Cryogenic air separation system with hybrid argon column

摘要

A cryogenic rectification system characterized by a hybrid argon column having trays in the lower portion (45) and packing in the upper portion (46) whereby the argon column is operated at a lower pressure thus enabling improved argon recovery while maintaining the pressure sufficiently high at the lower end of the argon column to enable fluid flow back to the main column system without need for pressurization.