EP0588690B1 - Cryogenic treatment installation, particularly for the distillation of air - Google Patents

Cryogenic treatment installation, particularly for the distillation of air Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0588690B1
EP0588690B1 EP93402179A EP93402179A EP0588690B1 EP 0588690 B1 EP0588690 B1 EP 0588690B1 EP 93402179 A EP93402179 A EP 93402179A EP 93402179 A EP93402179 A EP 93402179A EP 0588690 B1 EP0588690 B1 EP 0588690B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
column
principal
plant according
cold
under vacuum
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP93402179A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0588690A1 (en
Inventor
Maurice Grenier
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Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Original Assignee
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04642—Recovering noble gases from air
    • F25J3/04648—Recovering noble gases from air argon
    • F25J3/04654—Producing crude argon in a crude argon column
    • F25J3/04666—Producing crude argon in a crude argon column as a parallel working rectification column of the low pressure column in a dual pressure main column system
    • F25J3/04672—Producing crude argon in a crude argon column as a parallel working rectification column of the low pressure column in a dual pressure main column system having a top condenser
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/001—Thermal insulation specially adapted for cryogenic vessels
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04078—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression
    • F25J3/04084—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression of nitrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04078—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression
    • F25J3/0409—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression of oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04151—Purification and (pre-)cooling of the feed air; recuperative heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04187—Cooling of the purified feed air by recuperative heat-exchange; Heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04236—Integration of different exchangers in a single core, so-called integrated cores
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04284—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams
    • F25J3/0429—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of feed air, e.g. used as waste or product air or expanded into an auxiliary column
    • F25J3/04296—Claude expansion, i.e. expanded into the main or high pressure column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04284—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams
    • F25J3/0429—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of feed air, e.g. used as waste or product air or expanded into an auxiliary column
    • F25J3/04303—Lachmann expansion, i.e. expanded into oxygen producing or low pressure column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04375—Details relating to the work expansion, e.g. process parameter etc.
    • F25J3/04393—Details relating to the work expansion, e.g. process parameter etc. using multiple or multistage gas work expansion
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04406—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system
    • F25J3/04412—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system in a classical double column flowsheet, i.e. with thermal coupling by a main reboiler-condenser in the bottom of low pressure respectively top of high pressure column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/0489—Modularity and arrangement of parts of the air fractionation unit, in particular of the cold box, e.g. pre-fabrication, assembling and erection, dimensions, horizontal layout "plot"
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/04945—Details of internal structure; insulation and housing of the cold box
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/011—Oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/014—Nitrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/01—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2225/0146—Two-phase
    • F17C2225/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F17C2225/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/03—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2225/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
    • F17C2227/0128—Propulsion of the fluid with pumps or compressors
    • F17C2227/0135—Pumps
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0337—Heat exchange with the fluid by cooling
    • F17C2227/0358—Heat exchange with the fluid by cooling by expansion
    • F17C2227/0362—Heat exchange with the fluid by cooling by expansion in a turbine
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
    • F17C2260/03—Dealing with losses
    • F17C2260/031—Dealing with losses due to heat transfer
    • F17C2260/033—Dealing with losses due to heat transfer by enhancing insulation
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/902—Apparatus
    • Y10S62/905—Column
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/902—Apparatus
    • Y10S62/905—Column
    • Y10S62/907—Insulation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cryogenic treatment installation, in particular for air distillation, of the type comprising a cryogenic treatment column and a heat exchange line for cooling at least one fluid to be treated before its introduction into the column.
  • the main cold box contains a solid insulator surrounding the column and the heat exchange line (see "Tieftemperatur-technik, 1985, pages 490 to 495).
