Gas separation with particular reference to air separation

• US 3,363,426 A
• Filed: 10/26/1964
• Issued: 01/16/1968
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1963
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roman Stoklosinski
• Original Assignee: Roman Stoklosinski
• Inventors: ROMAN STOKLOSINSKI
• Application Number:
  US04/406,227
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• US Class Current: 62/651
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2200/02 in a single pressure main column system
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2200/50 using multiple (re-)boiler-condensers at different heights of the column
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2200/74 Refluxing the column with at least a part of the partially condensed overhead gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2205/02 using simple phase separation in a vessel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2245/02 Recycle of a stream in general, e.g. a by-pass stream
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04066 of oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04357 and comprising a gas work expansion loop
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04363 of oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/044 using a single pressure main column system only F25J3/0446, F25J3/04624, F25J3/04636 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04624 using integrated mass and heat exchange, so-called non-adiabatic rectification, e.g. dephlegmator, reflux exchanger

Claims

1. A PLANT FOR THE SEPARATION OF OXYGEN FROM A STREAM OF AIR COMPRISING MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A STREAM OF DRY SUBSTANTIALLY CARBON DIOXIDE FREE AIR, HEAT EXCHANGER MEANS FOR COOLING SAID STREAM OF AIR, MEANS FOR FEEDING SAID COOLED STREAM OF AIR TO A DISTILLATION COLUMN TO A POINT NEAR TO THE TOP OF SAID COLUMN, MEANS FOR PROVIDING REFLUX TO SEPARATE SAID COOLED STREAM OF AIR INTO A TOP GASEOUS NITROGEN PRODUCT AND A BOTTOM LIQUID OXYGEN PRODUCT, A SERIES OF REBOILER HEATERS ARRANGED UP THE HEIGHT OF SAID COLUMN, MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING GASEOUS NITROGEN PRODUCT FROM THE TOP OF SAID COLUMN AND FEEDING SAID PRODUCT IN HEAT EXCHANGE WITH SAID STREAM OF AIR, MEANS FOR DIVIDING SAID STREAM OF NITROGEN INTO A PRODUCT STREAM AND A SECOND STREAM, A NUMBER OF SERIALLY ARRANGED COMPRESSORS, MEANS FOR FEEDING SAID SECOND STREAM OF NITROGEN TO SAID COMPRESSORS, MEANS FOR FEEDING A FLOW FROM EACH OF SAID COMPRESSORS IN HEAT EXCHANGE WITH SAID NITROGEN PRODUCT AND THEN TO ONE OF SAID REBOILER HEATERS, THE LOWEST PRESSURE STREAM BEING FED TO THE UPPERMOST REBOILER HEATER AND THEN PROGRESSIVELY INCREASED PRESSURE STREAMS BEING PROGRESSIVELY FED TO LOWER POSITIONED REBOILER HEATERS TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM TEMPERATURE CHANGE WITHIN THE HEIGHT OF SAID COLUMN, MEANS FOR EXPANDING AND COOLING SAID FLOWS OF NITROGEN FROM SAID REBOILER HEATERS, MEANS FOR COLLECTING SAID COOLED AND EXPANDED FLOWS, FEEDING A PART OF SAID COLLECTED FLOW TO THE TOP OF SAID COLUMN AS REFLUX, A CONDENSER IN THE TOP OF SAID COLUMN FOR RETURNING THE REMAINDER OF SAID FLOW THROUGH SAID CONDENSER TO CONDENSE VAPOUR IN THE TOP OF SAID COLUMN AS REFLUX, AND MEANS FOR REMOVING OXYGEN PRODUCT FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID COLUMN AND POSITIONING IT IN HEAT EXCHANGE WITH SAID STREAM OF AIR.