EP4396508A2 - Installation et procédé de séparation cryogénique de l'air - Google Patents

Installation et procédé de séparation cryogénique de l'air

Info

Publication number
EP4396508A2
EP4396508A2 EP22765744.2A EP22765744A EP4396508A2 EP 4396508 A2 EP4396508 A2 EP 4396508A2 EP 22765744 A EP22765744 A EP 22765744A EP 4396508 A2 EP4396508 A2 EP 4396508A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
column
low
argon
pressure column
cold box
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP22765744.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Stefan Lochner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Linde GmbH
Original Assignee
Linde GmbH
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Linde GmbH filed Critical Linde GmbH
Publication of EP4396508A2 publication Critical patent/EP4396508A2/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • F25J3/0423—Subcooling of liquid process streams
    • 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
    • F25J3/04333—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using quasi-closed loop internal vapor compression refrigeration cycles, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams
    • F25J3/04351—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using quasi-closed loop internal vapor compression refrigeration cycles, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams 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
    • F25J3/04642—Recovering noble gases from air
    • F25J3/04648—Recovering noble gases from air argon
    • F25J3/04654—Producing crude argon in a crude argon column
    • F25J3/04709—Producing crude argon in a crude argon column as an auxiliary column system in at least a dual pressure main column system
    • F25J3/04715—The auxiliary column system simultaneously produces 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
    • F25J3/04642—Recovering noble gases from air
    • F25J3/04648—Recovering noble gases from air argon
    • F25J3/04721—Producing pure argon, e.g. recovered from a crude argon column
    • F25J3/04727—Producing pure argon, e.g. recovered from a crude argon column using an auxiliary pure argon column for nitrogen rejection
    • 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
    • F25J3/04872—Vertical layout of cold equipments within in the cold box, e.g. columns, heat exchangers etc.
    • 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
    • F25J3/04872—Vertical layout of cold equipments within in the cold box, e.g. columns, heat exchangers etc.
    • F25J3/04878—Side by side arrangement of multiple vessels in a main column system, wherein the vessels are normally mounted one upon the other or forming different sections of the same 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
    • F25J3/04896—Details of columns, e.g. internals, inlet/outlet devices
    • F25J3/04915—Combinations of different material exchange elements, e.g. within different columns
    • 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
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/04—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification in a dual pressure main column system
    • F25J2200/06—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification in a dual pressure main column system in a classical double column flow-sheet, 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
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/34—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification using a side column fed by a stream from the 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
    • F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
    • F25J2215/50—Oxygen or special cases, e.g. isotope-mixtures or low purity O2
    • F25J2215/56—Ultra high purity oxygen, i.e. generally more than 99,9% O2
    • 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
    • F25J2235/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams
    • F25J2235/58—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams the fluid being argon or crude argon
    • 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
    • F25J2245/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams
    • F25J2245/50—Processes or apparatus involving steps for recycling of process streams the recycled stream being 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
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/02—Internal refrigeration with liquid vaporising loop