  • vacuum insulation has been limited to small installations, that is to say treating an air flow of the order of a few thousand m 3 / h, and in particular to those which are kept cold by injection into the column of a relatively expensive cryogenic liquid of external origin (so-called "bottle-fed” installations).
  • FR-A-1 295 048 describes an installation in which the exchange line and the column are each insulated by two types of insulation, namely, insulation with solid insulation and vacuum insulation.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a thermal insulation technique for cryogenic treatment installations whose performance is close to vacuum insulation of the entire installation despite a clearly reduced cost, and which can be implemented. works on relatively large installations while allowing convenient transportation.
  • the subject of the invention is an installation for cryogenic air treatment of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the column is isolated only by a single envelope under main vacuum, while the heat exchange line is isolated only by a main cold box at atmospheric pressure containing a solid insulator, in particular particulate.
  • the installation shown in the drawing is intended to produce mainly gaseous oxygen under high pressure, gaseous nitrogen under high pressure and nitrogen gas under low pressure. It essentially consists of a double distillation column 1, a heat exchange line 2 and various accessories.
  • the pumps are connected to a hot element, namely their electric drive motor.
  • the turbines and the pumps can therefore be mounted on the edge of the cold box 19, possibly in special boxes insulated with perlite and attached to this cold box.
  • the double column 1 is of the so-called "minaret" type, that is to say that the low pressure production nitrogen comes from the top of the low pressure column 1A.
  • the high pressure oxygen and the high pressure nitrogen are both obtained by pumping, respectively, liquid oxygen withdrawn from the tank of column 1A and medium pressure liquid nitrogen withdrawn at the head of the medium pressure column 1B, and vaporization in the exchange line 2 of the liquids thus compressed.
  • the air circulates in the exchange line 2 under three different pressures: part of the air is at the discharge pressure of the compressor 3; a second part of the air, supercharged at 5, is at a high pressure higher than this discharge pressure; and a third part of the air, taken between the two turbines 11 and 12, is at the medium pressure of column 1B.
  • the air from the turbine 12 is blown at low pressure into the column 1A.
  • the installation also produces liquid oxygen via a line 13 and liquid nitrogen via a line 14.
  • This insulation consists of two parts of different natures: on the one hand, a cylindrical vacuum envelope 15 which surrounds the double column 1, and on the other hand means 16 of insulation under atmospheric pressure, using a particulate insulating material which is preferably perlite.
  • the envelope 15 has a certain number of inputs / outputs 17 for all of the pipes supplying the double column and leaving from it (twelve in number in the example shown) and contains only the double column and the sections pipe 18 connecting it to the corresponding inputs / outputs.
  • the insulation means 16 consist of two cold boxes filled with perlite at atmospheric pressure: a main cold box 19 containing the exchange line 2 and all of the cold accessories, namely the valves 8, the pumps 9 and 10 and the turbines 11 and 12, and a cold connection box 20 which contains all the pipe sections 21 connecting the cold box 19 to the inlets / outlets of the vacuum envelope 15.
  • the vacuum envelope can have a diameter closely adapted to the outside diameter of the double column, which can be of constant diameter over its entire height, which makes it possible to produce a double column 1-envelope 15 assembly which is conveniently transportable for large column diameters, corresponding to oxygen productions of up to approximately 1,000 tonnes / day.
  • this solution is also very advantageous, although it is much less costly than vacuum insulation enclosing the entire installation.
  • 75 to 85% of the heat losses are borne by the double column and, in the heat exchange line, the losses are concentrated in the coldest part.
  • the insulation performance of the 15-16 assembly is around 90% of that obtained with vacuum insulation of the entire installation.
  • the set of cold accessories 8 to 11 can be mounted in an auxiliary cold box filled with perlite, at atmospheric pressure, attached to the main cold box 19 for the connection of the accessories. It is possible to provide in this auxiliary box spaces without perlite receiving the hot accessories, including the installation control cabinet, or mount these against the auxiliary box, so as to constitute a service module containing all the accessories.
  • the double column can be completed by an impure argon production column coupled to the low pressure column 1A, in which case this additional column can either be housed in the casing 15, or be arranged in a vacuum casing auxiliary attached to the casing 15 and connected to the latter by a cold connection box similar to the cold box 20 and intended for the passage of the pipes necessary for the operation of the column for producing impure argon.
  • the invention also applies to other types of installation comprising a cryogenic treatment column and a heat exchange line used to cool the fluid or fluids treated in this column, for example washing installations of a gas with liquid nitrogen.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
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  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)

