Process and liquefier for the production of liquid air
US6230518A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 23, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2215/40
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention relates to a process and a liquefier for the production of liquid air with an oxygen content of between 16 and 21 mol % in a low-temperature process, whereby atmospheric air is used as a feed gas; in a warm part of the process, H.sub.2 O, carbon dioxide and contaminants entrained in the air are removed in a purification step, e.g. adsorption; cold is produced by compression and engine expansion of process streams. Liquid air is obtained as a liquid head product in a cold part of the process by low-temperature rectification in a column having less than four theoretical plates. In addition, a liquid bottoms product is obtained in the rectification, used exergetically and vented as a warm residual gas into the atmosphere or used at least partially in the purification step.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.