Method for separating air by cryogenic distillation and installation therefor

US7219514B2 · 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

Inventors

• Emmanuel Garnier · Paris, FR
• Frederic Judas · Le Plessis-Robinson, FR
• Frederic Staine · Le Plessis-Trévise, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 8, 2002
• Grant date: May 22, 2007
• Expiry date: Dec 20, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S62/903
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method and apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation. The energy of an air separation installation is increased by reducing the size of the exchangers, and therefore increasing the head losses and the temperature differences in the exchange line, and increasing the temperature difference at the main vaporizer. The size of the distillation column is reduced by minimizing the number of theoretical trays and the number of sections of packing or trays. The size of the refrigerating turbine is also reduced by increasing its intake temperature in order to reduce the output.