EP1634024A1 - Process and arrangement for the backup supply of a pressurized gas through cryogenic liquid spraying - Google Patents

Process and arrangement for the backup supply of a pressurized gas through cryogenic liquid spraying

Info

Publication number
EP1634024A1
EP1634024A1 EP04742733A EP04742733A EP1634024A1 EP 1634024 A1 EP1634024 A1 EP 1634024A1 EP 04742733 A EP04742733 A EP 04742733A EP 04742733 A EP04742733 A EP 04742733A EP 1634024 A1 EP1634024 A1 EP 1634024A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
pipe
gas
pressurized
vaporizer
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
EP04742733A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1634024B1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Marc Peyron
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.)
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
Priority to PL04742733T priority Critical patent/PL1634024T3/en
Publication of EP1634024A1 publication Critical patent/EP1634024A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1634024B1 publication Critical patent/EP1634024B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02Processes 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
    • F25J3/04Processes 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
    • F25J3/04763Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/04872Vertical layout of cold equipments within in the cold box, e.g. columns, heat exchangers etc.
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C9/00Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure
    • F17C9/02Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02Processes 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
    • F25J3/04Processes 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
    • F25J3/04006Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04078Providing 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
    • F25J3/0409Providing 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
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02Processes 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
    • F25J3/04Processes 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
    • F25J3/04406Processes 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
    • F25J3/04412Processes 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
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02Processes 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
    • F25J3/04Processes 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
    • F25J3/04472Processes 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 the cold from cryogenic liquids produced within the air fractionation unit and stored in internal or intermediate storages
    • F25J3/04478Processes 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 the cold from cryogenic liquids produced within the air fractionation unit and stored in internal or intermediate storages for controlling purposes, e.g. start-up or back-up procedures
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02Processes 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
    • F25J3/04Processes 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
    • F25J3/04763Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04769Operation, control and regulation of the process; Instrumentation within the process
    • F25J3/04812Different modes, i.e. "runs" of operation
    • F25J3/04824Stopping of the process, e.g. defrosting or deriming; Back-up procedures
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/03Mixtures
    • F17C2221/031Air
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F17C2223/0161Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/035High pressure (>10 bar)
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/036Very high pressure (>80 bar)
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/01Propulsion of the fluid
    • F17C2227/0128Propulsion of the fluid with pumps or compressors
    • F17C2227/0135Pumps
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0367Localisation of heat exchange
    • F17C2227/0388Localisation of heat exchange separate
    • F17C2227/0393Localisation of heat exchange separate using a vaporiser
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2265/00Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/01Purifying the fluid
    • F17C2265/015Purifying the fluid by separating
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2235/00Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams
    • F25J2235/50Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams the fluid being oxygen
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2245/00Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
    • F25J2245/50Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams the recycled stream being oxygen
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2250/00Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
    • F25J2250/30External or auxiliary boiler-condenser in general, e.g. without a specified fluid or one fluid is not a primary air component or an intermediate fluid
    • F25J2250/50One fluid being oxygen
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/62Details of storing a fluid in a tank

Definitions

  • This invention relates to methods and installations for supplying emergency gas under pressure by vaporizing cryogenic liquids, in particular those used to supply customers with gaseous products (nitrogen, oxygen, argon) when industrial installations (such as air separation devices) can only partially, or not at all, supply the product (for example in the event of tripping, load reduction due to electrical tariff constraints, etc.).
  • cryogenic liquids such as hydrogen, helium, carbon monoxide and methane.
  • Partial oxidation reactors require a supply of high pressure oxygen (25 bar and more) with a stabilized pressure at +/- 1% of the nominal value.
  • the air separation units supplying the oxygen must therefore comply with this constraint, whatever their operating mode and in particular in the event of the air separation unit stopping.
  • an assembly comprising a liquid oxygen storage, cryogenic pumps and a vaporized vaporizer, ensures the delivery flow.
  • An emergency vaporization apparatus is illustrated in EP-A-0452177 where liquid nitrogen from a storage is vaporized in an auxiliary vaporizer by heat exchange with ambient air.
  • EP-A-0628778 describes a storage of cryogenic liquid, the liquid of which is pumped and then vaporized in a vaporizer before being sent to the customer.
  • EP-A-0756144 describes a storage of liquid nitrogen connected to an emergency vaporizer by an inverted U-shaped pipe. Sending gas from storage in the pipeline triggers a siphon effect and drains the liquid from one arm of the U to the other.
  • this exchanger • an exchanger whose function is to vaporize the liquid under pressure. At the outlet of this equipment, the gas is generally at room temperature and is sent to the customer. Depending on the energy sources available on the site and their costs, this exchanger can use, for example, air, steam, hot water, natural gas to vaporize the liquid under pressure.
  • a gaseous oxygen buffer capacity is provided to supply the pressurized product for the time necessary to operate the pump (approximately 15-20 minutes from 'after the articles by WJ Scharle noted above).
  • the time necessary for the emergency system to reach stably, 100% of its capacity is of the order of 5 minutes which decompose in 1 to 2 minutes for starting the pump and 2 to 3 minutes for the revival of the vaporization exchanger.
  • a careful choice of the different elements allows this time to be reduced to 3 minutes.
  • a solution consists in installing downstream of the capacity exchanger - gas buffer, pressurized to 200 bars for example and dimensioned to provide production for 1 to 3 minutes, the time that the pump and vaporizer system reaches its normal operating speed.
  • the disadvantage of this solution is its high price for installing a high pressure capacity, an oxygen expansion station and an oxygen compression system. The latter is achieved by a piston compressor or more generally by another vaporization unit of emergency with very high pressure piston pumps and a large volume atmospheric spray pin, high pressure, pump to fill the buffer capacities ).
  • the pressure of the customer network will drop along a curve whose slope depends on the volume of water in the network and the flow consumed. So the low pressure limit (- 1%) can be quickly reached (less than 5 seconds) if the network length is less than one kilometer.
  • a method of supplying a gas under pressure in which a) a gas under pressure is produced at a high production pressure as final product by separation of a gaseous mixture in an apparatus separation) b) a liquid to be pressurized is stored in a storage, c) the liquid is removed from the storage, it is pressurized with a pump and at least part of the pressurized liquid is vaporized in a vaporizer to produce the backup gas under pressure having substantially the same purity or a higher purity than the pressurized gas to be produced, d) liquid is circulated in a substantially vertical pipe, possibly inside the cold box of a cryogenic distillation apparatus, and at least part of the length of the pipe is at a level above the vaporizer and characterized in that, before and / or during the starting of the pump, liquid is sent from the pipe next to the vaporizer where it vaporizes to supply the emergency
  • the height of the pipe is such that the hydrostatic pressure is sufficient to overcome at least the pressure losses linked to vaporization;
  • the liquid circulates in the pipe under pressures higher than the pressure of use of the emergency gas and the liquid is pressurized upstream of the vaporizer by the hydrostatic pressure and possibly by a pump;
  • the pipe is supplied at least partially from the storage
  • the pipe is supplied at least partially from a column of the cryogenic separation apparatus inside the cold box, the separation apparatus normally supplying the product gas having the same characteristics as the emergency through a main line by spraying a liquid withdrawn from the air separation device, a flow of liquid is sent to one end of the line and another flow of liquid is withdrawn from the other end of the line and is returned to the air separation unit.
  • the separation device supplies produced gas
  • the backup gas is supplied by vaporization of liquid pumped into the vaporizer
  • the liquid flow circulates continuously in the line iv) before and / or during the pump start-up
  • a liquid flow flows by gravitation from the lower end from the line to the vaporizer and v) before and / or during pump start-up
  • a flow of pressurized gas at an equal or higher pressure the pressure of the pressurized gas to be produced is sent to the upper end of the line.
  • the liquid withdrawn from the device is pressurized, a part of the pressurized liquid is sent to the exchange line of the device to constitute the gas produced and another part of the pressurized liquid is sent to the vertical pipe;
  • the pipe is supplied at least partially from cryogenic storage (storage), a flow of liquid is sent to one end of the line and another flow of liquid is drawn from the other end of the line and pumped and is returned to storage;
  • cryogenic storage storage
  • an installation for supplying a pressurized gas comprising: i) an apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture ii) a pipe for supplying pressurized gas connected to the apparatus separation iii) liquid storage iv) a vaporizer v) a substantially vertical pipe vi) means connecting the storage with the vaporizer vii) means connecting the pipe with the vaporizer viii) means for removing the vaporized liquid from the vaporizer for constitute an emergency gas under pressure, characterized in that it comprises pressurization means downstream of the storage and upstream of the vaporizer and auxiliary means for pressurizing the liquid in the pipe which are upstream of the vaporizer.
  • the auxiliary means consist of a pressurized gas supply pipe connected to the upper end of the pipe and by the height of the pipe and possibly a pump;
  • the pipe is located inside a cold box of a cryogenic distillation apparatus or is integrated with the storage;
  • the pipe is located inside a cold box of a cryogenic distillation device comprising a cryogenic distillation device in which the vertical pipe is a pipe of the cryogenic distillation device and comprising means for connecting the ends lower and upper of the pipe to a column of the distillation apparatus;
  • the means for supplying a first part of a liquid coming from a column of the apparatus to an exchange line where it vaporizes to form a gas produced in a main pipe and a second part of the liquid in the pipe consists of a pump;
  • the upper end of the vertical pipe is connected to the supply pipe for pressurized gas by means of a supply pipe for pressurized gas.
  • FIGS. 1 to 6 are block diagrams of a cryogenic separation apparatus and an emergency gas supply apparatus operating according to the method of the invention.
  • an air separation device comprises a double column with a medium pressure column 3 thermally connected to a low pressure column by a condenser 4.
  • the device is supplied with compressed air, purified and cooled, the cooling having place in the exchange line (not shown).
  • a source of frigories necessary for the distillation which can include at least a Claude turbine, an insufflation turbine or a nitrogen turbine.
  • the usual lines for raising rich liquid and lean liquid from the medium pressure column to the low pressure column have not been illustrated for the sake of simplification.
  • Residual nitrogen (not shown) is drawn off at the head of the low pressure column and heats up in the exchange line 7.
  • the exchange line 7, the double column 3, 5, the turbine or turbines, the rich liquid and poor liquid ascent pipes and a substantially vertical pipe 13 are contained in an insulated cold box 33.
  • the air separation device is designed to supply a flow of pressurized gaseous oxygen 31. However, if this flow is lacking, in the event of a failure of the device, or is insufficient, it is necessary to produce a emergency gas 29 by vaporization of liquid oxygen stored in a repository 9.
  • the liquid oxygen is stored under low pressure, pressurized by an emergency pump 11 and vaporized against a flow of water vapor in a vaporizer 27.
  • the air separation apparatus produces a flow of liquid oxygen 15 which is pressurized in a pump 12 at a pressure P1 and divided into two.
  • a first flow 17 passes through an open valve V5, vaporizes in the exchange line 7 and passes through the open valve V6. This flow constitutes the production 31 of the air separation device sent to the customer.
  • the valve V5 is used to throttle the outlet of the pump 12, the pressure drop of the valve V5 being slightly greater than the height hydraulic of a vertical pipe 13 where the second liquid flow 19 is brought through the valve V1.
  • the vertical pipe 13 installed in the cold box occupies the entire height H of the cold box 33 so as to be largely above a vaporizer 27.
  • the diameter of the vertical pipe 13 is defined in order to store the sufficient volume of liquid high pressure cryogenic corresponding to 1 minute of supply to the customer of high pressure oxygen gas. It is very easy to find cryogenic pipes withstanding very high pressures and large diameters. Obviously, as long as the pipe contains the required quantity of liquid to ensure the supply of emergency gas during the starting of the pump 11, the pipe can be shorter or slightly longer than the height of the element la higher in the cold box (head of the low pressure column or argon column, for example).
  • this pipe In normal operation, this pipe is traversed by a low flow of high pressure liquid at pressure P1 coming from pump 12 of the pump apparatus (through the valve V1); the liquid is then expanded (through the valve V2) to the tank of the low pressure column by the rising pipe 23 so that the liquid is continuously in circulation.
  • This circulation is necessary to ensure maximum filling of the pipe 13 with frank cryogenic liquid.
  • the pressure P r of the network gas 17, 31 is lower than the pressure P1 at the upper end of the vertical pipe 13, the difference being essentially equal to the pressure drop in the exchange line 7.
  • the pressure P2 at the lower end of the vertical pipe is greater than the pressure P1 and equal to P1 + pgH, if the pipe is the full height of the cold box.
  • valves V1 and V2 are closed and the pressure at the upper end of the vertical pipe 13 is equalized with the network pressure 17, 31 by opening a valve V3 installed on a pipe 21 connecting the upper end of the vertical pipe 13 to the pipes 17, 31 of the customer's network.
  • the liquid contained in the line 13 is finally sent by gravitational flow to the vaporizer 27 by opening the flow control valve V4 installed on the connecting pipe 25 between the lower end of the vertical pipe and the inlet of the vaporizer 27.
  • FIG. 3 shows the case in which the air separation device includes an oxygen compressor 37 to supply the customer with high pressure oxygen, the diagram remains the same but the circulation of liquid in the lines 13, 19, 23 is provided by a piston pump 35.
  • the pump is not essential because, as seen in FIG. 4, the vertical pipe 13 can operate at a pressure lower than the pressure of the high pressure oxygen sent to the customer. In this case, it may be useful to add a pump 51 between the outlet of the vertical pipe 13 and the inlet of the vaporizer 27. Otherwise the liquid can be pressurized only by sending gas through the valve V3.
  • FIG. 5 shows that the vertical pipe, while being contained in the cold box of an air separation device, is not necessarily supplied from it.
  • the pump 12 being on and the pump 11 stopped, a circulation of liquid oxygen between the storage 9 and the vertical pipe 13 through a pump piston 41 which feeds the upper end of line 13 and a valve V2 which ensures the return of liquid to storage 9 through line 37.
  • valves V3 and V4 open, the valves V1 and V2 close and the clean liquid contained in the line 13 circulates via the line 25 to the vaporizer 27 to ensure emergency gas production during pump start-up 11.
  • Figure 6 shows the case in which the vertical pipe is integrated not with the air separation device but with the storage 9 outside the cold box.
  • the pipe placed in the walls is effectively insulated and can be very high, the storage sometimes reaching 30 meters.
  • the head of the pipe receives liquid from the interior of the storage through the valve V1 and fills forming a column of liquid.
  • the valve V4 is opened and the liquid passes to the vaporizer 27, possibly after a pumping step.
  • the riser pipe is completely isolated from the cold box 33.
  • This variant is useful if the cold box is lower than the storage or when the separation device does not have a cold box.
  • the invention has been described with respect to a double air separation column but it is easy to see that it applies to a single column containing many theoretical plates, a triple column or a system of columns comprising a column argon.
  • the separation apparatus can separate the air by cryogenic distillation, permeation, adsorption or any other known means.

Abstract

In a process for supplying a pressurized gas, a pressurized gas at a high production pressure is produced as an end product by separating a gaseous mixture in a separator apparatus (3, 5), a liquid to be pressurized is stored in a store (9), storing liquid is tapped, and it is pressurized with a pump (11) and at least part of the pressurized liquid is sprayed in a sprayer (27) to produce the pressurized backup gas (29) having substantially the same pressure or a pressure higher than the pressurized gas to be produced, liquid is circulated in a substantially vertical duct (13), optionally within the cold box (33) of the separator apparatus, and at least part of the duct length is at a level above the sprayer and before and/or after starting up the pump (11), liquid is sent from the duct to the sprayer where the liquid is sprayed to provide pressurized backup gas having substantially the same purity or a purity higher than the pressurized gas to be produced (31).

Description

Procédé et installation de fourniture de secours d'un gaz sous pression par vaporisation de liquide cryogénique Method and installation for supplying emergency gas under pressure by spraying cryogenic liquid
Cette invention concerne les procédés et les installations de fourniture de secours d'un gaz sous pression par vaporisation de liquides cryogéniques, en particulier ceux utilisés pour fournir les clients en produits gazeux (azote, oxygène, argon) lorsque les installations industrielles (tels que les appareils de séparation d'air) ne peuvent assurer que partiellement, ou pas du tout, la fourniture du produit (par exemple dans le cas de déclenchement, de réduction de charge pour contrainte de tarif électrique...). L'invention s'applique également aux stockages d'autres liquides cryogéniques tels que l'hydrogène, l'hélium, le monoxyde de carbone et le méthane.This invention relates to methods and installations for supplying emergency gas under pressure by vaporizing cryogenic liquids, in particular those used to supply customers with gaseous products (nitrogen, oxygen, argon) when industrial installations (such as air separation devices) can only partially, or not at all, supply the product (for example in the event of tripping, load reduction due to electrical tariff constraints, etc.). The invention also applies to the storage of other cryogenic liquids such as hydrogen, helium, carbon monoxide and methane.
Les réacteurs d'oxydation partielle demandent une fourniture d'oxygène haute pression (25 bar et plus) avec une pression stabilisée à +/- 1 % de la valeur nominale. Les unités de séparation d'air fournissant l'oxygène doivent donc respecter cette contrainte, quel que soit leur mode de fonctionnement et en particulier en cas d'arrêt de l'unité de séparation d'air. Dans ce cas, un ensemble comprenant un stockage d'oxygène liquide, des pompes cryogéniques et un vaporiseur chauffé à la vapeur, assure le débit de fourniture.Partial oxidation reactors require a supply of high pressure oxygen (25 bar and more) with a stabilized pressure at +/- 1% of the nominal value. The air separation units supplying the oxygen must therefore comply with this constraint, whatever their operating mode and in particular in the event of the air separation unit stopping. In this case, an assembly comprising a liquid oxygen storage, cryogenic pumps and a vaporized vaporizer, ensures the delivery flow.
Un appareil de vaporisation de secours est illustré dans EP-A-0452177 où de l'azote liquide provenant d'un stockage est vaporisé dans un vaporiseur auxiliaire par échange de chaleur avec de l'air ambiant.An emergency vaporization apparatus is illustrated in EP-A-0452177 where liquid nitrogen from a storage is vaporized in an auxiliary vaporizer by heat exchange with ambient air.
EP-A-0628778 décrit un stockage de liquide cryogénique dont le liquide est pompé et ensuite vaporisé dans un vaporiseur avant d'être envoyé chez le client.EP-A-0628778 describes a storage of cryogenic liquid, the liquid of which is pumped and then vaporized in a vaporizer before being sent to the customer.
EP-A-0756144 décrit un stockage d'azote liquide reliée à un vaporiseur de secours par une conduite en forme de U inversé. L'envoi de gaz depuis le stockage dans la conduite déclenche un effet de siphon et fait couler le liquide depuis un bras de l'U à l'autre.EP-A-0756144 describes a storage of liquid nitrogen connected to an emergency vaporizer by an inverted U-shaped pipe. Sending gas from storage in the pipeline triggers a siphon effect and drains the liquid from one arm of the U to the other.
« Large Oxygen Plant Economies and Reliability » de W.J.Scharle, Bulletin Y- 143, National Fertilizer Division Center, Tennessee Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, Ala. et « Oxygen Facilities for Synthetic Fuel Projects » W.J.Scharle et K.Wilson, Journal of Engineering for Industry, novembre 1981, Vol.103, pp.409-417 décrivent un système de production d'oxygène de secours composé :"Large Oxygen Plant Economies and Reliability" by W.J.Scharle, Bulletin Y-143, National Fertilizer Division Center, Tennessee Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, Ala. and "Oxygen Facilities for Synthetic Fuel Projects" W.J.Scharle and K.Wilson, Journal of Engineering for Industry, November 1981, Vol.103, pp.409-417 describe an emergency oxygen production system composed:
• d'un stockage contenant une quantité de produit sous forme liquide • de plusieurs pompes (ici deux pour raison de fiabilité) qui soutirent le liquide contenu dans le stockage pour le comprimer à la pression normalement délivrée aux clients (pression dans la canalisation)• storage containing a quantity of product in liquid form • several pumps (here two for reliability) which draw the liquid contained in the storage to compress it to the pressure normally delivered to customers (pressure in the pipeline)
• d'un échangeur dont la fonction est de vaporiser le liquide sous pression. En sortie de cet équipement, le gaz est en général à la température ambiante et est envoyé vers le client. En fonction des sources d'énergie disponibles sur le site et de leurs coûts, cet échangeur peut utiliser par exemple de l'air, de la vapeur d'eau, de l'eau chaude, du gaz naturel pour vaporiser le liquide sous pression.• an exchanger whose function is to vaporize the liquid under pressure. At the outlet of this equipment, the gas is generally at room temperature and is sent to the customer. Depending on the energy sources available on the site and their costs, this exchanger can use, for example, air, steam, hot water, natural gas to vaporize the liquid under pressure.
Une des caractéristiques principales de ces installations de secours est leur temps de démarrage. Celui-ci est particulièrement important car il conditionne la qualité et la continuité de la fourniture de gaz aux clients. Un temps de démarrage trop long après un déclenchement de l'unité de production, peut générer une trop forte baisse de pression dans la canalisation et générer des disfonctionnements dans les procédés des clients.One of the main characteristics of these emergency installations is their start-up time. This is particularly important because it conditions the quality and continuity of the supply of gas to customers. Too long a start-up time after a trip of the production unit, can generate a too strong drop in pressure in the pipeline and generate malfunctions in the customers' processes.
Dans le cas des systèmes de production d'oxygène décrits dans les articles ci- dessus, une capacité-tampon d'oxygène gazeux est prévue pour fournir le produit pressurisé pendant le temps nécessaire pour mettre en œuvre la pompe (environ 15- 20 minutes d'après les articles de W.J. Scharle notés ci-dessus).In the case of the oxygen production systems described in the above articles, a gaseous oxygen buffer capacity is provided to supply the pressurized product for the time necessary to operate the pump (approximately 15-20 minutes from 'after the articles by WJ Scharle noted above).
Classiquement, si la pompe de vaporisation est maintenue en permanence à température cryogénique, le temps nécessaire au système de secours pour atteindre de façon stable, 100 % de sa capacité est de l'ordre de 5 minutes qui se décomposent en 1 à 2 minutes pour le démarrage de la pompe et 2 à 3 minutes pour la montée en régime de l'échangeur de vaporisation. Un choix soigné des différents éléments (tuyaux courts entre la pompe et le stockage et entre la pompe et l'échangeur) permet de réduire ce temps à 3 minutes. Dans certains cas, ce temps de 3 minutes est encore trop long vis-à-vis des contraintes de fluctuations de pression autorisées dans la canalisation : dans ce cas comme décrit ci-dessus une solution consiste à installer en aval de l'échangeur des capacités-tampon de gaz, pressurisées à 200 bars par exemple et dimensionnées pour fournir la production pendant 1 à 3 minutes, le temps que le système de la pompe et du vaporiseur atteigne son régime normal de fonctionnement. L'inconvénient de cette solution en est son prix élevé pour installer une capacité haute pression, un poste de détente d'oxygène et un système de compression d'oxygène. Ce dernier est réalisé par un compresseur à piston ou plus généralement par une autre unité de vaporisation de secours avec des pompes à piston très haute pression et une épingle de vaporisation atmosphérique gros volume, pression haute, pompe pour remplir les capacités-tampon... ).Conventionally, if the vaporization pump is permanently maintained at cryogenic temperature, the time necessary for the emergency system to reach stably, 100% of its capacity is of the order of 5 minutes which decompose in 1 to 2 minutes for starting the pump and 2 to 3 minutes for the revival of the vaporization exchanger. A careful choice of the different elements (short pipes between the pump and the storage and between the pump and the exchanger) allows this time to be reduced to 3 minutes. In some cases, this time of 3 minutes is still too long vis-à-vis the constraints of pressure fluctuations authorized in the pipeline: in this case as described above, a solution consists in installing downstream of the capacity exchanger - gas buffer, pressurized to 200 bars for example and dimensioned to provide production for 1 to 3 minutes, the time that the pump and vaporizer system reaches its normal operating speed. The disadvantage of this solution is its high price for installing a high pressure capacity, an oxygen expansion station and an oxygen compression system. The latter is achieved by a piston compressor or more generally by another vaporization unit of emergency with very high pressure piston pumps and a large volume atmospheric spray pin, high pressure, pump to fill the buffer capacities ...).
