EP3438584B1 - Method and device for air separation by cryogenic distilling - Google Patents

Method and device for air separation by cryogenic distilling Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3438584B1
EP3438584B1 EP18186654.2A EP18186654A EP3438584B1 EP 3438584 B1 EP3438584 B1 EP 3438584B1 EP 18186654 A EP18186654 A EP 18186654A EP 3438584 B1 EP3438584 B1 EP 3438584B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
column
air
turbine
heat exchanger
compressor
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.)
Active
Application number
EP18186654.2A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3438584A1 (en
Inventor
Patrice Cavagne
Bénédicte DOS SANTOS
Yann-Pierrick LEMAIRE
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Original Assignee
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA 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
Priority claimed from FR1757497A external-priority patent/FR3069914B1/en
Priority claimed from FR1757493A external-priority patent/FR3069913B1/en
Priority claimed from FR1757498A external-priority patent/FR3069916B1/en
Priority claimed from FR1757495A external-priority patent/FR3069915B1/en
Application filed by Air Liquide SA, LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude filed Critical Air Liquide SA
Publication of EP3438584A1 publication Critical patent/EP3438584A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3438584B1 publication Critical patent/EP3438584B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

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
    • F25J3/04769—Operation, control and regulation of the process; Instrumentation within the process
    • F25J3/04812—Different modes, i.e. "runs" of operation
    • F25J3/04818—Start-up of the process
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04012—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of warm gaseous streams; details of intake or interstage cooling
    • F25J3/04018—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of warm gaseous streams; details of intake or interstage cooling of main feed air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04521—Coupling of the air fractionation unit to an air gas-consuming unit, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J3/04563—Integration with a nitrogen consuming unit, e.g. for purging, inerting, cooling or heating
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0295—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used, e.g. sieve plates, packings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04012—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of warm gaseous streams; details of intake or interstage cooling
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04012—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of warm gaseous streams; details of intake or interstage cooling
    • F25J3/04024—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of warm gaseous streams; details of intake or interstage cooling of purified feed air, so-called boosted air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04048—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of cold gaseous streams, e.g. intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste) streams
    • F25J3/04054—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of cold gaseous streams, e.g. intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste) streams of air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04048—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of cold gaseous streams, e.g. intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste) streams
    • F25J3/0406—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of cold gaseous streams, e.g. intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste) streams of nitrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04048—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of cold gaseous streams, e.g. intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste) streams
    • F25J3/04066—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of cold gaseous streams, e.g. intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste) streams of oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04078—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression
    • F25J3/0409—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression of oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04109—Arrangements of compressors and /or their drivers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04109—Arrangements of compressors and /or their drivers
    • F25J3/04115—Arrangements of compressors and /or their drivers characterised by the type of prime driver, e.g. hot gas expander
    • F25J3/04127—Gas turbine as the prime mechanical driver
    • 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
    • F25J3/04163—Hot end purification of the feed air
    • F25J3/04169—Hot end purification of the feed air by adsorption of the impurities
    • F25J3/04175—Hot end purification of the feed air by adsorption of the impurities at a pressure of substantially more than the highest pressure column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • 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
    • F25J3/04151—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
    • F25J3/04193—Division of the main heat exchange line in consecutive sections having different functions
    • 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
    • F25J3/0423—Subcooling of liquid process 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
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04254—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using the cold stored in external cryogenic fluids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04284—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams
    • F25J3/0429—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of feed air, e.g. used as waste or product air or expanded into an auxiliary column
    • F25J3/04296—Claude expansion, i.e. expanded into the main or high pressure column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04375—Details relating to the work expansion, e.g. process parameter etc.
    • F25J3/04381—Details relating to the work expansion, e.g. process parameter etc. using work extraction by mechanical coupling of compression and expansion so-called companders
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04375—Details relating to the work expansion, e.g. process parameter etc.
    • F25J3/04393—Details relating to the work expansion, e.g. process parameter etc. using multiple or multistage gas work expansion
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04406—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04406—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system
    • F25J3/04412—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system in a classical double column flowsheet, i.e. with thermal coupling by a main reboiler-condenser in the bottom of low pressure respectively top of high pressure column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • 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
    • F25J3/04769—Operation, control and regulation of the process; Instrumentation within the process
    • F25J3/04775—Air purification and pre-cooling
    • 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
    • F25J3/04769—Operation, control and regulation of the process; Instrumentation within the process
    • F25J3/04781—Pressure changing devices, e.g. for compression, expansion, liquid pumping
    • 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
    • F25J3/04769—Operation, control and regulation of the process; Instrumentation within the process
    • F25J3/04787—Heat exchange, e.g. main heat exchange line; Subcooler, external reboiler-condenser
    • 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
    • F25J3/04769—Operation, control and regulation of the process; Instrumentation within the process
    • F25J3/04812—Different modes, i.e. "runs" of operation
    • 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
    • F25J3/04769—Operation, control and regulation of the process; Instrumentation within the process
    • F25J3/04812—Different modes, i.e. "runs" of operation
    • F25J3/04824—Stopping of the process, e.g. defrosting or deriming; Back-up procedures
    • 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
    • F25J3/04769—Operation, control and regulation of the process; Instrumentation within the process
    • F25J3/04854—Safety aspects of operation
    • F25J3/0486—Safety aspects of operation of vaporisers for oxygen enriched liquids, e.g. purging of liquids
    • 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
    • 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
    • F25J3/04896—Details of columns, e.g. internals, inlet/outlet devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/04—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification in a dual pressure main column system
    • 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
    • F25J2210/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the feed stream
    • F25J2210/40—Air or oxygen enriched air, i.e. generally less than 30mol% of O2
    • 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
    • F25J2210/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the feed stream
    • F25J2210/42—Nitrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
    • F25J2215/42—Nitrogen or special cases, e.g. multiple or low purity N2
    • 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
    • F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
    • F25J2215/50—Oxygen or special cases, e.g. isotope-mixtures or low purity O2
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
    • F25J2230/08—Cold compressor, i.e. suction of the gas at cryogenic temperature and generally without afterstage-cooler
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
    • F25J2230/22—Compressor driver arrangement, e.g. power supply by motor, gas or steam turbine
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
    • F25J2230/40—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams the fluid being air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/02—Expansion of a process fluid in a work-extracting turbine (i.e. isentropic expansion), e.g. of the feed stream
    • F25J2240/04—Multiple expansion turbines in parallel
    • 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
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/02—Expansion of a process fluid in a work-extracting turbine (i.e. isentropic expansion), e.g. of the feed stream
    • F25J2240/10—Expansion of a process fluid in a work-extracting turbine (i.e. isentropic expansion), e.g. of the feed stream the fluid being air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/40—Expansion without extracting work, i.e. isenthalpic throttling, e.g. JT valve, regulating valve or venturi, or isentropic nozzle, e.g. Laval
    • F25J2240/42—Expansion without extracting work, i.e. isenthalpic throttling, e.g. JT valve, regulating valve or venturi, or isentropic nozzle, e.g. Laval the fluid being air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2245/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
    • F25J2245/40—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams the recycled stream being air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2280/00—Control of the process or apparatus
    • F25J2280/10—Control for or during start-up and cooling down of the installation
    • 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
    • F25J2280/00—Control of the process or apparatus
    • F25J2280/20—Control for stopping, deriming or defrosting after an emergency shut-down of the installation or for back up system
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation.
  • the invention relates to an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation, in particular to an apparatus using a heat exchanger to cool all the air intended for distillation.
  • the device is kept cold at least partially by one or two turbines, at least one of which is optionally coupled to a compressor.
  • An air compressor has an inlet temperature which is an intermediate temperature of the heat exchanger, less than 0 ° C or even less than -50 ° C. It receives air from an intermediate level of the heat exchanger.
  • Another air compressor may have an inlet temperature above 0 ° C.
  • FR-A-2851330 which describes a method according to the preamble of claim 1, to connect the outlet of a cold compressor to the inlet of a turbine by parallel pipes, passing through the main heat exchanger of the air separation and the other does not pass there.
  • it is recommended to send the compressed air in the cold compressor to the turbine without passing through the heat exchanger, to avoid sending too hot air.
  • the hot air from the compressor 5 passes via the valve V1 to the exchanger, which could damage the exchanger.
  • the expanded air is sent to a medium pressure column of a double distillation column and separated to form at least one product enriched in oxygen or nitrogen.
  • the present invention can make it possible to reduce the cost of the installation, to facilitate restarting and the calculation of the pressures required for the installation.
  • a check valve also called a non-return valve, is a valve that allows fluids to flow downstream, but that closes automatically to block any fluid that goes upstream.
  • the pressure to be supported by the heat exchanger is necessary to define the pressure to be supported by the heat exchanger as a function of the balancing pressure of the valve at the outlet of the cold booster sending air to the turbine. This pressure being greater than that of the turbine inlet for a device without this additional pipe. This could impose a change of waves and therefore an additional cost on the exchanger.
  • the invention proposes to have a check valve on the pipe supplying the two turbines with air coming from an intermediate point of the main heat exchanger.
  • This valve is arranged so that the air arriving from the cold booster from the additional pipe is prevented from arriving in the heat exchanger.
  • the valve closes automatically to prevent air from flowing to the exchanger. In normal operation, it lets air pass from the exchanger to the expansion turbine (s).
  • downstream and upstream in this claim refer to the direction of air flow in normal process operation.
  • an air separation apparatus by cryogenic distillation comprising a heat exchanger, a double separation column comprising a first column and a second column, the second column operating at lower pressure.
  • first column means for sending compressed and purified air to cool in the heat exchanger, a compressor, means for withdrawing a first part of the air at an intermediate temperature at an intermediate point of the heat exchanger and for sending it to the compressor, means for returning compressed air to the compressor in the heat exchanger where it cools, means for sending liquefied air to at least the first column, means for sending liquids enriched with oxygen and nitrogen from the first column to the second column, means for withdrawing a fluid enriched with oxygen in the tank of the second column, means for withdrawing a nitrogen-enriched fluid from the head of the second column and means for sending the nitrogen-enriched fluid to heat up in the heat exchanger, a withdrawal line for removing a second part of the air from the heat exchanger at an intermediate temperature thereof and at an intermediate point of the heat exchanger, possibly means for
  • downstream and upstream in this claim refer to the direction of air flow in normal operation of the device.
  • the apparatus comprising a column system comprising a column operating at a first pressure K1 and a column operating at a second pressure K2 lower than the first pressure.
  • the columns are thermally connected through a tank reboiler of the second column heated by nitrogen from the top of the first column.
  • Non-illustrated reflux flows enriched in nitrogen and oxygen are sent from column K1 to column K2.
  • Liquid oxygen 31 is drawn off from the tank of the second column K2 and nitrogen gas 33 is drawn off at the head of the second column.
  • Liquid nitrogen is sent to the top of the second column through certain phases to help maintain the cold process. Liquid oxygen 31 can vaporize in the heat exchanger E.
  • the apparatus comprises a first air expansion turbine T1, a second air expansion turbine T2, a first air compressor C1 coupled to the first turbine and a second air compressor C2 coupled to the second turbine.
  • the compressed air 1 at a pressure P coming from another compressor is divided into two portions, a first portion 3 of which is sent to the heat exchanger E without having been compressed to a pressure beyond of the pressure P.
  • a second portion 5 is sent to the first compressor C1 where it is compressed to a pressure greater than that (P) of the first portion 3.
  • the output of the first compressor C1 is connected to the input of this compressor by a line 25 through a valve V8.
  • the inlet temperature of compressor C2 is less than 0 ° C, or even less than -50 ° C.
  • the first portion 3 is cooled in the heat exchanger E to an intermediate temperature thereof and an intermediate point P of the exchanger and having not been compressed in the first compressor is sent towards the first and second turbines through the open valve CL3 and the open valves V5, V13, V4, V19, the air being divided in two at a division point D for sending to the two turbines T1, T2.
  • the second portion 5 cools in the heat exchanger E to an intermediate temperature thereof after having been compressed in the first compressor C1. Then it is sent to the second compressor C2.
  • the expanded air from the first and second turbines is sent to the first column K1 to be separated through the valves V6, V15, V11 and the line 13.
  • the second portion 5 is compressed in the second compressor C2, passes through the open valve CL1 and then cools in the heat exchanger before being sent in liquid form to the first column K1 through the valve V9. Valves V2 and V3 are closed.
  • valve V9 is closed and valve V3 open.
  • the valve is disposed on the draw-off line 8 preferably between the point P for drawing off air intended for the turbines and the division point D of the fractions 9 and 11 where the air is shared between the two turbines.
  • This division point can also be used to divide the air intended for the short-circuiting line.
  • the valve must be between the point of arrival A of the air coming from line 23 and the intermediate point P of the exchanger E.
  • valve can be placed on the line 9 if the line 23 opens into the line 9 or on the line 11 if the line 23 opens on the line 11.
  • the first portion 3 is taken out of the heat exchanger at an intermediate temperature thereof and, having not been compressed in the first compressor, is sent to the second compressor C2.
  • the second portion 5 cools in the heat exchanger to an intermediate temperature thereof after having been compressed in the first compressor C1 and is withdrawn at an intermediate point P of the exchanger by a withdrawal pipe 8. Then it is sent to the first and second turbines. In this case, it is the first portion 3 of the air which is diverted, in the event of starting, not to pass any more by the heat exchanger E but directly at the entry of the turbine T1 or T2, even the of them.
  • valve V19 As described above, it is recommended to send part of the air from line 23 into line 9 by opening valve V19 and then to line 11 and the short-circuiting line 15 with its valve V7 .
  • the valve CL3 prevents this air 23 from passing in the opposite direction to that of normal operation and arriving in the exchanger at the intermediate point P.
  • the air sent to the turbine during starting through the line 23 arrives at an arrival point A upstream of the turbines T1, T2, preferably downstream of the division point D, but downstream of the heat exchanger E and the check valve CL3.
  • the valve is disposed on the draw-off line 8 preferably between the point P for drawing off air intended for the turbines and the division point D of the fractions 9 and 11 where the air is shared between the two turbines.
  • This division point can also be used to divide the air intended for the short-circuiting line.
  • the valve must be between the point of arrival A of the air coming from line 23 and the intermediate point P of the exchanger E.
  • valve can be placed on the line 9 if the line 23 opens into the line 9 or on the line 11 if the line 23 opens on the line 11.
  • the invention also applies to the case in which the device comprises only a single air turbine coupled to a cold compressor.
  • the air is sent in normal service from the cold compressor to the heat exchanger.
  • the air can then pass directly into the column system after expansion or otherwise can be sent at least in part to the single turbine.
  • the air from the cold compressor can avoid the heat exchanger by passing through a short-circuiting pipe connected upstream of the inlet of the single turbine. Air can also be sent from this shorting line to another shorting line which allows air to be sent from the cold compressor to the column system, without passing through the turbine, by expanding it in a valve.
  • the air sent to the turbine during startup through line 23 arrives at an arrival point A upstream of the turbine but downstream of the heat exchanger E and of the check valve CL3.
  • the valve CL3 closes the draw-off line 8 and thus prevents the air coming from the line 23 from rising towards the exchanger.
  • the pressure of the exchange line E going towards the suction of the turbine or turbines T1, T2 should be defined as a function of the balancing pressure due to the connection of the anti-pumping valve V3 from the cold booster outlet C2 to the suction of the turbine T2 in the variant in the figure.
  • This balancing pressure is necessarily higher than the pressure of the normal source coming to the turbine. In in some cases, this could impose a change of waves and therefore an additional cost on the exchanger.
  • the design of the exchanger does not take into account the balancing pressure and we just use a flow valve PSV defined on the scenario of a leak of the valve CL3 placed between the outlet P of the exchanger and the CL3 valve.
  • the position of the check valve CL3 upstream of the dividing point D dividing the pipes supplying the two turbines provides a quick way to depressurize the suction of the turbines before restarting if the installation (point of division D) of the additional pipe 11, 15 for bypassing turbines is downstream of this common valve CL3.
  • the operating pressures of the one or two turbines or of the exchanger can be defined without waiting the final design of the pipes to calculate and know the effective volumes to be taken into account in a traditional calculation. This saves time.
  • the design pressure of the exchange line E is therefore completely independent of the balancing pressure thanks to the valve CL3 and a valve to protect the valve from leaking from the valve CL3, so we can define its design pressure very early in the project. independently of the T2 turbine.
  • the design pressure on the T2 turbine does not have a big impact on its cost, we can make volume approximations to define conservatively the balancing pressure to be taken into account on the turbine without having the layout and the exact volume of piping which would allow the balancing pressure to be calculated finely.

