Process to collect xenon from air in rectification column - includes constant addition of liquid coolant and addition of fluid coolant to lower operating costs

摘要

In a process to collect Xenon from air, raw Xenon (1) is introduced to the centre section of a head-cooled rectification column (2), from the upper area of which is a residual flow of gas (10) flows and from the lower area of which a stream of Xenon prod. gas (3) is removed. The novelty is that the gaseous fraction (4) is partly liquefied at the head of the column (2) by indirect heat exchange with a gaseous coolant (11) in a condenser (5); that the resulting condensate (9) is returned to the rectification column (2); that the coolant flows through a circuit (12) at one point of which liquid coolant is added (14), and that gaseous coolant is removed at another position (15). USE/ADVANTAGE - The process collects Xenon from air. The process works with simpler appts. and at lower cost than previous processes, esp. by virtue of lower operational and maintenance costs for the head cooling.