EP3877713A1 - Procédé et appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique - Google Patents
Procédé et appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogéniqueInfo
- Publication number
- EP3877713A1 EP3877713A1 EP18867318.0A EP18867318A EP3877713A1 EP 3877713 A1 EP3877713 A1 EP 3877713A1 EP 18867318 A EP18867318 A EP 18867318A EP 3877713 A1 EP3877713 A1 EP 3877713A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- column
- flow
- enriched
- nitrogen
- argon
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
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- 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
- F25J3/044—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 single pressure main column system only
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- 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
- F25J3/04218—Parallel arrangement of the main heat exchange line in cores having different functions, e.g. in low pressure and high pressure cores
- F25J3/04224—Cores associated with a liquefaction or refrigeration cycle
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- 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
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- 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
- F25J3/04309—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 nitrogen
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- 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
- F25J3/04333—Generation 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
- F25J3/04351—Generation 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
- F25J3/04357—Generation 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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- 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
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- 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
- F25J3/04642—Recovering noble gases from air
- F25J3/04648—Recovering noble gases from air argon
- F25J3/04654—Producing crude argon in a crude argon column
- F25J3/0466—Producing crude argon in a crude argon column as a parallel working rectification column or auxiliary column system in a single pressure main column system
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- 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
- F25J3/04793—Rectification, e.g. columns; Reboiler-condenser
- F25J3/048—Argon recovery
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- 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
- F25J3/04933—Partitioning walls or sheets
- F25J3/04939—Vertical, e.g. dividing wall columns
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- 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
- F25J3/04969—Retrofitting or revamping of an existing air fractionation unit
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- 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
- F25J2200/40—Features relating to the provision of boil-up in the bottom of a column
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- 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
- F25J2200/76—Refluxing the column with condensed overhead gas being cycled in a quasi-closed loop refrigeration cycle
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- 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
- F25J2200/78—Refluxing the column with a liquid stream originating from an upstream or downstream fractionator column
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- 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
- F25J2235/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams
- F25J2235/42—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams the fluid being nitrogen
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- 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
- F25J2245/58—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams the recycled stream being argon or crude argon
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for air separation by cryogenic distillation.
- the invention consists in using a part of a nitrogen cycle which ensures the reboiling and reflux of the mono-column operating at low pressure to operate the condenser of the argon column.
- the proposed scheme is better in energy than those of the prior art, especially for high argon yields.
- a single-column apparatus operating at low pressure (or BP) with a nitrogen cycle and with a withdrawal of a rich pseudo-liquid at an intermediate point of the LP column to feed the condenser of the argon column.
- This liquid could be taken between the head of the column and the withdrawal of argon-enriched gas sent to the argon column.
- the liquid would be pumped to the argon column condenser, vaporize and be sent to the LP column at a level below the liquid draw point.
- a method according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US4818262 and FR2705141.
- a method for separating air by cryogenic distillation in a column system comprising a first column operating at a first pressure and a second column operating at a second pressure, the first pressure being substantially equal to the second pressure in which:
- the nitrogen-enriched flow rate is compressed in a compressor and the compressed flow rate is used to heat a first column bottom-reboiler producing a nitrogen-enriched at least partially condensed flow,
- auxiliary flow is expanded in a turbine where it liquefies at least partially and sends the flow at least partially liquefied at the top of the first column.
- the auxiliary flow is partially liquefied at the outlet of a wheel of the turbine, or even in the wheel of the turbine,
- the flow enriched in nitrogen is heated in a heat exchanger upstream of the compressor, the compressed flow enriched in nitrogen cools in the heat exchanger and is then sent at least partly to the reboiler of the tank,
- a part of the compressed flow enriched in nitrogen is expanded in a second turbine and returned to the heat exchanger,
- the inlet temperature of the turbine and / or the second turbine and / or the compressor is a cryogenic temperature
- An argon-rich liquid flow is sent from the head of the second column to the head of the first column,
- the first and second parts of the nitrogen-enriched at least partially condensed flow have different pressures and / or temperatures, the second part preferably being at a higher pressure than that of the first part;
- an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation in a column system comprising a first column operating at a first pressure having a bottom reboiler and a second column operating at a second pressure. having a top condenser, the first pressure being substantially equal to the second pressure, a compressor, a turbine, a conduit for supplying compressed, purified and cooled air to an intermediate point of the first column, a line for withdrawing a tank-enriched oxygen of the first column and / or an oxygen-enriched gas of the first column and a line for withdrawing a flow enriched with nitrogen to the top of the first column and to send to the compressor, a pipe to send an argon enriched flow from an intermediate point of the first column to the tank of the second column, a pipe to extract a flow rich in argon at the head of the second column, a pipe for sending the compressed nitrogen enriched flow into the compressor to the first column bottom reboiler to produce a nitrogen-enriched at least partially conden
- the device does not include auxiliary flow heating means upstream of the turbine.
- the apparatus comprises a heat exchanger and means for sending the nitrogen-enriched flow to heat up in the heat exchanger upstream of the compressor.
- the apparatus comprises means for sending the compressed nitrogen-enriched flow from the compressor to the heat exchanger to cool.
- the apparatus comprises a second turbine and means for sending therein.
- the apparatus comprises means for sending an argon-rich liquid flow from the head of the second column to the head of the first column.
- the invention consists in using a part of the nitrogen cycle which ensures the reboiling and reflux of the LP mono-column to operate the condenser of the argon column.
- the ring nitrogen is condensed in the vaporizer of the LP column. Part of the nitrogen is totally, preferentially partially subcooled and sent to the condenser of the argon column.
- the condenser In the condenser, it vaporizes at an intermediate pressure between the pressure of the nitrogen cycle and the pressure of the LP column, its vaporization for condensing the rising vapor in the argon column to ensure the reflux of the Argon column.
- Nitrogen vaporized at an intermediate pressure is then expanded in a turbine to the head of the LP column.
- This turbine being very cold, a slightly diphasic mixture is obtained at the outlet, the liquid part also contributing to the reflux of the LP column.
- the cold produced by the turbine can bring all or part of the cooling capacity to output the argon produced directly in liquid form, to be sent to a storage for example.
- the maintenance of the argon column in operation avoids disturbing or even stopping the LP column (by massive sending of the liquid retained in the argon column to the LP column), which makes reliable the production of oxygen, whatever the disturbances to the argon column.
- the nitrogen puff can be evacuated for example by a purge at the condenser of the argon column or the head of the argon column, while having the argon column which works vis-à-vis the difficult separation argon / oxygen .
- this allows, by minimizing the operational risks, to facilitate the removal of the denitrogenation column to purify the argon column argon by nitrogen, by adding some theoretical plates directly above the argon quenching in the LP column. , to greatly reduce the nitrogen content before entering the argon column.
- Figure 1 shows an air separation apparatus using a single column 1 to produce oxygen and nitrogen as well as an argon column 2.
- Column 1 operates between 1.013 bara and 2 bara, for example at 1.3 bara.
- the argon column 2 operates at between 1.013 bar and 2 bara, for example at 1.3 bara.
- Compressed air purified with water and carbon dioxide 3 is cooled in a heat exchanger 5 and sent to an intermediate point of a separation column 1.
- Distillation air is separated to produce liquid enriched in oxygen in the bottom of the column and nitrogen gas 7 at the top of the column.
- a flow 47 enriched with argon is taken and sent to an argon column 2.
- Liquid or gaseous argon 51 is produced at the top of the column 2 and the tank liquid 49 is sent to the column 1 at the withdrawal of the column 1. Neither the liquid 49 nor the gas 47 are pressurized or relaxed between the two columns (beyond the pressure losses and hydrostatic heights) .
- the apparatus is kept cold and carries out the distillation through a nitrogen cycle.
- the nitrogen taken at the top of the column 1 serves to cool a heat exchanger 11 and is then divided in two, a portion 9 being heated in the heat exchanger 5 and a portion 13 being used to produce cold and provide the energy for the distillation.
- the nitrogen 13 is heated in a heat exchanger 15, compressed in a compressor 19, cooled in the cooler 21 to form the flow 23 and then returned to the exchanger 15.
- the flow 23 is divided into two .
- a portion 29 is cooled to the cold end of the exchanger 15 and then serves to heat the bottom reboiler 31 of the column 1.
- the rest of the nitrogen 25 at an intermediate temperature of the exchanger 15 is expanded in a turbine 27 and joined the nitrogen 13 to start again in the exchanger 15.