Description

La présente invention est relative à un procédé et à un appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique.The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation.

L'invention est relative à un appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique, en particulier à un appareil utilisant un échangeur de chaleur pour refroidir tout l'air destiné à la distillation. L'appareil est tenu en froid au moins partiellement par une ou deux turbines, dont au moins une est éventuellement couplée à un compresseur. Un compresseur d'air a une température d'entrée qui est une température intermédiaire de l'échangeur de chaleur, inférieure à 0°C, voire inférieure à -50°C. Il reçoit de l'air d'un niveau intermédiaire de l'échangeur de chaleur. Un autre compresseur d'air peut avoir une température d'entrée supérieure à 0°C.The invention relates to an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation, in particular to an apparatus using a heat exchanger to cool all the air intended for distillation. The device is kept cold at least partially by one or two turbines, at least one of which is optionally coupled to a compressor. An air compressor has an inlet temperature which is an intermediate temperature of the heat exchanger, less than 0 ° C or even less than -50 ° C. It receives air from an intermediate level of the heat exchanger. Another air compressor may have an inlet temperature above 0 ° C.

L'usage d'un tel compresseur ayant une température d'entrée inférieure à 0°C, connu sous le nom « compresseur froid », car ayant une température d'entrée très froide, pose des problèmes. Au moment du démarrage l'air chauffé dans le compresseur froid peut se trouver à une température supérieure à celles supportées par l'échangeur de chaleur.The use of such a compressor having an inlet temperature below 0 ° C, known as the "cold compressor", since having a very cold inlet temperature, poses problems. When starting the air heated in the cold compressor may be at a temperature higher than those supported by the heat exchanger.

Il est connu de FR-A-2851330 , qui décrit un procédé selon le préambule de la revendication 1, de relier la sortie d'un compresseur froide à l'entrée d'une turbine par des conduites en parallèle, une passant pas l'échangeur de chaleur principal de l'appareil de séparation d'air et l'autre n'y passant pas. Ainsi lors du démarrage des machines, il est préconisé d'envoyer l'air comprimé dans le compresseur froid à la turbine sans passer par l'échangeur de chaleur, afin d'éviter d'y envoyer de l'air trop chaud. Dans ce procédé, il existe un risque que l'air chaud du compresseur 5 passe via la vanne V1 vers l'échangeur, ce qui pourrait endommager l'échangeur.He is known to FR-A-2851330 , which describes a method according to the preamble of claim 1, to connect the outlet of a cold compressor to the inlet of a turbine by parallel pipes, passing through the main heat exchanger of the air separation and the other does not pass there. Thus when starting the machines, it is recommended to send the compressed air in the cold compressor to the turbine without passing through the heat exchanger, to avoid sending too hot air. In this process, there is a risk that the hot air from the compressor 5 passes via the valve V1 to the exchanger, which could damage the exchanger.

Il est connu de fournir aux moins une partie des frigories nécessaires à la séparation d'air par détente d'air en une turbine ou deux turbines connectées en parallèle, alimentée(s) par de l'air provenant d'un compresseur ou d'un surpresseur.It is known to supply at least part of the frigories necessary for the separation of air by air expansion in a turbine or two turbines connected in parallel, supplied by air coming from a compressor or a booster.

L'air détendu est envoyé à une colonne moyenne pression d'une double colonne de distillation et séparé pour former au moins un produit enrichi en oxygène ou en azote.The expanded air is sent to a medium pressure column of a double distillation column and separated to form at least one product enriched in oxygen or nitrogen.

La présente invention peut permettre de réduire le coût de l'installation, de faciliter le redémarrage et le calcul des pressions requises pour l'installation.The present invention can make it possible to reduce the cost of the installation, to facilitate restarting and the calculation of the pressures required for the installation.

Un clapet de retenue, aussi appelé clapet de non-retour, est une vanne qui permet aux fluides de s'écouler vers l'aval, mais qui se ferme automatiquement pour bloquer tout fluide qui remonterait en amont.A check valve, also called a non-return valve, is a valve that allows fluids to flow downstream, but that closes automatically to block any fluid that goes upstream.

Dans le contexte d'un appareil comprenant un surpresseur froid d'air pris à un niveau intermédiaire de l'échangeur de chaleur, il est proposé de rajouter une conduite supplémentaire afin d'envoyer ponctuellement au moins une partie, voire tout l'air du surpresseur froid à l'entrée d'au moins une turbine de détente d'air sans passer par l'échangeur.In the context of an apparatus comprising a cold air booster taken at an intermediate level of the heat exchanger, it is proposed to add an additional pipe in order to punctually send at least some, or even all of the air from the cold booster at the inlet of at least one air expansion turbine without passing through the exchanger.

Dans ce cas, il est nécessaire de définir la pression à supporter par l'échangeur de chaleur en fonction de la pression d'équilibrage de la vanne en sortie du surpresseur froid envoyant l'air vers la turbine. Cette pression étant supérieure à celle d'entrée de turbine pour un appareil sans cette conduite supplémentaire. Ceci pourrait imposer un changement d'ondes et donc un surcoût sur l'échangeur.In this case, it is necessary to define the pressure to be supported by the heat exchanger as a function of the balancing pressure of the valve at the outlet of the cold booster sending air to the turbine. This pressure being greater than that of the turbine inlet for a device without this additional pipe. This could impose a change of waves and therefore an additional cost on the exchanger.

Afin de réduire le prix de l'échangeur, l'invention propose de disposer un clapet de retenue sur la conduite alimentant les deux turbines en air provenant d'un point intermédiaire de l'échangeur de chaleur principal. Ce clapet est disposé de sorte que l'air arrivant du surpresseur froid depuis la conduite supplémentaire est empêché d'arriver dans l'échangeur de chaleur. Le clapet se ferme automatiquement pour empêcher de l'air de couler vers l'échangeur. En fonctionnement normal, elle laisse passer l'air de l'échangeur vers la ou les turbines de détente.In order to reduce the price of the exchanger, the invention proposes to have a check valve on the pipe supplying the two turbines with air coming from an intermediate point of the main heat exchanger. This valve is arranged so that the air arriving from the cold booster from the additional pipe is prevented from arriving in the heat exchanger. The valve closes automatically to prevent air from flowing to the exchanger. In normal operation, it lets air pass from the exchanger to the expansion turbine (s).

Selon un objet de l'invention, il est prévu un procédé de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique dans lequel :

  1. i) de l'air comprimé et épuré est refroidi dans un échangeur de chaleur, une première partie de l'air est comprimée à une température intermédiaire de l'échangeur de chaleur dans un compresseur et renvoyée à l'échangeur de chaleur où il se refroidit, la première partie de l'air se trouve liquéfiée et est envoyée à au moins une première colonne d'une double colonne, la double colonne comprenant la première colonne et une deuxième colonne, la deuxième colonne fonctionnant à plus basse pression que la première colonne,
  2. ii) des liquides enrichis en oxygène et en azote sont envoyés de la première colonne vers la deuxième colonne, un fluide enrichi en oxygène est soutiré en cuve de la deuxième colonne et un fluide enrichi en azote est soutiré de la tête de la deuxième colonne et se réchauffe dans l'échangeur de chaleur,
  3. iii) une deuxième partie de l'air sort de l'échangeur de chaleur à une température intermédiaire de celui-ci et éventuellement est ensuite divisée en une première et une deuxième fractions à un point de division, la deuxième partie de l'air ou au moins une partie de la première fraction est détendue dans une première turbine et envoyée à la première colonne, éventuellement au moins une partie de la deuxième fraction est détendue dans une deuxième turbine et envoyée à la première colonne, et
  4. iv) le refoulement du compresseur est relié à l'entrée de la turbine ou d'au moins une des première et deuxième turbines à travers une conduite et un point d'arrivée qui permet d'envoyer de l'air du compresseur à la turbine ou une des turbines sans passer par l'échangeur de chaleur,
caractérisé en ce que la deuxième partie de l'air est envoyée à un clapet de retenue en aval de l'échangeur de chaleur et éventuellement en amont du point de division pour le cas avec deux turbines, le clapet servant à empêcher l'air de passer dans le sens contraire de celui de l'opération normale et d'arriver depuis le point d'arrivée dans l'échangeur, étant disposé sur une conduite entre le point d'arrivée et l'échangeur.According to an object of the invention, there is provided a method of air separation by cryogenic distillation in which:
  1. i) compressed and purified air is cooled in a heat exchanger, a first part of the air is compressed to an intermediate temperature of the heat exchanger in a compressor and returned to the heat exchanger where it cools, the first part of the air is liquefied and is sent to at least a first column of a double column, the double column comprising the first column and a second column, the second column operating at a lower pressure than the first column,
  2. ii) liquids enriched with oxygen and nitrogen are sent from the first column to the second column, a fluid enriched with oxygen is withdrawn from the bottom of the second column and a fluid enriched with nitrogen is withdrawn from the head of the second column and heats up in the heat exchanger,
  3. iii) a second part of the air leaves the heat exchanger at an intermediate temperature thereof and optionally is then divided into first and second fractions at a division point, the second part of the air or at least part of the first fraction is expanded in a first turbine and sent to the first column, optionally at least a portion of the second fraction is expanded in a second turbine and sent to the first column, and
  4. iv) the compressor discharge is connected to the inlet of the turbine or of at least one of the first and second turbines through a pipe and an arrival point which makes it possible to send air from the compressor to the turbine or one of the turbines without going through the heat exchanger,
characterized in that the second part of the air is sent to a check valve downstream of the heat exchanger and possibly upstream of the division point for the case with two turbines, the valve serving to prevent the air from pass in the opposite direction to that of normal operation and arrive from the point of arrival in the exchanger, being arranged on a pipe between the point of arrival and the exchanger.

Les termes « en aval » et « en amont » dans cette revendication font référence au sens d'écoulement de l'air en opération normale du procédé.The terms "downstream" and "upstream" in this claim refer to the direction of air flow in normal process operation.

Selon d'autres aspects facultatifs :

  • pendant le démarrage, on envoie de l'air du compresseur à la turbine ou une des turbines en passant par le point d'arrivée mais sans passer par l'échangeur de chaleur, l'air étant refoulé par le clapet de retenue.
  • l'au moins une partie de la deuxième fraction est détendue dans la deuxième turbine et envoyée à la première colonne, l'au moins une partie de la première fraction détendue dans la première turbine et l'au moins une partie de la deuxième fraction détendue dans la deuxième turbine sont mélangées à un point de mélange et ensuite envoyées comme un seul débit à la première colonne.
  • une partie de la première et/ou de la deuxième fraction n'est pas détendue dans une turbine mais dans une vanne et ensuite est envoyée au système de colonnes.
  • pendant le démarrage et/ou une marche de débit réduit dans la colonne et/ou la dépressurisation, une partie de la première et/ou de la deuxième fraction n'est pas détendue dans une turbine mais dans une vanne et ensuite est envoyée au système de colonnes.
  • une partie de la deuxième partie de l'air n'est pas détendue dans la turbine mais dans une vanne et ensuite est envoyée au système de colonnes.
  • pendant le démarrage et/ou une marche de débit réduit dans la colonne et/ou la dépressurisation, une partie de la deuxième partie de l'air n'est pas détendue dans la turbine mais dans une vanne et ensuite est envoyée au système de colonnes.
  • la partie de la première et/ou deuxième fraction détendue dans la vanne est mélangée avec le seul débit envoyé à la première colonne en aval du point de mélange.
  • de l'air est refroidi dans l'échangeur de chaleur jusqu'à une température intermédiaire de celle-ci, comprimé dans le compresseur et renvoyé à l'échangeur de chaleur, le compresseur étant entrainé par la première ou la deuxième turbine.
  • la température d'entrée du compresseur est inférieure à 0°C, voire inférieure à -50°C.
According to other optional aspects:
  • during start-up, air is sent from the compressor to the turbine or one of the turbines passing through the point of arrival but without passing through the heat exchanger, the air being discharged through the check valve.
  • the at least part of the second fraction is expanded in the second turbine and sent to the first column, the at least part of the first fraction expanded in the first turbine and the at least part of the second fraction expanded in the second turbine are mixed at a mixing point and then sent as a single flow to the first column.
  • part of the first and / or the second fraction is not expanded in a turbine but in a valve and then is sent to the column system.
  • during start-up and / or reduced flow operation in the column and / or depressurization, part of the first and / or of the second fraction is not expanded in a turbine but in a valve and then is sent to the system columns.
  • part of the second part of the air is not expanded in the turbine but in a valve and then is sent to the column system.
  • during start-up and / or reduced flow operation in the column and / or depressurization, part of the second part of the air is not expanded in the turbine but in a valve and then is sent to the column system .
  • the part of the first and / or second fraction expanded in the valve is mixed with the only flow rate sent to the first column downstream of the mixing point.
  • air is cooled in the heat exchanger to an intermediate temperature thereof, compressed in the compressor and returned to the heat exchanger, the compressor being driven by the first or second turbine.
  • the inlet temperature of the compressor is below 0 ° C or even below -50 ° C.

