EP3631327A1 - Verfahren und vorrichtung zur lufttrennung durch kryogene destillation - Google Patents

Verfahren und vorrichtung zur lufttrennung durch kryogene destillation

Info

Publication number
EP3631327A1
EP3631327A1 EP18736971.5A EP18736971A EP3631327A1 EP 3631327 A1 EP3631327 A1 EP 3631327A1 EP 18736971 A EP18736971 A EP 18736971A EP 3631327 A1 EP3631327 A1 EP 3631327A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air
column
pressure
compressor
liquid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP18736971.5A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3631327B1 (de
Inventor
Jean-Pierre Tranier
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
Application filed by Air Liquide SA, LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude filed Critical Air Liquide SA
Publication of EP3631327A1 publication Critical patent/EP3631327A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3631327B1 publication Critical patent/EP3631327B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04048Providing 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
    • F25J3/04054Providing 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
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0012Primary atmospheric gases, e.g. air
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0012Primary atmospheric gases, e.g. air
    • F25J1/0015Nitrogen
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0032Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration"
    • F25J1/0035Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by gas expansion with extraction of work
    • F25J1/0037Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by gas expansion with extraction of work of a return stream
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0032Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration"
    • F25J1/0045Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by vaporising a liquid return stream
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J1/00Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0221Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using the cold stored in an external cryogenic component in an open refrigeration loop
    • F25J1/0224Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using the cold stored in an external cryogenic component in an open refrigeration loop in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop
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    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
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    • F25J1/02Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0228Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes
    • F25J1/0234Integration with a cryogenic air separation unit
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
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    • F25J3/02Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04048Providing 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
    • F25J3/0406Providing 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
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    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
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    • F25J3/02Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04078Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression
    • F25J3/04084Providing 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 nitrogen
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
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    • F25J3/02Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04078Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression
    • F25J3/0409Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression of oxygen
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
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    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04151Purification and (pre-)cooling of the feed air; recuperative heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04163Hot end purification of the feed air
    • F25J3/04169Hot end purification of the feed air by adsorption of the impurities
    • F25J3/04181Regenerating the adsorbents
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    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
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    • F25J3/02Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04151Purification and (pre-)cooling of the feed air; recuperative heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04187Cooling of the purified feed air by recuperative heat-exchange; Heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04218Parallel arrangement of the main heat exchange line in cores having different functions, e.g. in low pressure and high pressure cores
    • F25J3/04224Cores associated with a liquefaction or refrigeration cycle
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    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
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    • F25J3/02Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04248Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04278Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using external refrigeration units, e.g. closed mechanical or regenerative refrigeration units
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    • F25J3/04248Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04284Generation 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
    • F25J3/0429Generation 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
    • F25J3/04303Lachmann expansion, i.e. expanded into oxygen producing or low pressure column
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    • F25J3/04351Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using quasi-closed loop internal vapor compression refrigeration cycles, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of nitrogen
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    • F25J3/04351Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using quasi-closed loop internal vapor compression refrigeration cycles, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of nitrogen
    • F25J3/04357Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using quasi-closed loop internal vapor compression refrigeration cycles, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of nitrogen and comprising a gas work expansion loop
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    • F25J3/04672Producing crude argon in a crude argon column as a parallel working rectification column of the low pressure column in a dual pressure main column system having a top condenser
    • F25J3/04678Producing crude argon in a crude argon column as a parallel working rectification column of the low pressure column in a dual pressure main column system having a top condenser cooled by oxygen enriched liquid from high pressure column bottoms
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    • F25J3/04721Producing pure argon, e.g. recovered from a crude argon column
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    • F25J2270/00Refrigeration techniques used
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    • F25J2270/00Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/90External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation.
  • it relates to methods and apparatus for producing oxygen and / or nitrogen under high pressure.
  • the gaseous oxygen produced by the air separation units is usually at a high pressure of about 20 to 50 bar.
  • the basic distillation scheme is usually a double column process producing oxygen at the bottom of the second column operated at a pressure of 1 to 4 bar.
  • Oxygen must be compressed at a higher pressure, thanks to an oxygen compressor or the liquid pumping process. Because of the safety issues associated with oxygen compressors, the newer oxygen production units use the liquid pumping process.
  • an additional booster is required to elevate a portion of the air or feed nitrogen to a higher pressure in the range of 40 to 80 bar. . In essence, the booster replaces the oxygen compressor.
  • One of the goals of developing new process cycles is to reduce the energy consumption of an oxygen generating unit.
  • FIG. 1 This prior art is illustrated in FIG.
  • a double column 2 is used in an air separation unit 1, comprising a first column 8 and a second column 9 operating at a lower pressure than the first column, thermally connected by a reboiler / condenser 10.
  • the entire supply air is compressed in a compressor 6 at the pressure of the first column 8, purified in the purification unit 7, and subdivided into three .
  • a flow 502 is sent to a booster 503, cooled in a water cooler (not shown), and further cooled in the heat exchanger 5, then expanded in a turbine 501 coupled to the booster 503.
  • the expanded air 502 is sent to the second column.
  • Another part of the air is sent to the heat exchanger 5 substantially under the same pressure as the first column 8.
  • the third flow is compressed in a compressor 230 and sent to the heat exchanger, where it condenses.
  • the liquefied air is subdivided between the first column 8 and the second column 9.
  • An oxygen enriched liquid flow LR is expanded and sent from the first column to the second column.
  • the nitrogen-enriched liquid flow LP is relaxed and sent from the first column to the second column.
  • Pure liquid nitrogen NLMP is produced by the first column, then cooled again in the heat exchanger 24 and expanded in the valve 143 and sent to a storage 144.
  • the high pressure nitrogen gas 39 is withdrawn at the top of the the first column and heated in the heat exchanger to form a product flow 40.
  • the liquid oxygen OL is withdrawn from the bottom of the second column 9, pressurized by a pump 37 and sent partly in the form of a flow rate 38 to the heat exchanger 5, where it vaporizes by heat exchange with the pressurized air to form a pressurized oxygen gas.
  • the remainder of the liquid oxygen 52 is withdrawn as a liquid product.
  • a nitrogen-enriched head gas stream NR is withdrawn from the second column 9, heated in the heat exchanger 5 in the form of a flow rate 33.
  • Argon is produced using a column of impure argon 3 and pure argon 4.
  • the impure argon column is fed with a flow 16 from the second column 9.
  • a flow of liquid 17 is sent from the bottom of the impure argon column 3 to the second column 9.
  • a rich liquid is sent to the top condenser 12 of the column 3 through the valve 26 and is evaporated to form a flow 27 which is returned to the second column .
  • a product flow 19 is sent to the condenser 20 and hence the flow 19.
  • the flow 19 is condensed in the heat exchanger 20 and subdivided into the flow 48 which is sent to the waste flow 33 at the point of intersection 50 , and another flow.
  • the other flow is sent by the valve 21 to the column 4.
  • the pure argon column 4 produces a product flow 45.
  • a purge flow 46 is also withdrawn.
  • the condenser 20 is fed by the nitrogen-rich liquid LP through the valve 31, and the vaporized liquid is sent by the valve 32 to the waste flow 33.
  • Figure 2 shows the relationship between heat exchange in kcal / h and temperature for fluids cooling and heating in exchanger 5.
  • a cold compression process as described in US-A-5,475,980, provides a technique for controlling an oxygen generating unit with a single air compressor.
  • the air to be distilled is cooled in the heat exchanger, and is then compressed again by a booster controlled by an expansion machine whose effluent is sent to the first column of a double column process. which operates at the highest pressure.
  • the discharge pressure of the air compressor is of the order of 15 bar, which is likewise very advantageous for the purification unit.
  • a disadvantage of this approach is the increased size of the heat exchanger due to the additional recycling of the flow, which is representative of a cold pressing unit. It is possible to reduce the size of the exchanger by opening the temperature approaches of the exchanger. However, this would lead to inefficient use of energy, and higher compressor discharge pressure, which would increase the cost.
  • US-A-5,596,885 a portion of the feed air is further compressed in a hot booster, while at least a portion of the air is still compressed in a cold booster. .
  • the air from both boosters is liquefied, and some of the cold compressed air is expanded in a Claude turbine.
  • US-A-5,901,576 discloses various arrangements of cold compression schemes using the expansion of a vaporized rich liquid from the bottom of the first column, or the expansion of the high pressure nitrogen to drive the compressor cold. In some cases, motor-driven cold compressors have also been used. These processes also operate with feed air at approximately the pressure of the first column and, in most cases, a booster is also required.
  • US-A-6,626,008 discloses a heat pump cycle using a cold compressor to improve the distillation process for the production of low purity oxygen for a double vaporizer oxygen production process. Low air pressure, and a booster, are also representative of this type of process.
  • EP-A-1 972 872 discloses means for improving the above processes using a cold compressor, in particular by introducing all the feed air flows into the columns at a temperature close to the temperature. of the column at the point where the flow is introduced, in order to reduce the thermodynamic irreversibility of the system. But it requires the addition of at least one additional compression stage.
  • the present invention therefore aims at solving the disadvantages of these processes, in particular by introducing all the feed air flow rates into the columns at a temperature close to the temperature of the column at the point where the flow is introduced, in the goal of reducing the thermodynamic irreversibility of the system without adding an additional compression stage.
  • the overall cost of the products of an oxygen production unit can therefore be reduced.
  • the main improvement is due to the use of an air booster (Booster Air Compressor (BAC)) to recycle air once it has been used to recover the heat produced by the vaporization of a liquid high pressure in the main heat exchanger.
  • Booster Air Compressor BAC
  • a process according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US6336345.
  • a method for separating air by cryogenic distillation in a column system comprising a first column and a second column operating at a lower pressure than the first column, comprising the steps of:
  • Clean, cooled air is sent from the first compressor to the column system to separate.
  • the expansion is performed in at least one valve.
  • the expansion is performed in at least one turbine and produces work.
  • the temperature of the at least one fraction before expansion is less than the sum of the temperature of the vaporization of the liquid and the minimum temperature approach in the heat exchanger.
  • the second compressor is a multi-stage compressor.
  • said at least one third pressure is at least the inlet pressure of one of the stages of the second compressor.
  • a stage of the second compressor is driven by a machine for expanding a process fluid.
  • the inlet temperature of the expansion machine is lower than the ambient temperature.
  • At least one stage of the second compressor has a suction temperature lower than the ambient temperature.
  • the suction temperature is higher than the vaporization temperature of the liquid, but is close to it.
  • the liquid is a flow enriched in oxygen
  • the liquid is a flow enriched in nitrogen.
  • the production rate of the liquid product or products is not greater than 10% of the supply air, preferably not more than 5% of the supply air.
  • an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation in a column system comprising a first column and a second column operating at a lower pressure than the first column, further comprising:
  • a first compressor for compressing the supply air to a first outlet pressure of at least one bar greater than the pressure of the first column, preferably substantially equal to the pressure of the first column
  • iv means for withdrawing the liquid from a column of the column system, means for pressurizing the liquid, means for supplying the pressurized liquid to the heat exchanger, and means for withdrawing the vaporized liquid from the exchanger heat,
  • the apparatus comprises an expansion turbine of the auxiliary flow rate fraction compressed in the second compressor.
  • FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 are fluid flow schemes showing cryogenic air separation methods according to the invention, and FIG. heat exchange diagram for the exchanger 5 of FIG. 3.
  • a double column 2 comprising a first column 8 and a second column 9 made available, thermally connected by a reboiler / condenser 10.
