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:
Nov. 12, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1995
Thomas Rathbone, Farnham, GB;
The BOC Group, plc, Windlesham, GB;
Abstract
Air is introduced through an inlet into a higher pressure rectification column. A stream of oxygen-enriched liquid is withdrawn through an outlet from the higher pressure rectification column. A part of this stream is introduced into a low pressure rectification column through an inlet. The stream is separated in the column low pressure rectification into oxygen and nitrogen. In addition, an argon-enriched vapor stream is withdrawn from the low pressure rectification column through an outlet, and is at least partially condensed in a reboiler-condenser which reboils oxygen separated in an argon column. One part of the resulting at least partially condensed argon-enriched oxygen stream is reduced in pressure by passage through a valve and is introduced through an inlet into an intermediate mass exchange region of the argon column in which it is separated into argon and oxygen. Another part of the at least partially condensed argon-enriched oxygen stream is returned by a pump to the low pressure rectification column.