Patent ID: 6321568
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: F25J

Abstract:
Process for the separation of air by distillation in order to produce a gaseous product, in which:i) air is cooled in a heat exchanger (9) and sent to a cryogenic distillation apparatus (11, 12);ii) the air is separated in the cryogenic apparatus in order to form oxygen-enriched and nitrogen-enriched fluids and at least one liquid;iii) liquid is sent to the heat exchanger where it partially vaporizes;iv) the partially vaporized stream (39) is sent to a phase separator (37);v) a gas stream is withdrawn from the phase separator and warmed in a heat exchanger;vi) one portion of the liquid stream is sent from the phase separator back to the exchanger and another portion of the liquid (36) is taken off, characterized in that, in step iii), the liquid is sent directly to the exchanger, possibly after having been pressurized, and is not sent to the phase separator before having been sent to the exchanger.