Method and apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation
US11435139B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 2018 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 3, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2245/58
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for separating air by cryogenic distillation in a column system, comprising a first column operating at a first pressure and a second column operating at a second pressure, in which an argon-enriched flow is sent from an intermediate point of the first column to the tank of the second column and an argon-rich flow is drawn off at the top of the second column, wherein a nitrogen-enriched flow of the first column is compressed in a compressor, the compressed flow is sent to a head condenser of the second column after an expansion step and the vaporized flow is expanded in the condenser in a turbine where it at least partially liquefies.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.