Patent US3152200A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5148680A
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Cryogenic air separation system with dual product side condenser
Assignee: Praxair Technology Inc
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Filing: 1990-06-27
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Granted: 1992-09-22
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Expires: 2010-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenic air separation system wherein pressurized feed air is at least partially condensed to vaporize elevated pressure liquid nitrogen and elevated pressure liquid oxygen to produce elevated pressure nitrogen and oxygen gas eliminating or reducing the need for product compression.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Dray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:11
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/04; F25J3/04006; F25J3/04078; F25J3/0409; F25J3/04084; F25J3/04103; F25J3/04151; F25J3/04187; F25J3/04193; F25J3/04206; F25J3/04248; F25J3/04284; F25J3/0429; F25J3/04296; F25J3/04375; F25J3/04393; F25J3/04406; F25J3/04412; F25J3/04763; F25J3/04769; F25J3/04781; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/02; F25J2235/00; F25J2235/04; F25J2245/00; F25J2245/50; F25J2250/00; F25J2250/02; F25J2250/30; F25J2250/40; F25J2250/42; F25J2250/50; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/62; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S62/00; Y10S62/939; Y10S62/94
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for the cryogenic separation of air to produce oxygen and nitrogen comprising: (A) providing feed air into a higher pressure column and separating the feed air in the higher pressure column into nitrogen-enriched vapor and oxygen-enriched liquid; (B) passing oxygen-enriched liquid from the higher pressure column into a lower pressure column; (C) condensing nitrogen-enriched vapor to produce nitrogen-enriched liquid and passing nitrogen-enriched liquid into the lower pressure column; (D) separating the fluids passed into the lower pressure column into nitrogen-rich vapor and oxygen-rich liquid; (E) passing oxygen-rich liquid in indirect heat exchange with feed air to produce product oxygen gas; and (F) passing nitrogen-enriched liquid produced by the condensation of nitrogen-enriched vapor in step (C) against oxygen-rich liquid in indirect heat exchange with feed air to produce product nitrogen gas.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for the cryogenic separation of air to produce oxygen and nitrogen comprising: (A) providing feed air into a higher pressure column and separating the feed air in the higher pressure column into nitrogen-enriched vapor and oxygen-enriched liquid; (B) passing oxygen-enriched liquid from the higher pressure column into a lower pressure column; (C) condensing nitrogen-enriched vapor to produce nitrogen-enriched liquid and passing nitrogen-enriched liquid into the lower pressure column; (D) separating the fluids passed into the lower pressure column into nitrogen-rich vapor and oxygen-rich liquid; (E) passing oxygen-rich liquid in indirect heat exchange with feed air to produce product oxygen gas; and (F) passing nitrogen-enriched liquid produced by the condensation of nitrogen-enriched vapor in step (C) against oxygen-rich liquid in indirect heat exchange with feed air to produce product nitrogen gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the feed air is divided into a first portion and a second portion and the first portion is at least partly condensed by the heat exchange of steps (E) and (F).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the first portion of the feed air is totally condensed by the heat exchange of steps (E) and (F).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the second portion is turboexpanded prior to its introduction into the higher pressure column.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the first portion of the feed air is turboexpanded prior to the heat exchange of steps (E) and (F).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the first portion of the feed air is divided into a first part and a second part, the first part is turboexpanded and then used to carry out the heat exchange of step (F), and the second part is used to carry out the heat exchange of step (E).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising recovering nitrogen rich vapor taken from the lower pressure column.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen-enriched vapor is condensed by indirect exchange with oxygen-rich liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure of the oxygen-rich liquid is increased prior to the heat exchange of step (E).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure of the nitrogen-enriched liquid is increased prior to the heat exchange of step (F).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising recovering some oxygen-rich liquid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising recovering some nitrogen-enriched liquid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of air to produce oxygen and nitrogen comprising: (A) heat exchange means; (B) conduit means from the heat exchange means to a first column; (C) conduit means from the first column to a second column; (D) conduit means from the first column to a condenser-reboiler; (E) means to pass fluid from the lower portion of the second column to the heat exchange means; and (F) means to pass fluid from the condenser/reboiler to the heat exchange means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for the cryogenic separation of air to produce oxygen and nitrogen comprising: (A) heat exchange means; (B) conduit means from the heat exchange means to a first column; (C) conduit means from the first column to a second column; (D) conduit means from the first column to a condenser-reboiler; (E) means to pass fluid from the lower portion of the second column to the heat exchange means; and (F) means to pass fluid from the condenser/reboiler to the heat exchange means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means to pass fluid from the second column to the heat exchange means comprises at least one tank.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means to pass fluid from the condenser/reboiler to the heat exchange means comprises at least one tank.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means to pass fluid from the second column to the heat exchange means comprises a liquid pump.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means to pass fluid from the condenser/reboiler to the heat exchange means comprises a liquid pump.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a turboexpander in flow communication with the first column.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising subcooler means on the conduit means from the heat exchange means to the first column.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a turboexpander in flow communication with the heat exchanger means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the heat exchanger means comprises a first part and a second part, the passage means of part (E) is adapted to pass fluid to the second part and the passage means of part (F) is adapted to pass fluid to the first part.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a turboexpander in flow communication with the second part.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least some of the internals of the first column comprise structured packing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least some of the internals of the second column comprise structured packing.
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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) | 1995-09-22 | 1996-03-23 | 1996-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-22 | 2000-03-23 | 2000-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-22 | 2004-03-23 | 2004-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |