being substantially orthogonal to the flow direction against the flow of fluids in flat passages of the corresponding heat exchanger body.

Le terme 'substantiellement orthogonal' comprend des écarts allant jusqu'à 30°, ou 20°, de préférence 10° de la stricte orthogonalité.The term 'substantially orthogonal' includes deviations up to 30 °, or 20 °, preferably 10 ° of the strict orthogonality.

Il est parfois nécessaire d'orienter le vaporiseur afin de faciliter le drainage des liquides.It is sometimes necessary to orient the vaporizer to facilitate the drainage of liquids.

Un vaporiseur-condenseur de ce genre est connu de DE-A-1152432 dans lequel l'enceinte de confinement est délimité en partie par le corps d'échangeur thermique, le bain de liquide du vaporiseur se trouvant exclusivement à l'extérieur de l'élément de confinement.A vaporizer-condenser of this kind is known from DE-A-1152432 in which the confinement enclosure is delimited in part by the body heat exchanger, the liquid bath of the vaporizer being exclusively outside the containment element.

L'invention s'applique en particulier aux installations de distillation d'air à double colonne, c'est à dire à colonne moyenne pression reliée thermiquement avec une colonne basse pression, munies de vaporiseurs-condenseurs du type précité.The invention applies in particular to distillation plants of air with double column, ie with medium pressure column connected thermally with a low pressure column, equipped with vaporizers-condensers of the aforementioned type.

Dans de telles installations de distillation d'air, l'oxygène liquide qui se trouve en cuve de la colonne basse pression est vaporisé dans le vaporiseur-condenseur par échange de chaleur avec l'azote gazeux prélevé en tête de la colonne moyenne pression. In such air distillation plants, liquid oxygen which is in the vat of the low pressure column is vaporized in the vaporizer-condenser by heat exchange with the nitrogen gas taken at the head of the medium pressure column.

Pour une pression de fonctionnement donnée de la colonne basse pression, l'écart de température entre l'oxygène et l'azote rendu nécessaire par la structure du vaporiseur-condenseur impose la pression de fonctionnement de la colonne moyenne pression.For a given operating pressure of the lower column pressure, the temperature difference between oxygen and nitrogen made necessary by the structure of the vaporizer-condenser imposes the pressure of operation of the medium pressure column.

Il est donc souhaitable que cet écart de température soit le plus faible possible, afin de minimiser les dépenses liées à la compression de l'air à traiter injecté dans la colonne moyenne pression.It is therefore desirable that this difference in temperature be the lowest possible, in order to minimize the expense of air compression at treat injected into the medium pressure column.

La réduction de l'écart de température entre l'azote et l'oxygène impose, pour conserver la capacité d'échange de chaleur du vaporiseur-condenseur, d'augmenter la surface d'échange de chaleur au sein de ce dernier.Reducing the temperature difference between nitrogen and oxygen imposes, to maintain the heat exchange capacity of the vaporizer-condenser, to increase the heat exchange surface within this latest.

Une première solution consisterait à augmenter la hauteur du corps d'échangeur thermique du vaporiseur-condenseur pour augmenter la surface d'échange de chaleur. Toutefois, une telle augmentation de hauteur induirait une surpression hydrostatique au sein des passages d'oxygène qui tendrait à augmenter l'écart de température et qui nuirait au bon fonctionnement du vaporiseur-condenseur.A first solution would be to increase the height of the body heat exchanger of the vaporizer-condenser to increase the heat exchange surface. However, such an increase in height induce a hydrostatic overpressure within oxygen passages that would tend to increase the temperature difference and that would harm the good operation of the vaporizer-condenser.

Une autre solution consisterait à multiplier le nombre de passages dédiés à l'oxygène et à l'azote, par exemple en augmentant le nombre des blocs d'échangeur de chaleur juxtaposés qui constituent le corps d'échangeur et qui fonctionnent en parallèle au sein du vaporiseur-condenseur.Another solution would be to multiply the number of passages dedicated to oxygen and nitrogen, for example by increasing the number of juxtaposed heat exchanger blocks that make up the body exchanger and which operate in parallel within the vaporizer-condenser.

Généralement, dans les installations de distillation à double colonne de distillation, la colonne basse pression surmonte le vaporiseur-condenseur qui surmonte lui-même la colonne moyenne pression. Le tronçon central de l'enceinte étanche du vaporiseur-condenseur est alors constitué par une virole d'axe vertical de révolution. Cette virole est de préférence de même diamètre que les viroles délimitant les colonnes moyenne pression et basse pression.Generally, in double-column distillation plants of distillation, the low pressure column overcomes the vaporizer-condenser which overcomes itself the medium pressure column. The central section of the vaporizer-condenser sealed enclosure is then constituted by a ferrule of vertical axis of revolution. This ferrule is preferably of the same diameter as the ferrules defining the columns medium pressure and low pressure.

L'application de la deuxième solution pour augmenter la surface d'échange de chaleur à une telle installation de distillation imposerait alors d'avoir une virole de vaporiseur-condenseur de diamètre plus important que celles des colonnes moyenne pression et basse pression.The application of the second solution to increase the surface heat exchange at such a distillation plant would then impose to have a vaporizer-condenser ferrule of larger diameter than those of the medium pressure and low pressure columns.

Le coût de construction d'une telle installation serait donc relativement élevé, notamment en raison du diamètre important de la virole du vaporiseur-condenseur et des pièces particulières de liaison à prévoir entre la virole du vaporiseur-condenseur et les viroles des colonnes moyenne pression et basse pression.The cost of constructing such an installation would therefore be relatively high, especially because of the large diameter of the ferrule the vaporizer-condenser and particular connecting parts to be provided between the ferrule of the vaporizer-condenser and the ferrules of the columns medium pressure and low pressure.

L'invention a pour but de résoudre ce problème en fournissant un vaporiseur-condenseur du type précité, qui peut fonctionner avec des écarts de température réduits et qui permet notamment de réaliser des installations de distillation d'air à double colonne, relativement simples et peu coûteuses à construire.
A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet un vaporiseur-condenseur selon la revendication 1.The object of the invention is to solve this problem by providing a vaporizer-condenser of the aforementioned type, which can operate with reduced temperature differences and which makes it possible in particular to produce double-column, relatively simple and low-pressure air distillation installations. expensive to build.
For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a vaporizer-condenser according to claim 1.

Selon des modes particuliers de réalisation, le vaporiseur-condenseur peut comprendre l'une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques suivantes, prise(s) isolément ou selon toutes les combinaisons techniquement possibles :

  • ladite ou chaque enceinte est formée de sorte qu'en usage, un bain de liquide puisse entourer au moins la partie inférieure du corps d'échangeur et de préférence affleure le bord le plus haut de celui-ci ;
  • ledit ou chaque corps d'échangeur thermique comprend plusieurs blocs d'échangeur thermique juxtaposés le long de l'axe longitudinal du tronçon central de l'enceinte de confinement correspondante ;
  • ledit ou chaque corps d'échangeur thermique comprend des raccords d'amenée et d'évacuation de fluides, ces raccords communiquent avec les passages plats dudit corps d'échangeur thermique et sont affectés par paire à un fluide, les raccords de chaque paire de raccords d'amenée et de sortie affectée à un même fluide étant disposés sensiblement symétriquement par rapport à un plan longitudinal et médian dudit corps d'échangeur thermique ;
  • ledit ou chacun desdits corps d'échangeur thermique comprend au moins un collecteur d'entrée et un collecteur de sortie raccordés respectivement à une paire de raccords d'amenée et de sortie affectée à un même fluide ;
  • pour ledit ou chaque corps d'échangeur thermique, le ou les collecteur(s) de sortie et le ou les collecteur(s) d'entrée sont supportés par une même région, notamment d'extrémité longitudinale, de l'enceinte de confinement correspondante ;
  • pour ladite ou chaque enceinte de confinement, le tronçon central a une forme générale de révolution autour de son axe longitudinal et, de préférence, l'enceinte est cylindrique ;
  • ladite ou chaque enceinte de confinement est ou n'est pas délimitée, au niveau de son tronçon central, en partie par le corps d'échangeur thermique correspondant ;
  • ledit corps d'échangeur thermique comprend des raccords d'amenée et d'évacuation de fluides communiquant avec les passages plats dudit corps d'échangeur thermique, et ces raccords sont disposés à l'extérieur de ladite enceinte de confinement ;
  • ledit ou chaque corps d'échangeur thermique comprend des raccords d'amenée d'un gaz communiquant avec des passages du corps d'échangeur thermique, et ledit corps d'échangeur thermique comprend des moyens d'introduction dans ces passages du gaz condensé présent dans lesdits raccords d'amenée ;
  • les passages plats du ou d'au moins un corps sont orientés tranversalement par rapport à la direction longitudinale de l'enceinte de confinement.
  • le vaporiseur comprenant au moins deux corps, un ayant des passages plats orientés tranversalement par rapport à la direction longitudinale de son enceinte de confinement et un autre ayant des passages plats orientés parallèlement par rapport à la direction longitudinale de son enceinte de confinement.
According to particular embodiments, the vaporizer-condenser may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:
  • said or each enclosure is formed such that in use a bath of liquid can surround at least the lower portion of the exchanger body and preferably is flush with the uppermost edge thereof;
  • said or each heat exchanger body comprises a plurality of heat exchanger blocks juxtaposed along the longitudinal axis of the central section of the corresponding confinement enclosure;
  • said or each heat exchanger body comprises fluid supply and discharge fittings, said fittings communicate with the flat passages of said heat exchanger body and are assigned in pairs to a fluid, the fittings of each pair of fittings supply and outlet means assigned to the same fluid being disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal and median plane of said heat exchanger body;
  • said or each of said heat exchanger bodies comprises at least one inlet manifold and one outlet manifold respectively connected to a pair of supply and outlet fittings assigned to a same fluid;
  • for said or each heat exchanger body, the outlet collector (s) and the at least one inlet collector (s) are supported by the same region, in particular at the longitudinal end, of the corresponding confinement enclosure ;
  • for said or each confinement enclosure, the central section has a general shape of revolution about its longitudinal axis and, preferably, the enclosure is cylindrical;
  • said or each confinement enclosure is or is not delimited, at its central section, in part by the corresponding heat exchanger body;
  • said heat exchanger body comprises fluid supply and discharge connections communicating with the flat passages of said heat exchanger body, and these connections are disposed outside said confinement enclosure;
  • said or each heat exchanger body comprises gas supply connections communicating with passages of the heat exchanger body, and said heat exchanger body comprises means for introducing into these passages the condensed gas present in said supply fittings;
  • the flat passages of the or at least one body are oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the containment enclosure.
  • the vaporizer comprising at least two bodies, one having flat passages oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of its confinement enclosure and another having flat passages oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of its containment enclosure.

L'invention a en outre pour objet une installation de distillation d'air selon la revendication 13.
'Substantiellement horizontal' veut dire 'horizontal ou ayant des écarts allant jusqu'à à 30°, de préférence 10° de la horizontalité'.
Evidemment le corps d'échangeur à l'intérieur de l'enceinte doit rester horizontal pour que son fonctionnement soit assuré.The invention further relates to an air distillation plant according to claim 13.
'Substantially horizontal' means horizontal or having deviations of up to 30 °, preferably 10 ° of horizontality.
Obviously the exchanger body inside the enclosure must remain horizontal for its operation to be ensured.

Selon des variantes :

  • l'installation comprend une colonne moyenne pression, une colonne basse pression, l'azote de tête de la colonne moyenne pression et l'oxygène de cuve de la colonne basse pression étant mis en relation d'échange thermique par le vaporiseur-condenseur ;
  • ladite ou chaque enceinte de confinement est disposée à côté des colonnes moyenne pression et basse pression ;
  • une partie au moins du vaporiseur-condenseur est disposée à un niveau intermédiaire entre ceux de la cuve de la colonne basse pression et de la tête de la colonne moyenne pression ;
  • l'enceinte contient un bain d'oxygène liquide dans lequel est submergé le corps en usage
    et
  • l'installation comprend une ligne principale d'échange thermique pour refroidir l'air à distiller, et le vaporiseur-condenseur surmonte la ligne principale d'échange thermique, le vaporiseur-condenseur et la ligne principale d'échange thermique ayant éventuellement des axes parallèles.
According to variants:
  • the installation comprises a medium pressure column, a low pressure column, the head nitrogen of the medium pressure column and the bottom oxygen of the low pressure column being put in heat exchange relationship by the vaporizer-condenser;
  • said or each containment chamber is placed next to the medium pressure and low pressure columns;
  • at least a part of the vaporizer-condenser is disposed at an intermediate level between those of the vessel of the low pressure column and the head of the medium pressure column;
  • the enclosure contains a bath of liquid oxygen in which is submerged the body in use
    and
  • the installation comprises a main heat exchange line for cooling the air to be distilled, and the vaporizer-condenser overcomes the main heat exchange line, the vaporizer-condenser and the main heat exchange line optionally having parallel axes .

L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description qui va suivre, donnée uniquement à titre d'exemple et faite en se référant aux dessins annexés, sur lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'une installation de distillation d'air selon l'invention,
  • les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues schématiques en perspective illustrant respectivement les enceintes de confinement d'oxygène et les corps d'échangeur thermique du vaporiseur-condenseur de l'installation de la figure 1,
  • la figure 4 est une demi-vue schématique en coupe transversale verticale du vaporiseur-condenseur de l'installation de la figure 1 et illustrant notamment la structure d'un passage d'azote,
  • la figure 5 est une vue schématique en coupe transversale verticale illustrant un passage d'oxygène du vaporiseur-condenseur de l'installation de la figure 1,
  • les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues analogues à la figure 4 illustrant deux variantes de l'invention, et
  • la figure 8 est une vue analogue à la figure 5 illustrant la structure d'un passage d'oxygène pour la variante de la figure 7.
The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air distillation installation according to the invention,
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic perspective views respectively illustrating the oxygen confinement chambers and the heat exchanger bodies of the vaporizer-condenser of the installation of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic half-view in vertical cross-section of the vaporizer-condenser of the installation of FIG. 1 and illustrating in particular the structure of a passage of nitrogen,
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view in vertical cross section illustrating an oxygen passage of the vaporizer-condenser of the installation of FIG. 1,
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIG. 4 illustrating two variants of the invention, and
  • FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the structure of an oxygen passage for the variant of FIG. 7.

La figure 1 illustre schématiquement une installation de distillation d'air 1 qui comprend essentiellement :

  • une double colonne de distillation qui comporte une colonne moyenne pression 2, une colonne basse pression 3 et un vaporiseur-condenseur 4 du type à bain,
  • une ligne principale d'échange thermique 5,
  • un compresseur d'air 6,
  • un appareil d'épuration d'air 7, et
  • une pompe 8.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an air distillation plant 1 which essentially comprises:
  • a double distillation column which comprises a medium pressure column 2, a low pressure column 3 and a vaporizer-condenser 4 of the bath type,
  • a main heat exchange line 5,
  • an air compressor 6,
  • an air cleaning apparatus 7, and
  • a pump 8.

La colonne basse pression 3 surmonte la colonne moyenne pression 2. Une virole 10 verticale maintient la tête de la colonne moyenne pression 2 espacée de la cuve de la colonne basse pression 3.The low pressure column 3 overcomes the medium pressure column 2. A vertical shell 10 maintains the head of the medium pressure column 2 spaced from the vessel of the low pressure column 3.

La ligne principale d'échange thermique 5 comprend, dans l'exemple représenté, cinq blocs d'échangeur thermique 11. Ces blocs d'échangeur thermique 11 sont raccordés en parallèle au reste de l'installation 1 mais, pour plus de clarté, les raccordements d'un seul de ces blocs ont été représentés sur la figure 1. La nature de ces raccordements apparaítra plus clairement lors de la description du fonctionnement de l'installation 1 qui sera faite ultérieurement.The main heat exchange line 5 comprises, in the example shown, five heat exchanger blocks 11. These exchanger blocks 11 are connected in parallel with the rest of the installation 1 but, for clarity, the connections of only one of these blocks have been shown in Figure 1. The nature of these connections will appear more clearly when describing the operation of the installation 1 which will be made later.

