Patent ID: 6070430
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: C01B,F25J,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
In a process for separating carbon monoxide from a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and nitrogen comprising:partially condensing the mixture to provide a hydrogen-enriched vapor feed fraction and a carbon monoxide-enriched liquid feed fraction;separating nitrogen and carbon monoxide contents of said liquid fraction in a distillation column to provide nitrogen-freed carbon monoxide liquid bottoms and nitrogen-enriched vapor overheads;condensing at least a portion of said overheads; andreturning at least a portion of said condensed overheads to said nitrogen-separation column as reflux, the improvement consisting in that said vapor overheads portion is condensed by heat exchange against a recycle heat pump stream derived from said gaseous mixture and containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide.