Apparatus and process for separating air by cryogenic distillation

US6339938B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude · FR

Inventors

• Francois De Bussy · Paris, FR
• Frederic Judas · Le Plessis-Robinson, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 22, 2000
• Grant date: Jan 22, 2002
• Expiry date: Jun 22, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25J2250/52
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In an air separation apparatus comprising at least two columns (104, 105) and optionally a mixing column (107), a liquid containing between 22 and 70 mol % oxygen is vaporized in a reboiler/condenser (109) against a stream of air (86) which condenses therein at least partially. The stream of at least partially condensed air is sent to at least one column (104, 105, 107) of the column system.