US3739593A - Gas separation system - Google Patents

Gas separation system Download PDF

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US3739593A
US3739593A US00781201A US3739593DA US3739593A US 3739593 A US3739593 A US 3739593A US 00781201 A US00781201 A US 00781201A US 3739593D A US3739593D A US 3739593DA US 3739593 A US3739593 A US 3739593A
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conduit means
line
air
exchanger
heat
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J Schauls
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ALBRAZE INTERNATIONAL Inc
ALBRAZE INTERNATIONAL Inc A CORP OF WISCONSIN
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Trane Co
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Assigned to TRANE COMPANY THE reassignment TRANE COMPANY THE MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE 12/1/83 WISCONSIN Assignors: A-S CAPITAL INC., A CORP OF DE (CHANGED TO), TRANE COMPANY THE, A CORP OF WI (INTO)
Assigned to AMERICAN STANDARD INC., A CORP OF DE reassignment AMERICAN STANDARD INC., A CORP OF DE MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE 12/28/84 DELAWARE Assignors: A-S SALEM INC., A CORP. OF DE (MERGED INTO), TRANE COMPANY, THE
Assigned to A-S CAPITAL INC., A CORP OF DE reassignment A-S CAPITAL INC., A CORP OF DE MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TRANE COMPANY THE A WI CORP
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Assigned to ALBRAZE INTERNATIONAL, INC., reassignment ALBRAZE INTERNATIONAL, INC., CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE NOV. 20, 1986 Assignors: ALTEC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/044—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a single pressure main column system only
    • 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
    • F25J3/04012—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of warm gaseous streams; details of intake or interstage cooling
    • F25J3/04018—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of warm gaseous streams; details of intake or interstage cooling of main feed 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
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04109—Arrangements of compressors and /or their drivers
    • F25J3/04115—Arrangements of compressors and /or their drivers characterised by the type of prime driver, e.g. hot gas expander
    • 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
    • F25J3/04109—Arrangements of compressors and /or their drivers
    • F25J3/04145—Mechanically coupling of different compressors of the air fractionation process to the same driver(s)
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04151—Purification and (pre-)cooling of the feed air; recuperative heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04242—Cold end purification of the feed 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
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04284—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams
    • F25J3/0429—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of feed air, e.g. used as waste or product air or expanded into an auxiliary column
    • F25J3/04296—Claude expansion, i.e. expanded into the main or 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
    • F25J3/04763—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
    • F25J3/04951—Arrangements of multiple air fractionation units or multiple equipments fulfilling the same process step, e.g. multiple trains in a network
    • F25J3/04957—Arrangements of multiple air fractionation units or multiple equipments fulfilling the same process step, e.g. multiple trains in a network and inter-connecting equipments upstream of the fractionation unit (s), i.e. at the "front-end"
    • 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
    • F25J3/04975—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines adapted for special use of the air fractionation unit, e.g. transportable devices by truck or small scale use
    • 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
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/24—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using regenerators, cold accumulators or reversible heat exchangers
    • 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
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/60—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using adsorption on solid adsorbents, e.g. by temperature-swing adsorption [TSA] at the hot or cold end
    • 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
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/84—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using filter
    • 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
    • F25J2215/50—Oxygen or special cases, e.g. isotope-mixtures or low purity O2
    • 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
    • F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
    • F25J2230/24—Multiple compressors or compressor stages in parallel
    • 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
    • F25J2230/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams
    • F25J2230/40—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure of gaseous process streams the 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
    • F25J2245/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
    • F25J2245/40—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams the recycled stream 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
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/70—Processing device is mobile or transportable, e.g. by hand, car, ship, rocket engine etc.
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/902—Apparatus
    • Y10S62/908—Filter or absorber

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 62/14, 62/29, 62/38 In a gas separation system utilizing reversing heat eit- [51] Int. Ch j 3/ j j 5/ changers which employ a reheat stream to facilitate [58] Field Of Search 62/12, 13, 14, 15, heat exchanger temperature control and cleaning, the
  • H 3 improvement including at least a pair of particulate filters placed at the heat exchanger feed stream outlets References Cited arranged to automatically be cleaned by a portion of UNITED STATES PATENTS the reheat stream without producing objectionable 2 460 859 1/1949 Trumpler 0 62,14 pressure differentials within the gas separation system.
  • This invention relates to improvements in gas separation systems particularly of the type very aptly disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,460,859, from which much of the instant disclosure has been taken for purposes of setting forth the environment of this instant invention.
  • This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for the separation of gas mixtures containing lower and higher boiling components and other components which boil at still higher temperatures. More specifically, it is concerned with a continuous method for the separation of air into a substantially oxygencontaining fraction, and a substantially nitrogencontaining fraction and elimination from the air of undesirable impurities, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide or other high boiling components.
  • the separation of air, or other normally gaseous mixtures, into the relatively pure components also has been accomplished by a method which includes compressing and precooling of the mixture, liquefaction at the initial pressure of a portion of the mixture by heat interchange with cold products of the separation, the expansion of another portion with external work, fractionation of the two portions in a common fractionating tower at at the lowerpressure, and backward return of the products of separation.
  • a counter-current reversing cold exchanger system have been developed which permits a simultaneous and efficient heat interchange between passageways containing counter-currently flowing streams of air and backward returning cold products.
  • This exchanger comprises a plurality of parallel paths for the fluid in each passageway which are so metal bonded together as to establish a metal to metal thermal contact throughout the whole contact length of the vessel. Likewise the several passageways of the exchanger are joined with metal to metal contact.
  • reversing heat exchangers are also normally utilized to remove almost all of the higher boiling impurities from air, or other gaseous mixtures, particularly for separations conducted at relatively low pressures, such removal being accomplished by periodically alternating the flow of warm incoming feed and a backwardreturning cold product between at least two passageways of the exchanger. That is, during one half of the reversing cycle when the air is being cooled, water and carbon dioxide, for example, are precipitated therefrom and accumulated in solid or liquid phase on the metal surfaces of the passageway through which the air at that time is flowing.
  • the instant invention pertains to the method and apparatus for using a particulate filter in a gas separation system such as of the type above described wherein such filter is arranged to remove particulate impurities from the feed stream leaving the heat exchangers without imparting an objectionable pressure differential within the system upon reversing of the heat exchanger streams.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic flow sheet depicting one exemplary embodiment of my invention in connection with an illustrative processing arrangement for producing pure oxygen from air by a continuous low pressure method, involving re versing heat exchangers, which is capable of operations of long duration. While the items of equipment shown in the drawing for illustrative purposes are particularly designed for'use in a small mobile plant adaptable to installation on the chassis of a motor truck, it is to be understood that the present invention is equally adaptable to large commercial plant installations. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited in its scope to processes involving the separation of air, since it is equally applicable to separations of other gaseous mixtures which contain higher boiling impurities such as,
  • backwardlyreturning low pressure nitrogen-containing product utilized in the auxiliary heat interchanger is used to carry out the cleaning of the filter.
  • FIG. 2 shows a portion of the flowsheet of FIG. 1 and illustrates an alternative form of the invention in which a portion of the compressed incoming air is used to carry out the cleaning of the filter.
  • atmospheric air which in this instance is at 120 F. and atmospheric pressure which preferably has been prefiltered is drawn into the first stage compression chambers l, 2, 3, and 4 of compressor 5 through intake ports 6, 7, 8, and 9.
  • Compressor 5 is shown on the drawing as being a comparatively small and compact air cooled compressor which is driven by an air cooled internal combustion engine 10, especially adaptable for use in a mobile type plant.
  • the partially compressed air is discharged from the first stage compression chambers through outlet lines 11, 12, 13, and 14 respectively into line 15 and conveyed therethrough to intercooler 16.
  • intercooler 16 the temperature of the air is reduced to about 135 F.
  • the cooled air is passed directly to compression chambers 17 and 18 by way of lines 19 and 20 respectively for a second stage compression to the desiredfinal operating pressure which, in the present instance,-is about 105 lbs. per square inch absolute.
  • the air leaves compression chambers 17 and 18 through lines21 and 22 respectively, at about 410 F., whereafter they are combined in line 23 for passage to aftercooler 24.
  • Aftercooler 24 and intercooler 16 comprise finned-tube heat exchangers cooled by a blast of fan-driven air. In passing through the aftercooler the temperature of the air again is reduced to about 135 F.
  • the now substantially dried and filtered air is taken through the four-way reversing diverter valve 28 and passed through the inner annuli 32, 33, 34, and 35 of revering heat exchangers 36, 37, 38, and 39 respectively.
  • These reversing exchangers may have their annuli and center passageway packed with a continuous coil of edgewound metal ribbon 87 closely bonded to the metal walls of the exchangers, or the exchangers may be otherwise constructed of the fiat plate type, a primary requisite being that the passages are metal to metal bonded to provide a small thermal resistance for the conduction of heat.
  • the pressured air In passing through annuli 32, 33, 34, and 35, the pressured air is in counter-current heat interchange with the cold products of its subsequent separation, as shall hereinafter be described.
  • heat interchange the temperature of the pressured air is lowered during its passage through heat exchangers 36, 37, and 38 to approximately -l50 F., and it is at this temperature that the air enters the last heat exchanger 39 in the series.
  • heat exchanger 39 the temperature of the air is further reduced to the order of about 253 F. after which it is withdrawn through line 40, filter 88,'unidirectional float check valve 41 and line 42 and introduced into surge drum 43.
  • Filter 88 may employ any of a number of dry filter media capable of filtering particles in the order of 2 to 10 microns at about 250 F. These would include: Type -304 stainless steel wire mesh as used in a number of pleated mesh filters sold by Fluid Dynamics, Inc., New York, N.Y.; DYNEL, a modacrylic staple fiber of vinyl and acrylic origin manufactured by E. I.
  • the purified and cooled air leaving surge drum 43 through line 44 is divided into two fractions.
  • the larger fraction which represents in the present instance approximately 59 percent of the pressured air is taken through line .45 to liquefier 46 for heat interchange with cold backward-returning, nitrogen-containing product.
  • liquefier 46 for heat interchange with cold backward-returning, nitrogen-containing product.
  • the temperature of this portion of the pressured air is again further reduced to about 274 F. to effect partial condensation and in this condition the air is thereafter introduced by way of line 49 into the inside of reboiler calandria 48 of fractionator 50. Since the temperature of the partially liquefied air is of the order of about 274 F., it is warmer than the bath of liquid oxygen in which calandria 48 is submerged.
  • the air gives up heat to reboil the bottoms of fractionator 50 and in so doing reaches a temperature of about 278 F.
  • This temperature causes total condensation of the air to liquid which liquid is thereafter removed from calandria 48 through line 51 for passage through carbon dioxide filter 52 and expansion through valve'53 into the top of fractionator 50.
  • the smaller portion of the air from line 44 representing approximately 41 percent thereof, is introduced by way of line 54into expander 55 wherein its pressure is reduced with work to about 25 pounds per square inch absolute and its temperature correspondingly lowered to the order of --304 F.
  • Vapor to liquid contact is secured in fractionator 50 which brings about separation of the air into a bottoms product which is essentially pure oxygen and an overhead product which contains a preponderance of nitrogen.
  • Pure oxygen vapors are removed from fractionator 50 through drawoff line 58 located immediately above the liquid body of this material in the reboiler section of fractionator 50.
  • Any entrained liquid oxygen is sepathen effected by means of an additional annulus. in any rated from the vapors in separator 59 and returned to the fractionator through line 60.
  • Vaporous oxygen leaves the top of separator 59 through line 61 at a temperature of about 288 F.
  • the nitrogen-containing output product is removed as vapor from the top of fractionator 50 through line 67 at a temperature which is of the order of about -290 F.
  • all of this product is passed from line 67 into line 68 for the counter-current heat interchange in liquefier 46 in which event it is returned to line 67 through line 69.
  • valve 70 is used to control the bypassed proportion.
  • the total nitrogen-containing stream is caused to flow from line 67 to line 71 at a temperature of about 275 F. for backward return through the aforementioned reversing exchangers 39, 38, 37, and 36 respectively.
  • a temperature of about 275 F. at the inlet to the cold end of the exchanger 39 is too cold, relative to an exiting temperature of --25 3 F. of the pressured air at this end to evaporate all the solid carbon dioxide in the reversed passage 80 of the exchanger through which this output product now flows in the present phase of the reversing cycle.
  • a definite proportion of this cold product is diverted from line 71 through line 72 to heat interchange means 74 for abstracting heat in a desired manner over desired areas of exchanger surface in reversing exchanger 39.
  • the flow through exchanger means 74 is controlled in an amount which is dependent upon the operating conditions in the system by throttling valve 73 in the outlet line 75 for exchanger means 74.
  • the heat interchange means 74 is shown as a coil circumferentially around exchanger 39, the invention is not necessarily limited to this form of heat exchange means.
  • the cold product flowing from line 72 may be passed as readily through any passageway exchanger 39 such as, for example, the center passageway 62 and the oxygen cold interchange event the diverted proportion of cold product leaves heat interchange means 74 at a somewhat higher temperature level through line 75, whereafter it is returned to the main stream of cold product emitting from line 71 through control valve 76 and the commingled material, in the present phase of the reversing cycle, is then caused to pass through line 77, unidirectional flow check valve 78 and line 79 into outer annulus 80 of exchanger 39.
  • any passageway exchanger 39 such as, for example, the center passageway 62 and the oxygen cold interchange event the diverted proportion of cold product leaves heat interchange means 74 at a somewhat higher temperature level through line 75, whereafter it is returned to the main stream of cold product emitting from line 71 through control valve 76 and the commingled material, in the present phase of the reversing cycle, is then caused to pass through line 77, unidirectional flow check valve 78 and line 79 into
  • a small portion of the cold products leaving heat exchange means 74 is directed from line 75 at a point upstream of valve 73 through line 89, throttling control valve 90., line 91, to unidirectional flow check valve 92 and backwardly through filter 93 to join with line 79.
  • the passage of a portion of the cold products backwardly through filter 93 will cause particulate carbon dioxide and other impurities entrapped therein on the preceeding reversing cycle of operation to subline and be removed from the filter 93.
  • the "nitrogen gas with evaporated impurities” then passes through annuli 81, 82, and 83 to valve 28 where it is discharged at 84.
  • FIG. 2 An alternative embodiment of the invention involves utilization of a portion of the compressed incoming air, after passage through the exchanger, as the cooling medium for use in the auxiliary heat interchanger.
  • This embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 2 in which parts similar in function with similar parts in FIG. 1 are identified by the same reference numeral as in FIG. 1, with the subscript a.
  • a portion of the compressed incoming air, after passing through exchanger 39a is diverted from line 42a into line 72a which connects with auxiliary heat interchange means 74a.
  • Line 75a connects the exit of heat interchange means 74a with line 42a down stream of valve 76a located in line 42a.
  • Apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture at low temperature comprising: a compressor means for compressing a gaseous feed mixture; a heat exchanger means for cooling said feed mixture having'first, secnd, and third passages disposed in heat exchange relationship; separator means for separating the compressed and cooled gaseous feed mixture into compo- I nents; a first conduit means for conducting a compressed gaseous feed mixture from said compressor means; diverter valve means for alternately connecting said first conduit means to said first and second passages at one end thereof for passing said compressed gaseous feed mixture alternately through said first and second passages; a second conduit means for conducting gaseous feed mixture from said first and second passages to said separator means; a third conduit means for returning from said separator means at least one component of said gaseous feed mixture; a fourth conduit means for connecting the other end of said first passage with said second conduit means; a fifth conduit means for connecting the other end of said second passage with said second conduit means; first and second unidirectional flow valve means disposed'respect
  • the apparatus as defined by claim 4 including a twelfth conduit means communicating that'portion of said eighth conduit means upstream of said first throttling means with said third conduit means downstream of its union with said eleventh conduit means; a second throttling means in said twelfth conduit means for controlling the flow of fluid within said. eighth conduit means; and a third throttling means in said third conduit means intermediate the connection of said eleventh and twelfth conduit means with said third conduit means.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
US00781201A 1968-12-04 1968-12-04 Gas separation system Expired - Lifetime US3739593A (en)

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6487877B1 (en) * 2002-05-01 2002-12-03 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Nitrogen generation process
WO2007058914A3 (en) * 2005-11-16 2007-07-26 Praxair Technology Inc Cryogenic process system with extended bonnet filter
EP3137830A1 (fr) * 2014-04-30 2017-03-08 L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude Procédé d'épuration, de refroidissement et de séparation d'un mélange gazeux et appareil associé

Citations (6)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2460859A (en) * 1944-05-01 1949-02-08 Kellogg M W Co Method of gas separation including impurity removing steps
US2584381A (en) * 1947-05-16 1952-02-05 Barnett F Dodge Low-pressure gaseous o2 cycle with no chemical air purification
US2753701A (en) * 1953-10-30 1956-07-10 Kellogg M W Co Method of gas treatment, including impurity removing steps
US2835115A (en) * 1955-05-20 1958-05-20 Linde Eismasch Ag Process for separating a compressed gas mixture
US2863296A (en) * 1955-07-19 1958-12-09 Herrick L Johnston Inc High pressure cycle for the continuous separation of a gas mixture into its components
US2924078A (en) * 1954-06-08 1960-02-09 American Messer Corp Process and apparatus for producing liquid oxygen

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2460859A (en) * 1944-05-01 1949-02-08 Kellogg M W Co Method of gas separation including impurity removing steps
US2584381A (en) * 1947-05-16 1952-02-05 Barnett F Dodge Low-pressure gaseous o2 cycle with no chemical air purification
US2753701A (en) * 1953-10-30 1956-07-10 Kellogg M W Co Method of gas treatment, including impurity removing steps
US2924078A (en) * 1954-06-08 1960-02-09 American Messer Corp Process and apparatus for producing liquid oxygen
US2835115A (en) * 1955-05-20 1958-05-20 Linde Eismasch Ag Process for separating a compressed gas mixture
US2863296A (en) * 1955-07-19 1958-12-09 Herrick L Johnston Inc High pressure cycle for the continuous separation of a gas mixture into its components

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6487877B1 (en) * 2002-05-01 2002-12-03 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Nitrogen generation process
WO2007058914A3 (en) * 2005-11-16 2007-07-26 Praxair Technology Inc Cryogenic process system with extended bonnet filter
US20080110203A1 (en) * 2005-11-16 2008-05-15 Douglas Henry May Cryogenic process system with extended bonnet filter
US7472551B2 (en) 2005-11-16 2009-01-06 Praxair Technology, Inc. Cryogenic process system with extended bonnet filter
EP3137830A1 (fr) * 2014-04-30 2017-03-08 L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude Procédé d'épuration, de refroidissement et de séparation d'un mélange gazeux et appareil associé

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FR2025204B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-02-01
FR2025204A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-09-04

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