Process and apparatus for distillation of air to produce argon
US5079923A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jan 14, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S62/924
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention is concerned with a process of the type in which the air to be treated, from which water and CO.sub.2 have been removed and which has been cooled at about its dew point, is injected at the base of the mean pressure column of the double column. A first fraction of rich liquid, withdrawn from the bottom of the mean pressure column is expanded and sent into a head condenser of a column for the production of impure argon connected to the low pressure column of the double column. A second fraction of rich liquid, withdrawn from the lower portion of the mean pressure column, is expanded and sent as reflux into the low pressure column. According to the invention, a second fraction of rich liquid is withdrawn from an intermediate point of the mean pressure column and a residual gas from the apparatus is formed from at least a portion of the rich liquid withdrawn from the bottom of the mean pressure column. The apparatus which is used to carry out this process enables to withdraw the second fraction of rich liquid from an intermediate point of the mean pressure column and comprises auxiliary devices to constitute a residual gas of the apparatus from at least a portion of the r…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.