Abstract: This disclosure discusses the problems associated with the design, layout, and construction of units and equipment in air separation units. The invention of this disclosure provides a process and apparatus using multiple discrete subcoolers. The nitrogen stream exiting the cryogenic distillation columns cools streams in the subcoolers. By having at least two subcoolers, the size of the nitrogen vent (nitrogen waste or product stream) can be reduced. This saves fabrication costs and improves reliability by reducing thermal stresses in the piping and equipment. Subcoolers cool rich liquid, lean liquid, liquid oxygen, and/or liquid air streams coming from the main heat exchanger or a system of separation columns. The disclosure also discusses integration of the subcoolers with the main heat exchangers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 30, 2006
Date of Patent:
June 16, 2009
Assignee:
Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.
Abstract: A process for separating carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide containing fluid comprises the steps of: compressing the fluid in a compressor to form a compressed fluid, drying at least part of the compressed fluid to form a compressed and dried fluid, cooling at least part of the compressed and dried fluid to form a compressed, dried and cooled fluid, separating the compressed, dried and cooled fluid at a temperature lower than 0° C. into a carbon dioxide rich stream, a carbon dioxide lean stream and at least one intermediate purity liquid stream having a carbon dioxide purity lower than that of the carbon dioxide rich stream and higher than that of the carbon dioxide lean stream, expanding at least one intermediate purity liquid stream to produce at least one expanded stream using at least one expanded stream to cool the compressed and dried fluid and recycling at least part of the expanded stream.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 11, 2007
Publication date:
January 15, 2009
Applicants:
L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme our l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes George Claude, Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.
Inventors:
Arthur DARDE, Bao Ha, Jean-Pierre Trainer
Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a gas production system to efficiently maintain a pressure of a gaseous output stream within a tight pressure range when the system changes normal operation to backup operation. In one preferred embodiment, during normal operation a backup vaporizer is kept in cold standby by directing a small portion of a liquefied gas stream away from the main heat exchanger to the backup vaporizer. In this way, the backup vaporizer is able to respond immediately to a shutdown of the main gas production system. During normal operation, the output of the backup vaporizer is recombined with the gaseous output stream to any avoid loss of product thereby increasing efficiency.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 10, 2005
Date of Patent:
August 12, 2008
Assignee:
Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.
Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing make-up water for a chilled water system. A first water tower for cooling water is provided. Condensate water from a condensate water source is extracted. Make-up water for the first water tower is provided using the condensate water. The apparatus comprises a first water tower for generating cooling water; an air compressor to produce compressed air; a condensate water source to extract condensate water from the compressed air; and a water flow control system for providing water from the condensate water source to the first water tower.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 5, 2003
Date of Patent:
July 5, 2005
Assignee:
Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc.
Abstract: A blast fragment and oxygen fire safety barrier comprising a corrugated impact panel connected to and spanning a pair of columns designed by directly impacting the barrier with a fragment of specified weight at a specified velocity to obtain test values for use in determining whether the barrier is capable of absorbing impact kinetic energy (KE) without exceeding predetermined maximum allowable ductability and maximum allowable deflection to span ratios, and dissipating strain energy at such maximum allowable deflection, and whether connectors have sufficient shear strength considering the lesser of maximum dynamic shear capacity of said column and a maximum dynamic shear force based on measured peak reaction during direct fragment impact on the column, includes an oxygen fire resistant panel on the non-blast side of the impact panel spaced from said impact panel a distance in excess of the maximum allowable deflection of said impact panel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 15, 2002
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2005
Assignee:
Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc.
Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the power efficient production of high-pressure gaseous oxygen product. In a preferred embodiment, a liquid oxygen stream is pumped to a low to medium pressure and warmed within a first heat exchanger such as a brazed aluminum plate fin heat exchanger. The liquid oxygen stream is then pumped to a further pressure and then vaporized in a second heat exchanger to produce a high-pressure gaseous oxygen stream. In an embodiment, a high-pressure air stream may be utilized in the second heat exchanger for vaporizing the oxygen stream and cooling the air stream. The air stream may be utilized as a feed for the cryogenic air unit. A portion of the air stream at a medium pressure may be utilized in the first heat exchanger. A portion of the air stream may also be expanded to recover energy.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 2002
Date of Patent:
April 13, 2004
Assignee:
Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc.
Abstract: The present invention generally relates to processes and apparatuses for the integration of a blast furnace and an air separation plant to increase blast furnace production. The present invention recovers energy from the air separation through the expansion of a product stream.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 19, 2001
Date of Patent:
February 17, 2004
Assignee:
Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc.
Abstract: A gas stream containing at least about 90% (vol.) hydrogen and at least one halogen-containing compound is contacted with a nickel hydrogenation catalyst. When the gas stream contacts the hydrogenation catalyst substantially all halogen-containing compounds are dehalogenated.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 12, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 22, 2003
Assignees:
Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc., Haldor Topeos Inc.
Abstract: The present invention relates to an air separation plant integrated with another process. Work is recovered from a nitrogen enriched stream produced by an air separation process either by expanding the nitrogen enriched stream directly or by combustion of the nitrogen enriched stream with a fuel stream and expanding gas produced by the combustion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 20, 1999
Date of Patent:
January 21, 2003
Assignees:
L'Air Liquide-Societe Anonyme a'Directoire et Conseil de
Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges
Claude, Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc.
Inventors:
Bao Ha, Jean-Renaud Brugerolle, Alain Guillard, Giovanni Massimo, Bernard Saulnier
Abstract: Air is separated by cryogenic distillation comprising the steps of feeding compressed, cooled and purified air to a high pressure column where it is separated into a first nitrogen enriched stream at the top and a first oxygen enriched stream at the bottom. At least a portion of the first oxygen enriched stream is fed to an intermediate pressure column to yield a second nitrogen enriched stream at the top and a second oxygen enriched stream at the bottom. At least a portion of the second nitrogen enriched stream is sent to a low pressure column or to a top condenser of an argon column, and at least a portion of the second oxygen enriched stream is sent to the low pressure column. A third oxygen enriched stream is separated at the bottom and a third nitrogen enriched stream is separated at the top of the low pressure column. A heating gas is sent to a bottom reboiler of the low pressure column, and at least a portion of the third oxygen enriched stream is removed at a removal point.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 25, 1999
Date of Patent:
March 20, 2001
Assignees:
Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc., L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et,
l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude