Cryogenic liquefaction
US4141707A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 8, 1977 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 8, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J1/0265
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
In a process for the liquefaction of air or of primary components thereof comprising passing liquefied closed-cycle refrigeration medium in indirect heat exchange relationship with said air or primary components thereof, and wherein the refrigeration value of the closed-cycle medium is produced by compressing said medium, partially condensing compressed medium in several indirect heat exchange stages, and wherein condensate from each stage is expanded, reheated, and revaporized in said indirect heat exchange stages counter-currently to the cycle medium being partially condensed, and the revaporized medium is recompressed, PA1 The improvement which comprises recovering resultant uncondensed vapor medium from the last serially connected heat exchange stage, engine expanding said vapor and passing resultant expanded vapor in indirect heat exchange relationship with liquefied air or primary components thereof to subcool same, and wherein the cycle medium is a mixture of nitrogen and hydrocarbon whereby only a single compressor is required for compressing said cycle medium in said process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.