EP3465036B1 - Element for construction of a mass- and/or heat-exchange device, assembly of two elements and exchange method using an assembly - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a modular construction element of a mass and / or heat exchange apparatus, an assembly of at least two such modular elements and a method of mass and / or heat exchange with such an assembly.

The invention also relates to an apparatus constituted at least partially by such an assembly of at least two such modular elements.

The present invention relates in particular to a cryogenic distillation apparatus, such as an air separation, formed at least partially by an assembly of modular elements according to the invention.

On the other hand, the invention also applies to other mass and / or heat exchange devices, such as a heat exchanger, an adsorption purification device or a distillation column.

The apparatus according to the invention can be installed and put into operation quickly. Once installed, it is easy to increase or decrease its capacity and / or energy efficiency. Its maintenance is less complicated and if necessary, it is easy to move it. In addition, it is easy to modify the apparatus according to the invention by modifying its capacity and / or the contents of the products which it must produce. You can also add or delete a product.

Currently an air separation apparatus may be composed of a plurality of packages, each containing an entire equipment of the apparatus, for example all of a column, all of a heat exchanger, all of an adsorption unit for air purification at the top. The dimensions of each package are determined by the equipment it must contain and therefore the packages all have different dimensions. Most packages are placed directly on the ground.

It has been proposed to have the equipment of the air separation apparatus in packages, for example containers, each containing an entire equipment.

The assembly of heterogeneous packages each containing a piece of equipment requires a significant human effort for assembly (welding, wiring, ...), but also for start-up (verification, test).

He is known to US-A-4872955 and of US-A-3281334 to make a distillation column in several pieces to stack.

In the case of a distillation which does not operate at room temperature, for example cryogenic distillation, once the column has been assembled, it is necessary to build an enclosure around the column and to fill it with insulating material.

It is also known from EP-A-913653 placing a first distillation column operating at a pressure in the insulating enclosure and placing another distillation column operating at another pressure in another insulating enclosure above the first column. This construction requires the use of a crane and the assembly of the two enclosures is complicated.

EP2657633 and US2009 / 211295 describe a modular element according to the preamble of claim 1. In EP26587633 two heat exchange bodies are arranged in an insulated enclosure. Both bodies have small openings on their upper surface to allow passage of a pipe. US2009 / 211295 describes superimposed heat exchange modules. It is not described how the fluids from one module pass to another.

An object of the invention is to facilitate the configuration of an apparatus for treating a gas, for example a waste gas from an industrial process or an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation or a part of such. apparatus. Thus the device can be built more quickly and with low-skilled labor. In addition, a modular element containing a failed element can be replaced easily without the need to replace the entire equipment.

According to an object of the invention, there is provided a modular element according to claim 1.

• l'au moins un corps remplit au moins une partie de la chambre à l'intérieur du caisson et
  1. i) un autre corps permettant l'échange de masse et/ou de chaleur remplit une autre partie, voire le reste, de la chambre ou une autre chambre et/ou
  2. ii) au moins une conduite de transfert de matière traverse l'autre partie, voire le reste de la chambre ou une autre chambre, pour permettre la matière de traverser le caisson ou
  3. iii) l'autre partie, voire le reste de la chambre ou l'autre chambre constitue un moyen permettant le transfert de matière à travers le caisson.

According to other optional aspects:

• the at least one body fills at least part of the chamber inside the box and
  1. i) another body allowing the exchange of mass and / or heat fills another part, or even the rest, of the chamber or another chamber and / or
  2. ii) at least one material transfer line passes through the other part, or even the rest of the chamber or another chamber, to allow material to pass through the box or
  3. iii) the other part, or even the rest of the chamber or the other chamber constitutes a means allowing the transfer of material through the box.

• la hauteur de l'élément est inférieure à la longueur de l'élément, voire inférieure ou égale à la largeur de l'élément.
• la hauteur du corps est égale à au moins la moitié de la hauteur de l'élément, sinon égale à la hauteur de l'élément.
• au moins un corps est un corps de matériel adsorbant.
• au moins un corps est constitué par une pile de plaques métalliques orientées verticalement, les plaques étant séparées par des ailettes.
• au moins un corps est constitué par une pile de plaques ondulées orientées verticalement, les ondulations étant orientés à un angle entre 10° et 80° avec l'horizontale.
• une gamme de tailles d'élément ayant été prédéfinie, les dimensions de l'élément modulaire sont choisies pour correspondre à une taille d'élément appartenant à la gamme.
• au moins une des faces verticales du caisson est réalisée sous la forme d'une surface plane.
• au moins la face supérieure et/ou la face inférieure du caisson comprend des moyens de liaison pour réaliser une liaison entre éléments voisins.
• la au moins une chambre a une section horizontale de forme sensiblement carrée, rectangle ou circulaire.
• la chambre a une section horizontale uniforme sur toute la hauteur de la chambre.
• la chambre est plus proche d'une paroi latérale du caisson que de la paroi latérale opposée du caisson.
• le caisson est en métal, de préférence en aluminium ou en acier inoxydable ou en acier carbone ou en Invar.
• les parois de la au moins une chambre sont en métal, de préférence en aluminium ou en acier inoxydable ou en Invar.
• l'élément est autoportant.
• l'élément a une longueur entre 3 et 30 mètres
• l'élément a une hauteur entre 1 et 5 mètres
• l'élément a une largeur entre 1 et 5 mètres
• l'épaisseur de la couche d'isolation est inférieure à 500mm, ou inférieure à 300mm, ou inférieure à 150mm, voire 100 mm.
• le volume de la chambre ou des chambres constitue au moins 30% du volume de l'élément.
• l'élément comprend quatre poutres verticales reliant la face supérieure du caisson à la face inférieure du caisson par les coins, de sorte que les efforts mécaniques transitent par les coins de ces faces.
• le caisson est constitué par un conteneur normalisé, de préférence ayant des coins normalisés, par exemple selon la norme ISO 668
• une ouverture dans la face supérieure de la chambre communique avec une ouverture dans la face supérieure du caisson, les deux ouvertures ayant de préférence substantiellement les mêmes dimensions.
• une ouverture dans la face inférieure de la chambre communique avec une ouverture dans la face inférieure du caisson, les deux ouvertures ayant de préférence substantiellement les mêmes dimensions.
• l'ouverture dans la face inférieure et/ou la face supérieure du caisson occupe au moins 20% de la surface de la face respective du caisson.
• l'ouverture dans la face inférieure et/ou la face supérieure de la chambre occupe au moins 20% de la surface de la face respective de la chambre, de préférence toute la surface de la face respective de la chambre.

According to other optional aspects:

• the height of the element is less than the length of the element, or even less than or equal to the width of the element.
• the height of the body is at least half the height of the element, otherwise equal to the height of the element.
• at least one body is a body of adsorbent material.
• at least one body consists of a stack of vertically oriented metal plates, the plates being separated by fins.
• at least one body is formed by a stack of corrugated plates oriented vertically, the corrugations being oriented at an angle between 10 ° and 80 ° with the horizontal.
• a range of element sizes having been predefined, the dimensions of the modular element are chosen to correspond to an element size belonging to the range.
• at least one of the vertical faces of the box is produced in the form of a flat surface.
• at least the upper face and / or the lower face of the box comprises connecting means for making a connection between neighboring elements.
• the at least one chamber has a horizontal section of substantially square, rectangle or circular shape.
• the chamber has a uniform horizontal section over the entire height of the chamber.
• the chamber is closer to a side wall of the box than to the opposite side wall of the box.
• the box is made of metal, preferably aluminum or stainless steel or carbon steel or Invar.
• the walls of the at least one chamber are made of metal, preferably of aluminum or stainless steel or Invar.
• the element is self-supporting.
• the element has a length between 3 and 30 meters
• the element is between 1 and 5 meters high
• the element has a width between 1 and 5 meters
• the thickness of the insulation layer is less than 500mm, or less than 300mm, or less than 150mm, or even 100mm.
• the volume of the chamber or chambers constitutes at least 30% of the volume of the element.
• the element comprises four vertical beams connecting the upper face of the box to the lower face of the box by the corners, so that the mechanical forces pass through the corners of these faces.
• the box consists of a standardized container, preferably having standardized corners, for example according to ISO 668
• an opening in the upper face of the chamber communicates with an opening in the upper face of the box, the two openings preferably having substantially the same dimensions.
• an opening in the underside of the chamber communicates with an opening in the underside of the box, the two openings preferably having substantially the same dimensions.
• the opening in the lower face and / or the upper face of the box occupies at least 20% of the surface of the respective face of the box.
• the opening in the lower face and / or the upper face of the chamber occupies at least 20% of the area of the respective side of the chamber, preferably the entire area of the respective side of the chamber.

1. i) matériel adsorbant ou
2. ii) une pile de plaques métalliques orientées verticalement, les plaques étant séparées par des ailettes ou
3. iii) une pile de plaques ondulées orientées verticalement, les ondulations étant orientés à un angle entre 10° et 80° avec l'horizontale et l'élément modulaire du premier élément a la même longueur et largeur que celui du deuxième élément

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an assembly of at least a first and a second modular elements superimposed on one another and in contact with one another, the first and second elements being as described above, the elements being arranged such that at least one body of the first element is disposed above at least one body of the second element, the body of the first element and the body of the second element above. above which it is arranged being both made up of

1. i) adsorbent material or
2. ii) a stack of vertically oriented metal plates, the plates being separated by fins or
3. iii) a stack of corrugated sheets oriented vertically, the corrugations being oriented at an angle between 10 ° and 80 ° with the horizontal and the modular element of the first element has the same length and width as that of the second element

Preferably the box of the first element has the same length and width as that of the second element.

Preferably the chamber of the first element has the same length and width as that of the second element.

Preferably, the central points of the chambers of the first element and of the second element lie on a common vertical axis.

Preferably the body of the first element has the same length and width as that of the second element.

