Downstream Operation Patents (Class 62/648)
  • Patent number: 11850546
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, processes, and systems for safely and reliably purifying hydrogen from a gas mixture containing hydrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Abdulaziz M. Al-Jodai, Nasser Ali Aldalaan, Mubarik Ali Bashir
  • Patent number: 11713921
    Abstract: A system and method for argon production in an air separation plant facility or enclave having multiple cryogenic air separation units is provided. The present system and method include a centralized argon refining system disposed within one of the cryogenic air separation units and which is configured to include an argon superstaged or ultra-superstaged column arrangement having one or more argon columns and an argon condenser. Crude argon streams from one or more of the other cryogenic air separation units are directed to the argon superstaged or ultra-superstaged column arrangement of the centralized argon refining process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: David R. Parsnick
  • Patent number: 11635254
    Abstract: An air separation apparatus and process, which produces gaseous oxygen and/or nitrogen products at an elevated pressure through internal compression of respective liquid products, are disclosed. Split-core main heat exchangers are employed to warm up product streams generated in an air rectification unit against 1) a main feed air stream in the low-pressure heat exchanger and 2) at least one boosted pressure air stream in the high-pressure exchanger. Because the boosted pressure air stream is at a higher pressure and temperature than the main feed air stream, after separate heat exchange in the split main heat exchangers, the subsidiary waste nitrogen stream exiting the high-pressure heat exchanger is also warmer than the subsidiary waste nitrogen stream exiting the low-pressure heat exchanger. The warmer waste nitrogen stream is fed into the air purification unit for regeneration purposes and the cooler waste nitrogen stream is introduced into the nitrogen water tower to perform cooling duty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Bowei Zhao, Alain Briglia
  • Patent number: 11318409
    Abstract: Methods and materials for the selective capture and storage of preselected materials from gas streams using metal organic framework (MOF) materials are described. In various embodiments preselected target material gases could include noble gasses such as Kr, Xe, Rn, Arultramicro to mesopore frameworks for selective separation and storage of noble gases, other gasses such as I2 or other particular isotopes either naturally occurring or man-made, or another preselected gas capture material such as a target material for legal, regulatory or treaty compliance, or a preselected material from a particular process such as a cleaning or etching agent from semiconducting or microelectronic manufacture, or a portion of an anesthetic gas such as nitrous oxide, isoflurane, sevoflurane or a fluorinated ethers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Praveen K. Thallapally, John D. Vienna
  • Patent number: 11227699
    Abstract: A method for producing a fraction of xenon radioisotopes, comprising the steps of dissolving enriched uranium targets forming a slurry and a gaseous phase containing xenon radioisotopes, isolating the xenon radioisotopes using zeolite doped with silver, preferably chosen from the group consisting of aluminosilicates doped with silver, titanosilicates doped with silver and mixtures thereof, and recovering the fraction of xenon radioisotopes, in particular Xe-133.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Institut National Des Radioeléménts
    Inventors: Philippo Faga, Dominique Moyaux, Benoit Deconninck
  • Patent number: 10663223
    Abstract: A moderate pressure air separation unit and air separation cycle is disclosed that provides for up to about 96% recovery of argon, an overall nitrogen recovery of 98% or greater and limited gaseous oxygen production. The air separation is configured to produce a first high purity oxygen enriched stream and a second lower purity oxygen enriched stream from the lower pressure column, one of which is used as the refrigerant to condense the argon in the argon condenser, with the resulting vaporized oxygen stream used to regenerate the temperature swing adsorption pre-purifier unit. All or a portion of the first high purity oxygen enriched stream is vaporized in the main heat exchanger to produce the gaseous oxygen products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Handley, Neil M. Prosser, Brian R. Kromer
  • Patent number: 10663222
    Abstract: A moderate pressure air separation unit and air separation cycle is disclosed that provides for up to about 96% recovery of argon, an overall nitrogen recovery of 98 percent or greater and limited gaseous oxygen production. The air separation is configured to produce a first high purity oxygen enriched stream and a second lower purity oxygen enriched stream from the lower pressure column, one of which is used as the refrigerant to condense the argon in the argon condenser, with the resulting vaporized oxygen stream used to regenerate the temperature swing adsorption pre-purifier unit. All or a portion of the first high purity oxygen enriched stream is vaporized in the main heat exchanger to produce the gaseous oxygen products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Brian R. Kromer, James R. Handley, Neil M. Prosser
  • Patent number: 10295254
    Abstract: A system and method for recovery of rare gases such as neon, helium, xenon, and krypton in an air separation unit is provided. The rare gas recovery system comprises a non-condensable stripping column linked in a heat transfer relationship with a xenon-krypton column via an auxiliary condenser-reboiler. The non-condensable stripping column produces a rare gas containing overhead that is directed to the auxiliary condenser-reboiler where most of the neon is captured in a non-condensable vent stream that is further processed to produce a crude neon vapor stream that contains greater than about 50% mole fraction of neon with the overall neon recovery exceeding 95%. The xenon-krypton column further receives two streams of liquid oxygen from the lower pressure column and the rare gas containing overhead from the non-condensable stripping column and produces a crude xenon and krypton liquid stream and an oxygen-rich overhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Vijayaraghavan S. Chakravarthy, Hanfei Tuo, Maulik R. Shelat, James R. Dray, Nick J. Degenstein
  • Patent number: 10012437
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for argon recovery in which an impure argon stream is separated from air within a cryogenic air separation unit having a divided wall argon rejection/rectification column. The resulting argon stream is subsequently recovered and purified within an integrated pressure swing adsorption system to produce product grade argon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Hai Du, Neil M. Prosser, Yang Luo, Neil A. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 9772139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing oxygen from liquid argon using a TSA (temperature swing adsorption) cyclical process that includes cooling an adsorbent bed to sustain argon in a liquid phase; supplying the adsorbent bed with a liquid argon feed that is contaminated with oxygen and purifying the liquid argon thereby producing an argon product with less oxygen contaminant than is in the initial liquid argon feed; draining the purified residual liquid argon product and sending purified argon out of the adsorbent bed. Regeneration of specially prepared adsorbent allows the adsorbent bed to warm up to temperatures that preclude the use of requiring either vacuum or evacuation of adsorbent from the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Persefoni E. Kechagia, Neil A. Stephenson, Philip A. Barrett, Hai Du, Steven J. Pontonio
  • Patent number: 9601645
    Abstract: A mounting system for photovoltaic solar panels providing support for different sized panels, and/or panels having mounting holes located in different locations. A universal panel clamp includes at least one elongated hole or slot to attach to a mounting hole on a solar panel frame. A clamp is attached to an upper hole, and a second clamp is attached to a lower mounting hole. The upper clamps are attached to an upper lateral support member, and the lower clamps are attached to a lower lateral support member. This assembly may be supported by A-shaped support members having adjustable tilt arms, or posts with specially configured brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SunLink Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Seery, Robert H. J. Miros
  • Patent number: 8978413
    Abstract: The present invention is a process for recovering rare gases from a multiple column oxygen plant, wherein the multiple column oxygen plant comprises a higher pressure column, a lower pressure column, a middle pressure intermediate column, and a low pressure intermediate column, said middle pressure intermediate column comprising a first bottom reboiler and said low pressure intermediate column comprising a second bottom reboiler. The process includes providing a first oxygen rich liquid stream containing rare gases from the higher pressure column, wherein said first oxygen rich liquid stream is introduced to the first bottom reboiler. The process also includes removing a second oxygen rich liquid stream rich in rare gases from the bottom of the middle pressure intermediate column, wherein said second oxygen rich liquid stream is introduced to the low pressure intermediate column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Publication number: 20140165650
    Abstract: A shell and tube heat exchanger and distillation column arrangement for an air separation plant utilizing such heat exchanger in which tubes for passage of a liquid that is used in condensing a vapor are located within a cylindrical shell. The tubes are arranged in an inner array of tubes and an outer array of tubes surrounding the inner array of tubes and having more tubes than the inner array. The inner array of tubes present a larger average area, between tubes, for flow of the vapor in an outward, radial direction than tubes of the outer array to lessen pressure drop while allowing for more tubes to be located within the shell to increase the surface area available for heat exchange between the liquid and the vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Richard John Jibb, Kathryn Oseen-Senda, Sang Muk Kwark, Karl K. Kibler
  • Patent number: 8713964
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Nerve Le Bihan, Jean-Marc Peyron
  • Patent number: 8601833
    Abstract: An air stream is compressed in multiple stages using refrigeration derived from a refrigerant comprising natural gas for inter-stage cooling. The possibility of natural gas leaking into the air stream is reduced by use of an intermediate cooling medium (“ICM”) to transfer the refrigeration from the refrigerant to the inter-stage air stream. The compressed air stream can be fed to a cryogenic air separation unit that includes an LNG-based liquefier unit from which a cold natural gas stream is withdrawn for use as said refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Paul Dee, Donn Michael Herron, Jung Soo Choe
  • Patent number: 8549878
    Abstract: There is provided a method of generating nitrogen which includes cryogenically separating compressed air introduced into a high-pressure column 11, storing liquid air 13 in a bottom portion of the high-pressure column 11 and taking nitrogen in gaseous form from an upper portion of the high-pressure column 11, introducing the liquid air 13 stored in the bottom portion of the high-pressure column 11 into a low-pressure column 12, cryogenically separating the liquid air 13 introduced into the low-pressure column 12 and storing oxygen-enriched liquid air 22 in a bottom portion of the low-pressure column 12 and taking nitrogen in gaseous form from an upper portion of the low-pressure column 12 as a product gas. Liquid air 13 taken through an extraction pipe 20 is introduced into a portion of a rectification part 12a of the low-pressure column 12 in which the number of theoretical plates from a column bottom side is set within the range of one to ten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Air Water Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Yoshino, Koji Tanaka, Ryosuke Matsubayashi, Junya Suenaga, Shinya Okumura
  • Publication number: 20130239609
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a krypton-xenon-rich stream in which a pipeline oxygen stream is removed from an oxygen pipeline at ambient temperature and then distilled in a cryogenic rectification plant to produce the krypton-xenon-rich stream from a column bottoms of a distillation column. The plant can generate its own refrigeration by way of a heat pump loop incorporating an expander or, alternatively, refrigeration can be added by means of a liquid oxygen reflux stream introduced into the top of such distillation column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: David Ross Parsnick, Neil Mark Prosser, Ihuaku Ihejirika
  • Patent number: 8484992
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a krypton-xenon-rich stream in which a pipeline oxygen stream is removed from an oxygen pipeline at ambient temperature and then distilled in a cryogenic rectification plant to produce the krypton-xenon-rich stream from a column bottoms of a distillation column. The plant can generate its own refrigeration by way of a heat pump loop incorporating an expander or, alternatively, refrigeration can be added by means of a liquid oxygen reflux stream introduced into the top of such distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ross Parsnick, Neil Mark Prosser, Ihuaku Ihejirika
  • Publication number: 20130139548
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing pressurized oxygen by low-temperature separation of air in a distillation column system having a low-pressure column and a high-pressure column. All of the feed air is compressed to a first air pressure, at least 4 bar above the operating pressure of the high-pressure column. A first partial stream of the feed air, compressed to the first air pressure, is further compressed in a secondary compressor to a second higher air pressure, before being (pseudo-)liquefied and is introduced into the distillation system. A second partial stream of the feed air, compressed to the first air pressure, is cooled and depressurized in an expander, which drives the secondary compressor. A return stream is branched off from the (pseudo-)liquefied first partial stream, depressurized, heated and then introduced to the first partial stream upstream from the secondary compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
  • Patent number: 8286446
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Richard John Jibb, Kirk Frederick Larson
  • Patent number: 8161771
    Abstract: Method and apparatus of separating a nitrogen from a compressed and purified feed stream in a cryogenic rectification plant that employs a distillation column to produce a nitrogen-rich vapor as a column overhead and an oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms. Reflux is generated for the column by condensing part of the nitrogen-rich vapor within a down-flow heat exchanger. A stream of the oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms is introduced into an ejector which draws a stream of an oxygen-rich liquid phase produced from the outlet of a down-flow heat exchanger. The combined oxygen-rich liquid exiting the ejector is fed to the down-flow heat exchanger to condense the nitrogen-rich vapor. In such manner, part of the oxygen-rich liquid phase is recirculated to prevent dry-out of the down-flow heat exchanger outlet and to maintain effective condensation of the nitrogen-rich vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Martin L. Timm
  • Patent number: 8136369
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignees: 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
  • Publication number: 20110192194
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a mixture, for example air, within a cryogenic rectification plant that utilizes a banked heat exchanger arrangement. In such arrangement, a lower pressure heat exchanger is used to cool part of the mixture and a higher pressure heat exchanger is used to heat one or more pumped liquid streams composed of separated nitrogen-rich and oxygen-rich fractions and thereby produce pressurized product streams. A boosted pressure stream, that can be part of the air, is utilized to supply most of the heat exchange duty in the higher pressure heat exchanger. In addition, a heat exchange stream, that can also be part of the mixture, can be partially cooled in the higher pressure heat exchanger and then further cooled in the lower pressure heat exchanger to decrease the warm end temperature difference of the higher pressure heat exchanger and therefore, the required refrigeration for the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