Comme illustré par les figures 1 à 4, le vaporiseur-condenseur 4 comprend deux corps d'échangeur thermique 13 (figure 3) identiques en aluminium brasé et qui sont disposés chacun dans une enceinte étanche et cylindrique 14 de confinement d'oxygène en acier inoxydable ou en aluminium (figure 2). Un seul corps d'échangeur thermique 13 et une seule enceinte 14 de confinement d'oxygène sont visibles sur la figure 1.As illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 4, the vaporizer-condenser 4 comprises two heat exchanger bodies 13 (FIG. brazed aluminum and which are each arranged in a sealed enclosure and cylindrical 14 oxygen containment stainless steel or aluminum (Figure 2). A single heat exchanger body 13 and a single enclosure 14 for oxygen confinement are visible in FIG.

Il sera compris qu'un vaporiseur-condenseur selon l'invention peut ne comporter qu'un seul corps d'échangeur et donc une seule enceinte de confinement ou au moins trois corps d'échangeur, chacun ayant sa propre enceinte. Chaque corps 13 a une hauteur entre 800 et 1400mm.It will be understood that a vaporizer-condenser according to the invention can not have only one exchanger body and therefore a single enclosure of confinement or at least three exchanger bodies, each having its own pregnant. Each body 13 has a height between 800 and 1400mm.

Le vaporiseur-condenseur 4 étant symétrique par rapport à un plan vertical P dont la trace est visible sur la figure 4, seule une moitié de la structure de ce vaporiseur-condenseur 4 sera décrite ci-dessous. Ainsi, un seul corps d'échangeur thermique 13 et une seule enceinte étanche 14 seront donc décrits dans ce qui suit.The vaporizer-condenser 4 being symmetrical with respect to a plane P whose trace is visible in Figure 4, only half of the Structure of this vaporizer-condenser 4 will be described below. So, a only heat exchanger body 13 and a single sealed enclosure 14 will therefore be described in the following.

Le corps d'échangeur thermique 13 a une forme générale allongée selon un axe longitudinal X-X horizontal ou substantiellement horizontal et comprend, dans l'exemple représenté, cinq blocs d'échangeur thermique 16 à plaques brasées analogues et accolés. Les cinq blocs 15 sont substantiellement identiques ; leur nombre est choisi en fonction de la taille du vaporiseur, ainsi facilitant le dimensionnement, car des blocs identiques seront fabriqués en série. Ainsi il peut y avoir au moins cinq ou plus que cinq blocs 15. Le corps d'échangeur thermique 13 est symétrique par rapport à un plan longitudinal, vertical et médian Q dont la trace est visible sur la figure 4.The heat exchanger body 13 has a generally elongated shape along a horizontal axis X-X horizontal or substantially horizontal and comprises, in the example shown, five blocks of heat exchanger 16 with similar brazed and contiguous plates. The five blocks 15 are substantially identical; their number is chosen according to the size the vaporizer, thus facilitating the dimensioning, because identical blocks will be mass produced. So there can be at least five or more five blocks 15. The heat exchanger body 13 is symmetrical by relative to a longitudinal, vertical and median plane Q whose trace is visible in Figure 4.

Chaque bloc d'échangeur thermique 16 comprend un empilage de plaques parallèles 17 rectangulaires brasées qui définissent deux à deux des passages dédiés alternativement à l'azote et à l'oxygène. L'espacement entre les plaques parallèles 17 est assuré par des ondes entretoises qui remplissent également la fonction d'ailettes thermiques. Les passages plats des blocs sont orientés tranversalement par rapport à la dimension longitudinale de l'enceinte 14.Each heat exchanger block 16 comprises a stack of brazed rectangular parallel plates 17 which define two by two passages dedicated alternately to nitrogen and oxygen. The spacing between the parallel plates 17 is provided by spacer waves which also fulfill the function of thermal fins. The flat passages blocks are oriented transversally to the dimension longitudinal of the enclosure 14.

Un passage 18 dédié à l'azote est visible sur la figure 4.A passage 18 dedicated to nitrogen is visible in FIG.

Ce passage 18, comme tous les passages 18 dédiés à l'azote, est rectangulaire et comprend une région principale centrale 19 d'échange thermique, deux régions distributrices d'entrée 20 et deux régions collectrices de sortie 21.This passage 18, like all the passages 18 dedicated to nitrogen, is rectangular and includes a central exchange main region 19 thermal, two inlet distributor regions 20 and two regions exit collectors 21.

La région principale 19 d'échange thermique comprend une onde entretoise à génératrices verticales. Chaque région distributrice d'entrée 20 est en forme de triangle rectangle, disposée au niveau d'un coin supérieur 22 du passage 18 et comprend une onde entretoise à génératrices horizontales. Les deux régions distributrices d'entrée 20 se rejoignent au niveau du plan médian Q, les grandes bases de ces régions 20 en triangle rectangle étant horizontales.The main heat exchange region 19 includes a wave spacer with vertical generators. Each input distributor region 20 is in the shape of a right triangle, arranged at an upper corner 22 of the passage 18 and includes a spacer wave generators horizontal. The two input distribution areas 20 meet at the median plane level Q, the major bases of these regions 20 in triangle rectangle being horizontal.

La structure et la disposition des régions collectrices de sortie 21 est analogue à celle des régions distributrices d'entrée 20, ces régions 21 étant chacune disposées au niveau d'un coin inférieur 23 du passage 18.The structure and layout of the outlet collecting regions 21 is analogous to that of the input distributor regions 20, these regions 21 being each disposed at a lower corner 23 of the passage 18.

Le passage 18 est fermé sur tout son pourtour par des barres verticales et horizontales sauf d'une part au niveau des petites bases 24 verticales des régions triangulaires d'entrée 20 et des petites bases 25 verticales des régions triangulaires de sortie 21, et d'autre part, au niveau de moyens d'introduction d'azote liquide qui seront mentionnés plus loin.The passage 18 is closed around its periphery by bars vertical and horizontal except on the one hand at the level of the small bases 24 vertical triangular input regions 20 and small bases 25 triangular regions of exit 21, and secondly, at the level of liquid nitrogen introduction means which will be mentioned later.

Les petites bases 24 et 25 des régions d'entrée 20 et de sortie 21 des cinq blocs d'échangeur thermique 16 forment, de chaque côté du corps d'échangeur thermique 13, respectivement une série de fenêtres d'entrée et une série de fenêtres de sortie d'azote alignées horizontalement.The small bases 24 and 25 of the input and output regions 21 five heat exchanger blocks 16 form on each side of the body heat exchanger 13, respectively a series of entrance windows and a series of horizontally aligned nitrogen exit windows.

Chaque série de fenêtres d'entrée 24 est coiffée hermétiquement par une boíte d'entrée 28 de section en demi-cercle, qui s'étend le long des cinq blocs d'échangeur thermique 16.Each series of entrance windows 24 is hermetically capped by an input box 28 of semicircular section, which extends along the five heat exchanger blocks 16.

Chaque boíte d'entrée 28 est disposée au voisinage des coins supérieurs 22 des passages d'azote 18 et a une hauteur, selon la verticale, nettement supérieure à celle des petites bases 24 des régions distributrices d'entrée 20.Each input box 28 is arranged in the vicinity of the corners 22 of the nitrogen passages 18 and has a height, according to the vertical, significantly higher than that of the small bases 24 of the dispensing regions entry 20.

