EP1250185A2 - Air separation method and plant - Google Patents

Air separation method and plant

Info

Publication number
EP1250185A2
EP1250185A2 EP00993692A EP00993692A EP1250185A2 EP 1250185 A2 EP1250185 A2 EP 1250185A2 EP 00993692 A EP00993692 A EP 00993692A EP 00993692 A EP00993692 A EP 00993692A EP 1250185 A2 EP1250185 A2 EP 1250185A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nitrogen
enriched
flow
combustion chamber
gas flow
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP00993692A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1250185B1 (en
Inventor
François Fuentes
Richard Dubettier
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Air Liquide SA
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
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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
Publication of EP1250185A2 publication Critical patent/EP1250185A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1250185B1 publication Critical patent/EP1250185B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • F25J3/04521—Coupling of the air fractionation unit to an air gas-consuming unit, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J3/04612—Heat exchange integration with process streams, e.g. from the air gas consuming unit
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04151—Purification and (pre-)cooling of the feed air; recuperative heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04157—Afterstage cooling and so-called "pre-cooling" of the feed air upstream the air purification unit and main heat exchange line
    • 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
    • F25J3/04521—Coupling of the air fractionation unit to an air gas-consuming unit, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J3/04527—Integration with an oxygen consuming unit, e.g. glass facility, waste incineration or oxygen based processes in general
    • F25J3/04551—Integration with an oxygen consuming unit, e.g. glass facility, waste incineration or oxygen based processes in general for the metal production
    • F25J3/04557—Integration with an oxygen consuming unit, e.g. glass facility, waste incineration or oxygen based processes in general for the metal production for pig iron or steel making, e.g. blast furnace, Corex
    • 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
    • F25J3/04521—Coupling of the air fractionation unit to an air gas-consuming unit, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J3/04563—Integration with a nitrogen consuming unit, e.g. for purging, inerting, cooling or heating
    • 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
    • F25J3/04521—Coupling of the air fractionation unit to an air gas-consuming unit, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J3/04563—Integration with a nitrogen consuming unit, e.g. for purging, inerting, cooling or heating
    • F25J3/04575—Integration with a nitrogen consuming unit, e.g. for purging, inerting, cooling or heating for a gas expansion plant, e.g. dilution of the combustion gas in a gas turbine
    • F25J3/04581—Hot gas expansion of indirect heated nitrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04521—Coupling of the air fractionation unit to an air gas-consuming unit, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J3/04612—Heat exchange integration with process streams, e.g. from the air gas consuming unit
    • F25J3/04618—Heat exchange integration with process streams, e.g. from the air gas consuming unit for cooling an air stream fed to the air fractionation unit
    • 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
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/90—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration
    • F25J2270/906—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration by heat driven absorption chillers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and an installation for air separation.
  • it relates to a process which produces a flow enriched in nitrogen at a pressure of at least 2 bars which is expanded in a turbine.
  • it relates to an integrated air separation process and installation with a combustion chamber.
  • DE-A-2553700 describes an air separation device which produces a gas flow enriched in nitrogen. After a compression step, the gas flow is heated by indirect heat exchange inside a combustion chamber - before being ⁇ expanded - in a turbine. The expanded gas in the turbine is used to preheat the compressed gas to be sent to the combustion chamber.
  • US-A-3950957 discloses an air separation device in which the nitrogen produced is expanded after being heated in a boiler. The remaining calories in the expanded nitrogen are transmitted to the boiler by indirect heat exchange.
  • US-A-4557735 describes the case in which nitrogen is expanded to a cryogenic temperature, compressed, mixed with air and sent to a combustion chamber.
  • EP-A-0959314 relates to a process for the expansion of a mixture of air and residual nitrogen, in which the mixture is sent to a combustion chamber.
  • the proposed scheme corresponds to turbinating residual nitrogen at high temperature in an innovative and efficient manner.
  • an air separation process in which a flow of compressed and purified air is separated in an air separation apparatus to produce a gas flow enriched in nitrogen at between 2 and 7 bars, the nitrogen-enriched gas flow is expanded in a turbine and the expanded gas flow is sent to a convection zone located downstream of a combustion chamber characterized in that the gas flow is expanded without having been mixed with a fuel flow and it is not mixed with an air flow after its expansion.
  • the nitrogen-enriched gas flow is preheated by indirect heat exchange with the gases inside the combustion chamber before being expanded.
  • the inlet temperature of the nitrogen into the turbine is at least 700 ° C.
  • the nitrogen-enriched flow rate is preheated by indirect exchange in the combustion chamber in one stage to an intermediate temperature and then in a second stage to the inlet temperature of the turbine and the expanded gas sent to the chamber of combustion gives up calories at the gas flow to be relaxed during the first stage of preheating.
  • the nitrogen enriched gas flow is compressed to a pressure between 5 and 20 bars before being expanded.
  • the air is cooled after its compression by means of an absorption refrigeration unit and pressurized water intended for the refrigeration unit is heated by the gases of the combustion chamber added to the gas flow enriched in nitrogen.
  • the air is purified in a purification means before being sent to the separation apparatus, the purification means is regenerated by a gas flow enriched in nitrogen and at least part of the flow having served for regeneration is sent to the expansion turbine.
  • the nitrogen-enriched flow rate is withdrawn from a single column or from the medium pressure column and / or from the low pressure column from a double column or from the high pressure column and / or from the intermediate pressure column and / or of the low pressure column of a triple column.
  • the nitrogen-enriched flow is mixed with a nitrogen-enriched gas from an external source before being expanded in the turbine.
  • the nitrogen-enriched flow contains at least 50 mol% of nitrogen and between 0.5 and 10 mol% of oxygen. . . - . . '•
  • the column from which the nitrogen-enriched flow comes from operates between substantially 2 and 7 bars.
  • the nitrogen-enriched flow is not mixed with air before being expanded in the turbine.
  • an air separation installation comprising: i) an air separation apparatus by cryogenic distillation ii) a combustion chamber followed by a heat recovery zone comprising a convection zone iii) an expansion turbine iv) means for sending air to the air separation device by cryogenic distillation v) means for withdrawing a nitrogen-enriched gas from the separation device air by cryogenic distillation vi) means for sending the nitrogen-enriched gas to the expansion turbine and vii) means for sending the nitrogen-enriched gas from the expansion turbine to the convection zone located downstream of the combustion chamber characterized in that it comprises neither means for mixing air with the nitrogen-enriched gas downstream of the turbine and upstream of the combustion chamber nor means for mixing fuel with the nitrogen-enriched gas before it is held e.
  • the installation can include:
  • a refrigeration unit in which the air is cooled after its compression, a pressurized water circuit intended for the refrigeration unit and means for heating the water circuit pressurized by the gases of the combustion chamber plus the gas flow enriched in nitrogen.
  • a purification means in which the air is purified before being sent to the separation apparatus, the purification means being regenerated by a gas flow enriched in nitrogen and means for sending at least part of the flow used for regeneration at the expansion turbine.
  • An air flow 1 is compressed in a compressor 3, cooled by means of a refrigeration unit 5 and purified in beds of adsorbents 7.
  • the air is cooled in the main exchanger 9 before being sent to the medium pressure column of a double column.
  • Rich liquid is sent from the medium pressure column to the low pressure column and an oxygen-rich gas is withdrawn from the low pressure column.
  • This oxygen-rich gas can optionally be sent to an oxygen consuming unit which produces a fuel 27 for a combustion chamber 15.
  • This unit can be a blast furnace, a unit for producing steel or other metals. .. -
  • Impure nitrogen gas 1 containing from less than one to several molar percent oxygen, available at room temperature and moderate pressure (2 to 7 bars) at the head of the low pressure column of the double column with a flow rate of 50 000 Nm3 / h to 500,000 Nm3 / h is compressed in a compressor 13 at a pressure of the order of 10 to 20 bars, after regenerating the adsorbent bed 7.
  • II contains the impurities trapped by it.
  • This fluid then at a temperature of the order of 90 to 150 ° C (since there is no final coolant downstream from the compressor 13) is heated, in two stages separated A, B, in a combustion chamber 15 up to a temperature of the order of 700 to 800 ° C.
  • the combustion chamber 15 is supplied with fuel 27 and compressed air 25 or another source of oxygen.
  • the compressed air can come from a FD (forced draft fan).
  • the combustion chamber is optionally constituted by an oven having at least one burner.
  • the heated residual nitrogen is then expanded to a pressure close to atmospheric pressure in an expansion turbine 17 coupled to an electric generator and / or compression means of the air separation device.
  • the expanded fluid 19, with a temperature of 350 to 450 ° C is then mixed with the fumes from the combustion chamber at a substantially identical level, intermediate between the two heating stages A, B previously mentioned so as to minimize the irreversibilities.
  • the residual heat of the flue gases added with residual nitrogen is used to heat pressurized water 21 (to around 110-130 ° C) necessary for the operation of the absorption refrigeration unit 5 (lithium bromide or equivalent) intended to cool the air entering the air separation unit.
  • the overall energy balance is particularly interesting and makes it possible to develop energy that is not very noble.
  • This scheme makes it possible to efficiently valorize the energy contained in the residual nitrogen without having the expensive circuits necessary for the production of boiler water.
  • the water vapor content in the flue gases is relatively low and would make it possible to recover energy at low temperature levels, without the risk of condensation (and therefore corrosion) in the chimney of the combustion chamber.
  • At least some of the residual nitrogen, as well as the heat available in the system (compression or residual heat of the flue gases) can be used to regenerate the adsorbent beds of the air separation unit before '' be compressed, heated in the combustion chamber and sent to the turbine.
  • the nitrogen to be expanded can be extracted from the column operating at the lowest pressure and / or from the column operating at the highest pressure and / or from the column operating at intermediate pressure (in the case where the apparatus for air separation would be a triple column).
  • the combustion chamber can be oversized so that it can also produce steam, functioning as a boiler.
  • Part of the residual nitrogen can be taken at various points so as to serve as bearing gas and / or for cooling the blades or the rotor of the nitrogen expansion turbine or of another turbine.
  • Part of the residual nitrogen can be injected at the burners of the combustion chamber to control the Nox level.
  • the scheme can obviously be designed without a nitrogen compressor, especially if the low pressure column operates at a pressure above 1.4 bar.
  • FCC fluidized catalytic crac ing
  • the regeneration gas is available at around 700 ° C. and 3 to 4 bars. This gas is generally turbinated and the calories are recovered. It is often found that the FCCs are small , and therefore the investment of the turbine is not justified economically. We could therefore propose to relax this gas at the same time after having mixed it with nitrogen.
  • this or these gases can be mixed with nitrogen at the points indicated by the dotted arrows " 20,23,24,31 (before or after the first heating stage, just upstream of the turbine or upstream of the nitrogen compressor) depending on its temperature and pressure.
  • the flow rate is of the same order of magnitude as that of the residual nitrogen (ie 50,000 Nm3 / h to 500,000 Nm3 / h).
  • the pressure is typically from 2 to 6 bar abs.
  • FCC regeneration can be improved by enriching the air.
  • the oxygen intended for enrichment can come from the ASU which supplies the nitrogen.
  • the pressure is typically from 2 to 10 bar abs and the flow rate from 20,000 Nm3 / h to 200,000 Nm3 / h.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
  • Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)
  • Separation Of Gases By Adsorption (AREA)
  • Motor Or Generator Cooling System (AREA)

Abstract

The pressurized waste nitrogen (11) from a column of an air separation unit (10) is sent, optionally after being compressed, to a combustion chamber (15) where it is heated, to a turbine (17) in which it is expanded and again to the combustion chamber (15) where it is mixed with the flue gases in order to give up waste heat thereto.

Description

PROCEDE ET INSTALLATION DE SEPARATION D'AIR AIR SEPARATION PROCESS AND INSTALLATION
La présente invention est relative à un procédé et une installation de séparation d'air. En particulier, elle concerne un procédé qui produit un débit enrichi en azote à une pression d'au moins 2 bars qui est détendu dans une turbine. En particulier elle concerne un procédé et installation de séparation d'air intégrés avec une chambre à combustion.The present invention relates to a method and an installation for air separation. In particular, it relates to a process which produces a flow enriched in nitrogen at a pressure of at least 2 bars which is expanded in a turbine. In particular, it relates to an integrated air separation process and installation with a combustion chamber.
Les appareils de séparation d'air par voie cryogénique fonctionnent traditionnellement avec deux colonnes de distillation une dite moyenne pression fonctionnant à environ 4 à 10 bars et une dite basse pression fonctionnant à entre 1 à 3 bars.Air separation devices cryogenic traditionally operate with two distillation columns, a so-called medium pressure operating at around 4 to 10 bars and a so-called low pressure operating at between 1 to 3 bars.
Une augmentation de ces pressions, bien que rendant la distillation plus difficile, serait intéressante car elle permettrait de réduire le volume des équipements (et donc leurs coûts) et permettrait de réduire les irréversibilités énergétiques dues aux pertes de charges dans les différents circuits. Cependant, il est assez rare de pouvoir augmenter ces pressions car il est nécessaire de valoriser l'énergie contenue dans les fluides résiduaires "non commercialisables" traditionnellement du fait de leurs puretés. Les solutions classiques sont par exemple de :An increase in these pressures, although making distillation more difficult, would be interesting because it would reduce the volume of equipment (and therefore their costs) and would reduce energy irreversibilities due to pressure drops in the various circuits. However, it is quite rare to be able to increase these pressures because it is necessary to recover the energy contained in the residual fluids traditionally "non-marketable" because of their purities. Typical solutions are, for example:
- réinjecter ce résiduaire dans des turbines a gaz (cas en particulier des IGCC),- re-injecting this waste into gas turbines (in particular the case of IGCCs),
- turbiner à froid ce fluide de manière à produire du liquide,- cold turbinating this fluid so as to produce liquid,
- turbiner à température élevée (tel que décrit dans la demande de brevet EP-A-0402045).- turbine at high temperature (as described in patent application EP-A-0402045).
DE-A-2553700 décrit un appareil de séparation d'air qui produit un débit gazeux enrichi en azote. Après une étape de compression, le débit gazeux est chauffé par échange de chaleur indirect à l'intérieur d'une chambre de combustion -avant d'être ^détendu -dans une turbine. Le gaz détendu dans la turbine sert à préchauffer le gaz comprimé à envoyer à la chambre de combustion.DE-A-2553700 describes an air separation device which produces a gas flow enriched in nitrogen. After a compression step, the gas flow is heated by indirect heat exchange inside a combustion chamber - before being ^ expanded - in a turbine. The expanded gas in the turbine is used to preheat the compressed gas to be sent to the combustion chamber.
US-A-3950957 divulgue un appareil de séparation d'air dont l'azote produit est détendu après s'être réchauffée dans une chaudière. Les calories restantes dans l'azote détendu sont transmises à la chaudière par échange de chaleur indirecte.US-A-3950957 discloses an air separation device in which the nitrogen produced is expanded after being heated in a boiler. The remaining calories in the expanded nitrogen are transmitted to the boiler by indirect heat exchange.
Dans US-A-5459994, un débit d'azote est détendu dans une turbine, mélangé avec de l'air, comprimé et envoyé à une chambre de combustion.In US-A-5459994, a flow of nitrogen is expanded in a turbine, mixed with air, compressed and sent to a combustion chamber.
Dans US-A-4729217 après avoir été mélangé avec le carburant, l'azote est détendu dans une turbine et envoyé à une chambre de combustion.In US-A-4729217 after being mixed with the fuel, the nitrogen is expanded in a turbine and sent to a combustion chamber.
US-A-4557735 décrit le cas dans lequel l'azote est détendu à une température cryogénique, comprimé, mélangé avec l'air et envoyé à une chambre de combustion.US-A-4557735 describes the case in which nitrogen is expanded to a cryogenic temperature, compressed, mixed with air and sent to a combustion chamber.
EP-A-0959314 concerne un procédé de détente d'un mélange d'air et d'azote résiduaire, dans lequel le mélange est envoyé à une chambre de combustion.EP-A-0959314 relates to a process for the expansion of a mixture of air and residual nitrogen, in which the mixture is sent to a combustion chamber.
Le schéma proposé correspond à turbiner l'azote résiduaire à température élevée de manière innovante et efficace.The proposed scheme corresponds to turbinating residual nitrogen at high temperature in an innovative and efficient manner.
Selon un objet de l'invention, il est prévu un procédé de séparation d'air dans lequel un débit d'air comprimé et épuré est séparé dans un appareil de séparation d'air pour produire un débit gazeux enrichi en azote à entre 2 et 7 bars, le débit gazeux enrichi en azote est détendu dans une turbine et le débit gazeux détendu est envoyé à une zone de convection située en aval d'une chambre de..combustion caractérisé en ce que le débit gazeux est détendu sans avoir été mélangé avec un débit de carburant et il n'est pas mélangé avec un débit d'air après sa détente.According to an object of the invention, there is provided an air separation process in which a flow of compressed and purified air is separated in an air separation apparatus to produce a gas flow enriched in nitrogen at between 2 and 7 bars, the nitrogen-enriched gas flow is expanded in a turbine and the expanded gas flow is sent to a convection zone located downstream of a combustion chamber characterized in that the gas flow is expanded without having been mixed with a fuel flow and it is not mixed with an air flow after its expansion.
Optionnellement :Optionally:
- le débit gazeux enrichi en azote est préchauffé par échange de chaleur indirect avec les gaz à l'intérieur de la chambre de combustion avant d'être détendu.- the nitrogen-enriched gas flow is preheated by indirect heat exchange with the gases inside the combustion chamber before being expanded.
- la température d'entrée de l'azote dans la turbine est au moins 700°C. - le débit enrichi en azote est préchauffé par échange indirect dans la chambre de combustion en une étape jusqu'à une température intermédiaire et ensuite en une deuxième étape jusqu'à la température d'entrée de la turbine et le gaz détendu envoyé dans la chambre de combustion cède des calories au débit gazeux à détendre lors de la première étape de préchauffage.- the inlet temperature of the nitrogen into the turbine is at least 700 ° C. - the nitrogen-enriched flow rate is preheated by indirect exchange in the combustion chamber in one stage to an intermediate temperature and then in a second stage to the inlet temperature of the turbine and the expanded gas sent to the chamber of combustion gives up calories at the gas flow to be relaxed during the first stage of preheating.
- le débit gazeux enrichi en azote est comprimé à une pression entre 5 et 20 bars avant d'être détendu.- The nitrogen enriched gas flow is compressed to a pressure between 5 and 20 bars before being expanded.
- l'air est refroidi après sa compression au moyen d'un groupe frigorifique à absorption et de l'eau pressurisée destinée au groupe frigorifique est chauffée par les gaz de la chambre de combustion additionnés du débit gazeux enrichi en azote.- The air is cooled after its compression by means of an absorption refrigeration unit and pressurized water intended for the refrigeration unit is heated by the gases of the combustion chamber added to the gas flow enriched in nitrogen.
- l'air est épuré dans un moyen d'épuration avant d'être envoyé à l'appareil de séparation, le moyen d'épuration est régénéré par un débit gazeux enrichi en azote et au moins une partie du débit ayant servi à la régénération est envoyé à la turbine de détente.the air is purified in a purification means before being sent to the separation apparatus, the purification means is regenerated by a gas flow enriched in nitrogen and at least part of the flow having served for regeneration is sent to the expansion turbine.
- le débit enrichi en azote est soutiré d'une simple colonne ou de la colonne moyenne pression et/ou de la colonne basse pression d'une double colonne ou de la colonne haute pression et/ou de la colonne à pression intermédiaire et/ou de la colonne basse pression d'une triple colonne. - le débit enrichi en azote est mélangé avec un gaz enrichi en azote provenant d'une source extérieure avant d'être détendu dans la turbine.- the nitrogen-enriched flow rate is withdrawn from a single column or from the medium pressure column and / or from the low pressure column from a double column or from the high pressure column and / or from the intermediate pressure column and / or of the low pressure column of a triple column. - the nitrogen-enriched flow is mixed with a nitrogen-enriched gas from an external source before being expanded in the turbine.
- le débit enrichi en azote contient au moins 50 mol.% d'azote et entre 0.5 et 10% molaires d'oxygène. . . - . . ' • - the nitrogen-enriched flow contains at least 50 mol% of nitrogen and between 0.5 and 10 mol% of oxygen. . . - . . '•
- la colonne dont provient le débit enrichi en azote fonctionne entre substantiellement 2 et 7 bars.- the column from which the nitrogen-enriched flow comes from operates between substantially 2 and 7 bars.
- le débit enrichi en azote n'est pas mélangé avec de l'air avant d'être détendu dans la turbine.- the nitrogen-enriched flow is not mixed with air before being expanded in the turbine.
- on mélange un débit enrichi en azote, de préférence contenant au moins 50 mol.% d'azote, provenant d'une source extérieure, avec le débit enrichi en azote provenant de l'appareil de séparation d'air, en amont de la turbine de détente. Selon un autre objet de l'invention, il est prévu une installation de séparation d'air comprenant : i) un appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique ii) une chambre de combustion suivie d'une zone de récupération de chaleur comportant une zone de convection iii) une turbine de détente iv) des moyens pour envoyer de l'air à l'appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique v) des moyens pour soutirer un gaz enrichi en azote de l'appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique vi) des moyens pour envoyer le gaz enrichi en azote à la turbine de détente et vii) des moyens pour envoyer le gaz enrichi en azote de la turbine de détente à la zone de convection située en aval de la chambre de combustion caractérisée en ce qu'elle ne comprend ni moyens pour mélanger de l'air au gaz enrichi en azote en aval de la turbine et en amont de la chambre de combustion ni moyens pour mélanger du carburant avec le gaz enrichi en azote avant sa détente. Optionnellement l'installation peut comprendre :- A flow enriched in nitrogen, preferably containing at least 50 mol.% of nitrogen, coming from an external source, is mixed with the flow enriched in nitrogen coming from the air separation device, upstream of the expansion turbine. According to another object of the invention, there is provided an air separation installation comprising: i) an air separation apparatus by cryogenic distillation ii) a combustion chamber followed by a heat recovery zone comprising a convection zone iii) an expansion turbine iv) means for sending air to the air separation device by cryogenic distillation v) means for withdrawing a nitrogen-enriched gas from the separation device air by cryogenic distillation vi) means for sending the nitrogen-enriched gas to the expansion turbine and vii) means for sending the nitrogen-enriched gas from the expansion turbine to the convection zone located downstream of the combustion chamber characterized in that it comprises neither means for mixing air with the nitrogen-enriched gas downstream of the turbine and upstream of the combustion chamber nor means for mixing fuel with the nitrogen-enriched gas before it is held e. Optionally the installation can include:
- des moyens pour préchauffe/ le débit gazeux enrichi en azote par échange de chaleur indirect avec les gaz à l'intérieur de la chambre de combustion en amont de la turbine de détente.- Means for preheating / the gas flow enriched in nitrogen by indirect heat exchange with the gases inside the combustion chamber upstream of the expansion turbine.
- des moyens pour préchauffer le débit enrichi en azote par échange indirect dans la chambre de combustion en une étape jusqu'à une température intermédiaire et ensuite en une deuxième étape jusqu'à la température d'entrée de la turbine.- Means for preheating the nitrogen-enriched flow by indirect exchange in the combustion chamber in one step to an intermediate temperature and then in a second step to the inlet temperature of the turbine.