Selon un autre objet de l'invention, il est prévu un appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique comprenant un échangeur de chaleur, une double colonne de séparation comprenant une première colonne et une deuxième colonne, la deuxième colonne fonctionnant à plus basse pression que la première colonne, des moyens pour envoyer de l'air comprimé et épuré se refroidir dans l'échangeur de chaleur, un compresseur, des moyens pour soutirer une première partie de l'air à une température intermédiaire à un point intermédiaire de l'échangeur de chaleur et pour l'envoyer au compresseur, des moyens pour renvoyer de l'air comprimé dans le compresseur dans l'échangeur de chaleur où il se refroidit, des moyens pour envoyer de l'air liquéfiée à au moins la première colonne, des moyens pour envoyer des liquides enrichis en oxygène et en azote de la première colonne vers la deuxième colonne, des moyens pour soutirer un fluide enrichi en oxygène en cuve de la deuxième colonne, des moyens pour soutirer un fluide enrichi en azote de la tête de la deuxième colonne et des moyens pour envoyer le fluide enrichi en azote se réchauffer dans l'échangeur de chaleur, une conduite de soutirage pour sortir une deuxième partie de l'air de l'échangeur de chaleur à une température intermédiaire de celui-ci et à un point intermédiaire de l'échangeur de chaleur, éventuellement des moyens pour diviser la deuxième partie en une première et une deuxième fractions à un point de division, une première turbine et éventuellement une deuxième turbine, des moyens pour envoyer la deuxième partie de l'air ou au moins une partie de la première fraction se détendre dans la première turbine et ensuite à la première colonne, éventuellement des moyens pour envoyer au moins une partie de la deuxième fraction se détendre dans la deuxième turbine et ensuite à la première colonne et des moyens pour envoyer de l'air du refoulement du compresseur à une entrée de la turbine ou d'une des turbines sans passer par l'échangeur de chaleur, ces moyens étant reliés à un point d'arrivée (A) caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un clapet de retenue disposé sur la conduite de soutirage en aval de l'échangeur de chaleur et éventuellement en amont du point de division, le clapet étant disposé sur une conduite entre le point d'arrivée et l'échangeur et étant capable d'empêcher l'arrivée d'air depuis le point d'arrivée vers l'échangeur.According to another object of the invention, there is provided an air separation apparatus by cryogenic distillation comprising a heat exchanger, a double separation column comprising a first column and a second column, the second column operating at lower pressure. as the first column, means for sending compressed and purified air to cool in the heat exchanger, a compressor, means for withdrawing a first part of the air at an intermediate temperature at an intermediate point of the heat exchanger and for sending it to the compressor, means for returning compressed air to the compressor in the heat exchanger where it cools, means for sending liquefied air to at least the first column, means for sending liquids enriched with oxygen and nitrogen from the first column to the second column, means for withdrawing a fluid enriched with oxygen in the tank of the second column, means for withdrawing a nitrogen-enriched fluid from the head of the second column and means for sending the nitrogen-enriched fluid to heat up in the heat exchanger, a withdrawal line for removing a second part of the air from the heat exchanger at an intermediate temperature thereof and at an intermediate point of the heat exchanger, possibly means for dividing the second part into first and second fractions at a point of division, a first turbine and possibly a second turbine, means for sending the second part of the air or at least part of the first fraction to relax in the first turbine and then to the first column, possibly means for sending at least part of the second fraction expand in the second turbine and then to the first column and means to send air from the compressor discharge at an inlet to the turbine or to one of the turbines without passing through the heat exchanger, these means being connected to an arrival point (A) characterized in that it comprises a check valve disposed on the withdrawal line downstream of the heat exchanger and possibly upstream of the dividing point, the valve being arranged on a line between the point of arrival and the exchanger and being capable of preventing the arrival of from the point of arrival to the exchanger.

Les termes « en aval » et « en amont » dans cette revendication font référence au sens d'écoulement de l'air en opération normale de l'appareil.The terms "downstream" and "upstream" in this claim refer to the direction of air flow in normal operation of the device.

Selon d'autres aspects facultatifs :

  • l'appareil comprend des moyens pour mélanger l'au moins une partie de la première fraction détendue dans la première turbine et l'au moins une partie de la deuxième fraction détendue dans la deuxième turbine à un point de mélange et des moyens pour les envoyer comme un seul débit à la première colonne.
  • l'appareil comprend une vanne de détente reliée au clapet de retenue à travers le point de division et reliée au système de colonnes, de sorte que de l'air puisse passer du clapet au système de colonnes sans passer par une turbine.
  • dans le cas où l'appareil comprend deux turbines, les moyens pour envoyer de l'air du refoulement du compresseur à une entrée d'une des turbines sans passer par l'échangeur de chaleur sont reliés à un point d'arrivée entre le point de division et l'entrée de la turbine.
  • l'appareil comprend la deuxième turbine et une vanne entre le point d'arrivée et le point de division.
According to other optional aspects:
  • the apparatus comprises means for mixing the at least part of the first expanded fraction in the first turbine and the at least part of the second expanded fraction in the second turbine at a mixing point and means for sending them as a single flow in the first column.
  • the apparatus includes an expansion valve connected to the check valve through the dividing point and connected to the column system, so that air can pass from the valve to the column system without passing through a turbine.
  • in the case where the apparatus comprises two turbines, the means for sending air from the discharge of the compressor to an inlet of one of the turbines without passing through the heat exchanger are connected to an arrival point between the point and the turbine inlet.
  • the apparatus comprises the second turbine and a valve between the point of arrival and the point of division.

L'invention sera décrite en plus de détail en se référant à la figure qui illustre un appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique selon l'invention.The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the figure which illustrates an air separation apparatus by cryogenic distillation according to the invention.

L'appareil comprenant un système de colonnes comprenant une colonne opérant à une première pression K1 et une colonne opérant à une deuxième pression K2 inférieure à la première pression. Les colonnes sont reliées thermiquement à travers un rebouilleur de cuve de la deuxième colonne chauffé par de l'azote de tête de la première colonne. Des débits de reflux non-illustrés enrichis en azote et en oxygène sont envoyés de la colonne K1 à la colonne K2. De l'oxygène liquide 31 est soutiré en cuve de la deuxième colonne K2 et de l'azote gazeux 33 est soutiré en tête de la deuxième colonne. De l'azote liquide est envoyé en tête de la deuxième colonne par certaines phases pour aider à tenir le procédé en froid. L'oxygène liquide 31 peut se vaporiser dans l'échangeur de chaleur E.The apparatus comprising a column system comprising a column operating at a first pressure K1 and a column operating at a second pressure K2 lower than the first pressure. The columns are thermally connected through a tank reboiler of the second column heated by nitrogen from the top of the first column. Non-illustrated reflux flows enriched in nitrogen and oxygen are sent from column K1 to column K2. Liquid oxygen 31 is drawn off from the tank of the second column K2 and nitrogen gas 33 is drawn off at the head of the second column. Liquid nitrogen is sent to the top of the second column through certain phases to help maintain the cold process. Liquid oxygen 31 can vaporize in the heat exchanger E.

L'appareil comprend une première turbine de détente d'air T1, une deuxième turbine de détente d'air T2, un premier compresseur d'air C1 couplé à la première turbine et un deuxième compresseur d'air C2 couplé à la deuxième turbine. L'air comprimé 1 à une pression P provenant d'un autre compresseur (non-illustré) est divisé en deux portions, dont une première portion 3 est envoyée à l'échangeur de chaleur E sans avoir été comprimé à une pression au-delà de la pression P. Une deuxième portion 5 est envoyée au premier compresseur C1 où elle est comprimée à une pression supérieure à celle (P) de la première portion 3. La sortie du premier compresseur C1 est reliée à l'entrée de ce compresseur par une conduite 25 à travers une vanne V8.The apparatus comprises a first air expansion turbine T1, a second air expansion turbine T2, a first air compressor C1 coupled to the first turbine and a second air compressor C2 coupled to the second turbine. The compressed air 1 at a pressure P coming from another compressor (not shown) is divided into two portions, a first portion 3 of which is sent to the heat exchanger E without having been compressed to a pressure beyond of the pressure P. A second portion 5 is sent to the first compressor C1 where it is compressed to a pressure greater than that (P) of the first portion 3. The output of the first compressor C1 is connected to the input of this compressor by a line 25 through a valve V8.

La température d'entrée du compresseur C2 est inférieure à 0°C, voire inférieure à -50°C.The inlet temperature of compressor C2 is less than 0 ° C, or even less than -50 ° C.

Selon une première variante, la première portion 3 est refroidie dans l'échangeur de chaleur E jusqu' à une température intermédiaire de celui-ci et un point intermédiaire P de l'échangeur et n'ayant pas été comprimée dans le premier compresseur est envoyée vers la première et la deuxième turbines à travers le clapet ouvert CL3 et les vannes ouvertes V5, V13, V4, V19, l'air étant divisé en deux à un point de division D pour envoi vers les deux turbines T1, T2.According to a first variant, the first portion 3 is cooled in the heat exchanger E to an intermediate temperature thereof and an intermediate point P of the exchanger and having not been compressed in the first compressor is sent towards the first and second turbines through the open valve CL3 and the open valves V5, V13, V4, V19, the air being divided in two at a division point D for sending to the two turbines T1, T2.

La deuxième portion 5 se refroidit dans l'échangeur de chaleur E jusqu'à une température intermédiaire de celui-ci après avoir été comprimée dans le premier compresseur C1. Ensuite elle est envoyée vers le deuxième compresseur C2.The second portion 5 cools in the heat exchanger E to an intermediate temperature thereof after having been compressed in the first compressor C1. Then it is sent to the second compressor C2.

En marche normale, l'air détendu provenant des première et deuxième turbines est envoyé à la première colonne K1 pour être séparé à travers les vannes V6, V15, V11 et la conduite 13. La deuxième portion 5 est comprimée dans le deuxième compresseur C2, passe par le clapet ouvert CL1 et ensuite se refroidit dans l'échangeur de chaleur avant d'être envoyé sous forme liquide à la première colonne K1 à travers la vanne V9. Les vannes V2 et V3 sont fermées.In normal operation, the expanded air from the first and second turbines is sent to the first column K1 to be separated through the valves V6, V15, V11 and the line 13. The second portion 5 is compressed in the second compressor C2, passes through the open valve CL1 and then cools in the heat exchanger before being sent in liquid form to the first column K1 through the valve V9. Valves V2 and V3 are closed.

