US3167417A - Low temperature gas decomposition plant - Google Patents

Low temperature gas decomposition plant Download PDF

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US3167417A
US3167417A US64840A US6484060A US3167417A US 3167417 A US3167417 A US 3167417A US 64840 A US64840 A US 64840A US 6484060 A US6484060 A US 6484060A US 3167417 A US3167417 A US 3167417A
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casings
gas
temperatures
pressure
casing
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Sellmaier Alfons
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Linde GmbH
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Gesellschaft fuer Lindes Eismaschinen AG
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/001—Thermal insulation specially adapted for cryogenic vessels
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0295—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used, e.g. sieve plates, packings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/04945—Details of internal structure; insulation and housing of the cold box
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/08—Separating gaseous impurities from gases or gaseous mixtures or from liquefied gases or liquefied gaseous mixtures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
    • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
    • F17C2203/0678—Concrete
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/76—Refluxing the column with condensed overhead gas being cycled in a quasi-closed loop refrigeration cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/60—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using adsorption on solid adsorbents, e.g. by temperature-swing adsorption [TSA] at the hot or cold end
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
    • F25J2215/10—Hydrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/90—Separating isotopes of a component, e.g. H2, O2
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/12—External refrigeration with liquid vaporising loop
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/42—Quasi-closed internal or closed external nitrogen refrigeration cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/30—Details about heat insulation or cold insulation
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/32—Hydrogen storage
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S220/00—Receptacles
    • Y10S220/901—Liquified gas content, cryogenic
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/902—Apparatus
    • Y10S62/905—Column
    • Y10S62/907—Insulation
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/923—Inert gas
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/931—Recovery of hydrogen
    • Y10S62/934—From nitrogen

