Global Patent Index - EP 0709632 B1

EP 0709632 B1 20010516 - Air separation method and apparatus for producing nitrogen

Title (en)

Air separation method and apparatus for producing nitrogen

Title (de)

Lufttrennungsverfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von Stickstoff

Title (fr)

Procédé et dispositif pour la production d'azote par séparation d'air

Publication

EP 0709632 B1 20010516 (EN)

Application

EP 95307528 A 19951024

Priority

  • US 32903594 A 19941025
  • US 37406095 A 19950119
  • US 45994695 A 19950531

Abstract (en)

[origin: EP0709632A2] Air is separated in a distillation column 30 into an oxygen-rich liquid bottom fraction and a nitrogen-rich head vapour fraction. A stream 50 of the oxygen-rich fraction is partially vaporised in a vaporiser 54 and subjected to phase separation in a phase separator 56. The resulting liquid phase 58 is reduced in pressure by passage through valve 60 and employed to cool head condenser 42 which condenses a part of the nitrogen rich head fraction to provide reflux for the column 30. A stream of vapour 62 flows from the phase separator 56 and is expanded by a turboexpander 64 with the performance of work. Nitrogen product is withdrawn from the top of the column 30 as stream 68. In an alternative embodiment (Figure 2) the stream 50 is divided, one part flowing to the valve 60 without being partially vaporised, and the other part being totally vaporised and sent to the turboexpander. <IMAGE>

IPC 1-7

F25J 3/04

IPC 8 full level

F25J 3/04 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP KR)

F25J 3/04 (2013.01 - KR); F25J 3/0423 (2013.01 - EP); F25J 3/04284 (2013.01 - EP); F25J 3/044 (2013.01 - EP); F25J 2200/50 (2013.01 - EP); F25J 2200/72 (2013.01 - EP); F25J 2205/02 (2013.01 - EP); F25J 2240/48 (2013.01 - EP); F25J 2270/02 (2013.01 - EP)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

BE DE FR GB IE IT NL SE

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0709632 A2 19960501; EP 0709632 A3 19960911; EP 0709632 B1 20010516; AU 3433995 A 19960509; AU 700591 B2 19990107; CA 2159308 A1 19960426; DE 69520922 D1 20010621; DE 69520922 T2 20011206; IL 115348 A0 19951231; IL 115348 A 19991130; JP H08210771 A 19960820; KR 0168707 B1 19990115; KR 960013416 A 19960522; TR 199501297 A2 19960621

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 95307528 A 19951024; AU 3433995 A 19951018; CA 2159308 A 19950927; DE 69520922 T 19951024; IL 11534895 A 19950919; JP 27427995 A 19951023; KR 19950036742 A 19951024; TR 9501297 A 19951020