• l'au moins une conduite de transfert de matière traverse l'autre partie, voire le reste de la chambre ou une autre chambre, pour permettre la matière de traverser le caisson du premier élément et/ou
  l'autre partie, voire le reste de la chambre ou l'autre chambre constitue un moyen permettant le transfert de matière à travers le caisson du premier élément.
• l'au moins une conduite de transfert de matière traverse l'autre partie, voire le reste de la chambre ou une autre chambre, pour permettre la matière de traverser le caisson du deuxième élément et/ou
  l'autre partie, voire le reste de la chambre ou l'autre chambre constitue un moyen permettant le transfert de matière à travers le caisson du deuxième élément.
• la conduite de transfert de matière du premier élément est reliée au moyen de transfert de matière du deuxième élément, ce moyen pouvant être la conduite de transfert de matière du deuxième élément, voire une partie de la chambre ou une autre chambre du deuxième élément
• l'autre partie, voire le reste de la chambre ou l'autre chambre du premier élément est reliée au moyen de transfert de matière du deuxième élément, ce moyen pouvant être la conduite de transfert de matière du deuxième élément, voire une partie de la chambre ou une autre chambre du deuxième élément
• la conduite de transfert de matière du premier élément est la conduite de transfert du deuxième élément
• une conduite de transfert de matière traverse les premier et deuxième éléments, voire la plupart de, voire tous les éléments de l'assemblage
• l'assemblage comprend au moins un moyen de faire circuler au moins un fluide ou de l'électricité d'un élément à un autre en passant par au moins une conduite, pouvant être une câble, ou une chambre de chaque élément
• les éléments sont fixés l'un à l'autre en reliant les bords inférieurs des quatre parois latérales et frontales du caisson du premier élément aux bords supérieurs des quatre parois latérales et frontales du caisson du deuxième élément, par soudage et/ou adhésion utilisant un joint et/ou un adhésif et/ou un rattachement mécanique, avec l'usage éventuel d'un joint, préférentiellement uniquement par les coins, l'assemblage ainsi réalisé assurant éventuellement une étanchéité.
• l'assemblage comprend un troisième élément en contact avec le premier ou le deuxième élément, le troisième élément étant parallélépipédique ayant une longueur, une largeur et une hauteur, le troisième élément ayant une face supérieure et une face inférieure opposées horizontales, deux faces frontales opposées verticales ainsi que deux faces latérales opposées verticales, les faces supérieure et inférieure du troisième élément étant définies par la longueur et la largeur du élément modulaire, les deux faces frontales du élément modulaire par la longueur et la hauteur du troisième élément et les deux faces latérales du élément modulaire par la largeur et la hauteur du troisième élément, le troisième élément ne contenant aucun élément permettant l'échange de matière tel que décrit dans la revendication 3 mais contenant au moins un câble et/ou au moins une conduite pour transférer de l'électricité ou un fluide du premier ou du deuxième élément.

According to other optional aspects:

• the at least one material transfer pipe passes through the other part, or even the rest of the chamber or another chamber, to allow the material to pass through the box of the first element and / or
  the other part, or even the rest of the chamber or the other chamber constitutes a means allowing the transfer of material through the box of the first element.
• the at least one material transfer pipe passes through the other part, or even the rest of the chamber or another chamber, to allow the material to pass through the box of the second element and / or
  the other part, or even the rest of the chamber or the other chamber constitutes a means allowing the transfer of material through the casing of the second element.
• the material transfer line of the first element is connected to the material transfer means of the second element, this means possibly being the material transfer line of the second element, or even part of the chamber or another chamber of the second element
• the other part, or even the rest of the chamber or the other chamber of the first element is connected to the material transfer means of the second element, this means possibly being the material transfer pipe of the second element, or even part of the room or another room of the second element
• the material transfer line of the first element is the transfer line of the second element
• a material transfer line passes through the first and second elements, or most or all of the elements of the assembly
• the assembly comprises at least one means of circulating at least one fluid or electricity from one element to another passing through at least one pipe, which may be a cable, or a chamber of each element
• the elements are fixed to each other by connecting the lower edges of the four side and front walls of the box of the first element to the upper edges of the four side and front walls of the box of the second element, by welding and / or adhesion using a seal and / or an adhesive and / or a mechanical attachment, with the possible use of a seal, preferably only by the corners, the assembly thus produced possibly ensuring a seal.
• the assembly comprises a third element in contact with the first or the second element, the third element being parallelepiped having a length, a width and a height, the third element having an upper face and a lower face horizontally opposed, two opposite front faces vertical as well as two opposite vertical side faces, the upper and lower faces of the third element being defined by the length and width of the modular element, the two front faces of the modular element by the length and height of the third element and the two side faces of the modular element by the width and height of the third element, the third element not containing any element allowing the exchange of material as described in claim 3 but containing at least one cable and / or at least one conduit for transferring water electricity or a fluid of the first or second element.

1. i) une unité d'épuration du gaz, par exemple de l'air est au moins partiellement constituée par un assemblage d'au moins deux éléments tels que décrits ci-dessus, l'adsorbant est capable d'adsorber de l'eau et/ou du dioxyde de carbone et/ou une partie des impuretés secondaires de l'air, l'assemblage comprenant des moyens pour y envoyer du gaz, par exemple de l'air, à épurer en eau et/ou en dioxyde de carbone reliés à un élément de l'assemblage et des moyens pour prélever du gaz épuré d'un autre élément de l'assemblage et/ou
2. ii) un échangeur de chaleur est au moins partiellement constitué par un assemblage d'au moins deux éléments tels que décrits ci-dessus, l'assemblage comprenant des moyens pour envoyer un gaz, par exemple de l'air ou un gaz de l'air, à un élément de l'assemblage et des moyens pour prélever le gaz à une température plus chaude ou plus froide d'un autre élément de l'assemblage et/ou
3. iii) une colonne de distillation est au moins partiellement constituée par un assemblage d'au moins deux éléments tel que décrits ci-dessus, l'assemblage comprenant des moyens pour y envoyer un gaz, par exemple de l'air ou un gaz de l'air, reliés à un élément de l'assemblage et des moyens pour prélever un gaz épuré ou enrichi en un composant du gaz d'un autre élément de l'assemblage.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for treating a gas, for example an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation in which:

1. i) a gas purification unit, for example air, is at least partially constituted by an assembly of at least two elements as described above, the adsorbent is capable of adsorbing water and / or carbon dioxide and / or part of the secondary impurities of the air, the assembly comprising means for sending gas therein, for example air, to be purified with water and / or carbon dioxide connected to an element of the assembly and means for taking clean gas from another element of the assembly and / or
2. ii) a heat exchanger is at least partially constituted by an assembly of at least two elements as described above, the assembly comprising means for sending a gas, for example air or a gas from the air, to an element of the assembly and means for taking the gas at a hotter or colder temperature from another element of the assembly and / or
3. iii) a distillation column is at least partially constituted by an assembly of at least two elements as described above, the assembly comprising means for sending therein a gas, for example air or a gas from air, connected to an element of the assembly and means for taking a gas purified or enriched in a gas component of another element of the assembly.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of mass and / or heat exchange in an assembly or an apparatus as described above in which at least a first fluid is introduced into the body of part of an assembly and a second fluid derived from the first fluid is removed from the body of another part of the assembly.

Preferably, the mass and / or heat exchange takes place at a pressure of less than 2 bars, preferably at a pressure at most equal to 400 mbar above atmospheric pressure.

According to the present invention, at least some functional parts of the apparatus for treating a gas, for example an apparatus for separating air, are at least partially, preferably entirely, constituted by modular elements.

1. i) au moins une (la) première et au moins une (la) deuxième ouverture se trouvant dans la face supérieure ou au moins une (la) première et au moins une (la) deuxième ouverture se trouvant dans la face inférieure du troisième élément ou
2. ii) au moins une (la) première ouverture se trouvant dans la face supérieure et au moins une (la) deuxième ouverture se trouvant dans la face inférieure du troisième élément.

The entire device can be made up of modular elements. In addition, there is provided an assembly of at least a first, a second and a third modular stackable elements for building a mass and / or heat exchange apparatus, the first and second stackable modular elements being such as described above and the third element comprising a parallelepipedal box having a length, a width and a height, the box having an upper face and a lower face horizontally opposed, two opposite front faces vertical as well as two opposite side faces vertical, the upper and lower faces of the box being defined by the length and width of the box, the two front faces of the box by the length and height of the box and the two side faces of the box by the width and height of the box, the first and second elements are arranged on or below the third element, in contact therewith, the third element comprising at least a first opening to allow the transfer of fluid from / to the chamber of at least a first element and at least a second opening to allow the transfer of fluid to / from the chamber of at least one second element,

1. i) at least one (the) first and at least one (the) second opening located in the upper face or at least one (the) first and at least one (the) second opening located in the underside of the third element or
2. ii) at least one (the) first opening located in the upper face and at least one (the) second opening located in the lower face of the third element.

