Process and Apparatus for the Separation of Air by Cryogenic Distillation

Abstract

This disclosure discusses the problems associated with the design, layout, and construction of units and equipment in air separation units. The invention of this disclosure provides a process and apparatus using multiple discrete subcoolers. The nitrogen stream exiting the cryogenic distillation columns cools streams in the subcoolers. By having at least two subcoolers, the size of the nitrogen vent (nitrogen waste or product stream) can be reduced. This saves fabrication costs and improves reliability by reducing thermal stresses in the piping and equipment. Subcoolers cool rich liquid, lean liquid, liquid oxygen, and/or liquid air streams coming from the main heat exchanger or a system of separation columns. The disclosure also discusses integration of the subcoolers with the main heat exchangers.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A process for separating air by cryogenic distillation using at least two discrete subcoolers comprising the steps of:
 a) compressing an air stream;   b) cooling said air stream in a main heat exchanger;   c) feeding said air stream to a system of separation columns;   d) separating at least one nitrogen stream from said air stream in said system of separation columns;   e) removing a first subcooler nitrogen stream and a second subcooler nitrogen stream from the system of separation columns;   f) passing said first subcooler nitrogen stream through a first subcooler;   g) passing said second subcooler nitrogen stream through a second subcooler;   h) sending said first subcooler nitrogen stream to said main heat exchanger after said first subcooler nitrogen stream passes through said first subcooler;   i) sending said second subcooler nitrogen stream to said main heat exchanger after said second nitrogen subcooler stream passes through said second subcooler;   j) cooling at least a first process stream in said first subcooler; and   k) cooling at least a second process stream in said second subcooler.   
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein said main heat exchanger comprises a low-pressure main heat exchanger and a high-pressure main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein said first subcooler nitrogen stream feeds said low-pressure main heat exchanger after said first subcooler nitrogen stream passes through said low-pressure subcooler. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein said first subcooler is integrated with said low-pressure main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein said second subcooler nitrogen stream feeds said high-pressure main heat exchanger after said second nitrogen subcooler stream passes through said high-pressure subcooler. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein said second subcooler is integrated with said high-pressure main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein said nitrogen stream comes from a low pressure separation column of a double or triple air separation column or an intermediate pressure column of a triple column. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein the flow rates of said first subcooler nitrogen stream and said second subcooler nitrogen stream are controlled by a control system. 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 28 , wherein said control system comprises a first control valve and a second control valve. 
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein said first process stream is selected from the group of streams consisting of a rich liquid stream, a liquid air stream, a lean liquid stream, a liquid oxygen stream, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein said second process stream is selected from the group of streams consisting of a rich liquid stream, a liquid air stream, a lean liquid stream, a liquid oxygen stream, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 22 , comprising removing a nitrogen stream from the system of separation columns and dividing the nitrogen stream to form first and second subcooler nitrogen streams. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation using at least two discrete subcoolers comprising:
 a) a system of separation columns (ASU);   b) a first subcooler;   c) a second subcooler;   d) a main heat exchanger;   e) a conduit for sending nitrogen from said system of separation columns to said first subcooler;   f) a conduit for sending nitrogen from said system of separation columns to said second subcooler;   g) a conduit for sending nitrogen from said first subcooler to said main heat exchanger;   h) a conduit for sending nitrogen from said second subcooler to said main heat exchanger;   i) a conduit for sending a first warm stream to said first subcooler, wherein said first warm stream is cooled in said first subcooler;   j) a conduit for sending a second warm stream to said second subcooler, wherein said second warm stream is cooled in said high-pressure subcooler;   k) a conduit for sending a first cooled stream from said low-pressure subcooler to said system of separation columns; and   l) a conduit for sending a second cooled stream from said high-pressure subcooler to said system of separation columns.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising a control system, wherein said control system controls the nitrogen stream flow rates to said first subcooler and said second subcooler. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein said main heat exchanger comprises a low-pressure main heat exchanger and a high-pressure main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein said conduit for sending nitrogen from said first subcooler to said main heat exchanger sends nitrogen from said first subcooler to said low-pressure main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein said conduit for sending nitrogen from said second subcooler to said main heat exchanger sends nitrogen from said second subcooler to said high-pressure main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein said first subcooler is integrated with said low-pressure main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said second subcooler is integrated with said high-pressure main heat exchanger. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of claim  44 , comprising means for dividing a nitrogen stream from a column of the column system to form first and second subcooler streams.