Process and apparatus for the recovery of pure argon
First Claim
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1. A process for recovering argon comprising:
- separating air in at least one air separation column to provide a product oxygen stream and a product nitrogen stream,withdrawing an argon-containing oxygen stream from said air separation column and introducing said argon-containing oxygen stream into a crude argon column,withdrawing a crude argon fraction from said crude argon column and introducing said crude argon fraction at an intermediate point into a pure argon column,cooling the head of said pure argon column by indirect heat exchange, andwithdrawing from an upper region of said pure argon column a residual nitrogen-containing fraction and withdrawing from a lower region of said pure argon column a pure argon fraction,wherein mass transfer in said pure argon column is brought about, at least in part, by a packing contained therein.
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Abstract
In recovering pure argon product, air is separated in a rectification system, comprising at least one air separating column (9), a crude argon column (17) and a pure argon column (25). A crude argon fraction (24) is withdrawn from the crude argon column (17) and introduced at an intermediate locality into the pure argon column (25). The head of the pure argon column (25) is cooled by indirect heat exchange (29). From the pure argon column (25) a residual fraction (31) containing essentially nitrogen is withdrawn overhead and from the bottom a pure argon fraction (26) is withdrawn. The mass transfer in the pure argon column (25) is brought about at least in part by a packing (33, 34).
12 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A process for recovering argon comprising:
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separating air in at least one air separation column to provide a product oxygen stream and a product nitrogen stream, withdrawing an argon-containing oxygen stream from said air separation column and introducing said argon-containing oxygen stream into a crude argon column, withdrawing a crude argon fraction from said crude argon column and introducing said crude argon fraction at an intermediate point into a pure argon column, cooling the head of said pure argon column by indirect heat exchange, and withdrawing from an upper region of said pure argon column a residual nitrogen-containing fraction and withdrawing from a lower region of said pure argon column a pure argon fraction, wherein mass transfer in said pure argon column is brought about, at least in part, by a packing contained therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one air separation column having an inlet for introduction of air, a first outlet for removal of an oxygen-containing stream and a second outlet for removal of a nitrogen-containing stream, conduit means in fluid communication with said air separation column and with a crude argon column, a pure argon column having a first outlet in a lower region thereof for removal of an argon stream and a second outlet in an upper region thereof for removal of a nitrogen-containing stream, said crude argon column and an intermediate point of said pure argon column being connected by a crude argon duct, and wherein said pure argon column contains at least one packing. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification