Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cryogenic distillation of air. In a system of air separation columns, all the air is taken to a high pressure which is 5 to 10 bar greater than a medium pressure. A portion of air, between 10% and 50% of the high pressure air stream, is boosted in a cold booster. This boosted air is then sent to an exchanger and a portion of it liquefies at the cold end of the exchanger. Part of the air is sent to one column of the column system, and another fraction is partly expanded in a Claude turbine. After expansion in the turbine, the air is sent to a medium pressure column, and a liquid stream is withdrawn for one of the columns of the system. The withdrawn stream is pressurized and vaporizes in the exchange line. The cold booster is coupled to either an expansion turbine, an electric motor, or a combination of the two.

Abstract: For producing synthesis gas by autothermal reformation of gaseous, liquid and/or solid fuels, the fuel is reacted with an oxidizing agent in a reaction space at a pressure of 10 to 120 bar and a reaction space temperature of 800 to 2,000° C. to obtain synthesis gas, wherein the oxidizing agent is introduced centrally in the upper region of the reaction space and wherein a flame is formed in the reaction space. The oxidizing agent is introduced into the reaction space separate from the fuel.

Abstract: The invention relates to equipment for separating air by cryogenic distillation, including: a double air separation column; an exchange line (91); a hot air supercharger (CI) and a cold air supercharger (C2); a first turbine (TI) and a second turbine (T2), each of which is coupled to one of the superchargers; means for bringing all the air to a high pressure that is greater than the mean pressure; means for purifying the air at said high pressure; means for dividing the purified air into two fractions and sending one fraction thereof to the hot air supercharger and one fraction to the cold air supercharger after cooling in the exchange line; means for feeding the second air fraction from the cold air supercharger back into the exchange line; means for sending at least one pressurized liquid from one of the columns into the exchange line; a valve (4, 5); means for sending the non-supercharged air, purified at a high pressure, to the exchange line, so as to be cooled therein, and then to the valve; and means fo

Abstract: For producing synthesis gas by autothermal reformation of gaseous, liquid and/or solid fuels, the fuel is reacted with an oxidizing agent in a reaction space at a pressure of 10 to 120 bar and a reaction space temperature of 800 to 2,000° C. to obtain synthesis gas, wherein the oxidizing agent is introduced centrally in the upper region of the reaction space and wherein a flame is formed in the reaction space. The oxidizing agent is introduced into the reaction space separate from the fuel.

Abstract: The invention relates to equipment for separating air by cryogenic distillation, including: a double air separation column; an exchange line (91); a hot air supercharger (CI) and a cold air supercharger (C2); a first turbine (TI) and a second turbine (T2), each of which is coupled to one of the superchargers; means for bringing all the air to a high pressure that is greater than the mean pressure; means for purifying the air at said high pressure; means for dividing the purified air into two fractions and sending one fraction thereof to the hot air supercharger and one fraction to the cold air supercharger after cooling in the exchange line; means for feeding the second air fraction from the cold air supercharger back into the exchange line; means for sending at least one pressurized liquid from one of the columns into the exchange line; a valve (4, 5); means for sending the non-supercharged air, purified at a high pressure, to the exchange line, so as to be cooled therein, and then to the valve; and means fo

Abstract: A process for producing synthesis gas from a furnace, the furnace including a combustion air stream, a convective section and a reformer flue gas stream is presented. The furnace may additionally include a process cooling section and one or several boiler feed water stream. This process includes passing the combustion air stream through a preheat exchanger system in the convective section to preheat the combustion air stream in indirect heat exchange with the reformer flue gas, wherein the temperature of the preheated combustion air is between about 200° F. and about 400° F. The temperature of the preheated combustion air may be between about 225° F. and about 350° F. The temperature of the preheated combustion air may be between about 250° F. and about 325° F. The process may further include passing the boiler feed water stream through heating coils in the process cooling section and the convective section.

Abstract: Heat exchange assembly comprising at least one first and one second heat exchange body (5, 7), each body being of the plate heat exchanger type, comprising a plurality of metal plates of substantially similar contour extending along a first dimension or length and a second dimension or width, spaced from and arranged in parallel rows to one another along a third dimension or thickness and sealing means bounding flattened passages with the said plates, forming at least one passage of a first type and at least one passage of a second type, the sealing means allocated to each passage releasing one fluid inlet and one fluid outlet, characterized in that one side bounded by a width and a thickness of at least one first heat exchange body is located at least partially opposite a side bounded by a width and a thickness of at least one second heat exchange body, the two sides being separated by insulating material (I).

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.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distillation installation comprising a system of columns (1, 3) and means for conveying a flow (7, 9) that is to be separated into one column (1) in said system. According to the invention, at least one segment (A, D) of one column contains structured packings comprising packs having a non-modified interface if, in the operating segment, the rate ratio is below a rate ratio threshold, said rate ratio being the ratio between the real reflux rate and the minimum reflux rate of the segment, and/or the charge ratio is above a charge ratio threshold, said charge ratio being the ratio between a falling flow of liquid and the section of the segment. Moreover, at least one segment (C, G) of a column, which is designed to operate with a rate ratio above the rate ratio threshold and/or with a charge ratio below the charge ratio threshold, contains structured packings comprising packs having at least one modified interface.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation. The apparatus has a medium pressure column thermally coupled to a low pressure column. Compressed and purified air is cooled to cryogenic temperature in an exchanger, and sent at least partly to the medium pressure column. Streams enriched in oxygen and nitrogen are sent from the medium pressure column to the low pressure column and, streams enriched in nitrogen and oxygen are removed from the low pressure.

Abstract: Method and system for removing impurities such as chlorine, chloramines, and ammonia from a hydrogen gas. One embodiment of the invention provides for passing the hydrogen gas through a first scrubbing unit having a reducing agent in solution to at least partially remove chlorine and chloramines from the hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas may be passed from the first scrubbing unit through a second scrubbing unit having an acid in solution to at least partially remove ammonia from the hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation. The energy of an air separation installation is increased by reducing the size of the exchangers, and therefore increasing the head losses and the temperature differences in the exchange line, and increasing the temperature difference at the main vaporizer. The size of the distillation column is reduced by minimizing the number of theoretical trays and the number of sections of packing or trays. The size of the refrigerating turbine is also reduced by increasing its intake temperature in order to reduce the output.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cryogenic distillation of air. In a system of air separation columns, all the air is taken to a high pressure which is 5 to 10 bar greater than a medium pressure. A portion of air, between 10% and 50% of the high pressure air stream, is boosted in a cold booster. This boosted air is then sent to an exchanger and a portion of it liquefies at the cold end of the exchanger. Part of the air is sent to one column of the column system, and another fraction is partly expanded in a Claude turbine. After expansion in the turbine, the air is sent to a medium pressure column, and a liquid stream is withdrawn for one of the columns of the system. The withdrawn stream is pressurized and vaporizes in the exchange line. The cold booster is coupled to either an expansion turbine, an electric motor, or a combination of the two.

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.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing oxygen and noble gases by cryogenic distillation. A first stream of cooled and purified air is sent to a medium pressure column where it is separated. A first nitrogen enriched stream is withdrawn from the medium pressure column, and part of this stream is sent to a low pressure column. An intermediate stream is withdrawn from an intermediate level of the medium pressure column. This intermediate stream is then sent to the low pressure column. A stream, which is enriched in oxygen relative to the intermediate stream, is withdrawn from the bottom of the medium pressure column and sent to an auxiliary column. The auxiliary column also receives at liquid stream of nitrogen which is used for reflux. A second nitrogen rich stream is withdrawn from the top of the low pressure column. A second oxygen rich liquid stream, which is suitable for use as a product, is withdrawn from the low pressure column.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for air distillation. Two cold boxes and an air treatment unit are used to distill air. The cold boxes contain a heat exchanger for cooling the air to be distilled and an air distillation unit for producing either oxygen, nitrogen or argon. The air treatment unit has many individual treatment elements which are connected in parallel. The outlet of the air treatment unit is connected to both cold boxes and to all the individual treatment units.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation. The apparatus has a medium pressure column thermally coupled to a low pressure column. Compressed and purified air is cooled to cryogenic temperature in an exchanger, and sent at least partly to the medium pressure column. Streams enriched in oxygen and nitrogen are sent from the medium pressure column to the low pressure column and, streams enriched in nitrogen and oxygen are removed from the low pressure.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for separating air by cryogenic distillation using an apparatus comprising a medium pressure column (9) and a low pressure column (11) thermally communicating, which consists in cooling an amount of compressed and purified air V in an exchange line (10) to a cryogenic temperature and conveying at least part of it to the medium pressure column, conveying oxygen- and nitrogen-enriched flows (LR, LP) from the medium pressure column to the low pressure column and drawing nitrogen- and oxygen-enriched flows (35, 23) from the low pressure column. The invention is characterized in that the medium pressure column operates between 6 and 9 bar abs and the ratio between the total amount of air V entering the exchange line and the total volume of the exchange line ranges between 3000 and 6000 Nm3/h/m3.

Abstract: In an air separation apparatus comprising at least two columns (104, 105) and optionally a mixing column (107), a liquid containing between 22 and 70 mol % oxygen is vaporized in a reboiler/condenser (109) against a stream of air (86) which condenses therein at least partially. The stream of at least partially condensed air is sent to at least one column (104, 105, 107) of the column system.