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. 17, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 24, 2003
Dietrich Rottmann, Munich, DE;
Christian Kunz, Munich, DE;
Linde AG, Wiesbaden, DE;
Abstract
A process and apparatus for low-temperature fractionation of air in a distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation ( ) introduces into first feed air stream ( ) into a distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation. An oxygen-rich fraction ( ) from the distillation column system for nitrogen-oxygen separation is pressurized ( ) in liquid form and is added ( ) to a mixing column ( ). A heat transfer medium stream is introduced into the lower region of the mixing column ( ) and is brought into countercurrent contact with the oxygen-rich fraction ( ). Gaseous top product ( ) from the upper region of the mixing column ( ) is introduced into an additional column ( ). A liquid ( ) from the lower or middle region of the mixing column is introduced into the distillation column system. A krypton- and xenon-containing oxygen stream ( ) from the distillation column system is introduced into a krypton-xenon enriching column ( ) from which a krypton- and xenon-enriched fraction ( ) is obtained. A krypton- and xenon-depleted top fraction ( ) is obtained from the upper region of the additional column ( ).