Cryogenic air separation process producing elevated pressure nitrogen by pumped liquid nitrogen
US5355682A · kind A · utility
13Cited by
6References
15Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 1993 |
| Grant date | Oct 18, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 15, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J3/0443
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The process of the present invention is a cryogenic air separation process with three important features: (1) at least a portion of a nitrogen-rich liquid from the column system is boosted in pressure before being vaporized and delivered as a product; (2) at least a portion of the feed air is at least partially condensed in indirect heat exchange with the boosted pressure, nitrogen-rich stream; and (3) a portion of the liquid nitrogen condensed from the vapor nitrogen from the top of the higher pressure column is returned to the higher pressure column as reflux with the remaining portion being removed from the column system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.