Efficient process to produce oxygen
US5966967A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2270/88
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention relates to a process for the cryogenic distillation of air in a distillation column system that contains at least one distillation column wherein the boil-up at the bottom of the distillation column producing the oxygen product is provided by condensing a stream whose nitrogen concentration is equal to or greater than that in the feed air stream. The process of the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) generating work energy which is at least ten percent (10%) of the overall refrigeration demand of the distillation column system; (b) work expanding a process stream to produce additional work energy such that the total work generated along with step (a) exceeds the total refrigeration demand of the cryogenic plant; and (c) using the work which is generated in excess of the refrigeration need of the distillation column system to cold compress a process stream at a temperature lower than the ambient temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.