  • Publication number: 20110126451
    Abstract: An integrated process and an apparatus for converting natural gas from an offshore field site to liquefied natural gas and to liquid fuel at an onshore site are disclosed. The process includes liquefying the natural gas and producing natural gas liquids using heat exchange at the offshore site. The liquefied natural gas can be transported to a market distribution location, and the natural gas liquids can be transported to the onshore site for further processing to liquid fuels. An air separation unit at the onshore site provides both liquefied nitrogen for use as coolant in the offshore heat exchange process as well as oxygen for use in an autothermal reformer at the onshore site. The natural gas liquids produced offshore can be fed to the autothermal reformer to generate synthesis gas which can be converted to liquid fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Justin I-Ching Pan, Lixin You
  • Publication number: 20110126585
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a krypton-xenon-rich stream in which a pipeline oxygen stream is removed from an oxygen pipeline at ambient temperature and then distilled in a cryogenic rectification plant to produce the krypton-xenon-rich stream from a column bottoms of a distillation column. The plant can generate its own refrigeration by way of a heat pump loop incorporating an expander or, alternatively, refrigeration can be added by means of a liquid oxygen reflux stream introduced into the top of such distillation column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: David Ross Parsnick, Neil Mark Prosser, Ihuaka Ihejirika
  • Publication number: 20110083470
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventor: Raymond Edwin Rooks
  • Publication number: 20100115995
    Abstract: [ 4 ? ? Q air ? ? ? K ? ( P P 0 ) ? 0.35 ] ? 1 / 2 ( I ) In a process for the separation of air into at least one constituent by cryogenic distillation of air in a system of columns (1, 3) comprising at least one column (1, 3) for producing at least gaseous oxygen and/or nitrogen as product, if the operating pressure of the largest-diameter column is P>2 bar abs, then the diameter (in metres) of this column is less than (I), where : Qair is the sum of the flow rates in Sm3/h of the air feeding the column system and K is the capacity per unit area of the column and P0 is equal to 2 bar abs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Anne-Maie Olivier Bruder, Patrick Le Bot, Richard Dubettier-Grenier
  • Publication number: 20100037656
    Abstract: A method of separating air in which a superheated air stream is introduced into a mass transfer contacting zone associated with a higher pressure column of an air separation unit. Krypton and xenon is washed from a superheated air stream introduced into the mass transfer contacting zone, thereby to form a krypton and xenon-rich liquid. The krypton and xenon-rich liquid is stripped within a stripping column to produce a krypton-xenon-rich bottoms liquid. A krypton-xenon-rich stream composed of the krypton-xenon-rich bottoms liquid from the stripping column is produced for purposes of further refinement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Neil Mark Prosser, John Bernard Saunders
  • Publication number: 20100011811
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Herve Le Bihan, Jean-Marc Peyron
  • Publication number: 20090320520
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing liquid production involving retrofitting an existing air separation plant with a nitrogen liquefier. The nitrogen liquefier liquefies a nitrogen-rich vapor stream withdrawn from the higher pressure column to return a nitrogen-rich liquid stream to the higher pressure column. This increases liquid nitrogen reflux to the higher pressure column to in turn increase the production of liquid oxygen containing column bottoms of the higher pressure column and therefore, the production of oxygen-rich liquid in the lower pressure column. The increased production of the oxygen-rich liquid allows a liquid oxygen product to be taken at an increased rate or for the liquid oxygen product to be taken in the first instance, if the plant is not designed to produce such a product. Also liquid nitrogen and argon products can be produced at an increased rate as a result of the retrofit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: David Ross Parsnick, Todd Alan Skare
  • Publication number: 20090249830
    Abstract: A process for producing variable gaseous nitrogen and variable gaseous oxygen by air distillation, during a period of high demand for gaseous nitrogen and for gaseous oxygen, liquid nitrogen is drawn off from a storage vessel, the liquid nitrogen is vaporized by heat exchange with a first flow of compressed, purified and cooled air, the vaporized nitrogen is sent to the customer and the first flow of liquefied air produced by the heat exchange is sent to a liquefied air storage vessel, liquid oxygen is drawn off from a storage vessel, the liquid oxygen is vaporized by heat exchange with a second flow of compressed, purified and cooled air, the vaporized oxygen is sent to the customer and the second flow of liquefied air is sent to the storage vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Patrick Le Bot
  • Patent number: 7546748
