Column for separating air by cryogenic distillation, air separation device comprising such a column and method for producing such a column

Abstract

The invention relates to a column for separating air by means of cryogenic distillation, said column comprising a shell and at least four distillation segments, including at least a first intermediate distillation segment of the low-pressure column, which is surrounded by an auxiliary shell around which a space is defined that is divided into a lower section and an upper section along the radius of the column, the intermediate segment(s) being located in an intermediate part of the low-pressure column, the capacity of the first intermediate segment being greater than that of at least one adjacent segment, and an opening being disposed in the shell between two adjacent segments, which opening can be sealed if the column is to form part of an argon production device.

Claims

1. A method for producing a lower pressure column of an air separating device that can be used for production with and without argon, wherein the lower pressure column is thermally connected with a higher pressure column, wherein the lower pressure column comprises: a main outer shell; a lower distillation segment, a first intermediate distillation segment disposed above the lower distillation segment, a second intermediate distillation segment disposed above the first intermediate distillation segment, a third intermediate distillation segment disposed above the second intermediate distillation segment, and an upper distillation segment disposed above the third intermediate distillation segment, wherein the first intermediate distillation segment is surrounded by an auxiliary shell, wherein the auxiliary shell has a radius that is smaller than the radius of the main outer shell, thereby forming an annular space between the auxiliary shell and the main outer shell; an annular sealing member sealingly joining the auxiliary shell with the main outer shell, wherein the annular space comprises an upper section and a lower section; a first liquid inlet disposed on the main outer shell between the first intermediate distillation segment and the second intermediate distillation segment; a second liquid inlet disposed on the main outer shell between the second intermediate distillation segment and the third intermediate distillation segment; a third liquid inlet disposed on the main outer shell above the third intermediate distillation segment and below the upper distillation segment; a lower liquid inlet disposed on the main outer shell below the annular sealing member; an upper gas inlet disposed on the main outer shell above the annular sealing member; wherein the method comprises the step of: determining whether the lower pressure column will be used in the production of argon; and (A) if the lower pressure column will be used for the production of argon, the method further comprises the steps of: configuring the first intermediate distillation segment to have the same capacity as the second intermediate distillation segment, blocking the first liquid inlet, configuring the second liquid inlet to receive an oxygen-rich liquid from a bottom section of the higher pressure column, configuring the third liquid inlet to receive a liquid air stream, configuring the lower liquid inlet to receive a liquid from an argon column and introduce said liquid into the lower section of the annular space, configuring the upper gas inlet to receive a vaporized liquid from the argon column and introduce said vaporized liquid into the upper section of the annular space; (B) if the lower pressure column will be used without the production of argon, the method further comprises the steps of: configuring the first intermediate distillation section to have a higher capacity than the second intermediate distillation segment, blocking the lower liquid inlet, blocking the upper gas inlet, blocking the third liquid inlet, configuring the first liquid inlet to receive an oxygen-rich liquid from the bottom section of the higher pressure column, and configuring the second liquid inlet to receive the liquid air stream.

2. A lower pressure column of an air separating device that can be used for production with and without argon, wherein the lower pressure column is thermally connected with a higher pressure column when in operation, wherein the lower pressure column comprises: a main outer shell; a lower distillation segment, a first intermediate distillation segment disposed above the lower distillation segment, a second intermediate distillation segment disposed above the first intermediate distillation segment, a third intermediate distillation segment disposed above the second intermediate distillation segment, and an upper distillation segment disposed above the third intermediate distillation segment, wherein the first intermediate distillation segment is surrounded by an auxiliary shell, wherein the auxiliary shell has a radius that is smaller than the radius of the main outer shell, thereby forming an annular space between the auxiliary shell and the main outer shell; an annular sealing member sealingly joining the auxiliary shell with the main outer shell, wherein the annular space comprises an upper section and a lower section; a first liquid inlet disposed on the main outer shell between the first intermediate distillation segment and the second intermediate distillation segment; a second liquid inlet disposed on the main outer shell between the second intermediate distillation segment and the third intermediate distillation segment; a third liquid inlet disposed on the main outer shell above the third intermediate distillation segment and below the upper distillation segment; a lower liquid inlet disposed on the main outer shell below the annular sealing member; an upper gas inlet disposed on the main outer shell above the annular sealing member; wherein a first packing of the first intermediate distillation section has a higher capacity as a second packing of the second intermediate distillation segment, wherein the lower liquid inlet is blocked, wherein the upper gas inlet is blocked, and wherein the third liquid inlet is blocked.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, claims, and accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only several embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention's scope as it can admit to other equally effective embodiments.

(2) FIG. 1 represents a schematic diagram for an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 represents a schematic diagram for an alternate embodiment of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) Example embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

(5) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a low-pressure column of an air distillation device according to the invention designed for use without argon production,

(6) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a low-pressure column of an air distillation device according to the invention designed for use with argon production.

(7) The air distillation facility, the low-pressure column of which is shown in FIG. 1, comprises a medium-pressure column 1, typically operating under approximately 6 bars absolute, surmounted by the low-pressure column 2 typically operating slightly above atmospheric pressure. It can be seen that there is no column for producing pure or impure argon. An evaporator-condenser 4 creates a heat-exchange relationship between the overhead vapor of the column 1, comprising substantially pure nitrogen, and the kettle liquid from the column 2, comprising substantially pure oxygen.

(8) The column 1 receives the pressurized purified air to be separated and produces an oxygen-rich liquid flow and a nitrogen-rich liquid flow, which are both conveyed to the low-pressure column 2.

(9) The very schematic illustration in FIG. 1 is essentially intended to show the fluid inputs/outputs in the facility, as well as the distillation segments defined by same.

(10) The main shell of the low-pressure column 2 comprises six distillation segments, specifically: a lower distillation segment 24 between the base of the column with the liquid output 10 of same and the intermediate distillation segment 25, immediately above the segment 24 with a distributor (not shown) between the two, the first intermediate distillation segment 25 beneath the liquid input 6, the section of the first intermediate distillation segment being smaller than the section of the lower segment, a second intermediate distillation segment 26 between the first and third intermediate distillation segments, a third intermediate distillation segment 27 between the second intermediate distillation segment and an upper distillation segment 28, an upper distillation segment 28 between the third intermediate distillation segment and a minaret segment, the minaret segment 29, the section of which is smaller than the section of the upper distillation segment.

(11) The section of the first intermediate distillation segment is smaller than the sections of the lower segment, upper segment and second and third intermediate segments. The segment 29 is shown using a dotted line since the presence of same is not essential.

(12) The first intermediate segment 25 is a cylindrical body comprising packing surrounded by an auxiliary shell having a smaller diameter than the shell of the column. It is arranged inside the shell of the column and surrounded by an annular-section space delimited by the shell of the column and the auxiliary shell surrounding the packing. An annular sealing member 71 sealingly joins the shell of the column and the auxiliary shell, and the top of the segment 26 is separated from the distributor 29C by spacers 72.

(13) Each of the distillation segments 23 to 29 is made of cross-corrugated structured packing blocks.

(14) As is well known, a cross-corrugated packing block is made of a packet of corrugated plates each arranged in a substantially vertical plane and stuck to one another, each plate having a substantially rectangular shape. The plates are corrugated obliquely, and the direction of incline of the corrugations is inverted from one plate to the next. All of the plates are of the same height, while the length or horizontal dimension of same increases from a minimum value for an end plate to a maximum value for the middle plate, before decreasing to the same minimum value for the other end plate.

(15) Each of the segments 23 to 29 is a continuous packing segment, i.e. a segment comprising a direct stack of elementary packs on one another with no intermediate fluid redistribution device, each elementary pack being turned 90 about the axis of the column in relation to the two adjacent layers. This is possible, despite the large height of certain segments, notably segments 23, 24 and 28, which may comprise respectively 40, 38 and 50 theoretical plates, on account of a number of features set out below.

(16) The distillation segments 24 and 25 on one hand, 25 and 26 on the other, 26 and 27, 27 and 28, finally 28 and 29, are separated from one another by a distributor.

(17) Although the low-pressure column is not designed to be connected to an argon-production column, it nonetheless contains the reduced-section segment 25, which is usually used for low-pressure columns supplying an argon-production column.

(18) Although the packing used for the five segments 24 to 28 are identical in a low-pressure column feeding an argon-production column, the packing used for the first intermediate segment 25 is less dense than the packing in segments 24, 26, 27, 28 and possibly 29. The presence of the segment 29 is not essential.

(19) This means that, when building the column, the decision regarding the packing capacity to be installed in the first intermediate segment can be taken very late, once the decision to produce argon or not to produce argon has been taken. The main shell and the external connections can be manufactured and the final usage to be made of the column 2 depends only on installation of the segment 25.

(20) There are several different ways of altering the capacity of the segment 25. As proposed in document EP-A-0707885, it is possible to modify the edges of the packing segment in order to reduce the resistance to the gas flow in the lower and/or upper portion of the segment in relation to the inside of the segment.

(21) It is also possible to select packing for the section 25 that is at least 50 m.sup.2/m.sup.3 less dense than for the segments 24 and 26. Consequently, the packing for the segment 25 can have an average density of 350 m.sup.2/m.sup.3 while the average density of the packing for the segments 24 and 26 is 500 m.sup.2/m.sup.3.

(22) The objective is to select, if argon production is not required, a segment that has a higher flooding limit than if argon production is required. This difference in limit can be obtained in different ways, for example by selecting segments made of packing having different geometries, with or without a modified lower edge designed to reduce the resistance to gas flow, etc.

(23) An input of rich liquid (oxygen-rich liquid) is provided for between the first and second intermediate segments. Upstream of the column, the liquid is expanded to partially vaporize, and a liquid flow 6 and a gas flow 6A are conveyed to the space between the two segments.

(24) A liquefied-air input is provided between the second and third intermediate segments. Upstream of the column, the liquid is expanded to partially vaporize, and a liquid flow 8 and a gas flow 8A are conveyed to the space between the two segments.

(25) A liquid nitrogen input 17 is provided between the upper segment 28 and the minaret segment 29 (optional), along with a liquid nitrogen input 18 at the top of the minaret segment. If there is no minaret, the liquid nitrogen is conveyed to the column head.

(26) FIG. 1 shows the standard column 2 connected to operate as the low-pressure column of a double column without argon production.

(27) If it is decided to use the same column 2 as the column feeding an argon-production column, the packing of the segment 25 will have the same density as the packing for segments 24, 26, 27, 28 and potentially 29 (for example 500 m.sup.2/m.sup.3). On the other hand, openings need to be formed in the column, as shown in FIG. 2.

(28) The inside of the column is therefore identical to the inside of the column shown in FIG. 1, apart from the capacity of the segment 25. In the segment 25, a pipe is linked to the lower section beneath the barrier 71 to carry an argon-rich gas to the argon-separation column. The kettle liquid from this column goes to the lower section via the pipe 21. The vaporized rich liquid in the head condenser of the argon column goes through the pipe 13 to the upper section.

(29) For reflux flows, the rich liquid 6 and the vaporized rich liquid 6A enter between the second and third intermediate segments 26, 27 and the liquefied air 8 and the vaporized liquefied air 8A enter between the third intermediate segment 27 and the upper segment 28. The nitrogen inputs are identical to the inputs in FIG. 1.

(30) Consequently, before deciding whether or not the column 2 will be used to produce argon, openings can be formed in the first and second intermediate segments 25, 26, the second and third intermediate segments 26, 27 and between the third intermediate segment 27 and the upper segment 28. The column is then manufactured with openings enabling the subsequent connection of fluid pipes leading to or from the argon column, and enabling the connection to the medium-pressure column whether argon production is required or not.

(31) A blind flange or another system is then used to close the unused inputs and outputs if argon production is not required, and to close other unused inputs and outputs if argon production is required.

(32) If argon production is required, the opening between the first and second intermediate segments 25, 26 is blocked, the opening between the second and third intermediate segments 26, 27 enables the ingress of rich liquid and the opening between the third intermediate segment 27 and the other segment 28 enables the ingress of liquefied air.

(33) If argon production is not required, the opening between the first and second intermediate segments 25, 26 enables the ingress of rich liquid, the opening between the second and third intermediate segments 26, 27 enables the ingress of liquefied air and the opening between the third intermediate segment 27 and the upper segments 28 is blocked.

(34) There may nonetheless be differences between the column 2 designed for argon production and the column 2 not designed for argon production. In particular, the type or dimensions of the distributors may vary from one column to another.

(35) While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. The present invention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed and may be practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. Furthermore, if there is language referring to order, such as first and second, it should be understood in an exemplary sense and not in a limiting sense. For example, it can be recognized by those skilled in the art that certain steps can be combined into a single step.

(36) The singular forms a, an and the include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

(37) Comprising in a claim is an open transitional term which means the subsequently identified claim elements are a nonexclusive listing (i.e., anything else may be additionally included and remain within the scope of comprising). Comprising as used herein may be replaced by the more limited transitional terms consisting essentially of and consisting of unless otherwise indicated herein.

(38) Providing in a claim is defined to mean furnishing, supplying, making available, or preparing something. The step may be performed by any actor in the absence of express language in the claim to the contrary.

(39) Optional or optionally means that the subsequently described event or circumstances may or may not occur. The description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not occur.

(40) Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one particular value, and/or to about another particular value. When such a range is expressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value, along with all combinations within said range.

(41) All references identified herein are each hereby incorporated by reference into this application in their entireties, as well as for the specific information for which each is cited.