Patent ID: 11885562
Assignee: L'AIR LIQUIDE, SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC F  B  C | IPC B  F

Claim 9:
10. An apparatus for separating argon by cryogenic distillation, comprising a distillation column, a means for sending a flow containing argon, oxygen and nitrogen and being more rich in argon than the air to the distillation column, and a means for withdrawing an argon-rich gas flow at the top of the column,
further comprising a mixer for mixing a portion of the argon-rich gas flow with beads having a diameter of less than 5 mm to form a gas mixture containing beads, the beads being made of an adsorptive material or coated with an adsorptive material, the adsorptive material being configured to absorb oxygen in the presence of argon at the column operating temperatures, a condenser for condensing the mixture and a line for sending the condensed mixture from the condenser to the top of the column, a line for withdrawing a bottom liquid containing beads from the column, a device for separating the beads from the bottom liquid, a regeneration apparatus for regenerating the separated beads to remove the adsorbed oxygen, and a line for sending the regenerated beads to the mixer.