Abstract: Closed-loop refrigeration cycles for liquid oxygen densification are disclosed. The disclosed refrigeration cycles may be turbine-based refrigeration cycles or a Joule-Thompson (JT) expansion valve based refrigeration cycles and include a refrigerant or working fluid comprising a mixture of neon or helium together with nitrogen and/or oxygen.

Abstract: Closed-loop refrigeration cycles for liquid oxygen densification are disclosed. The disclosed refrigeration cycles may be turbine-based refrigeration cycles or a Joule-Thompson (JT) expansion valve based refrigeration cycles and include a refrigerant or working fluid comprising a mixture of neon or helium together with nitrogen and/or oxygen.

Abstract: Closed-loop refrigeration cycles for liquid oxygen densification are disclosed. The disclosed refrigeration cycles may be turbine-based refrigeration cycles or a Joule-Thompson (JT) expansion valve based refrigeration cycles and include a refrigerant or working fluid comprising a mixture of neon or helium together with nitrogen and/or oxygen.

Abstract: A system and method for neon recovery in a double column or triple column air separation unit is provided. The neon recovery system comprises a non-condensable stripping column configured to produce a liquid nitrogen-rich liquid column bottoms and a non-condensable gas containing overhead and one or more condensing units arranged to produce a crude neon vapor stream that contains greater than about 50% mole fraction of neon with the overall neon recovery exceeding 95%. In addition, there is minimal liquid nitrogen consumption and since much of the liquid nitrogen is recycled back to the lower pressure column of the air separation unit, there is minimal impact on the recovery of other products from the air separation unit.

Abstract: A system and method for recovery of rare gases such as neon, helium, xenon, and krypton in an air separation unit is provided. The rare gas recovery system comprises a non-condensable stripping column linked in a heat transfer relationship with a xenon-krypton column via an auxiliary condenser-reboiler. The non-condensable stripping column produces a rare gas containing overhead that is directed to the auxiliary condenser-reboiler where most of the neon is captured in a non-condensable vent stream that is further processed to produce a crude neon vapor stream that contains greater than about 50% mole fraction of neon with the overall neon recovery exceeding 95%. The xenon-krypton column further receives two streams of liquid oxygen from the lower pressure column and the rare gas containing overhead from the non-condensable stripping column and produces a crude xenon and krypton liquid stream and an oxygen-rich overhead.

Abstract: A system and method for recovery of rare gases such as neon, helium, xenon, and krypton in an air separation unit is provided. The rare gas recovery system comprises a non-condensable stripping column linked in a heat transfer relationship with a xenon-krypton column via an auxiliary condenser-reboiler. The non-condensable stripping column produces a rare gas containing overhead that is directed to the auxiliary condenser-reboiler where most of the neon is captured in a non-condensable vent stream that is further processed to produce a crude neon vapor stream that contains greater than about 50% mole fraction of neon with the overall neon recovery exceeding 95%. The xenon-krypton column further receives two streams of liquid oxygen from the lower pressure column and the rare gas containing overhead from the non-condensable stripping column and produces a crude xenon and krypton liquid stream and an oxygen-rich overhead.

Abstract: A system and method for neon recovery in a double column or triple column air separation unit is provided. The neon recovery system comprises a non-condensable stripping column configured to produce a liquid nitrogen-rich liquid column bottoms and a non-condensable gas containing overhead and one or more condensing units arranged to produce a crude neon vapor stream that contains greater than about 50% mole fraction of neon with the overall neon recovery exceeding 95%. In addition, there is minimal liquid nitrogen consumption and since much of the liquid nitrogen is recycled back to the lower pressure column of the air separation unit, there is minimal impact on the recovery of other products from the air separation unit.

Abstract: In a cyclic adsorptive gas purification process, an impurity laden adsorbent is regenerated by exposing it first to an unheated gas for a pre-determined time period to desorb at least some of the impurity, followed by heating the adsorbent using a flowing stream of a heated gas to desorb the remaining impurities over another pre-determined time period, further followed by cooling of the adsorbent using a flowing stream of gas for yet another pre-determined time period to make it ready for repeating the adsorptive cycle. Introducing an unheated purge stream reduces the energy requirements for the regeneration step compared to a traditional TSA process.

Abstract: Closed-loop refrigeration cycles for liquid oxygen densification are disclosed. The disclosed refrigeration cycles may be turbine-based refrigeration cycles or a Joule-Thompson (JT) expansion valve based refrigeration cycles and include a refrigerant or working fluid comprising a mixture of neon or helium together with nitrogen and/or oxygen.

Abstract: In a cyclic adsorptive gas purification process, an impurity laden adsorbent is regenerated by exposing it first to an unheated gas for a pre-determined time period to desorb at least some of the impurity, followed by heating the adsorbent using a flowing stream of a heated gas to desorb the remaining impurities over another pre-determined time period, further followed by cooling of the adsorbent using a flowing stream of gas for yet another pre-determined time period to make it ready for repeating the adsorptive cycle. Introducing an unheated purge stream reduces the energy requirements for the regeneration step compared to a traditional TSA process.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system employing a double column and two auxiliary reboilers associated with one or two auxiliary columns wherein both lower purity oxygen and higher purity oxygen is produced.

Abstract: A single column lower pressure cryogenic rectification system wherein nitrogen top vapor is condensed against column bottoms, elevated in pressure, and vaporized against elevated pressure fluid to achieve simultaneously high purity and high pressure nitrogen gas product.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system employing a product boiler coupled with a liquid air supply whereby liquid oxygen is effectively vaporized to produce gaseous oxygen product while providing for steady state operation of the cryogenic air separation plant without significant refrigeration loss.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system wherein refrigeration within crude argon is recovered by heat exchange with feed and is carried with the feed into the main column system to improve the recovery of high purity oxygen product.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system wherein pressurized feed air is at least partially condensed to vaporize elevated pressure liquid nitrogen and elevated pressure liquid oxygen to produce elevated pressure nitrogen and oxygen gas eliminating or reducing the need for product compression.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system wherein one portion of the feed air is turboexpanded to generate refrigeration, a second portion is condensed against vaporizing product from the air separation plant, and both portions are fed into the same column to undergo separation.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system comprising at least two columns wherein two portions of the feed air are turboexpanded at two different temperature levels to generate refrigeration, a third portion is condensed against vaporizing product from the air separation plant, and all three portions are fed into the same column to undergo separation.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system comprising at least two columns wherein a portion of the feed air is turboexpanded to generate refrigeration, one part is condensed against vaporizing product from the air separation plant, another portion of the feed air is condensed against vaporizing higher pressure product from the air separation plant, and all of the resulting feed air streams are fed into the same column to undergo separation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for improving xenon recovery wherein a liquid containing krypton and xenon is removed from a cryogenic rectification facility at a defined flowrate which selectively improves xenon recovery and is provided into a facility having rare gas production capability.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system characterized by a hybrid argon column having trays in the lower portion and packing in the upper portion whereby the argon column is operated at a lower pressure thus enabling improved argon recovery while maintaining the pressure sufficiently high at the lower end of the argon column to enable fluid flow back to the main column system without need for pressurization.