Argon production method and apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current argon distillation processes in air separation plants are costly and inefficient, with excessive column height and energy consumption due to the need for high purity argon production, and previous integrations of adsorbents with air separation plants face issues such as gas compression requirements and argon loss during regeneration.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a temperature swing adsorption process with an adsorbent bed to purify liquid argon, maintaining the bed at a reduced temperature to prevent vaporization and recover residual liquid argon, thereby reducing equipment size and energy consumption, and integrating with existing cryogenic distillation infrastructure to recover regeneration gases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If superstaged distillation is used for high purity argon production, then argon purity is improved, but column height and equipment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operating parameters of the adsorbent bed by maintaining it at cryogenic temperatures (below the boiling point of argon) during the adsorption cycle. This temperature parameter change enables the adsorbent to selectively adsorb oxygen from liquid argon while preventing argon vaporization, achieving high purity argon production without requiring excessive column height
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transitions by maintaining the adsorbent bed at temperatures below the argon boiling point during adsorption, causing argon to remain in liquid phase while oxygen is adsorbed. During regeneration, the bed is warmed to desorb oxygen, and the recovered liquid argon is reintroduced to the distillation column, leveraging phase changes to achieve separation without increasing column height
2Manufacturing precision
If adsorbent beds are used for oxygen removal from argon, then argon purification is improved, but argon loss occurs during regeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies the discarding and recovering principle by collecting the liquid argon that accumulates in the adsorbent bed during the regeneration cycle and reintroducing it back to the distillation column. This ensures that argon is not discarded during regeneration but is recovered and reused, eliminating argon loss while maintaining purification effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by monitoring the regeneration process and automatically redirecting the recovered liquid argon back to the distillation column. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that any argon present during regeneration is captured and returned to the process, preventing loss and maintaining continuous operation
3Manufacturing precision
If reducing gas is used for adsorbent regeneration, then oxygen removal is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies self-service by using the adsorbent bed's own temperature characteristics for regeneration. The bed is warmed during the regeneration cycle to desorb oxygen, and the heat required is managed within the existing cryogenic system. This eliminates the need for external reducing gases and their associated delivery systems, reducing complexity while maintaining effective oxygen removal
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the regeneration function from the traditional reducing gas process and integrates it into the cryogenic distillation system itself. By using temperature swing within the existing coldbox infrastructure and reintroducing recovered argon to the distillation column, the system eliminates the need for separate reducing gas infrastructure, simplifying the overall system while achieving effective oxygen removal
4Manufacturing precision
If gas phase adsorption is used for argon purification, then oxygen removal is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the phase parameter from gas to liquid by processing liquid argon directly through the adsorbent bed at cryogenic temperatures. This parameter change eliminates the need for gas compression and subsequent reliquefaction, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective oxygen removal through the adsorption process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach drastically reduces coldbox space and operating expenses by processing liquid argon directly, eliminating the need for gas compression and minimizing argon loss, resulting in a more economically viable and efficient argon refining process.
Implementation Method 1
purified by removing oxygen impurities within an adsorbent bed
Implementation Method 2
maintained at a reduced temperature that is sufficient to prevent vaporization of the liquid argon stream through indirect heat exchange with a coolant
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A method and apparatus for producing a purified liquid argon product in which liquid argon having oxygen impurities is produced in a cryogenic air separation plant by separating argon from oxygen within an argon column. An impure liquid argon stream, composed of part of the liquid argon, is purified in an adsorbent bed by adsorbing the oxygen impurities in an adsorbent to produce a purified liquid argon stream that constitutes the purified liquid argon product. During adsorption, the adsorbent bed is maintained at a reduced temperature with a coolant to prevent vaporization of the liquid argon. The bed is then regenerated by draining residual liquid argon from the adsorbent bed, introducing the residual liquid argon back into the air separation plant and then desorbing the oxygen impurities with a regeneration gas. After regeneration, the adsorbent bed is refilled with purified liquid argon prior to being brought back on-line.