Abstract: In a method for separating a mixture containing carbon dioxide, the mixture is cooled in a heat exchanger and partially condensed and a first liquid is separated from the mixture in a first system operating at low temperature comprising at least one first phase separator and a gas from the first system is treated in a membrane system to produce a permeate and a non-permeate, the gas from the first system being divided into two portions, a first portion being sent to the membrane system without being heated and a second portion being heated to at least an intermediate temperature of the heat exchanger and then sent to the membrane system without being cooled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cryogenic distillation apparatus for a gas mixture, including a purification apparatus for purifying a gas mixture in a system with a plurality of adsorbant bottles, a column system, a capacity, means for feeding a cryogenic liquid to the capacity, means for feeding a vaporized liquid from the capacity to a column of the system, a vaporizer in the capacity for vaporizing the contained liquid; means for feeding a calorigenic gas to the vaporizer, and means for drawing a liquid from the capacity.

Abstract: In a method for regulating a series of apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation, the series comprising N air separation apparatus (1, 2, 3, 4), where N>1, an air gas having substantially the same composition is sent from the N apparatus to a consuming unit (5), each apparatus comprising a system of distillation columns (1B, 2B, 3B, 4B) and an air purification unit (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A) of the type in which at least two adsorbers are used, each, with a phase shift, following the same cycle in which an adsorption phase, at a high cycle pressure, and a regeneration phase with depressurization, succeed one another, terminating in a repressurization of the adsorber, the method comprising a step in which the adsorbers of a unit are placed in parallel, each apparatus having an adsorption cycle time and the operation of at least some of the purification units is regulated so that the repressurization step for one apparatus begins at a different time from the beginning of the repressurization for another a

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and installation for separation of air by means of cryogenic distillation. According to the invention, all of the air is brought to a high pressure greater than the medium pressure and purified. Part of the purified air flow (11) is cooled in an exchange line (9) and, subsequently, divided into two fractions (13, 15). Each of the fractions expands in a turbine (17, 19), the intake pressure of the two turbines being greater than the medium pressure by at least 5 bars. Moreover, the discharge pressure of at least one of the two turbines is essentially equal to the medium pressure. At least part of the air that was expanded in at least one of the turbines is conveyed to the medium pressure column (100) of a double or triple column. Subsequently, a cold booster (23), which is mechanically connected to one (19) of the expansion turbines, draws the air which was cooled in the main exchange line and releases said air at a temperature greater than the intake temperature.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating a gas by adsorption. A gas is compressed and then treated by being circulated in an adsorber. A regenerating fluid is indirectly heated by the gas coming from the compressor. In a second regeneration phase, the regenerating fluid is sent directly to the adsorber, while the treated gas is refrigerated by an auxiliary refrigerator.

Abstract: This apparatus (3A, 3B) is for heat exchange between at least one first fluid available at a temperature at about ambient and at least one second fluid available at a cryogenic temperature below −20° C. It comprises structure alternately to circulate the first fluid through heat exchange material in an overall centripetal manner relative to a general central axis (X-X) of the apparatus (3), from a radially external inlet (17) of the apparatus, and structure to circulate the second fluid through the heat exchange material in an overall centrifugal manner relative to said central axis, from a radially internal inlet (18) of the apparatus. Use in cooling regenerators and exchangers, and if desired for simultaneous purification, of atmospheric air to be distilled.

Abstract: In a process for separating air in a plant comprising at least two columns (1, 3), some of the air (100) at an intermediate pressure is cooled in at least one passage of a heat-exchange system which is or are regenerated by a gas from the plant (17, 21) which may contain at least 50% oxygen. The rest of the air at the medium pressure (200) is either purified outside the heat-exchange system or sent to a passage which is purified in the same way.

Abstract: A cryogenic separation arrangement wherein feed air is processed simultaneously through two regenerator systems and then separated in a reflux condenser, with product and waste from the reflux condenser processed through one and the other respectively of the regenerator systems.

Abstract: Process for purifying an air flow containing carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and water vapour, in which at least some of the CO.sub.2 and water vapour impurities are removed by adsorbing the impurities on at least one calcined alumina containing at most 10% by weight of at least one alkali or alkaline-earth metal oxide, the adsorption being carried out at a temperature of between -10.degree. C. and 80.degree. C.

Abstract: Air is supplied to an air separation apparatus via a heat exchanger in which the entering air is cooled against an air gas separated in the separation apparatus. The air is first compressed in an adiabatic compressor. The air gas separated in the separation apparatus is humidified after it leaves the separation apparatus but before it reaches the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method is provided for separation of air by cryogenic rectification comprising compressing feed air, passing the compressed feed air through a prepurifier wherein the air is substantially cleaned of impurities, thereafter cooling the cleaned air in a cooled regenerator and then introducing it into a cryogenic air separation facility wherein it is separated into nitrogen-rich and oxygen-rich components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recovering one or more components from the vapor feed in which the component is recovered from the vapor feed at a lower pressure within a lower pressure cold trap. Thereafter, a higher pressure cold trap is connected to the lower pressure cold trap and the component revaporizes in the lower pressure cold trap and resolidifies in the higher pressure cold trap. The higher pressure cold trap is then isolated and the component is allowed to thaw to build up a vapor pressure such that the component can be delivered for recovery at a high pressure. Two or more components having higher and lower boiling points can be recovered by low pressure cold traps set in series. Low pressure cold traps can be provided to operate in an out of phase relationship so that components are frozen on one set of lower pressure cold traps while being vaporized from the other set of cold traps.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system for producing nitrogen, especially at low production flowrates, wherein incoming feed air is cooled by a regenerator without need for cold end imbalance and wherein exogenous cryogenic liquid is added to the rectification column.

Abstract: An improved three-bed nonimmobilized rapid pressure-swing adsorber for use in a gas separation system. The three beds are connected in parallel and actuated so that at any one time, at least one of the beds is on-line, purifying the gas stream. The sequence of operation is such that during a full cycle of operation, two of the beds will be purging for at least some of the cycle to reduce the purge gas volume flow requirements, and thus increase the efficiency of the system. When a primary adsorber bed is on-line, another bed may be depressurizing from an on-line condition to a purge condition while the third bed is being purged. At a certain time, both the off-line beds are being purged until the third bed is repressurized in preparation for going on-line. Prior to the first bed going off-line and being depressurized, the third bed is placed on-line to ensure an uninterrupted supply of process gas to the system.

Abstract: A cryogenic refrigeration method for use in connection with a cryogenic temperature swing adsorption process. The cryogenic temperature swing adsorption process has a discontinuous production cycle during which production of a purified vapor stream ceases or is reduced through use of purified vapor to purge a regenerating adsorption bed. Additionally, the purified vapor stream in part of the production cycle is superheated through use of the purified vapor stream to cool the regenerating adsorption bed. A heat exchange stream is liquefied against the vaporization of at least part of an impure liquid stream to produce an impure vapor stream to be purified by the adsorption process. Process liquid is continually produced from the liquefaction of the process stream. The process liquid is used to in turn liquefy the purified vapor stream at varying flow rates that are sufficient to liquefy the purified vapor stream throughout the production cycle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for using a centrifugal compressor during the exhaust portion of the cycle in a pressure vessel used to separate components from a gaseous mixture by pressure swing or vacuum swing adsorption. Energy input to the motor of an electrically driven motor-compressor is minimized at a time when the exhaust portion of the cycle is initiated allowing rotation of the compressor wheel to decelerate by contact with the absorbed gaseous components until the speed of rotation of the compressor wheel matches the efficient compression ratio for the compressor and then reenergizing the motor to increase the speed of rotation of the compressor wheel according to the best efficiency curve for said compressor until a full outlet to inlet pressure ratio across said compressor is achieved.

Abstract: The invention is a contaminant removal system for purifying air. Incoming air is cooled to a cryogenic temperature. A vortex tube further cools the cooled air so as to solidify contaminants therein. A filter system then filters out the solidified contaminants from the air.Use of a vortex tube minimizes the amount of moving parts. This reduces maintenance and concommitant costs involved with operation. The present system has a long life. The vortex tube is relatively inexpensive.

Abstract: A process and system for removing condensable vapors contained within the gas stream in accordance with the process and system, condensable vapors contained within the gas stream are condensed within one or more condensers through indirect heat exchange of the gas stream with a refrigerant stream. This produces a refrigerated gas stream and a heated refrigerant gas stream. Further heat is exchanged from at least part of the heated refrigerant stream to the refrigerated gas stream and in economizing heat exchanger to form a cooled refrigerant stream from the heated refrigerant stream. The refrigeration stream is produced by combining a cryogenic stream with the at least part of the cooled refrigerant stream in a mixing chamber of an ejector or analogous equipment.