APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING A GASEOUS MIXTURE AT SUB-AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AND METHOD FOR KEEPING SUCH AN APPARATUS COLD

摘要

A method for separating a gaseous mixture (1, 7) in a separation apparatus operating at sub-ambient temperature uses a heat pump (21) using the magnetocaloric effect to exchange heat between a cold source at a first sub-ambient temperature and a hot source at a temperature higher than the first temperature and, when the separation carried out in the apparatus stops, the heat pump is kept running in order to keep the apparatus cold, at least partially compensating for the heat inputs.