Low energy consumption method for separating gaseous mixtures and in particular for medium purity oxygen production

Patent · Tue Mar 22 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:7256322

Jujasz, A J; Burkhart, J A; Greenberg, R

A method for the separation of gaseous mixtures, the major components of which are oxygen and nitrogen, for producing medium purity oxygen is described comprising: compressing the gaseous mixture in a first compressor to super atmospheric pressure, and dividing the pressurized gaseous mixture into first and second mixture streams; cooling the first mixture stream to its boiling point and introducing the first mixture stream into the high pressure chamber of a double rectification column; compressing and cooling the second mixture stream, condensing the cooled second mixture stream, and delivering the condensed second mixture stream to the high pressure chamber of the double rectification column; separating the gaseous mixtures in the double rectification column into a liquid oxygen product stream and a gaseous nitrogen stream, removing the liquid oxygen product stream from the low pressure chamber of the double rectification column, pumping the liquid oxygen product stream to a predetermined pressure, evaporating the oxygen product stream in an evaporator-condenser, heating the oxygen product stream, and blending the oxygen product stream with a compressed blend-air stream to the desired oxygen concentration.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4732597
• OSTI ID: 7256322
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
COMPRESSED GASES
COMPRESSION
COOLING
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EVAPORATION
FLUIDS
GASES
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PRESSURIZING
PRODUCTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES