Air separation plant with reserved argon extraction port

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of air separation equipment of reserved argon extraction port, it is related to air separation equipment, including main rectifying tower, argon efficiency tower and the pipeline system for making both communicate cooperation, wherein: main rectifying tower, it includes middle pressure tower, low pressure tower and the main condenser evaporator of making both communicate;Argon efficiency tower, it includes argon efficiency tower body and argon efficiency tower condenser;The pipeline system for making main rectifying tower and argon efficiency tower communicate, it includes: first process pipeline, it is fixedly communicated in the middle lower portion of the low pressure tower with the bottom of the argon efficiency tower body, for conveying argon fraction;Second process pipeline, it is fixedly communicated in the bottom of the argon efficiency tower body with the middle lower portion of the low pressure tower.The utility model makes air separation equipment by reserving cold box and specific pipeline design, can be flexibly converted between efficient efficiency mode and high-purity argon production mode, to meet the dynamic demand of user early energy saving and later high-purity argon production with one-time investment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to air separation equipment, specifically an air separation equipment with a reserved argon extraction port. Background Technology

[0002] Air separation equipment is a core device for producing key industrial gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. In recent years, with the rapid development of my country's metallurgical, chemical, and petrochemical industries, the demand for air separation equipment has continued to grow, and the process flow has become increasingly diversified.

[0003] In the coal chemical industry, air separation equipment primarily needs to meet the demand for large quantities of oxygen and nitrogen products, while the demand for argon products is relatively low. Therefore, compared to processes without argon, using a process with an enhancement tower not only improves oxygen extraction rate but also effectively reduces equipment energy consumption.

[0004] With the development of industries such as metallurgy and electronics, the market demand for argon products is constantly increasing. By reserving ports for argon extraction on air separation equipment with an efficiency-enhancing tower process, the flexibility of the equipment can be improved and the diverse needs of customers can be met. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an air separation device with a reserved argon extraction port to address the aforementioned shortcomings in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: an air separation unit with a reserved argon extraction port, comprising a main distillation column, an argon enhancement column, and a piping system for connecting and coordinating the two, wherein: The main distillation column includes a medium-pressure column, a low-pressure column, and a main condenser-evaporator that connects the two. Argon enhancement tower, which includes argon enhancement tower body and argon enhancement tower condenser. The piping system connecting the main distillation column and the argon enhancement column includes: The first process pipeline is fixedly connected to the lower middle part of the low-pressure tower and the bottom of the argon enhancement tower body for conveying argon fractions; The second process pipeline is fixedly connected to the bottom of the argon enhancement tower and the lower middle part of the low-pressure tower for conveying oxygen-enriched liquid. The third process pipeline is fixedly connected to the bottom of the argon enhancement tower for oxygen-enriched liquid reflux. The fourth process pipeline is fixedly connected to the bottom of the medium-pressure tower and the argon enhancement tower condenser for conveying oxygen-enriched liquid air. The fifth process pipeline is fixedly connected to the top of the argon enhancement tower condenser and the middle of the low-pressure tower for conveying oxygen-enriched liquid air reflux. The sixth process pipeline is fixedly connected to the middle of the argon enhancement tower condenser and the low-pressure tower for conveying oxygen-enriched gas. The seventh process pipeline is fixedly connected to the top of the argon enhancement tower condenser for outputting crude argon gas.

[0007] Preferably, a reserved cold box is also included, and portions of the first process pipeline, the second process pipeline, the third process pipeline and the seventh process pipeline all pass through the reserved cold box.

[0008] Preferably, the piping system further includes multiple additional piping lines for connecting to the additional argon tower: A first additional pipeline is drawn from the first process pipeline; A second additional pipeline is drawn from the second process pipeline; The third additional pipeline is connected to the second process pipeline; A fourth additional pipeline is connected to the first process pipeline; The fifth additional pipeline is led out from the seventh process pipeline.

[0009] Preferably, the additional argon tower includes an argon tower body; The first additional pipeline is connected to the bottom of the argon tower body; The second additional pipeline is connected to the top of the argon tower body; The third additional pipeline extends from the bottom of the argon tower body; The fourth additional pipeline is connected from the top of the argon tower body; The fifth additional pipeline is connected from the argon enhancement tower condenser.