Abstract

In this installation, the treatment column (1) is insulated by a vacuum casing (15), while the heat exchange line (3) is insulated by a cold box (19) at atmospheric pressure containing a solid insulant, in particular in particle form. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention est relative à une installation de traitement cryogénique, notamment de distillation d'air, du type comprenant une colonne de traitement cryogénique et une ligne d'échange thermique pour refroidir au moins un fluide à traiter avant son introduction dans la colonne.The present invention relates to a cryogenic treatment installation, in particular for air distillation, of the type comprising a cryogenic treatment column and a heat exchange line for cooling at least one fluid to be treated before its introduction into the column.

Le fonctionnement à très basse température des installations de distillation d'air nécessite d'en isoler thermiquement les parties froides, qui sont essentiellement la ligne d'échange thermique, la colonne de distillation et les divers accessoires "froids" tels que les vannes et éventuellement des pompes d'oxygène liquide ou d'azote liquide et/ou des turbines de détente.Operation at very low temperature of air distillation installations requires thermally insulating the cold parts, which are essentially the heat exchange line, the distillation column and the various "cold" accessories such as valves and possibly liquid oxygen or liquid nitrogen pumps and / or expansion turbines.

Classiquement, la boîte froide principale contient un isolant solide entourant la colonne et la ligne d'échange thermique (voir "Tieftemperatur-technik, 1985, pages 490 à 495).Conventionally, the main cold box contains a solid insulator surrounding the column and the heat exchange line (see "Tieftemperatur-technik, 1985, pages 490 to 495).

Actuellement, l'isolation sous vide de l'ensemble de l'installation est de loin la technique la plus performante. Malheureusement, son coût est élevé et ses possibilités d'utilisation sont limitées, notamment pour les raisons suivantes.

  • (1) Pour des raisons d'accessibilité, l'ensemble des accessoires froids précités doivent être placés en dehors de l'enveloppe sous vide, ce qui oblige à prévoir de nombreuses entrées/sorties de conduites sur cette enveloppe.
  • (2) Une enveloppe sous vide, par définition cylindrique, s'adapte mal à l'implantation en son sein d'une colonne de distillation, souvent de grande hauteur, et d'un ou plusieurs échangeurs de chaleur parallélépipédiques du type à plaques brasées. Il en résulte une limitation des tailles d'installations dont l'enveloppe est transportable aisément.
Currently, vacuum insulation of the entire installation is by far the most efficient technique. Unfortunately, its cost is high and its possibilities of use are limited, in particular for the following reasons.
  • (1) For accessibility reasons, all of the aforementioned cold accessories must be placed outside the vacuum envelope, which means that there must be numerous inlets / outlets of pipes on this envelope.
  • (2) A vacuum envelope, by definition cylindrical, is ill suited to the installation within it of a distillation column, often of great height, and of one or more parallelepipedic heat exchangers of the brazed plate type. . This results in a limitation of the sizes of installations whose envelope is easily transportable.

Pour ces raisons, l'isolation sous vide a été limitée aux installations de petites tailles, c'est-à-dire traitant un débit d'air de l'ordre de quelques milliers de m3/h, et notamment à celles qui sont maintenues en froid par injection dans la colonne d'un liquide cryogénique d'origine extérieure, relativement coûteux (installations dites "biberonnées").For these reasons, vacuum insulation has been limited to small installations, that is to say treating an air flow of the order of a few thousand m 3 / h, and in particular to those which are kept cold by injection into the column of a relatively expensive cryogenic liquid of external origin (so-called "bottle-fed" installations).

Il est connu de EP-A-0.538.857A, un état de la technique selon l'article 54 (3) CBE, d'isoler une colonne de distillation à l'intérieur d'une double enveloppe d'isolation, avec un bain de liquide entourant la colonne. Cette disposition est compliquée à fabriquer et donc coûteuse.It is known from EP-A-0.538.857A, a state of the art according to article 54 (3) EPC, to isolate a distillation column inside a double insulation jacket, with a bath of liquid surrounding the column. This arrangement is complicated to manufacture and therefore expensive.

FR-A-1 295 048 décrit une installation dans laquelle la ligne d'échange et la colonne sont chacune isolée par deux types d'isolation, à savoir, une isolation avec un isolant solide et une isolation sous vide.FR-A-1 295 048 describes an installation in which the exchange line and the column are each insulated by two types of insulation, namely, insulation with solid insulation and vacuum insulation.

L'invention a pour but de fournir une technique d'isolation thermique des installations de traitement cryogénique dont les performances soient voisines de l'isolation sous vide de l'ensemble de l'installation malgré un coût nettement réduit, et qui puisse être mise en oeuvre sur des installations de taille relativement grande tout en en permettant un transport commode.The object of the invention is to provide a thermal insulation technique for cryogenic treatment installations whose performance is close to vacuum insulation of the entire installation despite a clearly reduced cost, and which can be implemented. works on relatively large installations while allowing convenient transportation.

