METHOD FOR REGENERATING A PRE-PURIFICATION VESSEL

• Main Authors: CYGANOVICH, Richard, C, CELIK, Cem, E, HANDLEY, James, R, DASANI, Devang, Ashok, POWELL, Brian, S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 28.02.2024
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; SEPARATION; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

A system and method of regenerating a pre-purification vessel is provided that is particularly suitable for pre-purification of a feed air stream in cryogenic air separation unit that uses an oxygen-enriched purge gas stream for regeneration of the pre-purification unit. The disclosed pre-purification systems and methods are configured to remove substantially all of the water, carbon dioxide and other impurities from a feed air stream, optionally including hydrogen and carbon monoxide impurities. The method of regenerating a pre-purification vessel preferably involves regenerating the pre-purification vessel with an oxygen-enriched purge gas after depressurization of the vessel and thereafter partially repressurizing the pre-purification vessel with an auxiliary purge gas thereby diluting the oxygen concentration of the gases contained in the pre-purification vessel and optionally depressurizing the partially repressurized vessel.