Chaque passage d'azote 18 comprend en outre au voisinage du bord inférieur de chaque boíte 28, des moyens 30 d'introduction dans le passage 18 d'azote liquide présent dans le fond de la boíte 28. Ces moyens 30 sont sous forme, par exemple, d'une région triangulaire, communiquant avec le fond de la boíte d'entrée 28. Une telle région triangulaire converge vers le plan Q et comprend une onde entretoise à génératrices obliques inclinées vers le bas et l'intérieur du passage 18. Selon une variante non représentée, de tels moyens 30 d'introduction d'azote liquide peuvent ne pas comprendre d'onde pour guider l'azote liquide ou être constitués par une barre régulièrement percée d'orifices.Each passage of nitrogen 18 further comprises in the vicinity of the edge bottom of each box 28, means 30 for introducing into the passage 18 liquid nitrogen present in the bottom of the box 28. These means 30 are in the form, for example, of a triangular region communicating with the bottom of the input box 28. Such a triangular region converges towards the plane Q and includes a spacer wave with inclined oblique generators down and inside of the passage 18. According to a variant not such means for introducing liquid nitrogen can not be not understand wave to guide liquid nitrogen or be constituted by a bar regularly pierced with orifices.

Chaque série de fenêtres de sortie 25 des passages 18 dédiés à l'azote est coiffée hermétiquement par une boíte de sortie 32, de section en demi-cercle de rayon inférieur à celui des boítes d'entrée 28. Chaque boíte de sortie 32 s'étend longitudinalement le long des cinq blocs d'échangeur thermique 16. Chaque boíte de sortie 32 est disposée au voisinage des coins inférieurs 23 des passages 18 dédiés à l'azote et a une hauteur, selon la verticale, supérieure à celle des petites bases 25 des régions collectrices de sortie 21.Each set of exit windows 25 passages 18 dedicated to the nitrogen is capped hermetically by an outlet box 32, of section semicircle radius inferior to that of the input boxes 28. Each box 32 extends longitudinally along the five exchanger blocks 16. Each output box 32 is arranged in the vicinity of the lower corners 23 of the passages 18 dedicated to nitrogen and has a height, according to the vertical, superior to that of the small bases 25 of the collecting regions output 21.

La figure 5 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale illustrant la structure d'un passage 34 du corps d'échangeur thermique 13 dédié à l'oxygène. Un tel passage 34, comme tous les passages 34 dédiés à l'oxygène, comprend une onde entretoise unique 35 à génératrices verticales. Ce passage 34 est obturé sur ses côtés latéraux par deux barres verticales 36 et débouche vers l'extérieur au niveau de ses bords horizontaux supérieur 37 et inférieur 38.FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a passage 34 of the heat exchanger body 13 dedicated to oxygen. Such a passage 34, like all passages 34 dedicated to oxygen, comprises a single spacer wave 35 with generators vertical. This passage 34 is closed on its lateral sides by two bars vertical 36 and opens outward at its edges horizontal upper 37 and lower 38.

Le corps d'échangeur 13 comprend également, au niveau de son extrémité avant (à droite sur les figures 1 et 3) un collecteur 39 d'entrée d'azote gazeux, symétrique par rapport au plan Q. Ce collecteur d'entrée 39 comprend un conduit d'entrée 40 rectiligne et horizontal, et deux conduits de sortie 41 coudés et raccordés chacun à l'extrémité avant d'une boíte d'entrée 28.The exchanger body 13 also comprises, at its level front end (right in Figures 1 and 3) an inlet manifold 39 nitrogen gas, symmetrical with respect to plane Q. This inlet manifold 39 comprises an inlet conduit 40 rectilinear and horizontal, and two ducts output 41 bent and each connected to the front end of a box entrance 28.

Chaque boíte de sortie 32 comprend, au niveau de chaque bloc d'échangeur thermique 16, un manchon vertical 42 de raccordement. Deux conduites 44 de collecte des gaz rares incondensables s'étendent horizontalement de part et d'autre du corps d'échangeur thermique 13 le long de celui-ci. Chaque conduite 44 de collecte est située à un niveau intermédiaire entre la boíte d'entrée 28 et la boíte de sortie 32 correspondante. Ces conduites 44 sont raccordées aux extrémités supérieures des manchons 42 et débouchent, au niveau de l'extrémité avant du corps d'échangeur thermique 13, dans un conduit 45 collecteur de sortie de gaz rares incondensables. Ce conduit collecteur de sortie 45 est horizontal et symétrique par rapport au plan Q.Each output box 32 includes, at each block heat exchanger 16, a vertical sleeve 42 connection. Two pipes 44 collection of incondensable noble gases extend horizontally on either side of the heat exchanger body 13 the along this one. Each collection line 44 is located at a level intermediate between the input box 28 and the output box 32 corresponding. These pipes 44 are connected to the ends upper sleeves 42 and open at the end before the heat exchanger body 13, in a conduit 45 collector of incondensable rare gas outlet. This outlet manifold duct 45 is horizontal and symmetrical with respect to the plane Q.

Des conduites transversales 46 coudées (figures 1 et 4) sont disposées sous le corps d'échangeur thermique 13 et raccordent les extrémités inférieures des manchons 42 de raccordement à une conduite 48 collectrice de sortie d'azote liquide longitudinale et qui s'étend horizontalement pratiquement sur toute la longueur du corps d'échangeur thermique 13, symétriquement par rapport au plan Q. Cette conduite collectrice de sortie 48, comme le conduit d'entrée 40 et le conduit collecteur de sortie 45, fait saillie vers l'avant par rapport au corps d'échangeur thermique 13.Cross ducts 46 bent (Figures 1 and 4) are disposed under the heat exchanger body 13 and connect the lower ends of the sleeves 42 for connection to a pipe 48 longitudinal liquid nitrogen outlet collector and which extends horizontally practically the entire length of the exchanger body 13, symmetrically relative to the plane Q. This conduct outlet manifold 48, as the inlet duct 40 and the duct outlet manifold 45 protrudes forwardly from the body heat exchanger 13.

Comme illustré par les figures 1 et 2, l'enceinte étanche 14 comprend un tronçon central 50 de forme générale cylindrique, sous forme d'une virole métallique d'axe de révolution Y-Y. Cette virole 50 est fermée de manière étanche au niveau de son extrémité avant par une cloison avant 51 et, au niveau de son extrémité arrière par une cloison arrière 52. Les cloisons 51 et 52 sont de concavité dirigée vers l'intérieur de l'enceinte 14.As illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the sealed enclosure 14 comprises a central section 50 of generally cylindrical shape, in the form of a ferrule Y-Y axis of revolution. This ferrule 50 is closed so at its front end by a front partition 51 and, at its rear end by a rear wall 52. The partitions 51 and 52 are of concavity directed towards the interior of the enclosure 14.

L'enceinte 50 présente, dans sa cloison avant 51, trois passages circulaires disposés l'un en dessous de l'autre, respectivement 54, 55 et 56 dont les sections correspondent respectivement à celles du conduit d'entrée 40 du collecteur 39 d'entrée d'azote gazeux, du conduit 45 collecteur de sortie de gaz rares incondensables et de la conduite 48 collectrice de sortie d'azote liquide.The enclosure 50 has, in its front partition 51, three passages circular guides arranged one below the other, respectively 54, 55 and 56 whose sections correspond respectively to those of the inlet duct 40 of the inlet manifold 39 of nitrogen gas, the conduit 45 collector of incondensable noble gas outlet and outlet pipe 48 of liquid nitrogen.

Un autre passage 57 d'amenée d'oxygène liquide est prévu dans cette cloison avant 51 entre les passages 54 et 55.Another passage 57 for supplying liquid oxygen is provided in this front partition 51 between passages 54 and 55.

Un passage 58 (figure 1) de soutirage d'oxygène liquide est ménagé dans la cloison arrière 52.A passage 58 (FIG. 1) for withdrawing liquid oxygen is provided in the rear wall 52.

Une purge 59 est prévue dans le fond du tronçon central 50 de l'enceinte étanche 14.A purge 59 is provided in the bottom of the central section 50 of the sealed enclosure 14.

Le corps d'échangeur thermique 13 est disposé dans l'enceinte étanche 14, leurs axes longitudinaux X-X et Y-Y étant parallèles. Le conduit d'entrée 40, le conduit collecteur de sortie 45 et la conduite collectrice de sortie 48 sortent à l'extérieur de l'enceinte étanche 14 respectivement par les passages 54, 55 et 56.The heat exchanger body 13 is disposed in the enclosure 14, their longitudinal axes X-X and Y-Y being parallel. The conduit 40, the outlet manifold 45 and the collecting duct of output 48 exit outside the sealed enclosure 14 respectively by passages 54, 55 and 56.

