Provided herein are systems and methods for the processing of exhaust gases of industrial processes in order to reduce or eliminate emission of pollutants (including carbon dioxide) and store energy in the form of cryogenic liquids. Advantageously, the provided systems and methods utilize advanced heat exchanger systems to reduce or eliminate the net power required for operation. The heat exchangers are used both to reduce effluent gases to liquid temperatures as well as reheat previously cooled and separated gases, which can generate electricity via a turbo generator. The described systems and method may also produce cryogenic liquid products (Argon, Krypton, liquid Oxygen, liquid Nitrogen, etc.).

Method and Apparatus for separating at least one CO isotope compound, especially isotope compound 13C16O, from natural CO, comprising: a rectification column system (110) comprising a plurality of rectification sections (112,114,116,118,120) arranged adjacent to one another in a chain-like manner, including an upper rectification section (112) and a plurality of lower rectification sections (114,116,118,120), each rectification section comprising a heating means (112a,114a,116a,118a,120a) to maintain evaporation of liquid present therein, provided that the heating means (112a) of the at least one of the plurality of rectification sections (112) is provided to comprise a heat pump cycle (112b).

Method and Apparatus for separating at least one CO isotope compound, especially isotope compound 13C16O, from natural CO, comprising: a rectification column system (110) comprising a plurality of rectification sections (112,114,116,118,120) arranged adjacent to one another in a chain-like manner, including an upper rectification section (112) and a plurality of lower rectification sections (114,116,118,120), each rectification section comprising a heating means (112a,114a,116a,118a,120a) to maintain evaporation of liquid present therein, provided that the heating means (112a) of the at least one of the plurality of rectification sections (112) is provided to comprise a heat pump cycle (112b).

A SPECTRA process for low-temperature fractionation of air, in which bottoms liquid from an additional second rectification column used to obtain oxygen is evaporated in a second condenser-evaporator. In this second condenser-evaporator, gas that has been evaporated beforehand in a first condenser-evaporator, which is used for condensation of tops gas from a first rectification column, is condensed at the pressure level of the previous evaporation. The invention likewise provides a corresponding plant.

In a process for the separation of a flow containing at least 97% mol of carbon monoxide containing at least one lighter compound and at least one heavier compound, the flow is separated in a column and a column, one of the columns being a denitrogenation column and the other a column for purification in argon, in order to form a flow very rich in carbon monoxide.

The present invention relates to an integrated method and apparatus for providing a synthesis gas to a cryogenic separation unit installed for separating synthesis gas into products selected from carbon monoxide, crude hydrogen, methane-rich fuel and syngas with a particular H.sub.2:CO ratio. More specifically, the invention relates to the purification of synthesis gas routed to a downstream cryogenic separation unit and minimizing temperature disturbances in the separation unit.

A cryogenic technology for the cost-efficient capture of each known component of emissions, such as carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, any other acid vapor, mercury, steam, in a liquefied or frozen/solidified form, and unreacted nitrogen (gas) from industrial plants, such that each of the components is captured separately with minimum use of energy and is industrially useful.

The invention relates to a cryogenic process for recovering valuable components, in particular hydrogen, from a hydrogen-rich feed gas, in particular a hydrogen-rich natural gas, comprising the following steps: in a first separation column (T1), hydrocarbons having two or more carbon atoms are separated off, in a second separation column (T2), methane is separated off, and in a third separation column (T3) nitrogen is separated off, the hydrogen-rich feed gas, after optional precleaning R, being fed to the separation columns T1 to T3 according to steps a) to c) and being separated in the separation columns into a liquid fraction, the bottom product, and a gas fraction, the overhead product. In the cryogenic process according to the invention, the cold supply preferably takes place at least partially through one or more refrigeration cycles.

Methods and apparatus for the production of ultra high purity carbon monoxide having a carbon dioxide content of 0.1 ppm or less is disclosed. Carbon dioxide is removed from a product stream using a reversing heat exchanger to freeze the carbon dioxide out of the product stream, This provides the ultra high purity carbon monoxide product which meets the requirements of the electronic industry applications.

In this patent we disclose, for the first time, detailed methods of our newly invented state-of-the-art cryogenic technology for the cost effective energy efficient capture of each known component of entire emissions (nearly 100%) such as carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), sulfur oxides (SO.sub.x), nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x), carbon monoxide(CO), any other acid vapor, mercury, steam and unreacted nitrogen from industrial plants (coal and natural gas fired power plants, cement plants etc.), in a liquefied or frozen/solidified form, such that each of the components is captured separately and is industrially useful. This new technology includes a novel NH.sub.3 power plant to generate auxiliary electrical power from the heat energy of the flue gas to further improve the energy efficiency and cost effectiveness of the capture processes. It is the most cost effective of all existing emission capture technologies. It does not require use of any chemicals/reagents/external cryogens, unlike the current technologies. It uses only a fixed amount of water needed for the cooling process which can be used repeatedly. We present detailed methods of operations, together with scientific and economic analysis of the energy needed and cost involved for the said capture in two specific examples, and advantages of the new technology over the existing ones.