| 摘要 |
For separating two primary components of a multi-component feed stream (e.g., methane and nitrogen) in the presence of a third, freezable component (e.g., carbon dioxide) having a relative volatility less than that of either primary component, at least a lower distillation section 106 and a controlled freezing zone ("CFZ" - 108) are employed. In one arrangement, the freezable component is frozen in the CFZ, and the resulting solids are collected at the bottom of the CFZ. The CFZ also produces a vapor overhead product enriched in one of the primary components and a liquid bottom product enriched in the other primary component. The solids of the freezable component are melted and mixed with the CFZ liquid bottom product to form a liquid feed stream for the distillation section which operates like a conventional distillation section, while tolerating significantly high concentrations (i.e., >0.1 mole %) of the freezable component without solids formation, at temperatures well below the freezable component's freezing point. <IMAGE>
|
