| 摘要 |
649,277. Separation of air. BRITISH OXYGEN CO., Ltd., and ROBERTS, N. W. Feb. 12, 1948, No. 4085. [Class 8(ii)] A process for separating argon from air comprises rectifying the air in a column 1 to produce an argon-oxygen fraction, increasing the pressure of such fraction at a compressor 10 and transferring it to an auxiliary rectification zone 11 wherein it is separated into an argon rich fraction delivered at a valve 16 and a substantially pure oxygen fraction delivered at a valve 15, the temperature gradient in the zone 11 being maintained by indirect condensation of a fluid in a coil 12 and its vaporization at a condenser 13 at such a pressure that the vaporized fluid can act as reflux medium in the primary rectification zone. The fluid consists of nitrogen from the top of the column 1 which is heated to normal temperatures in exchangers 8, 24, 25, compressed at a compressor 26 and one portion expanded to ten atmospheres at an engine 27 and mixed with liquid nitrogen leaving the exchanger 24 and also expanded to ten atmospheres at a valve 28. The mixture is thereafter condensed in the coil 12 and is revaporized in the condenser 13 and afterwards used as reflux in the lower column 2.
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