- Nitrogen 29 After being used to heat the reboiler 31, the nitrogen 29 which is condensed is cooled in the subcooler 11 and then divided in half. Nitrogen 29 can be split in half before the subcooler, allowing the two parts to be subcooled differently.
- a portion 33 is expanded in a valve and then sent as a reflux liquid at the top of column 1.
- the other part 35 is sent, at a pressure greater than that of column 1, to the top condenser 37 of column 2 where it vaporizes at least partially.
- the nitrogen 39 thus formed is expanded in the turbine 41 and the expanded flow rate 43 feeds the head of the column 1, possibly through a separator pot and sending the liquid, itself possibly pumped and the gas in two separate conduits .
- the nitrogen 43 expanded in the turbine 41 partially liquefies at the outlet of the turbine wheel, or even in the wheel, the pressure and temperature conditions at the wheel outlet being such that, for example, half of the isentropic relaxation.
- the rate of liquid in the wheel or at the exit thereof is then between 0.5% and 10%, preferably between 2% and 5%. If it is desired to limit this level of liquid in order to avoid mechanical damage to the turbine, provision may be made to heat the nitrogen before expansion, for example in the subcooler 11.
- the rest of the expansion is carried out in the volute of the turbine. turbine where it continues to cool and liquefy at least a portion of the rest of the gas.
- the liquid part thus formed contributes to the reflux of the BP 1 column.
- the architecture of this apparatus can be that of a conventional apparatus, namely using columns with circular section in one piece, equipped with structured packings or trays.
- the column is replaced by a stack of square or rectangular section modules, each module being isolated and containing an element allowing the exchange of material and heat, such as packings.
- the separation is carried out at low temperature by distillation, the liquids being distilled down from one module to another and the gases rising from one module to another. In this way the fluid to be separated is introduced into a module and a fluid enriched in a component of the fluid leaves another module of the same stack.
- An argon option can be defined by inserting a module at an intermediate position of the LP column, at the level of the argon belly, and the cold box, without having to modify the rest of the equipment.
- the liquid nitrogen condensed in the vaporizer and then subcooled is expanded in a valve and then sent into a two-phase pipe at the top of the LP column.
- it is partially expanded in the same valve and sent in the same pipe to the interposed module where a part is partially relaxed, then sent to the condenser of the Argon column and the other part is totally relaxed and sent to the head of the BP column through the same pipe as the base version.
- the intercalated module also includes pipe extensions / ducts for splicing the pipes / ducts that are placed along the LP column at the argon belly.
- the nitrogen cycle remains unchanged between the argon-free option and the argon option, with equipment over-dimensioning (in particular nitrogen cycle compressor) limited to 10%, or even 5%, or even without over-sizing. . It is therefore easy to standardize and / or modularize to satisfy both options.
- the addition of the ad hoc turbine to the argon condenser provides the necessary cooling capacity for the liquefaction of argon, without impacting the rest of the refrigeration budget of the unit.
- the invention is particularly well compared with the state of the art, in particular with high efficiency of argon as illustrated in FIG. 2 which compares the energy of separation of oxygen with the argon yield.
- the gain is amplified by the non-necessity to take margins vis-à-vis the operation of the separation apparatus.
- an external nitrogen cycle is used to partially heat the bottom reboiler of the low pressure column, the rest of the heating being provided by the gas at the top of the column MP.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR1761346A FR3074274B1 (fr) | 2017-11-29 | 2017-11-29 | Procede et appareil de separation d'air par distillation cryogenique |
PCT/FR2018/052776 WO2019106250A1 (fr) | 2017-11-29 | 2018-11-08 | Procédé et appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP3877713A1 true EP3877713A1 (fr) | 2021-09-15 |
Family
ID=61132654
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP18867318.0A Withdrawn EP3877713A1 (fr) | 2017-11-29 | 2018-11-08 | Procédé et appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US11435139B2 (fr) |
EP (1) | EP3877713A1 (fr) |
CN (1) | CN111542724A (fr) |
FR (1) | FR3074274B1 (fr) |
WO (1) | WO2019106250A1 (fr) |
Family Cites Families (24)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US2934907A (en) * | 1954-08-17 | 1960-05-03 | Union Carbide Corp | High argon recovery using kettle top feed-top pinch principle |
GB1258568A (fr) * | 1968-08-21 | 1971-12-30 | ||
FR2060184B1 (fr) * | 1969-09-10 | 1973-11-16 | Air Liquide | |
IT1034545B (it) * | 1975-03-26 | 1979-10-10 | Siad | Processo ed impianto per l otte nimento dell argon a partire da un processo di frazionamento dell aria |
FR2584803B1 (fr) * | 1985-07-15 | 1991-10-18 | Air Liquide | Procede et installation de distillation d'air |
US4756731A (en) * | 1986-02-20 | 1988-07-12 | Erickson Donald C | Oxygen and argon by back-pressured distillation |
DE3770773D1 (de) * | 1986-11-24 | 1991-07-18 | Boc Group Plc | Luftverfluessigung. |
DE3871220D1 (de) * | 1987-04-07 | 1992-06-25 | Boc Group Plc | Lufttrennung. |
FR2705141B1 (fr) * | 1993-05-11 | 1995-07-28 | Air Liquide | Procede et installation cryogenique de production d'argon. |
FR2807150B1 (fr) * | 2000-04-04 | 2002-10-18 | Air Liquide | Procede et appareil de production d'un fluide enrichi en oxygene par distillation cryogenique |
FR2854579B1 (fr) * | 2003-05-09 | 2005-06-17 | Air Liquide | Installation de distillation comprenant des colonnes a garnissages structures ondules-croises et procede d'augmentation de capacite d'une installation de distillation |
US8484992B2 (en) * | 2009-12-02 | 2013-07-16 | Praxair Technology, Inc. | Krypton xenon recovery from pipeline oxygen |
FR2953915B1 (fr) * | 2009-12-11 | 2011-12-02 | Air Liquide | Procede et appareil de separation d'air par distillation cryogenique |
US8528363B2 (en) * | 2009-12-17 | 2013-09-10 | L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude | Process and apparatus for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation |
US9279613B2 (en) * | 2010-03-19 | 2016-03-08 | Praxair Technology, Inc. | Air separation method and apparatus |
FR2973486B1 (fr) * | 2011-03-31 | 2013-05-03 | Air Liquide | Procede de separation d'air par distillation cryogenique |
JP5684058B2 (ja) * | 2011-06-23 | 2015-03-11 | エア・ウォーター株式会社 | 空気分離方法および空気分離装置 |
CN202328999U (zh) * | 2011-12-01 | 2012-07-11 | 液化空气(杭州)有限公司 | 带快速启动的空气分离设备 |
CN102589250A (zh) * | 2012-02-14 | 2012-07-18 | 开封黄河空分集团有限公司 | 一种由空气分离制取氮气的工艺 |
EP2634517B1 (fr) * | 2012-02-29 | 2018-04-04 | L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude | Procédé et appareil pour la séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique |
CN105910388A (zh) * | 2016-06-03 | 2016-08-31 | 开封黄河空分集团有限公司 | 空气分离设备以及空气分离方法 |
FR3052243B1 (fr) | 2016-06-06 | 2019-06-28 | L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude | Assemblage d'elements modulaires de construction d'un appareil d'echange de masse et/ou de chaleur et procede d'echange utilisant un assemblage |
FR3059087A3 (fr) | 2016-11-18 | 2018-05-25 | Air Liquide | Appareil de separation a temperature subambiante |
CN106949708B (zh) * | 2016-11-25 | 2020-02-11 | 乔治洛德方法研究和开发液化空气有限公司 | 一种对原有低温空分装置进行改装用以提高低压纯氮气产量的方法 |
-
2017
- 2017-11-29 FR FR1761346A patent/FR3074274B1/fr active Active
-
2018
- 2018-11-08 WO PCT/FR2018/052776 patent/WO2019106250A1/fr unknown
- 2018-11-08 US US16/768,067 patent/US11435139B2/en active Active
- 2018-11-08 CN CN201880083392.9A patent/CN111542724A/zh active Pending
- 2018-11-08 EP EP18867318.0A patent/EP3877713A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US11435139B2 (en) | 2022-09-06 |
FR3074274A1 (fr) | 2019-05-31 |
WO2019106250A9 (fr) | 2019-10-31 |
CN111542724A (zh) | 2020-08-14 |
FR3074274B1 (fr) | 2020-01-31 |
WO2019106250A1 (fr) | 2019-06-06 |
US20200370825A1 (en) | 2020-11-26 |
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