Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J19/32—Packing elements in the form of grids or built-up elements for forming a unit or module inside the apparatus for mass or heat transfer
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
  • B01D53/14—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by absorption
  • B01D53/18—Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
  • B23P15/00—Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass
  • B23P15/26—Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass heat exchangers or the like
• • 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
  • F25J3/04624—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 integrated mass and heat exchange, so-called non-adiabatic rectification, e.g. dephlegmator, reflux exchanger
  • F25J3/0463—Simultaneously between rectifying and stripping sections, i.e. double dephlegmator
• • 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
  • F25J5/00—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants
  • F25J5/002—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants for continuously recuperating cold, i.e. in a so-called recuperative heat exchanger
  • F25J5/007—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants for continuously recuperating cold, i.e. in a so-called recuperative heat exchanger combined with mass exchange, i.e. in a so-called dephlegmator
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D21/0015—Heat and mass exchangers, e.g. with permeable walls
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D9/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
  • F28D9/0031—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by paired plates touching each other
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F21/00—Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials
  • F28F21/08—Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials of metal
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/32—Details relating to packing elements in the form of grids or built-up elements for forming a unit of module inside the apparatus for mass or heat transfer
  • B01J2219/322—Basic shape of the elements
  • B01J2219/32203—Sheets
  • B01J2219/32213—Plurality of essentially parallel sheets
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/32—Details relating to packing elements in the form of grids or built-up elements for forming a unit of module inside the apparatus for mass or heat transfer
  • B01J2219/322—Basic shape of the elements
  • B01J2219/32203—Sheets
  • B01J2219/32265—Sheets characterised by the orientation of blocks of sheets
  • B01J2219/32272—Sheets characterised by the orientation of blocks of sheets relating to blocks in superimposed layers
• • 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
  • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
  • F25J2290/44—Particular materials used, e.g. copper, steel or alloys thereof or surface treatments used, e.g. enhanced surface

Definitions

• Matrix integrating at least one heat exchange function and one separation function
• the present invention relates to a matrix integrating at least one heat exchange function and one distillation function.
• the present invention relates to a matrix for forming at least part of a distillation separation unit, for example an apparatus for cryogenic separation of gases from air.
• the matrix preferably brazed in aluminum, incorporates at least a heat exchange function and a distillation function.
• a cryogenic air separation unit generally comprises brazed plate heat exchangers which in particular form the main heat exchange line of the cryogenic air separation unit and the vaporizer. condenser putting the medium pressure column and the low pressure column into a heat exchange relationship. These two distillation columns in which the transfer of material is carried out are not integrated in the brazed dies which constitute these brazed plate heat exchangers.
• EP0767352 proposes to integrate a dephlegmation function in these brazed dies, that is to say a zone in which heat exchange and material transfer are carried out simultaneously.
• a brazed die has a stack of parallel plates defining fluid passages, as well as spacers or heat exchange waves defining channels for these fluids. Peripheral closure bars seal the fluid passages.
• US5144809 describes a die having a lower section with a heat exchange function and a distillation function in a body formed by a stack of plates.
• the passages dedicated to distillation are separated from one another by passages, the upper part of which is used for the vaporization of rich liquid and the lower part of which is empty.
• the present invention aims to provide a material transfer apparatus which is efficient (for example by allowing to have HETPs of less than 100 mm), which can withstand pressure, which is easy to manufacture at low cost and in which it is possible can integrate indirect heat exchange.
• such a brazed die has the overall shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. Its length is typically 4 to 8 m, its width from 1 to 1.5 m and its height from 1 to 2 m.
• the length of a brazed die is the greatest dimension of the parallel plates delimiting fluid passages.
• the width of a heat exchanger is measured perpendicular to the length.
• the height of a heat exchanger is measured along the stacking direction of its plates. In this patent, the height of the die will also be referred to as die thickness or die stack.
• the present invention aims in particular to solve the problems of brazing and of the mechanical strength of the brazed die while ensuring the process functions of such a die.
• the invention relates to a matrix intended to form at least part of a separation unit by transfer of material, for example to separate by distillation of air into a fraction enriched in nitrogen and a fraction enriched in nitrogen.
• oxygen combined with an indirect heat transfer unit between a primary fluid and a secondary fluid, for example to condense the nitrogen-enriched fraction as the primary fluid against vaporization of the oxygen-enriched fraction or of an oxygen-rich fluid derived from the fraction enriched with oxygen as secondary fluid,
• said matrix comprising a stack of several plates arranged parallel to each other in a so-called stacking direction, defining passages, the matrix having a length, a width and a thickness, the length of a matrix being the largest dimension parallel plates, the width of the matrix being measured perpendicular to the length and the thickness of the matrix being measured along the direction of stacking of its plates,
• the matrix comprising at least two zones including a first zone called indirect heat transfer zone defined by a first fraction of the length of the matrix, at least half of the total width of the matrix and at least half of the total thickness of the die and a second zone called the distillation separation zone defined by a second fraction of the length of the die, at least half of the total width of the die and at least half of the total thickness of the die matrix,
• the first zone and the second zone being connected and the matrix being constructed to allow the communication of fluid coming from only a part of the passages of the first zone towards the passages of the second zone and to allow the communication of fluid coming from the passages of the second zone to only part of the passages of the first zone,
• the passages of the first zone being formed by a first series of passages for channeling at least one refrigerant or circulating fluid, the passages of the first series not being in fluid communication with the second zone and a second series of passages for channeling a fluid produced by the distillation in the second zone, the passages of the second series being in fluid communication with the second zone, the passages of the first zone being closed to prevent the fluid produced by the transfer of material from entering the first series and to prevent the refrigerant or circulating fluid from entering the second series,
• the set of passages of the second zone having a dimension which is the second fraction of the length of the matrix, a dimension which is at least half of the total width of the matrix and a dimension which is at least half of the thickness of the die, each passage being defined between two successive plates and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis,
• the number of passages in the first zone being strictly greater than the number of passages in the second zone by distillation and preferably a multiple of the number of passages in the second zone.
• the number of passages in the first zone is at least two times, even at least three times, or even at least eight times the number of passages in the second zone,
• the passages in the first zone contain means to promote indirect heat transfer chosen from the group: straight waves, perforated waves, partially offset waves, louver waves, herringbone waves,
• the matrix comprises at least a third zone called the material transfer zone juxtaposing the first zone, the matrix being constructed to allow the fluid communication of the passages of the first zone towards the passages of the third zone and of the passages of the third zone towards the passages of the first zone over the entire section, the third zone called the second material transfer zone defined by a third fraction of the length of the die, at least half of the total width of the die and at least half of the total thickness of the matrix,
• the passages of the third zone having a dimension which is a third fraction of the length of the die, a dimension which is at least half of the total width of the die and a dimension which is at least half of the thickness of the matrix,
• the passages of the third zone containing means to promote the transfer of material the number of passages in the first zone is strictly greater than the number of passages in the third zone by distillation and preferably a multiple of the number of passages in the third zone ,
• the matrix comprises at least a third zone called the indirect heat transfer zone juxtaposing the second zone, the matrix being constructed to allow fluid communication from the passages of the second zone to the passages of the third zone and / or of the passages of the third zone towards the passages of the second zone over the entire section, the third zone called the second indirect heat transfer zone defined by a third fraction of the length of the die, at least half of the total width of the die and at least half of the total thickness of the matrix,
• the passages of the third zone having a dimension which is a third fraction of the length of the die, a dimension which is at least half of the total width of the die and a dimension which is at least half of the thickness of the matrix,
• the passages of the third zone containing means to promote the indirect heat transfer and possibly the transfer of material
• the number of passages in the third zone is strictly greater than the number of passages in the second material transfer zone and preferably a multiple of the number of passages in the second zone
• the first zone is defined by at least three quarters of the total width of the matrix, or even the entire width,
• the first zone is defined by at least three quarters of the total thickness of the matrix, or even the entire thickness,
• the second zone is defined by at least three quarters of the total width of the matrix, or even the entire width,
• the second zone is defined by at least three quarters of the total thickness of the matrix, or even the entire thickness
• the passages of the first series are each between two passages of the second series and the passages of the second series are each between two passages of the first series, with the exception of the passages at the edge of the die.
• part of the first, second or third zone may have a different function from that of another part of the same zone
• At least one flat wall is arranged parallel between a pair of adjacent plates
• the matrix comprises means for supplying all the passages of the second zone with the same fluid
• the second zone comprises, or even consists of, a multiplicity of passages adjacent to one another
• the second zone is defined by a second fraction of the length of the die, at least half of the total width of the die and the total thickness of the die, ie the stack.
• an apparatus for separating a gas mixture having at least two components using a matrix comprising means for sending the gas mixture cooled and purified in the second ends of at least most of the passages, preferably of all the passages of the second zone, means for leaving a liquid enriched in a component of the gas mixture of the second ends of the passages, preferably of all the passages, as well as:
• ii) means for sending a circulating fluid in the first series of passages of the first zone and means for sending a liquid to be vaporized in the second series of passages of the first zone.
• a gas produced by the distillation of the gas mixture in the second zone condenses in the first zone by heat exchange with a refrigerant, and / or
• a liquid produced by the distillation of the gas mixture vaporizes in the second zone by heat exchange with a circulating fluid.
• FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic perspective views of other embodiments of the invention where multiple zones of material transfer and / or indirect heat transfer are produced, possibly associated with the transfer of material;
• transfer of material will characterize areas in which there is direct contact between at least two fluids. These two fluids are preferably a gas and a liquid but could be two liquids or two gases. Distillation is one of the processes implementing the transfer of material. Note that there can also be a "direct heat transfer” that is to say with contact associated with the transfer of material.
• FIG. 1A illustrates a matrix 1, intended to form at least part of a separation unit by distillation, or even to form by itself a separation unit by distillation. It could be used to separate air into a nitrogen-enriched fraction and an oxygen-enriched fraction.
• the air would be separated in a part of the matrix and another part of the matrix would serve to allow the indirect heat transfer between a primary fluid and a secondary fluid, for example to condense the fraction enriched in nitrogen as the primary fluid against the vaporization of the oxygen-enriched fraction or of an oxygen-rich fluid derived from the oxygen-enriched fraction as a secondary fluid.
• the primary fluid and / or the secondary fluid could be produced by the distillation of a mixture in the material transfer part of the matrix.
• the matrix 1 comprises a stack of several rectangular plates 4 arranged parallel to each other in a so-called stacking direction, the matrix having a length, a width and a height, the length of a matrix being the largest dimension of the plates. parallels, the width of the matrix being measured perpendicular to the length and the height of the matrix being measured along the direction of stacking of its plates.
• Each plate 4 has the same length and the same width as the die 1 and can be made of aluminum. It is these plates 4 which provide the mechanical strength framework of the brazed die.
• zone 2 is placed above zone 3, but the opposite is possible.
• the first zone 2 and the second zone 3 are connected and the die is constructed to allow the communication of fluid from only a part of the passages of the first zone to the passages of the second zone and to allow the communication of fluid from the passages from the second zone to only part of the passages of the first zone over the entire section.
• the passages of the first series are not in fluid communication with the second zone 2 and the passages of the second series are in fluid communication with the second zone 3,
• the second zone 3 comprises, preferably consists of, a multiplicity of passages 22 adjacent to one another.
• the passages 24 of the first zone 2 have a dimension which is the first fraction of the length of the die, a dimension which is the total width of the die and a dimension which is a fraction of the height of the die.