Definitions

  • the invention concerns mainly apparatus which contains liquid hydrogen or similar cold liquids, such as liquid helium, neon or mixtures thereof.
  • the object of the invention is to find a different solution for the insulation problem, where a butt joint between two ditlerent adjacent insulation jackets is to be avoided under any circumstances.
  • each casing is filled in the conventional manner with the usual insulating materials, such as slag wool, glass Wool, spun materials from polymerization products, as, for instance, polystyrene, asbestos or similar substances, in some cases at least partially in powder form.
  • insulating materials such as slag wool, glass Wool, spun materials from polymerization products, as, for instance, polystyrene, asbestos or similar substances, in some cases at least partially in powder form.
  • the inner casing may contain, for instance, instead of or as well as hydrogen, helium, neon or a similar gas, or a mixture of any two or more of these.
  • the inner and the outer casings contain different gases, it is an essential condition that the gaseous fillings of the inner and outer casings do not together form an explosive mixture.
  • air or another gaseous mixture containing oxygen can be used in the outer casing.
  • the inner casing in accordance with a special elaboration of the idea of the invention, is constructed of a cold resistant material, for example cold resistant metal, such as aluminum or a suitable steel, such as V2A steel or a tempered steel, or copper, and is welded wherever necessary in such a way as to be gas-tight.
  • cold resistant metal such as aluminum or a suitable steel, such as V2A steel or a tempered steel, or copper
  • the necessary apertures for communication between the two casings are made with turned and/or ground flanges into which the closing pieces are very closely fitted. 0n the outer casing the closures are at least fitted with rubber sealing joints in the conventional manner.
  • a pressure slightly higher than that in the outer casing is produced in the inner casing, in order to prevent the entry of condensable gas in the event of the inner chamber not being quite gas-tight.
  • the pressure in the inner chamber and in the outer chamher is regulated.
  • the inner casing at leastand to a certain degree also in the outer casing-there is a vertical temperature gradient, at least when there is a fractionating column in the center, for instance for the purpose of deuterium extraction, the difierence of pressure between the inner and the outer casing varies at dilierent heights.
  • the excess pressure must therefore be regulated so that at every point in the inner chamber the prevailing pressure is greater than that in the outer chamber.
  • the pressure in the outer chamber may conveniently be kept slightly above atmospheric pressure.
  • a pressure dilterence of about 50-300 kg./m. (water column) between the inner and outer pressure and about -200 kg./m. (water column) between the outer pressure and atmospheric pressure obtains.
  • Each casing is equipped in suitable places, for instance at the top and at the bottom, with one inlet or outlet orifice for regulating the pressure.
  • the simultaneous adjustment of inlet and outlet produces a certain direction of flow. This can be chosen as required, so that it either follows the direction of the pressure drop in the casing concerned, or runs contrary to it.
  • the replacement of the quantities of gas necessary to compensate for losses can be effected either as required or at a fixed rate, in some cases continuously. In the latter case a certain permanent through stream is main tained.
  • a fractiouating column for separating deuterium from liquid hydrogen is shown at 1, the fractionating column being surrounded by two spaced casings 2 and 3, one fitted over the other. Both are cylindrical in their top and bottom parts, with an intermediatc, tapering portion roughly in the middle.
  • various other auxiliary piece of apparatus are installed, of which an accessory column 4 in the inner chamber and in the outer chamber the regenerators 5 are indicated diagrammatically. Each chamber is packed with slag wool.
  • ti e inner chamber is gaseous hydrogen with a pressure pi; in the outer chamber is gaseous, pure nitrogen with a pressure pa.
  • the condition pi pa po should be fulfilled.
  • the entrances to the insulation chambers are fitted with automatic or hand-operated pressure reducing valves 6 and 7, whereas overflow valves 8 and 9 are fitted in the outlets.
  • the hydrogen flows in at the top through 6 and flows out at-the bottom through while the nitrogen flows in at the bottom '7 and flows out at the top through 8.
  • the inner insulation chamber rests on a heat insulating foundation it], which is sealed olf below by a metal plate 11 which is welded into the casing 2, so that the inner in sulation chamber is completely encased on all sides.
  • the outer insulation chamber could actually also be constructed in the same way. However, in the example given it is sufficient for the metal plate 11 to be large enough to cover the base of the outer insulation chamber at the same time, as well the outer casing being attached to it at the bottom by means of a flange.
  • the whole construction stands in the conventional manner on a concrete foundation 12 in which a heat insulating layer of masonry 13 is inserted in the immediate vicinity of the insulation structure in order to reduce the heat gradient.
