Separation Method Using A Column With A Corrugated Cross Structure Packing For Separating A Gaseous Mixture

Abstract

A separation method using a column with cross-corrugated structured packing for separating a gas mixture is presented.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . A method for the cryogenic separation of a gas having, at least two components selected from one of the groups consisting of:
 i) hydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and methane;   ii) ii) nitrogen, oxygen, argon; and   iii) iii) carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, argon;   
     the method using at least
 one distillation column having cross-corrugated structured packing, 
 at least one absorption column having cross-corrugated structured packing with at least one section for heat and/or mass exchange between a descending liquid and an ascending gas, or 
 a combination thereof, 
 
     wherein
 the parameter S in this section is between 50×10 −6  and 70 000×10 −6 , 
 where S=τm/σ,
 τ being the shear stress at the liquid/vapor interface (kgm −1 s −2 ), ρm being the thickness of the film of liquid flowing over the packing (m), and 
 σ being the surface tension at the liquid/vapor interface (kgs −2 ). 
 
 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one packing body in the section for heat and/or mass exchange, and wherein said at least one packing body comprises a central region and a lower region and an upper region, the lower region and the upper region being modified relative to the central region so that the resistance to the rise of liquid is reduced therein relative to that in the central region. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gas comprises at least hydrogen and carbon monoxide. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the gas further comprises methane and nitrogen. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the packing is operated with a gas feed F between 0.2-2.5 (Nm −2 ) 0.5  where F=(ρ v v gas ) 0.5  and/or the liquid flow rate in the packing in L/dm 2 /h may vary from 50 up to 600 L/dm 2 /h. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gas that has at least two components selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and methane, wherein the parameter S in this section is between 50×10 −6  and 7000×10 −6 , 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the parameter S in this section is between 150×10 −6  and 1500×10 −6 . 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gas that has at least two components selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, wherein the parameter S in this section is between 500×10 −6  and 70 000×10 −6 .