Air separation
US5572874A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S62/924
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Air is introduced through an inlet into a higher pressure rectification column. A stream of oxygen-enriched liquid is withdrawn through an outlet from the higher pressure rectification column. A part of this stream is introduced into a low pressure rectification column through an inlet. The stream is separated in the column low pressure rectification into oxygen and nitrogen. In addition, an argon-enriched vapor stream is withdrawn from the low pressure rectification column through an outlet, and is at least partially condensed in a reboiler-condenser which reboils oxygen separated in an argon column. One part of the resulting at least partially condensed argon-enriched oxygen stream is reduced in pressure by passage through a valve and is introduced through an inlet into an intermediate mass exchange region of the argon column in which it is separated into argon and oxygen. Another part of the at least partially condensed argon-enriched oxygen stream is returned by a pump to the low pressure rectification column.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.