Separated from a gas mixture on a refrigeration medium

• US 3,213,631 A
• Filed: 09/22/1961
• Issued: 10/26/1965
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1961
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ludwig Kniel
• Original Assignee: Ludwig Kniel
• Inventors: LUDWIG KNIEL
• Application Number:
  US04/140,084
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• US Class Current: 62/622
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0036 Multiple-effect condensation; Fractional condensation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0039 Recuperation of heat, e.g. use of heat pump(s), compression
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0045 Vacuum condensation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/002 by condensation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/005 by heat treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2200/02 in a single pressure main column system
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2200/40 Features relating to the provision of boil-up in the bottom of a column
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2200/76 Refluxing the column with condensed overhead gas being cycled in a quasi-closed loop refrigeration cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2270/04 Internal refrigeration with work-producing gas expansion loop
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2270/08 Internal refrigeration by flash gas recovery loop
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2270/12 External refrigeration with liquid vaporising loop
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2270/60 Closed external refrigeration cycle with single component refrigerant [SCR], e.g. C1-, C2- or C3-hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2270/88 Quasi-closed internal refrigeration or heat pump cycle, if not otherwise provided
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2270/902 Details about the refrigeration cycle used, e.g. composition of refrigerant, arrangement of compressors or cascade, make up sources, use of reflux exchangers etc.
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/0209 Natural gas or substitute natural gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/0233 separation of CnHm with 1 carbon atom or more
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/0238 separation of CnHm with 2 carbon atoms or more
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working

Claims

1. A METHOD FOR THE SEPARATION OF A GASEOUS MIXTURE INTO A LIGHT FRACTION AND A HEAVY FRACTION WHICH COMPRISES:

PASSING SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE THROUGH A HEAT EXCHANGE ZONE WHICH INCLUDES AT LEAST A FIRST AND A SECOND STAGE FOR COOLING THE GASEOUS MIXTURE, SEPARATING THE GASEOUS MIXTURE INTO A LIGHT FRACTION AND A HEAVY FRACTION AT A TEMPERATURE SUCH THAT SAID HEAVY FRACTION LIQUEFIES, SEPARATING THE REMAINING LIGHT GASEUOS FRACTION FROM SAID LIQUEFIED FRACTION, PASSING SAID GASEOUS FRACTION IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE THROUGH SAID FIRST AND SECOND STAGES, FORMING A RECYCLE STREAM BY COMPRESSING A PORTION OF SAID GASEOUS FRACTION, COOLING SAID COMPRESSED PORTION BY RECYCLING THROUGH SAID FIRST STAGE IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID GASEOUS FRACTION, DIVIDING SAID COMPRESSED, COOLED PORTION OF SAID GASEOUS FRACTION INTO A FIRST AND A SECOND STREAM, SAID FIRST STREAM BEING PASSED THROUGH SAID SECOND STAGE IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID GASEOUS FRACTIONS, AND THEREAFTER BEING EXPANDED IN SAID SEPARATING STEP TO PROVIDE AT LEAST PART OF THE COOLING REQUIREMENT THEREOF, AND SAID SECOND STREAM BEING EXPANDED AND THEREAFTER PASSED THROUGH SAID FIRST AND SECOND STAGES IN A PATH SEPARATE FROM SAID GASEOUS FRACTION AND IN INDIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID GASEOUS FRCTION AND SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COOLING FOR SAID COMPRESSED PORTION OF SAID GASEOUS FRACTION AND SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE, SAID SECOND STREAM BEING COMBINED AND COMPRESSED WITH SAID RECYCLE STREAM AFTER PASSAGE THROUGH SAID SECOND AND FIRST STAGES, AND RECOVERING AS PRODUCTS THE UNCOMPRESSED PORTION OF SAID GASEOUS FRACTION AND THE LIQUEFIED FRACTION.