Method and apparatus for the production and liquefaction of gases.

摘要

A method for liquefying off-gas and gasifying liquid oxygen comprising the steps of: generating off-gas by wet oxidation reaction; flowing the off-gas into a heat-exchanger; flowing the liquid oxygen into the heat exchanger such that the off-gas and the liquid oxygen are in heat transfer relation with each other; allowing a sufficient quantity of heat to flow from the off-gas to the liquid oxygen such that the off-gas is liquified to form a liquid product and so that the liquid oxygen is converted to gaseous oxygen; flowing the liquid product out of the heat exchanger; flowing the gaseous oxygen out of the heat exchanger; and using the gaseous oxygen as an oxidant in the wet oxidation reaction. An apparatus which produces and liquifies gases, comprising: a reaction apparatus (10) for oxidizing organic matter in an aqueous medium at high temperature and pressure to substantially oxidize the organic matter producing an effluent (14) which includes an ash, water and off-gases; a separator (26) for receiving the effluent and for separating the off-gases (30) from the effluent (14); means for flowing the effluent (14) from the reaction apparatus (12) to the separator; a compressor (42) for receiving the off-gases (30) from the separator (26) and for compressing the off-gases (30) to produce a gas pressure greater than the pressure at which the off-gases reside in the separator (26); means for flowing the off-gases from the separator (26) to the compressor (42); a cooler (50) for receiving the pressurized off-gases from the compressor (42) and for cooling the pressurized off-gases to a temperature less than the temperature of the off-gases in said compressor (42); means for flowing the pressurized off-gases from the compressor (42) to the cooler (50); supply means (54) for containing a supply of liquid oxygen; a heat-exchanger (62) for receiving the pressurized off-gases from the cooler (50) and for receiving the liquid oxygen contemporaneous with the pressurized off-gases, the heat exchanger (62) having means for allowing the separate flow of the pressurized off-gases and the liquid oxygen therethrough such that heat is transferred from the off-gases to the liquid oxygen at a rate which liquefies the off-gases to form a liquid product (68) and gasifies the liquid oxygen; means for flowing the gaseous oxygen (22) to the reaction apparatus (10) for use in oxidizing the organic matter; and means for flowing the liquid product (68) from the heat-exchanger (62).