System and method for production of argon by cryogenic rectification of air

摘要

A system and method for producing argon that uses a higher pressure column, a lower pressure column, and an argon column collectively configured to produce nitrogen, oxygen and argon products through the cryogenic separation of air. The present system and method also employs a once through argon condensing assembly that is disposed entirely within the lower pressure column that is configured to condense an argon rich vapor stream from the argon column against the oxygen-enriched liquid from the higher pressure column to produce an argon liquid product. The control system is configured for optimizing the production of argon product by ensuring an even flow split of the oxygen-enriched liquid is distributed to the argon condenser cores and by adjusting the flow rate of the argon removed from the argon condensing assembly to maintain the liquid/vapor balance in the argon condensing assembly within appropriate limits.

主权项

1. A method for producing argon by cryogenic rectification of feed air comprising:
(a) directing feed air into a higher pressure column configured to produce oxygen-enriched liquid and a nitrogen-rich stream by cryogenic rectification within the higher pressure column; (b) withdrawing the nitrogen rich stream from the higher pressure column and directing the nitrogen rich stream from the higher pressure column to a lower pressure column configured to produce an oxygen product stream and a nitrogen-rich product stream or waste stream by cryogenic rectification within the lower pressure column; (c) withdrawing an argon-oxygen-containing side stream from the lower pressure column and directing the argon-oxygen-containing side stream from the lower pressure column to an argon column configured to produce an argon-rich vapor stream and a bottoms liquid by cryogenic rectification within the argon column; (d) directing the bottoms liquid from the argon column to the lower pressure column; (e) directing the argon rich vapor stream to an argon condensing assembly disposed within the lower pressure column; (f) withdrawing the oxygen-enriched liquid from the higher pressure column and directing the oxygen-enriched liquid from the higher pressure column to the argon condensing assembly, the argon condensing assembly configured to condense the argon rich vapor stream against the oxygen-enriched liquid from the higher pressure column to produce an argon-rich liquid stream and a partially vaporized oxygen-rich stream; and (g) releasing the partially vaporized oxygen-rich stream into the lower pressure column; (h) removing the argon-rich liquid stream from the argon condensing assembly; wherein any of the oxygen-enriched liquid from the higher pressure column is directed to lower pressure column via the argon condensing assembly; and wherein a portion of the argon-rich liquid stream is removed from the argon condensing assembly as an argon product.