ARGON AND NITROGEN COPRODUCTION PROCESS

摘要

Argon and nitrogen are separated from a gaseous stream containing them in combination with oxygen in a three-step process comprising introducing the gaseous stream under pressure to a noncryogenic separator to produce therein a stream encircled in nitrogen and argon, introducing said stream into a cryogenic distillation column to produce a high purity nitrogen product. An argon-rich side stream withdrawn from the cryogenic distillation column is introduced into a pressure swing adsorption unit to provide a crude argon product containing 97 percent or more of argon. The first noncryogenic separator may be a pressure swing adsorption unit or a gas diffusion zone.