- un groupe frigorifique dans lequel l'air est refroidi après sa compression, un circuit d'eau pressurisée destinée au groupe frigorifique et des moyens pour chauffer le circuit d'eau pressurisée par les gaz de la chambre de combustion additionnés du débit gazeux enrichi en azote. - un moyen d'épuration dans lequel l'air est épuré avant d'être envoyé à l'appareil de séparation, le moyen d'épuration étant régénéré par un débit gazeux enrichi en azote et des moyens pour envoyer au moins une partie du débit ayant servi à la régénération à la turbine de détente. - des moyens pour soutirer le débit enrichi en azote d'une simple colonne ou de la colonne moyenne pression et/ou de la colonne basse pression d'une double colonne ou de la colonne haute pression et/ou de la colonne à pression intermédiaire et/ou de la colonne basse pression d'une triple colonne.- a refrigeration unit in which the air is cooled after its compression, a pressurized water circuit intended for the refrigeration unit and means for heating the water circuit pressurized by the gases of the combustion chamber plus the gas flow enriched in nitrogen. a purification means in which the air is purified before being sent to the separation apparatus, the purification means being regenerated by a gas flow enriched in nitrogen and means for sending at least part of the flow used for regeneration at the expansion turbine. means for withdrawing the nitrogen-enriched flow rate from a single column or from the medium pressure column and / or from the low pressure column from a double column or from the high pressure column and / or from the intermediate pressure column, and / or the low pressure column of a triple column.
- des moyens pour mélanger un gaz résiduaire enrichi en azote (de préférence contenant au moins 50 mol.% d'azote) provenant d'une source extérieure avec le gaz enrichi en azote à détendre.- Means for mixing a waste gas enriched in nitrogen (preferably containing at least 50 mol.% nitrogen) from an external source with the gas enriched in nitrogen to be expanded.
L'invention sera maintenant décrit en se référant à la Figure qui est un schéma d'une installation selon l'invention.The invention will now be described with reference to the Figure which is a diagram of an installation according to the invention.
Un débit d'air 1 est comprimé dans un compresseur 3, refroidi au moyen d'un groupe frigorifique 5 et épuré dans des lits d'adsorbants 7.An air flow 1 is compressed in a compressor 3, cooled by means of a refrigeration unit 5 and purified in beds of adsorbents 7.
Ensuite l'air est refroidi dans l'échangeur principal 9 avant d'être envoyé à la colonne moyenne pression d'une double colonne.Then the air is cooled in the main exchanger 9 before being sent to the medium pressure column of a double column.
Du liquide riche est envoyé de la colonne moyenne pression à la colonne basse pression et un gaz riche en oxygène est soutiré de la colonne basse pression. Ce gaz riche en oxygène peut éventuellement être envoyé à une unité consommatrice d'oxygène qui produit un carburant 27 pour une chambre de combustion 15. Cette unité peut être un haut-fourneau, une unité de production d'acier ou d'autres métaux... -Rich liquid is sent from the medium pressure column to the low pressure column and an oxygen-rich gas is withdrawn from the low pressure column. This oxygen-rich gas can optionally be sent to an oxygen consuming unit which produces a fuel 27 for a combustion chamber 15. This unit can be a blast furnace, a unit for producing steel or other metals. .. -
L'azote impur gazeux 1 contenant de moins de un à plusieurs pour cent molaires d'oxygène, disponibte-à température ambiante et pression modérée (2 à 7 bars) en tête de la colonne basse pression de la double colonne avec un débit de 50 000 Nm3/h à 500 000 Nm3/h est comprimé dans un compresseur 13 à une pression de l'ordre de 10 à 20 bars, après avoir régénéré le lit d'adsorbant 7.II contient les impuretés piégées par celui-ci. Ce fluide, alors à une température de l'ordre de 90 à 150°C (car il n'y a pas de réfrigérant final en aval du compresseur 13) est réchauffé, en deux étapes séparées A,B, dans une chambre de combustion 15 jusqu'à une température de l'ordre de 700 à 800°C.Impure nitrogen gas 1 containing from less than one to several molar percent oxygen, available at room temperature and moderate pressure (2 to 7 bars) at the head of the low pressure column of the double column with a flow rate of 50 000 Nm3 / h to 500,000 Nm3 / h is compressed in a compressor 13 at a pressure of the order of 10 to 20 bars, after regenerating the adsorbent bed 7.II contains the impurities trapped by it. This fluid, then at a temperature of the order of 90 to 150 ° C (since there is no final coolant downstream from the compressor 13) is heated, in two stages separated A, B, in a combustion chamber 15 up to a temperature of the order of 700 to 800 ° C.
La chambre de combustion 15 est alimentée par du carburant 27 et de l'air 25 comprimé ou une autre source d'oxygène. L'air comprimé peut provenir d'une soufflante FD (« forced draft fan »).The combustion chamber 15 is supplied with fuel 27 and compressed air 25 or another source of oxygen. The compressed air can come from a FD (forced draft fan).
La chambre de combustion est éventuellement constituée par un four ayant au moins un brûleur.The combustion chamber is optionally constituted by an oven having at least one burner.
L'azote résiduaire réchauffé est ensuite détendu jusqu'à une pression voisine de la pression atmosphérique dans une turbine de détente 17 couplée à un générateur électrique et/ou des moyens de compression de l'appareil de séparation d'air.The heated residual nitrogen is then expanded to a pressure close to atmospheric pressure in an expansion turbine 17 coupled to an electric generator and / or compression means of the air separation device.
Le fluide détendu 19, d'une température de 350 à 450°C est alors méiangè aux fumées de la chambre de combustion à un niveau sensiblement identique, intermédiaire entre les deux étapes de réchauffage A,B précédemment citées de manière à minimiser les irréversibilités.The expanded fluid 19, with a temperature of 350 to 450 ° C is then mixed with the fumes from the combustion chamber at a substantially identical level, intermediate between the two heating stages A, B previously mentioned so as to minimize the irreversibilities.
La chaleur résiduelle des fumées additionnées d'azote résiduaire est utilisée pour réchauffer de l'eau pressurisée 21 (à environ 110 - 130°C) nécessaire au fonctionnement du groupe frigorifique à absorption 5 (bromure de lithium ou équivalent) destiné à refroidir l'air entrant dans l'appareil de séparation d'air.The residual heat of the flue gases added with residual nitrogen is used to heat pressurized water 21 (to around 110-130 ° C) necessary for the operation of the absorption refrigeration unit 5 (lithium bromide or equivalent) intended to cool the air entering the air separation unit.
Le bilan énergétique global est particulièrement intéressant et permet de valoriser de l'énergie peu noble.The overall energy balance is particularly interesting and makes it possible to develop energy that is not very noble.