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a plant and a method for the low-temperature separation of air according to the preambles of the independent patent claims.
  • Air separation plants have rectification column systems which can be designed as two-column systems, in particular as classic Linde double-column systems, but also as three- or multi-column systems.
  • rectification columns for obtaining nitrogen and/or oxygen in the liquid and/or gaseous state ie the rectification columns for nitrogen-oxygen separation, rectification columns for obtaining further air components, in particular argon, can be provided.
  • the rectification columns of the rectification column systems mentioned are operated at different pressure levels.
  • Known double column systems have a so-called high-pressure column (also referred to as a pressure column, medium-pressure column or lower column) and a so-called low-pressure column (also referred to as an upper column).
  • the high-pressure column is typically operated at a pressure in a pressure range from 4 to 14 bar, in particular at about 5.3 bar, or at about 11 bar.
  • the low-pressure column is typically operated at a pressure in a pressure range from 1 to 4 bar, in particular at about 1.4 bar, but also at 3 bara. In certain cases, higher pressures can also be used in the low-pressure column; this can also be operated at 2-4 bara and the pressure column at 9-14 bara.
  • At the specific pressures given here and below these are absolute pressures at the top of the rectification columns specified in each case.
  • Air separation plants with crude and pure argon columns can be used to produce argon.
  • An example is illustrated by Häring (see above) in Figure 2.3A and described from page 26 in the section "Rectification in the Low-pressure, Crude and Pure Argon Column” and from page 29 in the section "Cryogenic Production of Pure Argon”.
  • argon accumulates in appropriate systems at a certain level in the low-pressure column.
  • argon-enriched gas with an argon concentration of typically 5 to 15 mole percent can be drawn off from the low-pressure column and transferred to the crude argon column.
  • a corresponding gas typically contains about 0.05 to 100 ppm nitrogen and otherwise essentially oxygen. It should be expressly emphasized that the values given for the gas drawn off from the low-pressure column only represent typical example values.
  • the primary purpose of the crude argon column is to separate the oxygen from the gas drawn off from the low-pressure column.
  • the oxygen separated off in the crude argon column or a corresponding oxygen-rich fluid can be returned in liquid form to the low-pressure column.
  • the oxygen or the oxygen-rich fluid is typically fed into the low-pressure column several theoretical or practical trays below the feed point for the oxygen-enriched and nitrogen-depleted and possibly at least partially vaporized liquid withdrawn from the high-pressure column.
  • a gaseous fraction remaining in the crude argon column during separation Essentially contains argon and nitrogen is further separated in the pure argon column to obtain pure argon.
  • the crude and pure argon columns have top condensers, which can be cooled in particular with part of the oxygen-enriched and nitrogen-depleted liquid withdrawn from the high-pressure column, which partially evaporates during this cooling. Other fluids can also be used for cooling.
  • argon column can thus be a conventional crude argon column (which is used with or without a pure argon column) or a corresponding crude argon column modified to obtain pure argon.
  • the present invention proposes a system and a method for the low-temperature separation of air with the features of the independent patent claims.
  • Preferred configurations are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the following description.
  • Liquids and gases can be rich or poor in one or more components, with “rich” meaning at least 75%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.9% or 99.99% and “poor” can stand for a content of at most 25%, 10%, 5%, 1%, 0.1% or 0.01% on a mole, weight or volume basis.
  • the term “predominantly” may correspond to the definition of "rich”.
  • Liquids and gases can also be enriched or depleted in one or more components, these terms referring to a content in a starting liquid or a starting gas from which the liquid or gas was obtained.
  • the liquid or the gas is "enriched” if this or this at least 1.1 times, 1.5 times, 2 times, 5 times, 10 times, 100 times or 1,000 times the content, and "depleted” if this or this is at most 0.9 times, 0.5 times, 0.1 times, 0.01 times times or 0.001 times the content of a corresponding component, based on the starting liquid or the starting gas. If, for example, “oxygen”, “nitrogen” or “argon” is mentioned here, this also includes a liquid or a gas that is rich in oxygen or nitrogen, but does not necessarily have to consist exclusively of them. With systems according to embodiments of the present invention, purities in the range of 0.05 ppb oxygen in nitrogen, 0.2 ppb oxygen in argon and 0.2 ppb argon in oxygen can be achieved, for example.
  • pressure range and "temperature range” to characterize pressures and temperatures, which is intended to express the fact that corresponding pressures and temperatures in a corresponding system do not have to be used in the form of exact pressure or temperature values in order to to realize the inventive concept.
  • pressures and temperatures typically range within certain ranges, for example ⁇ 1%, 5% or 10% around an average value.
  • Corresponding pressure ranges and temperature ranges can be in disjunctive ranges or in ranges that overlap one another. In particular, for example, pressure ranges include unavoidable or expected pressure losses. The same applies to temperature ranges.
  • the values specified in bar for the pressure ranges are absolute pressures.
  • a “condenser evaporator” refers to a heat exchanger in which a first, condensing fluid stream enters into indirect heat exchange with a second, evaporating fluid stream.
  • Each condenser evaporator has a condensing space and an evaporating space.
  • Condensation and evaporation chambers have liquefaction and evaporation passages. The condensation (liquefaction) of the first fluid stream is carried out in the liquefaction chamber, and the evaporation of the second fluid stream is carried out in the evaporation chamber.
  • the evaporating and condensing spaces are formed by groups of passages which are in heat exchange relationship with each other.
  • the so-called main condenser is a condenser evaporator via which a high-pressure column and a low-pressure column of a plant for the low-temperature separation of air are coupled to one another in a heat-exchanging manner.
  • the term “supercooling countercurrent flow” is intended here to denote a heat exchanger in which one or more streams of material which are transferred between the rectification columns of a rectification column system of the type used here are supercooled. In countercurrent to this, in particular one or more material streams which are carried out from the rectification column system and the entire plant can be heated.
  • the supercooling counterflow is present in addition to the so-called main heat exchanger, which is characterized in that at least the majority of the air fed to the rectification column system is cooled in it.
  • the air separation plant of the invention can also be designed without a supercooling counterflow.
  • the present invention proposes a plant for the low-temperature separation of air, which has a rectification column system with a high-pressure column, a low-pressure column and an argon column and a cold box system with a first cold box and a second cold box, the low-pressure column being divided at least into a base part and a top part .
  • Orthogonal projection of the head part of the low-pressure column does not intersect with the horizontal plane.
  • the argon column can be designed as a crude argon column, in which case, in particular, a pure argon column can be provided.
  • the pure argon column can be arranged in the first cold box or the second cold box, in particular in the cold box in which, in the case of a corresponding configuration or subdivision, the top part of the argon column designed as a crude argon column is arranged.
  • a corresponding system has a sub-cooling counterflow, it can be arranged either in the first or in the second cold box.
  • the supercooling countercurrent can be arranged in particular below the top part of the low-pressure column.
  • the top part of the low-pressure column and the top part of the argon column are arranged next to one another in such a way that the orthogonal projection of the top part of the low-pressure column onto the horizontal plane does not intersect with the orthogonal projection of the top part of the argon column onto the horizontal plane. Accordingly, there is a cross-sectional plane that intersects the top of the low pressure column and the top of the argon column.
  • the pure oxygen column can be arranged in the first cold box next to the high-pressure column, the base part of the low-pressure column and the base part of the argon column (with a corresponding subdivision) in such a way that an orthogonal projection of at least an upper part (to grounds and others Explanations see above) of the pure oxygen column on the horizontal plane with the orthogonal projection of the high-pressure column on the horizontal plane and the orthogonal projection of the bottom part of the low-pressure column on the horizontal plane and the orthogonal projection of the bottom part of the argon column.
  • the connecting pipelines are minimized.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement of components of a system designed according to an embodiment of the invention for the low-temperature separation of air in a side view and in a simplified representation.
  • air separation plant for short
  • FIG. 1 shows an air separation plant which is set up for obtaining an argon product and a pure oxygen product and is denoted overall by 100 .
  • the air separation plant 100 has a rectification column system 10, the one
  • the high-pressure column 11 and the foot part 12 of the low-pressure column are in a heat-exchanging connection via a condenser evaporator 19, the so-called main condenser, and are designed as a structural unit.
  • the invention can also be used in systems in which the high-pressure column 11 and the low-pressure column (or their foot part 12) are arranged separately from one another and have a separate condenser evaporator 19, ie not integrated into the columns.
  • the bottom part 12 and the top part 13 of the low-pressure column are fluidly coupled to one another here in that top gas from an upper region of the bottom part 12 of the low-pressure column is transferred in the form of a stream e to a lower region of the top part 13 of the low-pressure column.
  • the arrangement of the top part 13 of the low-pressure column and the bottom part 14 of the argon column in the example shown is such that bottom liquid in the form of a stream f from a lower region of the top part 13 of the low-pressure column into a lower region of the bottom part 14 of the argon column can run off, into which a further part of the top gas from the upper region of the foot part 12 of the low-pressure column is fed in the form of a stream g.
  • bottom liquid from the top part 13 of the low-pressure column and the bottom part 14 of the argon column is collected in the bottom of the bottom part 14 of the argon column and can be pumped back into an upper region of the bottom part 12 of the low-pressure column in the form of a stream h by means of a common pump 110.
  • a reverse arrangement is also possible, as mentioned.
  • Top gas of the bottom section 14 of the argon column is transferred to a lower region of the top section 15 of the argon column and liquid is pumped back with a pump 120 accordingly.