En phase de démarrage, on craint que l'air provenant du compresseur C2 n'arrive trop chaud à l'entrée de l'échangeur E en sortie de C2, par exemple à une température plus haute que les 65°C de température de tenue mécanique de l'échangeur. Pour éviter cela, la vanne V9 est fermée et la vanne V3 ouverte.During the start-up phase, it is feared that the air coming from the compressor C2 may come too hot at the inlet of the exchanger E at the outlet of C2, for example at a temperature higher than the 65 ° C mechanical resistance temperature of the exchanger. To avoid this, valve V9 is closed and valve V3 open.

Ainsi l'air provenant du compresseur C2 ne passe plus vers l'échangeur de chaleur E mais vers l'entrée de la deuxième turbine T2 à travers la conduite 23 et la vanne ouverte V3. Tout l'air ne peut pas passer dans la turbine donc la vanne V4 est ouverte, le débit passant par la turbine étant limitée par l'ouverture des aubages de la turbine et le reste de l'air provenant du compresseur C2 passe à la colonne à travers les conduites 11 et 15.Thus the air coming from the compressor C2 no longer passes to the heat exchanger E but to the inlet of the second turbine T2 through the line 23 and the open valve V3. All the air cannot pass through the turbine therefore the valve V4 is open, the flow passing through the turbine being limited by the opening of the blades of the turbine and the rest of the air coming from the compressor C2 passes to the column through lines 11 and 15.

Il est également possible d'envoyer l'air de démarrage vers l'entrée des deux turbines. Ainsi l'air passe dans la conduite 11 et passe à la turbine T1 à travers les vannes V13, V5 et/ou à la conduite de court-circuitages 15 dans laquelle il est détendu par la vanne V7 pour obtenir une réduction de pression similaire à celle de la turbine T1. La vanne V2 reste fermée. Il est également possible d'envoyer l'air provenant du compresseur C2 vers le refoulement de la turbine T1 et/ou vers le refoulement de la turbine T2. Ainsi l'air ne circule ni dans l'échangeur de chaleur ni de préférence dans les turbines et passe directement à la colonne de distillation. Le clapet CL3 empêche l'air 23 de passer dans le sens contraire de celui de l'opération normale et d'arriver dans l'échangeur au point intermédiaire P. L'air envoyé à la turbine pendant le démarrage à travers la conduite 23 arrive à un point d'arrivée A en amont des turbines T1, T2, de préférence en aval du point de division D, mais en aval de l'échangeur de chaleur E et du clapet de retenue CL3.It is also possible to send the starting air to the inlet of the two turbines. Thus the air passes through the pipe 11 and passes to the turbine T1 through the valves V13, V5 and / or to the short-circuiting pipe 15 in which it is expanded by the valve V7 to obtain a pressure reduction similar to that of turbine T1. Valve V2 remains closed. It is also possible to send the air coming from the compressor C2 to the outlet of the turbine T1 and / or to the outlet of the turbine T2. Thus the air does not circulate either in the heat exchanger or preferably in the turbines and passes directly to the distillation column. The valve CL3 prevents the air 23 from passing in the opposite direction to that of normal operation and arriving in the exchanger at the intermediate point P. The air sent to the turbine during the start-up through the pipe 23 arrives at an arrival point A upstream of the turbines T1, T2, preferably downstream of the division point D, but downstream of the heat exchanger E and the check valve CL3.

Le clapet est disposé sur la conduite de soutirage 8 de préférence entre le point P de soutirage d'air destiné aux turbines et le point de division D des fractions 9 et 11 où l'air est partagé entre les deux turbines. Ce point de division peut également servir à diviser l'air destiné à la conduite de court-circuitage.The valve is disposed on the draw-off line 8 preferably between the point P for drawing off air intended for the turbines and the division point D of the fractions 9 and 11 where the air is shared between the two turbines. This division point can also be used to divide the air intended for the short-circuiting line.

Le clapet doit se trouver entre le point d'arrivée A de l'air provenant de la conduite 23 et le point intermédiaire P de l'échangeur E.The valve must be between the point of arrival A of the air coming from line 23 and the intermediate point P of the exchanger E.

Dans une version moins performante, le clapet peut être placé sur la conduite 9 si la conduite 23 débouche dans la conduite 9 ou sur la conduite 11 si la conduite 23 débouche sur la conduite 11.In a less efficient version, the valve can be placed on the line 9 if the line 23 opens into the line 9 or on the line 11 if the line 23 opens on the line 11.

Lorsqu'on démarre les turbines T1, T2 et donc les compresseurs C1, C2, les vannes antipompage des compresseurs C1, C2 sont totalement ouvertes (vanne V8 pour C1 et vanne V3 pour C2).When the turbines T1, T2 and therefore the compressors C1, C2 are started, the anti-pump valves of the compressors C1, C2 are fully open (valve V8 for C1 and valve V3 for C2).

Ceci permet le démarrage à chaud du compresseur froid C2 quelle que soit la température et sans conséquence sur les températures de calcul des équipements en aval du compresseur C2. L'élévation de la température est extrêmement faible au démarrage, étant donné le taux de compression minimal sur le compresseur C1 grâce à la vanne d'anti pompage V3.This allows the cold compressor C2 to hot start whatever the temperature and without any consequence on the design temperatures of the equipment downstream of the compressor C2. The temperature rise is extremely low at start-up, given the minimum compression ratio on compressor C1 thanks to the anti-pumping valve V3.

Selon une deuxième variante, la première portion 3 est sortie de l' échangeur de chaleur à une température intermédiaire de celui-ci et n'ayant pas été comprimée dans le premier compresseur est envoyée vers le deuxième compresseur C2.According to a second variant, the first portion 3 is taken out of the heat exchanger at an intermediate temperature thereof and, having not been compressed in the first compressor, is sent to the second compressor C2.

La deuxième portion 5 se refroidit dans l'échangeur de chaleur jusqu'à une température intermédiaire de celui-ci après avoir été comprimée dans le premier compresseur C1 et est soutirée à un point intermédiaire P de l'échangeur par une conduite de soutirage 8. Ensuite elle est envoyée vers la première et la deuxième turbines. Dans ce cas, c'est la première portion 3 de l'air qui est divertie, en cas de démarrage, pour ne plus passer par l'échangeur de chaleur E mais directement à l'entrée de la turbine T1 ou T2, voire les deux.The second portion 5 cools in the heat exchanger to an intermediate temperature thereof after having been compressed in the first compressor C1 and is withdrawn at an intermediate point P of the exchanger by a withdrawal pipe 8. Then it is sent to the first and second turbines. In this case, it is the first portion 3 of the air which is diverted, in the event of starting, not to pass any more by the heat exchanger E but directly at the entry of the turbine T1 or T2, even the of them.

Comme décrit ci-dessus, il est recommandé d'envoyer une partie de l'air provenant de la conduite 23 dans la conduite 9 en ouvrant la vanne V19 et ensuite vers la conduite 11 et la conduite de court-circuitage 15 avec sa vanne V7. Le clapet CL3 empêche cet air 23 de passer dans le sens contraire de celui de l'opération normale et d'arriver dans l'échangeur au point intermédiaire P. L'air envoyé à la turbine pendant le démarrage à travers la conduite 23 arrive à un point d'arrivée A en amont des turbines T1,T2, de préférence en aval du point de division D, mais en aval de l'échangeur de chaleur E et du clapet de retenue CL3.As described above, it is recommended to send part of the air from line 23 into line 9 by opening valve V19 and then to line 11 and the short-circuiting line 15 with its valve V7 . The valve CL3 prevents this air 23 from passing in the opposite direction to that of normal operation and arriving in the exchanger at the intermediate point P. The air sent to the turbine during starting through the line 23 arrives at an arrival point A upstream of the turbines T1, T2, preferably downstream of the division point D, but downstream of the heat exchanger E and the check valve CL3.

Le clapet est disposé sur la conduite de soutirage 8 de préférence entre le point P de soutirage d'air destiné aux turbines et le point de division D des fractions 9 et 11 où l'air est partagé entre les deux turbines. Ce point de division peut également servir à diviser l'air destiné à la conduite de court-circuitage.The valve is disposed on the draw-off line 8 preferably between the point P for drawing off air intended for the turbines and the division point D of the fractions 9 and 11 where the air is shared between the two turbines. This division point can also be used to divide the air intended for the short-circuiting line.

Le clapet doit se trouver entre le point d'arrivée A de l'air provenant de la conduite 23 et le point intermédiaire P de l'échangeur E.The valve must be between the point of arrival A of the air coming from line 23 and the intermediate point P of the exchanger E.

Dans une version moins performante, le clapet peut être placé sur la conduite 9 si la conduite 23 débouche dans la conduite 9 ou sur la conduite 11 si la conduite 23 débouche sur la conduite 11.In a less efficient version, the valve can be placed on the line 9 if the line 23 opens into the line 9 or on the line 11 if the line 23 opens on the line 11.

L'invention s'applique également au cas dans lequel l'appareil ne comprend qu'une seule turbine d'air couplée à un compresseur froid. Dans ce cas, l'air est envoyé en service normal du compresseur froid vers l'échangeur de chaleur. L'air peut ensuite passer directement dans le système de colonne après détente ou sinon peut être envoyé au moins en partie à la seule turbine.The invention also applies to the case in which the device comprises only a single air turbine coupled to a cold compressor. In this case, the air is sent in normal service from the cold compressor to the heat exchanger. The air can then pass directly into the column system after expansion or otherwise can be sent at least in part to the single turbine.

Pendant le démarrage, l'air du compresseur froid peut éviter l'échangeur de chaleur en passant par une conduite de court-circuitage relié en amont de l'entrée de l'unique turbine. L'air peut également être envoyé depuis cette conduite de court-circuitage à une autre conduite de court-circuitage qui permet d'envoyer de l'air du compresseur froid au système de colonnes, sans passer par la turbine, en le détendant dans une vanne.During start-up, the air from the cold compressor can avoid the heat exchanger by passing through a short-circuiting pipe connected upstream of the inlet of the single turbine. Air can also be sent from this shorting line to another shorting line which allows air to be sent from the cold compressor to the column system, without passing through the turbine, by expanding it in a valve.