• the passages 24 of the first zone 2 contain means for promoting the indirect heat exchange and possibly the transfer of material, means for promoting the heat exchange chosen from the group: waves straight, perforated waves, partially offset waves, louver waves, herringbone waves, structured fillings, bulk fillings.
• the passages 24 of the first zone 2 are formed by a first series of passages 54,62,72 for channeling at least one refrigerant or circulating fluid and a second series 53,55,60,61, 70 of passages for channeling a fluid produced by the distillation in the second zone, the passages being closed to prevent the fluid produced by the distillation from entering the first series and to prevent the refrigerant or circulating fluid from entering the second series.
• the passages 22 of the second zone 3 have a dimension which is the second fraction of the length of the die, a dimension which is the total width of the die and a dimension which is a fraction of the height of the die, each passage being defined between two successive plates and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis.
• the number of passages in the first zone 2 is strictly greater than the number of passages in the second zone 3 and preferably a multiple of the number of passages in the second zone.
• the passages 22 of the second zone 3, 7, 8, 9 are all supplied with the same gas to be distilled and produce a gas enriched in light component at the top of the passages and a liquid enriched in heavy component at the bottom of the passages.
• the plates 5 (planar element) have the height of the first zone and the width of the matrix. They are arranged in parallel with the plates 4 in the space between two plates 4 to subdivide the passages between two plates 4 into a plurality of passages 24.
• the number of passages in the indirect heat transfer zone is at least twice or even three times, or even four or eight times the number of passages in the separation zone by material transfer.
• the number of passages 22 in the second zone 3 is multiplied by an even number to obtain the number of passages 24 in the first zone 2, for example to have an alternation of a refrigerant passage with a circulating passage.
• Another preferred embodiment of the invention is to choose a number of passages 22 in zone 3 multiplied by a number multiple of 3 (preferably 3, 6 or 9) so as to have 2 circulating passages flanking 1 refrigerant passage (or possibly the reverse).
• a circulating passage can operate as a condenser-dephlegmator to ensure the reflux of zone 3 (without a specific liquid distribution device.
• the gas leaving the top of this passage feeds the second circulating passage which is a conventional condenser in a manner to produce the liquid which will ensure the reflux of a low pressure column
• an even number of condenser-dephlegmator and conventional condenser passages can be added with a lateral gas outlet.
• Zones 2, 3 are connected so that nitrogen cannot enter the passages for refrigerant and so that refrigerant cannot pass into the second zone.
• the nitrogen condenses in part of the passages 24 and descends back to the second zone 3 in liquid form.
• the refrigerant is at least heated and if it is a liquid, it is preferably vaporized at least partially in passages 24.
• the matrix 1 optionally comprises means (not shown) for leaving the nitrogen gas at the top of the passages 22 of the second zone 3.
• a single plate 5 is disposed between each pair of plates 4 to form two passages 24.
• a partition blocks the bottom of every second passage 24.
• This column can for example separate the oxygen-enriched liquid coming from the passages 22 of the second zone 3.
• An oxygen-rich liquid formed at the bottom of the column feeds part of the passages of the matrix 1 in the first zone 2.
• Figure 3 illustrates a matrix comprising a stack of several plates arranged parallel to each other in a so-called stacking direction, the matrix having a length, a width and a height, the length of a matrix being the largest dimension of the parallel plates, the width of the die being measured perpendicular to the length and the height of the die being measured along the direction of stacking of its plates, each plate having the same length and width as the die, like that of Figure 1A.
• the matrix comprises five zones including a first zone 2, arranged between the other four zones, two above the first zone 2 and two below the first zone 2.
• Zone 2 called the indirect heat exchange zone, is defined. by a first fraction of the length of the die, the total width of the die and the total thickness of the die.
• distillation separation zone defined by a second fraction of the length of the die, the total width of the die and the total thickness of the die.
• the first zone 2 and the second zone 3 are connected and the die being constructed to allow the communication of fluid coming from only a part of the passages of the first zone to the passages of the second zone and to allow the communication of fluid from the passages from the second zone to only part of the passages of the first zone over the entire section.
• Zones 2 and 3 have already been described for Figure 1A and will not be redescribed. Below the second zone 3 there is a zone 7 which is an indirect heat exchange zone.
• This zone 7 serves, for example, to cool the air to be separated down to a cryogenic temperature by indirect heat exchange with at least one product of the distillation which is heated in other passages of zone 7 to a temperature. temperature close to ambient.
• the number of passages in zone 7 is strictly greater than the number of passages in the second zone 3 and preferably a multiple of the number of passages in the second zone.
• the number of passages in zone 7 may be equal to or less than or greater than the number of passages in the first zone 2.
• the number of passages in zone 7 is at least twice, or even at least three times, or even at least eight times the number of passes in the second zone 3.
• the increase in the number of passages is obtained by arranging the plates 5 parallel to the plates 4, the plates 5 being shorter than the plates 4 and having a length corresponding to the length of the zone 7.
• the passages in zone 7 contain means for promoting heat exchange chosen from the group: straight waves, perforated waves, partially offset waves, person waves, herringbone waves.
• Zones 8 and 9 preferably have a number of passages similar to those of the second zone, these zones also being dedicated to distillation.
• the air cools down to a cryogenic temperature in dedicated passages in zone 7 and at least part of the cooled air is then distributed over all or at least a large majority of the passages in zone 3 where it is separated into a nitrogen-enriched gas and an oxygen-enriched liquid.
• Nitrogen-enriched gas enters certain passages of Zone 2, condenses there, and falls back to all passages of Zone 3.
• zone 3 and part of the nitrogen condensed in zone 2 are sent to zones 8 and 9 respectively where they separate at a lower pressure than that of zone 3.
• An oxygen-rich liquid falls to the base of zone 8 and enters passages of zone 2 not supplied with nitrogen from zone 3.
• Figure 4 illustrates a matrix comprising a stack of several plates arranged parallel to each other in a so-called stacking direction, the matrix having a length, a width and a height, the length of a matrix being the largest dimension of the parallel plates, the width of the die being measured perpendicular to the length and height of the die being measured in the direction of stacking of its plates, each plate having the same length and width as the die, like that of Figure 1A.
• Zone 2 The matrix comprises seven zones including a first zone 2, arranged between the other four zones, two above the first zone 2 and two below the first zone 2.
• Zone 2 called the indirect heat exchange zone, is defined. by a first fraction of the length of the die, the total width of the die and at least half of the total thickness of the die.
• Zones 7, 3, 8 and 9 correspond to the same functions as those described in figure 3.
• Zones 7,8 and 9 occupy the total width of the die and the total thickness.
• Both zone 3 and zone 2 occupy at least half of the stack and occupy the full width of the die.
• the remainder of the stack opposite zones 2 and 3 is used for zones 21 and 20 for indirect heat exchange. In the case of gas separation from air, this may be the rich liquid sub-cooler for zone 21 and the lean liquid sub-cooler for zone 20.
• small fractions of the stack and / or of the width can be used for the following functions in the case of gas separation from air: mixing column, Etienne column, sub-cooler, auxiliary vaporizer, pipes (for example square or rectangular) to ensure the circulation of a fluid in two zones of the matrix, column of argon mixture with its condenser, column of argon denitrogenation with its condenser and its reboiler.
• FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D represent another preferred embodiment of the invention in which a number of passages in zone 2 is chosen multiplied by a number multiple of 3 (preferably 3, 6 or 9) so as to have 2 cooling passages flanking 1 refrigerant passage (or possibly the reverse).
• FIG. 5A represents a refrigerant passage plan for zone 2.
• FIG. 5B represents a passage plan of a first circulating agent which functions as a condenser-dephlegmator, that is to say that the gas coming from zone 3 will be condensate against the current of the condensed liquid. In this case, there is indirect heat transfer with the adjacent refrigerant passage and material transfer. between the rising gas and the falling liquid inside the passage.
