US4871382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air separation process using packed columns for oxygen and argon recovery
Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Inc
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Filing: 1988-04-29
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Granted: 1989-10-03
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Expires: 2008-04-29
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an improvement to a cryogenic air separation process having an argon sidearm column. The improvement to the process for maximizing argon recovery comprises effectuating the intimate contact of the liquid phase stream and the vapor phase stream in the low pressure column and the argon sidearm column of an integrated multi-column, e.g. three column, cryogenic distillation system by utilizing a structured or ordered packing.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Thorogood
- 👤 Douglas L. Bennett
- 👤 Rodney J. Allam
- 👤 Alan L. Prentice
- 👤 Bruce K. Dawson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:48
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/04; F25J3/04248; F25J3/04284; F25J3/04309; F25J3/04151; F25J3/04187; F25J3/04193; F25J3/04206; F25J3/04406; F25J3/04412; F25J3/04642; F25J3/04648; F25J3/04654; F25J3/04666; F25J3/04672; F25J3/04678; F25J3/04763; F25J3/04866; F25J3/04872; F25J3/04884; F25J3/04896; F25J3/04909; F25J3/04915; B01J; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/32; B01J2219/326; F25J2250/00; F25J2250/30; F25J2250/40; F25J2250/50; F25J2250/58; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S62/00; Y10S62/902; Y10S62/905; Y10S62/906; Y10S62/923; Y10S62/924
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
In a process for the separation of mixtures, which comprise oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, by cryogenic distillation in an integrated multi-column distillation system of at least three distillation columns, having a higher pressure column, low pressure column and an argon sidearm column wherein the argon sidearm column integrally communicates with the low pressure column, and wherein each column of the integrated distillation system, a liquid phase stream and a vapor phase stream are intimately contacted thereby allowing mass transfer; the improvement for increasing argon recovery comprises effectuating the intimate contact of the liquid and vapor phase streams in the low pressure column and the argon sidearm column by utilizing a structured packing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
In a process for the separation of mixtures, which comprise oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, by cryogenic distillation in an integrated multi-column distillation system of at least three distillation columns, having a higher pressure column, low pressure column and an argon sidearm column wherein the argon sidearm column integrally communicates with the low pressure column, and wherein each column of the integrated distillation system, a liquid phase stream and a vapor phase stream are intimately contacted thereby allowing mass transfer; the improvement for increasing argon recovery comprises effectuating the intimate contact of the liquid and vapor phase streams in the low pressure column and the argon sidearm column by utilizing a structured packing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1, wherein gaseous oxygen is produced directly from the low pressure column.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1, wherein liquid oxygen is produced and removed from the low pressure column and vaporized against a condensing feed air stream.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-02 | 1993-04-03 | 1993-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-02 | 1997-04-03 | 1997-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-02 | 2001-04-03 | 2001-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |