Patent ID: 6314757
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: F25J,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for processing atmospheric fluids to produce gaseous oxygen, liquid nitrogen, and a rare gas richer liquid comprising:(A) passing a feed liquid into a cryogenic rectification column, said feed liquid comprising oxygen, krypton and xenon, and passing the feed liquid down the cryogenic rectification column against upflowing vapor;(B) separating the feed liquid by cryogenic rectification within the cryogenic rectification column to produce oxygen vapor and a rare gas richer liquid, and recovering oxygen vapor from the upper portion of the rectification column as product gaseous oxygen;(C) vaporizing a portion of the rare gas richer liquid by indirect heat exchange by nitrogen vapor to generate said upflowing vapor and to produce liquid nitrogen; and(D) recovering at least some of said liquid nitrogen, and recovering rare gas richer liquid from the lower portion of the cryogenic rectification column.