Praxair Technology, Inc.

Union Carbide Corporation

Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation

Linde Gmbh

James R Handley

Neil Mark Prosser

Brian R Kromer

Henry Edward Howard

Ravindra F Pahade

Brian S Powell

Steven R Falta

Philip Alexander Barrett

Maulik R Shelat

Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan Chakravarthy

James J Maloney

Persefoni E Kechagia

Dante Patrick Bonaquist

Cem E Celik

Nick Joseph Degenstein

Nancy Jean Lynch

Mohammad Abdul-Aziz Rashad

Susan Marie Sattan

Jeremy Michael Cabral

Brian C Fiedler

Richard C Cyganovich

Brien Scott Wierzchowski

Devang Ashok Dasani

Ravindra F Phade

Jeremy M Cabral

Persenfoni E Kechagia

Philip A Barrrett

A nitrogen liquefier configured to be integrated with an argon and nitrogen producing cryogenic air separation unit and method of nitrogen liquefaction are provided. The integrated nitrogen liquefier and associated methods may be operated in at least three distinct modes including: (i) a nil liquid nitrogen mode; (ii) a low liquid nitrogen mode; and (iii) a high liquid nitrogen mode. The present systems and methods are further characterized in an oxygen enriched stream from the lower pressure column of the air separation unit is an oxygen enriched condensing medium used in the argon condenser.

Integrated nitrogen liquefier for a nitrogen and argon producing cryogenic air separation unit

An air separation unit and associated method for separating air by cryogenic distillation using a distillation column system including a higher pressure column, a lower pressure column, an intermediate pressure kettle column, and an argon column arrangement is provided. The disclosed air separation unit and method is particularly suited for production of an argon product as well as several nitrogen products wherein a portion of the nitrogen overhead intermediate pressure kettle column is taken as an intermediate or elevated pressure nitrogen product. The present air separation unit and associated method employs a once-through kettle column reboiler, a once-through kettle column condenser while the argon condenser condenses an argon-rich vapor stream against a pumped oxygen stream from the bottom of the lower pressure column.

Air separation unit and method for production of nitrogen and argon using a distillation column system with an intermediate pressure kettle column

A system and method of regenerating a pre-purification vessel is provided that is particularly suitable for pre-purification of a feed air stream in cryogenic air separation unit that uses an oxygen-enriched purge gas stream for regeneration of the pre-purification unit. The disclosed pre-purification systems and methods are configured to remove substantially all of the water, carbon dioxide and other impurities from a feed air stream, optionally including hydrogen and carbon monoxide impurities. The method of regenerating a pre-purification vessel preferably involves regenerating the pre-purification vessel with an oxygen-enriched purge gas after depressurization of the vessel and thereafter partially repressurizing the pre-purification vessel with an auxiliary purge gas thereby diluting the oxygen concentration of the gases contained in the pre-purification vessel and optionally depressurizing the partially repressurized vessel.

Method for regenerating a pre-purification vessel

The present invention relates to a method and system for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a stream of pressurized natural gas which involves a combination of mechanical refrigeration.

Liquid natural gas liquefier utilizing mechanical and liquid nitrogen refrigeration

A moderate pressure air separation unit and air separation cycle is disclosed that provides for up to about 96% recovery of argon, an overall nitrogen recovery of 98 percent or greater and limited gaseous oxygen production. The air separation is configured to produce a first high purity oxygen enriched stream and a second lower purity oxygen enriched stream from the lower pressure column, one of which is used as the refrigerant to condense the argon in the argon condenser, with the resulting vaporized oxygen stream used to regenerate the temperature swing adsorption pre-purifier unit. All or a portion of the first high purity oxygen enriched stream is vaporized in the main heat exchanger to produce the gaseous oxygen products.

System and method for enhanced recovery of argon and oxygen from a nitrogen producing cryogenic air separation unit

A moderate pressure air separation unit and air separation cycle is disclosed that provides for up to about 96% recovery of argon and an overall nitrogen recovery of 98% or greater. The air separation is configured to produce a high purity oxygen enriched stream which is used as the refrigerant to condense the argon in the argon condenser, with the resulting vaporized oxygen stream used to regenerate the temperature swing adsorption prepurifier unit. Argon recovery is facilitated with the use of an argon superstaged column.

System and method for high recovery of nitrogen and argon from a moderate pressure cryogenic air separation unit

A moderate pressure air separation unit and air separation cycle is disclosed that provides for up to about 96% recovery of argon, an overall nitrogen recovery of 98% or greater and limited gaseous oxygen production. The air separation is configured to produce a first high purity oxygen enriched stream and a second lower purity oxygen enriched stream from the lower pressure column, one of which is used as the refrigerant to condense the argon in the argon condenser, with the resulting vaporized oxygen stream used to regenerate the temperature swing adsorption pre-purifier unit. All or a portion of the first high purity oxygen enriched stream is vaporized in the main heat exchanger to produce the gaseous oxygen products.

An argon reflux condensation system and method in which a plurality of once-through condensers are connected to an argon column of an air separation plant to condense argon-rich vapor streams for production of reflux to the argon column. Condensation of the argon-rich vapor streams is brought about through indirect heat exchange with crude liquid oxygen streams that partially vaporize and are introduced into a lower pressure column of the plant for further refinement. The flow rate of the crude liquid oxygen streams are sensed and controlled at locations in the air separation plant where the crude liquid oxygen is in a liquid state and in proportion to the size of the once-through heat exchangers. Prior to flowing into the once-through condensers, the partially vaporized crude oxygen stream enters a phase separator which separates the crude oxygen vapor from the crude liquid oxygen. The separated crude oxygen vapor bypasses the once-through condensers and is mixed with the vaporized oxygen stream that exits the one-through condensers. Feed stream flow rate to the argon column is controlled in response to air flow rate to the plant and product flow rate is controlled in response to the feed stream flow rate to the argon column.

Argon condensation system and method

A method and apparatus for producing a purified liquid argon product in which liquid argon having oxygen impurities is produced in a cryogenic air separation plant by separating argon from oxygen within an argon column. An impure liquid argon stream, composed of part of the liquid argon, is purified in an adsorbent bed by adsorbing the oxygen impurities in an adsorbent to produce a purified liquid argon stream that constitutes the purified liquid argon product. During adsorption, the adsorbent bed is maintained at a reduced temperature with a coolant to prevent vaporization of the liquid argon. The bed is then regenerated by draining residual liquid argon from the adsorbent bed, introducing the residual liquid argon back into the air separation plant and then desorbing the oxygen impurities with a regeneration gas. After regeneration, the adsorbent bed is refilled with purified liquid argon prior to being brought back on-line.

Argon production method and apparatus

A cryogenic rectification system wherein low purity oxygen is recovered from a side column or the lower pressure column of a double column while a portion of the low purity oxygen is fed to an auxiliary column driven by fluid having a high nitrogen concentration wherein high purity oxygen is produced.

Cryogenic rectification system for producing low purity oxygen and high

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East Amherst, NY, United States of America

James R Handley