초록 ▼

Process and apparatus are disclosed for increasing argon recovery in conjunction with cryogenic distillation of air to high purity oxygen. The increased argon recovery is obtained by incorporating one or more latent heat exchangers in the flowsheet at strategic disclosed locations and between specif

Process and apparatus are disclosed for increasing argon recovery in conjunction with cryogenic distillation of air to high purity oxygen. The increased argon recovery is obtained by incorporating one or more latent heat exchangers in the flowsheet at strategic disclosed locations and between specific fluids. The invention is particularly advantageous in conjunction with LOXBOIL flowsheets, which otherwise lose O2 recovery when argon recovery is increased.

대표청구항 ▼

In a process for producing high purity oxygen and by-product argon by distilling cooled and cleaned air in a distillation apparatus comprised of a high pressure (HP) rectifier and a low pressure (LP) column comprised of an argon stripping section, a nitrogen removal section, and an argon rectifying

In a process for producing high purity oxygen and by-product argon by distilling cooled and cleaned air in a distillation apparatus comprised of a high pressure (HP) rectifier and a low pressure (LP) column comprised of an argon stripping section, a nitrogen removal section, and an argon rectifying section, the improvement comprising: exchanging latent heat between the argon rectifying section and the nitrogen removal section so as to provide intermediate reflux to the former and intermediate reboil to an intermediate height of the latter. In a cryogenic air distillation apparatus for producing high purity oxygen plus byproduct argon comprised of a high pressure (HP) rectifier and a low pressure (LP) column comprised of an argon stripping section, a nitrogen removal section, and an argon rectifying section, the improvement comprising: means for exchanging latent heat from an intermediate height of the argon rectifying section to an intermediate height of the nitrogen removal section.