Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating oxygen directly from air, operating at substantially atmospheric pressure and recuperating energy used for cooling incoming air. An ambient air input leads from the atmosphere to a vessel for confining gases. A cryocooler has a cooled surface in the vessel for directly condensing oxygen from the air at substantially atmospheric pressure. The cryocooler cools the cold surface to a temperature greater than the boiling point temperature of nitrogen and not greater than the boiling point temperature of oxygen for condensing oxygen. A liquid/gas separator separates the liquid oxygen from residual gases which both flow out through separate outputs. Air is propelled through the system at substantially atmospheric pressure by an air impeller. A heat exchanger recovers cooling energy and dehumidifies incoming air by transferring heat from the incoming air to outgoing gases.

Abstract: Methods are provided for a provision of hypoxic hypercapnic and hypoxic hypocapnic fire-extinguishing compositions for continuous use in human occupied environments. Breathable fire preventative atmospheres can be created using air separation and having increased or decreased carbon dioxide content.

Abstract: An integrated process and air separation process including the steps of: Work expanding at least one first pressurized gas 39 derived from a first process at a first site 1, using work generated by the expansion of the at least one pressurized gas to drive a first air compressor 5 at the first site and removing compressed air from the first air compressor, sending at least part of the compressed air 19 from the first air compressor to an air separation unit 21, located at a second site 2 remote by at least 1 km from the first site, separating at least part of the compressed air sent from the first site to the second site in the air separation unit and removing at least one fluid 37 enriched in a component of air from the air separation unit and sending at least part of the fluid enriched in a component of air to the first site.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bath condenser with a condenser block (1) that has evaporation passages (8) for a liquid and liquefaction passages (2) for a heating medium and at least two circulation sections (7) that are located vertically on top of one another. The evaporation passages (8) each have on the lower end of a circulation section (7) at least one entry opening (9) for the liquid and on the upper end of a circulation section (7) at least one exit opening (10), for each circulation section (7) there being a liquid storage tank (15) that is flow-connected to the entry opening (9) and the exit opening (10) of the circulation section (7) and that has a gas offtake (18). The inlet into the gas offtake (18) is not located in the area in front of the side (12) of the circulation section (7) in which the exit opening (10) of the circulation section (7) is located.

Abstract: In an integrated process and apparatus for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation and liquefaction of natural gas in which at least part of the refrigeration required to liquefy the natural gas is derived from at least one cryogenic air distillation plant comprising a main heat exchanger (7) and distillation columns (15, 17), wherein the natural gas (25) liquefies by indirect heat exchange in a heat exchanger (7, 32, 34) with a cold fluid (21, 26), the cold fluid being sent to the heat exchanger at least partially in liquid form and undergoing at least a partial vaporisation in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the low-temperature fractionation of air in a rectification unit, which comprises a pressure column (1) a low-pressure column (2) and a condenser-evaporator system having at least two falling-film evaporators (203, 204). Oxygen-rich liquid from the low-pressure column (2) is introduced into the evaporation passages of the first and second falling-film evaporators (203, 204) and is partially evaporated. Unevaporated oxygen-rich liquid from the first falling-film evaporator (203) is transferred into the evaporation passages of the second falling-film evaporator (204).

Abstract: A oxygen-production device includes a pulse-tube cryocooler for cooling air to liquefy oxygen, and a main container for obtaining and retaining liquefied oxygen. The main container has a heat regenerator, a cold head, and a pulse tube of the pulse-tube cryocooler therein. A temperature sensor measures a temperature of the liquefied oxygen, and a control device controls an output of the pulse-tube cryocooler according to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Zeolite adsorbent, and method of production, exchanged with calcium and barium cations, for purifying or separating a gas or gas mixture, in particular air, so as to remove therefrom the impurities found therein, such as hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (NxOy). The adsorbent is preferably an X or LSX zeolite and the gas purification process is of the TSA type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an installation for implementing a method for cryogenic air separation, whereby at least one constituent of the air used is obtained as a product by means of a selected method variant. Said installation comprises at least one coldbox in which a module is arranged. The invention is characterized in that several classes are predefined, each class determining the dimensions of the coldbox pertaining thereto, and the coldbox of each class being large enough to hold the module for at least two different product quantity requirements and/or at least two different method variants. A coldbox of a certain class is selected and the module is arranged in the coldbox of said selected class.

