EP1672301B1 - Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of a gaseous mixture in particular of air - Google Patents

Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of a gaseous mixture in particular of air Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1672301B1
EP1672301B1 EP05024947.3A EP05024947A EP1672301B1 EP 1672301 B1 EP1672301 B1 EP 1672301B1 EP 05024947 A EP05024947 A EP 05024947A EP 1672301 B1 EP1672301 B1 EP 1672301B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heat exchanger
direct contact
line
low
cooler
Prior art date
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Not-in-force
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EP05024947.3A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1672301A1 (en
Inventor
Andreas Brox
Markus Huppenberger
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Linde GmbH
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Linde GmbH
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Priority to PL05024947T priority Critical patent/PL1672301T3/en
Priority to EP05024947.3A priority patent/EP1672301B1/en
Publication of EP1672301A1 publication Critical patent/EP1672301A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1672301B1 publication Critical patent/EP1672301B1/en
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/0489—Modularity and arrangement of parts of the air fractionation unit, in particular of the cold box, e.g. pre-fabrication, assembling and erection, dimensions, horizontal layout "plot"
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04151—Purification and (pre-)cooling of the feed air; recuperative heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04157—Afterstage cooling and so-called "pre-cooling" of the feed air upstream the air purification unit and main heat exchange line
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04151—Purification and (pre-)cooling of the feed air; recuperative heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04187—Cooling of the purified feed air by recuperative heat-exchange; Heat-exchange with product streams
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/04951—Arrangements of multiple air fractionation units or multiple equipments fulfilling the same process step, e.g. multiple trains in a network
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/30—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using a washing, e.g. "scrubbing" or bubble column for purification purposes
    • F25J2205/32—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using a washing, e.g. "scrubbing" or bubble column for purification purposes as direct contact cooling tower to produce a cooled gas stream, e.g. direct contact after cooler [DCAC]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/30—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using a washing, e.g. "scrubbing" or bubble column for purification purposes
    • F25J2205/34—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using a washing, e.g. "scrubbing" or bubble column for purification purposes as evaporative cooling tower to produce chilled water, e.g. evaporative water chiller [EWC]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/12—Particular process parameters like pressure, temperature, ratios
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/32—Details on header or distribution passages of heat exchangers, e.g. of reboiler-condenser or plate heat exchangers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/902—Apparatus
    • Y10S62/903—Heat exchange structure

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for producing a product by cryogenic separation of a gas mixture, in particular air, with a direct contact cooler for cooling the feed mixture, with a cleaning device for cleaning the cooled feed mixture and with a low temperature part, the main heat exchanger for cooling the purified feed mixture to about dew point and a distillation column for cryogenic decomposition of the feed mixture.
  • cryogenic temperature is meant here basically any temperature which is below the ambient temperature, but preferably a temperature of 200 K or less, most preferably 150 K or less, for example 100 K or less.
  • a direct contact cooler In a "direct contact cooler” the feed mixture is brought into direct heat exchange with a coolant, for example water, and thereby cooled. It is used in particular for removing heat of compression, which has arisen in a feed gas compressor, which is usually connected upstream.
  • a coolant for example water
  • a subsequent "cleaning device” is usually designed as an adsorption device and in particular has at least two switchable container, which are operated cyclically. It serves to separate unwanted components, for example those which can freeze out in the low-temperature part.
  • the feed mixture is first cooled to about dew point temperature and then decomposed in a distillation column system.
  • the low-temperature part thus contains one or more heat exchangers and one or more distillation columns.
  • the product is in Withdrawn gas or liquid form.
  • the cryogenic part is usually thermally insulated by being enclosed by one or more cold boxes.
  • the “main heat exchanger” serves to heat the gaseous product (s) in indirect heat exchange with at least one feed mixture stream.
  • the three mentioned plant components are usually arranged so that the consumption of floor space is as low as possible. This is not satisfactory in all cases.
  • the invention is therefore based on the object to further optimize the arrangement of the components of a cryogenic separation plant in order to achieve a particularly high efficiency of the system.
  • This object is achieved in that the direct contact cooler, the cleaning device and the low-temperature part are arranged in a line.
  • the arrangement “on a line” means that there must be at least one horizontal straight line, which intersects the bases of all three plant components mentioned.
  • “Base area” is understood here as the footprint that is required for the corresponding system components including the directly associated functional units such as, for example, pumps and fittings.
  • the arrangement in a line minimizes in particular the effort in the fluidic connection of the system components with each other.
  • the corresponding pipe lengths and the scope of the associated steel construction devices such as pipe bridges are minimized. For very large plants with a single-gas flow rate of 300,000 Nm, this means 3 / h or more - a noticeable reduction in investment costs.
  • the linear arrangement also has the advantage that the system components are basically accessible from both sides for assembly and maintenance. This reduces the operating and repair costs of the system.
  • the direct contact cooler is preceded by a feed gas compressor for compressing the feed mixture.
  • a feed gas compressor for compressing the feed mixture.
  • This can be arranged in the context of the invention, for example, laterally next to the group of direct contact cooler, cleaning device and low temperature part.
  • it is particularly favorable when the feed gas compressor, the direct contact cooler, the cleaning device and the low-temperature part are arranged in a line. This further enhances the above advantages.
  • connection means may be arranged, for example on the side of the cryogenic part a pipe bridge for discharging the products and / or on the compressor side a gas or steam turbine for driving the feed gas compressor with appropriate accessories, such as an air condenser, steam -, gas and / or cooling water lines for machines or the like. Nevertheless, the various system components remain easily accessible.
  • the drive shaft of the feed gas compressor runs, in this case in particular, preferably substantially perpendicular to the line on which the direct contact cooler, the cleaning device and the low-temperature part are arranged.
  • the feed gas compressor may be arranged laterally next to the other system parts.
  • the drive shaft of the feed gas compressor runs essentially parallel to the line on which the direct contact cooler, the cleaning device and the low-temperature part are arranged.
  • the base of the previously mentioned system components has a relatively elongated shape. More specifically, in this case, the ratio of the dimension of the smallest rectangle including the bases of the direct contact cooler, the purifier, and the cryogenic part and possibly the feed gas compressor in the direction of a straight line connecting direct contact cooler and low temperature part to the extension in the direction perpendicular thereto is larger than 1, in particular greater than 1.5. For example, this ratio is 2.0 or more, especially 3.0 or more.
  • the device for connecting the individual systems with each other (for example, pipe bridge for product lines) is arranged along the narrow sides and can thus be made relatively short and inexpensive.
  • the cryogenic part regularly comprises a heat exchanger box containing at least one main heat exchanger, a rectification box containing at least one distillation column, and an expansion machine located within a turbine box. It is favorable if the turbine box is arranged at a transition section of the low-temperature part, which is located between the heat exchanger box and the rectification box. Alternatively, the turbine box may be connected directly to the heat exchanger box.
  • the claims 7 to 12 contain further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention. Their features can be applied in a device for producing a product by cryogenic separation of a gas mixture, in particular air, as a non-inventive embodiment, independently of the features of claims 1 to 6 or according to the invention in combination with these.
  • the feed mixture line for introducing feed mixture into the main heat exchanger and the product line for drawing off the product flow from the main heat exchanger run substantially parallel to a main orientation axis and are arranged on opposite sides of the main heat exchanger.
  • the "main axis of orientation" represents an abstract straight line that runs in a horizontal direction and is not usually materialized by components of the plant or any other physical device.
  • substantially parallel are two directions if they form an angle of less than 20 °, preferably less than 10 °, most preferably less than 5 ° with each other.
  • the arrangement according to claim 7 offers the advantage that the devices for the discharge of the products, for example one or more manifolds, into which the product line (s) open, on one side of the main heat exchanger and the means for pretreatment of the feed mixture on the opposite side of the main heat exchanger can be arranged. This makes very small pipe lengths possible.
  • the arrangement also has the advantage that the system components are basically accessible from both sides for assembly and maintenance. This reduces the operating and repair costs of the system.
  • the device prefferably has a collecting line, into which the product line opens at its end facing away from the main heat exchanger, and when the collecting line runs essentially perpendicular to the main orientation axis.
  • One direction is "substantially perpendicular" to another when the respective straight lines subtend an angle of 70 ° to 110 °, preferably 80 ° to 100 °, most preferably 85 ° to 95 °.
  • One or more manifolds may connect the device and possibly other identical or similar devices (strands) to a multi-line plant, or to a tank farm and / or to an emergency supply device.
  • the manifold (s) can be arranged on a pipe bridge or on the ground. In the latter case, the manifolds are routinely routed to so-called sleepers.
  • manifold (s) are connected to a product line of one or more other cryogenic decomposition devices.
  • manifold (s) may be connected to a storage container for product.
  • the main heat exchanger is embodied exclusively as a recuperative heat exchanger, that is to say as a non-reversible heat exchanger.
  • the claims 13 to 16 contain further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention. Their features can be applied in a device for producing a product by cryogenic separation of a gas mixture, in particular air, as a non-inventive embodiment, independently of the features of claims 1 to 12 or according to the invention in combination with these.
  • the ratio of the distance between the evaporative cooler and the direct contact cooler to the distance between the evaporative cooler and the main heat exchanger is at least 0.5, in particular at least 1.0.
  • the evaporative cooler 15 is thus arranged comparatively close to the main heat exchanger. Although this means higher costs for the coolant piping; However, the line for the gas flow from the low-temperature part can be made very short. In the context of the invention has been found that this arrangement leads to a total of comparatively low investment costs costs. In particular, the effort for the pipelines and the associated steel construction costs is reduced. This is partly due to the very high cross section (for example 1 to 2 m) of the gas line to the evaporative cooler.
  • Atmospheric air is sucked in as "feed mixture” via an inlet filter 1 and fed via feed pipes 51, 52, 53, 54 to other plant components.
  • a main air compressor 2 which in the example represents the "feed gas compressor”
  • the compressed air 52 flows into a direct contact cooler 3 where it is cooled in direct heat exchange with cooling water flowing over a cooling water piping 61.
  • the cooled air 53 is further passed into a purifier 4 having a pair of molecular sieve adsorbers 5, 6.
  • the purified air 54 continues to flow to the cryogenic part 7.
  • the low-temperature part can consist of a single cold box, in which all cryogenic apparatus are arranged, in particular the one or more heat exchangers and the distillation column (s), or from a plurality of separate cold boxes.
  • a cylindrical rectification box 9 contains the distillation columns 9a, here a double column with high-pressure and low-pressure column and a main capacitor arranged therebetween.
  • the remaining cold parts, in particular the main heat exchanger 8a are housed in a cuboid heat exchanger box 8.
  • the two cold boxes 8, 9 insulate the respective cold parts of the apparatus against heat from the environment.
  • a transition section 10 also belongs to the low-temperature part. He is also surrounded by a coldbox; Alternatively, located in the transition section 10 piping and fittings are thermally insulated by means of a correspondingly smaller cold box.
  • the main heat exchanger is designed as exclusively recuperative heat exchanger, so not as a switchable heat exchanger (Revex). It consists, for example, of one block or a plurality of flow-connected blocks.
  • the block or blocks are preferably designed as aluminum plate heat exchangers.
  • Possible further heat exchangers, such as one or more subcooling countercurrents, may also be accommodated in the heat exchanger box; alternatively or additionally, one or more blocks of subcooling countercurrents may be arranged in the rectification box.
  • the form of the rectification box may differ from the exemplary embodiment; For example, it may be substantially cuboidal.
  • the main air compressor 2 is driven via a first shaft 11 by a drive means 12, which is designed as an electric motor, gas or steam turbine.
  • a booster 14 is for a portion of the purified air 54 intended.
  • the inlet of the booster 14 is connected to the pipe 54 for the purified air.
  • the further compressed air in the booster 14 is passed through a further, not shown in the drawing pipe in the low-temperature part 7, in particular in the heat exchanger box 8.
  • the booster 14 is also driven by a further shaft 13 of the drive means 12.
  • the booster could be driven independently of the main air compressor, for example by a separate gas or steam turbine or by a separate electric motor.
  • the products of the low-temperature part 7 are discharged via exemplary product lines 105, 106, which open here into manifolds 107 and 108, respectively.
  • the manifolds 107, 108 are arranged on a pipe bridge 109 and can connect the device and possibly other identical or similar devices (strands) to a multi-strand system or lead to a tank farm and / or to an emergency supply device.
  • an evaporative cooler 15 For cooling water before its introduction into the direct contact cooler 3, an evaporative cooler 15 is used. In it, dry residual nitrogen from the low-temperature part is brought into direct heat and mass transfer with cooling water to be cooled. About the cooling water piping 61 cold cooling water is passed to the direct contact cooler. Warm cooling water is returned directly or indirectly to the evaporative cooler. The moist nitrogen from the evaporative cooler escapes into the atmosphere.
  • the apparatus also includes utility piping 63, the location of which is schematically indicated in the drawing.
  • the equipment piping serves to transport steam, gas and / or cooling water and to dispose of condensate, cooling water, etc. It flows into resource headers (not shown), which can be arranged on the pipe bridge 109.
  • Resource and booster air tubing 63, 62 may be located on the floor (on sleepers) or on one or more pipe bridges.
  • the base surfaces of the direct contact cooler 3, the cleaning device 4 and the low-temperature part 7 have in the embodiment circular, rectangular or a complex shape. These bases are arranged in a line, for example on a main orientation axis 101. In addition, this line 101 also extends through the base area of the main air compressor 2. This results in a particularly short feed gas piping 52/53/54.
  • the product lines 105, 106 which are arranged parallel to the entrance of the insert line 54, have a particularly short length. They can even be so short that their own pipe bridge is not needed.
  • the rectangle 102 which encloses the bases of direct contact cooler 3, cleaning device 4 and low-temperature part 7, is approximately 1.7 times longer in the extent that extends vertically in the drawing than in the direction perpendicular thereto (horizontally in the drawing).
  • a factor of about 1.8 applies for the rectangle 103, which also encloses the base of the main air compressor and the apparatuses connected to it.
  • a short pipe bridge 109 and short lines 107, 108 of sufficient length for the product removal or the resource supply and removal; This is particularly advantageous in multi-strand systems. (Due to its schematic character, the drawing is not necessarily to scale in this respect either.)
  • direct contact coolers 3 and evaporative coolers 15 are arranged as a unit or at least as immediately adjacent units because of their functional relationship. In the embodiment, however, the evaporative cooler 15 is much closer to the low temperature part than the direct contact cooler.
  • the distance 104 between the evaporative cooler 15 and the main heat exchanger 8a is about one fifth of the distance between the direct contact cooler 3 and the low temperature part 7.
  • the residual nitrogen pipe between the main heat exchanger and the evaporative cooler 15 which is not shown in the drawing, only a relatively short Overcome route and can therefore be realized particularly cost effective; This saving is significant because of the very large cross-section of the residual nitrogen pipe.
  • the cooling water piping is longer, but has a much smaller cross-section and increases the cost of the apparatus only insignificantly.
  • Cryogenic air separation plants regularly have one or more expansion machines, which serve to generate cold by work-performing relaxation of one or more process streams and are usually designed as turbines.
  • the plant of the embodiment preferably has a turbine for work-performing expansion of a partial flow of the feed air or a product or intermediate product stream from the low-temperature decomposition. This turbine is seated in a turbine box 16, which is arranged in the embodiment at the transition section 10 between the heat exchanger box 8 and rectification box 9.

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

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zur Erzeugung eines Produkts durch Tieftemperaturzerlegung eines Gasgemischs, insbesondere von Luft, mit einem Direktkontaktkühler zur Kühlung des Einsatzgemischs, mit einer Reinigungsvorrichtung zu Reinigung des gekühlten Einsatzgemischs und mit einem Tieftemperaturteil, der einen Hauptwärmetauscher zur Abkühlung des gereinigten Einsatzgemischs auf etwa Taupunktstemperatur und eine Destilliersäule zur Tieftemperaturzerlegung des Einsatzgemischs aufweist.The invention relates to a device for producing a product by cryogenic separation of a gas mixture, in particular air, with a direct contact cooler for cooling the feed mixture, with a cleaning device for cleaning the cooled feed mixture and with a low temperature part, the main heat exchanger for cooling the purified feed mixture to about dew point and a distillation column for cryogenic decomposition of the feed mixture.

Vorrichtungen zur Tieftemperaturzerlegung atmosphärischer Luft oder anderer Gasgemische sind zum Beispiel aus Hausen/Linde, Tieftemperaturtechnik, 2. Auflage 1985 bekannt.Devices for the cryogenic separation of atmospheric air or other gas mixtures are known, for example, from Hausen / Linde, Tiefftemperaturtechnik, 2nd edition 1985.

Unter "Tieftemperatur" wird hier grundsätzlich jede Temperatur verstanden, die unterhalb der Umgebungstemperatur liegt, vorzugsweise jedoch eine Temperatur von 200 K oder weniger, höchst vorzugsweise von 150 K oder weniger, beispielsweise von 100 K oder weniger.By "cryogenic temperature" is meant here basically any temperature which is below the ambient temperature, but preferably a temperature of 200 K or less, most preferably 150 K or less, for example 100 K or less.

In einem "Direktkontaktkühler" (direct contact cooler) wird das Einsatzgemisch in direkten Wärmeaustausch mit einem Kühlmittel, zum Beispiel Wasser, gebracht und dadurch abgekühlt. Er dient insbesondere zum Abführen von Verdichtungswärme, die in einem in der Regel vorgeschalteten Einsatzgasverdichter entstanden ist.In a "direct contact cooler" the feed mixture is brought into direct heat exchange with a coolant, for example water, and thereby cooled. It is used in particular for removing heat of compression, which has arisen in a feed gas compressor, which is usually connected upstream.

Eine nachfolgende "Reinigungseinrichtung" ist in der Regel als Adsorptionsvorrichtung ausgebildet und weist insbesondere mindestens zwei umschaltbare Behälter aus, die zyklisch betrieben werden. Sie dient der Abtrennung unerwünschter Komponenten, beispielsweise solcher, die im Tieftemperaturteil ausfrieren können.A subsequent "cleaning device" is usually designed as an adsorption device and in particular has at least two switchable container, which are operated cyclically. It serves to separate unwanted components, for example those which can freeze out in the low-temperature part.

Im "Tieftemperaturteil" wird das Einsatzgemisch zunächst auf etwa Taupunktstemperatur abgekühlt und anschließend in einem Destilliersäulensystem zerlegt. Der Tieftemperaturteil enthält also einen oder mehrere Wärmetauscher und eine oder mehrere Destilliersäulen. Aus dem Tieftemperaturteil wird das Produkt in Gas- oder Flüssigform abgezogen. Selbstverständlich können auch mehrere Produkte in gleichem oder unterschiedlichem Aggregatzustand sowie in gleicher oder verschiedener chemischer Zusammensetzung erzeugt werden. Um Verluste durch einströmende Umgebungswärme zu verhindern, ist der Tieftemperaturteil üblicherweise wärmeisoliert, indem er von einer oder mehreren Coldboxen umschlossen wird.In the "low-temperature part", the feed mixture is first cooled to about dew point temperature and then decomposed in a distillation column system. The low-temperature part thus contains one or more heat exchangers and one or more distillation columns. From the low temperature part, the product is in Withdrawn gas or liquid form. Of course, several products can be produced in the same or different physical state and in the same or different chemical composition. To prevent losses due to incoming ambient heat, the cryogenic part is usually thermally insulated by being enclosed by one or more cold boxes.

Der "Hauptwärmetauscher" dient zur Anwärmung des oder der gasförmigen Produkts/Produkte in indirektem Wärmeaustausch mit mindestens einem Einsatzgemischstrom.The "main heat exchanger" serves to heat the gaseous product (s) in indirect heat exchange with at least one feed mixture stream.

Die drei genannten Anlagenkomponenten werden üblicherweise so angeordnet, dass der Verbrauch an Grundfläche möglichst niedrig ist. Dies ist nicht in allen Fällen zufrieden stellend.The three mentioned plant components are usually arranged so that the consumption of floor space is as low as possible. This is not satisfactory in all cases.

Der Erfindung liegt daher die Aufgabe zugrunde, die Anordnung der Komponenten einer Tieftemperaturzerlegungsanlage weiter zu optimieren, um eine besonders hohe Wirtschaftlichkeit der Anlage zu erreichen.The invention is therefore based on the object to further optimize the arrangement of the components of a cryogenic separation plant in order to achieve a particularly high efficiency of the system.

Diese Aufgabe wird dadurch gelöst, dass der Direktkontaktkühler, die Reinigungsvorrichtung und der Tieftemperaturteil auf einer Linie angeordnet sind.This object is achieved in that the direct contact cooler, the cleaning device and the low-temperature part are arranged in a line.

Die Anordnung "auf einer Linie" bedeutet, dass es mindestens eine horizontale Gerade geben muss, welche die Grundflächen aller drei genannten Anlagenkomponenten schneidet. Unter "Grundfläche" wird hier die Aufstellfläche verstanden, die für die entsprechenden Anlagenkomponenten einschließlich der unmittelbar zugehörigen Funktionseinheiten wie zum Beispiel Pumpen und Armaturen benötigt wird.The arrangement "on a line" means that there must be at least one horizontal straight line, which intersects the bases of all three plant components mentioned. "Base area" is understood here as the footprint that is required for the corresponding system components including the directly associated functional units such as, for example, pumps and fittings.

Eine solche Anordnung ist natürlich - entgegen der bisherigen Praxis - nicht optimal hinsichtlich der Ausnutzung der Grundfläche der Gesamtanlage, weil die Grundflächen der drei Komponenten unterschiedlich groß sind. (In der Regel benötigen Direktkontaktkühler beziehungsweise Reinigungseinrichtung weniger Platz als der Tieftemperaturteil.) Im Rahmen der Erfindung hat sich jedoch herausgestellt, dass dieser Nachteil durch wesentliche Vorteile überkompensiert wird.Such an arrangement is of course - contrary to previous practice - not optimal in terms of utilization of the base of the entire system, because the base areas of the three components are different sizes. (As a rule, direct contact cooler or cleaning device require less space than the low-temperature part.) In the context of the invention, however, it has been found that this disadvantage is overcompensated by significant advantages.

Die Anordnung in einer Linie minimiert insbesondere den Aufwand bei der strömungstechnischen Verbindung der Anlagenkomponenten untereinander. Die entsprechenden Rohrlängen und der Umfang der zugehörigen Stahlbauvorrichtungen wie zum Beispiel Rohrbrücken werden minimiert. Dies bedeutet bei sehr großen Anlagen mit einem Einsätzgasdurchsatz von 300.000 Nm3/h oder mehr - eine spürbare Verminderung der Investitionskosten.The arrangement in a line minimizes in particular the effort in the fluidic connection of the system components with each other. The corresponding pipe lengths and the scope of the associated steel construction devices such as pipe bridges are minimized. For very large plants with a single-gas flow rate of 300,000 Nm, this means 3 / h or more - a noticeable reduction in investment costs.

Die lineare Anordnung hat außerdem den Vorteil, dass die Anlagekomponenten grundsätzlich von beiden Seiten her für Montage- und Wartungsarbeiten zugänglich sind. Dies reduziert die Betriebs- und Reparaturkosten der Anlage.The linear arrangement also has the advantage that the system components are basically accessible from both sides for assembly and maintenance. This reduces the operating and repair costs of the system.

Üblicherweise ist dem Direktkontaktkühler ein Einsatzgasverdichter zur Verdichtung des Einsatzgemischs vorgeschaltet. Dieser kann im Rahmen der Erfindung beispielsweise seitlich neben der Gruppe aus Direktkontaktkühler, Reinigungsvorrichtung und Tieftemperaturteil angeordnet sein. Besonders günstig ist es jedoch, wenn der Einsatzgasverdichter, der Direktkontaktkühler, die Reinigungsvorrichtung und der Tieftemperaturteil auf einer Linie angeordnet sind. Dies verstärkt die oben genannten Vorteile weiter.Usually, the direct contact cooler is preceded by a feed gas compressor for compressing the feed mixture. This can be arranged in the context of the invention, for example, laterally next to the group of direct contact cooler, cleaning device and low temperature part. However, it is particularly favorable when the feed gas compressor, the direct contact cooler, the cleaning device and the low-temperature part are arranged in a line. This further enhances the above advantages.

Die lineare Anordnung aller vier Anlagenkomponenten ist insbesondere bei mehrsträngigen Einheiten vorteilhaft, bei denen mehrere der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtungen (Stränge, trains) nebeneinander angeordnet sind. Hierbei können an den Enden der Einzelstränge verschiedene Verbindungseinrichtungen angeordnet sein, beispielsweise auf der Seite des Tieftemperaturteils eine Rohrbrücke zum Abführen der Produkte und/oder auf der Verdichterseite eine Gas- oder Dampfturbine zum Antrieb des Einsatzgasverdichters mit entsprechendem Zubehör, wie zum Beispiel einem Luftkondensator, Dampf-, Gas- und/oder Kühlwasserleitungen für Maschinen oder Ähnlichem. Dennoch bleiben die verschiedenen Anlagenkomponenten leicht zugänglich.The linear arrangement of all four system components is particularly advantageous in multi-strand units, in which a plurality of the inventive devices (strands, trains) are arranged side by side. Here, at the ends of the individual strands different connection means may be arranged, for example on the side of the cryogenic part a pipe bridge for discharging the products and / or on the compressor side a gas or steam turbine for driving the feed gas compressor with appropriate accessories, such as an air condenser, steam -, gas and / or cooling water lines for machines or the like. Nevertheless, the various system components remain easily accessible.

Die Antriebswelle des Einsatzgasverdichters verläuft insbesondere in diesem Fall vorzugsweise im Wesentlichen senkrecht zu der Linie, auf welcher der Direktkontaktkühler, die Reinigungsvorrichtung und der Tieftemperaturteil angeordnet sind.The drive shaft of the feed gas compressor runs, in this case in particular, preferably substantially perpendicular to the line on which the direct contact cooler, the cleaning device and the low-temperature part are arranged.

Alternativ dazu kann der Einsatzgasverdichter seitlich neben den übrigen Anlagenteilen angeordnet sein. Dabei verläuft insbesondere die Antriebswelle des Einsatzgasverdichters im Wesentlichen parallel zu der Linie, auf welcher der Direktkontaktkühler, die Reinigungsvorrichtung und der Tieftemperaturteil angeordnet sind.Alternatively, the feed gas compressor may be arranged laterally next to the other system parts. In particular, the drive shaft of the feed gas compressor runs essentially parallel to the line on which the direct contact cooler, the cleaning device and the low-temperature part are arranged.

Insbesondere bei mehrsträngigen Anlagen ist es außerdem günstig, wenn die Grundfläche der bisher genannten Anlagenkomponenten eine relativ langgestreckte Form hat. Genauer gesagt ist in diesem Fall das Verhältnis der Ausdehnung des kleinsten Rechtecks, das die Grundflächen des Direktkontaktkühlers, der Reinigungsvorrichtung und des Tieftemperaturteils und ggf. des Einsatzgasverdichters einschließt, in Richtung einer Verbindungsgeraden zwischen Direktkontaktkühler und Tieftemperaturteil zu der Ausdehnung in der dazu senkrechten Richtung größer als 1, insbesondere größer als 1,5. Zum Beispiel beträgt dieses Verhältnis 2,0 oder mehr, insbesondere 3,0 oder mehr.In particular, in multi-strand systems, it is also advantageous if the base of the previously mentioned system components has a relatively elongated shape. More specifically, in this case, the ratio of the dimension of the smallest rectangle including the bases of the direct contact cooler, the purifier, and the cryogenic part and possibly the feed gas compressor in the direction of a straight line connecting direct contact cooler and low temperature part to the extension in the direction perpendicular thereto is larger than 1, in particular greater than 1.5. For example, this ratio is 2.0 or more, especially 3.0 or more.

Mehrere derartiger Vorrichtungen können dann längsseitig nebeneinander angeordnet werden, um die mehrsträngige Anlage zu bilden. Die Vorrichtung zur Verbindung der Einzelanlagen untereinander (zum Beispiel Rohrbrücke für Produktleitungen) wird entlang der Schmalseiten angeordnet und kann damit relativ kurz und kostengünstig ausgeführt werden.Several such devices can then be arranged side by side along the side to form the multi-stranded plant. The device for connecting the individual systems with each other (for example, pipe bridge for product lines) is arranged along the narrow sides and can thus be made relatively short and inexpensive.

Das in Anspruch 5 beschriebene Merkmal, nämlich die eher längliche Grundfläche der Einzelanlage, kann grundsätzlich auch bei Vorrichtungen verwirklicht werden, welche die Merkmale des Anspruchs 1 nicht erfüllen.The feature described in claim 5, namely the rather elongated base area of the single investment, can in principle be realized in devices that do not meet the features of claim 1.

Der Tieftemperaturteil weist regelmäßig eine Wärmetauscher-Box, die mindestens einen Hauptwärmetauscher enthält, eine Rektifikationsbox, die mindestens eine Destilliersäule enthält, und eine innerhalb eines Turbinenkastens angeordnete Entspannungsmaschine auf. Es ist günstig, wenn der Turbinenkasten an einem Übergangsabschnitt des Tieftemperaturteils angeordnet ist, der sich zwischen Wärmetauscher-Box und Rektifikationsbox befindet. Alternativ kann der Turbinenkasten direkt mit der Wärmetauscher-Box verbunden sein.The cryogenic part regularly comprises a heat exchanger box containing at least one main heat exchanger, a rectification box containing at least one distillation column, and an expansion machine located within a turbine box. It is favorable if the turbine box is arranged at a transition section of the low-temperature part, which is located between the heat exchanger box and the rectification box. Alternatively, the turbine box may be connected directly to the heat exchanger box.

Das in Anspruch 6 beschriebene Merkmal, nämlich die Anordnung einer Entspannungsmaschine am Übergangsabschnitt zwischen Wärmetauscher-Box und Rektifikationsbox, kann grundsätzlich auch bei nicht erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtungen verwirklicht werden, welche die Merkmale des Anspruchs 1 nicht erfüllen.The feature described in claim 6, namely the arrangement of a relaxation machine at the transition section between the heat exchanger box and rectification box, can in principle also be implemented in non-inventive devices, which do not meet the features of claim 1.