    Abstract: This disclosure discusses the problems associated with the design, layout, and construction of units and equipment in air separation units. The invention of this disclosure provides a process and apparatus using multiple discrete subcoolers. The nitrogen stream exiting the cryogenic distillation columns cools streams in the subcoolers. By having at least two subcoolers, the size of the nitrogen vent (nitrogen waste or product stream) can be reduced. This saves fabrication costs and improves reliability by reducing thermal stresses in the piping and equipment. Subcoolers cool rich liquid, lean liquid, liquid oxygen, and/or liquid air streams coming from the main heat exchanger or a system of separation columns. The disclosure also discusses integration of the subcoolers with the main heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederic Judas
  • Publication number: 20090107177
    Abstract: The process and the device serve for low temperature air fractionation in a distillation column system for obtaining nitrogen which has a single column (12). Feed air (8) is cooled in a main heat exchanger (9) and introduced (11, 43) into the single column (12). The single column (12) has a top condenser (13) in which vapour from the upper region of the single column is at least in part condensed. A nitrogen product stream (15, 16, 17) is withdrawn from the upper region of the single column (12). A first residual fraction (14, 19) is withdrawn in the liquid state from the single column (12), at least in part vaporized in the top condenser (13) and subsequently taken off from the top condenser as vaporized first residual fraction (19). A first part (20) of the vaporized first residual fraction (19) is expanded in a work-producing manner in an expansion machine (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventor: Stefan Lochner
  • Patent number: 7516627
    Abstract: A krypton-xenon concentrate is first divided into krypton and xenon fractions in a preliminary rectifying column. Semi-volatile impurities are removed from each fraction, and production krypton and xenon are obtained from the refined fractions in krypton and xenon production columns. A recovered krypton flow is produced in a krypton recovery rectifying column. Reflux is formed in condensers-evaporators of rectification columns of the device in such a way that the formation of a solid phase is excluded. The operation of the rectification columns is initiated by supplying krypton to a contacting space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventor: Mikhail Yurievich Savinov
  • Publication number: 20090078000
    Abstract: Method and apparatus of separating a nitrogen from a compressed and purified feed stream in a cryogenic rectification plant that employs a distillation column to produce a nitrogen-rich vapor as a column overhead and an oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms. Reflux is generated for the column by condensing part of the nitrogen-rich vapor within a down-flow heat exchanger. A stream of the oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms is introduced into an ejector which draws a stream of an oxygen-rich liquid phase produced from the outlet of a down-flow heat exchanger. The combined oxygen-rich liquid exiting the ejector is fed to the down-flow heat exchanger to condense the nitrogen-rich vapor. In such manner, part of the oxygen-rich liquid phase is recirculated to prevent dry-out of the down-flow heat exchanger outlet and to maintain effective condensation of the nitrogen-rich vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Martin L. Timm
  • Patent number: 7501009
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high purity argon by combined cryogenic distillation and adsorption technologies is disclosed. Crude argon from a distillation column or a so-called argon column is passed to a system of adsorption vessels for further purification. Depressurization gas from adsorption is introduced back, in a controlled manner, to the distillation column and/or a compressor or other means for increasing pressure. Particulate filtration and getter purification may optionally be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ross Graham, Justin David Bukowski, Jung Soo Choe, Donn Michael Herron, Sang Kook Lee
  • Publication number: 20080289361
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating a liquid bath of oxygen. A liquid bath of at least 70 mol % of oxygen is located at the base of a cryogenic distillation column. The bath is continuously boiled by an aluminum reboiler. A portion of the liquid bath is purged to prevent a build up of inflammable impurities in the bath. A portion of the purge is sent to a second reboiler, which is less inflammable than the first reboiler. Oxygen boiled by the second reboiler is sent back to the column, and a portion of the oxygen rich liquid bath treated by the second reboiler is also purged. The invention also relates to an apparatus of carrying out this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme A Directoire Et Conseil De Surveillance Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploita
    Inventors: Jean-Yves LEHMAN, Bernard SAULNIER
  • Patent number: 7444834
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the provision of gas under pressure, by vaporisation of a cryogenic liquid from at least two cryogenic separation devices (A, B, C, D). Each device comprises a heat exchanger (1) and a system of columns (2, 3). In a first mode of operation, a cryogenic liquid is withdrawn from the columns in each cryogenic separation device, at least a part of which is pressurised (7, 8) to give a pressurised cryogenic liquid (9) and at least a part of the cryogenic liquid under pressure is vaporised in the heat exchanger (1) to give a part of gas under pressure (10). A cryogenic liquid is sent (6) from the cryogenic separation device to a common store (12) and at least one liquid (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) coming from the store is vaporised in the exchange line (1) in at least one of the cryogenic separation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Emmanuel Garnier, Frédéric Staine
  • Publication number: 20080264101
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing nitrogen by which product nitrogen can be efficiently supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Irisawa, Toshiyuki Nojima, Takashi Tafsumi
  • Patent number: 7409835
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a gas production system to efficiently maintain a pressure of a gaseous output stream within a tight pressure range when the system changes normal operation to backup operation. In one preferred embodiment, during normal operation a backup vaporizer is kept in cold standby by directing a small portion of a liquefied gas stream away from the main heat exchanger to the backup vaporizer. In this way, the backup vaporizer is able to respond immediately to a shutdown of the main gas production system. During normal operation, the output of the backup vaporizer is recombined with the gaseous output stream to any avoid loss of product thereby increasing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Briglia, Didier Miniscloux
  • Publication number: 20080141715
    Abstract: A system and method for sterilizing a cryogen is provided. In the disclosed embodiment a liquid cryogen is first vaporized and subsequently compressed prior to undergoing sterilization using biological filters. The compressed, sterilized cryogen vapor is then pre-cooled, preferably with the cryogen being vaporized, to produce a partially condensed, cool, sterile cryogen stream and then further condensed using the liquid cryogen to produce a sterilized liquid cryogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan Chakravarthy, Amitabh Gupta, Alan T.Y. Cheng
  • Patent number: 7272955
    Abstract: An integrated cooling apparatus and process which includes a source of compressed gas; a cooling unit for cooling the compressed gas to form cooled compressed gas by heat exchange with water having a first purity, thereby producing a stream of cooled compressed gas and a stream of warmed water having the first purity; a first heat exchanger for warming a stream of water having a second purity, the second purity being lower than the first purity, by indirect heat exchange with a stream of water having the first purity; and a conduit for sending cooled water having the first purity to the cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillanc pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Philippe Fert
  • Patent number: 7263859
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for cooling a compressed gas stream which utilizes one or more elongated vessels having a substantially vertical orientation. Each vessel has one compartment for indirect heat exchange between the compressed gas stream and a cooling stream and a second compartment for direct contact between the compressed gas stream and a liquid stream. The two compartments are separated by a barrier, which allows for upward passage of air, but prevents the downward passage of liquid. The design permits one to use the heat present in the compressed air efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Patrick Le Bot
  • Patent number: 7228715
    Abstract: A low temperature air separation process and apparatus for producing pressurized gaseous product in an air separation unit using a system of distillation columns which include cooling a compressed air stream in a heat exchange line to form a compressed cooled air stream, sending at least part of the compressed, cooled air stream to a column of the system, liquefying a process stream to form a first liquid product, storing at least part of the first liquid product in a storage tank, sending at least part of the above first liquid product from the storage tank to the air separation unit as one of the feeds, extracting at least one second liquid product stream from a column of the column system and pressurizing the at least one second liquid product stream, vaporizing the above pressurized second liquid product stream to form pressurized gaseous product in the heat exchange line and extracting a cold gas without warming it completely in the heat exchange line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Renaud Brugerolle, Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 6871513
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventor: Alain Guillard
  • Patent number: 6848269
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Higginbotham, Kelvin Graham Hayes, Declan Patrick O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20040261453
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Alain Guillard, Richard Dubettier
  • Patent number: 6829907
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Higginbotham, Kelvin Graham Hayes, Declan Patrick O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20040168468
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method which consists in: intake (through 18) of air into said separation unit (16); extracting from said separation unit at least a gas stream (through 20, 26), essentially consisting of an air gas, in particular oxygen or nitrogen, and in directing the or each gas stream towards a combustion chamber (8) of the gas turbine (2); controlling at least one parameter related to the or each gas stream, by acting on a compressor (22, 28) of said gas stream arranged downstream of said air separating unit (16); assigning to the or each parameter a variable setpoint value, based on a value representing the load of the gas turbine (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Peyron
  • Publication number: 20040112085
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Paul Higginbotham, Kelvin Graham Hayes, Declan Patrick O'Connor