  • the entire supply air is compressed in the compressor 6 at a pressure of at least one bar greater than the pressure of the first column 8, preferably substantially equal to the pressure of the first column 8, allowing a pressure drop in the intermediate pipes, purified in the purification unit 7 and subdivided into three.
  • a flow 502 is sent to a booster 503, cooled in a water cooler (not shown), then further cooled in the heat exchanger 5, then expanded in a turbine 501, coupled to the booster 503.
  • the air relaxed 502 is sent to the second column.
  • Another part 507 of the air is sent to the heat exchanger 5 under a pressure substantially equal to that of the first column 8.
  • the third flow 505 is compressed in a compressor 230 and sent to the heat exchanger, where it condenses.
  • the compressor 230 is a four-stage centrifugal compressor 230A, 230B, 230C and 230D, for example of the integrated speed-multiplication type cooled by intermediate water coolers 232A, 232B, 232C and a cooler. final 232D.
  • the compressor suction pressure is 5.5 bar abs
  • the intermediate pressures are 10.2 bar abs, 18.9 bar abs and 35.1 bar abs
  • the final outlet pressure is 65 bar abs.
  • the suction flow rate is 26.5% of the total air flow.
  • the liquefied air is subdivided between the first column 8, the second column 9, and the fractions to be expanded in the valves 1 16A, 1 16B and 1 16C.
  • An oxygen enriched liquid flow LR is expanded and sent from the first column to the second column.
  • An LP-enriched liquid flow rate is expanded and fed from the first column to the second column.
  • NLMP pure liquid nitrogen is produced by the first column 8, cooled again in the heat exchanger 24 and expanded in the valve 143 and sent to the storage 144.
  • the high pressure nitrogen gas 39 is withdrawn at the top of the first column and heated in the heat exchanger to form a product flow 40.
  • the liquid oxygen OL is withdrawn from the bottom of the second column 9, pressurized by a pump 37 and sent partly as a flow 38 to the heat exchanger 5, where it vaporizes by heat exchange with the pressurized air to form pressurized gaseous oxygen.
  • the remainder of the liquid oxygen 52 is withdrawn as a liquid product.
  • a nitrogen-enriched top-stream gas stream NR is withdrawn from the second column 9, heated in the heat exchanger 5 in the form of a flow 33.
  • Argon is produced by using the column of impure argon 3 and pure argon 4.
  • the impure argon column is fed by the flow 16 from the second column 9.
  • a flow of liquid 17 is sent from the base of the impure argon column 3 to the second column 9.
  • the oxygen enriched liquid is sent to the top condenser 12 of the column 3 by the valve 26 and evaporated to form the flow 27, which is returned to the second column.
  • a product flow 19 is sent to the condenser 20, and from there, forms the flow 19.
  • the flow 19 is condensed in the heat exchanger 20 and subdivided into a flow 48 which is sent to the waste flow 33 at the point d intersection 50, and another flow.
  • the other flow is sent by the valve 21 to the column 4.
  • the pure argon column 4 produces a product flow 45.
  • the overhead condenser 13 of the pure argon column 4 is fed by the nitrogen-rich LP liquid from the first column via the valve 34, and the vaporized nitrogen is withdrawn by the valve 35 in the form of a flow 33 and cooled in the subcooler 24.
  • the bottom reboiler 14 of the pure argon column is heated by using air, and the liquefied air 23 is sent to the first column.
  • a purge flow 46 is likewise withdrawn.
  • Nitrogen-rich liquid 43 is collected via valve 143 into storage 144.
  • the condenser 20 is fed with the LP liquid rich in nitrogen through the valve 31, and the vaporized liquid is sent by the valve 32 to the waste flow 33.
  • the air flow 505 at 65 bar is subdivided into two. Part of the air is expanded in the valve 231 and sent to the columns 8 and 9 in liquid form.
  • the remainder of the air 107 is subdivided into three fractions 107A, 107B, 107C.