• l'au moins un corps remplit au moins une partie de la chambre à l'intérieur du caisson du premier et/ou deuxième élément et
  1. i) un autre corps permettant l'échange de masse et/ou de chaleur remplit une autre partie, voire le reste, de la chambre ou une autre chambre et/ou
  2. ii) au moins une conduite de transfert de matière traverse l'autre partie, voire le reste de la chambre ou une autre chambre, pour permettre la matière de traverser le caisson ou
  3. iii) l'autre partie, voire le reste de la chambre ou une autre chambre constitue un moyen permettant le transfert de matière à travers le caisson.
• éventuellement
  1. i) au moins un corps est un corps de matériel adsorbant et/ou
  2. ii) au moins un corps est constitué par une pile de plaques métalliques orientées verticalement, les plaques étant séparées par des ailettes et/ou
  3. iii) au moins un corps est constitué par une pile de plaques ondulées orientées verticalement, les ondulations étant orientés à un angle entre 10° et 80° avec l'horizontale.
• le premier élément contient un corps tel que décrit dans la variante i) ou ii) ou iii) de la revendication 3 et le deuxième élément contient un corps tel que décrit dans la variante i) ou ii) ou iii) de la revendication 3.
• le troisième élément ne contient aucun corps tel que décrit dans variantes i), ii) ou iii) de la revendication 3.
• le premier élément a la même longueur et/ou largeur et/ou hauteur que le deuxième élément.
• les premier, deuxième et troisième éléments sont disposés avec leurs longueurs disposées dans le même sens.
• la somme des longueurs des premier et deuxième éléments est inférieure à, égale à ou supérieure à la longueur du troisième élément.
• les premier et deuxième éléments sont disposés avec leurs longueurs disposées dans le même sens et le troisième élément est disposé avec sa longueur perpendiculaire aux longueurs des premier et deuxième éléments.
• la somme des largeurs des premier et deuxième éléments est sensiblement égale à la longueur du troisième élément.
• n troisièmes éléments sont disposés en dessous de ou au dessus du premier et du deuxième élément, chaque troisième élément étant en contact avec le premier et le deuxième élément et chacun des premier et deuxième éléments comprenant n ouvertures pour permettre le transfert de fluide depuis/ vers chacun des troisième éléments.
• la longueur du premier et/ou du deuxième élément est sensiblement égale à la somme des largeurs des troisièmes éléments, de préférence chaque troisième élément ayant la même largeur et la longueur du premier et/ou du deuxième élément étant sensiblement égale à n fois la largeur d'un troisième élément.
• le troisième élément a une hauteur plus grande ou plus petite que la hauteur du premier et/ou deuxième élément.
• le troisième élément est en dessous des premier et deuxième éléments
• le troisième élément est fixé au sol.
• le caisson du troisième élément contient au moins une couche d'isolant thermique d'épaisseur inférieure à un tiers de largeur du caisson, la couche d'isolant revêtant au moins les faces latérales et frontales du caisson et éventuellement les faces supérieure et inférieure entourant au moins une chambre à volume parallélépipédique à l'intérieur du caisson,
• le troisième élément contient au moins une chambre ayant une longueur, une largeur et une hauteur, la chambre ayant une face supérieure et une face inférieure opposées horizontales, la face supérieure et/ou la face inférieure de la chambre étant au moins partiellement ouverte(s), deux faces frontales opposées verticales ainsi que deux faces latérales opposées verticales, les faces supérieure et inférieure de la chambre étant définies par la longueur et la largeur de la chambre, les deux faces frontales de la chambre par la longueur et la hauteur de la chambre et les deux faces latérales de la chambre par la largeur et la hauteur de la chambre,
• une chambre du troisième élément contient au moins un corps de matière permettant l'échange de masse et/ou de chaleur, le corps étant de forme parallélépipédique et remplissant au moins une partie de la chambre, le premier et deuxième éléments ayant chacun la chambre présentant une ouverture sur la face supérieure communicant avec une ouverture dans la face supérieure du caisson et une ouverture sur la face inférieure communiquant avec une ouverture dans la face inférieure du caisson respectivement pour permettre le transfert de fluide vers le corps depuis l'extérieur de l'élément et/ou du corps vers l'extérieur de l'élément
• le troisième élément contient des moyens pour transférer au moins un fluide du premier élément vers le deuxième élément et/ou du deuxième élément vers le premier élément.
• le troisième élément contient au moins une conduite et/ou au moins une gaine, dont une extrémité est reliée à au moins un corps et/ou au moins une conduite de transfert du premier élément et l'autre extrémité est reliée à au moins un corps et/ou au moins une conduite de transfert du deuxième élément.
• l'au moins une conduite et/ou l'au moins une gaine est revêtue d'isolation
• l'au moins une conduite et/ou l'au moins une gaine est revêtue d'isolation est disposée dans de l'isolation qui remplit l'espace à l'intérieur du troisième élément
• au moins les faces frontales et latérales du troisième élément sont revêtues d'une couche d'isolant
• le troisième élément contient des moyens de commande et/ou de contrôle et/ou d'analyse et/ou d'instrumentation et/ou de fourniture d'utilités.
• le caisson du troisième élément contient sur au moins une face au moins une couche d'isolant thermique d'épaisseur au moins éventuellement inférieure à un tiers de largeur du caisson.
• le premier et/ou deuxième élément constitue l'élément inférieur ou supérieur d'une pile d'éléments, chaque élément de la pile comprenant un caisson parallélépipédique ayant une longueur, une largeur et une hauteur, le caisson ayant une face supérieure et une face inférieure opposées horizontales, deux faces frontales opposées verticales ainsi que deux faces latérales opposées verticales, les faces supérieure et inférieure du caisson étant définies par la longueur et la largeur du caisson, les deux faces frontales du caisson par la longueur et la hauteur du caisson et les deux faces latérales du caisson par la largeur et la hauteur du caisson.
• au moins un élément de la pile est un élément de support ne comprenant pas d'ouvertures pour permettre l'entrée ou la sortie d'un fluide.
• pour au moins un élément de la pile, le caisson contient au moins une couche d'isolant thermique d'épaisseur inférieure à un tiers de largeur du caisson, la couche d'isolant revêtant au moins les faces latérales et frontales du caisson et éventuellement les faces supérieure et inférieure et entourant au moins une chambre à volume parallélépipédique à l'intérieur du caisson, la au moins une chambre ayant une longueur, une largeur et une hauteur, la chambre ayant une face supérieure et une face inférieure opposées horizontales, la face supérieure et/ou la face inférieure de la chambre étant au moins partiellement ouvertes, deux faces frontales opposées verticales ainsi que deux faces latérales opposées verticales, les faces supérieure et inférieure de la chambre étant définies par la longueur et la largeur de la chambre, les deux faces frontales de la chambre par la longueur et la hauteur de la chambre et les deux faces latérales de la chambre par la largeur et la hauteur de la chambre, la chambre contenant au moins un corps de matière permettant l'échange de masse et/ou de chaleur, le corps étant de forme parallélépipédique et remplissant au moins une partie de la chambre.
• chaque élément de la pile ou la plupart des éléments de la pile contient un corps composé d'une seule des variantes i) à iii) de la revendication 3, les éléments étant disposés de sorte qu'au moins un fluide puisse circuler dans la pile d'éléments à travers les corps.
• le troisième élément comprend des ouvertures uniquement dans une seule face qui est la face supérieure ou la face inférieure.
• le troisième élément comprend au moins deux ouvertures dans une des faces qui est la face supérieure ou la face inférieure et au moins une ouverture dans la face opposée.
• le premier et/ou deuxième élément constitue l'élément inférieur ou supérieur d'une pile d'éléments, reliée par le premier et/ou deuxième élément à un premier troisième élément et reliée également à un deuxième troisième élément disposée à un point intermédiaire de la pile ou à l'autre extrémité de la pile

According to other optional aspects:

• the at least one body fills at least part of the chamber inside the box of the first and / or second element and
  1. i) another body allowing the exchange of mass and / or heat fills another part, or even the rest, of the chamber or another chamber and / or
  2. ii) at least one material transfer line passes through the other part, or even the rest of the chamber or another chamber, to allow material to pass through the box or
  3. iii) the other part, even the rest of the chamber or another chamber constitutes a means allowing the transfer of material through the box.
• eventually
  1. i) at least one body is a body of adsorbent material and / or
  2. ii) at least one body consists of a stack of metal plates oriented vertically, the plates being separated by fins and / or
  3. iii) at least one body consists of a stack of corrugated plates oriented vertically, the corrugations being oriented at an angle between 10 ° and 80 ° with the horizontal.
• the first element contains a body as described in variant i) or ii) or iii) of claim 3 and the second element contains a body as described in variant i) or ii) or iii) of claim 3.
• the third element does not contain any body as described in variants i), ii) or iii) of claim 3.
• the first element has the same length and / or width and / or height as the second element.
• the first, second and third elements are arranged with their lengths arranged in the same direction.
• the sum of the lengths of the first and second elements is less than, equal to or greater than the length of the third element.
• the first and second elements are disposed with their lengths disposed in the same direction and the third element is disposed with its length perpendicular to the lengths of the first and second elements.
• the sum of the widths of the first and second elements is substantially equal to the length of the third element.
• n third elements are arranged below or above the first and second element, each third element being in contact with the first and the second member and each of the first and second member including n openings to allow transfer of fluid from / to each of the third members.
• the length of the first and / or second element is substantially equal to the sum of the widths of the third elements, preferably each third element having the same width and the length of the first and / or second element being substantially equal to n times the width of a third element.
• the third element has a height greater or less than the height of the first and / or second element.
• the third element is below the first and second elements
• the third element is fixed to the ground.
• the box of the third element contains at least one layer of thermal insulation of thickness less than a third of the width of the box, the layer of insulation covering at least the side and front faces of the box and possibly the top and bottom faces surrounding the at least one chamber with parallelepipedal volume inside the box,
• the third element contains at least one chamber having a length, a width and a height, the chamber having an upper face and a lower face horizontally opposed, the upper face and / or the lower face of the chamber being at least partially open (s ), two opposite vertical front faces as well as two opposite vertical side faces, the upper and lower faces of the chamber being defined by the length and width of the chamber, the two front faces of the chamber by the length and height of the chamber. chamber and the two side faces of the chamber by the width and height of the chamber,
• a chamber of the third element contains at least one body of material allowing the exchange of mass and / or heat, the body being of parallelepipedal shape and filling at least part of the chamber, the first and second elements each having the chamber having an opening on the upper face communicating with an opening in the upper face of the casing and an opening on the underside communicating with an opening in the underside of the casing respectively to allow the transfer of fluid to the body from the outside of the element and / or from the body to the outside of the element
• the third element contains means for transferring at least one fluid from the first element to the second element and / or from the second element to the first element.
• the third element contains at least one pipe and / or at least one sheath, one end of which is connected to at least one body and / or at least one transfer pipe of the first element and the other end is connected to at least one body and / or at least one transfer line for the second element.
• the at least one pipe and / or the at least one sheath is insulated
• the at least one conduit and / or the at least one sheath is insulated is disposed in insulation which fills the space within the third element
• at least the front and side faces of the third element are coated with a layer of insulation
• the third element contains means of command and / or control and / or analysis and / or instrumentation and / or supply of utilities.
• the box of the third element contains on at least one face at least one layer of thermal insulation with a thickness at least possibly less than a third of the width of the box.
• the first and / or second element constitutes the lower or upper element of a stack of elements, each element of the stack comprising a parallelepipedal box having a length, a width and a height, the box having an upper face and a face opposite lower horizontal faces, two opposite vertical frontal faces as well as two opposite vertical lateral faces, the upper and lower faces of the box being defined by the length and the width of the box, the two front faces of the box by the length and the height of the box and the two side faces of the box by the width and height of the box.
• at least one element of the stack is a support element not comprising openings to allow the entry or the exit of a fluid.
• for at least one cell element, the box contains at least one layer of thermal insulation of thickness less than one third of the width of the box, the layer of insulation covering at least the side and front faces of the box and possibly the upper and lower faces and surrounding at least one chamber with parallelepiped volume inside the box, the at least one chamber having a length, a width and a height, the chamber having an upper face and a lower face which are opposite horizontally, the face upper and / or lower face of the chamber being at least partially open, two opposite vertical front faces as well as two opposite vertical side faces, the upper and lower faces of the chamber being defined by the length and the width of the chamber, the two front faces of the chamber by the length and the height of the chamber and the two side faces of the chamber by the width and the height of the chamber, the chamber containing at least one body of material allowing the exchange of mass and / or heat, the body being shaped parallelepipedal and filling at least part of the chamber.
• each cell cell or most cell cells contains a body composed of only one of the variants i) to iii) of claim 3, the cells being arranged so that at least one fluid can flow through the cell of elements through bodies.
• the third element comprises openings only in a single face which is the upper face or the lower face.
• the third element comprises at least two openings in one of the faces which is the upper face or the lower face and at least one opening in the opposite face.
• the first and / or second element constitutes the lower or upper element of a stack of elements, connected by the first and / or second element to a first third element and also connected to a second third element arranged at an intermediate point of battery or the other end of the battery

In addition, a plurality of juxtaposed assemblies is provided, each assembly being as described above in which the third element of one of the assemblies is connected to the third element of another assembly through a fourth element comprising a box. parallelepiped, placed in contact with the third elements in order to allow the transfer of fluid from one assembly to another through the fourth element and the third elements.