Le démarrage d'une unité de vaporisation de secours demande un certain temps . Pour assurer le démarrage des pompes cryogéniques (maintenues en froid) environ 1 minute est nécessaire, de même la mise en régime de l'épingle de vaporisation ne se fait pas de manière instantanée.It takes a while to start an emergency spray unit. To ensure the start-up of the cryogenic pumps (kept cold), approximately 1 minute is necessary, similarly the operation of the spray pin is not instantaneous.
Pendant la durée de mise en service de l'unité de vaporisation de secours la pression du réseau client va baisser suivant une courbe dont la pente dépends du volume en eau du réseau et du débit consommé. Donc la limite de pression basse (- 1 %) peut être rapidement atteinte (inférieur à 5 secondes) si la longueur du réseau est inférieure au kilomètre.During the duration of commissioning of the emergency vaporization unit, the pressure of the customer network will drop along a curve whose slope depends on the volume of water in the network and the flow consumed. So the low pressure limit (- 1%) can be quickly reached (less than 5 seconds) if the network length is less than one kilometer.
Il faut donc un système de fourniture d'oxygène pour assurer le débit nécessaire au vaporiseur pendant le démarrage des pompes. Selon un objet de l'invention, il est prévu un procédé de fourniture d'un gaz sous pression dans lequel a) on produit un gaz sous pression à une pression de production élevée comme produit final par séparation d'un mélange gazeux dans un appareil de séparation, b) on stocke un liquide à pressuriser dans un stockage, c) on soutire du liquide du stockage, on le pressurise avec une pompe et on vaporise au moins une partie du liquide pressurisé dans un vaporiseur pour produire le gaz de secours sous pression ayant sensiblement la même pureté ou une pureté plus élevée que le gaz sous pression à produire, d) on fait circuler du liquide dans une conduite sensiblement verticale, éventuellement à l'intérieure de la boîte froide d'un appareil de distillation cryogénique, et au moins une partie de la longueur de la conduite se trouve à un niveau au-dessus du vaporiseur et caractérisé en ce que, avant et/ou pendant le démarrage de la pompe, on envoie du liquide de la conduite au vaporiseur où il se vaporise pour fournir le gaz de secours sous pression ayant sensiblement la même pureté ou une pureté plus élevée que le gaz sous pression à produire.An oxygen supply system is therefore necessary to ensure the necessary flow rate to the vaporizer during the starting of the pumps. According to an object of the invention, there is provided a method of supplying a gas under pressure in which a) a gas under pressure is produced at a high production pressure as final product by separation of a gaseous mixture in an apparatus separation) b) a liquid to be pressurized is stored in a storage, c) the liquid is removed from the storage, it is pressurized with a pump and at least part of the pressurized liquid is vaporized in a vaporizer to produce the backup gas under pressure having substantially the same purity or a higher purity than the pressurized gas to be produced, d) liquid is circulated in a substantially vertical pipe, possibly inside the cold box of a cryogenic distillation apparatus, and at least part of the length of the pipe is at a level above the vaporizer and characterized in that, before and / or during the starting of the pump, liquid is sent from the pipe next to the vaporizer where it vaporizes to supply the emergency gas under pressure having substantially the same purity or a higher purity than the pressurized gas to be produced.
Selon d'autres caractéristiques facultatives : - la hauteur de la conduite est telle que la pression hydrostatique suffise pour surmonter au moins les pertes de charge liées à la vaporisation ;According to other optional features: - The height of the pipe is such that the hydrostatic pressure is sufficient to overcome at least the pressure losses linked to vaporization;
- le liquide circule dans la conduite sous des pressions supérieures à la pression d'utilisation du gaz de secours et le liquide est pressurisé en amont du vaporiseur par la pression hydrostatique et éventuellement par une pompe ;- the liquid circulates in the pipe under pressures higher than the pressure of use of the emergency gas and the liquid is pressurized upstream of the vaporizer by the hydrostatic pressure and possibly by a pump;
- le liquide circule dans la conduite sous des pressions inférieures ou égale à la pression d'utilisation du gaz de secours ;- the liquid circulates in the pipe under pressures lower than or equal to the pressure of use of the emergency gas;
- la conduite est alimentée au moins partiellement à partir du stockage ;- the pipe is supplied at least partially from the storage;
- la conduite est alimentée au moins partiellement à partir d'une colonne de l'appareil de séparation cryogénique à l'intérieur de la boîte froide, l'appareil de séparation fournissant en temps normal du gaz produit ayant les mêmes caractéristiques que le gaz de secours à travers une conduite principale par vaporisation d'un liquide soutiré de l'appareil de séparation d'air, un débit du liquide est envoyé à une extrémité de la conduite et un autre débit du liquide est soutiré de l'autre extrémité de la conduite et est renvoyé à l'appareil de séparation d'air.the pipe is supplied at least partially from a column of the cryogenic separation apparatus inside the cold box, the separation apparatus normally supplying the product gas having the same characteristics as the emergency through a main line by spraying a liquid withdrawn from the air separation device, a flow of liquid is sent to one end of the line and another flow of liquid is withdrawn from the other end of the line and is returned to the air separation unit.
Selon une mode d'opération préférée : i) en temps normal l'appareil de séparation fournit du gaz produit, ii) en cas de panne ou de marche réduite de l'appareil de séparation, le gaz de secours est fourni par vaporisation de liquide pompé dans le vaporiseur, iii) en temps normal, le débit de liquide circule en permanence dans la conduite iv) avant et/ou pendant le démarrage de la pompe, un débit de liquide s'écoule par effet de gravitation depuis l'extrémité inférieure de la conduite vers le vaporiseur et v) avant et/ou pendant le démarrage de la pompe, un débit de gaz pressurisé à une pression égale ou supérieure la pression du gaz sous pression à produire est envoyé à l'extrémité supérieure de la conduite.According to a preferred operating mode: i) in normal times the separation device supplies produced gas, ii) in the event of a breakdown or reduced operation of the separation device, the backup gas is supplied by vaporization of liquid pumped into the vaporizer, iii) in normal times, the liquid flow circulates continuously in the line iv) before and / or during the pump start-up, a liquid flow flows by gravitation from the lower end from the line to the vaporizer and v) before and / or during pump start-up, a flow of pressurized gas at an equal or higher pressure the pressure of the pressurized gas to be produced is sent to the upper end of the line.
Selon d'autres aspects optionnels :According to other optional aspects:
- on pressurise le liquide soutiré de l'appareil, on envoie une partie du liquide pressurisé vers la ligne d'échange de l'appareil pour constituer le gaz produit et on envoie une autre partie du liquide pressurisé vers la conduite verticale ;- The liquid withdrawn from the device is pressurized, a part of the pressurized liquid is sent to the exchange line of the device to constitute the gas produced and another part of the pressurized liquid is sent to the vertical pipe;
- la conduite est alimentée au moins partiellement à partir d'un stockage cryogénique (du stockage), un débit du liquide est envoyé à une extrémité de la conduite et un autre débit du liquide est soutiré de l'autre extrémité de la conduite et pompé et est renvoyé au stockage ;- the pipe is supplied at least partially from cryogenic storage (storage), a flow of liquid is sent to one end of the line and another flow of liquid is drawn from the other end of the line and pumped and is returned to storage;
Selon un autre objet de l'invention, il est prévu une installation de fourniture d'un gaz sous pression comprenant : i) un appareil de séparation d'un mélange gazeux ii) une conduite de fourniture de gaz sous pression reliée à l'appareil de séparation iii) un stockage de liquide iv) un vaporiseur v) une conduite sensiblement verticale vi) des moyens reliant le stockage avec le vaporiseur vii) des moyens reliant la conduite avec le vaporiseur viii) des moyens pour sortir le liquide vaporisé du vaporiseur pour constituer un gaz de secours sous pression caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend des moyens de pressurisation en aval du stockage et en amont du vaporiseur et des moyens auxiliaires de pressurisation du liquide de la conduite qui sont en amont du vaporiseur.According to another object of the invention, there is provided an installation for supplying a pressurized gas comprising: i) an apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture ii) a pipe for supplying pressurized gas connected to the apparatus separation iii) liquid storage iv) a vaporizer v) a substantially vertical pipe vi) means connecting the storage with the vaporizer vii) means connecting the pipe with the vaporizer viii) means for removing the vaporized liquid from the vaporizer for constitute an emergency gas under pressure, characterized in that it comprises pressurization means downstream of the storage and upstream of the vaporizer and auxiliary means for pressurizing the liquid in the pipe which are upstream of the vaporizer.
Selon d'autres aspects de l'invention :According to other aspects of the invention:
- les moyens auxiliaires sont constitués par une conduite d'amenée de gaz pressurisé relié à l'extrémité supérieure de la conduite et par la hauteur de la conduite et éventuellement une pompe ;- The auxiliary means consist of a pressurized gas supply pipe connected to the upper end of the pipe and by the height of the pipe and possibly a pump;
- la conduite est située à l'intérieur d'une boîte froide d'un appareil de distillation cryogénique ou est intégrée avec le stockage ;- the pipe is located inside a cold box of a cryogenic distillation apparatus or is integrated with the storage;
- la conduite est située à l'intérieur d'une boîte froide d'un appareil de distillation cryogénique comprenant un appareil de distillation cryogénique dans laquelle la conduite verticale est une conduite de l'appareil de distillation cryogénique et comprenant des moyens pour relier les extrémités inférieure et supérieure de la conduite à une colonne de l'appareil de distillation ;- the pipe is located inside a cold box of a cryogenic distillation device comprising a cryogenic distillation device in which the vertical pipe is a pipe of the cryogenic distillation device and comprising means for connecting the ends lower and upper of the pipe to a column of the distillation apparatus;
- il y a des moyens pour fournir une première partie d'un liquide provenant d'une colonne de l'appareil à une ligne d'échange où il se vaporise pour former un gaz produit dans une conduite principale et une deuxième partie du liquide à la conduite ;- there are means for supplying a first part of a liquid coming from a column of the apparatus to an exchange line where it vaporizes to form a gas produced in a main pipe and a second part of the liquid to the driving ;
- les moyens pour fournir une première partie d'un liquide provenant d'une colonne de l'appareil à une ligne d'échange où il se vaporise pour former un gaz produit dans une conduite principale et une deuxième partie du liquide à la conduite sont constitués par une pompe ;the means for supplying a first part of a liquid coming from a column of the apparatus to an exchange line where it vaporizes to form a gas produced in a main pipe and a second part of the liquid in the pipe consists of a pump;
- l'extrémité supérieure de la conduite verticale est reliée à la conduite de fourniture de gaz sous pression par l'intermédiaire d'une (la) conduite d'amenée de gaz sous pression.- The upper end of the vertical pipe is connected to the supply pipe for pressurized gas by means of a supply pipe for pressurized gas.
L'invention sera décrite en plus de détail en se référant aux figures 1 à 6 qui sont des schémas de principe d'un appareil de séparation cryogénique et d'un appareil de fourniture de gaz de secours fonctionnant selon le procédé de l'invention.The invention will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 1 to 6 which are block diagrams of a cryogenic separation apparatus and an emergency gas supply apparatus operating according to the method of the invention.
Dans la Figure 1, un appareil de séparation d'air comprend une double colonne avec une colonne moyenne pression 3 reliée thermiquement à une colonne basse pression par un condenseur 4. L'appareil est alimenté en air comprimé, épuré et refroidi, le refroidissement ayant lieu dans la ligne d'échange (non-illustré). Il y a également une source de frigories nécessaires à la distillation qui peut comprendre au moins une turbine Claude, une turbine d'insufflation ou une turbine d'azote. Les conduites habituelles de remontée de liquide riche et de liquide pauvre de la colonne moyenne pression à la colonne basse pression n'ont pas été illustrées dans un souci de simplification. De l'azote résiduaire (non-illustré) est soutiré en tête de la colonne basse pression et se réchauffe dans la ligne d'échange 7. La ligne d'échange 7, la double colonne 3, 5, la ou les turbines, les conduites de remontée de liquide riche et de liquide pauvre et une conduite sensiblement verticale 13 sont contenues dans une boîte froide isolée 33.In FIG. 1, an air separation device comprises a double column with a medium pressure column 3 thermally connected to a low pressure column by a condenser 4. The device is supplied with compressed air, purified and cooled, the cooling having place in the exchange line (not shown). There is also a source of frigories necessary for the distillation which can include at least a Claude turbine, an insufflation turbine or a nitrogen turbine. The usual lines for raising rich liquid and lean liquid from the medium pressure column to the low pressure column have not been illustrated for the sake of simplification. Residual nitrogen (not shown) is drawn off at the head of the low pressure column and heats up in the exchange line 7. The exchange line 7, the double column 3, 5, the turbine or turbines, the rich liquid and poor liquid ascent pipes and a substantially vertical pipe 13 are contained in an insulated cold box 33.
L'appareil de séparation d'air est conçu pour fournir un débit d'oxygène gazeux sous pression 31. Or, si ce débit vient à manquer, en cas de panne de l'appareil, ou est insuffisant, il est nécessaire de produire un gaz de secours 29 par vaporisation d'oxygène liquide stocké dans un stockage 9. L'oxygène liquide est stocké sous basse pression, pressurisé par une pompe de secours 11 et vaporisé contre un flux de vapeur d'eau dans un vaporiseur 27.The air separation device is designed to supply a flow of pressurized gaseous oxygen 31. However, if this flow is lacking, in the event of a failure of the device, or is insufficient, it is necessary to produce a emergency gas 29 by vaporization of liquid oxygen stored in a repository 9. The liquid oxygen is stored under low pressure, pressurized by an emergency pump 11 and vaporized against a flow of water vapor in a vaporizer 27.
L'appareil de séparation d'air produit un débit d'oxygène liquide 15 qui est pressurisé dans une pompe 12 à une pression P1 et divisé en deux. Un premier débit 17 traverse une vanne ouverte V5, se vaporise dans la ligne d'échange 7 et traverse la vanne ouverte V6. Ce débit constitue la production 31 de l'appareil de séparation d'air envoyé au client. La vanne V5 sert à étrangler la sortie de la pompe 12, la perte de charge de la vanne V5 étant légèrement supérieure à la hauteur hydraulique d'une conduite verticale 13 où est amené le deuxième débit de liquide 19 à travers la vanne V1.The air separation apparatus produces a flow of liquid oxygen 15 which is pressurized in a pump 12 at a pressure P1 and divided into two. A first flow 17 passes through an open valve V5, vaporizes in the exchange line 7 and passes through the open valve V6. This flow constitutes the production 31 of the air separation device sent to the customer. The valve V5 is used to throttle the outlet of the pump 12, the pressure drop of the valve V5 being slightly greater than the height hydraulic of a vertical pipe 13 where the second liquid flow 19 is brought through the valve V1.
La conduite verticale 13 installée dans la boîte froide occupe toute la hauteur H de la boîte froide 33 afin d'être largement au-dessus d'un vaporiseur 27. Le diamètre de la conduite vertical 13 est défini afin de stocker le volume suffisant de liquide cryogénique haute pression correspondant à 1 minute de fourniture au client d'oxygène gaz haute pression. Il est très facile de trouver des pipes cryogéniques résistant à des pressions très élevées et de gros diamètre. Bien évidemment, du moment que la conduite contient la quantité requise de liquide pour assurer la fourniture de gaz de secours pendant la mise en marche de la pompe 11 , la conduite peut être plus courte ou légèrement plus longue que la hauteur de l'élément la plus élevée de la boîte froide (tête de la colonne basse pression ou de colonne argon, par exemple).The vertical pipe 13 installed in the cold box occupies the entire height H of the cold box 33 so as to be largely above a vaporizer 27. The diameter of the vertical pipe 13 is defined in order to store the sufficient volume of liquid high pressure cryogenic corresponding to 1 minute of supply to the customer of high pressure oxygen gas. It is very easy to find cryogenic pipes withstanding very high pressures and large diameters. Obviously, as long as the pipe contains the required quantity of liquid to ensure the supply of emergency gas during the starting of the pump 11, the pipe can be shorter or slightly longer than the height of the element la higher in the cold box (head of the low pressure column or argon column, for example).
En fonctionnement normal, cette conduite est parcourue par un débit faible de liquide haute pression à pression P1 venant de pompe 12 de l'appareil à pompe (au travers de la vanne V1) ; le liquide est ensuite détendu (au travers de la vanne V2) vers la cuve de la colonne basse pression par la conduite montante 23 de sorte que le liquide est continuellement en circulation. Cette circulation est nécessaire pour assurer un remplissage maximal de la conduite 13 en liquide cryogénique franc.In normal operation, this pipe is traversed by a low flow of high pressure liquid at pressure P1 coming from pump 12 of the pump apparatus (through the valve V1); the liquid is then expanded (through the valve V2) to the tank of the low pressure column by the rising pipe 23 so that the liquid is continuously in circulation. This circulation is necessary to ensure maximum filling of the pipe 13 with frank cryogenic liquid.
La pression Pr du gaz du réseau 17, 31 est inférieure à la pression P1 à l'extrémité supérieure de la conduite verticale 13, la différence étant essentiellement égale à la perte de charge dans la ligne d'échange 7. Evidemment la pression P2 à l'extrémité inférieure de la conduite verticale est supérieure à la pression P1 et égale à P1 + pgH, si la conduite fait toute la hauteur de la boîte froide.The pressure P r of the network gas 17, 31 is lower than the pressure P1 at the upper end of the vertical pipe 13, the difference being essentially equal to the pressure drop in the exchange line 7. Obviously the pressure P2 at the lower end of the vertical pipe is greater than the pressure P1 and equal to P1 + pgH, if the pipe is the full height of the cold box.
Dans le cas de la Figure 1, la circulation s'effectue de haut en bas de la conduite verticale 13 mais elle pourrait s'effectuer de bas de haut de cette conduite.In the case of Figure 1, the circulation takes place from top to bottom of the vertical pipe 13 but it could take place from the bottom of the top of this pipe.
Quand l'appareil de séparation d'air est arrêté comme on le voit à la Figure 2, les vannes V1 et V2 sont fermées et la pression à l'extrémité supérieure de la conduite verticale 13 est égalisée avec la pression du réseau 17, 31 par l'ouverture d'une vanne V3 installée sur une tuyauterie 21 reliant l'extrémité supérieure de la conduite verticale 13 aux conduites 17, 31 du réseau du client. Le liquide contenu dans la conduite 13 est enfin envoyé par écoulement gravitationnel vers le vaporiseur 27 par ouverture de la vanne de contrôle de débit V4 installée sur la tuyauterie de liaison 25 entre l'extrémité inférieure de la conduite verticale et l'entrée du vaporiseur 27.When the air separation device is stopped as seen in Figure 2, the valves V1 and V2 are closed and the pressure at the upper end of the vertical pipe 13 is equalized with the network pressure 17, 31 by opening a valve V3 installed on a pipe 21 connecting the upper end of the vertical pipe 13 to the pipes 17, 31 of the customer's network. The liquid contained in the line 13 is finally sent by gravitational flow to the vaporizer 27 by opening the flow control valve V4 installed on the connecting pipe 25 between the lower end of the vertical pipe and the inlet of the vaporizer 27.
La figure 3 montre le cas dans lequel l'appareil de séparation d'air comporte un compresseur d'oxygène 37 pour alimenter le client en oxygène haute pression, le schéma reste le même mais la circulation de liquide dans les conduites 13, 19, 23 est assurée par une pompe à piston 35.Figure 3 shows the case in which the air separation device includes an oxygen compressor 37 to supply the customer with high pressure oxygen, the diagram remains the same but the circulation of liquid in the lines 13, 19, 23 is provided by a piston pump 35.
Mais la pompe n'est pas essentielle car, comme on le voit dans la Figure 4, la conduite verticale 13 peut opérer à une pression inférieure à la pression de l'oxygène haute pression envoyé au client. Dans ce cas, il peut être utile de rajouter une pompe 51 entre la sortie de la conduite verticale 13 et l'entrée du vaporiseur 27. Sinon le liquide peut être pressurisé uniquement par l'envoi de gaz à travers la vanne V3.However, the pump is not essential because, as seen in FIG. 4, the vertical pipe 13 can operate at a pressure lower than the pressure of the high pressure oxygen sent to the customer. In this case, it may be useful to add a pump 51 between the outlet of the vertical pipe 13 and the inlet of the vaporizer 27. Otherwise the liquid can be pressurized only by sending gas through the valve V3.
La figure 5 montre que la conduite verticale, tout en étant contenue dans la boîte froide d'un appareil de séparation d'air, n'est pas forcément alimentée à partir de celui-ci. Dans l'exemple, il y a un fonctionnement normal de l'installation, avec la pompe 12 en étant de marche et la pompe 11 arrêtée, une circulation d'oxygène liquide entre le stockage 9 et la conduite verticale 13 à travers une pompe à piston 41 qui alimente l'extrémité supérieur de la conduite 13 et une vanne V2 qui assure le retour de liquide vers le stockage 9 à travers la conduite 37.FIG. 5 shows that the vertical pipe, while being contained in the cold box of an air separation device, is not necessarily supplied from it. In the example, there is a normal operation of the installation, with the pump 12 being on and the pump 11 stopped, a circulation of liquid oxygen between the storage 9 and the vertical pipe 13 through a pump piston 41 which feeds the upper end of line 13 and a valve V2 which ensures the return of liquid to storage 9 through line 37.
En cas d'arrêt de l'appareil de séparation d'air, les vanne V3 et V4 s'ouvrent, les vannes V1 et V2 se ferment et le liquide franc contenu dans là conduite 13 circule via la conduite 25 au vaporiseur 27 pour assurer la production de gaz de secours pendant la mise en marche de la pompe 11.If the air separation device stops, the valves V3 and V4 open, the valves V1 and V2 close and the clean liquid contained in the line 13 circulates via the line 25 to the vaporizer 27 to ensure emergency gas production during pump start-up 11.
La Figure 6 montre le cas dans lequel la conduite verticale est intégrée non pas avec l'appareil de séparation d'air mais avec le stockage 9 en dehors de la boîte froide. La conduite placée dans Tinter parois est effectivement isolée et peut être très haute, le stockage atteignant parfois les 30 mètres. La tête de la conduite reçoit du liquide de l'intérieur du stockage à travers la vanne V1 et se remplit formant une colonne de liquide. Avant ou pendant le démarrage de la pompe 11, on ouvre la vanne V4 et le liquide transite vers le vaporiseur 27, éventuellement après une étape de pompage. Dans ce cas, la conduite montante est complètement isolée de la boîte froide 33. Cette variante est utile si la boîte froide est moins haute que le stockage ou quand l'appareil de séparation n'a pas de boîte froide. L'invention a été décrite par rapport à une double colonne de séparation d'air mais il est aisé de voir qu'elle s'applique à une simple colonne contenant beaucoup de plateaux théoriques, une triple colonne ou un système de colonnes comportant une colonne argon.Figure 6 shows the case in which the vertical pipe is integrated not with the air separation device but with the storage 9 outside the cold box. The pipe placed in the walls is effectively insulated and can be very high, the storage sometimes reaching 30 meters. The head of the pipe receives liquid from the interior of the storage through the valve V1 and fills forming a column of liquid. Before or during the starting of the pump 11, the valve V4 is opened and the liquid passes to the vaporizer 27, possibly after a pumping step. In this case, the riser pipe is completely isolated from the cold box 33. This variant is useful if the cold box is lower than the storage or when the separation device does not have a cold box. The invention has been described with respect to a double air separation column but it is easy to see that it applies to a single column containing many theoretical plates, a triple column or a system of columns comprising a column argon.
L'appareil de séparation peut séparer l'air par distillation cryogénique, par perméation, par adsorption ou tout autre moyen connu. The separation apparatus can separate the air by cryogenic distillation, permeation, adsorption or any other known means.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Procédé de fourniture d'un gaz sous pression dans lequel a) on produit un gaz sous pression à une pression de production élevée comme produit final par séparation d'un mélange gazeux dans un appareil de séparation (3,5), b) on stocke un liquide à pressuriser dans un stockage (9), c) on soutire du liquide du stockage, on le pressurise avec une pompe (11) et on vaporise au moins une partie du liquide pressurisé dans un vaporiseur (27) pour produire le gaz de secours sous pression (29) ayant sensiblement la même pureté ou une pureté plus élevée que le gaz sous pression à produire, d) on fait circuler du liquide dans une conduite sensiblement verticale (13), éventuellement à l'intérieure de la boîte froide (33) de l'appareil de séparation, et au moins une partie de la longueur de la conduite se trouve à un niveau au-dessus du vaporiseur et caractérisé en ce que avant et/ou pendant le démarrage de la pompe (11) , on envoie du liquide de la conduite au vaporiseur où il se vaporise pour fournir le gaz de secours sous pression ayant sensiblement la même pureté ou une pureté plus élevée que le gaz sous pression à produire (31).1. A method of supplying a pressurized gas in which a) a pressurized gas is produced at a high production pressure as the final product by separation of a gas mixture in a separation apparatus (3,5), b) a liquid to be pressurized is stored in a storage (9), c) the liquid is withdrawn from the storage, it is pressurized with a pump (11) and at least part of the pressurized liquid is vaporized in a vaporizer (27) to produce the emergency gas under pressure (29) having substantially the same purity or a higher purity than the pressurized gas to be produced, d) liquid is circulated in a substantially vertical pipe (13), possibly inside the box cold (33) of the separation device, and at least part of the length of the pipe is at a level above the vaporizer and characterized in that before and / or during the starting of the pump (11) , we send liquid from the line to the vaporizer where it vaporizes to provide the pressurized back-up gas having substantially the same purity or higher purity as the pressurized gas to be produced (31).
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1 dans lequel la hauteur de la conduite (H) est telle que la pression hydrostatique suffise pour surmonter auYnoins les pertes de charge liées à la vaporisation.2. Method according to claim 1 wherein the height of the pipe (H) is such that the hydrostatic pressure is sufficient to overcome auYnoins pressure losses related to vaporization.
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 dans lequel le liquide circule dans la conduite (13) sous des pressions supérieures à la pression d'utilisation du gaz de secours (29) et le liquide est pressurisé en amont du vaporiseur par la pression hydrostatique et éventuellement par une pompe (51).3. Method according to claim 1 in which the liquid circulates in the pipe (13) under pressures higher than the pressure of use of the emergency gas (29) and the liquid is pressurized upstream of the vaporizer by hydrostatic pressure and optionally by a pump (51).
4. Procédé selon la revendication 1 dans lequel le liquide circule dans la conduite sous des pressions inférieures ou égale à la pression d'utilisation du gaz de secours.4. Method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid circulates in the pipe under pressures lower than or equal to the pressure of use of the emergency gas.
5. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes dans lequel la conduite (13) est alimentée au moins partiellement à partir du stockage (9).5. Method according to one of the preceding claims wherein the pipe (13) is supplied at least partially from the storage (9).
6. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes dans lequel la conduite (13) est alimentée au moins partiellement à partir d'une colonne (5) de l'appareil de séparation cryogénique à l'intérieur de la boîte froide (33), l'appareil de séparation fournissant en temps normal du gaz produit (31) ayant les mêmes caractéristiques que le gaz de secours (29) à travers une conduite principale par vaporisation d'un liquide soutiré de l'appareil de séparation d'air, un débit du liquide est envoyé à un extrémité de la conduite et un autre débit (23) du liquide est soutiré de l'autre extrémité de la conduite et est renvoyé à l'appareil de séparation d'air.6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the pipe (13) is supplied at least partially from a column (5) of the cryogenic separation device inside the cold box (33), the separation device supplying normally produced gas (31) having the same characteristics as the emergency gas (29) through a main pipe by vaporization of a liquid withdrawn from the air separation device, a flow of the liquid is sent at one end of the line and another flow (23) of the liquid is drawn off from the other end of the line and is returned to the air separation unit.
7. Procédé selon la revendication 6 dans lequel i) en temps normal l'appareil de séparation fournit du gaz produit (31), ii) en cas de panne ou de marche réduite de l'appareil de séparation, le gaz de secours est fourni par vaporisation de liquide pompé dans le vaporiseur (27), vi) en temps normal, le débit de liquide circule en permanence dans la conduite (13) vii) avant et/ou pendant le démarrage de la pompe, un débit de liquide s'écoule par effet de gravitation depuis l'extrémité inférieure de la conduite (13) vers le vaporiseur et viii) avant et/ou pendant le démarrage de la pompe, un débit de gaz (21) pressurisé à une pression égale ou supérieure à la pression du gaz sous pression à produire est envoyé à l'extrémité supérieure de la conduite.7. The method of claim 6 wherein i) in normal times the separation device supplies the product gas (31), ii) in case of failure or reduced operation of the separation device, the backup gas is supplied by spraying liquid pumped into the vaporizer (27), vi) in normal times, the liquid flow circulates continuously in the line (13) vii) before and / or during the start of the pump, a liquid flow s' by gravity flow from the lower end of the pipe (13) to the vaporizer and viii) before and / or during start-up of the pump, a gas flow (21) pressurized to a pressure equal to or greater than the pressure pressurized gas to be produced is sent to the upper end of the pipe.
8. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 6 ou 7 dans lequel on pressurise le liquide soutiré de l'appareil, on envoie une partie du liquide pressurisé vers la ligne d'échange (7) de l'appareil pour constituer le gaz produit et on envoie une autre partie du liquide pressurisé vers la conduite verticale (13).8. Method according to one of claims 6 or 7 wherein the liquid withdrawn from the device is pressurized, part of the pressurized liquid is sent to the exchange line (7) of the device to constitute the gas produced and another part of the pressurized liquid is sent to the vertical pipe (13).
9. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8 dans lequel la conduite est alimentée au moins partiellement à partir d'un stockage cryogénique (du stockage (9)), un débit du liquide (39) est envoyé à une extrémité de la conduite et un autre débit (37) du liquide est soutiré de l'autre extrémité de la conduite et pompé et est renvoyé au stockage.9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the pipe is supplied at least partially from cryogenic storage (storage (9)), a flow of liquid (39) is sent to one end of the line and another flow (37) of the liquid is withdrawn from the other end of the line and pumped and is returned to storage.
10. Installation de fourniture d'un gaz sous pression comprenant i) un appareil de séparation d'un mélange gazeux (3, 5) ii) une conduite (31) de fourniture de gaz sous pression reliée à l'appareil de séparation iii) un stockage de liquide (9) iv) un vaporiseur (27) v) une conduite sensiblement verticale (13) vi) des moyens reliant le stockage avec le vaporiseur vii) des moyens reliant la conduite avec le vaporiseur viii) des moyens pour sortir le liquide vaporisé du vaporiseur pour constituer un gaz de secours sous pression caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend des moyens de pressurisation (11) en aval du stockage et en amont du vaporiseur et des moyens auxiliaires de pressurisation (H.21,51) du liquide de la conduite qui sont en amont du vaporiseur.10. Installation for supplying pressurized gas comprising i) an apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture (3, 5) ii) a pipe (31) for supplying pressurized gas connected to the separation appliance iii) a liquid storage (9) iv) a vaporizer (27) v) a substantially vertical pipe (13) vi) means connecting the storage with the vaporizer vii) means connecting the pipe with the vaporizer viii) means for removing the vaporized liquid from the vaporizer to constitute an emergency gas under pressure characterized in that it comprises pressurization means (11) downstream of the storage and upstream of the vaporizer and auxiliary pressurization means (H.21,51) of the liquid in the pipe which are upstream of the vaporizer.
11. Installation selon la revendication 10 dans laquelle les moyens auxiliaires sont constitués par la hauteur (H) de la conduite et éventuellement par une conduite (21) d'amenée de gaz pressurisé relié à l'extrémité supérieure de la conduite et éventuellement une pompe (51).11. Installation according to claim 10 in which the auxiliary means consist of the height (H) of the pipe and optionally by a pipe (21) for supplying pressurized gas connected to the upper end of the pipe and optionally a pump. (51).
12. Installation selon la revendication 10 ou 11 dans laquelle la conduite est située à l'intérieur d'une boîte froide (33) d'un appareil de distillation cryogénique ou est intégrée avec le stockage (9).12. Installation according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the pipe is located inside a cold box (33) of a cryogenic distillation apparatus or is integrated with the storage (9).
13. Installation selon la revendication 12 dans laquelle la conduite est située à l'intérieur d'une boîte froide (33) d'un appareil de distillation cryogénique comprenant un appareil de distillation cryogénique dans laquelle la conduite verticale (13) est une conduite de l'appareil de distillation cryogénique et comprenant des moyens (15, 19, 23) pour relier les extrémités inférieure et supérieure de la conduite à une colonne de l'appareil de distillation.13. Installation according to claim 12 in which the pipe is located inside a cold box (33) of a cryogenic distillation apparatus comprising a cryogenic distillation apparatus in which the vertical pipe (13) is a the cryogenic distillation apparatus and comprising means (15, 19, 23) for connecting the lower and upper ends of the pipe to a column of the distillation apparatus.
14. Installation selon la revendication 13 comprenant des moyens (15, 19, 12) pour fournir une première partie d'un liquide provenant d'une colonne de l'appareil à une ligne d'échange où il se vaporise pour former un gaz produit dans une conduite principale et une deuxième partie du liquide à la conduite.14. Installation according to claim 13 comprising means (15, 19, 12) for supplying a first part of a liquid coming from a column of the apparatus to an exchange line where it vaporizes to form a product gas in a main line and a second part of the liquid in the line.
15. Installation selon la revendication 14 dans laquelle les moyens pour fournir une première partie d'un liquide provenant d'une colonne de l'appareil à une ligne d'échange où il se vaporise pour former un gaz produit dans une conduite principale et une deuxième partie du liquide à la conduite sont constitués par une pompe (12).15. Installation according to claim 14 wherein the means for supplying a first part of a liquid coming from a column of the apparatus to an exchange line where it vaporizes to form a gas produced in a main pipe and a second part of the liquid in the pipe consist of a pump (12).
16. Installation selon l'une des revendications 13 à 15 dans laquelle l'extrémité supérieure de la conduite verticale (13) est reliée à la conduite de fourniture de gaz sous pression (17) par l'intermédiaire d'une (la) conduite d'amenée de gaz (21) sous pression. 16. Installation according to one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the upper end of the vertical pipe (13) is connected to the supply pipe for pressurized gas (17) via a (the) pipe supply of gas (21) under pressure.
EP04742733.1A 2003-05-28 2004-05-14 Process and arrangement for the backup supply of a pressurized gas through cryogenic liquid spraying Expired - Lifetime EP1634024B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL04742733T PL1634024T3 (en) 2003-05-28 2004-05-14 Process and arrangement for the backup supply of a pressurized gas through cryogenic liquid spraying

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0306511A FR2855598B1 (en) 2003-05-28 2003-05-28 METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR SUPPLYING PRESSURE GAS RELIEF BY CRYOGENIC LIQUID VAPORIZATION
PCT/FR2004/001184 WO2004109207A1 (en) 2003-05-28 2004-05-14 Process and arrangement for the backup supply of a pressurized gas through cryogenic liquid spraying

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1634024A1 true EP1634024A1 (en) 2006-03-15
EP1634024B1 EP1634024B1 (en) 2018-08-15

Family

ID=33427528

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04742733.1A Expired - Lifetime EP1634024B1 (en) 2003-05-28 2004-05-14 Process and arrangement for the backup supply of a pressurized gas through cryogenic liquid spraying

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US7870759B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1634024B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4579921B2 (en)
CN (1) CN100447516C (en)
FR (1) FR2855598B1 (en)
PL (1) PL1634024T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2004109207A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2872262B1 (en) * 2004-06-29 2010-11-26 Air Liquide METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR PROVIDING SUPPORT OF A PRESSURIZED GAS
US7409835B2 (en) * 2004-07-14 2008-08-12 Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc. Backup system and method for production of pressurized gas
FR2906878A1 (en) * 2007-01-09 2008-04-11 Air Liquide Nitrogen supplying method, involves sending liquid nitrogen towards separating apparatus for partially maintaining cooling of apparatus, during operating period, and conveying liquid nitrogen flow to vaporizer during another period
FR2931213A1 (en) * 2008-05-16 2009-11-20 Air Liquide DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PUMPING A CRYOGENIC FLUID
EP2614326B1 (en) * 2010-09-09 2019-03-27 L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude Process for separation of air by cryogenic distillation
CN102030314B (en) * 2010-11-12 2013-10-02 杜金明 Oxygen generator
EP3060864B1 (en) * 2013-10-23 2020-10-07 Praxair Technology, Inc. Oxygen backup method and system
FR3022233B1 (en) * 2014-06-12 2019-06-07 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING FLUID
CN106764428B (en) * 2016-12-20 2018-08-28 上海华林工业气体有限公司 CO compensation feed systems and its application on a kind of CO feed-lines
JP6774905B2 (en) * 2017-04-19 2020-10-28 レール・リキード−ソシエテ・アノニム・プール・レテュード・エ・レクスプロワタシオン・デ・プロセデ・ジョルジュ・クロード Liquefied gas supply backup system and liquefied gas reserve supply method
CN111566425B (en) * 2017-12-26 2022-03-04 乔治洛德方法研究和开发液化空气有限公司 System and method for supplying a backup product in an air separation plant
WO2020150988A1 (en) * 2019-01-25 2020-07-30 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Process and apparatus for supplying a backup gas under pressure
US20210190421A1 (en) * 2019-12-21 2021-06-24 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Method and apparatus for supplying a cryogenic stream with a controlled temperature from a back-up system

Family Cites Families (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4961325A (en) * 1989-09-07 1990-10-09 Union Carbide Corporation High pressure gas supply system
FR2660741A1 (en) 1990-04-10 1991-10-11 Air Liquide PROCESS AND PLANT FOR GENERATING GASEOUS NITROGEN AND CORRESPONDING NITROGEN SUPPLY SYSTEM THEREFOR.
JPH0455682A (en) * 1990-06-22 1992-02-24 Kobe Steel Ltd Air separating device
DE4135302A1 (en) * 1991-10-25 1993-04-29 Linde Ag DEVICE FOR LOW TEMPERATURE DISPOSAL OF AIR
FR2706195B1 (en) 1993-06-07 1995-07-28 Air Liquide Method and unit for supplying pressurized gas to an installation consuming an air component.
US5471843A (en) * 1993-06-18 1995-12-05 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Process and installation for the production of oxygen and/or nitrogen under pressure at variable flow rate
JP3514485B2 (en) * 1993-06-22 2004-03-31 日本エア・リキード株式会社 High-purity nitrogen gas production equipment
JPH0712455A (en) * 1993-06-23 1995-01-17 Teisan Kk Nitrogen gas manufacturing device
DE4415747C2 (en) * 1994-05-04 1996-04-25 Linde Ag Method and device for the low-temperature separation of air
JP3447437B2 (en) * 1995-07-26 2003-09-16 日本エア・リキード株式会社 High-purity nitrogen gas production equipment
JPH10325674A (en) * 1997-05-28 1998-12-08 Nippon Air Rikiide Kk Air liquefying and separating device
DE19732887A1 (en) * 1997-07-30 1999-02-04 Linde Ag Air separation process
EP0908689A3 (en) * 1997-08-20 1999-06-23 AIR LIQUIDE Japan, Ltd. Method and apparatus for air distillation
US5983666A (en) * 1997-10-27 1999-11-16 The Boc Group, Inc. Air separation plant and method of fabrication
CA2319552C (en) * 1998-02-04 2004-04-20 Texaco Development Corporation Combined cryogenic air separation with integrated gasifier

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2004109207A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1795359A (en) 2006-06-28
US20070044506A1 (en) 2007-03-01
FR2855598B1 (en) 2005-10-07
PL1634024T3 (en) 2018-12-31
WO2004109207A1 (en) 2004-12-16
US7870759B2 (en) 2011-01-18
FR2855598A1 (en) 2004-12-03
JP2007502964A (en) 2007-02-15
EP1634024B1 (en) 2018-08-15
JP4579921B2 (en) 2010-11-10
CN100447516C (en) 2008-12-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1634024B1 (en) Process and arrangement for the backup supply of a pressurized gas through cryogenic liquid spraying
EP0628778B1 (en) Process and high pressure gas supply unit for an air constituent consuming installation
US20080184736A1 (en) Method And Installation For The Emergency Back-Up Supply Of A Gas Under Pressure
EP0848220B1 (en) Method and plant for supplying an air gas at variable quantities
EP3650741B1 (en) Method and device for storage and supply of liquefied hydrogen
FR2704632A1 (en) Air separation method and installation
JP2014503769A (en) Method for filling a gas storage container
WO2014177796A2 (en) Method and device for replenshing a supply of cryogenic liquid, notably of liquefied natural gas
FR2853407A1 (en) PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR PROVIDING GAS UNDER PRESSURE
WO2019215403A1 (en) Method and facility for storing and distributing liquefied hydrogen
FR2782154A1 (en) COMBINED INSTALLATION OF AN AIR FLUID PRODUCTION APPARATUS AND A UNIT IN WHICH A CHEMICAL REACTION OCCURS AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING IT
WO1999054673A1 (en) Method and installation for air distillation with production of argon
EP0914584B1 (en) Method and plant for producing an air gas with a variable flow rate
EP2591300A2 (en) Apparatus and process for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation
JP2005226750A (en) Liquefied gas feeding apparatus and method of operating the same
EP0592323B1 (en) Process and apparatus for the production of ultra-pure nitrogen under pressure
EP4090880B1 (en) Plant and method for storing and distributing cryogenic fluid
EP2129983A2 (en) Method an apparatus for providing nitrogen
FR2825136A1 (en) Provision of back-up supply of gas under pressure involves vaporizing pressurized liquid
WO2023143793A1 (en) Installation and method for storing liquefied gas
FR2802825A1 (en) DISTILLATION SEPARATION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CLEANING A CONDENSER VAPORIZER OF THE APPARATUS
WO2023094745A1 (en) Fuel supply system for a consumer designed to be supplied with a fuel prepared from a gas generated by the evaporation of a cryogenic liquid comprising at least methane
FR2962518A1 (en) INTEGRATED CARBON DIOXIDE LIQUEFACTION APPARATUS AND LIQUID CARBON DIOXIDE STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORAGE PRESSURE REGULATION OF SUCH AN APPARATUS
BE490530A (en)
JPH0921499A (en) Liquefied gas storage system and storage method

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20051228

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: L'AIR LIQUIDE, SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'E

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20070504

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: L'AIR LIQUIDE, SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'E

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20180514

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1030267

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20180815

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: LANGUAGE OF EP DOCUMENT: FRENCH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602004053050

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: FP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1030267

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20180815

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181115

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181116

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602004053050

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20190516

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190531

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190531

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190514

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190514

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181215

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20180815

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20040514

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20210524

Year of fee payment: 18

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20210519

Year of fee payment: 18

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20210520

Year of fee payment: 18

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20210520

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20210519

Year of fee payment: 18

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20210520

Year of fee payment: 18

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602004053050

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20220601

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20220531

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20220514

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220514

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20221201

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220601

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220514

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PL

Payment date: 20230505

Year of fee payment: 20