The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 26, 1994
Filed:
Aug. 28, 1990
Douglas L Bennett, Allentown, PA (US);
Keith A Ludwig, Emmaus, PA (US);
Robert F Weimer, Allentown, PA (US);
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a separation process for atmospheric gases. In the process, an atmospheric gas stream, for example air, is compressed and may be partly condensed prior to introduction into a vortex tube air separator. The performance of the tube separation can be upgraded, i.e. by improving the concentration and/or purity of the main oxygen stream, by enhancing the separator efficiency of the vortex tube (VT) apparatus. One approach is by selectively refrigerating the cold end of the tube with partial recycle of nitrogen gas waste stream, effecting a rectification section. Another approach is to increase the heat transfer between the outlet gas stream and the liquid film flowing along the curvilinear periphery of the separator means, by mechanical innovations in its configuration.