1. i) une unité d'épuration du gaz, par exemple de l'air est au moins partiellement constituée par un assemblage selon la revendication 3 variante i), l'adsorbant est capable d'adsorber de l'eau et/ou du dioxyde de carbone et/ou une partie des impuretés secondaires de l'air, l'assemblage comprenant des moyens pour y envoyer du gaz, par exemple de l'air, à épurer en eau et/ou en dioxyde de carbone reliés à un élément de l'assemblage et des moyens pour prélever du gaz épuré d'un autre élément de l'assemblage et/ou
2. ii) un échangeur de chaleur est au moins partiellement constitué par un assemblage selon la revendication 3 variante ii), l'assemblage comprenant des moyens pour envoyer un gaz, par exemple de l'air ou un gaz de l'air, à un élément de l'assemblage et des moyens pour prélever le gaz à une température plus chaude ou plus froide d'un autre élément de l'assemblage et/ou
3. iii) une colonne de distillation est au moins partiellement constituée par un assemblage selon la revendication 3, variante iii) l'assemblage comprenant des moyens pour y envoyer un gaz, par exemple de l'air ou un gaz de l'air, reliés à un élément de l'assemblage et des moyens pour prélever un gaz épuré ou enrichi en un composant du gaz d'un autre élément de l'assemblage.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for treating a gas, for example an apparatus for separating air by cryogenic distillation in which:

1. i) a gas purification unit, for example air, is at least partially constituted by an assembly according to claim 3 variant i), the adsorbent is capable of adsorbing water and / or carbon dioxide carbon and / or a part of the secondary impurities of the air, the assembly comprising means for sending gas therein, for example air, to be purified with water and / or carbon dioxide connected to an element of the assembly and means to take clean gas from another part of the assembly and / or
2. ii) a heat exchanger is at least partially constituted by an assembly according to claim 3 variant ii), the assembly comprising means for sending a gas, for example air or a gas from the air, to an element of the assembly and means for taking gas at a hotter or colder temperature from another element of the assembly and / or
3. iii) a distillation column is at least partially constituted by an assembly according to claim 3, variant iii) the assembly comprising means for sending therein a gas, for example air or an air gas, connected to an element of the assembly and means for taking a gas purified or enriched in a gas component of another element of the assembly.

• l'échange de masse et/ou de chaleur opère à une pression de moins de 2 bars, de préférence à une pression au plus égale à 400 mbars au-dessus de la pression atmosphérique.

According to another object of the invention, there is provided a method of exchanging mass and / or heat in an assembly or an apparatus as described above in which at least a first fluid is introduced into the body of part of an assembly and a second fluid derived from the first fluid is removed from the body of another part of the assembly.

• the mass and / or heat exchange operates at a pressure of less than 2 bars, preferably at a pressure at most equal to 400 mbar above atmospheric pressure.

1. a) on fixe le premier élément sur le deuxième élément ou on fixe le deuxième élément sous le premier de manière étanche, de sorte qu'un fluide puisse passer du corps du premier élément vers le corps du deuxième élément et/ou du corps du deuxième élément vers le corps premier élément et/ou
2. b) on désolidarise le premier élément du deuxième élément, au dessus duquel il est fixé de manière étanche ou on désolidarise le deuxième élément du premier élément en dessous duquel il fixé de manière étanche, de sorte qu'un fluide puisse passer du corps du premier élément vers le corps du deuxième élément et/ou du deuxième élément vers le corps du premier élément.

Further, there is provided a method of constructing or modifying a material and / or heat exchange apparatus, the mass and / or heat exchange apparatus comprising an assembly of at least a first and a second modular stackable elements, the first and second elements being as described above first element having at least one chamber having the opening on the underside communicating with the opening in the underside of the box and the second element having the at least one chamber having the opening on the upper face communicating with the 'opening in the upper face of the box to allow the transfer of fluid from the body of the first element to the body of the second element and / or from the second element to the body of the first element in which

1. a) the first element is fixed on the second element or the second element is fixed under the first in a sealed manner, so that a fluid can pass from the body of the first element to the body of the second element and / or from the body of the second element to body first element and / or
2. b) the first element is separated from the second element, above which it is fixed in a sealed manner or the second element is disconnected from the first element below which it fixed in a sealed manner, so that a fluid can pass from the body of the first element to the body of the second element and / or from the second element to the body of the first element.

• le corps du premier élément et le corps du deuxième élément sont tous deux
  1. i) un corps de matériel adsorbant ou
  2. ii) une pile de plaques métalliques orientées verticalement, les plaques étant séparées par des ailettes ou
  3. iii) une pile de plaques ondulées orientées verticalement, les ondulations étant orientés à un angle entre 10° et 80° avec l'horizontale.
• l'au moins un corps remplit au moins une partie de la chambre à l'intérieur du caisson du premier et/ou du deuxième élément et
  1. i) un autre corps permettant l'échange de masse et/ou de chaleur remplit une autre partie, voire le reste, de la chambre ou une autre chambre et/ou
  2. ii) au moins une conduite de transfert de matière traverse l'autre partie, voire le reste de la chambre ou une autre chambre, pour permettre la matière de traverser le caisson et/ou
  3. iii) l'autre partie, voire le reste de la chambre ou l'autre chambre constitue un moyen permettant le transfert de matière à travers le caisson.
• l'assemblage constitue au moins une partie d'un lit d'adsorbant, un échangeur de chaleur ou un appareil de distillation, de préférence cryogénique et en ce que
  1. i) le rajout du deuxième élément permet d'augmenter la capacité de l'assemblage et/ou d'augmenter l'efficacité de l'assemblage ou
  2. ii) le retrait du deuxième élément permet de réduire la capacité de l'assemblage et/ou de réduire l'efficacité de l'assemblage et/ou de réduire le volume de l'assemblage
• le premier et/ou deuxième élément constitue(nt) un(des) élément(s), éventuellement un élément inférieur ou supérieur, d'une pile d'au moins deux éléments, chaque élément de la pile comprenant un caisson parallélépipédique ayant une longueur, une largeur et une hauteur, le caisson ayant une face supérieure et une face inférieure opposées horizontales, deux faces frontales opposées verticales ainsi que deux faces latérales opposées verticales, les faces supérieure et inférieure du caisson étant définies par la longueur et la largeur du caisson, les deux faces frontales du caisson par la longueur et la hauteur du caisson et les deux faces latérales du caisson par la largeur et la hauteur du caisson, la plupart des éléments, voire chaque élément, de la pile ayant la même largeur et éventuellement la même longueur et/ou la même hauteur.
• au moins un élément de la pile peut être plus long que d'autres éléments de la pile, de préférence plus long que la plupart des, voire tous les éléments de la pile
• on rajoute le premier élément dans la pile d'éléments au-dessus du deuxième élément et en dessous d'un autre élément.
• on retire le premier élément et on remplace le premier élément par un autre élément ayant le même type de corps, i) ii) ou iii) comme décrit dans la revendication 3 que le premier corps, mais ayant une plus grande capacité et/ou une meilleure efficacité et/ou un fonctionnement moins défectueux que celui/celle du premier élément.
• on retire le premier élément et on le remplace par un élément de forme parallélépipédique ayant la même longueur et la même largeur que le premier élément mais ne contenant pas un corps de même type que le premier corps, voire ne contenant pas de corps d'un type i) à iii) décrit dans la revendication 3.
• on assemble une première pile comprenant principalement des éléments de corps du type i) ou du type ii) ou du type iii) comme décrit dans la revendication 3 et on assemble une deuxième pile comprenant principalement des éléments de corps du type i) ou du type ii) ou du type iii) comme décrit dans la revendication 3 de sorte qu'une face latérale de la deuxième pile est sensiblement en contact avec une face latérale de la première pile.
• on assemble une troisième pile comprenant principalement des éléments de corps du type i) ou du type ii) ou du type iii) comme décrit dans la revendication 3 de sorte qu'une face latérale de la deuxième pile est sensiblement en contact avec une face latérale de la troisième pile.
• la première pile contient principalement des éléments de corps de type i) et/ou la deuxième pile contient principalement des éléments de corps de type ii) et/ou la troisième pile contient principalement des éléments de corps de type iii).
• un élément de la première pile ou la deuxième pile contient un compresseur d'air destiné à alimenter en air des éléments de la pile de corps de type i) ou ii).

According to other optional aspects, it is planned:

• the body of the first element and the body of the second element are both
  1. i) a body of adsorbent material or
  2. ii) a stack of vertically oriented metal plates, the plates being separated by fins or
  3. iii) a stack of corrugated sheets oriented vertically, the corrugations being oriented at an angle between 10 ° and 80 ° with the horizontal.
• the at least one body fills at least part of the chamber inside the box of the first and / or of the second element and
  1. i) another body allowing the exchange of mass and / or heat fills another part, or even the rest, of the chamber or another chamber and / or
  2. ii) at least one material transfer line passes through the other part, or even the rest of the chamber or another chamber, to allow material to pass through the box and / or
  3. iii) the other part, or even the rest of the chamber or the other chamber constitutes a means allowing the transfer of material through the box.
• the assembly constitutes at least part of an adsorbent bed, a heat exchanger or a distillation apparatus, preferably cryogenic and in that
  1. i) the addition of the second element makes it possible to increase the capacity of the assembly and / or to increase the efficiency of the assembly or
  2. ii) removal of the second member reduces the capacity of the assembly and / or reduces the efficiency of the assembly and / or reduces the volume of the assembly
• the first and / or second element constitutes (s) one (s), optionally a lower or upper element, of a stack of at least two elements, each element of the stack comprising a parallelepiped box having a length , a width and a height, the box having an upper face and a lower face which are opposite horizontal, two opposite frontal faces vertical as well as two opposite side faces vertical, the upper and lower faces of the box being defined by the length and the width of the box , the two front faces of the box by the length and the height of the box and the two side faces of the box by the width and the height of the box, most of the elements, or even each element, of the stack having the same width and possibly the same length and / or same height.
• at least one cell element may be longer than other cell cells, preferably longer than most, if not all, cell cells
• we add the first element in the stack of elements above the second element and below another element.
• the first element is removed and the first element is replaced by another element having the same type of body, i) ii) or iii) as described in claim 3 as the first body, but having a greater capacity and / or a best efficiency and / or less defective functioning than that of the first element.
• the first element is removed and it is replaced by an element of parallelepiped shape having the same length and the same width as the first element but not containing a body of the same type as the first body, or even not containing a body of a type i) to iii) described in claim 3.
• a first stack is assembled mainly comprising body elements of type i) or of type ii) or of type iii) as described in claim 3 and a second stack is assembled mainly comprising body elements of type i) or of type ii) or of type iii) as described in claim 3 such that a side face of the second stack is substantially in contact with a side face of the first stack.
• a third stack is assembled mainly comprising body elements of type i) or type ii) or type iii) as described in claim 3 so that a side face of the second stack is substantially in contact with a side face of the third stack.
• the first stack mainly contains body elements of type i) and / or the second stack mainly contains body elements of type ii) and / or the third stack mainly contains body elements of type iii).
• an element of the first cell or the second cell contains an air compressor intended to supply air to elements of the body cell type i) or ii).

1. i) selon la variante a) ci-dessus on prend le premier et/ou deuxième élément dans un centre de fabrication ou une plateforme logistique et/ou
2. ii) selon la variante b) ci-dessus on dépose le premier et/ou deuxième élément dans un/le centre de fabrication ou une/la plateforme logistique,
   le centre de fabrication ou la plateforme logistique contenant de préférence plusieurs éléments identiques au premier élément et/ou plusieurs éléments identiques au deuxième élément.

