Method and device for variably obtaining argon by means of low-temperature separation
US10690408B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 23, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jun 23, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2245/58
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and device to variably obtain argon by means of low-temperature separation. Feed air is cooled in a main heat exchanger and then conducted into a distillation column system with a high-pressure column and a low-pressure column. Argon is obtained using a crud argon column and a purified argon column. A purified liquid argon product flow is generated from an argon-enriched flow from the low-pressure column. In a first operating mode, a first quantity of purified argon product is discharged, and in a second operating mode, a reduced quantity of purified argon product is discharged. In the second operating mode, a gaseous argon return flow is drawn from the crude argon column or the purified argon column and heated in a separate passage of the main heat exchanger.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.