GB236603A - Process for separating gas mixtures, more especially air or other difficultly liquefiable gas mixtures - Google Patents

Abstract

236,603. Mewes, R. F., and Mewes, R. K. E. Feb. 4, 1924. Separating gaseous mixtures by liquefaction.- In the separation by liquefaction of mixtures of permanent " gases, an excess of the low boiling point substance from the separator column is liquefied in a condenser, and a corresponding excess of the high boiling point substance is vaporized, the excess of vapour so produced being in part re-liquefied by heat exchange in another condenser with a part of the liquid so produced, and the remainder of the liquid returning to the separator column. Pure, pre-cooled air is passed into the separate column through a pipe 3 under pressure, and is washed by nitrogen. Highly compressed air or nitrogen after passage through a heat exchanger flows through a pipe 65 which is led through the oxygen vaporizer 8 and as a coiled portion through the upper part of the column finally delivering its contents, expanded through a valve 66<a> into the middle of the column. The liquid oxygen in the base is delivered through a valved pipe 69 into the condenser 12, the liquid being vaporized and led off by the outlet 5. Nitrogen rising in the column liquefies in passages 70 and is delivered into a chamber 71 from which a part is fed back into the column through overflow pipes 72. Another part flows into a chamber 73 in which its vapour passes off under pressure through pipes 75 while the liquid flows through pipes 74 and after expansion through a valve 76 is led around a supplementary oxygen condenser and rectifier 78, finally passing away through an outlet 7. The oxygen vapours rising through pipes 80 are rectified in the condenser 78, the liquid oxygen flowing back through these pipes while the nitrogen vapour passes into the column through pipes 79.