Air separation method for supplying gaseous oxygen in accordance with a variable demand pattern

Patent · Tue Oct 06 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:6972132

Mostello, R A; Klighys, V

This patent describes a method of supplying gaseous oxygen to meet the requirements of a variable demand pattern. It comprises: rectifying air by a double column low temperature rectification process using operatively associated high and low pressure columns to produce a nitrogen rich vapor and liquid oxygen, respectively; withdrawing a nitrogen rich vapor stream composed of the nitrogen rich vapor and a liquid oxygen stream composed of the liquid oxygen from the high and low pressure columns; respectively; partially heating and engine expanding with the performance of work the nitrogen rich vapor stream and after the engine expansion; when a demand for the gaseous oxygen exists, pumping a product stream formed from the liquid oxygen contained within the liquid oxygen stream to a delivery pressure; flashing liquid nitrogen condensed from at least part of the nitrogen rich vapor stream to produce a two phase flow of nitrogen containing liquid and vapor phases and separating the liquid and vapor phases from one another; adding a vapor phase stream composed of the vapor phase to at least part of the nitrogen rich vapor stream; and storing any excess amounts of liquid phase not introduced to the low pressure column and of the liquid oxygen stream not used in forming the product stream.

• Assignee: BOC Group, Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5152149
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-734705
• OSTI ID: 6972132
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105* -- Separation Procedures
42 ENGINEERING
420400 -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
ELEMENTS
ENGINES
EXHAUST GASES
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GAS FLOW
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TWO-PHASE FLOW
VAPOR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION CYCLE
WASTES