CLAUDES PROCESS:
Principle: when a cooled compressed gas is allowed to some external work e.g. pushing the piston of gas engine, it falls in temperature.
Flow diagram:
Process description: Air freed from CO2 is dried, compressed and passes through a pipe surrounded by cold oxygen and nitrogen, where it is cooled. Cooled and compressed air is allowed to do work in an expansion engine where it is further cooled. This cooled air enters the plant and rises through iron tubes surrounded by liquid oxygen. a part of the air gets liquefied and collects. the condensation is 50% N2,50%O2 .the gas which escape condensation passes downwards through side tubes surrounded by liquid oxygen and condenses. The condensation being 99% N2 and 1% O2 The condensed liquid is pumped to the top of fractionating column, while the bottom liq. Is pumped to a level slightly above the fractionating column, where it meets an upward current of gases. the liq is wormed up a little as it comes down and loses a volatile constituents more and more. i.e. N2 bye evaporation and gets gradually richer in O2 . similarly up going gases loses more and more O2 by condensation due to cooling and gets richer in N2.by the time gases rich the top, it is 99% pure N2 which escape to the exit provided. Liq O2 evaporate as it cools the air and escape to the exit indicated