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:
Jun. 12, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 16, 2000
Thomas Rathbone, Farnham, GB;
The BOC Group plc, Windlesham, GB;
Abstract
Air is separated in a double rectification column comprising a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column, the latter operating at pressures of less than 2 bar absolute. An oxygen product is withdrawn from the column by a pump. A first vaporous nitrogen stream is taken from the top of the higher pressure column, is compressed in a compressor and is used in a gas turbine. Feed to the lower pressure column is derived from a stream of the bottom oxygen-enriched liquid fraction obtained in the higher pressure column. To this end, this stream is subjected to further separation (typically in further rectification column) to form a vaporous nitrogen fraction (a flow of which is condensed and is used as reflux in the lower pressure column) and an oxygen-containing feed to the lower pressure column which flows via an outlet and a condenser to the column. At least 60% of the nitrogen product flowing to the gas turbine is taken from the higher pressure column.