  • the fraction of air 107A recycled between the first stage 230A and the second stage 230B corresponds to 1.08% of the total air flow. It is expanded in the valve 1 16A 65 bar abs to about 10.2 bar abs and introduced into the heat exchanger 5, where it is vaporized, heated after vaporization to give a recirculation air 107A.
  • 230C corresponds to 0.84% of the total air flow. It is expanded in the valve 1 16B 65 bar abs to about 18.9 bar abs and introduced into the heat exchanger 5, where it is vaporized, heated after vaporization to give a recirculation air 107B.
  • the fraction of air 107C recycled between the third stage 230C and the fourth stage 230D corresponds to 22.08% of the total air flow rate. It is expanded in the valve 1 16C from 65 bar abs to about 35.1 bar abs and introduced into the heat exchanger 5, where it is vaporized, heated after vaporization to give a recirculation air 107C.
  • These three air fractions represent a total recycle air flow rate of 24% of the total air flow rate, which means that the fluid 505 corresponds to a flow rate of 50.5% of the total air flow, and that the flow rate through the valve 231 is 26.5%.
  • the vaporization of the three air fractions 107A, 107B and 107C takes place in the heat exchanger 5 respectively at temperatures of about -166 ° C, -155 ° C and -142 ° C, as can be seen on Figure 4, which is less than the vaporization temperature of oxygen, which is about -125 ° C.
  • a phase separator should be added if the expanded flow is a two-phase fluid, the liquid phase being introduced into the heat exchanger 5 and the vapor phase being mixed with the flow 107.
  • condensation covers the condensation of a form vapor to a liquid or partially liquid form. It also covers the pseudo-condensation of a supercritical fluid when it is cooled from a temperature above the supercritical temperature to a temperature below the supercritical temperature.
  • Figure 4 shows the exchange diagram corresponding to the process of Figure 3.
  • a less optimized variant of FIG. 3 should involve the subdivision of the flow rate 107 into one or two fractions and the recycling of these fractions, after vaporization, with return to the compressor 230.
  • valves 231, 16A, 16B and 16C could be replaced by liquid turbines, that is, an expansion system producing work in order to reduce the irreversibility associated with the isenthalpic expansion. These liquid turbines could be installed in parallel or in series.
  • the compressor 230 in the basic case, is considered to be a machine driven by a motor, but could also be driven by a steam turbine or a gas turbine (the same as that for the Main Air Compressor 6) .
  • any one of the four compressor stages 230A, 230B, 230C and 230D could be driven by an expansion machine of any of the fluids of this cryogenic air separation process, preferably at a low temperature. temperature.
  • any one of the four compressor stages 230A, 230B, 230C and 230D could have a suction temperature lower than the ambient temperature, preferably slightly higher than the vaporization temperature of the oxygen, at about -125. ° C.
  • specific energy kWh / Nm3 of O2
  • the specific energy required for the production of oxygen at 40 bar abs according to the invention is 92.9%. that is to say a gain of 7.1%.
  • the fractions 107A, 107B, 107C could be separated from the air passing through 231 and extracted from the heat exchanger 5 at a temperature higher than the temperature of the cold end of the heat exchanger 5.
  • the process may be modified to vaporize the pumped liquid nitrogen, as an additional flow rate or as a flow rate to replace the pumped oxygen flow rate.
  • the compressor 230 should be supplied with at least a portion of the high pressure nitrogen gas 40.
  • liquid buffers 131, 152 are added to the storage unit, and release cryogenic liquids to decorrelate oxygen production by the ASU from consumer consumption. In addition, it reduces power consumption during peak hours without reducing the flow of oxygen to the end user, and increasing the consumption of hydrogen at off-peak times, without increasing the flow rate. oxygen to the end user.
  • the feed air is compressed in the compressor 6 and purified in the purification unit 7 and subdivided into two.
  • a flow 505 is compressed in a compressor 230 and is sent to the heat exchanger, where it undergoes a partial condensation, or "pseudo-condensation", because it is beyond the critical pressure.
