US20110041552A1 - Apparatus And Method For Separating Air By Cryogenic Distillation - Google Patents
Apparatus And Method For Separating Air By Cryogenic Distillation Download PDFInfo
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- US20110041552A1 US20110041552A1 US12/937,649 US93764909A US2011041552A1 US 20110041552 A1 US20110041552 A1 US 20110041552A1 US 93764909 A US93764909 A US 93764909A US 2011041552 A1 US2011041552 A1 US 2011041552A1
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- pressure column
- level
- liquid
- low pressure
- oxygen
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- 238000004821 distillation Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 229910052743 krypton Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- DNNSSWSSYDEUBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N krypton atom Chemical compound [Kr] DNNSSWSSYDEUBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 229910052724 xenon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- FHNFHKCVQCLJFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N xenon atom Chemical compound [Xe] FHNFHKCVQCLJFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 80
- 239000006200 vaporizer Substances 0.000 claims description 22
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000010079 rubber tapping Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 abstract description 6
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dioxygen Chemical compound O=O MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000010926 purge Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 3
- XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Argon Chemical compound [Ar] XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-BJUDXGSMSA-N Nitrogen-13 Chemical compound [13N] QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-BJUDXGSMSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052786 argon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-OUBTZVSYSA-N nitrogen-15 Chemical compound [15N] QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-OUBTZVSYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- F25J3/04642—Recovering noble gases from air
- F25J3/04745—Krypton and/or Xenon
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
- F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
- F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
- F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
- F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
- F25J3/04078—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression
- F25J3/0409—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression of oxygen
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
- F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
- F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
- F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
- F25J3/04406—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system
- F25J3/04412—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system in a classical double column flowsheet, i.e. with thermal coupling by a main reboiler-condenser in the bottom of low pressure respectively top of high pressure column
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
- F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
- F25J2200/90—Details relating to column internals, e.g. structured packing, gas or liquid distribution
- F25J2200/94—Details relating to the withdrawal point
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
- F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
- F25J2215/02—Mixing or blending of fluids to yield a certain product
-
- 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
- F25J2250/00—Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
- F25J2250/30—External or auxiliary boiler-condenser in general, e.g. without a specified fluid or one fluid is not a primary air component or an intermediate fluid
- F25J2250/40—One fluid being air
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
- F25J2250/00—Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
- F25J2250/30—External or auxiliary boiler-condenser in general, e.g. without a specified fluid or one fluid is not a primary air component or an intermediate fluid
- F25J2250/52—One fluid being oxygen enriched compared to air, e.g. "crude oxygen"
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for producing krypton and xenon by separating air by cryogenic distillation and in particular to a method for separating gasses from air using internal compression (in which the gaseous oxygen is produced by vaporization under pressure in the exchange line) where a krypton/xenon mixture is extracted.
- a unit for separating gasses from air comprising a double column and where the gaseous oxygen is produced by vaporization under pressure in the exchange line (internal compression apparatus) in which provision is made to extract a krypton/xenon mixture
- the efficiency of this extraction decreases significantly because the pumped oxygen extracted from the low pressure distillation column brings with it a non-negligible proportion of components to be valorized, such as krypton and xenon.
- the invention can summarized as two essential steps:
- the low pressure column is fed by the purge rich in krypton and in xenon produced by concentration.
- the purge rich in krypton and in xenon produced above will feed the low pressure column, at a distillation stage lower than the tapping of the liquid oxygen which is intended to be pumped in order to then be vaporized in the main exchanger.
- the final mixture, rich in krypton and in xenon, is extracted from the bottom of the low pressure column in order to be subsequently treated there.
- this return is injected at the intake of the pump in order to minimize the OL tapping from the column and thus to increase the extraction yield of the krypton and xenon.
- Such a method makes it possible to extract about 90% of the xenon present in the air where a conventional method only allows a yield of about 70% at best. With regard to the extraction of the krypton, this reaches about 75% whereas the yield of a conventional apparatus at best only allows a yield of the order of 60%.
