Compact cryogenic plant

• US 20070199344A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Praxair Technology Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: Praxair Technology Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Howard, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 7,621,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/620
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2235/58 the fluid being argon or crude argon
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2290/10 Mathematical formulae, modeling, plot or curves; Design methods
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/0409 of oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04296 Claude expansion, i.e. expanded into the main or high pressure column
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04412 in a classical double column flowsheet, i.e. with thermal coupling by a main reboiler-condenser in the bottom of low pressure respectively top of high pressure column
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04678 cooled by oxygen enriched liquid from high pressure column bottoms
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04872 Vertical layout of cold equipments within in the cold box, e.g. columns, heat exchangers etc.
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/0489 Modularity and arrangement of parts of the air fractionation unit, in particular of the cold box, e.g. pre-fabrication, assembling and erection, dimensions, horizontal layout "plot" F25J3/04872 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 62/907 Insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 62/911 Portable

Abstract

A cryogenic plant having at least two direct phase separation devices such as distillation columns whose circular perimeters serve to define the perimeter of the cold box encompassing the direct phase separation devices and ancillary equipment for the process.

Claims

1. Apparatus for carrying out a cryogenic process comprising:

(A) two direct phase separation devices, each direct phase separation device having a circular perimeter;

(B) a cold box perimeter enclosing the said direct phase separation devices, each direct phase separation device perimeter bordering the cold box perimeter at at least one point; and

(C) at least one piece of ancillary equipment within the cold box perimeter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one dimension of said ancillary equipment borders the cold box perimeter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein at least one dimension of said ancillary equipment is equivalent to at least one dimension of the cold box perimeter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one other direct phase separation device within the cold box perimeter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the direct phase separation devices are distillation columns.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ancillary equipment is a heat exchanger.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ancillary equipment is another phase separation device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein all the ancillary equipment required for the process is within the cold box perimeter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cold box perimeter has a rectilinear shape.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cold box perimeter has a circular shape.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein cryogenic process is a cryogenic air separation process.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein more than two direct phase separation devices border the cold box perimeter.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the perimeter of a direct phase separation device defines one dimension of the cold box perimeter.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising at least two pieces of ancillary equipments having combined dimensions which are equivalent to at least one dimension of the cold box perimeter.

12. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cryogenic process is a light hydrocarbon separation process.

16. A method for designing an apparatus for carrying out a cryogenic process comprising specifying two direct phase separation devices, each of which has a circular perimeter;

specifying a cold box perimeter which encloses the said direct phase separation devices and wherein each direct separation device perimeter borders the cold box perimeter at at least one point; and

providing for at least one piece of ancillary equipment within the cold box perimeter.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein more than two such direct phase separation devices are specified.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the cryogenic process is a cryogenic air separation process.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the cryogenic process is a light hydrocarbon separation process.