Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of enriching a heavy oxygen isotope by distillation of the present invention includes: a first distillation step of feeding oxygen and ozone generated by an ozonizer 12 into a distillation column 13 filled with a diluent gas, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas; a photodecomposition step of introducing a mixed gas of the ozone and the diluent gas from a bottom of the distillation column into a photoreaction cell 14, and irradiating the mixed gas with a laser light to selectively decompose the ozone containing the heavy oxygen isotope; and a second distillation step of returning non-decomposed ozone and oxygen containing the heavy oxygen isotope to the distillation column, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Air is distilled in a single column installed on a boat, and from here an oxygen-enriched liquid flow is drawn off. This flow is pressurized by a pump and vaporized by heat exchange with air or nitrogen. The oxygen is used for the partial oxidation of a flow contained hydrocarbons, for example natural gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing nitrogen within a nitrogen generator in which coolant streams composed of column bottoms and liquid having a nitrogen content greater than column bottoms are withdrawn from the column and then used to condense tower overhead for reflux purposes. The liquid composed of the oxygen-rich liquid after vaporization is expanded in a turboexpander with a performance of work. The other coolant stream is recompressed, cooled and then used to produce boil-up in the bottom of the column in order to produce the liquid vapor ratio in the bottom of the column.

Abstract: A single column cryogenic rectification system for producing lower purity oxygen wherein a major portion of the feed air is partially condensed in the column reboiler, the resulting vapor turboexpanded and then successively condensed in one or more vertically oriented stages within the column to enhance the generation of upflow vapor and reflux liquid for the column.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making gaseous oxygen at a delivery pressure in a single column oxygen generator. In accordance with the method and apparatus, a column bottoms stream composed of the product is pumped to the delivery pressure and then vaporized. A liquid coolant stream used in condensing reflux is recompressed by a recycle compressor and then recycled back into the bottom of the column. Such recycled stream has a higher nitrogen content than the column bottoms. Part of the nitrogen tower overhead, not used in forming the reflux, is turbo-expanded by a turbo-expander coupled to the recycle compressor.

Abstract: A method for producing low purity oxygen and high purity oxygen using a cryogenic rectification column wherein feed air is enriched in oxygen in an upstream adsorbent bed system prior to passage into the column and refrigeration is generated by turboexpansion of adsorbent bed effluent or column top vapor.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is divided into first and second streams. The first stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the fractionation tower at a first mid-column feed position. The second stream is expanded to the tower pressure and is then supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position. A recycle stream is withdrawn from the tower overhead after it has been warmed and compressed. The compressed recycle stream is cooled sufficiently to substantially condense it, and is then expanded to the pressure of the distillation column and supplied to the column at a top column feed position.

Abstract: An air separating unit which can jointly produce high purity nitrogen gas and compressed dry air of high quality freed of hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane. The air separating unit is constructed such that compressed dry air freed of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and moisture is cooled down near to its liquefying point and introduced into a rectification column (30) and nitrogen gas separated by rectification from the compressed dry air in this rectification column (30) is taken out as a product. The rectifying portion in the rectification column (30) is divided into a lower rectifying portion (34) and an upper rectifying portion (36), and in this lower rectifying portion (34), hydrocarbons such as methane are mainly removed from the compressed dry air, and the compressed dry air which has passed through the lower rectifying portion (34) is taken out as a product.