- a method for producing krypton and xenon by separation of air by cryogenic distillation in a double column comprising a medium pressure column and a low pressure column in which:
- an apparatus for producing krypton and xenon by separation of air by cryogenic distillation comprising a double column constituted by a medium pressure column and a low pressure column and a vaporizer comprising:
- the apparatus possibly comprises:
- a stream of medium-pressure gaseous air 1 is sent to the medium pressure column 20 of a double air separation column.
- the double column also comprises a low pressure column 21 thermally coupled with the medium pressure column 20 by means of a vaporizer 24 , which vaporizes the bottom liquid of the low pressure column by heat exchange with the gaseous nitrogen at the top of the medium pressure column.
- a high-pressure liquid air stream is expanded in a valve and then divided into two.
- the stream 3 thus formed is sent to the medium pressure column 20 a few theoretical trays above the entry point of the stream 1 .
- the rest of the liquid air 4 is cooled in the subcooler 26 , expanded and then sent to the low pressure column 21 .
- a lower stream of rich liquid 5 enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon, is tapped from the bottom of the medium pressure column 20 , cooled in the subcooler 26 and then expanded and sent to a vaporizer 22 where it partially vaporizes by heat exchange with the nitrogen-enriched gaseous air 8 coming from the medium pressure column 20 .
- the gaseous air is condensed in order to form a stream 9 which is then sent to the low pressure column 21 .
- the vaporized rich liquid 16 is expanded as an intermediate gas and sent to the low pressure column whilst the remaining intermediate liquid 7 is sent to the low pressure column 21 a few trays above the bottom.
- a higher stream of rich liquid 6 is tapped between the air intake 1 and the air intake 3 and/or the tapping of the stream 8 .
- This stream 6 is cooled in the subcooler 26 , mixed with the vaporized rich liquid 16 and sent to the low pressure column 21 .
- Impoverished liquid, enriched with nitrogen 15 is tapped at the top of the medium pressure column 20 and sent to the top of the low pressure column 21 after cooling and expansion.
- Liquid oxygen 10 is tapped from the low pressure column 21 a few trays above the bottom and preferably above the liquid intake 7 . This liquid is pumped by the pump 23 in order to serve as an oxygen-rich product.
- Liquid oxygen 11 enriched with krypton and xenon, is tapped from the bottom of the low pressure column 21 and can be purified subsequently in order to produce a mixture of krypton and xenon.
- the intermediate liquid 7 can be mixed directly with this liquid oxygen stream instead of being sent to the low pressure column 21 .
- Low pressure nitrogen 13 is tapped at the top of the low pressure column 21 , heated in the subcooler and heated against the air streams 1 , 2 (heating not shown).
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Emergency Medicine (AREA)
- Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
Abstract
An apparatus and to a method for producing krypton and xenon by separating air by cryogenic distillation and in particular to a method for separating gasses from air using internal compression (in which the gaseous oxygen is produced by vaporization under pressure in the exchange line) where a krypton/xenon mixture is extracted is provided.
Description
- The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for producing krypton and xenon by separating air by cryogenic distillation and in particular to a method for separating gasses from air using internal compression (in which the gaseous oxygen is produced by vaporization under pressure in the exchange line) where a krypton/xenon mixture is extracted.
- In a unit for separating gasses from air comprising a double column and where the gaseous oxygen is produced by vaporization under pressure in the exchange line (internal compression apparatus) in which provision is made to extract a krypton/xenon mixture, it is observed that the efficiency of this extraction decreases significantly because the pumped oxygen extracted from the low pressure distillation column brings with it a non-negligible proportion of components to be valorized, such as krypton and xenon.
- For this type of internal compression apparatus, in the case of the production of krypton/xenon associated with a production of argon, several methods making it possible to overcome this problem have been considered.
- The invention can summarized as two essential steps:
-
- 1. Impoverishment of the gaseous air entering the column for separation into components to be valorized (krypton, xenon) by transfer of material with a reduced proportion of the rich liquid. This step gives a lower rich liquid, rich in krypton and xenon, preferably with 100% of the xenon thus contained in the gaseous air being extracted as well as more than 80% of the krypton.
