High pressure nitrogen production cryogenic process
This patent describes a process for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation wherein a feed air stream is compressed by a multi-staged main air compressor, cooled to near the dew point of the feed air stream and separated into a nitrogen overhead stream and an oxygen-enriched bottoms liquid in a rectifier; at least a portion of the nitrogen overhead is condensed to provide reflux for the rectifier; at least another portion of the nitrogen overhead is removed from the process as gaseous nitrogen product; the oxygen-enriched bottoms liquid is stripped in a distillation zone comprising one or more distillation stages into a synthetic air stream and a second oxygen-enriched liquid; and the synthetic air stream is warmed to recover refrigeration and subsequently recycled to the process. The improvement reported is for producing medium to high pressure gaseous nitrogen product in a more energy efficient manner.
- Assignee:
- Air Products and Chemical, Inc., Allentown, PA (USA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4927441; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-428377A
- OSTI ID:
- 7068051
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 27 Oct 1989
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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