WO2009136076A2 - Method and apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009136076A2
WO2009136076A2 PCT/FR2009/050618 FR2009050618W WO2009136076A2 WO 2009136076 A2 WO2009136076 A2 WO 2009136076A2 FR 2009050618 W FR2009050618 W FR 2009050618W WO 2009136076 A2 WO2009136076 A2 WO 2009136076A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pressure column
nitrogen
column
turbine
sent
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FR2009/050618
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French (fr)
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WO2009136076A3 (en
Inventor
Benoît DAVIDIAN
Jean-Pierre Tranier
Original Assignee
L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
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Publication date
Priority claimed from FR0852707A external-priority patent/FR2930328A1/en
Priority claimed from FR0852709A external-priority patent/FR2930330B1/en
Priority claimed from FR0852710A external-priority patent/FR2930331B1/en
Priority claimed from FR0852706A external-priority patent/FR2930327A1/en
Priority claimed from FR0852705A external-priority patent/FR2930326B1/en
Application filed by L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude filed Critical L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
Publication of WO2009136076A2 publication Critical patent/WO2009136076A2/en
Publication of WO2009136076A3 publication Critical patent/WO2009136076A3/en

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Classifications

    • 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
    • F25J3/04163—Hot end purification of the feed air
    • F25J3/04169—Hot end purification of the feed air by adsorption of the impurities
    • F25J3/04181—Regenerating the adsorbents
    • 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
    • F25J3/04048—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of cold gaseous streams, e.g. intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste) streams
    • F25J3/0406—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit by compression of cold gaseous streams, e.g. intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste) streams of nitrogen
    • 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
    • F25J3/04006—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
    • F25J3/04103—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 using solely hydrostatic liquid head
    • 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
    • F25J3/04187—Cooling of the purified feed air by recuperative heat-exchange; Heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04193—Division of the main heat exchange line in consecutive sections having different functions
    • F25J3/04206—Division of the main heat exchange line in consecutive sections having different functions including a so-called "auxiliary vaporiser" for vaporising and producing a gaseous 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
    • 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
    • F25J3/04309—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 nitrogen
    • 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
    • F25J3/04333—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using quasi-closed loop internal vapor compression refrigeration cycles, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams
    • F25J3/04351—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using quasi-closed loop internal vapor compression refrigeration cycles, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of nitrogen
    • 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
    • F25J3/04375—Details relating to the work expansion, e.g. process parameter etc.
    • F25J3/04393—Details relating to the work expansion, e.g. process parameter etc. using multiple or multistage gas work expansion
    • 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
    • F25J3/04418—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 with thermally overlapping high and low pressure 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
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/50—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification using multiple (re-)boiler-condensers at different heights of the column
    • F25J2200/54—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification using multiple (re-)boiler-condensers at different heights of the column in the low pressure column of a double pressure main column system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/02—Expansion of a process fluid in a work-extracting turbine (i.e. isentropic expansion), e.g. of the feed stream
    • F25J2240/04—Multiple expansion turbines 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
    • 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
    • F25J2250/50—One fluid being oxygen

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation.
  • One of the aims of the invention is to reduce the low-purity, low-purity oxygen-specific separation energy, especially in the diagrams where the pressurized nitrogen is not recovered by the end customer.
  • the waste nitrogen is directly sent to the atmosphere and part of the available medium-pressure nitrogen is turbinated towards the regeneration.
  • the waste gas at the top of the low pressure column is usually used for the regeneration of the purification at the head, before being sent to the atmosphere.
  • the pressure drops of the circuit set the pressure of the low pressure column, and indirectly the pressure of the air to be distilled.
  • WO-A-2007129152 a portion of the medium pressure nitrogen is turbined directly to the atmosphere to maximize the available cooling capacity, recovered in a cold compressor.
  • the waste nitrogen is defined as a gas rich in nitrogen from the low pressure column of a double or triple column whose oxygen content exceeds 0.05 mol%.
  • the residual nitrogen is sent directly to the atmosphere, which makes it possible to gain the pressure losses of the regeneration: the pressure of the low pressure column is lower.
  • a method of air separation by cryogenic distillation in which: a) compressed air is purified in a purification unit, cooled in a line of exchange and sent to a column of a column system comprising a medium pressure column and a low pressure column b) an oxygen-rich fluid is taken from the low pressure column, heated in the exchange line and sent to the customer c) nitrogen from the medium pressure column is expanded in a turbine and is used for the regeneration of the purification unit d) residual nitrogen from the low pressure column is sent directly to the atmosphere, possibly through a tower of direct contact with water, at the hot end of the exchange line and e) a cold compressor uses at least a portion of the cooling capacity of the turbine.
  • the fluid compressed in the cold compressor is nitrogen coming from the medium pressure column;
  • the compressed nitrogen in the cold compressor serves to heat a bottom vaporizer of the low pressure column and is then sent to the column system as reflux;
  • the low pressure column operates at at most 1.5 bar abs, or even at most 1.3 bar abs;
  • Nitrogen from the medium pressure column is sent to the pressure thereof to an intermediate reboiler of the low pressure column.
  • an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation comprising: a) a purification unit in which purified compressed air is purified, an exchange line in which the purified air, a column system comprising a medium-pressure column and a low-pressure column and means for sending purified and cooled air to a column of the system b) means for withdrawing an oxygen-rich fluid in the low pressure column and to send it to the exchange line c) a turbine, means for sending a fluid from distillation to the turbine and means for sending the expanded fluid from the turbine to the purification unit d) means for sending the waste nitrogen directly to the atmosphere, possibly through a tower of direct contact with water, at the hot end of the exchange line and e) a cold compressor coupled to the turbine and means for sending a fluid from the apparatus to the cold compressor.
  • the apparatus comprises:
  • a vessel vaporizer of the low pressure column means for sending the compressed nitrogen into the cold compressor to the vessel vaporizer and then to the column system as reflux
  • Part of the medium pressure nitrogen is turbinated towards the regeneration (with a flow rate compatible with the regeneration), which has the effect of greatly reducing the available cooling capacity, and therefore the possible recovery in a cold compressor.
  • Air 1 is compressed in a compressor 3 at the pressure of the medium pressure column 21 of a double air separation column.
  • the compressed air 5 is purified in a purification unit 7 and is divided in two.
  • a portion 11 is overpressed by a booster 15 to form a supercharged flow 17 which is cooled through the exchange line 19.
  • the cooled flow 17 is sent to a vaporizer 25 where it liquefies by heat exchange with a liquid flow to vaporize and the condensed flow 27 is sent to the medium pressure column 21.
  • the rest of the air 13 cools in the exchange line 19 and is sent in gaseous form at the medium pressure column 21.
  • Reflux flow rates 29, 31, 38 are withdrawn from the medium pressure column, subcooled in the exchanger 33, expanded and sent to the low pressure column 23 in a known manner.
  • a flow of residual nitrogen 37 is withdrawn at the top of the low pressure column 23, heated in the exchanger 33 and then in the line 19 and sent to the atmosphere.
  • a low purity oxygen flow rate 57 is withdrawn from the tank of the low pressure column 23, pressurized by the pump 59 (or else pressurized by simple hydrostatic head), vaporized in the vaporizer 25 and sent to the exchange line for warm it up as flow 61.
  • Medium pressure nitrogen gas 43 is withdrawn at the top of the medium pressure column 21 and divided into two.
  • a portion 47 serves to reboil an intermediate vaporizer 41 where it condenses before being sent to the medium pressure column.
  • the remainder 45 is itself divided in two, a portion 49 being sent to a cold compressor 51 without reheating between the withdrawal and the compressor inlet. This part 49 serves to reboil the bottom vaporizer 39 of the low pressure column 23.
  • the rest 53 of the nitrogen is heated in the exchange line 19, withdrawn at an intermediate temperature thereof, expanded in a turbine 55 (This may consist of at least two separate turbines), heated in the exchange line 19 and sent in full as regeneration gas to the purification unit 7.
  • the compressor 51 can be coupled to one of the turbines providing the function of the turbine 55.
  • the low pressure column 23 can be divided in two to form two columns each having a tank vaporizer 39, 41.

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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

In a method for separating air by cryogenic distillation, compressed air is purified in a purification unit (7), cooled in an exchange line (19) and sent to a column of a system of columns comprising a medium-pressure column (21) and a low-pressure column (23), an oxygen-rich fluid is tapped from the low-pressure column, is heated in the exchange line and sent to the client, a fluid resulting from the distillation is expanded in a turbine (55) and is then used to regenerate the purification unit, the residual nitrogen is sent directly to the atmosphere, possibly through a contact tower in which it is in direct contact with the water, at the hot end of the exchange line and a cold compressor (51) uses at least some of the refrigerating power of the turbine.

Description

Procédé et appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique Method and apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation
La présente invention concerne un procédé et un appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique. Un des buts de l'invention est de réduire l'énergie spécifique de séparation de l'oxygène basse pureté basse pression, notamment dans les schémas où l'azote sous pression n'est pas valorisé par le client final.The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation. One of the aims of the invention is to reduce the low-purity, low-purity oxygen-specific separation energy, especially in the diagrams where the pressurized nitrogen is not recovered by the end customer.
Selon l'invention, l'azote résiduaire est directement envoyé à l'atmosphère et une partie de l'azote moyenne pression disponible est turbinée vers la régénération.According to the invention, the waste nitrogen is directly sent to the atmosphere and part of the available medium-pressure nitrogen is turbinated towards the regeneration.
Le gaz résiduaire en tête de colonne basse pression est habituellement utilisé pour la régénération de l'épuration en tête, avant d'être envoyé à l'atmosphère. Les pertes de charges du circuit fixent la pression de la colonne basse pression, et de façon indirecte la pression de l'air à distiller. Dans WO-A-2007129152, une partie de l'azote moyenne pression est turbinée directement à l'atmosphère pour maximiser la puissance frigorifique disponible, valorisée dans un compresseur froid.The waste gas at the top of the low pressure column is usually used for the regeneration of the purification at the head, before being sent to the atmosphere. The pressure drops of the circuit set the pressure of the low pressure column, and indirectly the pressure of the air to be distilled. In WO-A-2007129152, a portion of the medium pressure nitrogen is turbined directly to the atmosphere to maximize the available cooling capacity, recovered in a cold compressor.
L'azote résiduaire est défini comme étant un gaz riche en azote provenant de la colonne basse pression d'une double ou triple colonne dont la teneur en oxygène dépasse 0.05% mol.The waste nitrogen is defined as a gas rich in nitrogen from the low pressure column of a double or triple column whose oxygen content exceeds 0.05 mol%.
Selon l'invention, l'azote résiduaire est directement envoyé à l'atmosphère, ce qui permet de gagner les pertes de charges de la régénération : la pression de la colonne basse pression est plus basse. Selon un objet de l'invention, il est prévu un procédé de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique dans lequel : a) de l'air comprimé est épuré dans une unité d'épuration, refroidi dans une ligne d'échange et envoyé à une colonne d'un système de colonnes comprenant une colonne moyenne pression et une colonne basse pression b) un fluide riche en oxygène est prélevé dans la colonne basse pression, réchauffé dans la ligne d'échange et envoyé au client c) de l'azote provenant de la colonne moyenne pression est détendu dans une turbine, puis est utilisé pour la régénération de l'unité d'épuration d) de l'azote résiduaire provenant de la colonne basse pression est envoyé directement à l'atmosphère, éventuellement à travers une tour de contact direct avec de l'eau, au bout chaud de la ligne d'échange et e) un compresseur froid utilise au moins une partie de la puissance frigorifique de la turbine.According to the invention, the residual nitrogen is sent directly to the atmosphere, which makes it possible to gain the pressure losses of the regeneration: the pressure of the low pressure column is lower. According to one object of the invention, there is provided a method of air separation by cryogenic distillation in which: a) compressed air is purified in a purification unit, cooled in a line of exchange and sent to a column of a column system comprising a medium pressure column and a low pressure column b) an oxygen-rich fluid is taken from the low pressure column, heated in the exchange line and sent to the customer c) nitrogen from the medium pressure column is expanded in a turbine and is used for the regeneration of the purification unit d) residual nitrogen from the low pressure column is sent directly to the atmosphere, possibly through a tower of direct contact with water, at the hot end of the exchange line and e) a cold compressor uses at least a portion of the cooling capacity of the turbine.
Selon d'autres aspects facultatifs :According to other optional aspects:
- le fluide comprimé dans le compresseur froid est de l'azote provenant de la colonne moyenne pression ;the fluid compressed in the cold compressor is nitrogen coming from the medium pressure column;
- l'azote comprimé dans le compresseur froid sert à chauffer un vaporiseur de cuve de la colonne basse pression puis est envoyé au système de colonnes comme reflux ;the compressed nitrogen in the cold compressor serves to heat a bottom vaporizer of the low pressure column and is then sent to the column system as reflux;
- la colonne basse pression opère à au plus 1 ,5 bar abs, voire au plus 1 ,3 bars abs ;the low pressure column operates at at most 1.5 bar abs, or even at most 1.3 bar abs;
- aucune partie de l'azote détendu dans la turbine n'est envoyée à un rebouilleur de la colonne basse pression ;no part of the nitrogen expanded in the turbine is sent to a reboiler of the low pressure column;
- tout l'azote détendu dans la turbine est utilisé pour la régénération de l'unité d'épuration ;all the nitrogen expanded in the turbine is used for the regeneration of the purification unit;
- de l'azote provenant de la colonne moyenne pression est envoyé à la pression de celle-ci à un rebouilleur intermédiaire de la colonne basse pression.- Nitrogen from the medium pressure column is sent to the pressure thereof to an intermediate reboiler of the low pressure column.
Selon un autre objet de l'invention, il est prévu un appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique comprenant : a) une unité d'épuration où s'épure de l'air comprimé, une ligne d'échange où se refroidit l'air épuré, un système de colonnes comprenant une colonne moyenne pression et une colonne basse pression et des moyens pour envoyer l'air épuré et refroidi à une colonne du système b) des moyens pour prélever un fluide riche en oxygène dans la colonne basse pression et pour l'envoyer à la ligne d'échange c) une turbine, des moyens pour envoyer un fluide issu de la distillation à la turbine et des moyens pour envoyer le fluide détendu de la turbine à l'unité d'épuration d) des moyens pour envoyer l'azote résiduaire directement à l'atmosphère, éventuellement à travers une tour de contact direct avec de l'eau, au bout chaud de la ligne d'échange et e) un compresseur froid couplé à la turbine et des moyens pour envoyer un fluide de l'appareil au compresseur froid.According to another object of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation comprising: a) a purification unit in which purified compressed air is purified, an exchange line in which the purified air, a column system comprising a medium-pressure column and a low-pressure column and means for sending purified and cooled air to a column of the system b) means for withdrawing an oxygen-rich fluid in the low pressure column and to send it to the exchange line c) a turbine, means for sending a fluid from distillation to the turbine and means for sending the expanded fluid from the turbine to the purification unit d) means for sending the waste nitrogen directly to the atmosphere, possibly through a tower of direct contact with water, at the hot end of the exchange line and e) a cold compressor coupled to the turbine and means for sending a fluid from the apparatus to the cold compressor.
Selon d'autres aspects facultatifs l'appareil comprend :According to other optional aspects the apparatus comprises:
- des moyens pour envoyer de l'azote provenant de la colonne moyenne pression au compresseur froidmeans for sending nitrogen from the medium pressure column to the cold compressor
- un vaporiseur de cuve de la colonne basse pression, des moyens pour envoyer l'azote comprimé dans le compresseur froid au vaporiseur de cuve et ensuite au système de colonnes comme refluxa vessel vaporizer of the low pressure column, means for sending the compressed nitrogen into the cold compressor to the vessel vaporizer and then to the column system as reflux
- des moyens pour envoyer tout l'azote de la turbine à l'unité d'épurationmeans for sending all the nitrogen from the turbine to the purification unit
- des moyens pour envoyer de l'azote de la colonne moyenne pression à un rebouilleur intermédiaire de la colonne moyenne pression à la pression de la colonne moyenne pressionmeans for sending nitrogen from the medium pressure column to an intermediate reboiler of the medium pressure column at the pressure of the medium pressure column
- une pompe pour pressuriser le fluide riche en oxygène en amont de la ligne d'échangea pump for pressurizing the oxygen-rich fluid upstream of the exchange line
Une partie de l'azote moyenne pression est turbinée vers la régénération (avec un débit compatible avec la régénération), ce qui pour effet de réduire fortement la puissance frigorifique disponible, et donc la valorisation possible dans un compresseur froid.Part of the medium pressure nitrogen is turbinated towards the regeneration (with a flow rate compatible with the regeneration), which has the effect of greatly reducing the available cooling capacity, and therefore the possible recovery in a cold compressor.
Néanmoins, on a un gain de 1.7% sur l'énergie spécifique par rapport au cas de référence où l'azote moyenne pression est turbiné à l'atmosphère et l'azote résiduaire est envoyé vers la régénération. L'invention sera décrite en plus de détail en se référant à la figure. De l'air 1 est comprimé dans un compresseur 3 à la pression de la colonne moyenne pression 21 d'une double colonne de séparation d'air. L'air comprimé 5 est épuré dans une unité d'épuration 7 et est divisé en deux. Une partie 11 est surpressée par un surpresseur 15 pour former un débit surpressé 17 qui est refroidi en traversant la ligne d'échange 19. Le débit refroidi 17 est envoyé à un vaporiseur 25 où il se liquéfie par échange de chaleur avec un débit liquide à vaporiser et le débit condensé 27 est envoyé à la colonne moyenne pression 21. Le reste de l'air 13 se refroidit dans la ligne d'échange 19 et est envoyé sous forme gazeuse à la colonne moyenne pression 21. Des débits de reflux 29, 31 , 38 sont soutirés de la colonne moyenne pression, sous-refroidis dans l'échangeur 33, détendus et envoyés à la colonne basse pression 23 de manière connue. Un débit d'azote résiduaire 37 est soutiré en tête de la colonne basse pression 23, réchauffé dans l'échangeur 33 et ensuite dans la ligne 19 et envoyé à l'atmosphère. Un débit d'oxygène basse pureté 57 est soutiré de la cuve de la colonne basse pression 23, pressurisé par la pompe 59 (ou encore pressurisé par simple hauteur hydrostatique), vaporisé dans le vaporiseur 25 et envoyé à la ligne d'échange pour s'y réchauffer en tant que débit 61.Nevertheless, there is a 1.7% gain on the specific energy compared to the reference case where the medium pressure nitrogen is turbinated in the atmosphere and the residual nitrogen is sent to the regeneration. The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the figure. Air 1 is compressed in a compressor 3 at the pressure of the medium pressure column 21 of a double air separation column. The compressed air 5 is purified in a purification unit 7 and is divided in two. A portion 11 is overpressed by a booster 15 to form a supercharged flow 17 which is cooled through the exchange line 19. The cooled flow 17 is sent to a vaporizer 25 where it liquefies by heat exchange with a liquid flow to vaporize and the condensed flow 27 is sent to the medium pressure column 21. The rest of the air 13 cools in the exchange line 19 and is sent in gaseous form at the medium pressure column 21. Reflux flow rates 29, 31, 38 are withdrawn from the medium pressure column, subcooled in the exchanger 33, expanded and sent to the low pressure column 23 in a known manner. A flow of residual nitrogen 37 is withdrawn at the top of the low pressure column 23, heated in the exchanger 33 and then in the line 19 and sent to the atmosphere. A low purity oxygen flow rate 57 is withdrawn from the tank of the low pressure column 23, pressurized by the pump 59 (or else pressurized by simple hydrostatic head), vaporized in the vaporizer 25 and sent to the exchange line for warm it up as flow 61.
De l'azote gazeux moyenne pression 43 est soutiré en tête de la colonne moyenne pression 21 et divisé en deux. Une partie 47 sert à rebouillir un vaporiseur intermédiaire 41 où elle se condense avant d'être envoyée à la colonne moyenne pression. Le reste 45 est lui-même divisé en deux, une partie 49 étant envoyée à un compresseur froid 51 sans réchauffage entre le soutirage et l'entrée du compresseur. Cette partie 49 sert à rebouillir le vaporiseur de cuve 39 de la colonne basse pression 23. Le reste 53 de l'azote est réchauffé dans la ligne d'échange 19, soutiré à une température intermédiaire de celle-ci, détendue dans une turbine 55 (celle-ci peut être constitué d'au moins deux turbines distinctes), réchauffé dans la ligne d'échange 19 et envoyé en totalité comme gaz de régénération à l'unité d'épuration 7.Medium pressure nitrogen gas 43 is withdrawn at the top of the medium pressure column 21 and divided into two. A portion 47 serves to reboil an intermediate vaporizer 41 where it condenses before being sent to the medium pressure column. The remainder 45 is itself divided in two, a portion 49 being sent to a cold compressor 51 without reheating between the withdrawal and the compressor inlet. This part 49 serves to reboil the bottom vaporizer 39 of the low pressure column 23. The rest 53 of the nitrogen is heated in the exchange line 19, withdrawn at an intermediate temperature thereof, expanded in a turbine 55 (This may consist of at least two separate turbines), heated in the exchange line 19 and sent in full as regeneration gas to the purification unit 7.
Le compresseur 51 peut être couplé à une des turbines assurant la fonction de la turbine 55. La colonne basse pression 23 peut être divisée en deux pour former deux colonnes chacune ayant un vaporiseur de cuve 39, 41. The compressor 51 can be coupled to one of the turbines providing the function of the turbine 55. The low pressure column 23 can be divided in two to form two columns each having a tank vaporizer 39, 41.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Procédé de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique dans lequel : a) de l'air comprimé est épuré dans une unité d'épuration (7), refroidi dans une ligne d'échange (19) et envoyé à une colonne d'un système de colonnes comprenant une colonne moyenne pression (21 ) et une colonne basse pression (23) b) un fluide riche en oxygène est prélevé dans la colonne basse pression, réchauffé dans la ligne d'échange et envoyé au client c) de l'azote provenant de la colonne moyenne pression est détendu dans une turbine (55), puis est utilisé pour la régénération de l'unité d'épuration d) de l'azote résiduaire provenant de la colonne basse pression est envoyé directement à l'atmosphère, éventuellement à travers une tour de contact direct avec de l'eau, au bout chaud de la ligne d'échange et e) un compresseur froid (51 ) utilise au moins une partie de la puissance frigorifique de la turbine.A method of separating air by cryogenic distillation in which: a) compressed air is purified in a purification unit (7), cooled in an exchange line (19) and sent to a column of a column system comprising a medium-pressure column (21) and a low-pressure column (23); b) an oxygen-rich fluid is taken from the low pressure column, heated in the exchange line and sent to the customer; nitrogen from the medium pressure column is expanded in a turbine (55) and is used for the regeneration of the purification unit d) the residual nitrogen from the low pressure column is sent directly to the atmosphere , possibly through a tower of direct contact with water, at the hot end of the exchange line and e) a cold compressor (51) uses at least a portion of the cooling capacity of the turbine.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1 dans lequel aucune partie de l'azote détendu dans la turbine n'est envoyée à un rebouilleur de la colonne basse pression.2. The method of claim 1 wherein no part of the nitrogen expanded in the turbine is sent to a reboiler of the low pressure column.
3. Procédé selon la revendication 2 dans lequel tout l'azote détendu dans la turbine est utilisé pour la régénération de l'unité d'épuration.3. Method according to claim 2 wherein all the nitrogen expanded in the turbine is used for the regeneration of the purification unit.
4. Procédé selon la revendication 1 , 2 ou 3 dans lequel le fluide comprimé dans le compresseur froid (51 ) est de l'azote provenant de la colonne moyenne pression (21 ).4. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the compressed fluid in the cold compressor (51) is nitrogen from the medium pressure column (21).
5. Procédé selon la revendication 4 dans lequel l'azote comprimé dans le compresseur froid (51 ) sert à chauffer un vaporiseur de cuve (39) de la colonne basse pression puis est envoyé au système de colonnes comme reflux. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the nitrogen compressed in the cold compressor (51) is used to heat a bottom vaporizer (39) of the low pressure column and is sent to the column system as reflux.
6. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes dans lequel la colonne basse pression (23) opère à au plus 1 ,5 bar abs, voire au plus 1 ,3 bars abs.6. Method according to one of the preceding claims wherein the low pressure column (23) operates at at most 1, 5 bar abs, or even at most 1, 3 bar abs.
7. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes dans lequel de l'azote provenant de la colonne moyenne pression est envoyé à la pression de celle-ci à un rebouilleur intermédiaire (41 ) de la colonne basse pression.7. Method according to one of the preceding claims wherein nitrogen from the medium pressure column is sent to the pressure thereof to an intermediate reboiler (41) of the low pressure column.