L'air envoyé à la turbine pendant le démarrage à travers la conduite 23 arrive à un point d'arrivée A en amont de la turbine mais en aval de l'échangeur de chaleur E et du clapet de retenue CL3. Le clapet CL3 ferme la conduite de soutirage 8 et ainsi empêche l'air provenant de la conduite 23 de monter vers l'échangeur.The air sent to the turbine during startup through line 23 arrives at an arrival point A upstream of the turbine but downstream of the heat exchanger E and of the check valve CL3. The valve CL3 closes the draw-off line 8 and thus prevents the air coming from the line 23 from rising towards the exchanger.

La position du clapet de retenue CL3 sur la conduite de soutirage 8 entre l'arrivée A d'air du compresseur C2 et le point intermédiaire P de l'échangeur permet de diminuer la pression de calcul de l'échangeur E, ce qui a un impact sur le coût de l'appareil.The position of the check valve CL3 on the withdrawal line 8 between the air inlet A of the compressor C2 and the intermediate point P of the exchanger makes it possible to reduce the design pressure of the exchanger E, which has a impact on the cost of the device.

En l'absence d'un clapet CL3 sur la conduite de soutirage 8, la pression de la ligne d'échange E allant vers l'aspiration de la turbine ou des turbines T1,T2 devrait être définie en fonction de la pression d'équilibrage due à la connexion de la vanne anti-pompage V3 de la sortie booster froid C2 vers l'aspiration de la turbine T2 dans la variante de la figure. Cette pression d'équilibrage est forcément plus élevée que la pression de la source normale venant à la turbine. Dans certains cas, cela pourrait imposer un changement d'ondes et donc un surcoût sur l'échangeur.In the absence of a valve CL3 on the withdrawal line 8, the pressure of the exchange line E going towards the suction of the turbine or turbines T1, T2 should be defined as a function of the balancing pressure due to the connection of the anti-pumping valve V3 from the cold booster outlet C2 to the suction of the turbine T2 in the variant in the figure. This balancing pressure is necessarily higher than the pressure of the normal source coming to the turbine. In in some cases, this could impose a change of waves and therefore an additional cost on the exchanger.

Avec le clapet, la conception de l'échangeur ne prend pas en compte la pression d'équilibrage et on utilise juste une soupape de débit PSV définie sur le scénario d'une fuite du clapet CL3 placée entre la sortie P de l'échangeur et le clapet CL3.With the valve, the design of the exchanger does not take into account the balancing pressure and we just use a flow valve PSV defined on the scenario of a leak of the valve CL3 placed between the outlet P of the exchanger and the CL3 valve.

Pour la variante avec deux turbines, la position du clapet de retenue CL3 en amont du point de division D divisant les conduites alimentant les deux turbines permet d'avoir un moyen rapide de dépressuriser l'aspiration des turbines avant redémarrage si l'implantation (point de division D) de la conduite supplémentaire 11, 15 de contournement de turbines est en aval de ce clapet commun CL3.For the variant with two turbines, the position of the check valve CL3 upstream of the dividing point D dividing the pipes supplying the two turbines provides a quick way to depressurize the suction of the turbines before restarting if the installation (point of division D) of the additional pipe 11, 15 for bypassing turbines is downstream of this common valve CL3.

Dans le cas où on aurait le clapet CL3 non pas sur la ligne commune 8 allant de l'échangeur E vers les deux turbines T1, T2 mais sur uniquement la ligne 9 alimentant la seule turbine T2, après chaque arrêt et donc pour chaque redémarrage on aurait à l'entrée de cette turbine la pression d'équilibrage (supérieure voire très supérieure à la pression opératoire). Comme dans cette configuration on se trouve "en cul de sac", on ne peut dépressuriser ce bout de tuyau soit en passant par la turbine mais cela nécessiterait la prise en compte d'un cas de démarrage à une pression aspiration plus élevée avec des impacts design voire une impossibilité technique (rapport de détente trop élevée) soit l'obligation d'ajouter un artifice de dépressurisation. Dans le cas de l'invention où le clapet est disposé sur la ligne commune alimentant les deux turbines, la pression montera moins haut dû à l'équilibrage dans un volume de tuyau plus élevé et il y aura toujours le moyen de dépressuriser à distance avant redémarrage par la vanne de contournement V7 vers la colonne K1.In the case where there would be the valve CL3 not on the common line 8 going from the exchanger E to the two turbines T1, T2 but only on line 9 supplying the only turbine T2, after each stop and therefore for each restart, would have the balancing pressure at the inlet of this turbine (higher or even much higher than the operating pressure). As in this configuration we find ourselves "at a dead end", we cannot depressurize this end of pipe either by passing through the turbine but this would require taking into account a case of starting at a higher suction pressure with impacts design or even a technical impossibility (excessively high expansion ratio) or the obligation to add a depressurization device. In the case of the invention where the valve is arranged on the common line supplying the two turbines, the pressure will rise lower due to balancing in a higher volume of pipe and there will always be the means to depressurize remotely before restart by bypass valve V7 to column K1.

La position du clapet de retenue CL3 en amont du point de division D divisant les conduites alimentant les deux turbines permet de s'affranchir d'un dimensionnement pénalisant, par rapport à la pression d'équilibrage du compresseur C2, pour la ligne d'échange E en surdimensionnement légèrement la pression à appliquer sur les turbines T1, T2. Ce surdimensionnement est négligeable au regard sur surcoût que l'on devrait appliquer sur la ligne d'échange E s'il n'y avait pas le clapet CL3.The position of the check valve CL3 upstream of the dividing point D dividing the pipes supplying the two turbines makes it possible to dispense with a penalizing dimensioning, relative to the balancing pressure of the compressor C2, for the exchange line E slightly oversizing the pressure to be applied to the turbines T1, T2. This oversizing is negligible when looking at the additional cost that should be applied to the exchange line E if there was not the valve CL3.

Dans le cadre de l'invention, les pressions de fonctionnement de la ou deux turbines ou de l'échangeur (dans l'exemple, de la turbine T2 reliée au compresseur C2 et de la ligne d'échange E) peuvent être définies sans attendre la conception finale des tuyauteries pour calculer et connaitre les volumes effectifs à prendre en compte dans un calcul traditionnel. Ceci implique un gain de temps.In the context of the invention, the operating pressures of the one or two turbines or of the exchanger (in the example, of the turbine T2 connected to the compressor C2 and of the exchange line E) can be defined without waiting the final design of the pipes to calculate and know the effective volumes to be taken into account in a traditional calculation. This saves time.

La pression de calcul de la ligne d'échange E est donc totalement indépendante de la pression d'équilibrage grâce au clapet CL3 et une soupape de protection de la fuite du clapet CL3, on peut donc définir sa pression de calcul très tôt dans le projet indépendamment de la turbine T2. Comme la pression de calcul sur la turbine T2 n'a pas de gros impact sur son coût, on peut faire des approximations de volume pour définir de façon conservatrice la pression d'équilibrage à prendre en compte sur la turbine sans avoir le tracé et le volume exact de tuyauterie qui permettrait de calculer finement la pression d'équilibrage.The design pressure of the exchange line E is therefore completely independent of the balancing pressure thanks to the valve CL3 and a valve to protect the valve from leaking from the valve CL3, so we can define its design pressure very early in the project. independently of the T2 turbine. As the design pressure on the T2 turbine does not have a big impact on its cost, we can make volume approximations to define conservatively the balancing pressure to be taken into account on the turbine without having the layout and the exact volume of piping which would allow the balancing pressure to be calculated finely.

Claims (14)

