Spaced Initial Charging Patents (Class 62/646)
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Patent number: 9400135Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating air by cryogenic distillation includes a heat exchanger, a column system having at least one cryogenic distillation column, a conduit for supplying the column system with cooled air from the heat exchanger, a storage tank, a conduit for removing a liquid from the column system and sending it to the storage tank, at least one pump, at least one conduit for sending pumped liquid from the outlet of the or each pump to the heat exchanger, at least one conduit connected to the outlet of the pump or at least one outlet of at least one pump and to a column of the column system, said conduit passing directly to the column without passing via the storage tank.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Alain Briglia, Jian Wei Cao, Frederic Guyard, Philippe Merino
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Patent number: 9393517Abstract: An air compression system and method for an air separation plant in which air is compressed in a series of compression stages and a temperature swing adsorption unit adsorbs water vapor and carbon dioxide. The temperature swing adsorption unit is situated at a location of the compression stages such that air pressure upon entry into the adsorbent beds is between about 400 psia and about 600 psia. Each of the adsorbent beds of the unit have a minimum transverse cross-sectional flow area that will set the air velocity of the air to a level below that at which adsorbent bed fluidization would occur. Such operation allows fabrication costs of the adsorbent beds to be reduced because less adsorbent and smaller adsorbent beds are required while power consumption will be at a minimum.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Mohamed Hashi, Michael C. Johnson, John Royal
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Patent number: 9360250Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation. In particular, it relates to a process for separation of air using three cryogenic distillation columns for the production of gaseous oxygen. Certain embodiments of the invention are particularly efficient for the production of gaseous oxygen at pressures between 30 and 45 bars abs, in which the oxygen is produced by removing liquid oxygen from a distillation column, pressurizing the oxygen and vaporizing the pressurized liquid by heat exchange with air.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Bao Ha, Jean-Renaud Brugerolle
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Patent number: 9239193Abstract: The disclosure relates to a unitary heat pump air conditioner (Unitary HPAC) having a plate type hot-side heat exchanger assembly, a cold-side heat exchanger assembly, and electrically driven compressors and coolant pumps. The plate type hot-side heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of plates stacked and hermetically sealed between an upstream end plate and a downstream end plate, defining a condenser/chiller portion having a first coolant passageway, a sub-cooler portion having a second coolant passageway, and a refrigerant receiver portion sandwiched between the condenser/chiller portion and the sub-cooler portion. The first coolant passageway and the second coolant passageway are in non-contact thermal communication with the refrigerant passageway.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Prasad S. Kadle, Gary S. Vreeland, Frederick V. Oddi
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Patent number: 9238477Abstract: A system and method of controlling a scissors lift vehicle are provided. The scissors lift vehicle system includes a carriage including a plurality of independently steerable wheel assemblies configured to engage a travel surface. The plurality of independently steerable wheel assemblies, each steerable about a steer axis of rotation include one of the plurality of wheel assemblies being designated a master wheel and the remaining wheel assemblies being designated slave wheels. The wheel assemblies each include a variable-speed steer actuator configured to rotate a respective wheel assembly about the steer axis of rotation of that wheel assembly at a selectable rate. The wheel assemblies each also include a wheel including a respective drive axis of rotation and a variable-speed drive actuator configured to rotate that wheel about a respective steer axis of rotation at a selectable rate.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2014Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: XTREME MANUFACTURING, LLCInventors: Don Francis Ahern, Ronald Lee Fifield
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Patent number: 9222726Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating air in which an argon refining column of a distillation column system is reboiled with a liquid air stream. The argon refining column further refines crude argon produced by a crude argon column connected to a lower pressure column of the distillation column system. At least one intermediate reflux stream is formed, at least indirectly, from at least part of the liquid air stream, and is introduced into the lower pressure column at a level thereof above where a crude liquid oxygen column bottoms of a higher pressure column of such system is further refined to increase a liquid to vapor ratio below said level and therefore, argon recovery from the argon refining column.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
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Patent number: 9182170Abstract: A method and system for producing an oxygen product stream in which sensible heat from a compressed air stream is indirectly exchanged with a vaporized pumped liquid oxygen stream in a main heat exchanger and latent heat is exchanged in an auxiliary heat exchanger connected to the main heat exchanger. The latent heat exchange produces subcooled liquid air that is fed into a low pressure column of the air separation plant and vaporization of the pumped liquid. Part of the subcooled liquid air can be withdrawn from the auxiliary heat exchanger at a higher temperature than the remainder of the subcooled liquid air. All or part of the subcooled liquid air can be further cooled within the main heat exchanger. As a result, low temperature, subcooled liquid air is produced that allows for an increased oxygen recovery and also, argon recovery if an argon column is present.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2009Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventor: Raymond Edwin Rooks
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Patent number: 9157017Abstract: Disclosed are the use of fluorine substituted olefins, including tetra- and penta-fluoropropenes, in a variety of applications, including in methods of depositing catalyst on a solid support, methods of sterilizing articles, cleaning methods and compositions, methods of applying medicaments, fire extinguishing/suppression compositions and methods, flavor formulations, fragrance formulations and inflating agents.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Rajiv R. Singh, Hang T. Pham, Ian Shankland
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Patent number: 9103587Abstract: A process for the cryogenic separation of air using a multiple column distillation system comprising at least a higher pressure column (“HP column”) and a lower pressure column (“LP column”), comprising: feeding cooled feed air to the high pressure column for separation into high pressure nitrogen-enriched overhead vapor and crude liquid oxygen; feeding at least one low pressure column feed stream comprising nitrogen and oxygen to the low pressure column for separation into nitrogen-rich overhead vapor and liquid oxygen; refluxing the low pressure column with a liquid stream from or derived from the high pressure column; feeding expanded air to an auxiliary separation column for separation into auxiliary column nitrogen-rich overhead vapor and oxygen-rich liquid and removing the nitrogen rich overhead vapor as a product stream; feeding bottom liquid from the auxiliary column to an intermediate location of the low pressure column; and refluxing the auxiliary column with a nitrogen rich liquid stream from or deType: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Bao Ha, Jean-Renaud Brugerolle
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Patent number: 9097459Abstract: An improved process for producing elevated pressure nitrogen including providing an air separation unit with at least two columns, a low pressure (LP) column and a medium pressure (MP) column. Also including extracting a nitrogen stream from the MP column and extracting a rich liquid from the bottom of the MP column, and providing at least a portion of the rich liquid stream to a first vaporizer. Also including introducing a portion of the nitrogen stream into the first vaporizer, thereby producing a boil-off gas, and warming at least a portion of the nitrogen stream in a heat exchanger, thereby producing a product nitrogen stream. Also including warming at least a portion of the boil-off gas in the heat exchanger, thereby producing warm. intermediate stream, expanding the warm intermediate stream in an expander, thereby producing a quantity of work, and a low pressure intermediate stream, and introducing the low pressure intermediate stream into the LP column.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2011Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.Inventor: Paul Musicus
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Patent number: 9091478Abstract: 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 foType: GrantFiled: July 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Frederic Judas, Herve Le Bihan, Patrick Le Bot
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Patent number: 8997520Abstract: A method of producing at least one air gas using cryogenic distillation is provided. The expanded streams coming from the two turbines are combined and then split into two fractions. The first fraction is sent to the medium-pressure column of the system in gaseous form, whereas the second fraction is returned to the cold end of the heat exchange line. At a temperature T4 below ?100° C. and above T2, the second fraction is sent to a turbine where it expands up to a temperature T5, forming an air stream. This air stream is then warmed in the heat exchange line before being discharged into the atmosphere, so that the distillation is not disturbed. A liquid product is withdrawn from the column system as final product. The sole liquid product from the apparatus is liquid oxygen, but of course other products may be produced.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2008Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Alain Guillard, Patrick Le Bot, Xavier Pontone
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Patent number: 8899075Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating air in which an argon refining column of a distillation column system is reboiled with a liquid air stream. The argon refining column further refines crude argon produced by a crude argon column connected to a lower pressure column of the distillation column system. At least one intermediate reflux stream is formed, at least indirectly, from at least part of the liquid air stream, and is introduced into the lower pressure column at a level thereof above where a crude liquid oxygen column bottoms of a higher pressure column of such system is further refined to increase a liquid to vapor ratio below said level and therefore, argon recovery from the argon refining column.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
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Patent number: 8826692Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device used for the low-temperature separation of air in a distillation column system, comprising at least one high-pressure column (11) and a low-pressure column (12). The method has a high pre-liquifaction of 30% or more. Feed air is introduced into the distillation column system. The distillation column system further has a pre-column (10), the operating pressure of which is higher than the operating pressure of the high-pressure column (11). A first partial stream (1) of the feed air is introduced into the pre-column (10). The pre-column (10) has a head condenser (14), which is configured as a condenser-evaporator having a condensation chamber and an evaporation chamber. A gaseous fraction (30, 31) from the upper region of the pre-column (10) is introduced into the condensation chamber of the head condenser (14). Fluid (6) formed in the condensation chamber is at least partially applied to the pre-column (10) as runback (7).Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Linde AktiengesellschaftInventor: Alexander Alekseev
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Patent number: 8820115Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an oxygen product in which air is separated in an installation including air separation units having higher and lower pressure columns. A pumped liquid stream generated within the installation, that can be a pumped liquid oxygen stream, is warmed within a main heat exchanger through indirect heat exchange with a compressed air stream to produce a liquid air stream. An impure oxygen stream is rectified within an auxiliary column to produce an oxygen containing stream that is introduced into the lower pressure column of each of the air separation units and intermediate liquid streams, composed of the liquid air stream or another air-like stream, reflux the lower pressure columns and the auxiliary column and optionally the higher pressure column of each of the air separation units.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2009Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Richard John Jibb
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Patent number: 8640496Abstract: Air separation method in which air is separated within cryogenic rectification processes conducted in first and second cryogenic air separation plants. The first cryogenic air separation plant is designed to produce an oxygen-rich product stream and the second cryogenic air separation plant is designed to produce an impure oxygen vapor stream. At least part of the impure oxygen vapor stream is introduced into a lower pressure column of the first cryogenic air separation plant and oxygen contained in such stream along with air separated within the first air separation plant is used in producing the oxygen-rich product stream.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2008Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
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Patent number: 8528363Abstract: In a process for the production of nitrogen and of oxygen enriched liquid by separation of air by cryogenic distillation, a first stream of air is sent to an exchanger to form a first cooled air stream, the first cooled air stream is sent to a bottom reboiler of a column, condensed air is sent from the bottom reboiler to a top condenser of the column, vaporized air is sent from the top condenser to a first compressor, air is sent from the first compressor to the column, air is sent to a second compressor and from the second compressor to the exchanger to produce a cooled second air stream, the cooled second air stream is sent to a first turboexpander and from the turbo expander to the column, bottom liquid is removed from the column and gaseous nitrogen is removed from the top of the column.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Bao Ha, Jean-Renaud Brugerolle
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Publication number: 20130192300Abstract: The device serves for the cryogenic separation of air. It has the following features: a main heat exchanger and a supercooling countercurrent heat exchanger (2); a distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation (5), which comprises a high-pressure column and a low-pressure column; a mixing column (1); means for introducing charge air via the main heat exchanger into the high-pressure column and into the mixing column; a liquid-oxygen line for introducing liquid oxygen from the low-pressure column into the upper region of the mixing column; an oxygen product line for extracting oxygen gas from the upper region of the mixing column through the main heat exchanger. The mixing column (1) and at least one of the two heat exchangers mentioned (2, 6) are arranged in a common cold box (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2011Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventor: Stefan Lochner
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Patent number: 8448463Abstract: The present invention provides a method of rectifying an oxygen, nitrogen and argon containing feed stream that employs high and low pressure columns and an argon column. Refrigeration is imparted through turboexpansion of a nitrogen-rich vapor stream withdrawn from the high pressure column. The nitrogen-rich vapor stream has a sufficiently high flow rate that the flow of both vapor and liquid within the low pressure column is decreased to such an extent that the diameter of the low pressure column can be made substantially equal to or less than that of the high pressure column. The use of the argon column allows recovery of the oxygen to be increased over that which would otherwise be obtained given the draw of the nitrogen-rich vapor. The argon column can be an argon rejection column in which the separated argon is discarded as waste.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Neil Mark Prosser, Wei Zhang
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Patent number: 8286446Abstract: Method and apparatus of separating an oxygen and nitrogen containing feed stream, for example, air, in higher and lower pressure columns. A crude liquid oxygen stream condenses nitrogen vapor in the higher pressure column for reflux purposes and results in the partial vaporization of the crude liquid oxygen stream to produce vapor and liquid fractions thereof. The liquid fraction condenses a lower pressure part of the feed stream and results in the liquid fraction being at least partially vaporized. Both the vapor fraction of the crude liquid oxygen stream and the liquid fraction after having been at least partially vaporized are introduced into the lower pressure column. Boil-up is produced within a bottom region of the lower pressure column by partially vaporizing an oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms against condensing a higher pressure part of the feed stream and then utilizing vapor or residual liquid as an oxygen product.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2008Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Richard John Jibb, Kirk Frederick Larson