- 2. Concentration of the lower rich liquid rich in krypton and in xenon, by partial vaporization in a vaporizer/condenser. The heat source used for vaporizing the lower rich liquid is preferably a fluid of the column from which comes said lower rich liquid, a fluid coming from a higher distillation stage which, on giving up its heat, condenses in the vaporizer/condenser. The liquid thus produced feeds the low pressure column at an appropriate distillation level. The lower rich liquid itself produces a vaporized phase which feeds the low pressure column at an appropriate distillation level, and a purge where preferably approximately 100% of the xenon contained in the feed is extracted, whereas only about 50% of the krypton is present there.
- According to a variant, the low pressure column is fed by the purge rich in krypton and in xenon produced by concentration. The purge rich in krypton and in xenon produced above will feed the low pressure column, at a distillation stage lower than the tapping of the liquid oxygen which is intended to be pumped in order to then be vaporized in the main exchanger. The final mixture, rich in krypton and in xenon, is extracted from the bottom of the low pressure column in order to be subsequently treated there.
- Optionally, in the case where the krypton and xenon mixture is in liquid form, this return is injected at the intake of the pump in order to minimize the OL tapping from the column and thus to increase the extraction yield of the krypton and xenon.
- Such a method makes it possible to extract about 90% of the xenon present in the air where a conventional method only allows a yield of about 70% at best. With regard to the extraction of the krypton, this reaches about 75% whereas the yield of a conventional apparatus at best only allows a yield of the order of 60%.
- According to one purpose of the invention, there is provided a method for producing krypton and xenon by separation of air by cryogenic distillation in a double column comprising a medium pressure column and a low pressure column in which:
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- i) cooled and purified compressed gaseous air is sent to a first level of the medium pressure column
- ii) cooled and purified compressed liquid air is sent to a second level of the medium pressure column, above the first level
- iii) a liquid, enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon is tapped from the bottom of the medium pressure column
- iv) a liquid is tapped from the medium pressure column, at a level between the first and second levels, and sent to the low pressure column
- v) the liquid enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon is partially vaporized in order to form an intermediate gas and an intermediate liquid
- vi) a first liquid stream rich in oxygen is tapped from a third level of the low pressure column
- vii) the intermediate liquid is sent from the vaporizer to the low pressure column at an intermediate level of the low pressure column, lower than the third level, or it is mixed with a second liquid stream rich in oxygen
- viii) a/the second oxygen-rich liquid stream is tapped from the low pressure column at a fourth level, lower than the third level, and, if applicable, at the intermediate level.
- According to optional features:
-
- the intermediate gas is sent from the vaporizer to the low pressure column at a level higher than the intermediate level;
- the liquid enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon is vaporized by heat exchange with a gas tapped from the medium pressure column;
- the gas tapped from the medium pressure column is tapped from above the first level;
- the intermediate liquid is sent from the vaporizer to an intermediate level of the low pressure column, lower than the third level;
- the second oxygen-rich liquid stream (11) is tapped from the low pressure column at a fourth level, lower than the intermediate level;
- the intermediate liquid is mixed with a second oxygen-rich liquid stream.
- According to another purpose of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for producing krypton and xenon by separation of air by cryogenic distillation comprising a double column constituted by a medium pressure column and a low pressure column and a vaporizer comprising:
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- i) means for sending cooled and purified compressed gaseous air to a first level of the medium pressure column
- ii) means for sending cooled and purified compressed liquid air to a second level of the medium pressure column, above the first level
- iii) means for tapping a liquid, enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon from the bottom of the medium pressure column
- iv) means for tapping a liquid from the medium pressure column, at a level between the first and second levels, and it is sent to the low pressure column
- v) means for sending at least a portion of the liquid enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon to the vaporizer where it is partially vaporized to form an intermediate gas and an intermediate liquid
- vi) means for tapping a first liquid stream rich in oxygen from a third level of the low pressure column
- vii) means for sending the intermediate liquid from the vaporizer to the low pressure column at an intermediate level of the low pressure column or for mixing it with a second liquid stream rich in oxygen and
- viii) means for tapping a/the second oxygen-rich liquid stream from the low pressure column at a fourth level, lower than the third level, and, if applicable, at the intermediate level.
