Abstract: A process separates a multicomponent feed by distillation into at least one stream enriched in the most volatile component, one stream enriched in the least volatile component, and one stream enriched in a component of intermediate volatility. In one embodiment, the process produces an argon-enriched stream from a cryogenic air separation process. The distillation system includes at least one distillation column that produces a nitrogen-enriched stream from the top of the column, an oxygen product stream from the bottom of the column, and an argon-enriched stream from a partitioned section. The geometry of the partitioned section minimizes vapor and liquid distribution, and includes a vertical separating element and an end separating element to isolate the partitioned section from the intermediate distillation section.

Abstract: A process delivers oxygen at a variable flow rate from a distillation system. The process uses a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column. The effects of oxygen product rate fluctuations on the distillation system are reduced by maintaining essentially constant flow rates within the columns.

Abstract: A process for the production of oxygen and nitrogen is applicable when the oxygen product is withdrawn from a distillation column system as a liquid, pumped to an elevated pressure and warmed at least in part by cooling a suitably pressurized stream. At least a portion of the compressed, purified, and cooled air is introduced to a first of at least three distillation columns. The first distillation column contains at least a condenser at its top, produces at least an oxygen-lean stream from or near its top and a first oxygen-enriched liquid from its bottom. A second distillation column, which contains a reboiler in its bottom, has no condenser, receives at least a portion of nitrogen-enriched liquid as a feed to its top, and produces a first nitrogen-rich vapor stream from its top and a second oxygen-enriched liquid from its bottom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elevated pressure air separation cryogenic process wherein feed air is compressed, treated to remove water and carbon dioxide, cooled to cryogenic temperature in a main heat exchanger having a cold end and a warm end and fed to a distillation column system having at least two (2) distillation columns for separation into at least a nitrogen-enriched product, an oxygen-enriched product and a gaseous waste stream characterized in that at least a portion of said waste stream is (isentropically) expanded to produce work and work produced by the expansion is used to provide at least a portion of the work required to compress a process stream other than the gaseous waste stream at a temperature warmer than the temperature of the cold end of said main heat exchanger. The alternative process streams to be compressed can be: at least a portion of the feed air, at least a portion of the oxygen-enriched product or at least a portion of the nitrogen-enriched product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the cryogenic separation of air to recover at least a nitrogen-depleted crude argon product, wherein the process is carried out in a primary distillation system comprising at least a first distillation column, which separates a feed mixture comprising nitrogen, oxygen and argon into a nitrogen-enriched overhead and an oxygen-rich bottoms, and a side-arm column which rectifies an argon-containing feed stream fed from the primary distillation column to produce an essentially-oxygen-depleted argon overhead.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the cryogenic distillation of air in a distillation column system that contains at least one distillation column wherein the boil-up at the bottom of the distillation column producing the oxygen product is provided by condensing a stream whose nitrogen concentration is equal to or greater than that in the feed air stream. The process of the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) generating work energy which is at least ten percent (10%) of the overall refrigeration demand of the distillation column system; (b) work expanding a process stream to produce additional work energy such that the total work generated along with step (a) exceeds the total refrigeration demand of the cryogenic plant; and (c) using the work which is generated in excess of the refrigeration need of the distillation column system to cold compress a process stream at a temperature lower than the ambient temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the cryogenic distillation of air in a distillation column system that contains at least one distillation column wherein the boil-up at the bottom of the distillation column producing the oxygen product is provided by condensing a stream whose nitrogen concentration is equal to or greater than that in the feed air stream, which comprises the steps of: (a) generating work energy which is at least ten percent (10%) of the overall refrigeration demand of the distillation column system by at least one of the following two methods: (1) work expanding a first process stream with nitrogen content equal to or greater than that in the feed air and then condensing at least a portion of the expanded stream by latent heat exchange with at least one of the two liquids: (i) a liquid at an intermediate height in the distillation column producing oxygen product and (ii) one of the liquid feeds to this distillation column having an oxygen concentration equal to or preferably grea