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Patent number: 8191386Abstract: A distillation apparatus and method in which first and second compressed streams are formed from a compressed feed stream, for example, compressed air. The first compressed stream is fully cooled within a main heat exchanger so that it is substantially condensed. The second compressed stream is partly cooled within the main heat exchanger and then introduced into a turboexpander at a temperature such that the turboexpander exhaust stream is superheated. Part of the first compressed stream is mixed with the exhaust stream to produce a combined stream that is no more than 10° C. above saturation temperature at the pressure of the exhaust stream. The combined stream is introduced into a distillation column unit to produce one or more products that are enriched in components of the feed to be separated. In such manner the turboexpansion can occur at a higher temperature and with increased refrigerating effect.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
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Patent number: 8136369Abstract: A hybrid system which utilizes high purity oxygen from a local pipeline, which is blended with low purity oxygen from an on-site or local cryogenic distillation system, thus resulting in a blend of intermediate quality which satisfies the needs of the customer. In order to offset the operating and energy costs associated with this fairly low profit margin intermediate purity oxygen, high purity nitrogen at high pressure is simultaneously exported to the local pipeline, thereby acting as a credit to the overall system.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2006Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignees: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour L'Etude, et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc.Inventors: Jean-Renaud Brugerolle, Bao Ha
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Publication number: 20110289964Abstract: Separation method and apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture, for example, air, in a cryogenic rectification plant in which a compressed stream is divided into subsidiary streams that are extracted from a main heat exchanger of the plant at higher and lower temperatures. The two streams are then combined and expanded in a turboexpander to generate refrigeration for the plant. The flow rates of the two streams are adjusted to control inlet temperature of a turboexpander supplying plant refrigeration and to minimize potential deviation of the turboexpander exhaust from a saturated vapor state. Control of the expansion ratio can advantageously be applied to allow variable liquid production from the rectification plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Richard John Jibb
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Patent number: 8020408Abstract: Separation method and apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture, for example, air, in a cryogenic rectification plant in which a compressed stream is divided into subsidiary streams that are extracted from a main heat exchanger of the plant at higher and lower temperatures. The two streams are then combined and expanded in a turboexpander to generate refrigeration for the plant. The flow rates of the two streams are adjusted to control inlet temperature of a turboexpander supplying plant refrigeration and to minimize potential deviation of the turboexpander exhaust from a saturated vapor state. Control of the expansion ratio can advantageously be applied to allow variable liquid production from the rectification plant.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2006Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Richard John Jibb
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Publication number: 20110083469Abstract: A device for obtaining liquid nitrogen by low-temperature air fractionation in a distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation includes a high-pressure column; a low-pressure column; a high-pressure column top condenser which is constructed as a condenser-evaporator and comprises a liquefaction compartment and an evaporation compartment; a low-pressure column top condenser which is constructed as a condenser-evaporator and comprises a liquefaction compartment and an evaporation compartment. A throttle stream is formed by one part of a purified feed air that is liquefied or pseudoliquefied in a main heat exchanger. The throttle stream is expanded, and at least some of the expanded throttle stream is introduced as refrigerant stream into the evaporation compartment of the high-pressure column top condenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Inventor: Alexander Alekseev
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Publication number: 20110067444Abstract: The process and device serve for the low-temperature separation of air in a distillation-column system includes at least one separation column. A main air stream is compressed in an air compressor at a first pressure and is then purified. A first air stream, which is formed from at least one part of the purified main air stream, is further compressed at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure. From the further compressed first air stream, a throttling stream and a turbine stream are branched off. The throttling stream is cooled down and liquefied or pseudo-liquefied in a main heat exchanger and is then passed on to expansion equipment. The expanded throttling stream is conducted into the distillation-column system. The turbine stream is cooled down in the main heat exchanger and under an intermediate temperature of the main heat exchanger is conducted into an expansion machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventor: Alexander Alekseev
