US5100448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Variable density structured packing cryogenic distillation system
Assignee: Praxair Technology Inc
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Filing: 1990-07-20
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Granted: 1992-03-31
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Expires: 2010-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenic distillation system employing a multisection column wherein structure packing of different packing density is employed in at least two sections of the column.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Lockett
- 👤 Richard A. Victor
- 👤 Robert Zawierucha
- 👤 Kenneth McIlroy
- 👤 Scott L. Cooper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:45
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/32; F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/04; F25J3/04406; F25J3/04412; F25J3/04642; F25J3/04648; F25J3/04654; F25J3/04666; F25J3/04672; F25J3/04678; F25J3/04763; F25J3/04866; F25J3/04896; F25J3/04909; F25J3/04915; F25J3/04921; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/32; B01J2219/322; B01J2219/32203; B01J2219/32206; B01J2219/3221; B01J2219/32213; B01J2219/3222; B01J2219/32224; B01J2219/32227; B01J2219/324; B01J2219/32408; B01J2219/326; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/10; F25J2290/12; F25J2290/44; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S62/00; Y10S62/902; Y10S62/905; Y10S62/906; Y10S62/923; Y10S62/924
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An air separation plant comprising at least one column and having means to pass feed air into the plant and to pass product out of the plant, at least one of said column(s) having a plurality of column sections and having mass transfer elements comprising structured packing in at least two column sections, wherein the packing density of structured packing in a first section of said column differs from the packing density of structured packing in a second section of said column and wherein each of said first and second column sections has an end where vapor or liquid is removed from or enters the column.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
An air separation plant comprising at least one column and having means to pass feed air into the plant and to pass product out of the plant, at least one of said column(s) having a plurality of column sections and having mass transfer elements comprising structured packing in at least two column sections, wherein the packing density of structured packing in a first section of said column differs from the packing density of structured packing in a second section of said column and wherein each of said first and second column sections has an end where vapor or liquid is removed from or enters the column.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The air separation plant of claim 1 wherein the internal diameter of the column in each section is the same.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The air separation plant of claim 1 wherein the second section is higher than the first section and the packing density of structured packing in the second section is different from and exceeds the packing density of structured packing in the first section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The air separation plant of claim 3 wherein the first section is the lowermost section of the column.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The air separation plant of claim 4 wherein the packing density of the lowermost section of the column is less than 700 m 2 /m 3 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The air separation plant of claim 5 wherein the structured packing comprises aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The air separation plant of claim 4 wherein the structured packing comprises aluminum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The air separation plant of claim 1 wherein the packing density of the lowermost section of the column is less than 700 m 2 /m 3 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The air separation plant of claim 8 wherein the structured packing comprises aluminum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The air separation plant of claim 1 wherein the structured packing comprises aluminum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The air separation plant of claim 10 wherein the structured packing comprising aluminum has an aluminum concentration exceeding 50 percent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The air separation plant of claim 1 wherein one section contains structured packing having different packing densities.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The air separation plant of claim 1 wherein the column has from 2 to 8 sections.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The air separation plant of claim 1 wherein the structured packing has a density within the range of from 250 to 1000 m 2 /m 3 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The air separation plant of claim 1 comprising a plurality of columns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The air separation plant of claim 15 comprising a double column.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The air separation plant of claim 16 further comprising an argon column.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for separating a mixture comprising at least two components having different volatilities, wherein one of said components is oxygen, into a first portion richer in a first component having a higher volatility than that of a second component, and into a second portion richer in the second component, said method comprising introducing the mixture into a column having a plurality of column sections and having mass transfer elements comprising structured packing in at least two column sections, wherein the packing density of structured packing in a first section of the column differs from the packing density of structured packing in a second section of the column, and removing from the column at least some of the first portion and at least some of the second portion, and wherein each of said first and second column sections has an end where vapor or liquid is removed from or enters the column.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for separating a mixture comprising at least two components having different volatilities, wherein one of said components is oxygen, into a first portion richer in a first component having a higher volatility than that of a second component, and into a second portion richer in the second component, said method comprising introducing the mixture into a column having a plurality of column sections and having mass transfer elements comprising structured packing in at least two column sections, wherein the packing density of structured packing in a first section of the column differs from the packing density of structured packing in a second section of the column, and removing from the column at least some of the first portion and at least some of the second portion, and wherein each of said first and second column sections has an end where vapor or liquid is removed from or enters the column.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the mixture comprises oxygen and nitrogen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the first section is the lowermost section of the column.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the packing density of the lowermost section of the column less than 700 m 2 /m 3 .
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the structured packing comprises aluminum.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the structured packing comprises aluminum.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the mixture comprises oxygen and argon.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the packing density is selected so that the percentage flood at the normal design point is within the range of from 50 to 95 percent in each section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the second section is higher than the first section and the packing density of structured packing in the second section is different from and exceeds the packing density of structured packing in the first section.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the packing density of the lowermost section of the column is less than 700 m 2 /m 3 .
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the structured packing comprises aluminum.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the structured packing comprises aluminum.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the structured packing comprising aluminum has an aluminum concentration exceeding 50 percent.
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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) | 1995-03-31 | 1995-09-30 | 1996-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-31 | 1999-09-30 | 2000-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-31 | 2003-09-30 | 2004-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |