System and method for generation of oxygen by low-temperature air separation

US9964353B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Linde GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Tobias Lautenschlager · Gröbenzell, DE
• Stefan Lochner · Grafing, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 3, 2016
• Grant date: May 8, 2018
• Expiry date: Jul 9, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25J2245/58
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A system and method serve generate oxygen by low-temperature air separation in a distillation column system having a high-pressure column and a low-pressure column, a main condenser which is constructed as a condenser-evaporator, and an auxiliary column. A gaseous oxygen-containing fraction is introduced into the auxiliary column. A nitrogen-containing liquid stream from the high-pressure column, the main condenser or the low-pressure column is applied as reflux to the top of the auxiliary column. An argon-rich stream from an intermediate site of the low-pressure column is introduced into an argon removal column that has an argon removal column top condenser. The low-pressure column is arranged beside the high-pressure column, the main condenser is arranged over the high-pressure column, the auxiliary column is arranged over the main condenser, the argon removal column is arranged over the auxiliary column and the argon removal column top condenser is arranged over the argon removal column.