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Patent number: 7870759Abstract: In a process for supplying a pressurized gas, a pressurized gas at a high production pressure is produced as an end product by separating a gaseous mixture in a separator apparatus (3, 5), a liquid to be pressurized is stored in a store (9), storing liquid is tapped, and it is pressurized with a pump (11) and at least part of the pressurized liquid is sprayed in a sprayer (27) to produce the pressurized backup gas (29) having substantially the same pressure or a pressure higher than the pressurized gas to be produced, liquid is circulated in a substantially vertical duct (13), optionally within the cold box (33) of the separator apparatus, and at least part of the duct length is at a level above the sprayer and before and/or after starting up the pump (11), liquid is sent from the duct to the sprayer where the liquid is sprayed to provide pressurized backup gas having substantially the same purity or a purity higher than the pressurized gas to be produced (31).Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2004Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventor: Jean-Marc Peyron
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Publication number: 20100242538Abstract: The present invention provides a method of rectifying an oxygen, nitrogen and argon containing feed stream that employs high and low pressure columns and an argon column. Refrigeration is imparted through turboexpansion of a nitrogen-rich vapor stream withdrawn from the high pressure column. The nitrogen-rich vapor stream has a sufficiently high flow rate that the flow of both vapor and liquid within the low pressure column is decreased to such an extent that the diameter of the low pressure column can be made substantially equal to or less than that of the high pressure column. The use of the argon column allows recovery of the oxygen to be increased over that which would otherwise be obtained given the draw of the nitrogen-rich vapor. The argon column can be an argon rejection column in which the separated argon is discarded as waste.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventors: Neil Mark Prosser, Wei Zhang
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Publication number: 20100175426Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling power needs of a gasification facility are described. The systems include an ice refrigeration storage unit for supplying refrigeration to the larger consumers of cooling in the gasification facility. The methods include manipulating the ice refrigeration storage unit to minimize the utilization of power during peak price periods and maximize the utilization of power during offpeak price periods.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2009Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: Hunton Energy Holdings, LLCInventor: Paul Steven Wallace
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Patent number: 7632337Abstract: The present invention relates to cryogenic air separation processes and systems that employ a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) prepurification process. It is advantageous to operate the PSA process at a pressure comparable to or below the operating pressure of the highest pressure column in the cryogenic separation unit. Following PSA prepurification, the air can be split into at least two fractions, with at least a portion of the air being directed to the cryogenic separation unit and at least a portion of the remaining air being further pressurized in at least one stage of compression.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Jeffert John Nowobilski
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Publication number: 20090205368Abstract: A distillation apparatus and method in which first and second compressed streams are formed from a compressed feed stream, for example, compressed air. The first compressed stream is fully cooled within a main heat exchanger so that it is substantially condensed. The second compressed stream is partly cooled within the main heat exchanger and then introduced into a turboexpander at a temperature such that the turboexpander exhaust stream is superheated. Part of the first compressed stream is mixed with the exhaust stream to produce a combined stream that is no more than 10° C. above saturation temperature at the pressure of the exhaust stream. The combined stream is introduced into a distillation column unit to produce one or more products that are enriched in components of the feed to be separated. In such manner the turboexpansion can occur at a higher temperature and with increased refrigerating effect.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2008Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
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Patent number: 7552599Abstract: A cryogenic air separation process is set forth wherein, in order to provide the refrigeration necessary when at least a portion of the oxygen product is desired as liquid oxygen, LNG-derived refrigeration is used to liquefy a nitrogen stream in the process. A key to the present invention is that, instead of feeding the liquefied nitrogen to the distillation column, the liquefied nitrogen is heat exchanged against the air feed to the distillation column system.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2006Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Donn Michael Herron, Jung Soo Choe, Douglas Paul Dee
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Patent number: 7549301Abstract: Argon, oxygen and nitrogen contained within an incoming air feed is fractionated within an air separation system having a multiple column arrangement that includes a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column to produce oxygen and nitrogen-rich fractions and an argon column to produce an argon-rich fraction for recovery of the argon as an argon product. A two-phase stream can be formed by either expanding at least part of a liquid air stream or by a liquid oxygen column bottoms formed within a higher pressure column of the multiple column arrangement. The liquid air stream is formed by liquefying part of the air feed to be fractionated against vaporizing a pumped liquid stream composed of nitrogen and/or oxygen. The diversion of the nitrogen vapor contained in the nitrogen-rich fraction increases the liquid to vapor ratio within the lower pressure column to increase the argon recovery.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2006Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
