Patent ID: 6311517
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: F25J,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for fractionating a gas mixture at low temperature, comprising:a separation column;a heat-exchanger block comprising a main heat-exchanger section and a condenser/evaporator section, wherein the condenser/ evaporator section comprises evaporation passages and condensation passages;a first feed gas line for supplying feed gas to the main heat-exchanger section;a second feed gas line for introducing cooled feed gas into the separation column;a first liquid line leading from a lower region of the separation column to an inlet of the evaporation passages;a gas line that leads from an upper region of the separation column to the condensation passages;a reflux line to introduce condensate which is formed in the condensation passages into the upper region of the separation column;a phase-separation device connected to an outlet of the evaporation passages; anda second liquid line leading from the phase-separation device to an inlet of the evaporation passages and also connected to a purge line.