[0010] Preferably, the number of trays in the argon enhancement tower is between 30 and 50, and the number of trays in the additional argon tower is between 170 and 190.

[0011] Preferably, the interface position of the first process pipeline on the low-pressure tower is equivalent to the interface position of the second process pipeline on the low-pressure tower.

[0012] Preferably, the interface position of the fifth process pipeline on the low-pressure tower is equivalent to the interface position of the sixth process pipeline on the low-pressure tower, and the interface position is higher than the interface position of the first process pipeline.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the air separation equipment with a reserved argon extraction port provided by this utility model has the following effects: the equipment can switch between a high-efficiency "enhancing mode" and a high-purity "argon production mode" according to actual needs, effectively meeting the diverse needs of customers over time, and greatly improving the adaptability and market competitiveness of the equipment.

[0014] Secondly, when it is necessary to switch from the efficiency enhancement mode to the argon production mode, there is no need to carry out large-scale structural modifications to core equipment such as the main distillation column. Only the connection of standardized interfaces needs to be completed in the reserved cold box, which greatly simplifies the upgrade process, significantly shortens downtime, and reduces subsequent modification costs and risks.

[0015] By organically combining an argon enhancement tower with fewer trays with an additional argon tower with more trays, the system's energy consumption can be reduced by increasing the oxygen extraction rate in the enhancement mode, while also ensuring the stable production of high-purity argon products in the argon production mode. This achieves optimal overall performance under all operating conditions.

[0016] The process piping adopts a stepped interface layout on the low-pressure tower, which conforms to the concentration gradient distribution of the distillation process, optimizes the material and energy exchange between towers, and further ensures the stability and economy of the entire system under different operating modes. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first embodiment provided by the present utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second embodiment of the present utility model.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Main distillation column; 2. Argon enhancement column; 4. Additional argon column; 31. First process pipeline; 32. Second process pipeline; 33. Third process pipeline; 34. Fourth process pipeline; 35. Fifth process pipeline; 36. Sixth process pipeline; 37. Seventh process pipeline; 51. First auxiliary pipeline; 52. Second auxiliary pipeline; 53. Third auxiliary pipeline; 54. Fourth auxiliary pipeline; 55. Fifth auxiliary pipeline. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of this utility model, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] This utility model provides a technical solution: an air separation unit with a reserved argon extraction port, comprising a main distillation column 1, an argon enhancement column 2, and a piping system 3 for connecting and coordinating the two. The detailed structure is described in the following embodiment: Example 1

[0022] Combination Figure 1 As shown, this example provides an air separation unit in enhanced mode. The air separation unit includes a main distillation column 1, an argon enhancement column 2, and a piping system 3. The main distillation column 1 includes a medium-pressure column K01, a low-pressure column K02, and a main condenser-evaporator E02 connecting the two columns. The argon enhancement column 2 includes an argon enhancement column body K10-1 and an argon enhancement column condenser E10. The crude argon gas produced by the argon enhancement column itself cannot meet the requirements of the argon product; the argon enhancement column is set up to improve the purity of the oxygen product.

[0023] To meet the requirements of distillation and heat exchange, the main distillation column 1 and the argon enhancement column 2 are connected by a piping system 3. The piping system 3 includes multiple process pipelines. The first process pipeline 31 transports the argon fraction RG1 from the low-pressure tower K02 to the argon enhancement tower body K10-1. The second process pipeline 32 returns the oxygen-enriched liquid RL1 from the argon enhancement tower body to the low-pressure tower K02. The third process pipeline 33 refluxes the oxygen-enriched liquid RL2 from the argon enhancement tower body back into the argon enhancement tower body. The fourth process pipeline 34 transports the oxygen-enriched liquid air RL3 from the medium-pressure tower K01 to the argon enhancement tower condenser E10. The sixth process pipeline 36 transports the oxygen-enriched gas RG2 from the argon enhancement tower condenser E10 to the low-pressure tower K02. The fifth process pipeline 35 returns the oxygen-enriched liquid air RL4 from the argon enhancement tower condenser E10 to the low-pressure tower K02. The seventh process pipeline 37 discharges the crude argon gas GAR produced by the argon enhancement tower K10-1.

[0024] Specifically, the first process line 31 extends from the lower middle part of the low-pressure tower K02, transporting the argon fraction RG1 to the bottom of the argon enhancement tower K10-1; the second process line 32 extends from the bottom of the argon enhancement tower K10-1, returning the oxygen-enriched liquid RL1 to the lower middle part of the low-pressure tower K02; the interface position of the second process line 32 on the low-pressure tower K02 is equivalent to the interface position of the first process line 31 on the low-pressure tower K02. The third process line 33 is a branch pipe on the second process line 32, which partially returns the oxygen-enriched liquid RL2 drawn from the bottom of the argon enhancement tower K10-1 to the argon enhancement tower K10-1.

[0025] Specifically, the argon enhancement tower condenser E10 is used to condense the rising gas from the argon enhancement tower K10-1, with its cold source coming from the medium-pressure tower K01. The fourth process line 34 leads out the oxygen-enriched liquid air RL3 from the bottom of the medium-pressure tower K01. After being subcooled and throttled, the oxygen-enriched liquid air RL3 is transported to the argon enhancement tower condenser E10. The oxygen-enriched liquid air RL3 is evaporated into oxygen-enriched gas RG2 in the argon enhancement tower condenser E10. The sixth process line 36 leads out from the top of the argon enhancement tower condenser E10 and transports the oxygen-enriched gas RG2 to the upper part of the low-pressure tower K02. The fifth process line 35 returns the unevaporated oxygen-enriched liquid air RL4 in the argon enhancement tower condenser E10 to the upper part of the low-pressure tower K02. The interface position of the sixth process line 36 on the low-pressure tower K02 is equivalent to the interface position of the fifth process line 35 on the low-pressure tower K02. The pipeline interfaces connected to the low-pressure tower are located from high to low as follows: sixth process pipeline 36, fifth process pipeline 35, first process pipeline 31, and second process pipeline 32. The seventh process pipeline 37 discharges the crude argon gas (GAR) from the top of the argon enhancement tower K10-1.

[0026] The air separation unit also includes a reserved cold box. Sections of the first process pipeline 31, the second process pipeline 32, the third process pipeline 33, and the seventh process pipeline 37 are located within this reserved cold box. That is, the above process pipelines pass through this reserved cold box from their starting point to their endpoint. When the air separation unit needs to switch from enhancement mode to argon production mode, the process pipelines within the reserved cold box are cut and connected to the additional argon towers (details not shown in this embodiment; please refer to [reference]). Figure 2 When connected to an additional argon tower, the entire argon system (referring to the combination of the argon booster tower and the additional argon tower) can produce argon products with higher purity. The argon content in the argon products is usually above 99.8% (mole fraction, the same below), while the argon content in the crude argon gas produced by the argon booster tower alone is usually below 96%.

[0027] Example 2

[0028] Combination Figure 2 As shown, this example provides an air separation unit in argon production mode. The air separation unit includes a main distillation column 1, an argon enhancement column 2, a process piping system 3, an auxiliary argon column 4, and an auxiliary piping system 5. The process piping in the reserved cold box is cut and processed, and the auxiliary piping system 5 is connected to it. The auxiliary argon column 4 is connected to the air separation unit through the auxiliary piping system 5.

[0029] The auxiliary argon tower 4 includes an argon tower body K10. A first auxiliary pipeline 51 transports the argon fraction RG1 from the first process pipeline 31 to the bottom of the argon tower body K10. A second auxiliary pipeline 52 transports the oxygen-enriched liquid RL1 from the bottom of the argon enhancement tower body K10-1 to the top of the argon tower body K10. A third auxiliary pipeline 53 pumps the oxygen-enriched liquid RL5 from the bottom of the argon tower body K10 into the second process pipeline 32. A fourth auxiliary pipeline 54 transports the oxygen-enriched gas RG3 from the top of the argon tower body K10 back to the first process pipeline 31. A fifth auxiliary pipeline 55 connects to the seventh process pipeline 37, and the resulting argon product PAR (meaning argon gas with higher purity than crude argon, not directly supplied to customers) is transported to a refining argon tower for further distillation. Figure 2 The text is not indicated.