Abstract: The invention relates to a low temperature air fractionation system comprising several modules consisting of at least one heat exchange unit, a pressure column and a low pressure column, in addition to the accessories belonging to the respective modules and at least two cold-boxes, wherein the module and/or the accessories are arranged. The invention is characterized in that at least one of the cold-boxes is embodied in the form of a main box and at least one of the cold-boxes is embodied in the form of a secondary box. The secondary box contains at least one module and the accessories of the module disposed in the secondary box are mainly located in the main box.

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 portable cryogenic nitrogen generator consists of an air preparation unit and a cryogenic distillation unit mounted inside separate standard-sized ISO containers that can be easily shipped to a drilling site and efficiently and quickly assembled into an operative state. The containers can be connected together at anchor points on the housings of both containers, making the nitrogen generator assembly more stable. The air preparation unit includes an absorption device and optionally includes one or a plurality of air compressor units. The cryogenic distillation unit includes a distillation column and associated heat exchangers. The air preparation and cryogenic distillation units connect through apertures in their respective containers and operate while being mounted in the containers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for air distillation which makes it possible to deliver relatively large flow rates of oxygen-enriched and nitrogen-enriched fluid at a low cost, is provided. The apparatus has at least two double distillation columns and at least two argon columns that operate in parallel. The argon-enriched fluid which is formed are then mixed downstream of the argon columns, and directed through a common compressor, deoxygenation unit, or drying unit, and more than one of which may be common to both streams.

Abstract: In a plate-fin exchanger having a plurality of fins disposed between neighboring parting sheets, at least a portion of at least one of the fins has a textured surface. The textured surface is in the form of grooves or fluting formed on or applied to the surface of the fin material used in the plate-fin exchanger.

Abstract: Krypton and/or xenon is separated crudely from a mixture comprising oxygen and at least one rare gas selected from the group consisting of krypton and xenon in a process comprising feeding said mixture or a mixture derived therefrom to a rare gas recovery system and separating said mixture feed in said rare gas recovery system into rare gas-lean gaseous oxygen (“GOX”) and rare gas-enriched product. The process is characterized in that at least about 50 mol % of said mixture is fed to the rare gas recovery system in the gaseous phase provided that, when said mixture feed is separated by selective adsorption, the concentration of xenon in the mixture feed is no greater than 50 times the concentration of xenon in air. One advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that it can easily be retrofitted to existing pumped LOX cycle ASUs.

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: The invention relates to a process for producing oxygen or air enriched with oxygen, in which process: The air entering the process is cooled in a heat exchanger to near to the condensation point of air and the air is led to a separation unit formed of two or more chambers connected thermally to each other and comprising A and B halves, in which it is divided, using liquidization and evaporation processes, into two or more gaseous fractions. The process air is maintained at normal temperature, except for small pressure differences to maintain the flow of the air and to optimize the process.

Abstract: In a method of producing a high-pressure gas in an air separation unit, all the air intended for distillation is compressed in a compressor (1), the compressed air is purified, at least a first portion of the air is supercharged to a high pressure, the compressed and purified air is sent into a heat exchange line (6) of the unit where it cools, the compressed, purified and cooled air is separated in a system of columns of the unit comprising at least one distillation column (8, 9), a fluid (16) is withdrawn in the liquid state from one column of the system of columns, the said fluid is brought in the liquid state to the high pressure, it is vaporized by heat exchange with the air and the vaporized liquid at this high pressure is warmed in the heat exchange line of the installation, at least one portion of the supercharged air is expanded in an expansion turbine (4) from the high pressure to a second pressure, the expanded air then being sent into one column of the system of columns and during start-up of the

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system having enhanced liquid production capacity wherein a feed air stream bypasses the primary heat exchanger and is processed through cooling and warming passes of a feed air liquefier to produce liquid feed air for introduction into the cryogenic air separation plant.

Abstract: A process is proposed for the distillation or reactive distillation of a mixture that comprises at least one toxic component, the process being carried out in a column containing a structured packing, having at least one packing layer (1) having a lower end (2) and an upper end (3), the packing layer having an internal geometry varying over its height, in such a manner that in the distillation or reactive distillation, in a first, lower region (6) of the packing layer (1) a bubbling layer having a predominantly disperse gas phase can be established and simultaneously in a second, upper region (7) of the packing layer (1) a film flow having a predominantly continuous gas phase can be established.

Abstract: A structured packing element comprises a plurality of corrugated sheets and one planar member positioned adjacent to each of the corrugated sheets. The planar member has a top edge and a bottom edge that are at least proximally aligned with the top and bottom edges respectively of the corrugated sheets. The planar member is further characterized by a middle portion having an open area percent that is higher than the open area percents of the top and bottom portions of the planar member. The structured packing element can be used to form structured packings for distillation applications.

Abstract: Krypton and/or xenon is separated crudely from a mixture comprising oxygen and at least one rare gas selected from the group consisting of krypton and xenon in a process comprising feeding said mixture or a mixture derived therefrom to a rare gas recovery system and separating said mixture feed in said rare gas recovery system into rare gas-lean gaseous oxygen (“GOX”) and rare gas-enriched product. The process is characterized in that at least about 50 mol % of said mixture is fed to the rare gas recovery system in the gaseous phase provided that, when said mixture feed is separated by selective adsorption, the concentration of xenon in the mixture feed is no greater than 50 times the concentration of xenon in air. One advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that it can easily be retrofitted to existing pumped LOX cycle ASUs.

Abstract: Krypton and/or xenon is separated crudely from a mixture comprising oxygen and at least one rare gas selected from the group consisting of krypton and xenon in a process comprising feeding said mixture or a mixture derived therefrom to a rare gas recovery system and separating said mixture feed in said rare gas recovery system into rare gas-lean gaseous oxygen (“GOX”) and rare gas-enriched product. The process is characterized in that at least about 50 mol % of said mixture is fed to the rare gas recovery system in the gaseous phase provided that, when said mixture feed is separated by selective adsorption, the concentration of xenon in the mixture feed is no greater than 50 times the concentration of xenon in air. One advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that it can easily be retrofitted to existing pumped LOX cycle ASUs.

Abstract: The device is arranged in a process engineering column (10) and serves in particular for the guiding of liquid. This device includes at least two parts (1, 2) made of sheet metal and releasably connected to one another. A recess (12) is arranged in the one part, the sheet metal part (1) of a first kind, and an elevation (21) fitting into the recess is arranged in the other part, the sheet metal part (2) of a second kind. The two sheet metal parts are held in a secured position by a hook connection between the recess and the elevation. The recess and the elevation form a single pair or one pair among several and the sheet metal parts have planar regions lying on top of one another in the neighbourhood (120, 210) of the pair or of each pair respectively.

Abstract: In a process for separating air in a system comprising a gas turbine, including a compressor (1), a combustor (5) and an expander (17), said expander being coupled to the compressor, a natural gas conversion unit (23) and an air separation unit (20), air is compressed in the compressor, a first part (3) of the air is sent to the combustor and a second part (7) of the air is sent to the air separation unit, oxygen enriched gas (21) is sent from the air separation unit to the natural gas conversion unit, compressed nitrogen enriched gas (16) is sent upstream of the expander, a first stream (33) of natural gas is sent to the natural gas conversion unit, a second stream of natural gas (35) is sent to a natural gas liquefaction unit and work produced by the expander is used to operate a cycle compressor of a refrigeration cycle of the natural gas liquefaction unit.

Abstract: In a process for separation of air by cryogenic distillation integrated with an associated process, air is separated in a separation unit (1), fluid is sent from the separation unit to an associated process, steam (3) is derived from the associated process, at least part of the steam is used in the separation unit and at least one fluid stream (11) is sent from the air separation unit to the atmosphere, at least when the steam is used in the air separation unit.

Abstract: A plate heat exchanger for indirect heat exchange of several fluid flows (30, 40, 50) with a heat transfer medium/cooling medium (10, 20) in a heat exchanger core (9) has a plurality of heat exchange passages within the core for the heat transfer medium/cooling medium (10, 20), a first fluid flow (30, 40, 50) and a second fluid flow (30, 40, 50). All heat exchange passages for the first fluid flow (40) are located In a first component area, and all heat exchange passages for the second fluid flow (30) are located in a second component area. The first and the second component areas do not intersect and each extend over the entire height of the heat exchanger core (9). The heat exchanger is particularly suitable for use in air-separation processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the low-temperature fractionation of air in a rectification unit, which comprises a pressure column (1) a low-pressure column (2) and a condenser-evaporator system having at least two falling-film evaporators (203, 204). Oxygen-rich liquid from the low-pressure column (2) is introduced into the evaporation passages of the first and second falling-film evaporators (203, 204) and is partially evaporated. Unevaporated oxygen-rich liquid from the first falling-film evaporator (203) is transferred into the evaporation passages of the second falling-film evaporator (204).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing nitrogen by low-temperature fractionation of air in a rectification system which has a high-pressure column (4) and a low-pressure column (5). Feed air (1, 3) is introduced into the high-pressure column (4). An oxygen-containing liquid fraction (11) is removed from the high-pressure column (4) and fed into the low-pressure column (5). Gaseous nitrogen (18) is extracted from the low-pressure column (5) above a mass transfer section (25), which has at least one theoretical or practical plate, and is at least partially condensed in a top condenser (17) by indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant (13). High-purity nitrogen is removed from the low-pressure column below the mass transfer section (25), and is obtained as a nitrogen product (26, 27, 30). The process and apparatus have a refrigeration-supply system, in which a refrigeration fluid (31) flows.

Abstract: A portable cryogenic nitrogen generator consists of an air preparation unit and a cryogenic distillation unit mounted inside separate standard-sized ISO containers that can be easily shipped to a drilling site and efficiently and quickly assembled into an operative state. The containers can be connected together at anchor points on the housings of both containers, making the nitrogen generator assembly more stable. The air preparation unit includes an absorption device and optionally includes one or a plurality of air compressor units. The cryogenic distillation unit includes a distillation column and associated heat exchangers. The air preparation and cryogenic distillation units connect through apertures in their respective containers and operate while being mounted in the containers.

Abstract: A back-up quantity of a “first” gas is supplied temporarily to maintain the level of production of the first gas from a cryogenic separation of a gaseous mixture comprising the first gas and at least one other gas in the event of reduction in the level of production of said first gas from the separation. In the event of reduction in the level of production of said first gas from the separation, liquefied first gas inventory is withdrawn from the or at least one of said cryogenic distillation systems and vaporised to produce said back-up quantity of first gas. The invention has particular application to the production of gaseous oxygen (“GOX”) from the separation of air.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an installation for implementing a method for cryogenic air separation, whereby at least one constituent of the air used is obtained as a product by means of a selected method variant. Said installation comprises at least one coldbox in which a module is arranged. The invention is characterised in that several classes are predefined, each class determining the dimensions of the coldbox pertaining thereto, and the coldbox of each class being large enough to hold the module for at least two different product quantity requirements and/or at least two different method variants. A coldbox of a certain class is selected and the module is arranged in the coldbox of said selected class.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system for producing oxygen wherein essentially all of the power produced by a gas turbine system is used to compress feed air for the cryogenic air separation, and wherein preferably a facilitating column is employed to enhance the production of oxygen from the double column system.