. . Il y a adéquation entre les besoins du groupe frigorifique de. l'appareil de séparation d'air et les calories disponibles dans les^fumées de la chambre de combustion au niveau de température indiqué.. . There is an adequacy between the needs of the refrigeration unit of. the air separation unit and the calories available in the fumes from the combustion chamber at the indicated temperature level.
Ce schéma permet de valoriser l'énergie contenue dans l'azote résiduaire sans avoir les circuits coûteux nécessaires à la production d'eau de chaudière.This scheme makes it possible to valorize the energy contained in the residual nitrogen without having the expensive circuits necessary for the production of boiler water.
Du fait de l'injection d'azote résiduaire, la teneur en vapeur d'eau dans les fumées est relativement faible et permettrait de récupérer de l'énergie à des niveaux de température bas, sans risque de condensation (et donc de corrosion) dans la cheminée de la chambre de combustion. Au moins une partie, de l'azote résiduaire, de même que la chaleur disponible dans le système (compression ou chaleur résiduelle des fumées) peut être utilisée pour régénérer, les lits d'adsorbants de l'appareil de séparation d'air avant d'être comprimée, chauffée dans la chambre de combustion et envoyée à la turbine.Due to the injection of residual nitrogen, the water vapor content in the flue gases is relatively low and would make it possible to recover energy at low temperature levels, without the risk of condensation (and therefore corrosion) in the chimney of the combustion chamber. At least some of the residual nitrogen, as well as the heat available in the system (compression or residual heat of the flue gases) can be used to regenerate the adsorbent beds of the air separation unit before '' be compressed, heated in the combustion chamber and sent to the turbine.
Evidemment la double colonne de la Figure peut être remplacée par une triple colonne telle que celle de EP-A-0538118.Obviously the double column of the Figure can be replaced by a triple column such as that of EP-A-0538118.
L'azote à détendre peut être extrait de la colonne opérant à la pression la plus basse et/ou de la colonne opérant à la pression la plus élevée et/ou de la colonne opérant à pression intermédiaire (dans le cas où l'appareil de séparation d'air serait une triple colonne).The nitrogen to be expanded can be extracted from the column operating at the lowest pressure and / or from the column operating at the highest pressure and / or from the column operating at intermediate pressure (in the case where the apparatus for air separation would be a triple column).
La chambre de combustion peut être surdimensionnée de manière à pouvoir produire aussi de la vapeur, fonctionnant comme une chaudière.The combustion chamber can be oversized so that it can also produce steam, functioning as a boiler.
Une partie de l'azote résiduaire peut être prélevé en différents points de manière à servir de gaz de palier et/ou de refroidissement des aubes ou du rotor de la turbine de détente de l'azote ou d'une autre turbine.Part of the residual nitrogen can be taken at various points so as to serve as bearing gas and / or for cooling the blades or the rotor of the nitrogen expansion turbine or of another turbine.
Une partie de l'azote résiduaire peut être injecté au niveau des brûleurs de la chambre de combustion pour contrôler le niveau en Nox.Part of the residual nitrogen can be injected at the burners of the combustion chamber to control the Nox level.
Le schéma peut évidemment être conçu sans compresseur d'azote surtout si la colonne basse pression opère à une pression au-dessus de 1 ,4 bar. Dans de nombreuses raffineries il existe des unités de type FCC (fluidized catalytic crac ing) où le gaz de régénération- est disponible à environ 700°C et 3 à 4 bars. Ce gaz est généralement turbiné puis les calories sont- récupérées. 11 se trouve que souvent, les FCC sont de taille modeste' et donc l'investissement de la turbine ne se justifie pas économiquement. Nous pourrions donc proposer de détendre ce gaz en même temps après l'avoir mélangé avec l'azote.The scheme can obviously be designed without a nitrogen compressor, especially if the low pressure column operates at a pressure above 1.4 bar. In many refineries there are units of the FCC (fluidized catalytic crac ing) type where the regeneration gas is available at around 700 ° C. and 3 to 4 bars. This gas is generally turbinated and the calories are recovered. It is often found that the FCCs are small , and therefore the investment of the turbine is not justified economically. We could therefore propose to relax this gas at the same time after having mixed it with nitrogen.
Il est. également possible de détendre d'autres gaz résiduaires à fort contenu en azote (au-dessus de 50 mol %) avec l'azote provenant de l'ASU.It is. it is also possible to expand other waste gases with a high nitrogen content (above 50 mol%) with nitrogen from the ASU.
En variante, ce ou ces gaz peuvent être mélangé avec l'azote aux points indiqués par les flèches en pointillés "20,23,24,31 (avant ou après la première étape de chauffage, juste en amont de la turbine ou en amont du compresseur d'azote) en fonction de sa température et sa pression.Alternatively, this or these gases can be mixed with nitrogen at the points indicated by the dotted arrows " 20,23,24,31 (before or after the first heating stage, just upstream of the turbine or upstream of the nitrogen compressor) depending on its temperature and pressure.
Application 1 : les FCC ou unités de craquage catalytique à lit fluideApplication 1: FCCs or fluid bed catalytic cracking units
Exemple de gaz : N2 72.5%Example of gas: N 2 72.5%
Ar 1%Ar 1%
CO2 14% O2 1%CO 2 14% O 2 1%
H2O 11.5%H 2 O 11.5%
Traces de CO, NOx et SO2.Traces of CO, NO x and SO 2 .
Le débit est du même ordre de grandeur que celui de l'azote résiduaire (soit 50 000 Nm3/h à 500 000 Nm3/h). La pression est typiquement de 2 à 6 bar abs.The flow rate is of the same order of magnitude as that of the residual nitrogen (ie 50,000 Nm3 / h to 500,000 Nm3 / h). The pressure is typically from 2 to 6 bar abs.
Nota : la régénération du FCC peut être améliorée par enrichissement de l'air. Dans ce cas l'oxygène destiné à l'enrichissement peut provenir de l'ASU qui fournit l'azote.Note: FCC regeneration can be improved by enriching the air. In this case, the oxygen intended for enrichment can come from the ASU which supplies the nitrogen.
Deuxième cas d'application : les unités d'acide nitriqueSecond application case: nitric acid units
Dans-ces unités un gaz contenant au moins 50 mol.% d'azote est produit en tête d'une colonne d'absorption, alimentée par de l'air. D'autres intégrations plus-complètes sont aussi possibles :In these units a gas containing at least 50 mol.% Of nitrogen is produced at the head of an absorption column, supplied with air. Other more complete integrations are also possible:
- soit au niveau de l'injection d'oxygène pour la production de gaz de synthèse permettant de fabriquer de l'ammoniac qui sert ensuite à faire de l'acide nitrique. - soit par enrichissement de l'air destiné à l'usine d'acide nitrique proprement dite (appliqué en général lors de dégoulottage). Il s'agit là d'un petit débit.- or at the level of oxygen injection for the production of synthesis gas making it possible to manufacture ammonia which is then used to make nitric acid. - or by enriching the air intended for the actual nitric acid plant (generally applied during debottlenecking). This is a small flow.
La pression est typiquement de 2 à 10 bar abs et le débit de 20 000 Nm3/h à 200 000 Nm3/h. The pressure is typically from 2 to 10 bar abs and the flow rate from 20,000 Nm3 / h to 200,000 Nm3 / h.

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S
1. Procédé de séparation d'air dans lequel un débit d'air comprimé et épuré est séparé dans un appareil de séparation d'air (10) pour produire un débit gazeux (11) enrichi en azote à entre 2 et 7 bars, le débit gazeux enrichi en azote est détendu dans une turbine (17) et le débit gazeux détendu (19) est envoyé à une zone de convection située en aval d'une chambre de combustion (15) caractérisé en ce que le débit gazeux est détendu sans avoir été mélangé avec un débit de carburant et il n'est pas mélangé avec un débit d'air après sa détente. 1. Air separation method in which a compressed and purified air flow is separated in an air separation apparatus (10) to produce a gas flow (11) enriched in nitrogen at between 2 and 7 bars, the nitrogen-enriched gas flow is expanded in a turbine (17) and the expanded gas flow (19) is sent to a convection zone located downstream of a combustion chamber (15) characterized in that the gas flow is expanded without have been mixed with a fuel flow and it is not mixed with an air flow after its expansion.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le débit gazeux (11) enrichi en azote est préchauffé par échange de chaleur indirect avec les gaz à l'intérieur de la zone de convection de la chambre de combustion (15) avant d'être détendu.2. Method according to claim 1, in which the nitrogen-enriched gas flow (11) is preheated by indirect heat exchange with the gases inside the convection zone of the combustion chamber (15) before being relaxed.
3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la température d'entrée de l'azote dans la turbine (17) est au moins 700°C.3. The method of claim 2, wherein the inlet temperature of the nitrogen into the turbine (17) is at least 700 ° C.
4. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 2 ou 3, dans lequel le débit enrichi en azote (11) est préchauffé par échange indirect dans la chambre de combustion en une étape jusqu'à une température intermédiaire et ensuite en une deuxième étape jusqu'à la température d'entrée de la turbine et le gaz détendu envoyé dans la chambre de combustion (15) cède des calories au débit gazeux à détendre lors de la première étape de préchauffage.4. Method according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the nitrogen-enriched flow (11) is preheated by indirect exchange in the combustion chamber in one step to an intermediate temperature and then in a second step until at the inlet temperature of the turbine and the expanded gas sent to the combustion chamber (15) yields calories at the gas flow rate to be relaxed during the first preheating step.
5. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel le débit gazeux enrichi en azote est comprimé à une pression entre 5 et 20..bars avant- d'être détendu. 5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the nitrogen-enriched gas flow is compressed to a pressure between 5 and 20..bars before being expanded.
6. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel l'àir est refroidi après sa compression au moyen d'un groupe frigorifique (5) et de l'eau pressurisée (21) destinée au groupe frigorifique est chauffée par les gaz de la chambre de combustion additionnés du débit gazeux enrichi en azote.6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the air is cooled after its compression by means of a refrigeration unit (5) and pressurized water (21) intended for the refrigeration unit is heated by the gas from the combustion chamber added to the nitrogen-enriched gas flow.
7. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes dans lequel l'air est épuré dans un moyen d'épuration (7) avant d'être envoyé à l'appareil de séparation, le moyen d'épuration est régénéré par un débit gazeux (11) enrichi en azote et au moins une partie du débit ayant servi à la régénération est envoyé à la turbine de détente (17).7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the air is purified in a purification means (7) before being sent to the separation apparatus, the purification means is regenerated by a gas flow ( 11) enriched in nitrogen and at least part of the flow used for regeneration is sent to the expansion turbine (17).
8. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes dans lequel le débit enrichi en azote (11) est . soutiré d'une simple côloπné^Ou de la colonne moyenne pression et/ou de la colonne basse pression d'une double colonne ou de la colonne haute pression et/ou de la colonne à pression intermédiaire et/ou de la colonne basse pression d'une triple colonne.8. Method according to one of the preceding claims wherein the nitrogen-enriched flow rate (11) is. withdrawn from a single column ^ Or from the medium pressure column and / or from the low pressure column from a double column or from the high pressure column and / or from the intermediate pressure column and / or from the low pressure column d 'a triple column.
9. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes dans lequel le débit enrichi en azote (11) contient au moins 50 mol.% d'azote et entre 0.5 et 10% molaires d'oxygène.9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the nitrogen-enriched flow rate (11) contains at least 50 mol% of nitrogen and between 0.5 and 10 mol% of oxygen.
10. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes dans lequel on mélange un débit enrichi en azote (20,23,24,31), de préférence contenant au moins 50 mol.% d'azote, provenant d'une source extérieure.avec le débit enrichi en azote (11,19) provenant de l'appareil de séparation d'air (10), en amont de la turbine de détente (17).10. Method according to one of the preceding claims wherein a flow enriched in nitrogen (20,23,24,31), preferably containing at least 50 mol.% Nitrogen, from an external source is mixed with. the nitrogen-enriched flow (11,19) coming from the air separation device (10), upstream of the expansion turbine (17).
