Nitrogen production system for producing nitrogen with different purities and nitrogen production process thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nitrogen production methods face challenges in producing nitrogen with varying purities, particularly ultrahigh purity nitrogen with low argon content and high purity nitrogen with controlled oxygen content, due to the chemical inertness of argon and similar physical properties with nitrogen, leading to increased energy consumption and difficulty in continuous measurement.
Innovation Solution
A nitrogen production system that utilizes a single rectifying column to recover high purity nitrogen with desired oxygen and ultrahigh purity nitrogen with controlled argon concentrations by extracting gases from intermediate and upper plates, respectively, while implementing a heat exchanger and flow rate control units for precise control and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If argon separation is enhanced by increasing the theoretical plate number of the rectifying unit, then ultrahigh purity nitrogen with low argon content can be produced, but the rectifying column height must be extended which is not realistic industrially
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the rectifying column into multiple sections with different functions: a first rectifying section for producing ultrahigh purity nitrogen by removing argon, and a second rectifying section for producing high purity nitrogen by removing oxygen. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific separation task, achieving high purity nitrogen production without requiring excessive column height throughout the entire column.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the rectifying column are designed with different local characteristics - the first rectifying section has conditions optimized for argon removal while the second section has conditions optimized for oxygen removal. This local quality differentiation enables efficient separation of different impurities in different regions, achieving ultrahigh purity nitrogen without uniformly increasing the entire column's theoretical plate number.
2Manufacturing precision
If argon separation by rectification is intensified, then nitrogen purity is improved, but nitrogen recovery percentage decreases leading to increased electric power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The rectifying column is segmented into a first rectifying section for argon removal and a second rectifying section for oxygen removal. This allows nitrogen to be recovered at different stages - ultrahigh purity nitrogen is recovered after argon removal in the first section, while high purity nitrogen is recovered after oxygen removal in the second section. This segmentation optimizes recovery points to minimize energy consumption while achieving desired purities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes operating parameters differently in different sections - the first rectifying section operates with parameters optimized for argon separation while the second section uses parameters optimized for oxygen separation. This parameter differentiation allows efficient impurity removal without excessive energy input, as each section operates at its optimal conditions rather than requiring uniform high-intensity operation throughout.
3Manufacturing precision
If chemical adsorption process is used to remove argon, then argon separation is achieved, but the process becomes complex and less effective due to argon's chemical inertness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces chemical adsorption processes with a physical rectification process for argon removal. By using differences in volatility and phase behavior during rectification, argon can be effectively separated from nitrogen without requiring complex chemical adsorption systems. This substitution simplifies the overall process while maintaining effective argon removal capability.
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 allows for the simultaneous production of nitrogen with multiple purities, reducing energy consumption and enabling precise control of argon and oxygen concentrations, thereby enhancing the efficiency and yield of the nitrogen production process.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger that cools the material air from which the impurities are removed by the removal unit
Implementation Method 2
a nitrogen rectifying column into which the material air cooled by the heat exchanger is introduced, and nitrogen is separated to a column top and liquid air having a high oxygen content is separated to a lower part
Data Source
AI summary
A nitrogen production system that can produce high purity nitrogen containing a desired concentration of oxygen and ultrahigh purity nitrogen containing a desired concentration of argon in a single rectifying column while restraining increase in electric power consumption and a production process thereof are provided. The method can include the steps of rectifying a cooled and compressed air stream in the rectifying column; withdrawing the ultrahigh purity nitrogen stream from a top portion of the nitrogen rectifying column, warming the ultrahigh purity nitrogen stream in a heat exchanger, and then recovering the ultrahigh purity nitrogen stream from the heat exchanger; and withdrawing a high purity nitrogen stream from a rectification section of the nitrogen rectifying column, warming the high purity nitrogen stream in the heat exchanger, and then recovering the high purity nitrogen stream from the heat exchanger.