Abstract: A double column cryogenic air separation system is operated to increase boilup in the lower pressure column by vaporizing at an intermediate pressure a liquid stream containing at least 20 mole % oxygen, work expanding the stream, and introducing the resulting expanded stream into the lower pressure column. Operation in this mode increases oxygen recovery at a given rate of compressed and purified air feed or reduces the amount air feed required to produce a given rate of oxygen product. Argon recovery can be integrated efficiently with the intermediate pressure vaporization and work expansion steps.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement to a nitrogen generator enabling the process to efficiently coproduce oxygen with low recovery, typically less than 70% and preferably less than 55%, in addition to the primary product, nitrogen. In the nitrogen generator process, air is distilled in a distillation column system having a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column. The feed air is compressed, treated to remove water and carbon dioxide, cooled to near its dew point and fed to the higher pressure column of the distillation column system. The nitrogen product is produced by removing an overhead vapor stream from at least one of the columns of the distillation column system. At least one oxygen-enriched stream is removed from the lower pressure column.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the cryogenic distillation of air in a distillation column system having at least one distillation column operating at a higher pressure and one distillation column operating at a lower pressure, wherein feed air is cooled and fed to the higher pressure column, wherein the boil-up at the bottom of the lower pressure column producing the oxygen product is provided by condensing a stream having a nitrogen concentration equal to or greater than that of the feed air stream and wherein at least two expanders are employed to provide refrigeration to the distillation column system, wherein the first expander is operated at an inlet temperature near ambient or above ambient temperature and the second expander is operated at an inlet temperature colder than ambient, characterized in that at least one of the two expanders employs at least one of the following steps: (a) work expanding a portion of the feed air; (b) work expanding a process stream with a nitrogen content eq

Abstract: In a process for the cryogenic distillation of air in a distillation column system that contains at least one distillation column wherein the boil-up at the bottom of the distillation column producing the oxygen product is provided by condensing a stream whose nitrogen concentration is equal to or greater than that in the feed air stream, which comprises the steps of: (a) generating work energy which is in excess of the overall refrigeration demand of the distillation column system by at least one of the following three methods: (1) work expanding a first process stream with nitrogen content equal to or greater than that in the feed air and then condensing at least a portion of the expanded stream by latent heat exchange with at least one of the two liquids: (i) a liquid at an intermediate height in the distillation column producing oxygen product and (ii) one of the liquid feeds to this distillation column having an oxygen concentration equal to or preferably greater than the concentration of oxygen in the f

Abstract: A process is set forth for the cryogenic distillation of an air feed to produce at least two oxygen-rich gaseous streams having different oxygen purities. The process uses a mixing column system in addition to a distillation column system. A key to the process is that at least two oxygen-rich liquid streams having different oxygen purities are transferred from the distillation column system to the mixing column system in order to produce the oxygen-rich gaseous streams.

Abstract: A process is set forth for the cryogenic distillation of an air feed to produce an oxygen product, particularly an oxygen product at moderate purity (80-99%, preferably 85-95%). The process uses an auxiliary low pressure column in addition to the conventional high pressure column and low pressure column. The auxiliary low pressure column, which is preferably operated at the same pressure as the main low pressure column and which is heat integrated with the top of the high pressure column by means of its bottom reboiler/condenser, pretreats the crude liquid oxygen from the bottom of the high pressure column. The resulting overhead vapor stream and bottom stream are subsequently fed to the main low pressure column. Preferably, the bottom stream is fed to the main low pressure column in a state which is at least partially vapor.

Abstract: A process for the liquefaction of natural gas is disclosed wherein expansion valves for low-level multicomponent refrigerant and liquefied gas product streams are replaced with process-loaded turboexpanders having liquid inlet streams. Each turboexpander is coupled with a compressor or pump so that expansion work extracted from a given stream is used directly to compress or pump the stream prior to cooling and expansion. The use of process-loaded turboexpanders reduces the minimum work of liquefaction and increases the liquefaction capacity of the process.