  1. Method for separating air by cryogenic distillation, wherein:
    i) compressed and purified air is cooled in a heat exchanger (E), a first portion (19) of the air is compressed at an intermediate temperature of the heat exchanger in a compressor (C2) and sent back to the heat exchanger, where it is cooled, the first portion of the air is found liquefied and is sent to at least one first column (K1) of a double column, the double column comprising the first column and a second column (K2), the second column functioning at a lower pressure than the first column,
    ii) oxygen- and nitrogen-enriched liquids are sent from the first column to the second column, an oxygen-enriched fluid (31) is extracted in the sump of the second column and a nitrogen-enriched fluid (33) is extracted from the head of the second column and is heated in the heat exchanger,
    iii) a second portion of the air (3, 5) exits from the heat exchanger at an intermediate temperature of it and possibly is then split into a first and a second fraction at a dividing point (D), the second portion of the air or at least one portion of the first fraction (9) for the case where the second portion of the air is split into two fractions is expanded in a first turbine (T2) and sent to the first column, and possibly at least one portion of the second fraction is expanded in a second turbine (T1) and sent to the first column for the case where the second portion of the air is split into two fractions, and
    iv) the backflow of the compressor is connected to the inlet of the first turbine or for the case with two turbines at the inlet of at least one of the first and second turbines through a short-circuiting pipe (23) and an arrival point (A) which makes it possible to send air from the compressor to the first turbine or for the case with two turbines to one of the turbines without passing through the heat exchanger,
    characterised in that the second portion of the air is sent to a check valve (CL3) downstream from the heat exchanger and possibly upstream from the dividing point for the case with two turbines, the valve being used to prevent air from passing in the direction opposite that of the normal operation and arrive from the arrival point in the exchanger, being arranged on a pipe between the arrival point and the exchanger.
  2. Method according to claim 1, wherein during start-up, air is sent from the compressor (C2) to the turbine (T1) or one of the turbines by passing through the arrival point (A) but without passing through the heat exchanger (E), the air being repelled by the check valve (CL3).
  3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one portion of the second fraction is expanded in the second turbine (T2) and sent to the first column (K1), the at least one portion of the first fraction expanded in the first turbine (T2) and the at least one portion of the second expanded fraction in the second turbine (T1) are arranged at a mixing point (M) and then sent as one single flow to the first column.
  4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a portion (11, 15) of the first and/or the second fraction is not expanded in a turbine, but in a valve (V7) and then is sent to the column system (K1, K2).
  5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the portion of the first and/or second fraction expanded in the valve (V7) is mixed with the single flow (13) sent to the first column (K1) downstream from the mixing point (M).
  6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the compressor (C2) is driven by the first or the second turbine (T2, T1).
  7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet temperature of the compressor is less than 0°C, even less than -50°C.
  8. Appliance for separating air by cryogenic distillation comprising a heat exchanger (E), a double separation column comprising a first column and a second column (K1, K2), the second column functioning at a lower pressure than the first column, means for sending compressed and purified air to be cooled in the heat exchanger, a compressor (C2), means for extracting a first portion of the air to an intermediate temperature at an intermediate point (P) of the heat exchanger and to send it to the compressor, means for sending back the compressed air into the compressor in the heat exchanger where it is cooled, means for sending liquefied air to at least the first column, means for sending oxygen- and nitrogen-enriched liquids from the first column to the second column, means for extracting an oxygen-enriched fluid (31) in the sump of the second column, means for extracting a nitrogen-enriched fluid (33) from the head of the second column and means for sending the nitrogen-enriched fluid to be heated in the heat exchanger, an extraction pipe (8) to exit a second portion of the air of the heat exchanger at an intermediate temperature of it and at an intermediate point (P) of the heat exchanger, possibly means for splitting the second portion into a first and a second fraction at a dividing point (D), a first turbine (T2) and possibly a second turbine (T1), means for sending the second portion of the air or at least one portion of the first fraction, for the case with means for splitting the second portion into two fractions to be expanded in the first turbine and then to the first column, possibly means for sending at least one portion of the second fraction to be expanded in the second turbine and then to the first column for the case with two turbines, and means (23, V3, CL2) for sending the air from the backflow of the compressor to an inlet of the first turbine or one of the turbines for the case with two turbines, without passing through the heat exchanger, these means being connected to an arrival point (A) characterised in that it comprises a check valve (CL3) arranged on the extraction pipe (8) downstream from the heat exchanger and possibly upstream from the dividing point, for the case with means for splitting the second portion into two fractions, the valve being arranged on a pipe between the arrival point and the exchanger and being capable of preventing the arrival of air from the arrival point to the exchanger.
  9. Appliance according to claim 8 comprising means for mixing the at least one portion of the first fraction expanded in the first turbine (T2) and the at least one portion of the second fraction expanded in the second turbine (T1) at a mixing point (M) and means for sending them as one single flow (13) to the first column (K1).
  10. Appliance according to claim 8 or 9 comprising the second turbine (T1), means for splitting the second portion (3, 5) into a first and a second fraction (9, 11) at a dividing point (D), means for sending at least one portion of the second fraction to be expanded in the second turbine and then to the first column, an expansion valve (V7) connected to the check valve (CL3) through the dividing point (D) and connected to the column system (K1, K2), such that air can pass from the valve to the column system, without passing through a turbine.
  11. Appliance according to claim 8, 9 or 10 comprising the second turbine (T1) wherein the means for sending air from the backflow of the compressor to an inlet of one of the turbines (T1, T2) without passing through the heat exchanger are connected to the arrival point (A) between the dividing point (D) and the inlet of the turbine (T1, T2).
  12. Appliance according to claim 11 comprising a valve (V19) between the arrival point (A) and the dividing point (D).
  13. Appliance according to one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the check valve (CL3) is capable of closing automatically.
  14. Appliance according to one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the compressor (C2) is driven by the first or the second turbine (T2, T1).
EP18186654.2A 2017-08-03 2018-07-31 Method and device for air separation by cryogenic distilling Active EP3438584B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1757497A FR3069914B1 (en) 2017-08-03 2017-08-03 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING AIR BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
FR1757493A FR3069913B1 (en) 2017-08-03 2017-08-03 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING AIR BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
FR1757498A FR3069916B1 (en) 2017-08-03 2017-08-03 METHOD FOR DEFROSTING AN AIR SEPARATION APPARATUS BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION AND APPARATUS SUITABLE FOR BEING DEFROST BY THIS METHOD
FR1757495A FR3069915B1 (en) 2017-08-03 2017-08-03 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATION OF AIR BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3438584A1 EP3438584A1 (en) 2019-02-06
EP3438584B1 true EP3438584B1 (en) 2020-03-11

Family

ID=62981145

Family Applications (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18186659.1A Withdrawn EP3438585A3 (en) 2017-08-03 2018-07-31 Method for defrosting a device for air separation by cryogenic distillation and device adapted to be defrosted using this method
EP18186654.2A Active EP3438584B1 (en) 2017-08-03 2018-07-31 Method and device for air separation by cryogenic distilling
EP18186782.1A Active EP3438586B1 (en) 2017-08-03 2018-08-01 Method and device for air separation by cryogenic distilling
EP18187381.1A Active EP3438587B1 (en) 2017-08-03 2018-08-03 Method and device for air separation by cryogenic distilling

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18186659.1A Withdrawn EP3438585A3 (en) 2017-08-03 2018-07-31 Method for defrosting a device for air separation by cryogenic distillation and device adapted to be defrosted using this method

Family Applications After (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18186782.1A Active EP3438586B1 (en) 2017-08-03 2018-08-01 Method and device for air separation by cryogenic distilling
EP18187381.1A Active EP3438587B1 (en) 2017-08-03 2018-08-03 Method and device for air separation by cryogenic distilling

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (4) US10794630B2 (en)
EP (4) EP3438585A3 (en)
CN (4) CN109387031B (en)
PL (2) PL3438586T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3118145B1 (en) * 2020-12-23 2023-03-03 Air Liquide Method for restarting an air separation device

Family Cites Families (64)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2113680A (en) * 1938-04-12 Method anx apparatus fob defrost-
US2664718A (en) * 1949-10-11 1954-01-05 Union Carbide & Carbon Corp Process of and apparatus for lowtemperature separation of air
US3421333A (en) * 1964-08-28 1969-01-14 Linde Ag Thawing technique for a single air separation plant
US3418820A (en) * 1966-11-14 1968-12-31 Judson S. Swearingen Method and apparatus for removing vapors from gaseous mixtures by freezing
IT1019710B (en) * 1974-07-12 1977-11-30 Nuovo Pignone Spa PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH PERCENTAGES OF OS SIGEN AND / OR NITROGEN IN THE LIQUID STATE
JPS54162678A (en) 1978-06-14 1979-12-24 Hitachi Ltd Air separating apparatus taking out liquid product utilizing coldness of lng
DE4109945A1 (en) * 1991-03-26 1992-10-01 Linde Ag METHOD FOR DEEP TEMPERATURE DISPOSAL OF AIR
FR2701313B1 (en) * 1993-02-09 1995-03-31 Air Liquide Process and installation for producing ultra-pure nitrogen by air distillation.
FR2704632B1 (en) * 1993-04-29 1995-06-23 Air Liquide PROCESS AND PLANT FOR SEPARATING AIR.
US5379598A (en) * 1993-08-23 1995-01-10 The Boc Group, Inc. Cryogenic rectification process and apparatus for vaporizing a pumped liquid product
FR2721383B1 (en) 1994-06-20 1996-07-19 Maurice Grenier Process and installation for producing gaseous oxygen under pressure.
US5758515A (en) * 1997-05-08 1998-06-02 Praxair Technology, Inc. Cryogenic air separation with warm turbine recycle
FR2787560B1 (en) 1998-12-22 2001-02-09 Air Liquide PROCESS FOR CRYOGENIC SEPARATION OF AIR GASES
JP2000337767A (en) 1999-05-26 2000-12-08 Air Liquide Japan Ltd Air separating method and air separating facility
FR2803221B1 (en) * 1999-12-30 2002-03-29 Air Liquide AIR SEPARATION PROCESS AND INSTALLATION
DE10052180A1 (en) * 2000-10-20 2002-05-02 Linde Ag Three-column system for the low-temperature separation of air
DE10209421A1 (en) * 2002-03-05 2003-04-03 Linde Ag Process for recovering a compressed product comprises subjecting air to low temperature decomposition in a rectification system consisting of a high pressure column and a low pressure column
AU2003272218A1 (en) * 2002-08-08 2004-02-25 Pacific Consolidated Industries, L.P. Nitrogen generator
FR2851330B1 (en) * 2003-02-13 2006-01-06 Air Liquide PROCESS AND PLANT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A GASEOUS AND HIGH PRESSURE PRODUCTION OF AT LEAST ONE FLUID SELECTED AMONG OXYGEN, ARGON AND NITROGEN BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION OF AIR
FR2861841B1 (en) 2003-11-04 2006-06-30 Air Liquide METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
US7228715B2 (en) 2003-12-23 2007-06-12 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire Et Conseil De Surveillance Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Cryogenic air separation process and apparatus
FR2865024B3 (en) 2004-01-12 2006-05-05 Air Liquide METHOD AND INSTALLATION OF AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
JP2005221199A (en) 2004-02-09 2005-08-18 Kobe Steel Ltd Air separation device
US7272954B2 (en) 2004-07-14 2007-09-25 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire Et Conseil De Surveillance Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Proceded Georges Claude Low temperature air separation process for producing pressurized gaseous product
DE102005026534B4 (en) * 2005-06-08 2012-04-19 Man Diesel & Turbo Se Steam generating plant
FR2895068B1 (en) 2005-12-15 2014-01-31 Air Liquide AIR SEPARATION METHOD BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
DE102006027650A1 (en) 2006-06-14 2007-02-01 Linde Ag Method for cryogenic air separation, involves discharging of deep frozen liquid from external source into single column or into head condenser and feed air is condensed and discharged in single column
FR2913670A1 (en) 2007-03-12 2008-09-19 Philippe Lutringer Beverage can opening and closing device, has opening unit extending in surface to entirely cover gaping hole, and gripping unit to press on edge of cover of beverage can and to exert pressure on cover to ensure sealing with gaping hole
FR2913759B1 (en) 2007-03-13 2013-08-16 Air Liquide METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS AIR FROM THE AIR IN A GAS FORM AND LIQUID WITH HIGH FLEXIBILITY BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
FR2915271A1 (en) * 2007-04-23 2008-10-24 Air Liquide Air separating method, involves operating extracted nitrogen gas from high pressure column at pressure higher than pressure of systems operating at low pressure, and compressing gas till pressure is higher than high pressure of systems
CN201173660Y (en) * 2008-03-12 2008-12-31 杭州福斯达气体设备有限公司 Middle and small sized multi- behavior energy-saving -type air separation equipment
US20090241595A1 (en) * 2008-03-27 2009-10-01 Praxair Technology, Inc. Distillation method and apparatus
FR2943408A1 (en) 2009-03-17 2010-09-24 Air Liquide Air separation process for air separation installation, involves extracting argon enriched gas from low pressure column, and delivering gas to argon splitter i.e. argon column, to produce uniform argon enriched flow in liquid form
FR2943772A1 (en) * 2009-03-27 2010-10-01 Air Liquide APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
GB2469077A (en) * 2009-03-31 2010-10-06 Dps Bristol Process for the offshore liquefaction of a natural gas feed
FR2948184B1 (en) * 2009-07-20 2016-04-15 Air Liquide METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
US8663364B2 (en) * 2009-12-15 2014-03-04 L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Étude et l'Éxploitation des Procédés Georges Claude Method of obtaining carbon dioxide from carbon dioxide-containing gas mixture
FR2965312B1 (en) * 2010-09-23 2016-12-23 Air Liquide METHOD OF COMPRESSING MULTIPLE GAS FLOWS ON A SINGLE COMPRESSOR
DE102010052545A1 (en) 2010-11-25 2012-05-31 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Method and apparatus for recovering a gaseous product by cryogenic separation of air
EP2482016B1 (en) * 2011-01-26 2019-04-10 General Electric Technology GmbH Method for expanding a gas stream comprising carbon dioxide and an oxy-combustion power plant with an arrangement for expanding a gas stream comprising carbon dioxide
EP2489968A1 (en) 2011-02-17 2012-08-22 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for cryogenic decomposition of air
JP5863320B2 (en) * 2011-08-05 2016-02-16 三菱重工コンプレッサ株式会社 Centrifugal compressor
EP2600090B1 (en) 2011-12-01 2014-07-16 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for generating pressurised oxygen by cryogenic decomposition of air
CN202328999U (en) * 2011-12-01 2012-07-11 液化空气(杭州)有限公司 Air separating equipment with quick start
DE102011121314A1 (en) 2011-12-16 2013-06-20 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Method for producing gaseous oxygen product in main heat exchanger system in distillation column system, involves providing turbines, where one of turbines drives compressor, and other turbine drives generator
FR2985305B1 (en) 2012-01-03 2017-12-22 L'air Liquide Sa Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRESSURIZED AIR GAS USING A CRYOGENIC SURPRESSOR
US20130255313A1 (en) 2012-03-29 2013-10-03 Bao Ha Process for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation
CN102706098B (en) * 2012-05-21 2013-11-06 鞍钢股份有限公司 Hot start method for boost expander
FR2995393B1 (en) * 2012-09-12 2014-10-03 Air Liquide METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
EP2713128A1 (en) * 2012-10-01 2014-04-02 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Process for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation
US9518778B2 (en) * 2012-12-26 2016-12-13 Praxair Technology, Inc. Air separation method and apparatus
DE102013002094A1 (en) * 2013-02-05 2014-08-07 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Method for producing liquid and gaseous oxygen by low temperature separation of air in air separation system in industrial application, involves feeding feed air flow to portion in mixed column and to another portion in separating column
FR3010778B1 (en) 2013-09-17 2019-05-24 Air Liquide PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GAS OXYGEN BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION OF AIR
FR3014545B1 (en) * 2013-12-05 2018-12-07 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
JP6159242B2 (en) 2013-12-13 2017-07-05 大陽日酸株式会社 Air separation method and apparatus
CN103760850B (en) * 2014-01-06 2017-01-04 上海加力气体有限公司 A kind of remotely monitoring about nitrogen making machine and unwatched device and method
FR3020669B1 (en) * 2014-04-30 2018-10-26 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND COOLING A GAS MIXTURE
EP3149419B1 (en) * 2014-06-02 2019-10-30 Praxair Technology, Inc. Air separation system and method
PL2963370T3 (en) 2014-07-05 2018-11-30 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for the cryogenic decomposition of air
PL2963369T3 (en) 2014-07-05 2018-10-31 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for the cryogenic decomposition of air
JP6354516B2 (en) * 2014-10-20 2018-07-11 新日鐵住金株式会社 Cryogenic air separation device and cryogenic air separation method
FR3033397A1 (en) 2015-03-06 2016-09-09 Air Liquide PROCESS FOR COMPRESSING AND COOLING A GASEOUS MIXTURE
MY188544A (en) * 2015-06-15 2021-12-21 8 Rivers Capital Llc System and method for startup of a power production plant
EP3196573A1 (en) * 2016-01-21 2017-07-26 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Method for obtaining an air product and air decomposition system

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20190041130A1 (en) 2019-02-07
CN109387033A (en) 2019-02-26
CN109387032A (en) 2019-02-26
EP3438587B1 (en) 2020-04-08
EP3438584A1 (en) 2019-02-06
EP3438586A1 (en) 2019-02-06
CN109387031A (en) 2019-02-26
US10794630B2 (en) 2020-10-06
US20190041129A1 (en) 2019-02-07
CN109387034A (en) 2019-02-26
PL3438586T3 (en) 2020-09-07
EP3438587A1 (en) 2019-02-06
EP3438585A2 (en) 2019-02-06
CN109387034B (en) 2021-11-19
CN109387033B (en) 2021-12-14
PL3438587T3 (en) 2020-09-07
US20190049178A1 (en) 2019-02-14
EP3438585A3 (en) 2019-04-17
CN109387031B (en) 2021-11-02
US20190049177A1 (en) 2019-02-14
US10866024B2 (en) 2020-12-15
EP3438586B1 (en) 2020-04-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7370494B2 (en) Method and installation for producing, in gaseous form and under high pressure, at least one fluid chosen from oxygen, argon and nitrogen by cryogenic distillation of air
CA2739696C (en) Method for producing liquid and gaseous nitrogen streams, a helium-rich gaseous stream, and a denitrogened hydrocarbon stream, and associated plant
EP0178207A1 (en) Process and installation for the cryogenic fractionation of gaseous feeds
EP3438584B1 (en) Method and device for air separation by cryogenic distilling
EP1711765B1 (en) Cryogenic distillation method and installation for air separation
EP2856050B1 (en) Device and method for cryogenically separating a mixture of carbon monoxide and methane plus hydrogen and optionally nitrogen
EP0718576B1 (en) Process for separating a gaseous mixture by cryogenic distillation
EP1623171A1 (en) Cryogenic distillation method and system for air separation
FR2913760A1 (en) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GAS-LIKE AIR AND HIGH-FLEXIBILITY LIQUID AIR GASES BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
EP2457047B1 (en) Method and apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation
FR3069914A1 (en) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
CA2771205A1 (en) Method and facility for producing oxygen through air distillation
WO2011061459A2 (en) Method and apparatus for compressing and cooling air
FR3069916A1 (en) METHOD OF DEFROSTING AN AIR SEPARATION APPARATUS BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION AND APPARATUS ADAPTED TO BE DEFORMED THEREBY
FR3069913A1 (en) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
FR2879595A1 (en) Integration process of de-nitrogenating carbon monoxide on a cold box, comprises connecting a cold box to piping, cutting the end of the expansion loop, treating the impure monoxide gas in a distilling column and recycling the purified gas
FR3069915A1 (en) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
FR2915271A1 (en) Air separating method, involves operating extracted nitrogen gas from high pressure column at pressure higher than pressure of systems operating at low pressure, and compressing gas till pressure is higher than high pressure of systems
WO2013171426A2 (en) Method and device for sub-ambient-temperature distillation
WO2011095739A1 (en) Method and appliance for separating air by cryogenic distillation
WO2022136088A1 (en) Method for restarting an air separation unit
FR2862746A1 (en) Assembly for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation, with a system of columns, takes in frozen compressed air at a vaporizer/condenser column with the liquid output used at least partially to chill the air for compression
FR2846077A1 (en) Heat exchange apparatus upstream of cryogenic gas distillation plant has outlet to extract first flow from intermediate level in first body
FR2985305A1 (en) Method for separation of air by cryogenic distillation for production of gas, involves pressurizing and vaporizing liquid flow in one of two exchange lines, and coupling cold booster with driving mechanism e.g. electrical motor
FR3122488A1 (en) Method and apparatus for separating a stream rich in carbon dioxide by distillation to produce liquid carbon dioxide

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

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

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

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

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20190806

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

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

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: F25J 3/04 20060101AFI20191023BHEP

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20191115

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): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1243648

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200315

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602018002971

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: LANGUAGE OF EP DOCUMENT: FRENCH

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

Ref country code: RS

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: 20200311

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: 20200311

Ref country code: NO

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: 20200611

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20200311

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

Ref country code: HR

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: 20200311

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: 20200612

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: 20200311

Ref country code: LV

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: 20200311

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: 20200611

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200311

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

Ref country code: IS

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: 20200711

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: 20200805

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: 20200311

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: 20200311

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: 20200311

Ref country code: LT

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: 20200311

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: 20200311

Ref country code: SM

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: 20200311

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1243648

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200311

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602018002971

Country of ref document: DE

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

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

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: 20200311

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: 20200311

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: 20200311

Ref country code: IT

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: 20200311

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20201214

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: 20200311

Ref country code: PL

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: 20200311

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: 20200311

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20200731

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: 20200731

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

Ref country code: BE

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

Effective date: 20200731

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: 20200731

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: LI

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

Effective date: 20210731

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20210731

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: 20200311

Ref country code: MT

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: 20200311

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: 20200311

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

Ref country code: MK

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: 20200311

Ref country code: AL

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: 20200311

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

Effective date: 20220731

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: 20220731

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20230726

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20230719

Year of fee payment: 6