  • the outer' casing 3 is constructed in the conventional manner and is made of copper, VZA steel or a tempered,
  • the inner casingg is made of aluminum or also of a tempered, cold-resistant steel, and is composed of several cylindrical elements. The separate elements are assembled on the site and welded together. The welded seams must subsequently be subjected to an expansion treatment.
  • Means for the thermal insulation of plants consisting of several apparatus parts operating at different temperatures including temperatures below the condensation temperature of nitrogen, which comprises at least two spaced insulating casings disposed one over the other, the casings being packed with insulating material, both casings together enclosing the apparatus parts operating at the lowest temperature in the plant, the outer casing alone enclosing other apparatus parts operating at higher temperatures though still below 0 C., the inner casing containing a gaseous medium having a boiling point at least no higher than that of the gas operating in the apparatus, the outer casing containing a gaseous medium with a poor heat conduction and a higher boiling point than that of the gas being contained in the inner casing.
  • Means for the thermal insulation of plants consisting of several apparatus parts operating at different temperatures including temperatures below the condensation temperature of nitrogen, which comprises at least two insulating casings disposed one over the other, the casings being packed with insulating material, both casings together enclosing the apparatus parts operating at the lowest temperature in the plant, the outer casing alone enclosing other apparatus parts operating at higher temperatures though still below 0 C., the inner casing containing a gaseous medium with a boiling point at least not higher than that of the gas operating in the apparatus, the gas contained in the inner casing and the gas operating in the apparatus not being explosive it mixed, the outer casing containing a gaseous medium which is a poor conductor of the heat and is not explosive when mixed with the gas contained in the inner casing.
  • Means for the cold insulating of plants consisting of several apparatus parts operating at different temperatures, preferably where temperatures are below the condensation temperature of nitrogen, which comprises at least two insulating casings disposed one over the other, the casings being packed with insulating material, both casings together enclosing the apparatus parts operating at the lowest temperature in the plant, the outer casing alone enclosing other apparatus parts operating at higher temperatures though still below 0 C., the inner casing containing a gaseous medium under ahigher pressure than that of the surrounding atmosphere and having a boiling point at least no higher than that of the gas operating in the apparatus, the outer casing containing a gaseous medium which is a poor conductor of heat and being present at a pressure between the pressure of the gas contained in the inner casing and the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere.
  • Means for the cold insulating of plants consisting of several apparatus parts operating at different temperatures, preferably where temperatures are below the condensation temperature of nitrogen, which comprises at least two insulating casings disposed one over the other, the casings being packed with insulating material, both casings together enclosing the apparatus parts operating at the lowest temperature in the plant, the outer casing alone enclosing other apparatus parts operating at higher emperatures though still below 0 C., the inner casing containing the same gas as the gas'operating in the apparatus, the outer casing containing nitrogen in the gaseous state.
  • Means for the cold insulating of plants consisting of several apparatus parts operating at different temperatures, preferably where temperatures are below the condensation temperature of nitrogen, which comprises at least two insulating casings disposed one over the other,
  • the casings being packed with insulating material, both casings together enclosing the apparatus parts operating at the lowest temperature in the plant, these apparatus parts standing on a heat insulating base, the base being set on a metal plate which seals the inner casing, the metal plate being underpinned with heat-insulating masonry material, the outer casing likewise being sealed by means of said metal plate and alone enclosing other apparatus parts operating at higher temperatures though still below 0 C., the inner casing containing a gaseous medium 2,777,295 Bliss et a1. J an. 15, 1957 having a boiling point at least no higher than that of the 2,863,297 Johnston Dec.
  • the outer casing contain- 3,057,167 Ye dall t a1, Oct 9, 1962 ing a gaseous medium which is a poor conductor of heat, the inner casing having at the highest point therein a 5 FOREIGN PATENTS conduit and at the lowest point a valved outlet line to 181352 Great Britain 19 1923 regulate the pressure in the inner casing, the outer casing having at the lowest point a conduit and at the highest OTHER REFERENCES point a valved outlet line to regulate the pressure in the Outer casing 10 Chemical Eng neering Progress (volume 54, Number 6), June 1958, Trrnnierhaus et a1. (page 39 relied on). References cued m the file of this Patent Some Aspects of Heavy-Water Production by Distilla- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion of Hydrogen (B. M. Bailey), published June 1958,

