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:
Aug. 13, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 20, 2000
Gerhard Pompl, Beilngries, DE;
Linde Aktiengesellschaft, Wiesbaden, DE;
Abstract
The process and the apparatus are used for the low-temperature fractionation of air. Charge air ( ) which has been compressed and has undergone prior purification is introduced into a rectifier system for nitrogen/oxygen separation. This system comprises a pressure column ( ), a low-pressure column ( ) and a condenser/evaporator system ( ) for heating the low-pressure column ( ). The condenser/evaporator system has a first section ( ) which is designed as a falling-film evaporator. A first oxygen-rich liquid ( ) from the low-pressure column ( ) is introduced into the evaporation passages of the falling-film evaporator ( ), where it is partially evaporated. In the process, an oxygen-rich vapor ( ) and a second oxygen-rich liquid ( ) are formed. At least part of the oxygen-rich vapor ( ) is returned to the low-pressure column ( ). The condenser/evaporator system additionally has a second section ( ), which is designed at least in part as a forced circulation evaporator ( ). At least some of the second oxygen-rich liquid ( ) is passed, by means of a delivery device ( ), to the evaporation passages of the second section ( ) of the condenser/evaporator system.