- The apparatus possibly comprises:
-
- means for sending the intermediate gas from the vaporizer to the low pressure column at a level higher than the intermediate level;
- means for sending a gas tapped from the medium pressure column to the vaporizer;
- means for tapping the gas from the medium pressure column is tapped from above the first level;
- means for pressurizing and vaporizing the first oxygen-rich stream, preferably by heat exchange with the air to be distilled
- means for sending the intermediate liquid from the vaporizer to an intermediate level of the low pressure column, lower than the third level;
- means for tapping the second oxygen-rich liquid (11) from the low pressure column at a fourth level, lower than the intermediate level
- means for mixing the intermediate liquid with a second oxygen-rich liquid stream.
- The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the FIGURE.
- A stream of medium-pressure gaseous air 1 is sent to the
medium pressure column 20 of a double air separation column. The double column also comprises alow pressure column 21 thermally coupled with themedium pressure column 20 by means of a vaporizer 24, which vaporizes the bottom liquid of the low pressure column by heat exchange with the gaseous nitrogen at the top of the medium pressure column. - A high-pressure liquid air stream is expanded in a valve and then divided into two. The stream 3 thus formed is sent to the medium pressure column 20 a few theoretical trays above the entry point of the stream 1. The rest of the liquid air 4 is cooled in the
subcooler 26, expanded and then sent to thelow pressure column 21. - A lower stream of
rich liquid 5, enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon, is tapped from the bottom of themedium pressure column 20, cooled in thesubcooler 26 and then expanded and sent to avaporizer 22 where it partially vaporizes by heat exchange with the nitrogen-enriched gaseous air 8 coming from themedium pressure column 20. The gaseous air is condensed in order to form astream 9 which is then sent to thelow pressure column 21. The vaporizedrich liquid 16 is expanded as an intermediate gas and sent to the low pressure column whilst the remaining intermediate liquid 7 is sent to the low pressure column 21 a few trays above the bottom. A higher stream of rich liquid 6 is tapped between the air intake 1 and the air intake 3 and/or the tapping of the stream 8. This stream 6 is cooled in thesubcooler 26, mixed with the vaporizedrich liquid 16 and sent to thelow pressure column 21. Impoverished liquid, enriched withnitrogen 15, is tapped at the top of themedium pressure column 20 and sent to the top of thelow pressure column 21 after cooling and expansion. -
Liquid oxygen 10 is tapped from the low pressure column 21 a few trays above the bottom and preferably above the liquid intake 7. This liquid is pumped by thepump 23 in order to serve as an oxygen-rich product. -
Liquid oxygen 11, enriched with krypton and xenon, is tapped from the bottom of thelow pressure column 21 and can be purified subsequently in order to produce a mixture of krypton and xenon. The intermediate liquid 7 can be mixed directly with this liquid oxygen stream instead of being sent to thelow pressure column 21. -
Low pressure nitrogen 13 is tapped at the top of thelow pressure column 21, heated in the subcooler and heated against the air streams 1, 2 (heating not shown). - Items of equipment:
20 Medium pressure column, 21 Low pressure column, 22 Lower rich liquid vaporizer, 23 Liquid oxygen pump. - 1 Medium pressure gaseous air, 2 High pressure liquid air, 3 Expanded liquid air feeding the medium pressure column, 4 Expanded liquid air feeding the low pressure column, 5 Lower rich liquid, enriched in krypton and xenon, 6 Vaporized lower rich liquid, impoverished in krypton and xenon, 7 Purge rich in krypton and xenon, 8 Impoverished air extracted from the medium pressure column, 9 Liquid impoverished air, 10 Liquid oxygen extracted from the low pressure column, 11 Liquid oxygen extracted from the low pressure column rich in krypton and xenon.
Claims (17)
1-15. (canceled)
16. A method for producing krypton and xenon by separation of air by cryogenic distillation in a double column comprising a medium pressure column and a low pressure column, said method comprising:
i) sending cooled and purified compressed gaseous air to a first level of the medium pressure column;
ii) sending cooled and purified compressed liquid air to a second level of the medium pressure column, wherein said second level is above the first level;
iii) withdrawing a liquid, enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon from the bottom of the medium pressure column;
iv) withdrawing a liquid from the medium pressure column, at a level between the first and second levels, and sent to the low pressure column;
v) partially vaporizing the liquid enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon in order to form an intermediate gas and an intermediate liquid;
vi) withdrawing a first liquid stream rich in oxygen from a third level of the low pressure column;
vii) sending the intermediate liquid from the vaporizer to the low pressure column at an intermediate level of the low pressure column, lower than the third level, and
viii) a second oxygen-rich liquid stream is tapped from the low pressure column at a fourth level, lower than the third level, and, lower than the intermediate level.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the vaporized intermediate gas is sent to the low pressure column at a level higher than the intermediate level.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the liquid enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon is vaporized by heat exchange with a gas tapped from the medium pressure column.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the gas tapped from the medium pressure column is tapped from above the first level.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the intermediate liquid is sent from the vaporizer to an intermediate level of the low pressure column, lower than the third level.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second oxygen-rich liquid stream is withdrawn from the low pressure column at a fourth level, lower than the intermediate level.
22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the intermediate liquid is mixed with a second oxygen-rich liquid stream.
23. An apparatus for separation of air by cryogenic distillation comprising a double column constituted by a medium pressure column and a low pressure column and a vaporizer comprising:
i) means for sending cooled and purified compressed gaseous air to a first level of the medium pressure column
ii) means for sending cooled and purified compressed liquid air to a second level of the medium pressure column, above the first level
iii) means for tapping a liquid, enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon from the bottom of the medium pressure column
iv) means for tapping a liquid from the medium pressure column, at a level between the first and second levels, and it is sent to the low pressure column
v) means for sending at least a portion of the liquid enriched in oxygen, krypton and xenon to the vaporizer where it is partially vaporized to form an intermediate gas and an intermediate liquid
vi) means for tapping a first liquid stream rich in oxygen from a third level of the low pressure column
vii) means for sending the intermediate liquid from the vaporizer to the low pressure column at an intermediate level of the low pressure column or for mixing it with a second liquid stream rich in oxygen and
viii) means for tapping a/the second oxygen-rich liquid stream from the low pressure column at a fourth level, lower than the third level, and lower than the intermediate level.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising means for sending the intermediate gas from the vaporizer to the low pressure column at a level higher than the intermediate level.
25. The apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising means for sending a gas tapped from the medium pressure column to the vaporizer.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising means for tapping the gas from the medium pressure column from above the first level.
27. The apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising means for pressurizing and vaporizing the first oxygen-rich stream,
28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein said means for pressurizing and vaporizing the first oxygen-rich stream is by heat exchange with the air to be distilled.
29. The apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising means for sending the intermediate liquid from the vaporizer to an intermediate level of the low pressure column, lower than the third level.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 , further comprising means for tapping the second oxygen-rich liquid stream from the low pressure column at a fourth level, lower than the intermediate level.
