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:
Mar. 23, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 04, 2002
Linde Aktiengesellschaft, Wiesbaden, DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing nitrogen by low-temperature fractionation of air in a rectification system which has a high-pressure column ( ) and a low-pressure column ( ). Feed air ( ) is introduced into the high-pressure column ( ). An oxygen-containing liquid fraction ( ) is removed from the high-pressure column ( ) and fed into the low-pressure column ( ). Gaseous nitrogen ( ) is extracted from the low-pressure column ( ) above a mass transfer section ( ), which has at least one theoretical or practical plate, and is at least partially condensed in a top condenser ( ) by indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant ( ). High-purity nitrogen is removed from the low-pressure column below the mass transfer section ( ), and is obtained as a nitrogen product ( ). The process and apparatus have a refrigeration-supply system, in which a refrigeration fluid ( ) flows. At least part of the refrigeration fluid from the refrigeration-supply system is introduced into the low-pressure column ( ) above the mass transfer section ( ).