SEPARATION OF GAS MIXTURES BY PARTIAL CONDENSATION

摘要

In processes wherein the cold for the separation of a gas mixture at superatmospheric pressure by partial condensation at cryogenic temperatures is provided by subjecting the condensate to Joule-Thomson expansion and effecting heat exchange between the expanded condensate and uncondensed vapour, as returning streams, and the feed gas mixture, and wherein the pressure at which the expanded condensate is required to be delivered is so high that the sum of the enthalpies of said returning streams is not sufficiently in excess of the enthalpy of the feed gas mixture for at least part of the temperature range over which cooling is to be effected, a closed heat pump cycle is provided in which a compressed multicomponent gaseous medium is condensed by heat exchange with said returning streams over a first temperature range and then expanded by Joule-Thomson expansion, and the expanded condensate is evaporated by heat exchange with the feed gas mixture over a lower temperature range than said first temperature range, and recycled for recompression.