Description

Jan. 26, 1965 A. SELLMAIER 3,167,417
LOW TEMPERATURE GAS DECOMPOSITION PLANT Original Filed Aug. 4, 1959 INVENT OR BY v/ vlu/ A2 ATTORNEY5 chambers with diiferent temperatures.
United States Patent M '3 Claims. (a. 62-42) This invention relates to an arrangement for cold insulation in technical large-scale apparatus for methods of gas liquefaction and/or gas separation to be carried out at low temperatures. The invention uses primarily those temperature ranges which are below the condensation temperature of nitrogen. At atmospheric pressure this is 77.4 K., hence the invention concerns primarily insulation arrangements for sheathing parts operating at temperatures below approximately 80 K.
The invention concerns mainly apparatus which contains liquid hydrogen or similar cold liquids, such as liquid helium, neon or mixtures thereof.
On a laboratory scale, the cold insulation heretofore was generally effected by arranging the apparatus in a vacuumparticularly a high vacuum. In industrial plants .which exceed laboratory scale it is difficult to produce a jacket that surrounds the entire plant which seals vacuumtight on all sides. With dimensions of about 4 to 5 m. height and width respectively the exped-iture for obtaining a satisfactory vacuum and a vacuum-tight jacket respectively presents considerable difficulties. The difficulties increase if a simple cylindrical form of the jacket is abandoned-in order to save materialin favor of a shape that tapers to the top or bottom.
Known modes for solving this insulation problem consist in surrounding a low-temperature plant working with liquid hydrogen with two different fitted cylindrical jackets. Such proposals have become known particularly for a gas decomposing plant for separating deuterium from liquid hydrogen. The lower part of the rectifying column arrangement proper together with the other parts working at the above-mentioned low temperatures is surrounded by a cylindrical jacket which is sealed moistureproof on all sides and filled on the inside with gaseous hydrogen. The upper part of the rectifying column arrangement is conducted at the top through the cover of this cylindrical jacket and surrounded with a second cylinder of a smaller diameter, which second cylinder is attached on the insulating jacket underneath. The upper cylinder is sealed vacuum-tight and evacuated on the inside. This arrangement has the great disadvantage, however, that considerable heat conduction and consequently cold losses appear in the butt joint of the jackets.
The difficulty underlying the problem is that it is not possible to use nitrogen as aninsulating atmosphere at these low temperatures. Insulation with hydrogen alone is not sufficient, however, particularly for the colder parts of the rectifying column. For this reason this part of the known plant was also provided with a vacuum jacket.
The object of the invention is to find a different solution for the insulation problem, where a butt joint between two ditlerent adjacent insulation jackets is to be avoided under any circumstances.
In order to maintain the temperatures and temperature differences required for the invention, a special elaboration of the idea of the invention provides for the housing of the different pieces of apparatus in two separate insulated These two insu- 3,167,417. Patented Jan. 26, 1965 lated chambers are formed by two insulating casings one inside the other, which together enclose the most importantpreferably allof the pieces of apparatus of the plant which function at temperatures below the condensation temperature of nitrogen, and the outer casing encloses at least a few and preferably all of the remaining pieces of apparatus functioning at higher temperatures, although in certain cases these may still be lower than 273 K., the inner casing being filled with gaseous hydrogen and the outer casing with gaseous nitrogen.
For actual cold insulation, each casing is filled in the conventional manner with the usual insulating materials, such as slag wool, glass Wool, spun materials from polymerization products, as, for instance, polystyrene, asbestos or similar substances, in some cases at least partially in powder form.
Instead of the gases mentioned above-hydrogen and nitrogenother gases or mixtures of gases can also be used, which do not condense at the temperatures prevailing in the interstices of the insulating material. Thus at least the inner casing may contain, for instance, instead of or as well as hydrogen, helium, neon or a similar gas, or a mixture of any two or more of these. Where the inner and the outer casings contain different gases, it is an essential condition that the gaseous fillings of the inner and outer casings do not together form an explosive mixture. Thus for instance, in the absence of hydrogen in the inner casing, air or another gaseous mixture containing oxygen can be used in the outer casing.
To insure that the gaseous atmosphere in the two casings is maintained, the inner casing, in accordance with a special elaboration of the idea of the invention, is constructed of a cold resistant material, for example cold resistant metal, such as aluminum or a suitable steel, such as V2A steel or a tempered steel, or copper, and is welded wherever necessary in such a way as to be gas-tight.
The necessary apertures for communication between the two casings are made with turned and/or ground flanges into which the closing pieces are very closely fitted. 0n the outer casing the closures are at least fitted with rubber sealing joints in the conventional manner.
In a further elaboration of the invention, a pressure slightly higher than that in the outer casing is produced in the inner casing, in order to prevent the entry of condensable gas in the event of the inner chamber not being quite gas-tight. In order to maintain this excess pressure, the pressure in the inner chamber and in the outer chamher is regulated. As in the inner casing at leastand to a certain degree also in the outer casing-there is a vertical temperature gradient, at least when there is a fractionating column in the center, for instance for the purpose of deuterium extraction, the difierence of pressure between the inner and the outer casing varies at dilierent heights. The excess pressure must therefore be regulated so that at every point in the inner chamber the prevailing pressure is greater than that in the outer chamber. The pressure in the outer chamber may conveniently be kept slightly above atmospheric pressure. In the example described in which the inner filling is hydrogen and the outer filling nitrogen, a pressure dilterence of about 50-300 kg./m. (water column) between the inner and outer pressure and about -200 kg./m. (water column) between the outer pressure and atmospheric pressure obtains.
Each casing is equipped in suitable places, for instance at the top and at the bottom, with one inlet or outlet orifice for regulating the pressure. The simultaneous adjustment of inlet and outlet produces a certain direction of flow. This can be chosen as required, so that it either follows the direction of the pressure drop in the casing concerned, or runs contrary to it.
The replacement of the quantities of gas necessary to compensate for losses can be effected either as required or at a fixed rate, in some cases continuously. In the latter case a certain permanent through stream is main tained.
* In the drawing,.one version of the heat insulation in accordance with the invention is diagrammatically shown as an example.
In the single figure of drawing, a fractiouating column for separating deuterium from liquid hydrogen is shown at 1, the fractionating column being surrounded by two spaced casings 2 and 3, one fitted over the other. Both are cylindrical in their top and bottom parts, with an intermediatc, tapering portion roughly in the middle. In the two insulating chambers thus formed, various other auxiliary piece of apparatus are installed, of which an accessory column 4 in the inner chamber and in the outer chamber the regenerators 5 are indicated diagrammatically. Each chamber is packed with slag wool. In ti e inner chamber is gaseous hydrogen with a pressure pi; in the outer chamber is gaseous, pure nitrogen with a pressure pa. If p0 designates the pressure of the surrounding air atmosphere, then the condition pi pa po should be fulfilled. For the maintenance of the re quired pressure, the entrances to the insulation chambers are fitted with automatic or hand-operated pressure reducing valves 6 and 7, whereas overflow valves 8 and 9 are fitted in the outlets. The hydrogen flows in at the top through 6 and flows out at-the bottom through while the nitrogen flows in at the bottom '7 and flows out at the top through 8.
The inner insulation chamber rests on a heat insulating foundation it], which is sealed olf below by a metal plate 11 which is welded into the casing 2, so that the inner in sulation chamber is completely encased on all sides.
The outer insulation chamber could actually also be constructed in the same way. However, in the example given it is sufficient for the metal plate 11 to be large enough to cover the base of the outer insulation chamber at the same time, as well the outer casing being attached to it at the bottom by means of a flange. The whole construction stands in the conventional manner on a concrete foundation 12 in which a heat insulating layer of masonry 13 is inserted in the immediate vicinity of the insulation structure in order to reduce the heat gradient.
The outer' casing 3 is constructed in the conventional manner and is made of copper, VZA steel or a tempered,
cold-resistant steel.
The inner casingg is made of aluminum or also of a tempered, cold-resistant steel, and is composed of several cylindrical elements. The separate elements are assembled on the site and welded together. The welded seams must subsequently be subjected to an expansion treatment.
Before being welded together the separate cylindrical elements are assembled and screwed together by means of suitable flanges-14 and 14', 15 and 15', etc. Finally the various joints, the vertical ones as well as the horizontal annular joints, are covered over on the outside with strips or rings 16, 17, etc., of a material of'particu- 'larly high notch impact strength at low temperatures, such as above all copper, which may have suitable corrugation in order to enable them to give way in the face of stresses occurring due to the various cooling temperatures of the casing 2. The edges of sheet metal strips 16, 17, etc., are welded onto the surrounding parts of the casing. As the covering strips fixed on are relatively thin in comparison to the thickness of the casing, their assembly is particularly simple and tree of tension.