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Patent number: 7533540Abstract: A system for separating air by cryogenic rectification whereby liquid production is increased by employing two separate turboexpanders, one which exhausts at a pressure no higher than that sufficient to feed the lower pressure column, the other which exhausts at a pressure no lower than that sufficient to feed the higher pressure column, and wherein one of the turboexpanders is fed with ambient temperature or modestly cooled feed air and preferably operates intermittently depending upon whether greater or lesser amounts of liquid product are desired.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventor: Neil Mark Prosser
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Publication number: 20090078001Abstract: Methods and apparatus for air separation by cryogenic distillation in a double or triple air separation column. The column in the system with the highest operating pressure is said to be operating at medium pressure. All the air to be distilled is pressurized to a high pressure, which is about 5 bar greater than the medium pressure. The air is purified at this high pressure, and a portion of the purified air is cooled in a heat exchange line, while another portion is expanded in a turbine. Part of the cooled air is drawn from the exchange line with a cold booster, which is mechanically coupled to at least one turbine. An energy dissipation device is also provided which is coupled to the turbine not coupled to the cold booster. The energy dissipation device is either another booster, an oil break system, or an electrical generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicants: l'Exploitation des ProInventors: Patrick Le Bot, Olivier De Cayeux
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Patent number: 7490484Abstract: Integrated air separation units with a petrochemical process. This invention provides an integrated process and gas treatment process wherein at least one first pressurized gas derived from a first process at a first site is expanded. Using the work generated by the expansion of at least one pressurized gas, a first gas compressor at the first site is driven, operates, and removes compressed gas from the first gas compressor. At least part of the compressed gas from the first gas compressor is sent to a gas treatment unit located at a remote second site. At least part of the compressed gas sent from the first site to the second site is treated in the gas treatment unit. At least one fluid from the gas treatment unit is removed and at least part of the fluid removed from the gas treatment unit is sent to the first site.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Alain Guillard, Patrick Le Bot, Bernard Saulnier
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Patent number: 7487648Abstract: A method for the cryogenic separation of air having defined temperatures for condensed feed air passed into a double column system relative to liquid oxygen and preferably to shelf vapor, and wherein kettle liquid is not subcooled from the higher pressure column to the lower pressure column.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Alfred Weber, M. Mushtaq Ahmed, Todd Alan Skare, Neil Mark Prosser
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Patent number: 7464568Abstract: Methods and apparatus for air separation by cryogenic distillation in a double or triple air separation column. The column in the system with the highest operating pressure is said to be operating at medium pressure. All the air to be distilled is pressurized to a high pressure, which is about 5 bar greater than the medium pressure. The air is purified at this high pressure, and a portion of the purified air is cooled in a heat exchange line, while another portion is expanded in a turbine. Part of the cooled air is drawn from the exchange line with a cold booster, which is mechanically coupled to at least one turbine. An energy dissipation device is also provided which is coupled to the turbine not coupled to the cold booster. The energy dissipation device is either another booster, an oil break system, or an electrical generator.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2004Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Patrick Le Bot, Olivier De Cayeux
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Patent number: 7437890Abstract: A method for carrying out cryogenic air separation wherein feed air is processed in three streams which are at different pressures, wherein one stream is turboexpanded to generate refrigeration and the other two streams are condensed to effect pressurized product vaporization.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
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Publication number: 20080223076Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2005Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventor: Patrick Le Bot
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Publication number: 20080223077Abstract: An air separation method in which a liquid air stream, produced by vaporizing a pumped liquid oxygen stream, is introduced into a lower pressure column and optionally, a higher pressure column of an air separation unit. The liquid air stream is subcooled by extracting a main air feed to the higher pressure column from a main heat exchanger at a temperature warmer than the liquid air stream to increase argon recovery in an argon column connected to the lower pressure column. This temperature is selected such that the liquid air stream approaches an average temperature of the return streams being fed into the main heat exchanger from the higher and lower pressure columns at a range between about 0.2K and about 3K.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2007Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Neil Mark Prosser, Richard John Jibb
