Patent ID: 6217681
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: C03B,F23L,F25J,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
In the production of gaseous nitrogen by separation of the nitrogen from air in a nitrogen plant located proximate one of a glass or aluminum manufacturing operation using one of oxy-fuel combustion processes, air-fuel combustion processes, or a combination of oxy-fuel combustion and air-fuel combustion processes to provide heating for primary melting of one of glass or aluminum the improvement comprising:operating the nitrogen plant to produce a high purity nitrogen product stream and an oxygen-rich vent stream, said oxygen rich vent stream containing between 40 and 90% oxygen, balance nitrogen, atmospheric gases, carbon dioxide and water; andutilizing the oxygen-rich vent stream in said manufacturing operation as said oxygen source in said oxy-fuel combustion processes or enrichment oxygen in said air-fuel combustion processes to provide heating for primary melting of one of said glass or aluminum.