• FIG. 5C represents a passage plane of a second circulating medium which operates as a condenser, the gas circulating downwards in co-current with the liquid which condenses.
• Figure 5D shows a side view (or sectional view) of the three passages, with the passage of Figure 5A between the passages of Figures 5B and 5C.
• the elements 50 represent the closing bars of the passages.
• the elements 51 crossed diagonal hatching
• the elements 52 represent exchange or distribution waves, the hatching determining the direction of the waves.
• FIG. 5D shows a pair of plates 4 separated by two plates 5 to form the three passages, the second circulating passage 55 being designated with a C and an arrow to indicate the liquid which condenses and flows downward.
• the first passage 53 being a dephlegmation passage, is indicated by a D.
• This gas transfer is indicated by 56 in Figures 5B, 5C.
• the gas rising from zone 3 goes into the first circulating passage 53 where it partially condenses.
• the non-condensed part is extracted at the top of the passage to be distributed in the second circulating passage 55 where it will condense almost completely.
• FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C represent another preferred embodiment of the invention in which a number of passages is chosen in zone 2 multiplied by a number multiple of 4.
• FIG. 6A represents a refrigerant passage plan 62 for the zone 2.
• FIG. 6B represents a cooling passage plan which functions as a condenser-dephlegmator D in its lower part 61 and as a condenser C for its upper part 60.
• FIG. 6C shows a side view (or sectional view) of the passages formed between a pair of plates 4 separated by three plates 5 to form four passages, two of which are refrigerants.
• the gas rising from zone 3 goes into the lower section of the circulating passages 61 where it partially condenses.
• the non-condensed part 64 is extracted at the top of this section 61 to be distributed at the top of the upper section of the circulating passages 60 where it will condense almost completely.
• FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C represent another preferred embodiment of the invention in which a number of passages is chosen in zone 2 multiplied by a number multiple of 2.
• a pair of plates 4 is separated by a plate 5
• FIG. 7A represents a refrigerant passage plan for zone 2.
• FIG. 7B represents a plan of circulating passages which operates as a condenser-dephlegmator D.
• FIG. 7C represents a side view (or sectional view) of the two passages 70 , 72.
• the lower section 71 of the refrigerant passages 72 is used to pass the gas.
• An opening (or openings) in the separator plate 5 allows gas to enter section 70 which functions as a condenser-dephlegmator.
• the separating sheet 5 can for example be in two pieces with a space between the two.
• the gas goes to the lower section of the circulating passages 70 where it partially condenses.
• At the top of section 70 one can optionally extract non-condensables or part of the gas through opening 74. Liquid falling from section 70 is collected in section 73 so as to:

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
• Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
• Vaporization, Distillation, Condensation, Sublimation, And Cold Traps (AREA)

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• 2020
  • 2020-02-25 JP JP2021549809A patent/JP2022522432A/ja active Pending
  • 2020-02-25 CN CN202080016284.7A patent/CN113474610B/zh active Active
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  • 2020-02-25 EP EP20713715.9A patent/EP3931922B1/de active Active
  • 2020-02-25 US US17/433,548 patent/US20220170701A1/en active Pending
  • 2020-02-25 WO PCT/FR2020/050355 patent/WO2020174173A1/fr unknown
  • 2020-02-25 WO PCT/FR2020/050354 patent/WO2020174172A1/fr unknown
  • 2020-02-25 EP EP20713719.1A patent/EP3931505B1/de active Active
  • 2020-02-25 CN CN202080015419.8A patent/CN113474956B/zh active Active
  • 2020-02-25 EP EP20713354.7A patent/EP3931504A1/de active Pending
  • 2020-02-25 US US17/433,254 patent/US20220134304A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2020-02-25 US US17/433,183 patent/US20220126263A1/en active Pending
  • 2020-02-25 WO PCT/FR2020/050350 patent/WO2020174169A1/fr unknown

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