Global Patent Index - EP 0376464 A1

EP 0376464 A1 19900704 - Air separation.

Title (en)

Air separation.

Title (de)

Lufttrennung.

Title (fr)

Séparation de l'air.

Publication

EP 0376464 A1 19900704 (EN)

Application

EP 89312011 A 19891120

Priority

GB 8828134 A 19881202

Abstract (en)

A gaseous feed of oxygen containing both light and heavy impurities is introduced through inlet 50 into a first liquid-vapour contact column 10 thereby producing a first fraction having an enhanced concentration of heavy impurities and a second fraction having a reduced concentration of heavy impurities. A gaseous first stream of the second fraction is condensed in a condenser 54 and returned to the column 10 as reflux through inlet 56. A second stream of the second fraction is fed into a second liquid-vapour contact column 12 having a reboiler 64 in which light impurities are stripped from the feed by ascending vapour. The second stream is introduced into the column 12 at a level above which there are liquid-vapour contact surfaces whereby there is produced at the top of the column 12 a fraction having a substantially greater concentration of light impurities than the feed to that column. A portion of this fraction is condensed in condenser 66 and used to provide reflux for the column 12, while another such portion is subjected to further fractionation in columns 2 and 8 to produce an argon product.

IPC 1-7

F25J 3/04; F25J 3/08

IPC 8 full level

F25J 3/04 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

F25J 3/04454 (2013.01); F25J 3/04709 (2013.01); F25J 3/04969 (2013.01); F25J 2200/34 (2013.01); F25J 2215/56 (2013.01); F25J 2220/50 (2013.01); F25J 2220/52 (2013.01); F25J 2235/50 (2013.01); F25J 2245/02 (2013.01); F25J 2245/58 (2013.01)

Citation (search report)

  • [XD] US 3363427 A 19680116 - BLANCHARD EDWARD R, et al
  • [XP] US 4867772 A 19890919 - EYRE DOUGLAS V [US]
  • [X] CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, vol. 94, no. 6, February 1981, abstract no. 33046p, Columbus, Ohio, US; "Producing high-purity oxygen", & SU-A-757 817 (S.S. BUDNEVICH et al.)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE CH DE ES FR GB IT LI NL SE

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0376464 A1 19900704; AU 4554689 A 19900607; AU 631578 B2 19921203; CA 2004368 A1 19900602; DK 607789 A 19900603; DK 607789 D0 19891201; GB 8828134 D0 19890105; JP H02223786 A 19900906; ZA 899075 B 19900926

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 89312011 A 19891120; AU 4554689 A 19891124; CA 2004368 A 19891201; DK 607789 A 19891201; GB 8828134 A 19881202; JP 31308689 A 19891201; ZA 899075 A 19891128