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Publication number: 20080216511Abstract: Method and apparatus for distilling nitrogen from a gaseous mixture containing nitrogen and oxygen. Oxygen-enriched bottoms liquid is partially vaporized within a first heat exchanger to condense part of the column overhead to produce reflux. Thereafter, the partially vaporized oxygen-enriched liquid is phase separated. A second oxygen-enriched liquid stream composed of at least part of the liquid phase is used to substantially condense all or part of the vapor stream derived from said phase separation, thereby to form a nitrogen-rich liquid stream. At least part of the nitrogen-rich liquid stream is reintroduced into the column to increase nitrogen recovery. The second oxygen-enriched liquid stream is then used to condense a second part of the reflux for the column.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2007Publication date: September 11, 2008Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
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Publication number: 20070283719Abstract: Argon, oxygen and nitrogen contained within an incoming air feed is fractionated within an air separation system having a multiple column arrangement that includes a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column to produce oxygen and nitrogen-rich fractions and an argon column to produce an argon-rich fraction for recovery of the argon as an argon product. A two-phase stream can be formed by either expanding at least part of a liquid air stream or by a liquid oxygen column bottoms formed within a higher pressure column of the multiple column arrangement. The liquid air stream is formed by liquefying part of the air feed to be fractionated against vaporizing a pumped liquid stream composed of nitrogen and/or oxygen. The diversion of the nitrogen vapor contained in the nitrogen-rich fraction increases the liquid to vapor ratio within the lower pressure column to increase the argon recovery.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2006Publication date: December 13, 2007Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
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Patent number: 7296437Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2005Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Emmanuel Garnier, Daniel Gourdain, Frederic Judas, Patrick Le Bot, Frederic Staine
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Patent number: 7272954Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing pressurized gaseous product by air separation. A compressed air stream is cooled in an exchanger to form a compressed cooled air stream. The stream is then cryogenically compressed in a first compressor to form a first pressurized gas stream. The first pressurized gas stream is further cooled in the exchanger, cryogenically compressed in a second compressor, and then it is cooled and partially liquefied. The cooled and partially liquefied product is then fed to a system of distillation columns. A liquid product is removed from the system of distillation columns. This product is then pressurized, vaporized and warmed in the exchanger to yield pressurized gaseous product.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2004Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Proceded Georges ClaudeInventors: Jean-Renaud Brugerolle, Bao Ha
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Patent number: 7219514Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2002Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme á Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance our l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges ClaudeInventors: Emmanuel Garnier, Frédéric Judas, Frédéric Staine
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Patent number: 7197894Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2004Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A' Directorie et Conseil De Survelliance Pour L'Etude Et, L'Exploltation Des Procedes Georges, ClaudeInventors: Alain Guillard, Patrick Le Bot, Bernard Saulnier
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Publication number: 20040244416Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Inventors: Emmanuel Garnier, Frederic Judas, Frederic Staine
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Patent number: 6776004Abstract: A process and apparatus for low-temperature fractionation of air in a distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation (5, 6) introduces into first feed air stream (4) into a distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation. An oxygen-rich fraction (22) from the distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation is pressurized (23) in liquid form and is added (25) to a mixing column (26). A heat transfer medium stream is introduced into the lower region of the mixing column (26) and is brought into countercurrent contact with the oxygen-rich fraction (22, 25). Gaseous top product (260) from the upper region of the mixing column (26) is introduced into an additional column (27). A liquid (38, 39, 40, 41) from the lower or middle region of the mixing column is introduced into the distillation column system.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2003Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: Linde AGInventors: Dietrich Rottmann, Christian Kunz
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Publication number: 20040007016Abstract: A process and apparatus for low-temperature fractionation of air in a distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation (5, 6) introduces into first feed air stream (4) into a distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation. An oxygen-rich fraction (22) from the distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation is pressurized (23) in liquid form and is added (25) to a mixing column (26). A heat transfer medium stream is introduced into the lower region of the mixing column (26) and is brought into countercurrent contact with the oxygen-rich fraction (22, 25). Gaseous top product (260) from the upper region of the mixing column (26) is introduced into an additional column (27). A liquid (38, 39, 40, 41) from the lower or middle region of the mixing column is introduced into the distillation column system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2003Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Dietrich Rottmann, Christian Kunz