Process and installation for the production of at least one gaseous product under pressure and at least one liquid by distillation of air
US5428962A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jul 4, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 16, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2200/76
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Process and installation for the production of gaseous oxygen and/or gaseous nitrogen under pressure and of at least one liquid product by an installation comprising a single air distillation column (9) provided with a nitrogen refrigeration cycle. The air to be treated is compressed (in 1) to a first pressure at least equal to the pressure of the single column. At least a portion of the air is further compressed (in 4; 4, 4A) to a high pressure substantially greater than the pressure of the single column. A fraction of this air is condensed (in 7) by vaporization of liquid oxygen and/or liquid nitrogen withdrawn from the base of the column and pumped (in 14, 15) to the corresponding vaporization pressure. The gaseous oxygen and/or gaseous nitrogen is recovered (in 30, 28) under the resulting pressure, as product. The air thus condensed is subcooled (in 11), expanded to about the pressure of the column (in 20, 21), and introduced at least in part into an intermediate level of the column. The air not used to vaporize the liquid oxygen and/or liquid nitrogen is expanded to the pressure of the column, with the production of external work (5, 5A); and there is withdrawn from the instal…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.