Apparatus and process for fractionating a gas mixture at low temperature
US6311517A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S62/903
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An apparatus for fractionating a gas mixture at low temperature includes (1) a separation column; (2) a heat-exchanger block comprising a main heat-exchanger section and a condenser/evaporator section, wherein the condenser/evaporator section has evaporation passages and condensation passages; (3) a first feed gas line for supplying feed gas to the main heat-exchanger section; (4) a second feed gas line for introducing cooled feed gas into the separation column; (5) a first liquid line leading from a lower region of the separation column to an inlet of the evaporation passages; (6) a gas line that leads from an upper region of the separation column to the condensation passages; (6) a reflux line to introduce condensate which is formed in the condensation passages into the upper region of the separation column; (7) a phase-separation device connected to an outlet of the evaporation passages; and (8) a second liquid line leading from the phase-separation device to an inlet of the evaporation passages and also connected to a purge line.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.