L'air Liquide, Soci&#xe9;t&#xe9; Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Proc&#xe9;d&#xe9;s Georges Claude

Claude Granger

Jean Roy

Yves Hardy

Minh Huy Pham

May Yee Wendy Yip

Philippe Grigoletto

Wendy Yip

Gilles Poulin

Yoland Plamondon

Sylvain Made

Qun-Fang Li

Emmanuelle Bromet

Herve Ferriere

An apparatus for distillation at cryogenic temperatures can include a cold box module comprising framing and having an upper module section and a lower module section, wherein the upper module comprises a roof; an upper column section disposed within the upper module section; a lower column section disposed within the lower module section; a plurality of support saddles attached to the upper and lower module sections that are configured to provide structural support for the upper and lower column sections when the upper and lower column sections are in a horizontal position during transportation; and means for limiting longitudinal movement of the lower column section when the lower module section is in a horizontal position during transport, wherein the means for limiting longitudinal movement are connected to the lower column section and the lower module section.

Apparatus for distillation at cryogenic temperatures

The jacking system and method for using it to lower an upper column section without the use of a crane is provided. The jacking system is configured to be disposed on a roof of a cold box module and may include: a structural assembly; and a plurality of suspension rods supported at an upper end by the structural assembly, wherein the plurality of suspension rods is configured to provide support to the upper column section.

Apparatus and method for lowering a column section

A method for constructing a cold box module and resulting apparatus is provided. The method can include providing a cold box module having framing and an upper and lower module sections, introducing an upper column section longitudinally into the upper module section while the upper module section is substantially horizontal; introducing a lower column section longitudinally into the lower module section while the lower module section is substantially horizontal; releasably attaching the lower column section to the lower module section using shipping saddle spacers and support saddles; and attaching a skirt attachment to the lower column section and the lower module section, wherein the skirt attachment is configured to limit longitudinal movement of the lower column section when the lower module section is in a horizontal position during transport. After erecting the cold box module at the installation site, the shipping saddle spacers can be removed and the upper column section is lowered using a jacking system located on the roof of the cold box module.

Method for constructing a cold box module

A method for installation of a cryogenic distillation apparatus is provided. The method can include the steps of: providing an upper module section having an upper column section disposed within and secured to the upper module section, wherein the upper module comprises a roof; providing a lower module section having a lower column section disposed within and secured to the lower module section; erecting the lower module section from a horizontal position to a vertical position at an installation site; lifting the upper module section from a horizontal position and attaching the upper module section, while in a vertical position, to a top portion of the lower module section; lowering the upper column section, independent of the upper module section, toward the lower column section; and welding the upper column section and the lower column section together.

Method for installation of a cryogenic distillation apparatus

An assembly table for use in a remote manufacturing yard is provided. The assembly table is configured to be collapsible thereby allowing for a reduced footprint during transportation. The assembly table can include a central support base; a plurality of arms attached to the central support base; a secondary support member attached to each arm configured to provide support for and give height to the assembly table when in use; and a centering guide attached to each arm, the centering guide configured to receive a bottom portion of a partial shell, the centering guide located at a predetermined location of its own arm.

Assembly table for building air separation units remotely

A method of installing a vaporizer in a remote manufacturing yard is provided. The method can include the steps of obtaining a lower stage and an upper stage of a vaporizer; obtaining a first column section and a second column section; installing the lower stage to a bottom head such that the lower stage is in fluid communication with an inner volume of the bottom head; installing the first column section over and around the lower stage and fitting and welding a bottom of the first column section to the bottom head; installing the upper stage; and installing the second column section and fitting and welding a bottom of the second course to the first course.

Method for installing a condenser in a remote manufacturing yard

A yard leveling base for leveling a column during assembly is provided. The yard leveling base is configured to allow for a packed column section of a column to be placed on a top surface of the yard leveling base, the yard leveling base can further include a bottom surface configured to maintain substantial contact with the ground of a remote manufacturing yard, wherein the yard leveling base is adapted to adjust the level of the top surface of the yard leveling base to account for unevenness or slope of the ground of the remote manufacturing yard.

Yard leveling base and method of using the same

A method for installing packing in a remote manufacturing yard is provided. The method can include the steps of manufacturing structured packing in a facility away from the remote manufacturing yard; splitting a level of the structured packing into a plurality of sections and then placing each section into a separate box for transport, wherein each box can include an inner profile configured to match its section of packing so as to reduce damage to the packing during transport; transporting the boxes to the remote manufacturing yard; and installing the packing into a column section.

Method of installing packing in a remote manufacturing yard

A remote manufacturing yard configured to build a cryogenic distillation column for use in an air separation unit ('ASU') is provided. the remote manufacturing yard can include a fabrication facility comprising an enclosure. The fabrication facility further can also include a vertical plate roller; a lifting device, an assembly table configured to support two or more partial shells simultaneously; a first weld machine configured to weld the two or more partial shells together to form a course while keeping the two or more partial shells stationary; a column section assembly area having a second weld machine disposed therein, a distributor installation area configured to receive at least one column section and install a distributor within the column section to form a distributor column section; and a packing installation area configured to receive the distributor column section and install packing within the distributor column section to form a packed column section.

Remote manufacturing yard

A weather shelter for providing protection during assembly of a column at a remote manufacturing yard is provided. The weather shelter can include a frame mounted to a hanging platform, and extending upwards from the hanging platform, the hanging platform supported by the column; and a protective covering mounted on the frame having a side covering and a top covering, the protective covering configured to provide an inner atmosphere within the protective covering protected from external elements when the protective covering is secured to the column.

Weather shelter for use in a remote manufacturing yard

A method for moving a packed column section about a remote manufacturing yard is provided. In one embodiment, the packed column section can include a first course, a second course, packing disposed within the first course and second course, and a plurality of distributors. The method can include the steps of placing the packed column section on top of a movable platform, the movable platform configured to support and distribute the weight of the packed column section; and moving the packed column section from a first point to a second point, the second point being in an open area adapted for stacking a plurality of packed column sections on top of each other to form a column.

Method for moving a packed section about a remote manufacturing yard

A scaffolding assembly configured for use with an assembly table is provided. In one embodiment, the scaffolding assembly can include an inner scaffolding and an outer scaffolding, wherein the inner scaffolding and the outer scaffolding each include: a plurality of main posts having a lower end and an upper end; an extendible arm connected to each of the main posts, wherein the extendible arm is configured to extend substantially perpendicular from the main post; and a tertiary scaffolding support connected to the extendible arm and the main post, the tertiary support configured to transfer at least some of the force from the extendible arm to the main post, wherein the scaffolding assembly is configured to attach to the assembly table, such that the scaffolding assembly receives support from the assembly table.

Scaffolding assembly

A trolley for supporting the plate during vertical rolling of the plate is provided. In one embodiment, the trolley can include a support body configured to provide support for the trolley; a plurality of wheels configured to allow the trolley to move across a floor; a lifting arm supported by the support body, wherein the lifting arm is movable about a first position and a second position; a pump handle configured to raise the lifting arm between the first position and the second position; and a plate holder configured to move with the lifting arm and hold the plate in place relative to the trolley.

Trolley and method of using the trolley for vertical rolling

A system for moving heavy objects about a manufacturing yard is provided. In one embodiment, the system can include a pair of rails disposed on the ground of the manufacturing yard; a plurality of multi-ton rollers configured to mate with the rails, each multi-ton roller configured to be attached to a movable platform which is configured to accept a packed column section; and a winch disposed between the pair of rails and secured to the ground of the manufacturing yard, the winch having a spool of cable with one end configured to be attached to the movable platform, the winch configured to apply a force to cause the movable platform to travel about a length of the pair of rails.

System for moving heavy objects about a remote manufacturing yard

A method for fabricating a distillation column in a remote location away from a permanent manufacturing facility is provided. In one embodiment, the method can include the steps of: forming a plurality of column sections each having a diameter D, each column section comprising a plurality of courses that have been horizontally welded together, wherein each course is comprised of two or more partial shells that have been vertically welded together, wherein each of the two or more partial shells was created by vertically rolling a rectangular plate having a length of at least wherein N is the number of partial shells used to form the course; installing a distributor and packing in each column section to form a plurality of packed column sections; and stacking the plurality of packed column sections to form a column.

Growing community of inventors

Beloeil, Canada

Claude Granger