Abstract: Krypton and/or xenon is separated crudely from a mixture comprising oxygen and at least one rare gas selected from the group consisting of krypton and xenon in a process comprising feeding said mixture or a mixture derived therefrom to a rare gas recovery system and separating said mixture feed in said rare gas recovery system into rare gas-lean gaseous oxygen (“GOX”) and rare gas-enriched product. The process is characterized in that at least about 50 mol % of said mixture is fed to the rare gas recovery system in the gaseous phase provided that, when said mixture feed is separated by selective adsorption, the concentration of xenon in the mixture feed is no greater than 50 times the concentration of xenon in air. One advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that it can easily be retrofitted to existing pumped LOX cycle ASUs.

Abstract: Air separation units are designed and constructed by selecting two or more modules from libraries containing different module designs. Each library comprises at least two modules with standardized interface point layouts. The standardization of interface points for each module in a given library allows for module interchangeabilty and flexibility in the design and construction of air separation units.

Abstract: The invention relates to a low temperature air fractionation system comprising several modules consisting of at least one heat exchange unit, a pressure column and a low pressure column, in addition to the accessories belonging to the respective modules and at least two cold-boxes, wherein the module and/or the accessories are arranged. The invention is characterised in that at least one of the cold-boxes is embodied in the form of a main box and at least one of the cold-boxes is embodied in the form of a secondary box. The secondary box contains at least one module and the accessories of the module disposed in the secondary box are mainly located in the main box.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing gaseous oxygen under elevated pressure utilize a distillation column system which has a high-pressure column (106), a low-pressure column (107) located above the high-pressure column (106), and a side condenser (102), which has a liquefaction space and a vaporization space, used to vaporize a liquid oxygen fraction from the low-pressure column (107). The side condenser (102) is located below the high-pressure column (106).

Abstract: Liquid oxygen (“LOX”) product and a krypton- and xenon-enriched liquid product is produced from the cryogenic separation of air using a cryogenic distillation system. The process comprises separating feed air in the main distillation system into nitrogen-rich overhead vapor and said krypton- and xenon-enriched liquid product. At least a portion of said krypton- and xenon-enriched liquid product is removed from the main distillation system for further distillation, to produce at least one krypton- and/or xenon-rich product. Xenon-lean liquid is fed to the first additional distillation column and separated into oxygen-rich overhead vapor and said LOX product having a concentration of xenon less than that in said feed air. The xenon-lean liquid is usually also lean in krypton.

Abstract: A process for producing a nitrogen-enriched vapor product from a supply of a nitrogen-rich liquid uses a purifying device and a distillation column having a distillation zone. The process includes the steps of: feeding at least a portion of the supply of the nitrogen-rich liquid to the distillation zone at a first location; feeding a stream of a gas containing nitrogen and at least one contaminant to the purifying device, wherein the gas is cooled by a cryogenic liquid whereby at least a portion of the at least one contaminant condenses, solidifies, or dissolves; eventually feeding at least a portion of the cool gas from the purifying device to the distillation zone at a second location below the first location; withdrawing a stream of the nitrogen-enriched vapor product from the distillation zone; and withdrawing a stream of an oxygen-enriched liquid from the distillation zone.

Abstract: The pressurized waste nitrogen (11) from a column of an air separation unit (10) is sent, optionally after being compressed, to a combustion chamber (15) where it is heated, to a turbine (17) in which it is expanded and again to the combustion chamber (15) where it is mixed with the flue gases in order to give up waste heat thereto.

Abstract: A method of operating a thermal swing adsorption process by determining a parameter relating to the water content of a feed gas, selecting process conditions for regeneration of the adsorbent in the thermal swing adsorption process based on the parameter and modifying the regeneration process conditions to accord with the selected process conditions for regeneration is disclosed. Apparatus for effecting this adsorption method and apparatus in which regeneration conditions are modified based on the actual ambient water content of the feed gas are also disclosed.

Abstract: This plant comprises N (N>1) air distillation units (1) in parallel, each one of which comprises a main air compressor (3) driven by a steam turbine (4); an air distillation apparatus (8) producing liquid oxygen and/or liquid nitrogen; at least one pump (9) for pumping liquid oxygen and/or liquid nitrogen to a high production pressure; and a cycle compressor (10) adapted to compress part of a cycle fluid. Each cycle compressor (10) is driven by an electric motor (11), and an (N+1)th steam turbine (12) drives an alternator (13) supplying the electric motors (11) with electric current. Application to supplying units (2) for producing synthetic hydrocarbons with high-pressure oxygen.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing gaseous oxygen under elevated pressure utilize a distillation column system which has a high-pressure column (106), a low-pressure column (107) located above the high-pressure column (106), and a side condenser (102), which has a liquefaction space and a vaporization space, used to vaporize a liquid oxygen fraction from the low-pressure column (107). The side condenser (102) is located below the high-pressure column (106).

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system having a main heat exchanger for processing feed air, said heat exchanger having a reversing heat exchanger function in an upward feed airflow countercurrent section and having a desuperheating function in a downward feed air flow cocurrent section.

Abstract: In an integrated process an air separation unit A receives compressed air from the compressor S of a blast furnace B and the compressor K of a gas turbine C. Nitrogen enriched air N from the air separation unit is sent to the gas turbine and oxygen enriched air O from the air separation unit is sent to the blast furnace.

Abstract: A method and system for producing nitrogen and/or oxygen by air separation. The system includes at least one high pressure column, at least one low pressure column, and a reboiler-condenser. The method includes generating a high pressure nitrogen stream from the high pressure column and using energy from the high pressure nitrogen stream to provide nitrogen reflux to the high pressure column.

Abstract: Air separation units are designed and constructed by selecting two or more modules from libraries containing different module designs. Each library comprises at least two modules with standardized interface point layouts. The standardization of interface points for each module in a given library allows for module interchangeabilty and flexibility in the design and construction of air separation units.

Abstract: For adjusting the capacity of a low-temperature rectification unit having a high pressure column and a low pressure column in which a fluid is introduced into the high pressure column (1) and in which liquid from the bottom of the high pressure column is directed into the low pressure column (2), the amount of liquid that is removed from the bottom of high pressure and fed to the low pressure column (2) is controlled via flow adjustment (4), wherein a nominal value for flow adjustment (4) is set to a desired amount of flow, and the liquid level of the liquid at the bottom of column (1) that operates at higher pressure is fixed without a set nominal value corresponding to the amount of liquid that is removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing nitrogen by low-temperature fractionation of air in a rectification system which has a high-pressure column (4) and a low-pressure column (5). Feed air (1, 3) is introduced into the high-pressure column (4). An oxygen-containing liquid fraction (11) is removed from the high-pressure column (4) and fed into the low-pressure column (5). Gaseous nitrogen (18) is extracted from the low-pressure column (5) above a mass transfer section (25), which has at least one theoretical or practical plate, and is at least partially condensed in a top condenser (17) by indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant (13). High-purity nitrogen is removed from the low-pressure column below the mass transfer section (25), and is obtained as a nitrogen product (26, 27, 30). The process and apparatus have a refrigeration-supply system, in which a refrigeration fluid (31) flows.

Abstract: The plant comprises, on site, a compressed-air provision and distribution system (LA) with at least one dedicated air compressor (CO2, CO3), an air-gas production and provision system (LG) comprising an air treatment unit (S), with a reservoir R of the said air gas and normally fed by a compressor (CO1). In temporary operating mode, with one air compressor (CO2) off-line, the compressed air from the compressor (CO1) of the air gas provision system (S) is at least in part diverted (C), typically with pressure reduction (D), to sustain the production of the compressed air system (LA), the air gas then being at least in part provided by the reservoir (R).