31. The apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising means for mixing the intermediate liquid with a second oxygen-rich liquid stream.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR0852727A FR2930629B1 (en) | 2008-04-23 | 2008-04-23 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION |
FR0852727 | 2008-04-23 | ||
PCT/FR2009/050625 WO2009136081A2 (en) | 2008-04-23 | 2009-04-08 | Apparatus and method for separating air by cryogenic distillation |
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US20110041552A1 true US20110041552A1 (en) | 2011-02-24 |
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US12/937,649 Abandoned US20110041552A1 (en) | 2008-04-23 | 2009-04-08 | Apparatus And Method For Separating Air By Cryogenic Distillation |
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US (1) | US20110041552A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2279385B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2011519010A (en) |
CN (1) | CN102016470A (en) |
AT (1) | ATE546701T1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2930629B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009136081A2 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA201007374B (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
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JP6155515B2 (en) * | 2014-06-24 | 2017-07-05 | 大陽日酸株式会社 | Air separation method and air separation device |
EP2993432A1 (en) * | 2014-09-02 | 2016-03-09 | Linde Aktiengesellschaft | Method for the low-temperature decomposition of air and air separation plant |
CN109520207B (en) * | 2017-09-18 | 2022-04-08 | 乔治洛德方法研究和开发液化空气有限公司 | Method and unit for separating air by cryogenic distillation |
CN108302899A (en) * | 2018-03-29 | 2018-07-20 | 浙江新锐空分设备有限公司 | A kind of space division system and method extracting poor krypton xenon product using liquefied air |
CN113465292B (en) * | 2021-07-05 | 2023-02-21 | 乔治洛德方法研究和开发液化空气有限公司 | Method for increasing yield of krypton/xenon in air rectification device |
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US5956974A (en) * | 1998-01-22 | 1999-09-28 | Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. | Multiple expander process to produce oxygen |
US6220054B1 (en) * | 1999-01-29 | 2001-04-24 | The Boc Group Plc | Separation of air |
US6339938B1 (en) * | 1999-06-22 | 2002-01-22 | L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude | Apparatus and process for separating air by cryogenic distillation |
US6434973B2 (en) * | 2000-04-04 | 2002-08-20 | L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire Et Conseil De Surveillance Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude | Process and unit for the production of a fluid enriched in oxygen by cryogenic distillation |
US20050193765A1 (en) * | 2002-10-08 | 2005-09-08 | Emmanuel Garnier | Process for separating air by cryogenic distillation and installation for implementing this process |
US20060021380A1 (en) * | 2002-09-04 | 2006-02-02 | Lasad Jaouani | Method and installation for production of noble gases and oxygen by means of cryrogenic air distillation |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US6662593B1 (en) * | 2002-12-12 | 2003-12-16 | Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. | Process and apparatus for the cryogenic separation of air |
-
2008
- 2008-04-23 FR FR0852727A patent/FR2930629B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2009
- 2009-04-08 US US12/937,649 patent/US20110041552A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2009-04-08 AT AT09742279T patent/ATE546701T1/en active
- 2009-04-08 JP JP2011505564A patent/JP2011519010A/en active Pending
- 2009-04-08 EP EP09742279A patent/EP2279385B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2009-04-08 WO PCT/FR2009/050625 patent/WO2009136081A2/en active Application Filing
- 2009-04-08 CN CN2009801145787A patent/CN102016470A/en active Pending
-
2010
- 2010-10-14 ZA ZA2010/07374A patent/ZA201007374B/en unknown
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5956974A (en) * | 1998-01-22 | 1999-09-28 | Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. | Multiple expander process to produce oxygen |
US6220054B1 (en) * | 1999-01-29 | 2001-04-24 | The Boc Group Plc | Separation of air |
US6339938B1 (en) * | 1999-06-22 | 2002-01-22 | L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude | Apparatus and process for separating air by cryogenic distillation |
US6434973B2 (en) * | 2000-04-04 | 2002-08-20 | L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire Et Conseil De Surveillance Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude | Process and unit for the production of a fluid enriched in oxygen by cryogenic distillation |
US20060021380A1 (en) * | 2002-09-04 | 2006-02-02 | Lasad Jaouani | Method and installation for production of noble gases and oxygen by means of cryrogenic air distillation |
US20050193765A1 (en) * | 2002-10-08 | 2005-09-08 | Emmanuel Garnier | Process for separating air by cryogenic distillation and installation for implementing this process |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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ZA201007374B (en) | 2011-06-29 |
EP2279385A2 (en) | 2011-02-02 |
WO2009136081A2 (en) | 2009-11-12 |
JP2011519010A (en) | 2011-06-30 |
CN102016470A (en) | 2011-04-13 |
EP2279385B1 (en) | 2012-02-22 |
ATE546701T1 (en) | 2012-03-15 |
WO2009136081A3 (en) | 2010-04-08 |
FR2930629A1 (en) | 2009-10-30 |
FR2930629B1 (en) | 2010-05-07 |
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