PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NITROGEN AND OXYGEN
Assignee
AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
Filed
Aug 28, 1990
Granted
Apr 26, 1994
Location
ALLENTOWN PA US
Abstract
The present invention is a separation process for atmospheric gases. In the process, an atmospheric gas stream, for example air, is compressed and may be partly condensed prior to introduction into a vortex tube air separator. The performance of the tube separation can be upgraded, i.e. by improving the concentration and/or purity of the main oxygen stream, by enhancing the separator efficiency of the vortex tube (VT) apparatus. One approach is by selectively refrigerating the cold end of the tube with partial recycle of nitrogen gas waste stream, effecting a rectification section. Another approach is to increase the heat transfer between the outlet gas stream and the liquid film flowing along the curvilinear periphery of the separator means, by mechanical innovations in its configuration.
Source: Google Patents
35 USC §181 Secrecy Order
Imposed
Jan 23, 1991
Rescinded
Jul 13, 1993
Duration
2 years, 5 months
Inventor
- 1DOUGLAS L. BENNETT
Record Details
- Patent number
- US 5305610
- Application
- 07573922
- Aerospace match
- No
- Dataset source
- 35 USC §181 SO records