APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR THE REFRIGERATION, LIQUEFACTION AND SEPARATION OF GASES WITH VARYING LEVELS OF PURITY

摘要

A process for the separation and liquefaction of component gases from a pressurized mixed gas stream (100) is disclosed. The process involves cooling the pressurized mixed gas stream in a heat exchanger (10) so as to condense one or more of the gas components having the highest condensation point; separating the condensed components from the remaining mixed gas stream in a gas-liquid separator (14); cooling the separated condensed component stream (118) by passing it through an expander (12); and passing the cooled component stream back through the heat exchanger (10) such that the cooled component stream functions as the refrigerant for the heat exchanger (10). The cycle is then repeated for the remaining mixed gas stream (116) and continues until all of the component gases are separated from the desired gas stream. The final gas stream (126) is passed through a final heat exchanger (30) and expander (32, 62, 82) to produce a refrigerant gas (108) for the heat exchangers and some liquid (106).