  • the integration of the pure argon column 20 can essentially correspond to what is customary in the art.
  • the argon column consisting of the base part 14 and the top part 15 is fluidly connected parallel to the low-pressure column or its base part 12 and top part 13, so that the corresponding top gas from an upper area of the base part 12 of the low-pressure column also flows into a lower area of the base part 14 of the argon column transferred and bottoms liquid is returned from the lower region of the foot part 14 of the argon column to the upper region of the foot part 12 of the low-pressure column.
  • the same pump is used as is used to recirculate the bottoms liquid from the lower portion of the top portion 13 of the low pressure column to an upper portion of the bottom portion 12 of the low pressure column.
  • the bottom part 14 and the top part 15 of the argon column are fluidly coupled to one another in that top gas is transferred from an upper area of the bottom part 14 of the argon column to a lower area of the top part 15 of the argon column and by means of a (further) pump sump liquid is transferred from a lower area of the top part 15 of the argon column is returned to an upper region of the bottom part 14 of the argon column.
  • the bottom part 14 of the argon column is also fed at a feed point 14b with another transfer liquid in the form of the already mentioned stream f, which is removed from the top part 13 of the low-pressure column at a withdrawal point 13b, with the top part 13 of the low-pressure column and the bottom part 14 of the argon column in the illustrated example are arranged such that the removal point 13b for the further transfer liquid from the head part 13 of the low-pressure column is above the feed point 14b for the further transfer liquid in the foot part 14 of the argon column.
  • FIG. 2 An integration of the components of the air separation plant 100 in cold boxes is illustrated in FIG. 2 in the form of a simplified side view, the components of the air separation plant 100 being indicated with identical reference symbols as explained above for FIG. As in Figure 1, these are shown in side view, but are even more simplified. The fluid connections are not shown, but result as shown in Figure 1.
  • the foot part 12 and the top part 13 of the low-pressure column are arranged side by side here in such a way that an orthogonal projection of the foot part 12 of the low-pressure column onto a horizontal plane H does not intersect with an orthogonal projection of the top part 13 of the low-pressure column onto the horizontal plane H, and the foot part 14 and the head part 15 of the argon column are also arranged side by side in such a way that an orthogonal projection of the foot part 14 of the argon column on the horizontal plane H does not intersect with an orthogonal projection of the head part 15 of the argon column on the horizontal plane H.
  • the high-pressure column 11 is arranged below the base part 12 of the low-pressure column in such a way that an orthogonal projection of the high-pressure column 11 on the horizontal plane H intersects with the orthogonal projection of the base part 12 of the low-pressure column on the horizontal plane H.
  • the pure oxygen column 18 and the foot part 14 of the argon column are arranged side by side in such a way that an orthogonal projection of at least an upper part (further explanations above) of the pure oxygen column 18 onto the horizontal plane H does not intersect with the orthogonal projection of the foot part 14 of the argon column onto the horizontal plane H,
  • subcooling counterflow 17 can be arranged in particular below head part 13 of the low-pressure column in second cold box 120 in such a way that an orthogonal projection of subcooling counterflow 17 onto horizontal plane H intersects with the orthogonal projection of head part 13 of the low-pressure column onto precisely this horizontal plane H.
  • the top part 13 of the low-pressure column can be designed with a lower packing density than the top part 15 of the argon column, and the bottom part 14 of the argon column can be set up for the separation of methane.
  • a lower area of the top part 13 of the low-pressure column and a lower area of the bottom part 14 of the argon column can also be fluidically coupled to an upper area of the bottom part 12 of the low-pressure column via a (common) pump.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the components shown in FIG. 2 in a plan view, the horizontal plane H lying parallel to the plane of the paper and express reference is made to the explanations relating to FIG. 2 for further details.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une installation (100) de séparation cryogénique de l'air comprenant un système de colonne de rectification (10) comportant une colonne haute pression (11), une colonne basse pression (12, 13) divisée et une colonne d'argon (14, 15) divisée, ainsi qu'un système de boîte froide (20) comportant une première boîte froide (110) et une deuxième boîte froide (120). La colonne haute pression (11) est disposée en dessous de la partie pied (12) de la colonne basse pression (12,13). La colonne haute pression (11) est disposée avec la partie pied (12) de la colonne basse pression dans la première boîte froide (110) et la partie tête (13) de la colonne basse pression (12,13,13) est agencée dans la deuxième boîte froide (120). Selon l'invention, la partie pied (14) de la colonne d'argon (14, 15) est disposée dans la première boîte froide (110) et la partie tête (15) de la colonne d'argon (14, 15) est agencée dans la deuxième boîte froide (120) ou inversement. Cette invention concerne en outre un procédé correspondant.
EP22765744.2A 2021-09-01 2022-08-26 Installation et procédé de séparation cryogénique de l'air Pending EP4396508A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21020439 2021-09-01
PCT/EP2022/025393 WO2023030682A2 (fr) 2021-09-01 2022-08-26 Installation et procédé de séparation cryogénique de l'air

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4396508A2 true EP4396508A2 (fr) 2024-07-10

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EP22765744.2A Pending EP4396508A2 (fr) 2021-09-01 2022-08-26 Installation et procédé de séparation cryogénique de l'air
EP22769563.2A Pending EP4396509A1 (fr) 2021-09-01 2022-08-26 Installation et procédé de fractionnement à basse température de l'air

Family Applications After (1)

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EP22769563.2A Pending EP4396509A1 (fr) 2021-09-01 2022-08-26 Installation et procédé de fractionnement à basse température de l'air

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EP (2) EP4396508A2 (fr)
KR (2) KR20240059622A (fr)
CN (2) CN117980678A (fr)
TW (2) TW202316070A (fr)
WO (2) WO2023030682A2 (fr)

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2739438B1 (fr) * 1995-09-29 1997-10-24 Air Liquide Procede et installation de production d'argon par distillation cryogenique
DE10152356A1 (de) * 2001-10-24 2002-12-12 Linde Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Gewinnung von Argon und hoch reinem Sauerstoff durch Tieftemperatur-Zerlegung
FR2913758B3 (fr) * 2007-03-12 2009-11-13 Air Liquide Procede et appareil de separation d'air par distillation cryogenique
CN202853259U (zh) * 2012-09-06 2013-04-03 浙江海天气体有限公司 一种氩气的净化提纯设备
RU2659698C2 (ru) 2013-03-06 2018-07-03 Линде Акциенгезелльшафт Установка разделения воздуха, способ получения продукта, содержащего аргон, и способ изготовления установки разделения воздуха
JP6557763B1 (ja) * 2018-08-09 2019-08-07 レール・リキード−ソシエテ・アノニム・プール・レテュード・エ・レクスプロワタシオン・デ・プロセデ・ジョルジュ・クロード 空気分離装置
EP3614082A1 (fr) * 2018-08-22 2020-02-26 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Installation de séparation d'aire, procédé de séparation d'air à basse température et procédé de fabrication d'une installation de séparation d'aire
CN209524679U (zh) * 2018-10-29 2019-10-22 乔治洛德方法研究和开发液化空气有限公司 通过低温蒸馏来蒸馏空气的设备
JP7355978B2 (ja) * 2019-04-08 2023-10-04 レール・リキード－ソシエテ・アノニム・プール・レテュード・エ・レクスプロワタシオン・デ・プロセデ・ジョルジュ・クロード 深冷空気分離装置
US20230358468A1 (en) * 2020-09-17 2023-11-09 Linde Gmbh Process and apparatus for cryogenic separation of air with mixed gas turbine

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KR20240059622A (ko) 2024-05-07
WO2023030682A2 (fr) 2023-03-09
WO2023030683A1 (fr) 2023-03-09
TW202311683A (zh) 2023-03-16
KR20240057420A (ko) 2024-05-02
EP4396509A1 (fr) 2024-07-10
CN117980678A (zh) 2024-05-03
CN117980679A (zh) 2024-05-03
WO2023030682A3 (fr) 2023-04-27
TW202316070A (zh) 2023-04-16

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