In a variant of the process

1. i) according to variant a) above, the first and / or second element is taken in a manufacturing center or a logistics platform and / or
2. ii) according to variant b) above, the first and / or second element is placed in a / the manufacturing center or a / the logistics platform,
   the manufacturing center or the logistics platform preferably containing several elements identical to the first element and / or several elements identical to the second element.

According to a variant, a first and / or second element is separated from a first device according to step b) above, the detached element is deposited in a manufacturing center or a logistics platform, optionally the repackaged therein. detached element, we take the detached element in the center or the platform to transport it to a second device where it is fixed according to step a) above to another element to form part of the second device

The invention proposes to use modular elements which make it possible to assemble and start up an apparatus for treating a gas, for example an air separation apparatus, quickly, the modular elements being manufactured in the workshop and being of sizes easily transportable, typically the size of a standard sea container.

The modular elements are easily joined together, to facilitate the construction of a device and are also easily detached, to facilitate the modification or removal of the elements.

Fluid or electricity or instrumentation type connections between adjacent modular elements, but also the sealing between adjacent modular elements, will be made at the interfaces between two adjacent elements, by docking one modular element with another, not requiring little or no human intervention.

It is obviously conceivable that fluid or electricity or instrumentation connections can be made by means arranged on the outer walls of adjacent or non-adjacent modular elements.

The functioning of the modular elements will have been completely validated upstream of the transport of the element (verification, quality control, ...)

In addition, the modular aspect makes it possible to increase or reduce the size of the apparatus for treating a gas, for example an air separation apparatus, and also to easily dismantle it for installation on another. site, by adding or removing modular elements of modular elements within a single device. The modular aspect also makes it easy to multiply the number of devices in parallel (concept of "multi-train").

For maintenance, we can imagine making a standard exchange with another modular element.

Certain modular elements could possibly be changed during the life of the device, for example by a modular element that is more energy efficient (but certainly more expensive) if the energy cost becomes greater. This configuration process can also be applied to an adjustment of the productions of liquid, gas under pressure, etc.

The implementation, in particular of the connection of gaseous fluids, will be facilitated by the use of the concept of a device operating at atmospheric pressure or a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure, for which we can possibly tolerate a certain leak rate.

One can choose a single size of modular element having given dimensions to install part of an equipment of the apparatus therein, using several modular elements each of the same size. Alternatively, two sizes of modular element can be chosen, with the modular elements of the two sizes each having the same height and width but the length of one modular element size being twice that of the other modular element size. In this case, a number of modular elements of a first size and a number of modular elements of a second size will be used.

Dimensions are chosen so that at least one piece of equipment of the device is not only transported to site in the modular element but installed on site to form part of the functioning device, remaining within the same modular element than that used for transportation.

In some cases, a whole piece of equipment of an appliance, or even several pieces of equipment, can fit into a modular element, for example the equipment can be a reboiler or a condenser, a heat exchanger, for example a more heat exchanger. small, such as a sub-cooler.

In other cases, especially when the working equipment has a high height, it is necessary to design the equipment in a series of pieces, each of which is arranged in an individual modular element. The modular elements are then stacked and the pieces connected in series within the modular elements to allow operation of the pieces in series, with at least one fluid from one modular element passing into the other modular element. Thus the superimposed pieces make up the entire equipment, such as a column allowing the exchange of heat and / or material, for example a distillation column or a washing column or a heat exchanger or an adsorption tower or absorption.

The height of the piece is chosen so that the piece can fit into the modular element. To improve its stability, the modular element is arranged with its length parallel to the ground, its width also parallel to the ground and its height being perpendicular thereto.

For the case where only one size of modular element is used, the length of the modular element is preferably at least 1.5 times the height of the modular element, or even at least 2 times the height of the modular element , or even at least 4 times the height of the modular element.

For the case where only one size of modular element is used, the length of the modular element is preferably at least 1.5 times the width of the modular element, or even at least 2 times the width of the modular element , or even at least 4 times the width of the modular element.

For the case where only one size of modular element is used, the width of the modular element may be greater or less than the height of the modular element or equal to it.

For the case where only one size of modular element is used, the length of the modular element is obviously greater than the height of the modular element and greater than its width.

For the case where two sizes of modular element are used, the length of the shorter modular element is preferably at least 1.25 times the height of the shorter modular element, or even at least 1.5 times the height of the shorter modular element, or even at least twice the height of the shorter modular element. The length of the longer modular element is preferably at least 2.5 times the height of the longer modular element, or even at least 3 times the height of the longer modular element, or even at least 4 times the height longer modular element.

For the case where two sizes of modular element are used, the length of the shorter modular element is preferably at least 1.25 times the width of the shorter modular element, or even at least 1.5 times the width of the shorter modular element, or even at least twice the width of the shorter modular element. The length of the longer modular element is preferably at least 2.5 times the width of the longer modular element, or even at least 3 times the width of the longer modular element, or even at least 4 times the width longer modular element.

For the case where two sizes of modular element are used, the shorter modular element and the longer modular element have the same height and width.

For the case where two sizes of modular element are used, the height of the longer modular element is half the height of the modular element plus short and / or the length of the longer modular element is substantially twice the length of the shorter modular element.

The modular elements can be declined according to different configurations.

The modular elements may each contain a part of an equipment having a single main function.

For example, a piece of equipment, such as a heat exchanger, can consist partly or entirely of stacked modular elements.

An adsorption purification device can be made up partly or entirely of stacked modular elements.

A distillation or washing column can be made up partly or entirely of stacked modular elements.

A modular element may not contain any instrumentation or power supply and in this case does not necessarily require a validation / test workshop, other than quality control.

On the contrary, a modular element can contain objects having a multitude of functions (rotary machines, such as a compressor, a turbine or a pump, electrical components, instrumentation, processes, fluid distribution devices (pipes , valves, etc.), becoming a complex module that requires full validation / test / control in the workshop.

The modular elements can be arranged so that their length is arranged vertically and / or horizontally with respect to the ground, once they have been put in place to constitute the apparatus. The position with the length arranged horizontally with respect to the ground when the element is installed in its final position is preferred for reasons of stability and ease of assembly of the elements. In addition, since these elements are generally transported with their length in the horizontal direction, for example by truck or boat, the element remains in the same position for transport and final installation. It is therefore not necessary to provide supports inside the element to prevent its contents from moving when the element is in a vertical position, since the element is always in the horizontal position, whether for transport, installation on site or its final disposal on site.

The structure of at least the modular elements in contact with sections of the apparatus operating at a subambient, or even cryogenic, temperature will be in a material which mechanically resists the low temperature or in a more conventional material protected by adequate thermal insulation.

The walls of the modular element will be flat, or "curved" outwards or inwards if the pressure is more easily contained. The “convex” solution towards the interior facilitates transport (the wall does not protrude from the “supporting” structure).

The insulation can be integrated into the walls and structures exposed to the ambient environment, for example using vacuum panels. The use of more traditional insulation (particulate, for example perlite, stuffing with glass wool or rock) could also be planned depending on the accessibility required for the maintenance of the equipment concerned.

The wall of the internal zone with its possible insulation delimits a chamber and can directly "contain" the body having a process function (for example, exchange waves for heat exchange, structured packing for distillation, adsorbent for adsorption, compression, expansion). The connection allowing the transfer of at least one fluid between the modular elements can be made by welding or preferably by a mechanical system with optional seal compatible with cryogenic temperatures and with the nature of the product to facilitate scalability and ease of disassembly , both at the level of the fluid distribution ("pipes") or at the level of a connection between two parts of the same process function. The mechanical strength of the assembly of the modular elements can, for example, be ensured by a system of the twist-lock type which is preferably housed in the standardized corners of the modular element) independently of the connections " fluid ”, the“ fluid ”connections just ensuring a seal, which may be imperfect.

The other connections (electricity, instrumentation) are of the more traditional "plug and play" type

There may also be pipes external to the modular elements to connect two parts of the device, in particular in the case of fluids under pressure above a given threshold.

The modular elements have guides and quick locking systems in the corners, allowing precision in "plug and play" connections.

Civil engineering can remain simple, using a single flat slab or even only piles located under the structure, possibly only the corners, of each modular element resting on the ground. The modular element resting on the ground can optionally be reinforced, for example, by adding a point of contact with the ground.

The modular elements preferably have a structure such that the mechanical forces between elements or the ground are preferably taken up in the corners.

The insulation of a modular element is integrated into the walls of the element and possibly into the structure of the element. This prevents the formation of thermal bridges.

A modular element has at least one dimension, or even two or three, greater and / or at least one dimension, or even two or three, less and / or at least one dimension, or even two or three, equal to those of a standardized container maritime. Typically the modular element has at least one dimension corresponding to the size of a 20 foot or 40 foot standard shipping container, or approximately 2.5 x 2.5 x 6 m or 2.5 x 2.5 x 12 m.

An element can have at these eight angles a standardized corner of a sea container, for example according to the ISO 668 standard.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 1 , 3 and 4 which represent modular elements according to the invention and Figure 2 which represents two modular elements superimposed to form an assembly according to the invention, with Figures 5 to 8 which represent assemblies of modular elements according to the invention, Figure 9 which shows a section of modular elements assembled according to the invention, at the Figure 10 which shows a section of a modular element according to the invention, with Figures 11 to 13 which represent assemblies of modular elements according to the invention and to Figures 14 to 19 which represent a life cycle of an assembly of modular elements according to the invention.

The Figure 1a is a top view of a modular element. A bottom view would be substantially the same.

The modular element 10 is an element allowing an exchange of material and / or heat. It is composed of a box 2 of parallelepiped shape, formed of beams for example metal. The element has eight ISO 101 “container” -type corners fixed to the box 2 and has a width oriented horizontally with respect to the ground, a length oriented horizontally with respect to the ground and a height oriented vertically with respect to the ground, when it is installed to be part of a device.

ISO containers are subject to specific construction standards and performance tests. The same is true for ISO corners.

ISO wedges are certified by an internationally recognized organization to allow their “multimodal” use in maritime, road, rail or even air transport.

ISO corners in steel, aluminum, or stainless steel are commercially available depending on their specified use.

The element comprises a box having an upper face and a lower face which are opposed horizontally, two opposite frontal faces vertical as well as two opposite side faces vertical, the upper and lower faces of the box being defined by the length and the width of the box, both front faces of the box by the length and height of the modular element and the two side faces of the box by the width and height of the box. The side and front walls are for example made of sheet metal. The faces formed by the width and the length of the element are open to allow the passage of fluids. Alternatively, the opening can be smaller than the surface of the lower and / or upper face, covering at least part of the insulation 3 and possibly part of the zone 4.

