Control method to maximize argon recovery from cryogenic air separation units
US4842625A · kind A · utility
18Cited by
18References
5Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 1988 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S62/924
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improvement to a conventional cryogenic air separation process having an argon sidearm column. The improvement to the process comprises reducing the pressure of the feed gas to the argon sidearm column across a control valve and operating the argon sidearm column at the lowest possible pressure consistent with a minimum temperature difference across the overhead condenser and the unrestricted return of crude oxygen vapor from the overhead condenser to the low pressure column.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.