Molecular sieve regenerated with compressor effluent heat from air separation compressor minimizes energy requirement

摘要

A process regenerates a molecular sieve (5) using a regeneration medium which is pre-heated by effluent process heat. The process heat is supplied by effluent heat from a compressor (4) preferably a turbo-compressor together with supplementary heat from an electrical element. The regeneration medium is residual nitrogen from an air separation plant. The compressor effluent heat is surrendered to a medium preferably water (3) which is fed to a heat exchanger.