US20150052942A1 - Transportable package with a cold box, and method for producing a low-temperature air separation system - Google Patents

Transportable package with a cold box, and method for producing a low-temperature air separation system Download PDF

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Publication number
US20150052942A1
US20150052942A1 US14/387,968 US201314387968A US2015052942A1 US 20150052942 A1 US20150052942 A1 US 20150052942A1 US 201314387968 A US201314387968 A US 201314387968A US 2015052942 A1 US2015052942 A1 US 2015052942A1
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Prior art keywords
low
pressure column
package
column
cold box
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US14/387,968
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English (en)
Inventor
Anton Moll
Stefan Lochner
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Linde GmbH
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Linde GmbH
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Assigned to LINDE AKTIEGESELLSCHAFT reassignment LINDE AKTIEGESELLSCHAFT ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MOLL, ANTON, LOCHNER, STEFAN
Publication of US20150052942A1 publication Critical patent/US20150052942A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0012—Primary atmospheric gases, e.g. 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
    • 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
    • F25J3/04909—Structured packings
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • F25J3/04666—Producing crude argon in a crude argon column as a parallel working rectification column of the low pressure column in a dual pressure main column system
    • F25J3/04672—Producing crude argon in a crude argon column as a parallel working rectification column of the low pressure column in a dual pressure main column system having a top condenser
    • F25J3/04678—Producing crude argon in a crude argon column as a parallel working rectification column of the low pressure column in a dual pressure main column system having a top condenser cooled by oxygen enriched liquid from high pressure column bottoms
    • 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
    • F25J3/0489—Modularity and arrangement of parts of the air fractionation unit, in particular of the cold box, e.g. pre-fabrication, assembling and erection, dimensions, horizontal layout "plot"
    • 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
    • F25J3/04915—Combinations of different material exchange elements, e.g. within different columns
    • 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
    • F25J3/04915—Combinations of different material exchange elements, e.g. within different columns
    • F25J3/04921—Combinations of different material exchange elements, e.g. within different columns within the same column
    • 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
    • B01J2219/00002—Chemical plants
    • B01J2219/00018—Construction aspects
    • B01J2219/00022—Plants mounted on pallets or skids
    • 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
    • B01J2219/3221—Corrugated 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
    • B01J2219/32255—Other details of the sheets
    • B01J2219/32262—Dimensions or size aspects
    • 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
    • B01J2219/324—Composition or microstructure of the elements
    • B01J2219/32408—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
    • B01J2219/33—Details relating to the packing elements in general
    • B01J2219/3306—Dimensions or size aspects
    • 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
    • F25J2290/12—Particular process parameters like pressure, temperature, ratios
    • 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

  • the invention relates to a transportable package with a cold box for a low-temperature air separation system according to the preamble of claim 1 .
  • Such units are generally termed “packaged unit” (PU) and are described, for example, in EP 1041353 B1 or US 2007199344 A1.
  • the distillation column system can be constructed in the invention as a two-column system, in particular as a classical Linde double column system, or else as a three- or more column system. It can, in addition to the columns for nitrogen-oxygen separation, have further devices for producing high-purity products and/or other air components, in particular noble gases, for example an argon production with crude argon column and optionally with crude argon column and/or a krypton-xenon production.
  • noble gases for example an argon production with crude argon column and optionally with crude argon column and/or a krypton-xenon production.
  • a “cold box” here is taken to mean an insulating encasement which completely encases with outer walls a heat-insulated inner space; in the inner space, the system parts that are to be insulated are arranged, for example one or more separation columns and/or heat exchangers.
  • the insulating action can be effected by corresponding configuration of the outer walls and/or by filling the intermediate space between system parts and outer walls with an insulating material.
  • a pulverulent material such as, for example pearlite, is used.
  • the distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation of a low-temperature air separation system but also the main heat exchanger and further cold system parts must be enclosed by one or more cold boxes.
  • the external dimensions of the cold box usually determine the transport dimensions of the package in the case of prefabricated systems.
  • the “height” of a cold box is taken to mean the dimension in the vertical direction based on the orientation of the cold box in system operation; the “cross section” is the surface perpendicular thereto (horizontal).
  • the height of the cold box determines the transport length, the cross section transport height and cross section transport width.
  • PUs are fabricated in a factory, which are generally far removed from the installation site of the air separation system. This permits a substantial prefabrication and thereby minimization of the production expenditure at the installation site, where frequently very many difficult conditions prevail.
  • the prefabricated package or a plurality of prefabricated packages are transported from the factory to the installation site, the cold box package with one or more separation columns in a horizontal arrangement. For such transports, restrictions with respect to the length and width of the packages exist.
  • the object of the invention is to design a transportable package of the type mentioned at the outset in such a manner that it is also applicable to low-temperature air separation systems of a capacity for which to date prefabrication of the columns-cold box as a whole was not possible, wherein a more efficient energy consumption of the system should be achieved.
  • a particularly low height of the high-pressure column is achieved by installing rectification plates there, in particular sieve plates, more precisely having a particularly low plate spacing of less than 125 mm (the plate spacing is measured from the top side of a plate to the top side of the adjacent plate).
  • rectification plates there, in particular sieve plates, more precisely having a particularly low plate spacing of less than 125 mm (the plate spacing is measured from the top side of a plate to the top side of the adjacent plate).
  • the high-pressure column contains exclusively sieve plates which overall have a lower plate spacing than 125 mm.
  • the invention can be expedient if, for example, at least one section of the low-pressure column is completely filled with the packing type described in patent claim 1 .
  • the invention can also be implemented as a result of the fact that the subregion, in which this specific packing is used, extends only over a part of a section of the low-pressure column, and in the remainder of this section, other mass transfer elements are installed.
  • high-pressure column and low-pressure column are arranged in the form of a double column one above the other, wherein the double column is arranged in the interior of the cold box.
  • a main condenser is situated which is constructed as a condenser-evaporator, and via which the two columns are in heat-exchanging connection.
  • the invention can be employed in various variants, for example in the following:
  • the package contains only the double column and no further separation column.
  • the package in addition to the double column, contains a crude argon column, which is arranged next to the low-pressure column, and optionally a pure argon column.
  • the package in addition to the double column, contains a mixed column in which liquid oxygen product of the low-pressure column is vaporized in direct mass transfer with a part of the feed air, and finally produced as gaseous impure oxygen product, and which is arranged next to the low-pressure column.
  • the package in addition to the double column, contains a medium-pressure column (flash column) in which crude oxygen from the high-pressure column is subjected to a further nitrogen-oxygen separation, and which is arranged next to the low-pressure column.
  • a medium-pressure column flash column
  • crude oxygen from the high-pressure column is subjected to a further nitrogen-oxygen separation, and which is arranged next to the low-pressure column.
  • a main condenser and a low-pressure column are arranged one above the other in a manner of a classical Linde double column.
  • the plate spacing of the distillation plates in the high-pressure column is between 80 and 155 mm, in particular between 95 and 130 mm.
  • the cold box in addition, a crude argon column can be arranged.
  • the cold box in addition to the double column, does not contain a further separation column.
  • the height of the cold box is less than 47 meters.
  • a transport length of the package of less than 47.5 m may be achieved thereby.
  • a maximum cold box height of 40 to 43 meters can also be achieved.
  • the height of the cold box is between 29 and 47 meters, in particular between 35 and 43 meters.