8. Appareil de séparation d'air par distillation cryogénique comprenant : a) une unité d'épuration (7) où s'épure de l'air comprimé, une ligne d'échange (19) où se refroidit l'air épuré, un système de colonnes comprenant une colonne moyenne pression (21 ) et une colonne basse pression (23) et des moyens pour envoyer l'air épuré et refroidi à une colonne du système b) des moyens pour prélever un fluide riche en oxygène dans la colonne basse pression et pour l'envoyer à la ligne d'échange c) une turbine (55), des moyens pour envoyer de l'azote provenant de la colonne moyenne pression à la turbine et des moyens pour envoyer l'azote détendu de la turbine à l'unité d'épuration d) des moyens pour envoyer de l'azote résiduaire de la colonne basse pression directement à l'atmosphère, éventuellement à travers une tour de contact direct avec de l'eau, au bout chaud de la ligne d'échange et e) un compresseur froid (51 ) couplé à la turbine et des moyens pour envoyer un fluide de l'appareil au compresseur froid.An apparatus for air separation by cryogenic distillation comprising: a) a purification unit (7) where purified compressed air is purified, an exchange line (19) for cooling the purified air, a column system comprising a medium-pressure column (21) and a low-pressure column (23) and means for sending purified and cooled air to a column of the system b) means for taking an oxygen-rich fluid in the lower column pressure and to send it to the exchange line c) a turbine (55), means for sending nitrogen from the medium pressure column to the turbine and means for sending the expanded nitrogen of the turbine to the purification unit d) means for sending residual nitrogen from the low pressure column directly to the atmosphere, possibly through a tower of direct contact with water, at the hot end of the line of exchange and e) a cold compressor (51) coupled to the turbine and means for sending er a fluid from the unit to the cold compressor.
9. Appareil selon la revendication 8 comprenant des moyens pour envoyer de l'azote provenant de la colonne moyenne pression au compresseur froid (51 ).Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising means for supplying nitrogen from the medium pressure column to the cold compressor (51).
10. Appareil selon la revendication 9 comprenant un vaporiseur de cuve (39) de la colonne basse pression (23), des moyens pour envoyer l'azote comprimé dans le compresseur froid au vaporiseur de cuve et ensuite au système de colonnes comme reflux.10. Apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a vessel vaporizer (39) of the low pressure column (23), means for sending nitrogen compressed in the cold compressor to the tank vaporizer and then to the system of columns as reflux.
11. Appareil selon la revendication 8, 9 ou 10 comprenant des moyens pour envoyer tout l'azote de la turbine (55) à l'unité d'épuration (7).11. Apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10 comprising means for sending all nitrogen from the turbine (55) to the purification unit (7).
12. Appareil selon l'une des revendications 8 à 11 comprenant des moyens pour envoyer de l'azote de la colonne moyenne pression à un rebouilleur intermédiaire (41 ) de la colonne moyenne pression à la pression de la colonne moyenne pression.12. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 to 11 comprising means for sending nitrogen from the medium pressure column to an intermediate reboiler (41) of the medium pressure column at the pressure of the medium pressure column.
13. Appareil selon l'une des revendications 8 à 11 comprenant une pompe (59) pour pressuriser le fluide riche en oxygène en amont de la ligne d'échange. 13. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 to 11 comprising a pump (59) for pressurizing the oxygen-rich fluid upstream of the exchange line.
PCT/FR2009/050618 2008-04-22 2009-04-08 Method and apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation WO2009136076A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (12)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0852707A FR2930328A1 (en) 2008-04-22 2008-04-22 Air separating method for oxycombustion application in boiler, involves sending oxygen and nitrogen enriched liquids to low pressure column, removing oxygen enriched gas in condenser, and drawing nitrogen enriched gas from column
FR0852708A FR2930329A1 (en) 2008-04-22 2008-04-22 Air separating method, involves sending residual oxygen directly to atmosphere through tower in direct contact with water at hot end of exchange line and cold compressor that uses part of refrigerated power of turbine
FR0852709A FR2930330B1 (en) 2008-04-22 2008-04-22 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
FR0852707 2008-04-22
FR0852710 2008-04-22
FR0852709 2008-04-22
FR0852710A FR2930331B1 (en) 2008-04-22 2008-04-22 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
FR0852706 2008-04-22
FR0852708 2008-04-22
FR0852705 2008-04-22
FR0852706A FR2930327A1 (en) 2008-04-22 2008-04-22 Air separating method for carbon oxycombustion frame, involves sending oxygen and nitrogen enrich liquids, and reheating nitrogen rich flow from low pressure columns and oxygen rich flow in exchange line
FR0852705A FR2930326B1 (en) 2008-04-22 2008-04-22 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION

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FR2955926B1 (en) 2010-02-04 2012-03-02 Air Liquide METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION
FR2990500A1 (en) * 2012-05-11 2013-11-15 Air Liquide METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIR SEPARATION BY CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION

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