A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet une installation de traitement cryogénique d'air du type précité, caractérisée en ce que la colonne est isolée uniquement par une seule enveloppe sous vide principale, tandis que la ligne d'échange thermique est isolée uniquement par une boîte froide principale à la pression atmosphérique contenant un isolant solide, notamment particulaire.To this end, the subject of the invention is an installation for cryogenic air treatment of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the column is isolated only by a single envelope under main vacuum, while the heat exchange line is isolated only by a main cold box at atmospheric pressure containing a solid insulator, in particular particulate.

Suivant des modes de réalisation de l'invention

  • l'ensemble des accessoires froids de l'installation, tels que les vannes et éventuellement les pompes et/ou les turbines de détente, sont isolés à la pression atmosphérique au moyen d'un isolant solide, notamment particulaire;
  • l'ensemble desdits accessoires froids sont regroupés dans une boîte froide auxiliaire accolée à la boîte froide principale;
  • la boîte froide auxiliaire est également équipée des accessoires chauds de l'installation, de façon à constituer un module de service;
  • l'installation comprend une boîte froide de liaison thermiquement isolée qui contient l'ensemble des conduites reliant la boîte froide principale à l'enveloppe sous vide principale;
  • la boîte froide de liaison est à la pression atmosphérique et contient un isolant solide, notamment particulaire;
  • l'installation, destinée à la distillation d'air, comprend une double colonne de distillation d'air dans l'enveloppe sous vide principale, et une colonne de production d'argon impur isolée sous vide;
  • la colonne de production d'argon impur est contenue dans une enveloppe sous vide auxiliaire reliée à l'enveloppe sous vide principale;
  • la colonne de production d'argon impur est logée dans l'enveloppe sous vide principale;
  • la colonne de distillation d'air, notamment constituée par une double colonne de distillation, présente un diamètre extérieur constant sur toute sa hauteur.
According to embodiments of the invention
  • all the cold accessories of the installation, such as the valves and possibly the pumps and / or the expansion turbines, are insulated at atmospheric pressure by means of a solid insulator, in particular particulate;
  • all of said cold accessories are grouped in an auxiliary cold box attached to the main cold box;
  • the auxiliary cold box is also equipped with the hot accessories of the installation, so as to constitute a service module;
  • the installation includes a thermally insulated connecting cold box which contains all of the pipes connecting the main cold box to the main vacuum enclosure;
  • the cold connection box is at atmospheric pressure and contains a solid insulator, in particular particulate;
  • the installation, intended for air distillation, comprises a double column of air distillation in the main vacuum envelope, and a column for producing impure argon isolated under vacuum;
  • the impure argon production column is contained in an auxiliary vacuum envelope connected to the main vacuum envelope;
  • the impure argon production column is housed in the main vacuum envelope;
  • the air distillation column, in particular constituted by a double distillation column, has a constant outside diameter over its entire height.

Un exemple de réalisation de l'invention va maintenant être décrit en regard du dessin annexé, dont la Figure unique représente schématiquement une installation de distillation d'air conforme à l'invention.An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which schematically represents an air distillation installation according to the invention.

L'installation représentée au dessin est destinée à produire principalement de l'oxygène gazeux sous haute pression, de l'azote gazeux sous haute pression et de l'azote gazeux sous basse pression. Elle est constituée essentiellement d'une double colonne de distillation 1, d'une ligne d'échange thermique 2 et de divers accessoires.The installation shown in the drawing is intended to produce mainly gaseous oxygen under high pressure, gaseous nitrogen under high pressure and nitrogen gas under low pressure. It essentially consists of a double distillation column 1, a heat exchange line 2 and various accessories.