  • the cold box can also contain a separator (phase separator) for liquid nitrogen from the main condenser which is arranged at the top of the low-pressure column or thereabove.
  • the “minimum diameter” of the cross section of the cold box is not more than 4.25 meters, and is preferably less than 4.15 meters.
  • a transport height of the package of less than 4.30, or less than 4.20 meters, respectively, may be achieved thereby.
  • the “minimum diameter of the cross section of the cold box” is taken to mean the linear extent which determines the smaller of the two transport dimensions transversely to the direction of travel, customarily the transport height.
  • This minimum diameter is, for example, in the case of a rectangular cross section, formed by the smaller side length, in the case of a square cross section, by the side length of the square, and in the case of a circular cross section by the diameter of the circle.
  • this “minimum diameter” is between 2.5 and 5 meters, in particular between 3 and 4.2 meters.
  • the diameter of the cross section of the cold box perpendicular thereto is preferably smaller than 5.95 meters, in particular less than 4.95 meters. This value determines the larger of the two transport dimensions transverse to the direction of travel, customarily the transport width. It allows thereby a transport width of less than 6.0 meters, or less than 5.0 meters, respectively, to be achieved.
  • the said diameter dimension is, for example, between 2.0 and 6.0 meters, in particular between 3.0 and 5.0 meters.
  • a crude argon column is arranged in the cold box, which crude argon column has a top condenser which is constructed as condenser-evaporator, wherein the evaporation space of the top condenser is connected via a two-phase pipe to the low-pressure column, and the two-phase pipe is constructed in such a manner that, in operation of the low-temperature air separation system, not only gas but also liquid flow from the evaporation space of the top condenser at the same feed point into the low-pressure column. In this case, height for otherwise necessary distributors and collectors in the low-pressure column is saved.
  • the gas and the liquid are fed from the argon system to the same point.
  • a distributor is saved, which demands about one meter in height.
  • this variant can offer advantages, although it is less expedient in processing terms.
  • a pure argon column can be additionally arranged.
  • Condenser-evaporator designates a heat exchanger in which a first condensing fluid stream comes into indirect heat exchange with a second vaporizing fluid stream.
  • Each condenser-evaporator has a liquefaction space and a vaporization space which consist of liquefaction passages and vaporization passages, respectively.
  • the condensation (liquefaction) of a first fluid stream is carried out, and in the vaporization space the vaporization of a second fluid stream is carried out.
  • Vaporization and liquefaction spaces are formed by groups of passages which are in a heat-exchange relationship with one another.
  • the metal sheets of the ordered packing which have a sheet thickness of 0.2 mm or less, consist of copper, more precisely, preferably immediately above the condenser-evaporator. Most preferably, they have a sheet thickness of 0.1 mm or less.
  • the mass transfer section immediately above the condenser-evaporator seen from the bottom first has five layers of copper packing with more than 1000 m 2 /m 3 , and thereabove 15 layers of aluminum packing with more than 1000 m 2 /m 3 .
  • Copper is here taken to mean pure copper or an alloy having a copper content of at least 67%, preferably at least 80%, most preferably at least 90% mass fraction.
  • the expression “copper” comprises all materials named in annex C of the EIGA document IGC Doc 13/02/E as “copper” and “copper-nickel alloys” (“Copper”/“Copper-Nickel Alloys” in EIGA—OXYGEN PIPELINE SYSTEMS—IGC Doc 13/02/E published by European Industrial Gases Association).
  • the ordered packing made of copper has a specific surface area of greater than 1000 m 2 /m 3 , in particular greater than 1150 m 2 /m 3 .
  • the packing density thereof can be 1200 or 1250 m 2 /m 3 .
  • Employing the invention is particularly expedient when the low-temperature air separation system is designed for processing more than 10 000 Nm 3 /h and less than 250 000 Nm 3 /h of feed air in standard operations.
  • the invention furthermore relates to a method for producing a low-temperature air separation system according to patent claim 10 , in which the above described transportable package is used and, after transport to the installation site, is connected to an air compressor for compressing feed air, to a purification unit for compressed feed air, and to a main heat exchanger for cooling purified feed air.
  • the purification unit is constructed, for example, as a molecular sieve adsorber.
  • the air can also be purified in a reversible heat exchanger (Revex or regenerator); in this case, purification unit and main heat exchanger are formed from the same apparatus.
  • the invention and the embodiments thereof can also be employed to somewhat larger systems, in which the transportable package only contains the separation column, that is to say for example the low-pressure column, the high-pressure column or the crude argon column of a low-temperature air separation system, or else a double column of high-pressure column, low-pressure column and main condenser arranged therebetween.
  • the internally completely prefabricated column is transported to the construction site horizontally as a substantially cylindrical component and there provided with the insulated casing (cold box).
  • FIG. 1 shows a simplified process diagram of a low-temperature air separation system according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a simplified side view of a package according to the invention
  • FIG. 3 shows the same package in plan view.
  • purified air 1 is cooled in a main heat exchanger 2 against product streams to about dew point at a pressure of 4 to 20 bar, preferably 5 to 12 bar, and introduced into the distillation column system, which here has a high-pressure column 3 , a low-pressure column 5 and a crude argon column 15 .
  • the high-pressure column 3 is in a heat-exchange relationship to a low-pressure column 5 via a shared condenser-evaporator 4 , the main condenser.
  • all of the feed air 1 is introduced into the high-pressure column 3 .
  • Sump liquid 6 and nitrogen 7 are taken off from the high-pressure column 3 , subcooled in a counter flow heat exchanger 8 and throttled into the low-pressure column 5 .
  • oxygen is withdrawn via product conduits oxygen 9 , nitrogen 10 and impure nitrogen 11 .
  • the products can also be withdrawn at least in part in the liquid state. This is not shown in the method diagram for the sake of clarity.
  • an argon-containing oxygen stream is withdrawn from the lower region of the low-pressure column 5 (below the sump liquid conduit 6 ), passed into the lower region of a crude argon column 15 and there separated into a crude argon product 16 and a residual fraction 17 .
  • the residual fraction is passed back into the low-pressure column. It can either flow back (if a corresponding gradient is present) via the conduit 14 or, as shown in FIG. 1 , be transported via a separate conduit 17 by means of a pump 18 .
  • the top of the crude argon column is cooled by a crude argon condenser 19 , on the vaporization side of which sump liquid introduced via conduit 20 from the high-pressure column 3 is vaporized.
  • the vaporized fraction is conducted via conduit 21 to the low-pressure column. It can be introduced, for example, at the height of the sump liquid conduit 6 . However, feed in between opening of the sump liquid conduit 6 and connection of the argon transfer conduit 14 is particularly advantageous.
  • cold is generated by work-producing expansion of one or more process streams in one or more turbines. This is not shown in the simplified diagram.
  • the low-pressure column 5 in the exemplary embodiment, has the following sections which are formed by in each case a packing section of ordered packing:
  • a pure nitrogen section (above the impure nitrogen conduit 11 )
  • Impure nitrogen section (restricted by impure nitrogen conduit 11 and sump liquid conduit 6 )
  • the following mass transfer elements are used in the various sections of the low-pressure column 5 :
  • a pure nitrogen section ordered aluminum packing which consists of folded metal sheets of a sheet thickness of 0.10 mm and has a specific surface area of greater than 1000 m 2 /m 3 , in particular 1250 m 2 /m 3
  • B impure nitrogen section ordered aluminum packing which consists of folded metal sheets of a sheet thickness of 0.10 mm and has a specific surface area of 750 m 2 /m 3
  • C impure oxygen section ordered aluminum packing which consists of folded metal sheets of a sheet thickness of 0.10 mm and has a specific surface area of 750 m 2 /m 3
  • D argon intermediate section ordered aluminum packing which consists of folded metal sheets of a sheet thickness of 0.10 mm and has a specific surface area of greater than 1000 m 2 /m 3 , in particular 1250 m 2 /m 3
  • E oxygen section at least in the lowest part an ordered copper packing which consists of folded metal sheets of Cu-DHP R200 as specified in DIN EN 13599 of a sheet thickness of 0.05 mm and has a specific surface area of greater than 1000 m 2 /m 3 , in particular 1250 m 2 /m 3 .
  • An aluminum packing as in section D follows thereabove.
  • the crude argon column 15 has five mass transfer sections. These are all formed in the exemplary embodiment by ordered packing which consists of folded aluminum sheets of a sheet thickness of 0.10 mm and has a specific surface area of greater than 1000 m 2 /m 3 , in particular 1250 m 2 /m 3 .
  • the high-pressure column 3 contains exclusively sieve plates.
  • the plate spacing in the example is a constant 123 mm.
  • combinations of different types of mass transfer elements can also be used, for example a combination of ordered packings of different specific surface area or different sheet materials or a combination of ordered packing and conventional rectification plates.
  • some of the air that is to be separated is work-producingly expanded in a turbine and, bypassing the preliminary separation in the high-pressure column 3 , is injected directly into the low-pressure column 5 , for example between sections C and D, or between sections B and C.
  • the crude argon column can be omitted and/or a mixed column supplemented, in which liquid oxygen product of the low-pressure column is vaporized in direct mass transfer with some of the feed air and finally produced as gaseous impure oxygen product.
  • an ordered packing which is formed from folded copper sheets and has a specific surface area of greater than 750 m 2 /m 3 , in particular greater than 1000 m 2 /m 3 , or greater than 1150 m 2 /m 3 , for example 1250, wherein the copper sheets have a sheet thickness of 0.1 mm or less, for example 0.05 mm.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 the corresponding parts of the device are designated with the same reference signs as in FIG. 1 .
  • the transportable package which is part of a system according to FIG. 1 is encased by a cold box 51 which has the shape of a cuboid. Walls and roof of the cold box 51 are formed by steel support structures which are clad with metal sheets. The interior of the cold box is filled between system parts and the outer walls with a pulverulent insulating material such as, for example, pearlite.
  • the cold box 51 contains the double column of low-pressure column 5 , high-pressure column 3 and the main condenser 4 , and also the associated conduits, valves and metering devices. It is completely prefabricated as a package and is then transported to the installation site.
  • FIG. 2 in addition, a separator (phase separator) for liquid nitrogen 7 from the main condenser is shown which is situated at the top of the low-pressure column 5 .
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 the dimensions of the cold box are shown, which dimensions determine the transport length TL, the transport height TH and the transport width TB of the package.
  • the cold box in addition to the double column 3 / 4 / 5 , can contain one or more of the following apparatuses:
  • a further variant embodiment of the low-pressure column 5 differs from the above described in that the oxygen section E contains an ordered packing made of folded aluminum sheets.
  • the sheets, apart from this coarse folding, have a perforation and a fine fluting.
  • the sheet width thereof is 0.2 mm.
  • the packing has a specific surface area of at least 1000 m 2 /m 3 , in particular 1250 m 2 /m 3 .
  • argon intermediate section D also contains the special aluminum packing of high specific surface area of the oxygen section E.
  • a copper packing having a sheet thickness of 0.1 mm and a specific surface area of 1200 m 2 /m 3 is used.

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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)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
US14/387,968 2012-03-29 2013-03-06 Transportable package with a cold box, and method for producing a low-temperature air separation system Abandoned US20150052942A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102012006484A DE102012006484A1 (de) 2012-03-29 2012-03-29 Transportables Paket mit einer Coldbox und Verfahren zum Herstellen einer Tieftemperatur-Luftzerlegungsanlage
DE102012006484.5 2012-03-29
DE12004045.6 2012-05-24
EP12004045.6A EP2645033A1 (de) 2012-03-29 2012-05-24 Transportables Paket mit einer Coldbox und Verfahren zum Herstellen einer Tieftemperatur-Luftzerlegungsanlage
PCT/EP2013/000645 WO2013143646A2 (de) 2012-03-29 2013-03-06 Transportables paket mit einer coldbox und verfahren zum herstellen einer tieftemperatur-luftzerlegungsanlage

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EP (2) EP2645033A1 (de)
CN (1) CN104220829B (de)
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WO (1) WO2013143646A2 (de)

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EP2865978A1 (de) * 2013-10-25 2015-04-29 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zur Tieftemperaturzerlegung von Luft und Tieftemperatur-Luftzerlegungsanlage
EP2865977A1 (de) * 2013-10-25 2015-04-29 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zur Tieftemperaturzerlegung von Luft, Tieftemperatur- Luftzerlegungsanlage und Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Tieftemperatur- Luftzerlegungsanlage

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USRE34038E (en) * 1987-12-14 1992-08-25 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Separating argon/oxygen mixtures using a structured packing
US5845517A (en) * 1995-08-11 1998-12-08 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Process and device for air separation by low-temperature rectification
US6182470B1 (en) * 1998-04-30 2001-02-06 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Air distillation plant and corresponding cold box
WO2011116981A2 (de) * 2010-03-26 2011-09-29 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung zur tieftemperaturzerlegung von luft
US20130086942A1 (en) * 2010-03-26 2013-04-11 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Device for the cryogenic separation of air

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DE4224068A1 (de) 1992-03-20 1993-09-23 Linde Ag Verfahren zur tieftemperaturzerlegung von luft und luftzerlegungsanlage
DE4209132A1 (de) * 1992-03-20 1993-09-23 Linde Ag Luftzerlegungsanlage und verfahren zur tieftemperaturzerlegung von luft
DE4317916A1 (de) 1993-05-28 1994-12-01 Linde Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Gewinnung von Argon
EP1016457B1 (de) * 1998-12-28 2003-05-07 Nippon Sanso Corporation Dampf-flüssig Kontaktor, kryogene Lufttrennungseinheit und Verfahren zur Gastrennung
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USRE34038E (en) * 1987-12-14 1992-08-25 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Separating argon/oxygen mixtures using a structured packing
US5845517A (en) * 1995-08-11 1998-12-08 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Process and device for air separation by low-temperature rectification
US6182470B1 (en) * 1998-04-30 2001-02-06 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Air distillation plant and corresponding cold box
WO2011116981A2 (de) * 2010-03-26 2011-09-29 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung zur tieftemperaturzerlegung von luft
US20130086942A1 (en) * 2010-03-26 2013-04-11 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Device for the cryogenic separation of air

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WO2013143646A3 (de) 2014-09-04
DE202013012594U1 (de) 2017-10-11
CN104220829A (zh) 2014-12-17
EP2645033A1 (de) 2013-10-02
EP2831524A2 (de) 2015-02-04
DE102012006484A1 (de) 2013-10-02
WO2013143646A2 (de) 2013-10-03
CN104220829B (zh) 2016-09-07

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