Pump reservoir, rectification system and process for low-temperature rectification

Abstract

The invention provides a cryogenic pump reservoir (100), for a cryogenic liquid to be fed to a pump (208), with an interior reservoir space (103) extending between a reservoir bottom (101) and a reservoir top (102) and comprising a liquid feeding region (104), which is positioned at a first distance from the reservoir bottom (101) in the direction of the reservoir top (102), and a liquid removing region (105), which is positioned at a second distance from the reservoir bottom (101) in the direction of the reservoir top (102), the second distance being greater than the first distance. It is provided that in the liquid feeding region (104) there is formed a liquid feeding opening (106), that the interior reservoir space (103) is at least partially divided in the liquid feeding region (104) by means of a dividing wall (106), which is arranged in such a way that one of its surfaces (107) is aligned in the direction of the liquid feeding opening (106. A corresponding rectification system (200) and a process for low-temperature rectification are likewise the subject of the present invention.

We hereby claim: 
     
         1 . A cryogenic pump reservoir ( 100 ), for a cryogenic liquid to be fed to a pump ( 208 ), the pump reservoir ( 100 ) comprising
 an interior reservoir space ( 103 ) extending between a reservoir bottom ( 101 ) and a reservoir top ( 102 );   a liquid feeding region ( 104 ), which is positioned at a first distance from the reservoir bottom ( 101 ) in the direction of the reservoir top ( 102 ); and   a liquid removing region ( 105 ), which is positioned at a second distance from the reservoir bottom ( 101 ) in the direction of the reservoir top ( 102 ), the second distance being greater than the first distance, characterized in that in the liquid feeding region ( 104 ) there is provided a liquid feeding opening ( 106 ), and   
       the interior reservoir space ( 103 ) is at least partially divided in the liquid feeding region ( 104 ) by a dividing wall ( 107 ) having at least one surface, wherein the dividing wall is arranged such that the at least one of its surfaces ( 108 ) is aligned in the direction of the liquid feeding opening ( 106 ). 
     
     
         2 . The cryogenic pump reservoir ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the reservoir bottom ( 101 ) is tapered in a direction away from the interior reservoir space ( 103 ), and has a solids outlet ( 109 ). 
     
     
         3 . The cryogenic pump reservoir ( 100 ) according to  claim 1  or  2 , in which a liquid feeding line is attached to the liquid feeding opening ( 106 ) and the liquid feeding line has a line axis in its end region, wherein the dividing wall ( 107 ) is arranged in such a way that its surface ( 108 ) that is aligned in the direction of the liquid feeding opening ( 106 ) and is arranged at an angle of 80 to 100° to the line axis. 
     
     
         4 . The cryogenic pump reservoir ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the interior reservoir space ( 103 ) has in the liquid feeding region ( 104 ) a cross section that is divided into two parts by the dividing wall ( 107 ), whereby the area of the two parts differs by no more than 20%. 
     
     
         5 . The cryogenic pump reservoir ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the interior reservoir space ( 103 ) between the liquid feeding region ( 104 ) and the liquid removing region ( 105 ) comprises a gas collecting region ( 110 ) that has gas collecting trays ( 111 ), and wherein the gas collecting trays ( 111 ) comprise gas collecting structures ( 112 ) aligned in the direction of the reservoir bottom ( 101 ), and wherein attached to one or each of the gas collecting trays ( 111 ) are provided gas lines ( 113 ) that extend towards of the reservoir top ( 102 ). 
     
     
         6 . The cryogenic pump reservoir ( 100 ) according to  claim 5 , in which the gas collecting structures ( 112 ) are formed as well structures having an opening in the direction of the reservoir bottom ( 101 ). 
     
     
         7 . The cryogenic pump reservoir ( 100 ) according to  claim 5 , in which the gas collecting structures ( 112 ) take the form of a number of grooves in the gas collecting trays ( 111 ). 
     
     
         8 . The cryogenic pump reservoir ( 100 ) according to one of  claims 5  to  7 , in which at least two gas collecting trays ( 111 ) are provided in the gas collecting region ( 110 ), and each gas collecting tray ( 111 ) partially covers a cross section of the interior reservoir space ( 103 ), and the at least two gas collecting trays are arranged offset in relation to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The cryogenic pump reservoir ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a liquid removing opening ( 114 ) is provided in the liquid removing region ( 105 ), the liquid removing opening ( 114 ) having a vortex breaker ( 115 ) which is led out from the interior reservoir space ( 103 ). 
     
     
         10 . Rectification system ( 200 ) comprising: a rectification column ( 201 ) having a column top ( 202 ), a cooling device ( 203 ) and a condensate separator ( 206 ) having a liquid removing opening ( 207 ),
 wherein the column top ( 202 ) is connected by means of a first line ( 203 ) to the cooling device ( 204 ); and the cooling device ( 204 ) is connected by means of a second line ( 205 ) to the condensate separator ( 206 );   the system further comprising a cryogenic pump reservoir ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid feeding opening ( 106 ) of the pump reservoir ( 100 ) is fluidically coupled to the liquid removing opening ( 207 ).   
     
     
         11 . Rectification system ( 200 ) according to  claim 10 , also comprising a pump ( 208 ), which is configured to return the cryogenic liquid from the liquid removing region ( 105 ) of the pump reservoir ( 100 ) to the column top ( 202 ) of the rectification column ( 201 ). 
     
     
         12 . Rectification system ( 200 ) according to  claim 10  or  11 , in which the pump reservoir ( 100 ) has a gas outlet ( 116 ), which is connected to a gas inlet ( 209 ) of the condensate separator ( 206 ). 
     
     
         13 . Process for low-temperature rectification, wherein the method comprises using a pump reservoir ( 100 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  9  or using a rectification system ( 200 ) according to one of  claims 10  to  12 . 
     
     
         14 . Process according to  claim 13 , comprising
 providing a supply of the cryogenic liquid having a temperature of −90 to −110° C.; and   operating the pump reservoir ( 100 ) at a pressure level of 19 to 25 bar (abs.).