Comme illustré par la figure 2, les deux enceintes étanches 14 sont disposées avec leurs axes longitudinaux Y-Y parallèles et horizontaux. Les enceintes étanches 14 sont raccordées symétriquement par rapport au plan P à un tuyau commun 60 d'évacuation d'oxygène gazeux, qui s'étend au-dessus des enceintes étanches 14, parallèlement à leurs axes longitudinaux Y-Y.As illustrated in FIG. 2, the two sealed enclosures 14 are disposed with their longitudinal axes YY parallel and horizontal. The sealed enclosures 14 are connected symmetrically with respect to the plane P to a common gaseous oxygen evacuation pipe 60, which extends above sealed enclosures 14, parallel to their longitudinal axes YY.

Le vaporiseur-condenseur 4 est disposé à côté des colonnes moyenne pression 2 et basse pression 3 au-dessus de la ligne principale d'échange thermique 5 dont la hauteur a été réduite sur la figure 1 pour faciliter la représentation. Le vaporiseur-condenseur 4 est supporté par la ligne d'échange thermique 5 au moyen d'entretoises non représentées. Une partie des corps d'échangeur thermique 13 du vaporiseur-condenseur 4 est disposée à un niveau intermédiaire entre la cuve de la colonne basse pression 3 et la tête de la colonne moyenne pression 2.The vaporizer-condenser 4 is arranged next to the columns medium pressure 2 and low pressure 3 above the main line heat exchanger 5, the height of which has been reduced in FIG. facilitate representation. The vaporizer-condenser 4 is supported by the heat exchange line 5 by means of spacers not shown. A part of the heat exchanger body 13 of the vaporizer-condenser 4 is disposed at an intermediate level between the lower column vessel pressure 3 and the head of the medium pressure column 2.

Le fonctionnement de l'installation 1 va maintenant être décrit.The operation of the installation 1 will now be described.

L'air à distiller, préalablement comprimé par le compresseur 6 et épuré par l'appareil 7, traverse la ligne d'échange thermique 5 en se refroidissant jusqu'au voisinage de son point de rosée. Ce refroidissement est assuré en parallèle par les blocs d'échangeur thermique 11. Ensuite, l'oxygène refroidi est injecté en cuve de la colonne moyenne pression 2.The air to be distilled, previously compressed by the compressor 6 and purified by the apparatus 7, passes through the heat exchange line 5 in cooling to near its dew point. This cooling is ensured in parallel by the heat exchanger blocks 11. Then, the cooled oxygen is injected into the vat of the medium pressure column 2.

De l'azote gazeux provenant de la tête de la colonne moyenne pression 2 est introduit par l'intermédiaire des collecteurs d'entrée 39 dans les deux boítes d'entrée 28 de chaque corps d'échangeur thermique 13. Cet azote gazeux est distribué, par les régions distributrices 20 uniformément sur toute la largeur des passages 18 dédiés à l'azote de ce corps d'échangeur thermique 13. L'azote s'écoule alors verticalement vers le bas dans les régions 19 des passages 18 en se condensant progressivement.Nitrogen gas from the head of the middle column pressure 2 is introduced through the inlet manifolds 39 into the two input boxes 28 of each heat exchanger body 13. This Nitrogen gas is distributed, by the distributing regions 20 uniformly across the width of the passages 18 dedicated to the nitrogen of this body heat exchanger 13. The nitrogen then flows vertically downwards in the regions 19 of the passages 18 by gradually condensing.

De l'azote liquide éventuellement présent dans le fond des boítes d'entrée 28 est introduit dans les régions 19 des passages 18 grâce aux moyens 30 d'introduction. Cet azote liquide s'écoule ensuite verticalement vers le bas avec l'azote condensé dans les régions 19.Liquid nitrogen possibly present in the bottom of the boxes 28 is introduced in the regions 19 of the passages 18 thanks to means of introduction. This liquid nitrogen then flows vertically down with condensed nitrogen in regions 19.

L'azote liquide est collecté en bas des régions 19 des passages 18 par l'intermédiaire des régions collectrices de sortie 21 puis renvoyé vers les deux boítes de sortie 32. La fraction incondensable contenue dans ce flux d'azote est envoyée par les conduites 44 de collecte et le conduit collecteur de sortie 45 vers l'atmosphère extérieure. L'azote condensé issu des passages 18 est quant à lui collecté par les conduites transversales 46 et par la conduite collectrice de sortie 48 puis renvoyé vers la tête de la colonne moyenne pression 2.Liquid nitrogen is collected at the bottom of regions 19 of passages 18 through the output collector regions 21 and then returned to the two output boxes 32. The incondensable fraction contained in this nitrogen flow is sent through the collection lines 44 and the conduit outlet manifold 45 to the outside atmosphere. Condensed nitrogen from passages 18 is collected by the transverse conduits 46 and through the outlet manifold 48 and then returned to the head of the medium pressure column 2.

De l'oxygène liquide provenant de la cuve de la colonne basse pression 3 est introduit dans chaque enceinte 14 de confinement d'oxygène par l'intermédiaire des passages 57 ménagés dans leurs cloisons avant 51. Cet oxygène liquide forme un bain dans chaque enceinte 14 qui remplit la majorité du volume intérieur de cette enceinte étanche 14. La face supérieure du corps d'échangeur thermique 13 correspondant affleure légèrement au-dessus du bain d'oxygène liquide.Liquid oxygen from the bottom column pressure 3 is introduced into each enclosure 14 of oxygen confinement through the passages 57 formed in their partitions before 51. This liquid oxygen forms a bath in each chamber 14 which fills the majority of the interior volume of this waterproof enclosure 14. The face upper heat exchanger body 13 corresponding flush slightly above the liquid oxygen bath.

De l'oxygène liquide du bain circule verticalement vers le haut dans les passages 34 du corps d'échangeur thermique 13 considéré en se vaporisant à contre courant de l'azote circulant dans les passages 18. Liquid oxygen bath travels vertically upwards in the passages 34 of the heat exchanger body 13 considered in counter-current vaporizing the nitrogen circulating in the passages 18.

L'oxygène vaporisé par chaque corps d'échangeur thermique 13 est ensuite renvoyé par l'intermédiaire du tuyau 60 vers la cuve de la colonne basse pression 3.The vaporized oxygen by each heat exchanger body 13 is then returned via the pipe 60 to the column vessel low pressure 3.

Du « liquide riche » LR (air enrichi en oxygène), prélevé en cuve de la colonne moyenne pression 2 est détendu dans une vanne de détente 61 puis injecté à un niveau intermédiaire de la colonne basse pression 3."Rich liquid" LR (air enriched with oxygen), taken in tank of the medium pressure column 2 is expanded in an expansion valve 61 then injected at an intermediate level of the low pressure column 3.

Du « liquide pauvre » LP (azote à peu près pur), prélevé en tête de la colonne moyenne pression 2, est détendu dans une vanne de détente 62 puis injecté au sommet de la colonne basse pression 3.LP "poor liquid" (almost pure nitrogen), taken at the head of the medium pressure column 2, is expanded in an expansion valve 62 then injected at the top of the low pressure column 3.

De l'azote impur ou « résiduaire » NR, soutiré du sommet de la colonne basse pression 3, est réchauffé à la traversée de la ligne principale d'échange thermique 11.Impure nitrogen or "waste" NR, withdrawn from the top of the low pressure column 3, is reheated at the crossing of the main line heat exchange 11.

De l'oxygène gazeux, prélevé en cuve de la colonne basse pression 3 est réchauffé à la traversée de la ligne principale d'échange thermique 5. De l'oxygène liquide, soutiré par l'intermédiaire des passages 58 des enceintes étanches 14 et de la pompe 8, est vaporisé à la traversée de la ligne principale d'échange thermique 5.Gaseous oxygen, taken from the bottom of the low pressure column 3 is heated at the crossing of the main heat exchange line 5. Liquid oxygen, withdrawn via passages 58 of the sealed enclosures 14 and pump 8, is vaporized at the crossing of the main heat exchange line 5.

Les purges 59 permettent d'évacuer les impuretés qui s'accumulent au fond des enceintes 14 de confinement d'oxygène.The purges 59 make it possible to evacuate the impurities that accumulate at the bottom of the enclosures 14 for oxygen confinement.

La structure du vaporiseur-condenseur 4 et la position des enceintes étanches 14 permet d'atteindre des surfaces d'échange thermique relativement importantes par juxtaposition de blocs d'échangeur thermique 16.The structure of the vaporizer-condenser 4 and the position of the speakers watertight 14 makes it possible to reach heat exchange surfaces relatively large by juxtaposition of heat exchanger blocks 16.

Par ailleurs, le coût d'un tel vaporiseur-condenseur 4 est relativement réduit du fait du diamètre relativement faible des tronçons centraux 50 des enceintes 14 de confinement d'oxygène et de la simplicité de la structure de ces enceintes 14. L'encombrement du vaporiseur-condenseur 4 est également relativement faible en raison du faible diamètre des tronçons centraux 50 des enceintes 14.Moreover, the cost of such a vaporizer-condenser 4 is relatively reduced because of the relatively small diameter of the central sections 50 of the containment 14 oxygen containment and simplicity of the structure of 14. The size of the vaporizer-condenser 4 is also relatively small because of the small diameter of the sections central 50 of the speakers 14.

En outre, du fait de la position du vaporiseur-condenseur 4, la circulation des différents fluides entre la tête de la colonne moyenne pression 2 et la cuve de la colonne basse pression 3 et le vaporiseur-condenseur 4 peut être assurée en limitant les moyens de pompage.In addition, because of the position of the vaporizer-condenser 4, the circulation of the different fluids between the head of the middle column pressure 2 and the tank of the low pressure column 3 and the vaporizer-condenser 4 can be ensured by limiting the pumping means.

On constate également que, pour une capacité de distillation d'air donnée, la longueur et la surface au sol de la ligne d'échange thermique 5 sont comparables à celles du vaporiseur-condenseur 4. De plus, la hauteur de la colonne moyenne pression 2, et donc la hauteur à laquelle le vaporiseur-condenseur 4 doit être positionné correspond pratiquement à la hauteur de la ligne principale d'échange thermique 5 additionnée de la hauteur nécessaire aux divers raccordements de cette ligne 5 avec le reste de l'installation 1. Ainsi, la hauteur des entretoises de support de ce vaporiseur-condenseur 4 est limitée.It can also be seen that for an air distillation capacity given, the length and floor area of the heat exchange line 5 are comparable to those of the vaporizer-condenser 4. In addition, the height of the medium pressure column 2, and therefore the height at which the vaporizer-condenser 4 must be positioned practically corresponds to the height of the main heat exchange line 5 plus the height necessary for the various connections of this line 5 with the rest of the installation 1. Thus, the height of the support struts of this vaporizer-condenser 4 is limited.

On notera que la symétrie de la structure des corps d'échangeur thermique 13 permet de diminuer la hauteur des régions distributrices d'entrée 20 et collectrices de sortie 21 et donc, à hauteur d'échange donnée, de minimiser la surpression hydrostatique néfaste à l'obtention d'un faible écart de température.It will be noted that the symmetry of the structure of the exchanger bodies thermal 13 makes it possible to reduce the height of the dispensing regions input 20 and output collectors 21 and therefore, at exchange height given, to minimize the hydrostatic overpressure which is detrimental to the low temperature difference.

De plus, dans le cas où les enceintes 14 de confinement d'oxygène et les corps d'échangeur thermique 13 seraient réalisées en métaux différents nécessitant l'utilisation de jonctions mixtes, la structure et la présence pour chaque corps d'échangeur thermique 13 du collecteur d'entrée 39, du conduit collecteur de sortie unique 45 et de la conduite collectrice de sortie 48 permettent de limiter le nombre de ces jonctions. En effet, il n'est nécessaire de prévoir de telles jonctions qu'au niveau du conduit d'entrée 40 du collecteur d'entrée 39, du conduit collecteur de sortie 45, et de l'extrémité avant de la conduite collectrice de sortie 48.In addition, in the case where the pregnant 14 oxygen containment and the heat exchanger bodies 13 would be made of metals different types requiring the use of mixed junctions, the structure and presence for each heat exchanger body 13 of the collector 39, the single outlet manifold 45 and the pipe Exit collector 48 make it possible to limit the number of these junctions. In Indeed, it is necessary to provide for such junctions only at the level of the inlet duct 40 of the inlet manifold 39, of the outlet manifold duct 45, and the front end of the outlet manifold 48.

Le fait que le collecteur d'entrée 39, le conduit collecteur de sortie 45 et la conduite collectrice de sortie 48 soient portés par une même région de la cloison avant 51 de chaque enceinte 14 de confinement d'oxygène permet également de limiter les inconvénients liés à la différence des coefficients de dilatation thermique entre les enceintes 14 et les corps d'échangeur thermique 13. The fact that the inlet manifold 39, the outlet manifold 45 and the outlet collecting duct 48 are carried by the same region of the front partition 51 of each enclosure 14 for oxygen confinement also makes it possible to limit the disadvantages associated with the difference coefficients of thermal expansion between the speakers 14 and the bodies heat exchanger 13.

Une circulation satisfaisante d'oxygène liquide dans le bain de chaque enceinte 14 est assurée par le fait que les passages 57 d'amenée d'oxygène liquide et 58 de soutirage d'oxygène liquide sont situés à des extrémités opposées de chaque enceinte 14A satisfactory circulation of liquid oxygen in the bath of each enclosure 14 is ensured by the fact that the feed passages 57 of liquid oxygen and 58 liquid oxygen withdrawal are located at opposite ends of each speaker 14

Enfin, pour réaliser des vaporiseurs-condenseurs 4 de capacités différentes en fonction des besoins spécifiques d'installations de distillation d'air 1 différentes, il suffit de modifier le nombre de blocs d'échangeur thermique 16, le nombre et le diamètre des différents raccords, et la longueur des viroles 50.Finally, to realize vaporizers-capacitors 4 of capacities different depending on the specific needs of distillation plants 1 different air, just change the number of exchanger blocks 16, the number and diameter of the different connections, and the length of ferrules 50.

La figure 6 illustre une variante de l'invention qui se distingue de celle des figures 1 à 5 notamment par ce qui suit.FIG. 6 illustrates a variant of the invention that differs from that of Figures 1 to 5 in particular by the following.

Une partie 70 du flanc interne du tronçon central 50 de chaque enceinte 14 est constituée par un flanc 71 du corps d'échangeur thermique 13 correspondant. La forme générale cylindrique des tronçons centraux 15 n'est donc plus de révolution.A portion 70 of the inner side of the central section 50 of each enclosure 14 is constituted by a flank 71 of the heat exchanger body 13 correspondent. The general cylindrical shape of the central sections 15 is no longer a revolution.

Chaque corps d'échangeur thermique 13 n'a plus de structure symétrique et comprend, pour chaque passage 18 dédié à l'azote, une seule région distributrice d'entrée 20 triangulaire et une seule région collectrice de sortie 21 triangulaire qui s'étendent chacune sur toute la largeur du passage 18 considérée.Each heat exchanger body 13 has no structure symmetrical and comprises, for each passage 18 dedicated to nitrogen, a only triangular entry distributing region and only one region outlet collector 21 triangular which each extend over the entire width of the passage 18 considered.

Une seule boíte d'entrée 28 et une seule boíte de sortie 32 sont raccordées à chaque corps d'échangeur thermique 13 sur son flanc 71. Ces boítes 23 et 25 sont situées à l'extérieur de l'enceinte 14 de confinement d'oxygène correspondante.A single input box 28 and a single output box 32 are connected to each heat exchanger body 13 on its side 71. These boxes 23 and 25 are located outside the containment enclosure 14 of corresponding oxygen.

L'azote gazeux est amené depuis la tête de la colonne moyenne pression 2 vers les deux boítes d'entrée 28 par l'intermédiaire d'une conduite collectrice d'entrée commune 73 et de deux séries de conduites transversales 74. La conduite collectrice d'entrée 73 est horizontale et symétrique par rapport au plan P. Chaque série de conduites 74 comprend des conduites transversales 74 régulièrement espacées l'une de l'autre et alimentant une même boíte d'entrée 28. Nitrogen gas is brought from the head of the middle column pressure 2 to the two input boxes 28 via a common intake manifold 73 and two sets of pipes 74. The inlet manifold 73 is horizontal and symmetrical with respect to the plane P. Each series of conduits 74 comprises transverse pipes 74 regularly spaced from each other and feeding the same box 28.

De manière analogue, une conduite 75 collectrice de sortie de gaz rares incondensables, commune aux deux boítes de sortie 32, s'étend horizontalement et symétriquement par rapport au plan P.Similarly, a gas outlet manifold 75 rare incondensables, common to the two output boxes 32, extends horizontally and symmetrically with respect to the plane P.

Cette conduite 75 collectrice de sortie est raccordée à chaque boíte de sortie 32 par une série de conduites transversales 76 régulièrement espacées les unes des autres.This outlet manifold 75 is connected to each box output 32 through a series of transverse conduits 76 regularly spaced apart from each other.

De même, une conduite 77 collectrice de sortie d'azote liquide condensé, commune aux deux boítes de sortie 32, s'étend horizontalement et symétriquement par rapport au plan P.Similarly, a liquid nitrogen outlet manifold pipe 77 condensed, common to the two output boxes 32, extends horizontally and symmetrically with respect to the plane P.

Cette conduite collectrice de sortie 77 est raccordée à chaque boíte de sortie 32 par une série de conduites transversales 78 régulièrement espacées les unes des autres. L'azote condensé est donc renvoyé vers la tête de la colonne moyenne pression 2 par l'intermédiaire de la conduite collectrice de sortie 77.This outlet collecting duct 77 is connected to each box 32 through a series of transverse pipes 78 regularly spaced apart from each other. The condensed nitrogen is therefore returned to the head of the medium pressure column 2 through the pipe outlet collector 77.

L'alimentation en oxygène liquide de chaque enceinte 14 de confinement d'oxygène est assurée par une conduite collectrice d'entrée 80 disposée dans l'enceinte 14 considérée parallèlement à l'axe Y-Y, et percée régulièrement d'offices de distribution. Le soutirage d'oxygène liquide depuis chaque enceinte 14 est assuré par une série de conduites transversales 81 débouchant dans le fond de l'enceinte 14 et par une conduite collectrice de sortie 82 horizontale, symétrique par rapport au plan P, et commune aux deux enceintes 14.The liquid oxygen supply of each chamber 14 of Oxygen containment is provided by an inlet manifold 80 disposed in the chamber 14 considered parallel to the Y-axis, and breakthrough regular distribution offices. The withdrawal of liquid oxygen from each enclosure 14 is provided by a series of pipes transverse 81 opening into the bottom of the enclosure 14 and by a outlet collecting duct 82 horizontal, symmetrical with respect to the plane P, and common to both speakers 14.

Le fait que les boítes d'entrée 28 et de sortie 32 de chaque corps d'échangeur thermique 13 soient situés à l'extérieur des enceintes 14 de confinement d'oxygène permet d'améliorer la sécurité du vaporiseur-condenseur 4. Il n'est alors plus nécessaire de prendre en compte une éventuelle défaillance de ces raccords pour déterminer l'épaisseur de la paroi du corps central 50 de chaque enceinte 14 de confinement d'oxygène.The fact that the entry boxes 28 and 32 of each body of heat exchanger 13 are located outside the speakers 14 of oxygen containment improves the safety of the vaporizer-condenser 4. It is no longer necessary to take into account a possible failure of these connections to determine the thickness of the wall of the central body 50 of each enclosure 14 of oxygen confinement.

La variante de la figure 6 permet également de simplifier la structure des corps d'échangeur thermique 13 et leurs raccordements au reste de l'installation 1. The variant of FIG. 6 also makes it possible to simplify the structure heat exchanger bodies 13 and their connections to the rest of the installation 1.

Par ailleurs, la conduite collectrice d'entrée 80, les conduites transversales 81 et la conduite collectrice de sortie commune 82 permettent d'assurer une bonne circulation d'oxygène liquide dans le bain de chaque enceinte 14. Il est à noter que de telles conduites peuvent également être prévues dans la variante des figures 1 à 5.In addition, the inlet manifold 80, the pipes transverse 81 and the common outlet manifold 82 allow to ensure a good circulation of liquid oxygen in the bath of each 14. It should be noted that such conduct may also be provided in the variant of Figures 1 to 5.

Les figures 7 et 8 illustrent une autre variante de l'invention qui se distingue principalement de celle de la figure 6 par ce qui suit.FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another variant of the invention which distinguishes mainly from that of Figure 6 by the following.

Pour chaque enceinte 14 de confinement d'oxygène, une partie du fond 85 du corps central 50 de l'enceinte est formée par la paroi inférieure 86 du corps d'échangeur thermique 13 correspondant. Chaque boíte de sortie 32 a une section couvrant les trois quarts d'un cercle et coiffe un coin inférieur 23 du corps d'échangeur 13 correspondant.For each chamber 14 for oxygen confinement, part of the bottom 85 of the central body 50 of the enclosure is formed by the bottom wall 86 of the corresponding heat exchanger body 13. Each box of exit 32 has a section covering three-quarters of a circle and a corner cap lower 23 of the exchanger body 13 corresponding.

Comme illustré par la figure 8, chaque passage 34 dédié à l'oxygène présente une région distributrice d'entrée 87. Cette région 87 est en forme de triangle rectangle, est disposée au niveau du bord inférieur 38 du passage 34 et s'étend sur toute la largeur de ce passage 34. La région 87 converge vers le flanc 71 du corps d'échangeur thermique 13. La petite base 88 de la région distributrice d'entrée 87 est située au niveau du flanc 89 du corps d'échangeur thermique 13 opposé au flanc 71. Le passage 34 est obturé sur ses côtés latéraux par deux barres verticales 36, sauf au niveau de la petite base 88 de la région distributrice d'entrée 87, et par une barre horizontale 90 au niveau du bord inférieur 38 du passage 34.As illustrated by FIG. 8, each passage 34 dedicated to oxygen presents an input distributing region 87. This region 87 is shaped rectangular triangle, is disposed at the lower edge 38 of the passage 34 and extends across the entire width of this passage 34. The region 87 converges towards the side 71 of the heat exchanger body 13. The small base 88 of the inlet dispensing region 87 is located at the flank 89 of the heat exchanger body 13 opposite the flank 71. The passage 34 is closed on its lateral sides by two vertical bars 36, except at level of the small base 88 of the input distributing region 87, and by a horizontal bar 90 at the lower edge 38 of the passage 34.

L'alimentation en oxygène liquide et le soutirage d'oxygène liquide de chaque enceinte 14 sont assurés comme dans le cas des figures 1 à 5.The supply of liquid oxygen and the withdrawal of liquid oxygen from each enclosure 14 are provided as in the case of Figures 1 to 5.

Comme dans le cas de la variante de la figure 6, cette variante permet de simplifier la structure des corps d'échangeur thermique 13 et leurs raccordements au reste de l'installation de distillation 1.As in the case of the variant of FIG. 6, this variant simplifies the structure of the heat exchanger bodies 13 and their connections to the rest of the distillation plant 1.

Claims (18)

  1. Bath-type reboiler/condenser (4), comprising at least one heat exchanger body (13), having a multitude of flat passages (18, 34) for the countercurrent circulation of two fluids, coming from one or more columns, along the same direction, and at least one sealed fluid confinement chamber (14) containing the or each heat exchanger body, the confinement chamber comprising a central section (50) of cylindrical overall shape with a longitudinal axis (Y-Y), the longitudinal axis of the central section of said or each confinement chamber being substantially orthogonal to the countercurrent circulation direction of the fluids in the flat passages of the corresponding heat exchanger body, characterized in that, since the chamber is intended to be placed outside any distillation column, the reboiler/condenser (4) includes a passage (57) made in the confinement chamber (14) in order to bring liquid to be vaporized, coming from a column, into a bath in the said chamber.
  2. Reboiler/condenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that said or each heat exchanger body (13) comprises several heat exchanger blocks (16) juxtaposed along the longitudinal axis (Y-Y) of the central section (50) of the corresponding confinement chamber (14).
  3. Reboiler/condenser according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said or each chamber (14) is formed in such a way that, in use, a liquid bath can surround at least the lower portion of the exchanger body (13) and preferably is flush with the uppermost edge of the latter.
  4. Reboiler/condenser according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said or each heat exchanger body (13) includes fluid feed connectors (28) and fluid discharge connectors (32) and in that these connectors (28, 32) communicate with the flat passages (18, 34) of said heat exchanger body and are assigned, in pairs, to one fluid, the connectors of each pair of feed and outlet connectors assigned to the same fluid being placed approximately symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal mid-plane (Q) of said heat exchanger body (13).
  5. Reboiler/condenser according to Claim 4, characterized in that said heat exchanger body (13) or each of said heat exchanger bodies (13) comprises at least one inlet manifold (39) and at least one outlet manifold (45, 48) which are connected respectively to a pair of feed and outlet connectors (28, 32) assigned to the same fluid.
  6. Reboiler/condenser according to Claim 5, characterized in that, in the case of said or each heat exchanger body (13), the outlet manifold or manifolds (45, 48) and the inlet manifold or manifolds (39) are supported by the same region, especially a longitudinal end region (51), of the corresponding confinement chamber (14).
  7. Reboiler/condenser according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, in the case of said or each confinement chamber (14), the central section (50) has the overall shape of a body of revolution about its longitudinal axis (Y-Y) and, optionally, in that the chamber is cylindrical.
  8. Reboiler/condenser according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, said or each confinement chamber (14) may or may not be bounded, in its central section (50), partly by the corresponding heat exchanger body (13) (Figures 6 to 8).
  9. Reboiler/condenser according to Claim 8, characterized in that, said heat exchanger body (13) includes fluid feed connectors (28) and fluid discharge connectors (32) communicating with the flat passages (18, 34) of said heat exchanger body and in that these connectors (28, 32) are placed outside said confinement chamber (14).
  10. Reboiler/condenser according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said or each heat exchanger body (13) includes gas feed connectors (28) communicating with passages (18) of the heat exchanger body (13) and in that said heat exchanger body (13) includes means (30) for introducing the condensed gas present in said feed connectors (28) into these passages (18).
  11. Reboiler/condenser according to one of the preceding claims, in which the flat passages (18, 34) of the or at least one body (13) are oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the confinement chamber (14).
  12. Reboiler/condenser according to Claim 11, comprising at least two bodies (13), including one having flat passages (18, 34) oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of its confinement chamber (14), and another having flat passages oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of its confinement chamber.
  13. Distillation plant including a bath-type reboiler/condenser (4), comprising at least one heat exchanger body (13), having a multitude of flat passages (18, 34) for the countercurrent circulation of two fluids, coming from one or more columns, along the same direction, and at least one sealed fluid confinement chamber (14) containing the or each heat exchanger body, the confinement chamber comprising a central section (50) of cylindrical overall shape with a longitudinal axis (Y-Y), the longitudinal axis of the central section of said or each confinement chamber being substantially orthogonal to the countercurrent circulation direction of the fluids in the flat passages of the corresponding heat exchanger body, characterized in that the chamber lies outside any distillation column and is suitable for containing a bath of liquid, the liquid to be vaporized coming from a column.
  14. Plant according to Claim 13, characterized in that the axis of the central section of said or each confinement chamber (14) of the reboiler/condenser (4) is substantially horizontal.
  15. Plant according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that it includes a medium-pressure column (2) and a low-pressure column (3), the nitrogen from the top of the medium-pressure column and the oxygen from the bottom of the low-pressure column being brought into heat-exchange relationship by the reboiler/condenser (4).
  16. Plant according to Claim 15, characterized in that said or each confinement chamber (14) is placed alongside the medium-pressure and low-pressure columns.
  17. Plant according to Claim 15 or 16, characterized in that at least one portion of the reboiler/condenser (4) is placed at an intermediate level between that of the bottom of the low-pressure column (3) and that of the top of the medium-pressure column (2).
  18. Plant according to Claim 16, characterized in that the plant includes a main heat exchange line (5) for cooling the air to be distilled and in that the reboiler/condenser (4) is placed above the main heat exchange line (5).
EP00958698A 1999-08-24 2000-08-17 Evaporator-condenser and corresponding air distillation installation Expired - Lifetime EP1230522B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9910738 1999-08-24
FR9910738A FR2797942B1 (en) 1999-08-24 1999-08-24 VAPORIZER-CONDENSER AND CORRESPONDING AIR DISTILLATION SYSTEM
PCT/FR2000/002332 WO2001014808A1 (en) 1999-08-24 2000-08-17 Evaporator-condenser and corresponding air distillation installation

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1230522A1 EP1230522A1 (en) 2002-08-14
EP1230522B1 true EP1230522B1 (en) 2005-04-06

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EP00958698A Expired - Lifetime EP1230522B1 (en) 1999-08-24 2000-08-17 Evaporator-condenser and corresponding air distillation installation

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US (1) US6543252B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1230522B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2003507691A (en)
CN (1) CN1167927C (en)
AU (1) AU7013800A (en)
DE (1) DE60019328T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2797942B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2001014808A1 (en)

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FR2884436B1 (en) * 2005-04-13 2007-07-20 Air Liquide DISTILLATION COLUMN WITH FIREWALL DEVICE
CN101929789B (en) * 2010-05-12 2012-07-18 李大仁 Method for air separation
FR2963417B1 (en) * 2010-08-02 2014-03-28 Air Liquide U-SHAPED TUBE VAPORIZER
WO2012047315A1 (en) 2010-10-05 2012-04-12 Edward Stock Wastewater evaporation apparatus and method
ES2666137T3 (en) * 2013-12-05 2018-05-03 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Heat exchanger with collector channel for the extraction of a liquid phase
WO2015134188A1 (en) * 2014-03-07 2015-09-11 Conocophillips Company Heat exchanger system with mono-cyclone inline separator
FR3052244B1 (en) * 2016-06-06 2018-05-18 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION OR MODIFICATION OF MATERIAL EXCHANGE APPARATUS AND / OR HEAT

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DE1152432B (en) * 1962-04-21 1963-08-08 Linde Eismasch Ag Plate condenser evaporator, especially for gas and air separators
US3282334A (en) * 1963-04-29 1966-11-01 Trane Co Heat exchanger
DE1519599C3 (en) * 1965-10-22 1975-11-06 Linde Ag, 6200 Wiesbaden Rectification column
JPS49104435U (en) * 1972-12-22 1974-09-06
FR2456924A2 (en) * 1979-05-18 1980-12-12 Air Liquide THERMAL EXCHANGE ASSEMBLY OF THE PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER TYPE
JPS6014146Y2 (en) * 1981-07-16 1985-05-07 日本酸素株式会社 horizontal capacitor
SE469669B (en) * 1992-01-21 1993-08-16 Alfa Laval Thermal Ab DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF PLATFORM TRANSMITTERS
JPH05223445A (en) * 1992-02-10 1993-08-31 Nippon Sanso Kk Method and apparatus for liquefying and separating air
FR2718836B1 (en) * 1994-04-15 1996-05-24 Maurice Grenier Improved heat exchanger with brazed plates.
DE4415747C2 (en) * 1994-05-04 1996-04-25 Linde Ag Method and device for the low-temperature separation of air
FR2733823B1 (en) * 1995-05-04 1997-08-01 Packinox Sa PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2797942B1 (en) 2001-11-09
DE60019328D1 (en) 2005-05-12
CN1167927C (en) 2004-09-22
EP1230522A1 (en) 2002-08-14
AU7013800A (en) 2001-03-19
DE60019328T2 (en) 2006-03-09
JP2003507691A (en) 2003-02-25
US6543252B1 (en) 2003-04-08
CN1370264A (en) 2002-09-18
FR2797942A1 (en) 2001-03-02
WO2001014808A1 (en) 2001-03-01

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