11. Installation de séparation d'air comprenant : i) un appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique (10) ii) une chambre de combustion (15) suivie d'une zone de récupération de chaleur comportant au moins une zone de convection iii) une turbine de détente (17) iv) des moyens- (S -pour envoyer de l'air à l'appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique v) des moyens pour soutirer un débit gazeux enrichi en azoté (11) de l'appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique vi) des moyens pour envoyer le débit gazeux enrichi en azote à la turbine de détente et vii) des moyens pour envoyer le débit gazeux enrichi en azote de la turbine de détente à la zone de convection située en aval de la chambre de combustion caractérisée en ce qu'elle ne comprend ni moyens pour mélanger de l'air au gaz enrichi en azote en aval de la turbine et en amont de la chambre de combustion ni moyens pour mélanger du carburant avec le gaz enrichi en azote avant sa détente.11. Air separation installation comprising: i) an air separation apparatus by cryogenic distillation (10) ii) a combustion chamber (15) followed by a heat recovery zone comprising at least one convection zone iii) an expansion turbine (17) iv) means - (S - for sending air to the air separation device by cryogenic distillation v) means for withdrawing a gas flow enriched in nitrogen (11) of the air separation apparatus by cryogenic distillation vi) means for sending the nitrogen-enriched gas flow to the expansion turbine and vii) means for sending the nitrogen-enriched gas flow from the expansion turbine to the zone convection located downstream of the combustion chamber characterized in that it comprises neither means for mixing air with the gas enriched in nitrogen downstream of the turbine and upstream of the combustion chamber combustion or means for mixing fuel with the gas enriched in nitrogen before its expansion.
12. Installation selon la revendication 11 , comprenant des moyens pour préchauffer le débit gazeux enrichi en azote (11) pa -échange de chaleur indirect avec les gaz à l'intérieur de la chambre de combustion (15) en amont de la turbine de détente (17).12. Installation according to claim 11, comprising means for preheating the nitrogen-enriched gas flow (11) pa - indirect heat exchange with the gases inside the combustion chamber (15) upstream of the expansion turbine (17).
13. Installation selon la revendication 11 ou 12, comprenant des moyens pour préchauffer le débit enrichi en azote par échange indirect dans la chambre de combustion en une étape jusqu'à une température intermédiaire et ensuite en une deuxième étape jusqu'à la température d'entrée de la turbine.13. Installation according to claim 11 or 12, comprising means for preheating the nitrogen-enriched flow by indirect exchange in the combustion chamber in one step to an intermediate temperature and then in a second step to the temperature of turbine inlet.
14. Installation selon l'une des revendications 11 à 13, comprenant un groupe frigorifique (5) dans lequel l'air est refroidi après sa compression, un circuit d'eau pressurisée (21) destinée au groupe frigorifique et des moyens pour chauffer le circuit d'eau pressurisée par les gaz de la chambre de combustion additionnés du débit gazeux enrichi en azote.14. Installation according to one of claims 11 to 13, comprising a refrigeration unit (5) in which the air is cooled after its compression, a pressurized water circuit (21) intended for the refrigeration unit and means for heating the water circuit pressurized by gases from the combustion chamber plus the nitrogen-enriched gas flow.
15. Installation selon l'une des revendications 11 à 14, comprenant un moyen d'épuration (7) dans lequel l'air est épuré avant d'être envoyé à l'appareil de séparation, le moyen d'épuration étant régénéré par un débit gazeux enrichi en azote (11) et des moyens pour envoyer au moins une partie du débit ayant servi à la régénération à la turbine de détente.15. Installation according to one of claims 11 to 14, comprising a purification means (7) in which the air is purified before being sent to the separation apparatus, the purification means being regenerated by a nitrogen-enriched gas flow (11) and means for sending at least part of the flow used for regeneration to the expansion turbine.
16. Installation selon l'une des revendications 11 à 15, comprenant des moyens pour soutirer le débit enrichi en azote d'une simple colonne ou de la colonne moyenne pression et/ou de la colonne basse pression.;d'une double colonne ou de la colonne haute pression et/ou de la colonne à pression intermédiaire et/ou de la colonne basse pression d'une triple colonne ou d'une colonne de mélange.16. Installation according to one of claims 11 to 15, comprising means for withdrawing the nitrogen-enriched flow rate from a single column or from the medium pressure column and / or from the low pressure column; from a double column or of the high pressure column and / or of the intermediate pressure column and / or of the low pressure column of a triple column or of a mixing column.
17. Installation selon l'une des revendications 11 à 16, comprenant des moyens pour mélanger un gaz résiduaire enrichi en azote (20,23,24,31), de préférence contenant au moins 50 mol.% d'azote, provenant d'une source extérieure avec le gaz enrichi en azote à détendre. 17. Installation according to one of claims 11 to 16, comprising means for mixing a waste gas enriched in nitrogen (20,23,24,31), preferably containing at least 50 mol.% Of nitrogen, coming from an external source with the gas enriched in nitrogen to be expanded.
EP00993692A 1999-12-30 2000-12-28 Air separation method and plant Expired - Lifetime EP1250185B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9916751 1999-12-30
FR9916751A FR2803221B1 (en) 1999-12-30 1999-12-30 AIR SEPARATION PROCESS AND INSTALLATION
PCT/FR2000/003706 WO2001049394A2 (en) 1999-12-30 2000-12-28 Air separation method and plant

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EP1250185A2 true EP1250185A2 (en) 2002-10-23
EP1250185B1 EP1250185B1 (en) 2005-10-26

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JP (1) JP2003519349A (en)
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ATE307659T1 (en) 2005-11-15
EP1250185B1 (en) 2005-10-26
CA2389546A1 (en) 2001-07-12
AU2860801A (en) 2001-07-16
US20030140653A1 (en) 2003-07-31
WO2001049394A2 (en) 2001-07-12
KR100747615B1 (en) 2007-08-09
JP2003519349A (en) 2003-06-17
ES2251422T3 (en) 2006-05-01
KR20020066328A (en) 2002-08-14
DE60023557T2 (en) 2006-07-27
WO2001049394A3 (en) 2002-01-31
FR2803221A1 (en) 2001-07-06
FR2803221B1 (en) 2002-03-29
DE60023557D1 (en) 2005-12-01
US6776005B2 (en) 2004-08-17

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