Patent US4217759A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4217759A
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Cryogenic process for separating synthesis gas
Assignee: Katalistiks International Inc
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Filing: 1979-03-28
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Granted: 1980-08-19
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Expires: 1999-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenic separation of a feed gas mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane by partial condensation, in which the feed gas is partially cooled and condensed, then separated to form first gas and liquid fractions, the latter is separated into carbon monoxide product gas and methane product gas, and the first gas fraction is further cooled for additional partial condensation and separated into a hydrogen enriched gas fraction and a second carbon monoxide rich liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 Thirtahalli A. Shenoy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:28
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/0228; F25J3/0261; C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/50; C01B3/506; C07; C07C; C07C7/00; C07C7/005; F25J3/0204; F25J3/0223; F25J3/0233; F25J3/0252; C01B2203/00; C01B2203/04; C01B2203/046; C01B2203/0465; C01B2203/047; C01B2203/048; F25J2200/00; F25J2200/70; F25J2200/74; F25J2200/80; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/02; F25J2205/04; F25J2215/00; F25J2215/60; F25J2245/00; F25J2245/02; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S62/00; Y10S62/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
In the cryogenic separation of a gas mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane by partial condensation in which the feed gas mixture is provided at super atmospheric pressure above about 300 psia and partially cooled to condense a first liquid fraction and recover a first gas fraction, the first liquid fraction is separated into a carbon monoxide product gas and methane product liquid, the first gas fraction is further cooled for additional partial condensation and separated into a hydrogen enriched gas fraction and a second carbon monoxide rich liquid, the improvement comprising: (a) treating said first liquid fraction so as to provide a carbon monoxide rich liquid feed for the carbon monoxide-methane separation; (b) further cooling the first gas fraction at about said super atmospheric pressure for said additional partial condensation and separating the same into a second liquid fraction and a second gas fraction as said hydrogen enriched gas; (c) rewarming said second gas fraction as said hydrogen enriched gas fraction by heat exchange initially with the further cooling first gas fraction and thereafter with the partially cooling feed gas mixture; (d) expanding said second liquid fraction to lower pressure between 20 psia and 130 psia, and separating the same into a third liquid fraction and a third gas fraction; (e) providing said third gas fraction at low super atmospheric pressure below about 50 psia; (f) providing a minor portion of a carbon monoxide rich liquid obtained from the cooled feed gas mixture after further cooling, at said low super atmospheric pressure of step (e) and combining the so-provided minor portion with the third gas fraction of (e) to form a recycle gas mixture; (g) rewarming said recycle gas mixture by heat exchange initially with the further cooling first gas fraction and thereafter with the partially cooling feed gas mixture; and (h) flowing at least a major portion of said third liquid fraction to the carbon monoxide-methane separation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
In the cryogenic separation of a gas mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane by partial condensation in which the feed gas mixture is provided at super atmospheric pressure above about 300 psia and partially cooled to condense a first liquid fraction and recover a first gas fraction, the first liquid fraction is separated into a carbon monoxide product gas and methane product liquid, the first gas fraction is further cooled for additional partial condensation and separated into a hydrogen enriched gas fraction and a second carbon monoxide rich liquid, the improvement comprising: (a) treating said first liquid fraction so as to provide a carbon monoxide rich liquid feed for the carbon monoxide-methane separation; (b) further cooling the first gas fraction at about said super atmospheric pressure for said additional partial condensation and separating the same into a second liquid fraction and a second gas fraction as said hydrogen enriched gas; (c) rewarming said second gas fraction as said hydrogen enriched gas fraction by heat exchange initially with the further cooling first gas fraction and thereafter with the partially cooling feed gas mixture; (d) expanding said second liquid fraction to lower pressure between 20 psia and 130 psia, and separating the same into a third liquid fraction and a third gas fraction; (e) providing said third gas fraction at low super atmospheric pressure below about 50 psia; (f) providing a minor portion of a carbon monoxide rich liquid obtained from the cooled feed gas mixture after further cooling, at said low super atmospheric pressure of step (e) and combining the so-provided minor portion with the third gas fraction of (e) to form a recycle gas mixture; (g) rewarming said recycle gas mixture by heat exchange initially with the further cooling first gas fraction and thereafter with the partially cooling feed gas mixture; and (h) flowing at least a major portion of said third liquid fraction to the carbon monoxide-methane separation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said first liquid fraction of (a) is throttled to lower super atmospheric pressure between 20 psia and 130 psia, separated into a lower pressure liquid fraction as said carbon monoxide rich liquid feed, and a lower pressure gas fraction which is warmed by heat exchange with said feed gas mixture during the partial cooling thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
201 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said first liquid fraction of (a) is throttled to lower super atmospheric pressure, separated into a lower pressure liquid fraction and a lower pressure gas fraction with the latter being warmed by heat exchange with said feed gas mixture during the partial cooling thereof, said lower pressure liquid fraction is further cooled, again throttled to still lower super atmospheric pressure and separated into a still lower pressure gas fraction and a still lower pressure liquid fraction, said still lower pressure gas fraction is first partially warmed by heat exchange with both the further cooling and additionally condensing first gas fraction and the further cooling lower pressure liquid fraction and thereafter further warmed by heat exchange with said feed gas mixture during the partial cooling thereof, at least a major part of said still lower pressure liquid fraction is partially reboiled by heat exchange with both the further cooling and additionally condensing first gas fraction and the further cooling lower pressure liquid fraction, and at least part of the partially reboiled still lower pressure liquid fraction is passed to the carbon monoxide-methane separation as at least part of said carbon monoxide rich liquid feed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method according to claim 3 in which another part of said partially reboiled still lower pressure liquid fraction is separated into a gas stream which is warmed by heat exchange with said feed gas mixture during the partial cooling thereof, and a liquid fraction which is passed to the carbon monoxidemethane separation as the remainder of said carbon monoxide rich liquid feed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
302 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said first liquid fraction of (a) is throttled to lower super atmospheric pressure, separated into a lower pressure liquid fraction and a lower pressure gas fraction with the latter being warmed by heat exchange with said feed gas mixture during the partial cooling thereof, said lower pressure liquid fraction is further cooled, again throttled to still lower super atmospheric pressure and separated into a still lower pressure gas fraction and a still lower pressure liquid fraction said still lower pressure gas fraction is first partially warmed by heat exchange with both the further cooling and additionally condensing first gas fraction and the further cooling lower pressure liquid fraction and thereafter further warmed by heat exchange with said feed gas mixture during the partial cooling thereof, at least a major part of said still lower pressure liquid fraction is partially reboiled by heat exchange with both the further cooling and additionally condensing first gas fraction and the further cooling lower pressure liquid fraction but the partially reboiled fluid is withdrawn from an intermediate temperature level of the further cooling heat exchange and separated into a partially rewarmed still lower pressure gas fraction and a partially rewarmed still lower pressure liquid fraction, said partially rewarmed still lower pressure gas fraction is further rewarmed by heat exchange with said feed gas mixture during the partial cooling thereof, said partially rewarmed still lower pressure liquid fraction is returned to about said intermediate temperature level and such returned liquid fraction is further reboiled by additional heat exchange with both the further cooling and additionally condensing first gas fraction and the further cooling lower pressure liquid fraction, and the further reboiled still lower pressure liquid fraction is passed to the carbon monoxide-methane separation as said carbon monoxide rich liquid feed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
231 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said carbon monoxide-methane separation comprises an upper rectification section to which said third liquid fraction is flowed and a lower stripping section, said first liquid fraction of (a) is further cooled, throttled to lower super atmospheric pressure and separated into a lower pressure gas fraction and a lower pressure liquid fraction, said lower pressure gas fraction is rewarmed by heat exchange with the further cooling first liquid fraction and the further cooling first gas and thereafter by heat exchange with the partially cooling feed gas, at least a major part of said lower pressure liquid fraction is partially reboiled by heat exchange with the further cooling first liquid fraction and the further cooling first gas, the partially reboiled lower pressure liquid fraction is passed to said stripping section as said carbon monoxide rich liquid feed, overhead gas from said upper rectification section is cooled and partially condensed by heat exchange with said recycle gas mixture between the rewarming and further rewarming of (g), the condensate is returned to said upper rectification section as reflux liquid, the uncondensed gas is rewarmed by heat exchange with said partially cooling feed gas mixture and discharged as said carbon monoxide product gas, and the liquid from the lower end of said upper rectifying section is withdrawn and passed to the further cooled lower pressure liquid-gas fraction separation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A method according to claim 6 in which a liquid-gas mixture is withdrawn from an intermediate temperature level of the feed gas partial cooling-condensation, separated into an intermediate temperature gas which is returned to the partial cooling step and an intermediate temperature methane enriched liquid which is further cooled and thereafter subcooled, throttling the subcooled methane enriched liquid and partially reboiling the throttled liquid by heat exchange with said overall gas from said upper rectification section, separating the partially reboiled fluid into a gas fraction which is warmed by heat exchange with the partially cooling feed gas mixture and a liquid which is introduced to the lower stripping section of said carbon monoxide-methane separation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the carbon monoxide rich liquid of (e) is provided by diverting a minor part of said third liquid fraction from (e).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 3 in which the carbon monoxide rich liquid of (e) is provided by diverting a minor part of said lower pressure liquid fraction prior to the partial reboiling.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1 in which a minor part of said second gas fraction from (b) is diverted and mixed with said third vapor fraction of (e) for further cooling prior to said rewarming of (g).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-08-19 | 1984-02-18 | 1984-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-19 | 1988-02-18 | 1988-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-19 | 1992-02-18 | 1992-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |