Abstract: An air distillation unit comprises an air distillation column (10) suitable for producing a nominal flow of gaseous nitrogen, the top of said column being connected to a liquid nitrogen source (8), and operates by carrying out the following steps: a flow of compressed, cooled and purified air is sent to an exchanger (11) and then to the column, a flow of gaseous nitrogen is withdrawn from the column, the level of liquid at the bottom of the column is controlled; and injection liquid (20), sent from the source to the column, is no longer sent if the required production reduces to at most the nominal production. Application to the separation of air by cryogenic distillation.

Abstract: An oxycombustion apparatus comprising an air separation unit (2) in which oxygen (10) is produced optionally by cryogenic distillation, an oxycombustion boiler (1), means for sending the oxygen and a fuel (14) to the oxycombustion boiler, means (19) for recovering carbon dioxide-containing flue gases from the oxycombustion boiler, and means (7) for purifying the flue gases in order to extract carbon dioxide therefrom, the air separation unit being provided for producing oxygen to be sent to the boiler having a purity not exceeding 95 mol %.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air separating device by means of cryogenic distillation for producing nitrogen, comprising an exchange line (3), a simple distillation column (7) containing plates and/or structured packings, a supply line for delivery of compressed purified air (1) to the exchange line, a supply line for delivery of the compressed purified and cooled air from the exchange line to the distillation column, a line for withdrawal of a liquid (11) enriched in oxygen from the distillation column for delivery to the exchange line, said exchange line having two sections, a rectifying section (3B) and a heat exchange section (3A), the rectifying section being connected to the column and the line for the enriched liquid and the heat exchange section is connected to the air supply line and the rectifying section.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of use for treating at least one fluid, in a container that holds at least one mass of a particulate material between two perforated walls. Near the upper part of the mass, at least one deflector extends from the first wall towards the second wall. Fluid flows through the walls horizontally, and the deflector is positioned at an angle to this horizontal fluid flow direction. With this particular apparatus configuration, an area close to the second wall and opposite the adjacent end of the deflector is formed, which is generally free of particulate matter; thus, resulting in a more efficient treatment process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of use for treating at least one fluid, in a container that holds at least one mass of a particulate material between two perforated walls. Near the upper part of the mass, at least one deflector extends from the first wall towards the second wall. Fluid flows through the walls horizontally, and the deflector is positioned at an angle to this horizontal fluid flow direction. With this particular apparatus configuration, an area close to the second wall and opposite the adjacent end of the deflector is formed, which is generally free of particulate matter; thus, resulting in a more efficient treatment process.

Abstract: A reboiler/condenser bath heat exchanger for heat exchange between a first fluid to be vaporized and a second fluid to be condensed includes a number of passages for heat exchange between the two fluids in order to make the second fluid flow, which fluid has a temperature of T2-2 at the outlet of the passages; a vessel containing the passages for making the first fluid flow between the passages by thermosiphon effect from the bottom upwards over a height h, the first fluid having an entry temperature T1-1 where T1-1<T2-2 and an exit pressure P1-2; elements for giving the entry pressure P1-1 of the first fluid a value such that the pressure P1-2 is greater than a minimum pressure Pm,ex and elements for ensuring that at least one of the following two conditions is fulfilled: the height h of the passages is at least equal to 2.5 m; and the temperature T2-2 of the second fluid is less than T1-1+1.2° C.

Abstract: A reboiler/condenser bath heat exchanger for heat exchange between a first fluid to be vaporized and a second fluid to be condensed includes a number of passages for heat exchange between the two fluids in order to make the second fluid flow, which fluid has a temperature of T2-2 at the outlet of the passages; a vessel containing the passages for making the first fluid flow between the passages by thermosiphon effect from the bottom upwards over a height h, the first fluid having an entry temperature T1-1 where T1-1<T2-2 and an exit pressure P1-2; elements for giving the entry pressure P1-1 of the first fluid a value such that the pressure P1-2 is greater than a minimum pressure Pm,ex and elements for ensuring that at least one of the following two conditions is fulfilled: the height h of the passages is at least equal to 2.5 m; and the temperature T2-2 of the second fluid is less than T1-1+1.2° C.

Abstract: A reboiler/condenser bath heat exchanger for heat exchange between a first fluid to be vaporized and a second fluid to be condensed includes a number of passages for heat exchange between the two fluids in order to make the second fluid flow, which fluid has a temperature of T2-2 at the outlet of the passages; a vessel containing the passages for making the first fluid flow between the passages by thermosiphon effect from the bottom upwards over a height h, the first fluid having an entry temperature T1-1 where T1-1<T2-2 and an exit pressure P1-2; elements for giving the entry pressure P1-1 of the first fluid a value such that the pressure P1-2 is greater than a minimum pressure Pm, ex and elements for ensuring that at least one of the following two conditions is fulfilled:

Abstract: In a plant for separating air which does not comprise an argon column, an intermediate-pressure column (102) has a bottom reboiler (24) which is heated by a gas (233) coming from the low-pressure column (103). The intermediate-pressure column is fed from the high-pressure column (101). This makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption while improving the efficiency of the process.

Abstract: A plant for the separation of air includes at least three columns, including an auxiliary column and two other columns, of which at least one is fed with air and of which that operating at the lowest pressure operates between 2 and 10 bar. A flow between 40 and 95 mol % of argon originating from the auxiliary column is optionally mixed with a gas enriched in nitrogen from the column operating at the lowest pressure. The auxiliary column operates at the same pressure as the column from which it is fed.

Abstract: In a plant for separating air which does not comprise an argon column, an intermediate-pressure column (102) has a bottom reboiler (24) which is heated by a gas (233) coming from the low-pressure column (103). The intermediate-pressure column is fed from the high-pressure column (101). This makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption while improving the efficiency of the process.

Abstract: An exchanger comprises a plurality of plates (8) made of copper, nickel or aluminium or an alloy of these metals, which are separated by exchange corrugations made of copper or a copper alloy (6) and two outer sheets (7). The distance between the plates is more than 6 mm, optionally 8 mm.

Abstract: A plant for the separation of air comprises at least three columns, including an auxiliary column (25) and two other columns (9, 11, 40), of which at least one is fed with air and of which that operating at the lowest pressure operates between 2 and 10 bar. A flow comprising between 40 and 95 mol % of argon originating from the auxiliary column is optionally mixed with a gas enriched in nitrogen from the column operating at the lowest pressure. The auxiliary column operates at the same pressure as the column from which it is fed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reboiler/condenser heat exchanger of the bath type for heat exchange between a first fluid (F1) to be vaporized and a second fluid (F2) to be condensed.