Patent ID: 6637240
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: F25J,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for producing a nitrogen-enriched valor product from a supply of a nitrogen-rich liquid, said process using a purifying device and a distillation column having a distillation zone, comprising the steps of:feeding at least a portion of the supply of the nitrogen-rich liquid to the distillation zone at a first location; feeding a stream of a gas containing nitrogen and at least one contaminant to the purifying device, wherein the gas is cooled by a cryogenic liquid whereby at least a portion of the at least one contaminant condenses, solidifies, or dissolves; eventually feeding at least a portion of the cooled gas from the purifying device to the distillation zone at a second location below the first location; withdrawing a stream of the nitrogen-enriched vapor product from the distillation zone; and withdrawing a stream of an oxygen-enriched liquid from the distillation zone; wherein the contaminant is water, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof.