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:
Dec. 13, 2016
Filed:
Dec. 26, 2012
Jeremiah J. Rauch, Clarence Center, NY (US);
Catherine B. Sarigiannis, Grand Island, NY (US);
Andrew M. Warta, Wheatfield, NY (US);
Sophia J. Dowd, Grand Island, NY (US);
Jeremiah J. Rauch, Clarence Center, NY (US);
Catherine B. Sarigiannis, Grand Island, NY (US);
Andrew M. Warta, Wheatfield, NY (US);
Sophia J. Dowd, Grand Island, NY (US);
PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC., Danbury, CT (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for separating air in which production of the liquid products can be selectively varied between high and low production rates by varying the pressure ratio across a turboexpander used in imparting refrigeration with the use of a branched flow path. The branched flow path has a system of valves to selectively and gradually introduce a compressed refrigerant air stream into either a booster compressor branch having a booster compressor to increase the pressure ratio during high modes of liquid production or a bypass branch that bypasses the booster compressor to decrease the pressure ratio during low modes of liquid production. A recycle branch is connected to the booster compressor branch to allow compressed air to be independently recycled from the outlet to the inlet of the booster compressor during turndown from the high to the low liquid mode of liquid production to prevent surge.