Production of oxygen-lean argon from air
This patent describes improvement in a process for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation to produce a crude argon product, wherein the separation is carried out in a multiple distillation column system containing a high pressure column, a low pressure column and an argon sidearm column; wherein a crude argon product is produced at the top of the argon sidearm column; wherein at least a portion of crude liquid oxygen produced at the bottom of the high pressure column is fed to a reboiler/condenser located at the top of the argon sidearm column to provide refrigeration for condensing at least a portion of the crude argon thereby providing reflux for the argon sidearm column; wherein a gaseous argon-oxygen containing side stream is removed from an intermediate location of the low pressure column and fed to the bottom of the argon sidearm column for rectification; and wherein the argon sidearm column a liquid phase and a vapor phase are intimately contacted to effectuate mass transfer to and from the liquid and vapor phases; the improvement for the production of low oxygen content argon having an oxygen content of less than or equal to 0.5 mol% directly from the argon side arm column while maximizing argon recovery.
- Assignee:
- Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (USA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4994098; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-474431
- OSTI ID:
- 5758585
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2 Feb 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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