This application is a division of applicants co-pending application Serial No. 831,679, filed August 4, 1959, now Patent No. 3,107,992.
I claim:
1. Means for the thermal insulation of plants consisting of several apparatus parts operating at different temperatures including temperatures below the condensation temperature of nitrogen, which comprises at least two spaced insulating casings disposed one over the other, the casings being packed with insulating material, both casings together enclosing the apparatus parts operating at the lowest temperature in the plant, the outer casing alone enclosing other apparatus parts operating at higher temperatures though still below 0 C., the inner casing containing a gaseous medium having a boiling point at least no higher than that of the gas operating in the apparatus, the outer casing containing a gaseous medium with a poor heat conduction and a higher boiling point than that of the gas being contained in the inner casing.
2. Means for the thermal insulation of plants consisting of several apparatus parts operating at different temperatures including temperatures below the condensation temperature of nitrogen, which comprises at least two insulating casings disposed one over the other, the casings being packed with insulating material, both casings together enclosing the apparatus parts operating at the lowest temperature in the plant, the outer casing alone enclosing other apparatus parts operating at higher temperatures though still below 0 C., the inner casing containing a gaseous medium with a boiling point at least not higher than that of the gas operating in the apparatus, the gas contained in the inner casing and the gas operating in the apparatus not being explosive it mixed, the outer casing containing a gaseous medium which is a poor conductor of the heat and is not explosive when mixed with the gas contained in the inner casing.
3. Means for the cold insulating of plants consisting of several apparatus parts operating at different temperatures, preferably where temperatures are below the condensation temperature of nitrogen, which comprises at least two insulating casings disposed one over the other, the casings being packed with insulating material, both casings together enclosing the apparatus parts operating at the lowest temperature in the plant, the outer casing alone enclosing other apparatus parts operating at higher temperatures though still below 0 C., the inner casing containing a gaseous medium under ahigher pressure than that of the surrounding atmosphere and having a boiling point at least no higher than that of the gas operating in the apparatus, the outer casing containing a gaseous medium which is a poor conductor of heat and being present at a pressure between the pressure of the gas contained in the inner casing and the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere.
4. Means for the cold insulating of plants consisting of several apparatus parts operating at different temperatures, preferably where temperatures are below the condensation temperature of nitrogen, which comprises at least two insulating casings disposed one over the other, the casings being packed with insulating material, both casings together enclosing the apparatus parts operating at the lowest temperature in the plant, the outer casing alone enclosing other apparatus parts operating at higher emperatures though still below 0 C., the inner casing containing the same gas as the gas'operating in the apparatus, the outer casing containing nitrogen in the gaseous state.
5. Means for the cold insulating of plants consisting of several apparatus parts operating at different temperatures, preferably where temperatures are below the condensation temperature of nitrogen, which comprises at least two insulating casings disposed one over the other,
'the casings being packed with insulating material, both casings together enclosing the apparatus parts operating at the lowest temperature in the plant, these apparatus parts standing on a heat insulating base, the base being set on a metal plate which seals the inner casing, the metal plate being underpinned with heat-insulating masonry material, the outer casing likewise being sealed by means of said metal plate and alone enclosing other apparatus parts operating at higher temperatures though still below 0 C., the inner casing containing a gaseous medium 2,777,295 Bliss et a1. J an. 15, 1957 having a boiling point at least no higher than that of the 2,863,297 Johnston Dec. 9, 1958 gas operating in the apparatus, the outer casing contain- 3,057,167 Ye dall t a1, Oct 9, 1962 ing a gaseous medium which is a poor conductor of heat, the inner casing having at the highest point therein a 5 FOREIGN PATENTS conduit and at the lowest point a valved outlet line to 181352 Great Britain 19 1923 regulate the pressure in the inner casing, the outer casing having at the lowest point a conduit and at the highest OTHER REFERENCES point a valved outlet line to regulate the pressure in the Outer casing 10 Chemical Eng neering Progress (volume 54, Number 6), June 1958, Trrnnierhaus et a1. (page 39 relied on). References cued m the file of this Patent Some Aspects of Heavy-Water Production by Distilla- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion of Hydrogen (B. M. Bailey), published June 1958,
1,910,024 Le Rouge May 23, 1933 (P 5 and 6 relied

Claims (1)

1. MEANS FOR THE THERMAL INSULATION OF PLANTS CONSISTING OF SEVERAL APPARATUS PARTS OPERATING AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES INCLUDING TEMPERATURES BELOW THE CONDENSATION TEMPERATURE OF NITROGEN, WHICH COMPRISES AT LEAST TWO SPACED INSULATING CASINGS DISPOSED ONE OVER THE OTHER, THE CASINGS BEING PACKED WITH INSULATING MATERIAL, BOTH CASINGS TOGETHER ENCLOSING THE APPARATUS PARTS OPERATING AT THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE IN THE PLANT, THE OUTER CASING ALONE ENCLOSING OTHER APPARATUS PARTS OPERATING AT HIGHER TEMPERATURES THOUGH STILL BELOW 0*C., THE INNER CASING CONTAINING A GASEOUS MEDIUM HAVING A BOILING POINT AT LEAST NO HIGHER THAN THAT OF THE GAS OPERATING IN THE APPARATUS, THE OUTER CASING CONTAINING A GASEOUS MEDIUM WITH A POOR HEAT CONDUCTION AND A HIGHER BOILING POINT THAN THAT OF THE GAS BEING CONTAINED IN THE INNER CASING.
US64840A 1958-08-06 1960-10-25 Low temperature gas decomposition plant Expired - Lifetime US3167417A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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DE1958G0025052 DE1068282B (en) 1958-08-06 1958-08-06 Cold insulation installation in large technical equipment for processes to be carried out at low temperatures
DEG25088A DE1082925B (en) 1958-08-06 1958-08-11 Process and device for cleaning and keeping the hydrogen cold cycle clean for low-temperature rectification systems
US831679A US3107992A (en) 1958-08-06 1959-08-04 Low temperature gas decomposition plant

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FR2695714A1 (en) * 1992-09-16 1994-03-18 Maurice Grenier Installation of cryogenic treatment, in particular of air distillation.
EP0598382A1 (en) * 1992-11-17 1994-05-25 Praxair Technology, Inc. Improved packed column distillation system
US20060086141A1 (en) * 2004-10-25 2006-04-27 Denis Cote Cold box and cryogenic plant including a cold box

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US3319429A (en) * 1965-11-22 1967-05-16 Air Prod & Chem Methods for separating mixtures of normally gaseous materials
DE1911765C3 (en) * 1969-03-07 1978-09-14 Linde Ag, 6200 Wiesbaden Method and device for the cryogenic separation of air
DE102013011212B4 (en) * 2013-07-04 2015-07-30 Messer Group Gmbh Device for cooling a consumer with a supercooled liquid in a cooling circuit
DE102017003437A1 (en) * 2017-04-08 2018-10-11 blauwerk GmbH gas storage
CN110360441B (en) * 2019-06-28 2020-06-23 浙江大学 Exhaust cold energy utilization system of space liquid hydrogen storage tank
CN114111219A (en) * 2021-11-02 2022-03-01 深圳供电局有限公司 Gas purification device based on low-temperature refrigerator

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FR2695714A1 (en) * 1992-09-16 1994-03-18 Maurice Grenier Installation of cryogenic treatment, in particular of air distillation.
EP0588690A1 (en) * 1992-09-16 1994-03-23 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Cryogenic treatment installation, particularly for the destillation of air
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EP0598382A1 (en) * 1992-11-17 1994-05-25 Praxair Technology, Inc. Improved packed column distillation system
US20060086141A1 (en) * 2004-10-25 2006-04-27 Denis Cote Cold box and cryogenic plant including a cold box
WO2006045675A1 (en) * 2004-10-25 2006-05-04 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Cold box and cryogenic plant including a cold box
US7340921B2 (en) * 2004-10-25 2008-03-11 L'Air Liquide - Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude Cold box and cryogenic plant including a cold box
US20080127675A1 (en) * 2004-10-25 2008-06-05 L'air Liquide Societe Anonyme A'directoire Et Conseil De Surveillance Pour L'etude Et L'exploita Cold Box and Cryogenic Plant Including a Cold Box

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CH392583A (en) 1965-05-31
DE1082925B (en) 1960-06-09
US3107992A (en) 1963-10-22
FR1233312A (en) 1960-10-12
DE1068282B (en) 1959-11-05
GB904007A (en) 1962-08-22

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