Obviously, the height and width of the element are not necessarily the same, so the side walls can all be rectangular without being square. The walls can also be smaller than the dimensions of the element box. The walls are preferably fixed inside the box 2, but can be fixed outside the latter. An insulator 3 covers the box 2 on the inside, at least on the vertical sides of the parallelepiped. The upper and / or lower face can also comprise a wall, and be insulated. The insulation 3 can be pressed onto a sheet which rests on the box 2 to ensure a “fluid” seal between the interior and the ambient. Insulator 3 can also directly perform this sealing function, as well as the function of structuring wall. Failing this, a sealed wall, for example a metal sheet, can be applied on the interior side on the insulation 3. The box 2 and the insulation 3 define an internal zone. The box 2, the wall and / or the insulation 3 can be sized to contain any excess pressure inside the internal zone.

The internal zone surrounds a zone 4. This zone 4 contains a body which makes it possible to carry out mass and / or heat transfer, for example structured packing to make distillation, a plate and fin exchanger matrix to make. heat exchange, adsorbent in the form of beads or structured to make adsorption. This zone can also contain a zone of the support, for example in the lower part, fluid distribution zones, for example in the lower part and / or in the upper part. It can also be partitioned into several parts, for example vertically, with walls which can be waterproof, and / or structuring (for example, withstand a pressure differential) and / or thermal insulating. Preferably the body fills the entire section of zone 4.

At least one fluid circulates ascending or descending through zone 4. In some cases, for example that of distillation, one fluid, for example a gas, circulates in an ascending way and another, for example a liquid, in an ascending fashion. descending through zone 4.

The internal zone can be entirely constituted by zone 4. But, as illustrated, it can also also contain at least one other zone, for example here a fluid circulation zone 5, delimited by a sealed and possibly insulating wall 6, in a kind of sheath. The part in contact with the insulation 3 can be delimited by a sealed wall, for example metal, if the insulation does not perform this function. In the case of the figure, two fluid circulation zones 5 are delimited by a vertical sealed wall 6. This makes it possible to replace the gas or liquid pipes of a conventional device by circulating at least one fluid to be sent to a higher or lower modular element that does not have to be processed by mass and / or heat exchange in the element through which they flow.

It is also conceivable that the internal zone comprises several zones 4. For example, one could have a first zone 4 and a second zone separated from each other, each containing structured packing for distillation or a matrix of 'plate and fin exchanger to exchange heat or adsorbent in the form of beads or structured to make adsorption.

Likewise, the at least two zones could each have a different function or different dimensions, one containing structured packings and the other a plate and finned exchanger matrix.

The fluid sent to zone 5 can be in direct contact with the walls of the zone, which separate the zone from the insulation. Otherwise the fluid may be contained in a pipe which passes through the area.

The Figure 1b represents a cut on line XX of the Figure 1a . It shows the four beams of the box 2 and two of the side walls attached to the inside of the beams and coated with insulation 3. A body for mass and / or heat exchange of the first zone 4 is held in place by the insulator 3 and is supported by a distributor 4 ′ intended to distribute a gas passing from the outside of the element towards the body or from the body towards the outside of the element. This dispenser can also be used to hold the body in place. This distributor can be reduced to a set of support beams. The body can be a mass exchange body only, a heat exchange body only, (for example a plate and fin heat exchanger) or a mass and heat exchange body.

The Figure 1c shows a variant of the element with a cut on the YY line of the Figure 1a . We see the four beams of the box 2 and two of the side walls attached to the interior of the beams and coated with insulation 3.

A barrier 6 divides the chamber 5 in two to form two gas paths, one of the two paths being again divided in two by the barrier 6 ', the barriers 6, 6' forming a T. The gas rises or falls in the path coming from outside the element.

The Figure 1d shows a variant of the element of the Figure 1c with a cut on the ZZ line of the Figure 1a . Here instead of occupying the entire height of the element as in the most frequent case of Figure 1a , 1b , 1 C , the body is divided into two parts 3, 4, each having a distributor and / or a set of support beams, downwards, the two parts being separated vertically from each other by a space. The gas rising in the path 5 next to the body 4 enters the body 3 passing through the distributor 3 '.

The Figure 2 represents a side view of an assembly of two modular elements according to the Figure 1a . For each modular element, we see the four beams of the box and one of the side walls coated with insulation.

The stacking of two modular elements of parallelepiped shape 10 and 20 forms an assembly of two modular elements interconnected by mechanical connecting pieces 141 at the ISO corners 101. The opening between the two modular elements of parallelepiped shape, generated by the connecting piece 141 and / or by the spacing of the beams between the frames of the two modular elements, is filled by an element 131 which ensures both the sealing vis-à-vis the outside and the continuity of the insulation between the two modular elements 10 and 20 of parallelepiped shape. Element 131 can be made up of several sub-elements, for example one providing the insulation function and another the sealing function. The connecting piece 141 can be made so that the ISO corners upper and lower are in contact, for example, by an internal mechanical connection to the ISO corners or even outside using the lateral holes of the ISO corners. The opening between the two modular elements of parallelepiped shape is then reduced to its minimum, approximately 2 cm, corresponding to the positioning difference of the horizontal metal beams and the ISO 101 wedge, in general, around 1 cm.

Other ways of assembling the modular elements and / or ensuring the seal between the modular elements can be envisaged, for example welding and / or a gasket, for example made of PTFE or its derivatives and / or gluing by adhesive in addition to or in replacement of a mechanical bond. The beams can be connected to each other by a mechanical system, typically bolting, in the manner of a pipe flange, to strengthen the seal if necessary.

Obviously more than two elements can be put together in this way.

As the two elements have the same length and the same width, it suffices to fix one element on the other by the corners 101 which are contiguous, in order to attach the elements together. The space between the elements is filled at least with the seal 131 so that the fluids in the zones 4 cannot leave all the elements but pass entirely from one element to another.

The Figure 3 shows a top view of a modular element according to Figure 1a bearing the sealing element 131.

This figure shows the location of the sealing element, for example a seal 131, at the interface between two modular elements of parallelepiped shape 10, 20. The element 131 rests on the thickness of insulation, and also preferably on the box 2, with the exception of ISO 101. Other elements 132, 133 and 134, possibly of the same nature as element 131, will ensure the continuity of fluids between the two modular elements of parallelepipedal shape 10, 20, in terms of sealing and possibly insulation: the element 132 in the case where zone 4 has been partitioned into several parts, for example vertically, with walls which can be waterproof, the element 133 in the case where it is desired to channel a fluid at the outlet of the zone 4, typically at the outlet of a heat transfer, the element 134 for the fluid circulation zones 5.

These elements 131, 132, 133 and 134 can be put in place during the assembly of the two modular elements 10, 20 of parallelepiped shape. These elements 131, 132, 133 and 134 may optionally constitute a single part.

The Figure 4 is a top view of a variant of the Figure 1a in which zone 4 does not contain a body which is only part of a mass / heat transfer element but contains complete equipment 7, for example heat transfer, which has for example an inlet 8 and an outlet 9 , which pass through the insulation 3, the possible structuring and / or sealing wall, and possibly the structure 2.

In this case, one element of a separation apparatus is small enough or too complex to be divided into several sections, each of which would be in a respective modular element. This is typically the case with heat exchangers used as reboilers or as condensers.

At least one fluid circulates ascending or descending through the interface between two modular elements of parallelepiped shape, at the level of zone 4, the two modular elements of parallelepiped shape possibly being of the type of the Figure 4 , or the Figure 1a and some Figure 4 .

In the Figure 5 , an apparatus for separating gas 1, for example air, is at least partly made up of different modular elements 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 as described for at least one of the preceding figures. They are of parallelepiped shape and include at least 8 corners 101, for example ISO container type, fixed to a structure, assembled for example as described above.

For example, the modular elements 11 and 12 may be dimensions of a standard container of 40 feet in length and the other modular elements 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 of dimension of a standardized container of length of 20 feet.

The circulation of fluids respectively in a first stack made up of modular elements 21, 22, 23 and 24, a second stack made up of modular elements 31, 32 and 33, a third stack made up of modular elements 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 , 46, 47 and 48 takes place essentially vertically within each modular element and each stack, and essentially vertically at the interface 11, 12 between two modular elements of the stack. Each stack is arranged so that the longer edge of the modular elements is parallel to the ground.

In the case of air separation, the first stack 21, 22, 23 and 24 can essentially perform the function of pre-cooling and cleaning at the head, the second battery 31, 32 and 33 the heat exchange function and the third battery 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 the cryogenic distillation function between nitrogen and oxygen.

The third cell could constitute a single column operating at low pressure or a plurality of columns at different pressures, each consisting of a few elements of the cell.

The modular elements 11 and 12 make it possible in particular to circulate the fluids horizontally through rectangular ducts and / or round pipes so as to transfer the fluids respectively between the first stack 21, 22, 23 and 24 and the second stack 31, 32 and 33, the second stack 31, 32 and 33 and the third stack 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48. The modular elements 11 and 12 can also provide process and / or control and / or control functions. or utilities. For example, they may contain means of command and / or control and / or analysis and / or instrumentation and / or supply of utilities, such as electricity or instrument air.

The modular elements 11, 12 are not elements according to claim 1.

The modular element 11 is placed astride the modular elements 24 and 33, above the first and the second stack, and the modular element 12 is placed astride the modular elements 31 and 41 under the second and the third stack. The modular elements 11 and 12 preferably comprise intermediate ISO corners 102 to facilitate assembly respectively with the modular elements 24 and 33, with the modular elements 31 and 41.

The modular element 11, 12 can be isolated in different ways. It can be insulated by placing an insulation on the outside of the box. It can be insulated by coating the inside of the front and side faces with insulation and in addition the upper or lower face if this is exposed. As the elements 11, 12 only include two openings, these openings being in the lower face and the upper face respectively, the elements 11, 12 serve essentially to transfer a fluid from a cell to the adjacent cell, and possibly to change the direction of flow of fluids passing through the piles. Thus a fluid passing through the first stack from bottom to top can pass through the second stack from top to bottom. Note however that a fluid can pass through the two stacks in the same direction. For example, a gas passes through the first cell and is sent to the second cell by passing through element 11. Then it descends to element 31 via zone 5 of elements 33, 32, 31 before being sent to the chamber of element 31.

This would make it possible, for example to constitute a distillation column, using two stacks of elements, for example the first two stacks of the Figure 5 . The gas rising in the distillation bodies of elements 21 to 24 would be sent through zones 5 of elements 33 to 31 to the distillation bodies of elements 31 to 33 which it will pass through starting from the bottom.

The column thus formed would have a particularly reduced height.

The Figure 6 differs from Figure 5 by the addition of an additional fourth stack composed of the modular elements 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 and 62, which in the case of air separation can essentially perform the function of cryogenic distillation between argon and oxygen.

The modular element 43 of the Figure 5 has been replaced by the modular element 13 which makes it possible in particular to circulate the fluids horizontally through rectangular ducts and / or round pipes so as to transfer the fluids respectively between the third stack 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 and fourth additional stack 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 and 62.

The modular element 13 is placed within the third stack (between the modular element 42 and 44) and within the additional fourth stack (between the modular element 53 and 54). The modular element 13 allows, if necessary, to circulate fluids vertically between the lower part of the third stack 41 and 42, and the upper part of the third stack 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48. The modular element 13 allows in this case to distribute the gases coming from a single pile on two piles. Here, for example, a gas from an intermediate point of the third cell, constituting a simple low pressure distillation column, is enriched in argon. This gas continues in part its way up the single column, i.e. elements 45 to 48 but is also sent to the top of the additional fourth stack 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 , 60, 61 and 62.

Element 13 is not an element according to claim 1.

However, no fluid passes from element 53 to element 54 through element 13. In other configurations, at least one fluid may pass from element 53 to element 54 through the element. item 13 and vice versa.

Elements 51 to 53 can have several variations. They can be simple supports in which case they do not even contain insulation, being simple empty boxes. They may contain other elements useful for the process, for example pumps. Elements 51 to 53 can be modular elements according to the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 with a chamber containing a body of distillation packings. They can for example constitute a denitrogenation column, with the pipes containing the argon produced by the element 62 sent through the zones 5 of the elements 62 to 54, the element 13 and the zones 5 of the elements 51 being sent to the element 51 to be distilled therein and to provide a product rich in argon from element 53.

The Figure 7a is a front view and the Figure 7b is a rear view of the same assembly.

Unlike the Figure 5 , the stacks of the modular elements of parallelepiped shape which comprises at least 8 ISO 101 container-type corners fixed to a structure are joined in the direction of the length of the modular elements, instead of the width.

To fix ideas, the modular elements 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 are of the size of a 20 foot container. If we applied the invention directly as described in Figure 5 (that is, to have a container that "overlaps" two containers from two adjacent stacks), the modular connecting elements 11 and 12 in the figure would have a width which is double that of a container format, which does not allow its transport and handling by conventional means.

In the Figures 7a and 7b , the horizontal connection between the first stack and the second stack, respectively the second stack and the third stack, is made using two modular elements 11a and 11b, 12a and 12b respectively, the width and height being that of a conventional ISO container, and the length adjusted to two conventional ISO container widths so as to properly match the two stacks. This configuration allows its transport and handling by conventional means.

The connection between the first stack and the second stack could be achieved using a single modular element 11a, and that between the second stack and the third stack with a single modular element 12a, the modular element 12b then being able to be reduced to its sole structure function.

Contrary to Figures 7a and 7b , for the Figure 8 , the width of the modular elements 11a, 11b and 11c, respectively 12a, 12b and 12c has been reduced so as to place three modular elements between the two stacks, without creating a "vacuum" between modular elements, while maintaining a format that allows its transport and handling by conventional ISO container means.

The Figure 9 illustrates the connection between two stacks, for example the assembly 12 of the figure 5 . This is a side view. The modular elements 31 and 41 are arranged on the modular connecting element 12 which is arranged on a support, not shown. At each ISO corner is arranged a mechanical connecting piece and the element 82 ensures both the sealing vis-à-vis the outside and the continuity of the insulation between the modular element 12 and the modular element 31, respectively 41, as described above. The element 71 symbolizes a fluid sheath (or a pipe) which makes it possible to pass from / to the modular element 31 to / from the modular element 41 by passing substantially horizontally through the modular element 12, in having a vertical transfer from / to the modular element 31, respectively the modular element 41 to / from the modular connecting element 12, the junction plane then being horizontal.

The modular element 12 preferably has intermediate ISO corners 102 to facilitate assembly with the modular elements 31 and 41.

The Figure 10 illustrates (top view) an alternative to the Figure 9 of a modular connecting element 12. Element 71 is a fluid sheath allowing passage from one cell to another. Element 72 is a fluid pipe allowing passage from one cell to another. The spaces 73 and 74 delimited by internal walls and the wall of the insulation 83 allow fluids to pass between the two stacks. The modular link member 12 can also contain process equipment: for example, a piece of process equipment 91, such as a material and / or heat exchange body can be delimited by the insulation 83 and an internal wall, or yet another piece of process equipment 92 with its own container, for example a distillation column. The modular link element 12 can also also contain control, instrumentation and / or utility functions.

The modular element 12 preferably has intermediate ISO corners 102

The Figure 11 differs from Figure 5 by doubling the second stack into two parallel sub-stacks 31a and 32a, 31b and 32b respectively. The modular elements 12b and 11c make it possible to transfer fluids to / from the two sub-piles, from the modular elements 12a and 11b. The modular element 12c can be reduced to its sole function of structure. The modular element 11a allows fluids to be transferred to / from the first stack 21, 22 and 23.

The modular elements 11a, 11b, 11c, 12a, 12b and 12c can have the same height as the other modular elements, or preferably a height reduced, for example by half, as illustrated in the figure. Figure 11 .

The Figure 12 differs from Figure 11 by doubling the first stack into 2 parallel sub-stacks 22a and 23a, 22b and 23b respectively. The modular elements 11a and 21 make it possible to transfer fluids to / from the 2 sub-piles.

The Figure 13 differs from Figure 5 in that the elements 21, 22, 23 and 24 are of larger sizes than the modular elements 31-33 and 41-48, for example containers 40 'and that the connecting element 11 has an intermediate size between 20' and 40 'so as to overlap the two piles 21-24 and 31-33. The stack 21-24 has a different orientation from the other stacks, in particular the adjacent one 31-33, preferably perpendicular.

The Figures 14 to 22 describe an example of the life cycle of an apparatus for separating and / or liquefying gas, for example air. The device consists at least in part of various modular elements of parallelepiped shape according to one of Figures 1 to 4 which comprises at least 8 ISO 101 container-type corners fixed to a structure, assembled for example as described above.

The Figure 14 illustrates the construction of the apparatus in its initial configuration. The different modular elements A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L come in two different sizes. The modular elements are all the same height and width. On the other hand, the modular elements C and E are appreciably twice as long as the others. Optionally, A, L and K can also be substantially twice as long as the others

The modular elements are superimposed in three vertical piles. Each stack is made up of only one of two sizes. The modular elements come from a CF manufacturing center and / or a PL logistics platform where several elements of each of the two sizes are stored. Several copies of each element and each type of body are stored there, in order to be able to replace any faulty element. Thus, a single manufacturing center and / or logistics platform can serve several devices in very remote locations, storing replacement elements. A quality control process ensures that each modular element is functional.

The various modular elements are assembled on site by stacking them to form at least part of the device.

The first pile comprises an element A, surmounted by three elements B and part of the element C.

In the case of an apparatus for the separation of gas from air by cryogenic means, the modular element A can contain an air blower and a pre-cooling, the modular elements B of the adsorbent to purify the air from the blower in A and the modular element C of the fluid transfer ducts from the first stack to the second stack and / or from the second stack to the first stack.

The modular elements are designed so that the air rises from the lower modular element B, to the middle modular element B and then to the upper modular element B purifying itself of water and carbon dioxide. carbon and part of the secondary impurities in the air. Then the purified air from the top modular element B is transferred to the ducts of the modular element C to pass into the second stack. The regeneration nitrogen is transferred through the modular element C of the second cell to the modular elements B.

The second stack is placed next to the first stack so that the side walls of the modular elements of the two stacks touch each other, possibly with a small gap in between.

The second stack comprises a part of the modular element C containing the ducts described above, the three modular elements D each containing a heat exchange section, and a part of the modular element E containing ducts for transferring to the at least one fluid from the second stack to the third stack and / or at least one fluid from the third stack to the second stack.

The purified air passes through the modular elements D to be cooled to a cryogenic temperature and distillation fluids pass from the modular element E to the modular elements D to be reheated.

The third pile is placed next to the second pile so that the side walls of the modular elements of the two piles touch each other, possibly with a small gap in between.

The third stack, higher than the other two, comprises at the bottom part of the modular element E with its fluid transfer sheaths. Above E is the modular element F which is a vaporizer. The three modular elements G are superimposed above F, each containing a distillation section. The modular element H contains a condenser and possibly a distillation section and is located above the lowest of the modular elements G. Then come the three modular elements I each containing a distillation section. Above the highest section of the modular element I is J a condenser. Arranged next to the other sections are the modular element K which contains a heat pump for the distillation and the modular element L which contains a heat pump for the cooling balance of the appliance.

It is obvious that the scheme could be simplified by eliminating the modular elements L, K and / or the condenser J. The number of modular elements B, D, G and I can be changed to produce the required products or by changing the heights. modular elements.

The installation of the device is limited to placing the modular elements on top of each other and ensuring that they are well attached and sealed to each other and that the battery is securely fixed to the ground. This can be achieved by low skilled labor.

The Figure 15 illustrates a first evolution of the apparatus of the Figure 14 during its life cycle. A new modular element I containing a distillation column section comes from a CF manufacturing center and / or a PL logistics platform. It is interposed between the upper modular element I and the modular element J, for example to increase the purity of a product. To do this, it suffices to remove the condenser J, to place the new modular element I in place of the condenser and to replace the condenser J above the new modular element I. In this way, four modular elements I are superimposed instead. of three.

In the case of an apparatus for separating gas from air by cryogenic means, the modular element I can contain a distillation section for the purpose of producing pure nitrogen (“minaret”).

• ∘ Un élément modulaire vaporiseur / condenseur en tête et/ou en cuve de colonne ou à un niveau intermédiaire de la colonne pour réduire le pincement du vaporiseur et/ou condenseur ou pour ajouter une fonction vaporiseur ou condenseur intermédiaire supplémentaire
• ∘ Un élément modulaire contenant un tronçon(s) de distillation
• ∘ Un élément modulaire de ligne d'échange aux éléments d'échangeur de chaleur pour réduire son pincement et donc réduire la consommation de la pompe à chaleur bilan
• ∘ Un élément modulaire contentant une pompe à chaleur « basse énergie » ou un élément modulaire contenant pompe à chaleur relié en parallèle d'une pompe à chaleur existante ou relié en partie à un vaporiseur ou un condenseur supplémentaire.

To reduce the energy consumption of a device, we can add:

• ∘ A modular vaporizer / condenser element at the top and / or bottom of the column or at an intermediate level of the column to reduce the pinch of the vaporizer and / or condenser or to add an additional vaporizer or intermediate condenser function
• ∘ A modular element containing a distillation section (s)
• ∘ A modular element of the exchange line with heat exchanger elements to reduce its pinching and therefore reduce the consumption of the heat pump balance
• ∘ A modular element containing a “low energy” heat pump or a modular element containing a heat pump connected in parallel with an existing heat pump or partially connected to an additional vaporizer or condenser.

To reduce the energy consumption of a device, modular elements can be replaced by more efficient modular elements.

To modify the apparatus to produce impure oxygen, a modular distillation element can be omitted.

The added or removed modular element may also contain a liquid product pump, a liquefier or a product compressor.