Ces accessoires sont répartis en deux catégories :

  • d'une part, des accessoires "chauds" fonctionnant à la température ambiante ou au-dessus, à savoir un compresseur d'air 3, un appareil 4 d'épuration d'air en eau et en CO2 par adsorption, régénéré par le gaz résiduaire W de la double colonne (azote impur), une soufflante 5 de surpression d'une partie de l'air épuré, le réfrigérant à eau 6 de cette soufflante, et un alternateur-frein 7;
  • d'autre part, des accessoires "froids", c'est-à-dire fonctionnant très au-dessous de la température ambiante : de nombreuses vannes 8, dont certaines sont des vannes d'arrêt ou de réglage et d'autres sont des vannes de détente; une pompe d'oxygène liquide 9; une pompe d'azote liquide 10; et deux turbines 11, 12 en série dont la première est couplée à la soufflante 5 tandis que la seconde est freinée par l'alternateur 7.
These accessories are divided into two categories:
  • on the one hand, "hot" accessories operating at room temperature or above, namely an air compressor 3, an apparatus 4 for purifying air in water and CO2 by adsorption, regenerated by gas residual W of the double column (impure nitrogen), a blower 5 for overpressure of part of the purified air, the water cooler 6 of this fan, and a brake alternator 7;
  • on the other hand, "cold" accessories, that is to say functioning very below ambient temperature: numerous valves 8, some of which are stop or adjustment valves and others are expansion valves; a liquid oxygen pump 9; a liquid nitrogen pump 10; and two turbines 11, 12 in series, the first of which is coupled to the fan 5 while the second is braked by the alternator 7.

Il faut noter toutefois que, de même que les turbines, les pompes sont reliées à un élément chaud, à savoir leur moteur électrique d'entraînement. Les turbines et les pompes peuvent donc être montées en bordure de la boîte froide 19, éventuellement dans des caissons particuliers isolés par de la perlite et accolés à cette boîte froide.It should be noted, however, that, like the turbines, the pumps are connected to a hot element, namely their electric drive motor. The turbines and the pumps can therefore be mounted on the edge of the cold box 19, possibly in special boxes insulated with perlite and attached to this cold box.

On ne décrira pas en détail le fonctionnement de l'installation, qui est connue en soi hormis ses moyens d'isolation thermique. On indiquera seulement ci-dessous certaines caractéristiques de l'installation.The operation of the installation, which is known per se, will not be described in detail apart from its thermal insulation means. Only certain characteristics of the installation will be indicated below.

La double colonne 1 est du type dit "à minaret", c'est-à-dire que l'azote basse pression de production provient du sommet de la colonne basse pression 1A. L'oxygène haute pression et l'azote haute pression sont tous deux obtenus par pompage, respectivement d'oxygène liquide soutiré en cuve de la colonne 1A et d'azote liquide moyenne pression soutiré en tête de la colonne moyenne pression 1B, et vaporisation dans la ligne d'échange 2 des liquides ainsi comprimés.The double column 1 is of the so-called "minaret" type, that is to say that the low pressure production nitrogen comes from the top of the low pressure column 1A. The high pressure oxygen and the high pressure nitrogen are both obtained by pumping, respectively, liquid oxygen withdrawn from the tank of column 1A and medium pressure liquid nitrogen withdrawn at the head of the medium pressure column 1B, and vaporization in the exchange line 2 of the liquids thus compressed.

Pour obtenir cette vaporisation, l'air circule dans la ligne d'échange 2 sous trois pressions différentes : une partie de l'air se trouve à la pression de refoulement du compresseur 3; une seconde partie de l'air, surpressé en 5, se trouve à une haute pression supérieure à cette pression de refoulement; et une troisième partie de l'air, prélevée entre les deux turbines 11 et 12, se trouve à la moyenne pression de la colonne 1B. De plus, l'air issu de la turbine 12 est insufflé en basse pression dans la colonne 1A.To obtain this vaporization, the air circulates in the exchange line 2 under three different pressures: part of the air is at the discharge pressure of the compressor 3; a second part of the air, supercharged at 5, is at a high pressure higher than this discharge pressure; and a third part of the air, taken between the two turbines 11 and 12, is at the medium pressure of column 1B. In addition, the air from the turbine 12 is blown at low pressure into the column 1A.

L'installation produit également de l'oxygène liquide via une conduite 13 et de l'azote liquide via une conduite 14.The installation also produces liquid oxygen via a line 13 and liquid nitrogen via a line 14.

On décrira maintenant l'isolation thermique de l'installation.We will now describe the thermal insulation of the installation.

Cette isolation est constituée de deux parties de natures différentes : d'une part, une enveloppe sous vide cylindrique 15 qui entoure la double colonne 1, et d'autre part des moyens 16 d'isolation sous la pression atmosphérique, utilisant un matériau isolant particulaire qui est de préférence la perlite.This insulation consists of two parts of different natures: on the one hand, a cylindrical vacuum envelope 15 which surrounds the double column 1, and on the other hand means 16 of insulation under atmospheric pressure, using a particulate insulating material which is preferably perlite.

L'enveloppe 15 comporte un certain nombre d'entrées/sorties 17 pour l'ensemble des conduites alimentant la double colonne et partant de celle-ci (au nombre de douze dans l'exemple représenté) et contient uniquement la double colonne et les tronçons de conduite 18 reliant celle-ci aux entrées/sorties correspondantes.The envelope 15 has a certain number of inputs / outputs 17 for all of the pipes supplying the double column and leaving from it (twelve in number in the example shown) and contains only the double column and the sections pipe 18 connecting it to the corresponding inputs / outputs.

Les moyens d'isolation 16 sont constitués de deux boîtes froides emplies de perlite à la pression atmosphérique : une boîte froide principale 19 contenant la ligne d'échange 2 et l'ensemble des accessoires froids, à savoir les vannes 8, les pompes 9 et 10 et les turbines 11 et 12, et une boîte froide de liaison 20 qui contient tous les tronçons de conduite 21 reliant la boîte froide 19 aux entrées/sorties de l'enveloppe sous vide 15.The insulation means 16 consist of two cold boxes filled with perlite at atmospheric pressure: a main cold box 19 containing the exchange line 2 and all of the cold accessories, namely the valves 8, the pumps 9 and 10 and the turbines 11 and 12, and a cold connection box 20 which contains all the pipe sections 21 connecting the cold box 19 to the inlets / outlets of the vacuum envelope 15.

Grâce à ce mode d'isolation, l'enveloppe sous vide peut avoir un diamètre étroitement adapté au diamètre extérieur de la double colonne, laquelle peut être de diamètre constant sur toute sa hauteur, ce qui permet de réaliser un ensemble double colonne 1-enveloppe 15 commodément transportable pour des diamètres de colonne importants, correspondant à des productions d'oxygène pouvant aller jusqu'à 1 000 tonnes/jour environ.Thanks to this mode of insulation, the vacuum envelope can have a diameter closely adapted to the outside diameter of the double column, which can be of constant diameter over its entire height, which makes it possible to produce a double column 1-envelope 15 assembly which is conveniently transportable for large column diameters, corresponding to oxygen productions of up to approximately 1,000 tonnes / day.

De plus, tous les accessoires froids 8 à 12 sont facilement accessibles puisqu'ils sont constamment à la pression atmosphérique.In addition, all cold accessories 8 to 12 are easily accessible since they are constantly at atmospheric pressure.

Du point de vue énergétique, cette solution est également très avantageuse, bien qu'elle soit beaucoup moins coûteuse qu'une isolation sous vide renfermant l'ensemble de l'installation. En effet, dans une installation de distillation d'air, 75 à 85% des pertes thermiques sont supportées par la double colonne et, dans la ligne d'échange thermique, les pertes sont concentrées dans la partie la plus froide. Au total, les performances d'isolation de l'ensemble 15-16 sont de l'ordre de 90% de celles obtenues avec une isolation sous vide de l'ensemble de l'installation.From an energy point of view, this solution is also very advantageous, although it is much less costly than vacuum insulation enclosing the entire installation. In fact, in an air distillation installation, 75 to 85% of the heat losses are borne by the double column and, in the heat exchange line, the losses are concentrated in the coldest part. In total, the insulation performance of the 15-16 assembly is around 90% of that obtained with vacuum insulation of the entire installation.

En variante, l'ensemble des accessoires froids 8 à 11 peut être monté dans une boîte froide auxiliaire emplie de perlite, à la pression atmosphérique, accolée à la boîte froide principale 19 pour le raccordement des accessoires. On peut prévoir dans cette boîte auxiliaire des espaces sans perlite recevant les accessoire chauds, y compris l'armoire de commande de l'installation, ou monter ces derniers contre la boîte auxiliaire, de manière à constituer un module de service contenant tous les accessoires.As a variant, the set of cold accessories 8 to 11 can be mounted in an auxiliary cold box filled with perlite, at atmospheric pressure, attached to the main cold box 19 for the connection of the accessories. It is possible to provide in this auxiliary box spaces without perlite receiving the hot accessories, including the installation control cabinet, or mount these against the auxiliary box, so as to constitute a service module containing all the accessories.

En variante également, la double colonne peut être complétée par une colonne de production d'argon impur couplée à la colonne basse pression 1A, auquel cas cette colonne supplémentaire peut soit être logée dans l'enveloppe 15, soit être disposée dans une enveloppe sous vide auxiliaire accolée à l'enveloppe 15 et reliée à celle-ci par une boîte froide de liaison analogue à la boîte froide 20 et destinée au passage des conduites nécessaires au fonctionnement de la colonne de production d'argon impur.Alternatively also, the double column can be completed by an impure argon production column coupled to the low pressure column 1A, in which case this additional column can either be housed in the casing 15, or be arranged in a vacuum casing auxiliary attached to the casing 15 and connected to the latter by a cold connection box similar to the cold box 20 and intended for the passage of the pipes necessary for the operation of the column for producing impure argon.

On comprend que l'invention s'applique également à d'autres types d'installations comportant une colonne de traitement cryogénique et un ligne d'échange thermique servant à refroidir le ou les fluides traités dans cette colonne, par exemple à des installations de lavage d'un gaz à l'azote liquide.It is understood that the invention also applies to other types of installation comprising a cryogenic treatment column and a heat exchange line used to cool the fluid or fluids treated in this column, for example washing installations of a gas with liquid nitrogen.

Claims (10)

  1. Cryogenic treatment plant, in particular for air distillation, of the type comprising a cryogenic treatment column (1) and a heat exchange line (2) for cooling at least one fluid to be treated before its introduction into the column, characterized in that the column (1) is insulated solely by a single principal envelope under vacuum (15), whereas the heat exchange line (2) is solely insulated by a principal cold box (19) at atmospheric pressure, containing a solid insulant, notably particulate.
  2. Plant according to claim 1, characterized in that all the cold accessories of the plant, such as valves (8) and possibly pumps (9, 10) and/or expansion turbines (11, 12) are insulated at atmospheric pressure by means of a solid insulant, notably a particulate insulant.
  3. Plant according to claim 2, characterized in that all the said cold accessories (8 to 12) are grouped together in an auxiliary cold box coupled to the principal cold box (19).
  4. Plant according to claim 3, characterized in that the auxiliary cold box is also equipped with the warm accessories of the plant, so as to constitute a service module.
  5. Plant according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a thermally insulated connecting cold box (20) which contains all the pipes (21) connecting the principal cold box (19) to the principal envelope under vacuum (15).
  6. Plant according to claim 5, characterized in that cold connecting box (20) is at atmospheric pressure and contains a solid insulant, notably particulate.
  7. Plant according to any one of claims 1 to 6, designed for air distillation, characterized in that it comprises a double air distillation column (1) in the principal envelope under vacuum (15) and a column for producing impure argon insulated under vacuum.
  8. Plant according to claim 7, characterized in that the column for producing impure argon is contained in an auxiliary envelope under vacuum connected to the principal envelope under vacuum (15).
  9. Plant according to claim 7, characterized in that the column for producing impure argon is housed in the principal envelope under vacuum (15).
  10. Plant according to any one of claims 1 to 9, designed for air distillation, characterized in that the distillation column (1), in particular consisting of a double distillation column, has an external diameter which is constant over all its height.
EP93402179A 1992-09-16 1993-09-08 Cryogenic treatment installation, particularly for the distillation of air Expired - Lifetime EP0588690B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9211051 1992-09-16
FR9211051A FR2695714B1 (en) 1992-09-16 1992-09-16 Installation of cryogenic treatment, in particular of air distillation.

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EP0588690A1 EP0588690A1 (en) 1994-03-23
EP0588690B1 true EP0588690B1 (en) 1997-05-28

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EP (1) EP0588690B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3436394B2 (en)
CN (1) CN1072351C (en)
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CZ (1) CZ283688B6 (en)
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FR (1) FR2695714B1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2106106A1 (en) 1994-03-17
EP0588690A1 (en) 1994-03-23
CZ192293A3 (en) 1994-06-15
JP3436394B2 (en) 2003-08-11
CZ283688B6 (en) 1998-06-17
FR2695714A1 (en) 1994-03-18
JPH06194035A (en) 1994-07-15
CN1072351C (en) 2001-10-03
CN1085312A (en) 1994-04-13
US5412954A (en) 1995-05-09
DE69311040T2 (en) 1997-12-11
FR2695714B1 (en) 1994-10-28
DE69311040D1 (en) 1997-07-03

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