  • the compressor 230 is a four-stage centrifugal compressor 230A, 230B, 230C and 230D, for example of the integrated speed-multiplier type, cooled by intermediate water coolers 232A, 232B, 232C and a 232D final cooler.
  • the suction pressure of the compressor is 5.5 bar abs
  • the intermediate pressures are 10.2 bar abs, 18.9 bar abs and 35.1 bar abs
  • final pressure 65 bar abs The suction flow rate is 23% of the total air flow rate when no cryogenic liquid is stored or destocked.
  • the flow 505 is divided into a first secondary flow 505A, which goes directly to the heat exchanger 5, and a second secondary flow, which goes to the refrigeration unit 102 to be cooled to -5 ° C and introduced into the heat exchanger 5.
  • a first fraction of the high-pressure air is withdrawn and sent to the two-phase expansion device 1 16D, reintroduced into the heat exchanger 5 to be heated and recycled to 35.1 bar abs in the compressor 230 at the level of stage 230D as flow 107D.
  • This first fraction has a flow rate of 18.4% of the total air flow.
  • a second fraction is cooled to -192.2 ° C by complete passage through the heat exchanger 5 and is expanded in the valve 231 to be sent to the liquid air storage unit 131 (LAIR) as a flow 234.
  • the flow rate of this second fraction is only 23% of the total air flow from the main air compressor 6.
  • a fraction 107 is withdrawn from the cold end of the heat exchanger 5 and subdivided into three.
  • the fraction of air 107A recycled between the first stage 230A and the second stage 230B corresponds to 1.1% of the total air flow. It is expanded in the valve 1 16A 65 bar abs to about 10.2 bar abs and introduced into the heat exchanger 5, where it is evaporated, heated after vaporization to give a recirculation air 107A.
  • the air fraction 107B recycled between the second stage 230B and the third stage 230C corresponds to 3.15% of the total air flow rate. It is expanded in the valve 1 16B 65 bar abs to about 18.9 bar abs and is introduced into the heat exchanger 5, where it is vaporized, heated after vaporization to give a recirculation air 107B.
  • the air fraction 107C is expanded in the valve 1 16C from 65 bar abs to about 1.2 bar abs and is introduced into the heat exchanger 5, where it is vaporized, heated after vaporization to give a recirculation air 107C which can be used to regenerate air purifiers if the ASU 101 is not running. It represents 4.45% of the total air flow.
  • a liquid oxygen storage tank 152 powered by ASU 101 provides oxygen 151 to the system.
  • a liquid oxygen pump 37 pressurizes the oxygen to the required pressure level before introduction into the heat exchanger 5, where it undergoes vaporization or pseudo-vaporization.
  • the ASU 101 is powered by air 510 from the same compressor 6 (MAC) and liquid air 235 which is used to compensate for the production of liquid oxygen 150.
  • MAC compressor 6
  • the flow 510 is cooled in a heat exchanger independent of the heat exchanger 5 by heat exchange with nitrogen gas from the air separation unit (not shown). It is possible to cool the cold flow 510 in the heat exchanger 5, but this would make the system less flexible.
  • compressor systems supplying air to the ASU and the cold recovery system when both units are in the same location, if it is considered more convenient and / or more efficient. This is particularly the case when the two units do not operate simultaneously at the same capacity.
  • a single compressor would require accurate measurement dynamics and lose efficiency at low capacity. With different compressor systems, it is possible to optimize the measurement dynamics on each machine.
  • valves 231, 16A, 16B and 16C could be replaced by liquid-displacing turbines, ie a work-producing expansion system, in order to reduce the irreversibility associated with isenthalpic expansion. .
  • liquid-displacing turbines ie a work-producing expansion system, in order to reduce the irreversibility associated with isenthalpic expansion.
  • These liquid-displacing turbines could be installed in parallel and / or in series.
  • the air separation unit operates such that the amount of liquid oxygen stored in the storage tank 152 increases.
  • the amount of liquid oxygen vaporized in the heat exchanger 5 is less than the liquid oxygen produced by the air separation unit. No air is sent to the valve 1 16C, and the purification unit 7 is regenerated using a nitrogen flow from the air separation unit 101.
  • the air flows 510 are sent to the air separation unit via a heat exchanger independent of the heat exchanger 5, and an air flow 235 is sent to the air unit. separation of air from the storage tank 131, and the liquid oxygen 150 is sent to the storage tank 152. However, the amount of liquid air sent to the tank 131 exceeds the amount of air which is withdrawn, and the amount of liquid oxygen sent to the tank 152 exceeds the amount of liquid oxygen that is withdrawn.
  • the air separation unit will not operate, or operate at a low capacity, usually 50% or less of maximum capacity, even if the total oxygen produced is well above 50% of the maximum capacity. No air is sent to the air separation unit through flow rates 510 and 235.
  • the liquid oxygen stored in the vessel 152 is vaporized to give the oxygen gas flow rate.
  • the regeneration of the purification unit 7 is carried out using the flow 107C.
  • the liquid air produced by the vaporization of the liquid oxygen is stored in the storage tank 131 during the peak periods, and no gaseous or liquid air is sent to the air separation unit 101.
  • the process may be modified to vaporize the pumped liquid nitrogen as an additional flow rate, or as a flow rate to replace the pumped oxygen flow rate.
  • a nitrogen cycle (rather than an air cycle), as shown in FIG. 6.
  • the compressor 230 is powered by at least a portion of the In this case, it is necessary to have an available nitrogen source, coming from the air separation unit 101 operating at reduced capacity, or other separation units of air, optionally via a nitrogen line. This is why air is the preferred fluid for such an application because it is available independently of any air separation unit.
  • the compressed nitrogen is cooled and condensed in the heat exchanger 5.
  • the compressed nitrogen is then subdivided into at least two portions, three portions being presented here, expanded to at least two different pressures, and vaporized in the heat exchanger 5.
  • valves 1 16A and 1 16B are returned to intermediate positions of nitrogen compressor 230, and the vaporized nitrogen from valve 1 16C can be used to regenerate the purification unit if the air separation does not work.
  • the produced liquid nitrogen 234 is expanded in the valve 231 and stored in the storage unit 131 for use.
  • the liquid oxygen can be vaporized against the nitrogen in the periods during which the air separation unit does not operate, for example the periods during which the electricity is particularly expensive.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Emergency Medicine (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
EP18736971.5A 2017-05-24 2018-05-18 Verfahren und vorrichtung zur lufttrennung durch kryogene destillation Active EP3631327B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1754624A FR3062197B3 (fr) 2017-05-24 2017-05-24 Procede et appareil pour la separation de l'air par distillation cryogenique
FR1754619A FR3066809B1 (fr) 2017-05-24 2017-05-24 Procede et appareil pour la separation de l'air par distillation cryogenique
PCT/FR2018/051201 WO2018215716A1 (fr) 2017-05-24 2018-05-18 Procédé et appareil pour la séparation de l'air par distillation cryogénique

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CN111928511B (zh) * 2020-08-07 2021-09-07 西安西热节能技术有限公司 基于压缩机中间吸气的液化空气储能调峰系统和方法
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FR3062197B3 (fr) 2019-05-10
CN110678710A (zh) 2020-01-10
FR3062197A3 (fr) 2018-07-27
RU2761562C2 (ru) 2021-12-09
FR3066809B1 (fr) 2020-01-31
RU2019140617A3 (de) 2021-07-19
EP3631327B1 (de) 2021-06-23
FR3066809A1 (fr) 2018-11-30
WO2018215716A1 (fr) 2018-11-29
RU2019140617A (ru) 2021-06-10
US12025372B2 (en) 2024-07-02
US20200132367A1 (en) 2020-04-30
CN110678710B (zh) 2021-12-10

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