The Figure 16 illustrates a maintenance of the device of the Figure 15 during its life cycle. A functional L modular element comes from a CF manufacturing center and / or a PL logistics platform and replaces the defective L modular element. The defective modular element L is returned to the CF manufacturing center and / or to a PL logistics platform where it can either be repaired and made available, or dismantled, possibly recycling some of its components.

It is also possible to decide to replace the modular element L which would still be functional by a new modular element L which is more energy efficient for example, or even more efficient in capacity (debottlenecking).

This maintenance operation can obviously be carried out for any A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J or K element of the device.

The Figure 17 illustrates a second evolution of the apparatus of the Figure 15 during its life cycle. New modular elements J, F and K come from a CF manufacturing center and / or from a logistics platform PL and are inserted at different places of the device, for example to increase the energy efficiency of the device.

In the case of an apparatus for separating gas from air by cryogenic means, it is for example possible to reduce the energy consumption on the one hand, by doubling the vaporizer by adding a modular element F and / or by doubling the condenser by adding a modular element J, making it possible to reduce the thermal pinch of these exchangers, on the other hand, by doubling the heat pump for the distillation by adding a modular element K, allowing the pump to operate at heat with better efficiency.

Here again, the installation of the new elements is easy and it suffices to move the other elements to place the new element just above or just below another modular element having the same function (therefore identified by the same letter of l. 'alphabet) or not having the same function.

The Figure 18 illustrates a third evolution of the apparatus of the Figure 17 during its life cycle. New modular elements M, N, O and P come from a CF manufacturing center and / or from a logistics platform PL and are inserted at different places of the device, for example to produce another product. Here the new modular elements are arranged to form a fourth stack.

In the case of an apparatus for separating gas from air by cryogenic means, argon can for example be produced: The modular element M can contain transfer sheaths and is of the larger size. The fourth stack comprises at the bottom the modular element P which contains a pump for raising liquid, then the three superimposed modular elements O each containing a distillation section. A part of the modular element M, which fits into the third stack is located above the upper modular element O. Then above the part of the modular element M present in the fourth stack, we finds eight superimposed N modular elements each containing a distillation section. The head of the fourth pile is surmounted by a condenser H, moved from the existing third pile of the Figure 17 .

The Figure 19 illustrates the end of the appliance cycle. It can either be moved to another place, or simply dismantled: in the latter case, at least one of the modular elements A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L , M, N, O, P is returned to the CF manufacturing center and / or to a PL logistics platform where they can either be made available, or modernized, or dismantled, possibly recycling some of their components. In particular, an item that is no longer required on a first device can be returned to the manufacturing center or to the logistics platform, possibly stored on site and sent to a second device when a need for an item arises. This mode of operation has the advantages of rapid intervention, economy of scale and ecological management.

The Figure 17 illustrates a second evolution of the apparatus of the Figure 15 during its life cycle. New modular elements J, F and K come from a CF manufacturing center and / or from a logistics platform PL and are inserted at different places of the device, for example to increase the energy efficiency of the device.

In the case of an apparatus for separating gas from air by cryogenic means, it is for example possible to reduce the energy consumption on the one hand, by doubling the vaporizer by adding a modular element F and / or by doubling the condenser by adding a modular element J, making it possible to reduce the thermal pinch of these exchangers, on the other hand, by doubling the heat pump for the distillation by adding a modular element K, allowing the pump to operate at heat with better efficiency.

Here again, the installation of the new elements is easy and it suffices to move the other elements to place the new element just above or just below another modular element having the same function (therefore identified by the same letter of l. 'alphabet) or not having the same function.

The Figure 18 illustrates a third evolution of the apparatus of the Figure 17 during its life cycle. New modular elements M, N, O and P come from a CF manufacturing center and / or from a logistics platform PL and are inserted at different places of the device, for example to produce another product. Here the new modular elements are arranged to form a fourth stack.

In the case of an apparatus for separating gas from air by cryogenic means, argon can for example be produced: The modular element M can contain transfer sheaths and is of the larger size. The fourth stack comprises at the bottom the modular element P which contains a pump for raising liquid, then the three superimposed modular elements O each containing a distillation section. A part of the modular element M, which fits into the third stack, is located above the upper modular element O. Then above the part of the modular element M present in the fourth stack, we find eight superimposed N modular elements each containing a distillation section. The head of the fourth pile is surmounted by a condenser H, moved from the existing third pile of the Figure 17 .

The Figure 19 illustrates the end of the appliance cycle. It can either be moved to another place, or simply dismantled: in the latter case, at least one of the modular elements A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L , M, N, O, P is returned to the CF manufacturing center and / or to a PL logistics platform where they can either be made available, or modernized, or dismantled, possibly recycling some of their components. In particular, an item that is no longer required on a first device can be returned to the manufacturing center or to the logistics platform, possibly stored on site and sent to a second device when a need for an item arises. This mode of operation has the advantages of rapid intervention, economy of scale and ecological management.

Claims (11)

1. Stackable modular element (10, 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13, 20, 21, 22, 22a, 22b, 23, 23a, 23b, 24, 31, 31a, 31b, 32, 32a, 32b, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P), for constructing a mass- and/or heat-exchange device comprising a parallelepiped box (2) having a length, a width and a height, the box having an upper face and a lower face, horizontally opposite, two front faces, vertically opposite, as well as two side faces, vertically opposite, the upper and lower faces of the box being defined by the length and the width of the box, the two front faces of the box by the length and the height of the box and the two side faces of the box by the width and the height of the box, the insulating layer coating at least the side and front faces of the box and optionally the upper and lower faces and surrounding at least one chamber (4, 5, 6, 6') with a parallelepiped volume and inside the box, the at least one chamber having a length, a width and a height, the chamber having an upper face and a lower face, horizontally opposite, the upper face and the lower face of the chamber being at least partially open, two front faces, vertically opposite, the upper and lower faces of the chamber being defined by the length and the width of the chamber, the two front faces of the chamber by the length and the height of the chamber and the two side faces of the chamber by the width and the height of the chamber, the chamber containing at least one body of matter allowing the exchange or mass and/or heat, the body being of parallelepiped shape and filling at least one portion of the chamber, the chamber having an opening on the upper face and an opening on the lower face and communicating with an opening in the upper face of the box and an opening in the lower face of the box respectively to allow the transfer of fluid to the body from the outside of the element and/or from the body to the outside of the element, characterised in that the box contains at least one thermal insulating layer (3) of thickness less than one third of the width of the box and the chamber (4) is open on the upper face and the lower face of the box and the height of the chamber is substantially equal to the height of the box (2).
2. Element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one body fills at least one portion of the chamber (4) inside the box (2), and

   i) another body allowing the exchange of mass and/or heat fills another portion, even the remainder, of the chamber or another chamber (5, 6, 6'), and/or

   ii) at least one pipe for transferring matter passes through the other portion, even the remainder of the chamber or another chamber (5, 6, 6'), to allow the matter to pass through the box, or

   iii) the other portion, even the remainder of the chamber or another chamber (5, 6, 6'), constitutes a means allowing the transfer of matter through the box.
3. Element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

   i) at least one body is a body of adsorbent material, and/or

   ii) at least one body is constituted by a stack of metal plates oriented vertically, the plates being separated by blades, and/or

   iii) at least one body is constituted by a stack of corrugated plates oriented vertically, the waves being oriented at an angle between 10° and 80° with the horizontal.
4. Element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an opening in the upper face of the chamber (4) communicates with an opening in the upper face of the box (2), the two openings preferably having substantially the same dimensions and/or an opening in the lower face of the chamber communicates with an opening in the lower face of the box, the two openings preferably having substantially the same dimensions.
5. Element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening in the lower face and/or the upper face of the box (2) occupies at least 20% of the surface of the respective face of the box.
6. Element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening in the lower face and/or the upper face of the chamber (4) occupies at least 20% of the surface of the respective face of the chamber, preferably the whole surface of the respective face of the chamber.
7. Assembly of at least one first and one second element superposed (10, 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13, 20, 21, 22, 22a, 22b, 23, 23a, 23b, 24, 31, 31a, 31b, 32, 32a, 32b, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P) on top of one another and in contact with one another according to one of the preceding claims, the elements being arranged such that at least one body of the first element is arranged above at least one body of the second element, the body of the first element and the body of the second element above which it is arranged, both being constituted of

   i) adsorbent material, or

   ii) a stack of metal plates oriented vertically, the plates being separated by blades, or

   iii) a stack of corrugated plates oriented vertically, the waves being oriented at an angle between 10° and 80° with the horizontal and the first element has the same length and width as the second element.
8. Assembly according to claim 7, wherein the elements (10, 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13, 20, 21, 22, 22a, 22b, 23, 23a, 23b, 24, 31, 31a, 31b, 32, 32a, 32b, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P) are fixed to one another by connecting the lower edges of the four side and front walls of the box of the first element at the upper edges of the four side and front walls of the box of the second element, by welding and/or adhesion using a seal (131) and/or an adhesive and/or a mechanical attachment, with the possible use of a seal, preferably only by the corners (101), the assembly thus carried out optionally ensuring a sealing.
9. Device for treating a gas, for example a device for separating air by cryogenic distillation, wherein:

   i) a unit for purifying gas, for example air, is at least partially constituted by an assembly of at least two elements (10, 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13, 20, 21, 22, 22a, 22b, 23, 23a, 23b, 24, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P) according to claim 3 variant i), the adsorbent is capable of adsorbing water and/or carbon dioxide and/or a portion of the secondary impurities of the gas, for example air, the assembly comprising means for sending gas therein, for example air, to be purified in water and/or carbon dioxide connected to an element of the assembly and means for collecting purified gas from another element of the assembly, and/or

   ii) a heat exchanger is at least partially constituted by an assembly of at least two elements (10, 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13, 31, 31a, 31b, 32, 32a, 32b, 33, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P) (10, 20) according to claim 3 variant ii), the assembly comprising means for sending a gas, for example air or a gas of the air, to an element of the assembly and means for collecting the gas at a temperature hotter or colder than another element of the assembly, and/or

   iii) a distillation column is at least partially constituted by an assembly of at least two elements (10, 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P) according to claim 3, variant iii) the assembly comprising means for sending a gas there, for example air or a gas of the air, connected to an element of the assembly and means for collecting a purified gas or gas enriched with a component of the gas of another element of the assembly.
10. Method for exchanging mass and/or heat in an assembly according to claim 7 or 8 or a device according to claim 9, wherein at least one first fluid is introduced into the body of an element (10, 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13, 20, 21, 22, 22a, 22b, 23, 23a, 23b, 24, 31, 31a, 31b, 32, 32a, 32b, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P) of an assembly and a second fluid which is a derivative of the first fluid of the body of another element (10, 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13, 20, 21, 22, 22a, 22b, 23, 23a, 23b, 24, 31, 31a, 31b, 32, 32a, 32b, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J) is removed from the assembly.
11. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the exchange of mass and/or heat performs at a pressure of less than 2 bars, preferably at a pressure at least equal to 400 mbars above the atmospheric pressure.

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