초록 ▼

A portable cryogenic nitrogen generator consists of an air preparation unit and a cryogenic distillation unit mounted inside separate standard-sized ISO containers that can be easily shipped to a drilling site and efficiently and quickly assembled into an operative state. The containers can be conne

A portable cryogenic nitrogen generator consists of an air preparation unit and a cryogenic distillation unit mounted inside separate standard-sized ISO containers that can be easily shipped to a drilling site and efficiently and quickly assembled into an operative state. The containers can be connected together at anchor points on the housings of both containers, making the nitrogen generator assembly more stable. The air preparation unit includes an absorption device and optionally includes one or a plurality of air compressor units. The cryogenic distillation unit includes a distillation column and associated heat exchangers. The air preparation and cryogenic distillation units connect through apertures in their respective containers and operate while being mounted in the containers.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A gas separation device comprising a first container defining a first major axis and comprising a frame, an absorber assembly mounted in the first container so as to be surrounded by the frame, a second container defining a second major axis and comprising a second frame, a cryogenic distillation

1. A gas separation device comprising a first container defining a first major axis and comprising a frame, an absorber assembly mounted in the first container so as to be surrounded by the frame, a second container defining a second major axis and comprising a second frame, a cryogenic distillation device mounted in the second container so as to be surrounded by the frame, the first and second containers including first and second apertures, respectively, the absorber assembly and the cryogenic distillation device being configured to be connected through the first and second apertures and operate while being mounted in the first and second containers, wherein each of the first and second containers includes at least four anchoring points, the anchoring points being arranged such that at least four of the anchoring points on the first container are aligned with at least four of the anchoring points on the second container when the first and second containers abut each other with the respective major axes extending perpendicularly to each other, the at least four anchoring points extending around the periphery of the first and second apertures.2. The separation device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second frames are configured to conform to at least one standard ISO container size.3. The separation device according to claim 2, wherein the second container is about 40 feet long.4. The separation device according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring points are arranged such that four anchoring points on each of the first and second containers can be connected to each other when the major axis of the first container extends generally horizontally and the major axis of the second container extends generally vertically.5. The separation device according to claim 1, wherein the absorption assembly includes at least a first pipe terminating adjacent the first aperture, and the cryogenic distillation assembly includes at least a second pipe terminating adjacent the second aperture.6. The separation device according to claim 5, wherein the terminal ends of the first and second pipes can be connected together when the first and second apertures are juxtaposed to each other.7. The separation device according to claim 1 additionally comprising a drilling rig, an output of the separation device being connected to the drilling rig.8. The separation device according to claim 1, wherein the absorption device and the cryogenic distillation device are configured to separate nitrogen gas from atmospheric air.9. A nitrogen gas generator configured to produce gas comprising more than 95 percent nitrogen through separation of the nitrogen from atmospheric air, the generator comprising an absorption unit, a cryogenic distillation unit, a first shipping container having a first aperture and being configured to conform to a standard ISO container size, the absorption unit being rigidly affixed to an interior of the first shipping container, a second shipping container having a second aperture and being configured to conform to at least one standard ISO container size, the cryogenic distillation unit being rigidly affixed to an interior of the second shipping container, the absorption unit and the cryogenic distillation unit being configured to be connected through at least one pipe while remaining rigidly affixed to the respective containers during operation, wherein each of the first and second containers comprises a plurality of anchoring points extending around the periphery of the first and second apertures, respectively, and wherein the anchoring points are configured to allow the first and second containers to be connected to each other such that the first container extends generally horizontally, and the second container extends generally vertically.10. The generator according to claim 9 additionally comprising an air compressor rigidly affixed to the interior of the first shipping container.11. The generator according to claim 9, wherein the first and second shipping containers include first and second apertures, respectively, and wherein the at least one pipe connects the absorption unit and the cryogenic distillation unit through the first and second apertures.12. The generator according to claim 9, wherein the second container is about 40 feet long.13. The generator according to claim 9, wherein the absorption unit is configured to separate at least carbon dioxide and water vapor from compressed air, thereby producing pre-purified air, the cryogenic distillation unit being configured to separate oxygen from the pre-purified air, thereby producing the gas containing more than 99 percent nitrogen gas.14. The generator according to claim 9, wherein a gas output of the generator is connected to a drilling rig.15. The generator according to claim 14, wherein the drilling rig is configured to drill a well into the earth.16. The generator according to claim 15, wherein the absorption unit and the cryogenic distillation unit are configured to supply a flow rate of the gas containing more than 99 percent nitrogen, sufficient for moving drill cuttings upwardly from a downhole region of a well.17. The generator according to claim 11, wherein the first and second shipping containers include third and fourth apertures, respectively, each of the third and fourth apertures including at least one panel movable between open and closed positions.