Process and plant for separating air by cryogenic distillation

US6484534B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Étude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude · FR

Inventor

• Jean-Pierre Tranier · L'Haÿ-les-Roses, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 7, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 26, 2002
• Expiry date: Mar 7, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25J2245/42
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An air separation plant producing pressurized gaseous oxygen includes at least one column having a bottom reboiler. The column is fed with a stream of air. The bottom reboiler is warmed by a nitrogen-enriched gas compressed in a cold compressor and pumped liquid oxygen is withdrawn from the bottom of the column, pumped and vaporized. The refrigeration for the process is produced by air expansion in a turbine.