Die Ansprüche 7 bis 12 enthalten weitere vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung. Ihre Merkmale können bei einer Vorrichtung zur Erzeugung eines Produkts durch Tieftemperaturzerlegung eines Gasgemischs, insbesondere von Luft, als eine nicht erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform auch unabhängig von den Merkmalen der Ansprüche 1 bis 6 oder erfindungsgemäß in Kombination mit diesen angewendet werden. Die Einsatzgemischleitung zur Einleitung von Einsatzgemisch in den Hauptwärmetauscher und die Produktleitung zum Abziehen des Produktstroms aus dem Hauptwärmetauscher verlaufen dabei im Wesentlichen parallel zu einer Hauptorientierungsachse und sind an einander gegenüberliegenden Seiten des Hauptwärmetauschers angeordnet.The claims 7 to 12 contain further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention. Their features can be applied in a device for producing a product by cryogenic separation of a gas mixture, in particular air, as a non-inventive embodiment, independently of the features of claims 1 to 6 or according to the invention in combination with these. The feed mixture line for introducing feed mixture into the main heat exchanger and the product line for drawing off the product flow from the main heat exchanger run substantially parallel to a main orientation axis and are arranged on opposite sides of the main heat exchanger.

Die "Hauptorientierungsachse" stellt eine abstrakte Gerade dar, die in horizontaler Richtung verläuft und in der Regel nicht durch Bauteile der Anlage oder eine sonstige physische Einrichtung materialisiert ist.The "main axis of orientation" represents an abstract straight line that runs in a horizontal direction and is not usually materialized by components of the plant or any other physical device.

"Im Wesentlichen parallel" sind zwei Richtungen dann, wenn sie einen Winkel von weniger als 20°, vorzugsweise weniger als 10°, höchst vorzugsweise weniger als 5° miteinander bilden."Substantially parallel" are two directions if they form an angle of less than 20 °, preferably less than 10 °, most preferably less than 5 ° with each other.

Die Anordnung gemäß Anspruch 7 bietet den Vorteil, dass die Einrichtungen für die Abführung der Produkte, zum Beispiel eine oder mehrere Sammelleitungen, in welche die Produktleitung(en) mündet/münden, auf der einen Seite des Hauptwärmetauschers und die Einrichtungen zur Vorbehandlung des Einsatzgemischs auf der gegenüber liegenden Seite des Hauptwärmetauschers angeordnet werden können. Damit werden sehr geringe Rohrleitungslängen möglich.The arrangement according to claim 7 offers the advantage that the devices for the discharge of the products, for example one or more manifolds, into which the product line (s) open, on one side of the main heat exchanger and the means for pretreatment of the feed mixture on the opposite side of the main heat exchanger can be arranged. This makes very small pipe lengths possible.

Die gegenüber liegende Anordnung von Einsatzgemisch- und Produktleitungen minimiert insbesondere den Aufwand bei der strömungstechnischen Verbindung der Anlagenkomponenten untereinander. Die entsprechenden Rohrlängen und der Umfang der zugehörigen Stahlbauvorrichtungen wie zum Beispiel Rohrbrücken werden minimiert. Dies bedeutet - bei sehr großen Anlagen mit einem Einsatzgasdurchsatz 300.000 Nm3/h oder mehr- eine spürbare Verminderung der Investitionskosten.The opposite arrangement of feed mixture and product lines minimizes in particular the effort in the fluidic connection of the system components with each other. The corresponding tube lengths and the circumference the associated steel construction devices such as pipe bridges are minimized. This means - for very large plants with a feed gas throughput 300,000 Nm 3 / h or more - a noticeable reduction in investment costs.

Die Anordnung hat außerdem den Vorteil, dass die Anlagekomponenten grundsätzlich von beiden Seiten her für Montage- und Wartungsarbeiten zugänglich sind. Dies reduziert die Betriebs- und Reparaturkosten der Anlage.The arrangement also has the advantage that the system components are basically accessible from both sides for assembly and maintenance. This reduces the operating and repair costs of the system.

Außerdem ist es günstig, wenn die Vorrichtung eine Sammelleitung aufweist, in welche die Produktleitung an ihrem dem Hauptwärmetauscher abgewandten Ende einmündet, und wenn die Sammelleitung im Wesentlichen senkrecht zur Hauptorientierungsachse verläuft.Moreover, it is expedient for the device to have a collecting line, into which the product line opens at its end facing away from the main heat exchanger, and when the collecting line runs essentially perpendicular to the main orientation axis.

Eine Richtung ist "im Wesentlichen senkrecht" zu einer anderen, wenn die entsprechenden Geraden einen Winkel von 70° bis 110°, vorzugsweise 80° bis 100° höchst vorzugsweise 85° bis 95° einschließen.One direction is "substantially perpendicular" to another when the respective straight lines subtend an angle of 70 ° to 110 °, preferably 80 ° to 100 °, most preferably 85 ° to 95 °.

Eine oder mehrere Sammelleitungen können die Vorrichtung und mögliche weitere identische oder ähnliche Vorrichtungen (Stränge) zu einer mehrsträngigen Anlage verbinden beziehungsweise zu einem Tanklager und/oder zu einer Notversorgungsvorrichtung führen.One or more manifolds may connect the device and possibly other identical or similar devices (strands) to a multi-line plant, or to a tank farm and / or to an emergency supply device.

Die Sammelleitung(en) kann/können auf einer Rohrbrücke oder auf dem Boden angeordnet sein. Im letzteren Fall werden die Sammelleitungen regelmäßig auf so genannten Sleepern verlegt.The manifold (s) can be arranged on a pipe bridge or on the ground. In the latter case, the manifolds are routinely routed to so-called sleepers.

Vorzugsweise ist/sind Sammelleitung(en) mit einer Produktleitung einer oder mehrerer weiteren Tieftemperaturzerlegungs-Vorrichtungen verbunden.Preferably, manifold (s) are connected to a product line of one or more other cryogenic decomposition devices.

Alternativ oder zusätzlich kann/können die Sammelleitung(en) mit einem Speicherbehälter für Produkt verbunden sein.Alternatively or additionally, the manifold (s) may be connected to a storage container for product.

Es ist günstig, wenn bei der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung der Hauptwärmetauscher ausschließlich als rekuperativer Wärmetauscher ausgeführt ist, das heißt als nicht umschaltbarer Wärmetauscher.It is advantageous if, in the device according to the invention, the main heat exchanger is embodied exclusively as a recuperative heat exchanger, that is to say as a non-reversible heat exchanger.

Die Ansprüche 13 bis 16 enthalten weitere vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung. Ihre Merkmale können bei einer Vorrichtung zur Erzeugung eines Produkts durch Tieftemperaturzerlegung eines Gasgemischs, insbesondere von Luft, als eine nicht erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform auch unabhängig von den Merkmalen der Ansprüche 1 bis 12 oder erfindungsgemäß in Kombination mit diesen angewendet werden.The claims 13 to 16 contain further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention. Their features can be applied in a device for producing a product by cryogenic separation of a gas mixture, in particular air, as a non-inventive embodiment, independently of the features of claims 1 to 12 or according to the invention in combination with these.

Wenn ein Verdunstungskühler eingesetzt wird, ist es günstig, wenn das Verhältnis des Abstandes zwischen Verdunstungskühler und Direktkontaktkühler zu dem Abstand zwischen Verdunstungskühler und Hauptwärmetauscher mindestens 0,5 , insbesondere mindestens 1,0 beträgt.If an evaporative cooler is used, it is favorable if the ratio of the distance between the evaporative cooler and the direct contact cooler to the distance between the evaporative cooler and the main heat exchanger is at least 0.5, in particular at least 1.0.

Der Verdunstungskühler 15 ist somit vergleichsweise nahe dem Hauptwärmetauscher angeordnet. Dies bedeutet zwar höheren Aufwand für die Kühlmittelverrohrung; allerdings kann die Leitung für den Gasstrom aus dem Tieftemperaturteil besonders kurz ausgeführt werden. Im Rahmen der Erfindung hat sich herausgestellt, dass diese Anordnung zu insgesamt vergleichsweise niedrigen Investitionskosten kosten führt. Es wird insbesondere der Aufwand für die Rohrleitungen und den dazugehörigen Stahlbau-Kosten verringert. Dies ist teilweise auf den sehr hohen Querschnitt (beispielsweise 1 bis 2 m) der Gasleitung zum Verdunstungskühler zurückzuführen.The evaporative cooler 15 is thus arranged comparatively close to the main heat exchanger. Although this means higher costs for the coolant piping; However, the line for the gas flow from the low-temperature part can be made very short. In the context of the invention has been found that this arrangement leads to a total of comparatively low investment costs costs. In particular, the effort for the pipelines and the associated steel construction costs is reduced. This is partly due to the very high cross section (for example 1 to 2 m) of the gas line to the evaporative cooler.

Die abhängigen Patentansprüche 14 bis 16 enthalten weitere vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.The dependent claims 14 to 16 contain further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention.

Die Erfindung sowie weitere Einzelheiten der Erfindung werden im Folgenden anhand eines in der Zeichnung schematisch dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiels für eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung näher erläutert, die als Tieftemperatur-Luftzerlegungsanlage ausgebildet ist.The invention and further details of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment of a device according to the invention schematically illustrated in the drawing, which is designed as a cryogenic air separation plant.

Atmosphärische Luft wird als "Einsatzgemisch" über ein Einlassfilter 1 angesaugt und über Einsatz-Rohrleitungen 51, 52, 53, 54 zu weiteren Anlagenkomponenten geführt. Zunächst wird die gefilterte Luft 51 in einem Hauptluftverdichter 2, der in dem Beispiel den "Einsatzgasverdichter" darstellt, komprimiert. Die verdichtete Luft 52 strömt in einen Direktkontaktkühler 3 und wird dort in direktem Wärmeaustausch mit Kühlwasser, das über eine Kühlwasser-Verrohrung 61 heranströmt, abgekühlt. Die abgekühlte Luft 53 wird weiter in eine Reinigungseinrichtung 4 geleitet, die ein Paar von Molekularsieb-Adsorbern 5, 6 aufweist. Die gereinigte Luft 54 strömt weiter zum Tieftemperaturteil 7.Atmospheric air is sucked in as "feed mixture" via an inlet filter 1 and fed via feed pipes 51, 52, 53, 54 to other plant components. First, the filtered air 51 in a main air compressor 2, which in the example represents the "feed gas compressor", compressed. The compressed air 52 flows into a direct contact cooler 3 where it is cooled in direct heat exchange with cooling water flowing over a cooling water piping 61. The cooled air 53 is further passed into a purifier 4 having a pair of molecular sieve adsorbers 5, 6. The purified air 54 continues to flow to the cryogenic part 7.

Der Tieftemperaturteil kann aus einer einzigen Coldbox bestehen, in der alle kryogenen Apparate angeordnet sind, insbesondere der oder die Wärmetauscher und die Destilliersäule(n), oder auch aus einer Vielzahl separater Coldboxen. In dem Beispiel sind zwei separate Coldboxen vorgesehen. Eine zylinderförmige Rektifikationsbox 9 enthält die Destilliersäulen 9a, hier eine Doppelsäule mit Hochdruck- und Niederdrucksäule und einem dazwischen angeordneten Hauptkondensator. Die übrigen kalten Teile, insbesondere der Hauptwärmetauscher 8a sind in einer quaderförmigen Wärmetauscher-Box 8 untergebracht. Die beiden Coldboxen 8, 9 isolieren die jeweiligen kalten Apparateteile gegen Wärmeeinfall aus der Umgebung. Ein Übergangsabschnitt 10 gehört ebenfalls zum Tieftemperaturteil. Er wird ebenfalls von einer Coldbox umschlossen; alternativ werden die im Übergangsabschnitt 10 befindlichen Rohrleitungen und Armaturen mittels einer entsprechend kleineren Coldbox wärmeisoliert.The low-temperature part can consist of a single cold box, in which all cryogenic apparatus are arranged, in particular the one or more heat exchangers and the distillation column (s), or from a plurality of separate cold boxes. In the example, two separate cold boxes are provided. A cylindrical rectification box 9 contains the distillation columns 9a, here a double column with high-pressure and low-pressure column and a main capacitor arranged therebetween. The remaining cold parts, in particular the main heat exchanger 8a are housed in a cuboid heat exchanger box 8. The two cold boxes 8, 9 insulate the respective cold parts of the apparatus against heat from the environment. A transition section 10 also belongs to the low-temperature part. He is also surrounded by a coldbox; Alternatively, located in the transition section 10 piping and fittings are thermally insulated by means of a correspondingly smaller cold box.

Der Hauptwärmetauscher ist als ausschließlich rekuperativer Wärmetauscher ausgebildet, also nicht als umschaltbarer Wärmetauscher (Revex). Er besteht zum Beispiel aus einem Block oder einer Mehrzahl von strömungstechnisch miteinander verbundenen Blöcken. Der oder die Blöcke sind vorzugsweise als Aluminium-Plattenwärmetauscher ausgebildet. Mögliche weitere Wärmetauscher wie zum Beispiel ein oder mehrere Unterkühlungs-Gegenströmer können ebenfalls in der Wärmetauscher-Box untergebracht sein; alternativ oder zusätzlich können ein oder mehrere Blöcke von Unterkühlungs-Gegenströmern in der Rektifikationsbox angeordnet sein. Die Form der Rektifikationsbox kann vom Ausführungsbeispiel abweichen; sie kann zum Beispiel im Wesentlichen quaderförmig ausgebildet sein.The main heat exchanger is designed as exclusively recuperative heat exchanger, so not as a switchable heat exchanger (Revex). It consists, for example, of one block or a plurality of flow-connected blocks. The block or blocks are preferably designed as aluminum plate heat exchangers. Possible further heat exchangers, such as one or more subcooling countercurrents, may also be accommodated in the heat exchanger box; alternatively or additionally, one or more blocks of subcooling countercurrents may be arranged in the rectification box. The form of the rectification box may differ from the exemplary embodiment; For example, it may be substantially cuboidal.

Der Hauptluftverdichter 2 wird über eine erste Welle 11 von einem Antriebsmittel 12 angetrieben, das als Elektromotor, Gas- oder Dampfturbine ausgebildet ist. Außerdem ist in dem Beispiel ein Nachverdichter 14 für einen Teil der gereinigten Luft 54 vorgesehen. Über eine in der Zeichnung lediglich angedeutete Booster-Luft-Verrohrung 62 ist der Einlass des Nachverdichters 14 mit der Rohrleitung 54 für die gereinigte Luft verbunden. Die im Nachverdichter 14 weiterverdichtete Luft wird über eine weitere, in der Zeichnung nicht dargestellte Rohrleitung in den Tieftemperaturteil 7 geleitet, insbesondere in die Wärmetauscher-Box 8. In dem Beispiel wird der Nachverdichter 14 über eine weitere Welle 13 ebenfalls von dem Antriebsmittel 12 angetrieben. Alternativ könnte der Nachverdichter unabhängig vom Hauptluftverdichter angetrieben werden, beispielsweise durch eine separate Gas- oder Dampfturbine oder durch einen separaten Elektromotor.The main air compressor 2 is driven via a first shaft 11 by a drive means 12, which is designed as an electric motor, gas or steam turbine. In addition, in the example, a booster 14 is for a portion of the purified air 54 intended. About a merely indicated in the drawing booster air piping 62, the inlet of the booster 14 is connected to the pipe 54 for the purified air. The further compressed air in the booster 14 is passed through a further, not shown in the drawing pipe in the low-temperature part 7, in particular in the heat exchanger box 8. In the example, the booster 14 is also driven by a further shaft 13 of the drive means 12. Alternatively, the booster could be driven independently of the main air compressor, for example by a separate gas or steam turbine or by a separate electric motor.

Die Produkte des Tieftemperaturteils 7 werden über beispielhaft eingezeichnete Produktleitungen 105, 106 abgegeben, die hier in Sammelleitungen 107 beziehungsweise 108 münden. Die Sammelleitungen 107, 108 sind auf einer Rohrbrücke 109 angeordnet und können die Vorrichtung und mögliche weitere identische oder ähnliche Vorrichtungen (Stränge) zu einer mehrsträngigen Anlage verbinden beziehungsweise zu einem Tanklager und/oder zu einer Notversorgungsvorrichtung führen.The products of the low-temperature part 7 are discharged via exemplary product lines 105, 106, which open here into manifolds 107 and 108, respectively. The manifolds 107, 108 are arranged on a pipe bridge 109 and can connect the device and possibly other identical or similar devices (strands) to a multi-strand system or lead to a tank farm and / or to an emergency supply device.

Zur Abkühlung von Wasser vor dessen Einleitung in den Direktkontaktkühler 3 dient ein Verdunstungskühler 15. Darin wird trockener Reststickstoff aus dem Tieftemperaturteil in direkten Wärme- und Stoffaustausch mit abzukühlendem Kühlwasser gebracht. Über die Kühlwasser-Verrohrung 61 wird kaltes Kühlwasser zum Direktkontaktkühler geleitet. Warmes Kühlwasser wird direkt oder indirekt zum Verdunstungskühler zurückgeführt. Der feuchte Stickstoff aus dem Verdunstungskühler entweicht in die Atmosphäre.For cooling water before its introduction into the direct contact cooler 3, an evaporative cooler 15 is used. In it, dry residual nitrogen from the low-temperature part is brought into direct heat and mass transfer with cooling water to be cooled. About the cooling water piping 61 cold cooling water is passed to the direct contact cooler. Warm cooling water is returned directly or indirectly to the evaporative cooler. The moist nitrogen from the evaporative cooler escapes into the atmosphere.

Die Vorrichtung weist außerdem eine Betriebsmittel-Verrohrung (utility piping) 63 auf, deren Lage in der Zeichnung schematisch angedeutet ist. Die Betriebsmittel-Verrohrung dient zum Transport von Dampf, Gas und/oder Kühlwasser und zum Entsorgen von Kondensat, Kühlwasser etc. Sie mündet in Betriebsmittel-Sammelleitungen (nicht eingezeichnet), die auf der Rohrbrücke 109 angeordnet sein können. Betriebsmittel- und Booster-Luft-Verrohrung 63, 62 können auf dem Boden (auf Sleepern) oder auf einer oder mehreren Rohrbrücken angeordnet sein.The apparatus also includes utility piping 63, the location of which is schematically indicated in the drawing. The equipment piping serves to transport steam, gas and / or cooling water and to dispose of condensate, cooling water, etc. It flows into resource headers (not shown), which can be arranged on the pipe bridge 109. Resource and booster air tubing 63, 62 may be located on the floor (on sleepers) or on one or more pipe bridges.

Die Grundflächen des Direktkontaktkühlers 3, der Reinigungseinrichtung 4 und des Tieftemperaturteils 7 weisen in dem Ausführungsbeispiel Kreisform, Rechteckform beziehungsweise eine komplexe Form auf. Diese Grundflächen sind auf einer Linie, zum Beispiel auf einer Hauptorientierungsachse 101 angeordnet. Zusätzlich verläuft diese Linie 101 auch durch die Grundfläche des Hauptluftverdichters 2. Hierdurch ergibt sich eine besonders kurze Einsatzgasverrohrung 52/53/54. Auch die Produktleitungen 105, 106, die gegenüber dem Eintritt der Einsatzleitung 54 parallel angeordnet sind, weisen eine besonders geringe Länge auf. Sie können sogar so kurz sein, dass eine eigene Rohrbrücke nicht benötigt wird.The base surfaces of the direct contact cooler 3, the cleaning device 4 and the low-temperature part 7 have in the embodiment circular, rectangular or a complex shape. These bases are arranged in a line, for example on a main orientation axis 101. In addition, this line 101 also extends through the base area of the main air compressor 2. This results in a particularly short feed gas piping 52/53/54. The product lines 105, 106, which are arranged parallel to the entrance of the insert line 54, have a particularly short length. They can even be so short that their own pipe bridge is not needed.

Das Rechteck 102, das die Grundflächen von Direktkontaktkühler 3, Reinigungseinrichtung 4 und Tieftemperaturteil 7 umschließt, ist in der Ausdehnung, die in der Zeichnung vertikal verläuft, etwa um den Faktor 1,7 länger als in der dazu senkrechten Richtung (horizontal in der Zeichnung). Für das Rechteck 103, das auch die Grundfläche des Hauptluftverdichters und der mit ihm verbundenen Apparate umschließt, gilt ein Faktor von etwa 1,8. Hierdurch reichen eine kurze Rohrbrücke 109 und Sammelleitungen 107, 108 geringer Länge für die Produktabfuhr bzw. die Betriebsmittel-Zu- und Abfuhr aus; dies ist insbesondere bei mehrsträngigen Anlagen von Vorteil. (Die Zeichnung ist wegen ihres schematischen Charakters auch in dieser Hinsicht nicht unbedingt maßstäblich.)The rectangle 102, which encloses the bases of direct contact cooler 3, cleaning device 4 and low-temperature part 7, is approximately 1.7 times longer in the extent that extends vertically in the drawing than in the direction perpendicular thereto (horizontally in the drawing). , For the rectangle 103, which also encloses the base of the main air compressor and the apparatuses connected to it, a factor of about 1.8 applies. In this way, a short pipe bridge 109 and short lines 107, 108 of sufficient length for the product removal or the resource supply and removal; This is particularly advantageous in multi-strand systems. (Due to its schematic character, the drawing is not necessarily to scale in this respect either.)

Üblicherweise werden Direktkontaktkühler 3 und Verdunstungskühler 15 wegen ihrer funktionellen Beziehung als eine Einheit oder zumindest als unmittelbar benachbarte Einheiten angeordnet. In dem Ausführungsbeispiel ist der Verdunstungskühler 15 jedoch dem Tieftemperaturteil wesentlich näher als dem Direktkontaktkühler. Der Abstand 104 zwischen dem Verdunstungskühler 15 und dem Hauptwärmetauscher 8a beträgt etwa ein Fünftel des Abstandes zwischen dem Direktkontaktkühler 3 und dem Tieftemperaturteil 7. Hierdurch muss die Reststickstoffleitung zwischen dem Hauptwärmetauscher und dem Verdunstungskühler 15, die in der Zeichnung nicht dargestellt ist, nur eine relativ kurze Strecke überwinden und kann daher besonders kostengünstig realisiert werden; diese Einsparung fällt wegen des sehr großen Querschnitts der Reststickstoffleitung erheblich ins Gewicht. Die Kühlwasser-Verrohrung ist zwar länger, weist aber einen sehr viel geringeren Querschnitt auf und verteuert den Apparat nur unwesentlich.Usually direct contact coolers 3 and evaporative coolers 15 are arranged as a unit or at least as immediately adjacent units because of their functional relationship. In the embodiment, however, the evaporative cooler 15 is much closer to the low temperature part than the direct contact cooler. The distance 104 between the evaporative cooler 15 and the main heat exchanger 8a is about one fifth of the distance between the direct contact cooler 3 and the low temperature part 7. As a result, the residual nitrogen pipe between the main heat exchanger and the evaporative cooler 15, which is not shown in the drawing, only a relatively short Overcome route and can therefore be realized particularly cost effective; This saving is significant because of the very large cross-section of the residual nitrogen pipe. Although the cooling water piping is longer, but has a much smaller cross-section and increases the cost of the apparatus only insignificantly.

Tieftemperatur-Luftzerlegungsanlagen weisen regelmäßig eine oder mehrere Entspannungsmaschinen auf, die zur Erzeugung von Kälte durch arbeitsleistende Entspannung eines oder mehrerer Prozess-Ströme dienen und üblicherweise als Turbinen ausgebildet sind. Die Anlage des Ausführungsbeispiels weist vorzugsweise eine Turbine zur arbeitsleistenden Entspannung eines Teilstroms der Einsatzluft oder eines Produkt- oder Zwischenproduktstroms aus der Tieftemperaturzerlegung auf. Diese Turbine sitzt in einem Turbinenkasten 16, der in dem Ausführungsbeispiel am Übergangsabschnitt 10 zwischen Wärmetauscher-Box 8 und Rektifikationsbox 9 angeordnet ist.Cryogenic air separation plants regularly have one or more expansion machines, which serve to generate cold by work-performing relaxation of one or more process streams and are usually designed as turbines. The plant of the embodiment preferably has a turbine for work-performing expansion of a partial flow of the feed air or a product or intermediate product stream from the low-temperature decomposition. This turbine is seated in a turbine box 16, which is arranged in the embodiment at the transition section 10 between the heat exchanger box 8 and rectification box 9.

Claims (16)

  1. Apparatus for producing a product by low-temperature separation of a gas mixture, in particular air, having a direct contact cooler (3) for cooling the feed mixture, having a purification apparatus (4) for purifying the cooled feed mixture, and having a low-temperature part (7), which includes a main heat exchanger (8a) for cooling the purified feed mixture to approximately dewpoint temperature and a distillation column (9a) for low-temperature separation of the feed mixture, characterized in that the direct contact cooler (3), the purification apparatus (4) and the low-temperature part (7) are arranged on one line (101) and the apparatus is designed for a feed gas throughput of 300 000 m3/h (s.t.p.) or more, wherein the arrangement "on one line" means that there must be at least one horizontal straight line which intercepts the base areas of all three installation components mentioned and, in the present context, the term "base area" is to be understood as meaning the standing surface area which is required for the corresponding installation components including the directly associated functional units, such as for example pumps and fittings.
  2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized by a feed gas compressor (2), connected upstream of the direct contact cooler (3), for compressing the feed mixture, the feed gas compressor (2), the direct contact cooler (3), the purification apparatus (4) and the low-temperature part (7) being arranged on one line (101).
  3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a feed gas compressor (2), connected upstream of the direct contact cooler (3), for compressing the feed mixture, the drive shaft (11) of the feed gas compressor (2) running substantially perpendicular to the line (101) on which the direct contact cooler (3), the purification apparatus (4) and the low-temperature part (7) are arranged.
  4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized by a feed gas compressor (2), connected upstream of the direct contact cooler (3), for compressing the feed mixture, the drive shaft of the feed gas compressor (2) running substantially parallel to the line (101) on which the direct contact cooler (3), the purification apparatus (4) and the low-temperature part (7) are arranged.
  5. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ratio of the extent of the smallest rectangle (102; 103) which encloses the base areas of the direct contact cooler (3), the purification apparatus (4) and the low-temperature part (7) and if appropriate the feed gas compressor (2) in the direction of a connecting straight line (101) between direct contact cooler (3) and low-temperature part (7) to the extent in the direction perpendicular to the first direction is greater than 1, in particular greater than 1.8.
  6. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the low-temperature part (7) includes a heat exchanger box (8), which contains at least one main heat exchanger, a rectification box (9), which contains at least one distillation column, a transition section (10), which is arranged between the heat exchanger box (8) and rectification box (9), and a turbine casing (16), which contains an expansion machine, the turbine casing (16) being connected to the transition section (10).
  7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 6, having a feed mixture line (51, 52, 53, 54) for introducing feed mixture into the main heat exchanger and having a product line (105, 106) for extracting the product stream from the main heat exchanger, characterized in that the feed mixture line (54) and the product line (104, 105) run substantially parallel to a main orientation axis (101) and are arranged on opposite sides of the main heat exchanger.
  8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, characterized by a collection line (107, 108) into which the product line (104, 105) opens out at its end remote from the main heat exchanger, the collection line (107, 108) running substantially perpendicular to the main orientation axis (101).
  9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that the collection line (107, 108) is arranged on a pipe bridge (109) or on the ground.
  10. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the collection line is connected to a product line of one or more further low-temperature separation apparatuses.
  11. Apparatus according to either of Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the collection line is connected to a storage tank for product.
  12. Apparatus according to any of Claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the main heat exchanger (8a) is designed exclusively as a recuperative heat exchanger.
  13. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 12 having a coolant circuit (61) for delivering coolant for the direct contact cooler, the coolant circuit having an evaporative cooler (15) for cooling coolant in direct heat exchange with a gas stream from the low-temperature part, characterized in that the ratio of the distance between evaporative cooler (15) and direct contact cooler (3) to the distance (104) between evaporative cooler (15) and main heat exchanger (8a) is at least 0.5, in particular at least 1.0.
  14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, characterized in that the ratio of the distance between evaporative cooler (15) and direct contact cooler (3) to the distance (104) between evaporative cooler (15) and main heat exchanger (8a) is at least 2, in particular at least 4.
  15. Apparatus according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the distance (104) between evaporative cooler (15) and main heat exchanger (8a) is at most 20 m, in particular at most 10 m.
  16. Apparatus according to any of Claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the distance between evaporative cooler and direct contact cooler (3) is at least 10 m, in particular at least 25 m.
EP05024947.3A 2004-12-03 2005-11-15 Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of a gaseous mixture in particular of air Not-in-force EP1672301B1 (en)

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PL05024947T PL1672301T3 (en) 2004-12-03 2005-11-15 Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of a gaseous mixture in particular of air
EP05024947.3A EP1672301B1 (en) 2004-12-03 2005-11-15 Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of a gaseous mixture in particular of air

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EP04028682 2004-12-03
EP04028681A EP1666822A1 (en) 2004-12-03 2004-12-03 Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of a gaseous mixture in particular of air
EP04028683A EP1666823A1 (en) 2004-12-03 2004-12-03 Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of a gaseous mixture in particular of air
EP05024947.3A EP1672301B1 (en) 2004-12-03 2005-11-15 Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of a gaseous mixture in particular of air

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EP1672301B1 true EP1672301B1 (en) 2018-08-15

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EP04028683A Withdrawn EP1666823A1 (en) 2004-12-03 2004-12-03 Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of a gaseous mixture in particular of air
EP05024947.3A Not-in-force EP1672301B1 (en) 2004-12-03 2005-11-15 Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of a gaseous mixture in particular of air

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RU2382963C2 (en) 2010-02-27
CN100575838C (en) 2009-12-30
RU2005137481A (en) 2007-06-20
US20060156759A1 (en) 2006-07-20
EP1666822A1 (en) 2006-06-07
US7516626B2 (en) 2009-04-14
CA2528735A1 (en) 2006-06-03
CA2528735C (en) 2013-08-06
CN1782644A (en) 2006-06-07
PL1672301T3 (en) 2019-01-31
EP1672301A1 (en) 2006-06-21

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