APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUBAMBIAN TEMPERATURE SEPARATION AND METHOD FOR HEATING AT LEAST ONE PART OF SUCH AN APPARATUS

摘要

A cryogenic temperature separation apparatus comprises means for cooling a gaseous mixture to be separated (1, 7) to the subambient temperature comprising a first heat exchanger (11) and means for separating the cooled mixture into at least two fluids enriched in a component of the mixture comprising a column system comprising at least one column (19), the means for cooling the gas mixture comprising a heat pump (21) using the magnetocaloric effect between a cold source at a first subambient temperature and a source hot (51) at a temperature above the first temperature, the heat pump being thermally connected to a first pipe and to the column system, the heat pump being operable to cool a fluid (15) of the apparatus and in the reversible, for heating a fluid (29) of the apparatus.