[0030] The relative positions of argon enhancement tower 2 and auxiliary argon tower 4 are designed to allow the oxygen-enriched liquid RL1 at the bottom of argon enhancement tower body K10-1 to be transported to the top of argon tower body K10 without the use of a pump. The heat exchange temperature difference of the condenser in the argon enhancement tower process air separation unit is larger than that of the normal argon-equipped air separation unit, therefore its heat exchange area is smaller than that of the normal argon-equipped air separation unit. After argon extraction, the purity of the crude argon gas entering the condenser changes, and the heat exchange temperature difference of the condenser decreases. Therefore, in order not to affect argon production, the argon enhancement tower condenser needs to be designed to take the argon extraction condition into account.

[0031] Connecting argon booster tower 2 and auxiliary argon tower 4 through an additional piping system effectively increases the number of trays in the entire argon system (referring to the combination of argon booster tower and auxiliary argon tower), improving distillation efficiency and thus increasing the purity of argon gas transported in the seventh process pipeline 37. Argon booster tower 2 has 30-50 trays, while auxiliary argon tower 4 has 170-190 trays.

[0032] The foregoing description only illustrates certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Undoubtedly, those skilled in the art can modify the described embodiments in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the above drawings and descriptions are illustrative in nature and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An air separation unit with a reserved argon extraction port, characterized in that, It includes the main distillation column (1), the argon enhancement column (2), and the piping system for connecting and coordinating the two, wherein: The main distillation column (1) includes a medium-pressure column, a low-pressure column, and a main condenser-evaporator that connects the two. Argon enhancement tower (2), which includes an argon enhancement tower body and an argon enhancement tower condenser; A piping system for connecting the main distillation column (1) and the argon enhancement column (2), comprising: The first process pipeline (31) is fixedly connected to the lower middle part of the low-pressure tower and the bottom of the argon enhancement tower body for conveying argon fraction; The second process pipeline (32) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the argon enhancement tower and the lower middle part of the low-pressure tower (K02) for conveying oxygen-enriched liquid; The third process pipeline (33) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the argon enhancement tower for oxygen-enriched liquid reflux; The fourth process pipeline (34) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the medium-pressure tower and the argon enhancement tower condenser for conveying oxygen-enriched liquid air; The fifth process pipeline (35) is fixedly connected to the top of the argon enhancement tower condenser and the middle of the low-pressure tower for conveying oxygen-enriched liquid air reflux. The sixth process pipeline (36) is fixedly connected to the middle of the argon enhancement tower condenser and the low-pressure tower for conveying oxygen-enriched gas; The seventh process pipeline (37) is fixedly connected to the top of the argon enhancement tower condenser for outputting crude argon gas.

2. An air separation unit with a reserved argon extraction port according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a reserved cold box, and some sections of the first process pipeline (31), the second process pipeline (32), the third process pipeline (33) and the seventh process pipeline (37) all pass through the reserved cold box.

3. An air separation unit with a reserved argon extraction port according to claim 1, characterized in that, The piping system also includes multiple additional piping lines for connecting to the additional argon tower (4): The first additional pipeline (51) is led out from the first process pipeline (31); The second additional pipeline (52) is led out from the second process pipeline (32); The third additional pipeline (53) is connected to the second process pipeline (32); The fourth additional pipeline (54) is connected to the first process pipeline (31). The fifth additional pipeline (55) is led out from the seventh process pipeline (37).

4. An air separation unit with a reserved argon extraction port according to claim 3, characterized in that, The additional argon tower (4) includes an argon tower body; The first additional pipeline (51) is connected to the bottom of the argon tower body; The second additional pipeline (52) is connected to the top of the argon tower body; The third additional pipeline (53) is connected from the bottom of the argon tower body; The fourth additional pipeline (54) is connected from the top of the argon tower body; The fifth additional pipeline (55) is connected from the argon enhancement tower condenser.

5. An air separation unit with a reserved argon extraction port according to claim 4, characterized in that, The number of trays in the argon enhancement tower is between 30 and 50, and the number of trays in the additional argon tower (4) is between 170 and 190.

6. An air separation unit with a reserved argon extraction port according to claim 1, characterized in that, The interface position of the first process pipeline (31) on the low-pressure tower is equivalent to the interface position of the second process pipeline (32) on the low-pressure tower.

7. An air separation unit with a reserved argon extraction port according to claim 1, characterized in that, The interface position of the fifth process pipeline (35) on the low-pressure tower is equivalent to the interface position of the sixth process pipeline (36) on the low-pressure tower, and the interface position is higher than the interface position of the first process pipeline (31).

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