I-Argon, into etholakala yonke indawo kodwa engabonakali, yenza cishe u-0.93% womkhathi womhlaba. Nakuba kuyigesi yesithathu egcwele kakhulu emoyeni esiwuphefumulayo, ukuwusebenzisa ezimbonini, zezokwelapha, nezesayensi kudinga ubunjiniyela obuyinkimbinkimbi. Ukusuka ekuvikeleni ama-arcs ekushiseleni okunezinga eliphezulu lokushisa kuya ekuvikeleni amawafa e-silicon athambile ngesikhathi sokukhiqizwa kwe-semiconductor, isidingo sale gesi esezingeni eliphezulu sikhulu kakhulu. Kodwa-ke, ukuyihambisa nokuyigcina isesimweni sayo segesi kungasebenzi kahle kakhulu. Lokhu kuphakamisa umbuzo obalulekile wezimboni: kanjani i-argon gas liquefied ukuhlangabezana nezidingo zomhlaba ngokuphumelelayo?

Impendulo ilele kunqubo eyinkimbinkimbi eyaziwa ngokuthi i-cryogenic air separation. Lo mhlahlandlela ophelele wamagama angu-2,000 uzongena ujule emigomeni ye-thermodynamic, ubunjiniyela bemishini, nezinyathelo zokuhlanza amakhemikhali ezidingekayo ukuze kuguqulwe umoya womkhathi ube ocwebe kakhulu, i-cryogenic liquid argon (LAR).

1. Ukuqonda i-Argon kanye nesidingo sokuncibilika

Ngaphambi kokucwila kumakhenikha wokuxubha, kubalulekile ukuqonda ukuthi iyini i-argon nokuthi kungani inqubo yokuncibilika idingeka ngokwezomnotho futhi kudingekile.

I-Argon (i-Ar) iyigesi ehloniphekile ene-monatomic, engasebenzi ngamakhemikhali. Ayinambala, ayinaphunga futhi ayinabuthi. Ngenxa yokuthi ayisebenzi nezinye izakhi ngisho nakumazinga okushisa aphakeme, iyisivikelo somkhathi esikahle sezinqubo ze-metallurgical.

Kungani Liquefy Argon?

Isizathu esiyinhloko sokunyibilikisa noma iyiphi igesi yasemkhathini ukuncishiswa kwevolumu. Uma iguqulwa isuka kugesi ekucindezelweni okujwayelekile komkhathi kuya oketshezini lwe-cryogenic, i-argon idlula isilinganiso esikhulu sokunweba sika-1 kuya ku-840. Lokhu kusho ukuthi amalitha angama-840 e-argon yegesi angafinyezwa ibe ilitha elilodwa i-argon ewuketshezi. Lokhu kwehliswa kwevolumu ngendlela emangalisayo kuvumela ukuthuthwa kwenqwaba engabizi kakhulu ngamaloli amathangi e-cryogenic kanye nokugcinwa okusebenzayo emathangeni afakwe i-vacuum-insulated ezindaweni zezimboni.

Izakhiwo Zomzimba ze-Argon

Ukuze basebenzise igesi ibe uketshezi, onjiniyela kufanele basebenze eduze nezici zayo ze-thermodynamic. Ngezansi kukhona amaphuzu edatha ebalulekile elawula imingcele ye-liquefaction.

2. Isayensi Yesisekelo: I-Cryogenic Air Separation

I-Argon ayikhiqizwanga noma ayihlanganiswa; ivunwa ngokuqondile emoyeni osizungezile. Ubuchwepheshe obuningi obusetshenziswa ukufeza lokhu bu i-cryogenic fractional distillation.

Le nqubo incike esimisweni esiyisisekelo samakhemikhali: izakhi ezihlukene zishintsha isimo (ukujiya noma ukubilisa) kumazinga okushisa ahlukene. Ngokupholisa umoya osendaweni uze ube uketshezi, bese bekhuphula izinga lokushisa kancane kancane, onjiniyela bangahlukanisa ingxube yomoya ibe izingxenye zawo eziyisisekelo—i-nitrogen, umoya-mpilo ne-argon—njengoba zibila ngayinye ngayinye.

Inselele Yokuhlukaniswa kwe-Argon

Ukuhlukanisa i-argon kwaziwa kanzima ngenxa yephuzu layo elibilayo. Bheka amaphuzu abilayo ezingxenye ezintathu eziyinhloko zomkhathi:

3. Inqubo Yesinyathelo Nesinyathelo: Indlela Umoya Uba I-Liquid Argon

Uhambo olusuka emoyeni ozungezile luye ku-cryogenic liquid argon lubandakanya i-Air Separation Unit (ASU) enezigaba eziningi. Nakhu ukuhlukaniswa okunemininingwane, isinyathelo ngesinyathelo senqubo.

Isinyathelo 1: Ukungenisa komoya, Ukucindezela, nokuhlunga

Inqubo iqala ngezinto ezingavuthiwe: umoya osemkhathini ozungezile.
Abalandeli bezimboni abakhulu badonsa umoya ezindlini zokuhlunga ezinezigaba eziningi ukuze basuse izinhlayiya, uthuli, nezinambuzane. Uma usuhlungiwe, umoya ungena ku-compressor ye-centrifugal enezigaba eziningi. Umoya ucindezelwa ekucindezelweni okungaba ngu-5 kuya ku-7 bar (70 kuya ku-100 psi).

Ukucindezela igesi ngokwemvelo kukhiqiza ukushisa okukhulu (ukushisa kokucindezelwa). Ukuphatha lokhu, ama-intercoolers afakwa phakathi kwezigaba zokucindezela. Ukupholisa umoya kulesi sigaba nakho kubangela ukuba ingxenye enkulu yomswakama womoya osemkhathini (umhwamuko wamanzi) incinyane, obese ukhishwa.

Isinyathelo sesi-2: Ukuhlanzwa ngama-Molecular Sieves

Ngaphambi kokuba umoya ube ngaphansi kwamazinga okushisa e-cryogenic, konke ukungcola okungase kube yiqhwa futhi kuvimbe amapayipi kufanele kususwe ngokuphelele. Lokhu kungcola kufaka phakathi:

• I-Residual Water Vapor (H2O)
• I-Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Trace Hydrocarbons

Umoya ocindezelwe udlula kuyunithi yokuhlanzwa kwangaphambili (i-PPU) ehlanganisa imibhede ye-alumina kanye nezisefo ze-molecular zeolite. Lezi zisefo zisebenza njengezipontshi ezincane kakhulu ezikhethayo, ezikhanga umswakama kanye nama-molecule e-CO2. Uma lesi sinyathelo singaphumeleli, i-CO2 neqhwa elomile bekuyongena ekujuleni kwesitshalo, kuvale izishintshisi zokushisa ezintekenteke futhi kudinga ukuvalwa ngokuphelele kwesitshalo.

Isinyathelo sesi-3: Ukupholisa Okudlulele Nokwandiswa

Umoya owomile, ocwengiwe, nocindezelwe manje ungena “ebhokisini elibandayo,” isakhiwo esivaleke kakhulu esihlalisa izishintshi zokushisa ze-cryogenic namakholomu okukhipha isisu.

Inqubo yokupholisa isebenzisa i- Umphumela we-Joule-Thomson kanye nokwandiswa kwemishini. Umoya ofudumele ongenayo udlula kwisishintshi sokushisa esikhulu, ogeleza ophikisana namanje uye kumagesi akhipha umoya abandayo kakhulu (i-nitrogen nomoya-mpilo) abuya kumakholomu okukhipha isisu. Lokhu kwehlisa izinga lokushisa lomoya ongenayo ngokuphawulekayo.

Ukuze kuzuzwe amazinga okushisa e-cryogenic eqiniso (ngezansi -170 ° C), ingxenye yomoya ocindezelweyo ihanjiswa nge-turbo-expander. Njengoba igesi yokucindezela okukhulu ikhula ngokushesha nge-turbine, yenza umsebenzi wemishini, ophoqa ukwehla okukhulu kwezinga lokushisa legesi. Ngesikhathi umoya uphuma kusishintshisi sokushisa nesandisi, usuyingxube yomusi obanda ngendlela emangalisayo nomoya owuketshezi, olungele ukwehlukana.

Isinyathelo sesi-4: I-Primary Fractional Distillation (Amakholomu e-HP ne-LP)

Inhliziyo yenqubo ye-liquefaction uhlelo lwekholomu ephindwe kabili yokucwiliswa kwe-distillation, ehlanganisa ikholomu Yokucindezela Okuphezulu (HP) ehlezi ngaphansi kwekholomu Yokucindezela Okuphansi (LP).

1. Ikholomu Yokucindezela Okuphezulu: Ingxube ye-liquid/vapor air epholile ingena ngaphansi kwekholomu ye-HP. Njengoba uketshezi luwela phansi futhi umhwamuko ukhuphuka ngamathreyi esisefo anembobo, ukuhlukana kokuqala kwenzeka. I-nitrogen, enephuzu eliphansi lokubilisa, ikhuphukela phezulu njengegesi. Uketshezi olunothe ngeoksijini (oluqukethe amachibi amaningi e-argon) ngaphansi.
2. Ikholomu Yokucindezela Okuphansi: Uketshezi olunothe komoyampilo olusuka phansi kwekholomu ye-HP luyampintsha (lunwetshiwe) lube kukholomu ye-LP ngenhla kwalo. Ngenxa yokucindezela okuphansi, ukuhlukana okuqhubekayo kwenzeka. Amachibi komoyampilo oketshezi oluhlanzekile phansi impela kwekholomu ye-LP, kuyilapho igesi ye-nitrogen emsulwa iphuma phezulu.

Isinyathelo sesi-5: Ikholomu ye-Argon Side-Arm

Ngenxa yokuthi indawo yokubilisa ye-argon ihlala phakathi kwe-oxygen ne-nitrogen, igxila engxenyeni ephansi-maphakathi yekholomu Yokucindezela Okuphansi. Ekugxilweni kwayo okuphezulu, ingxube yegesi kulesi “sisu” esithile sekholomu icishe ibe ngu-10% kuya ku-12% we-argon, enye enye ibe umoya-mpilo kanye nomkhondo omncane we-nitrogen.

Ukuze bayikhiphe, onjiniyela bangena kulesi sigaba esithile bese bedweba ingxube esakhiweni esihlukile, esinamathiselwe esibizwa ngokuthi i- Ikholomu ye-Argon Side-Arm.
Ngaphakathi kwale kholomu ende ngendlela emangalisayo (imvamisa equkethe amathreyi etiyorethi angaphezu kuka-150), kwenzeka ukukhishwa kwe-distillation kwesibili. Ngenxa yokuthi i-argon ishintshashintsha kancane (amathumba alula) kunomoya-mpilo, umhwamuko we-argon ukhuphukela phezulu kwekholomu eseceleni, kuyilapho umoya-mpilo owuketshezi osindayo uwela phansi futhi ubuyiselwa kukholamu enkulu ye-LP.

Okuvela phezulu kwekholomu eseceleni kwaziwa ngokuthi “i-argon engahluziwe.” Kulesi sigaba, ifakwe uketshezi ngempumelelo kodwa imsulwa cishe ngo-98%. Isaqukethe cishe u-2% komoyampilo kanye nenani elincane le-nitrogen, okufanele lisuswe ukuze lisetshenziswe ezimbonini.

4. Ukuhlanzwa: Ukuthuthukisa I-Crude to High-Purity Liquid Argon

Kuzinhlelo zokusebenza zesimanjemanje, ikakhulukazi ezimbonini ze-semiconductor kanye ne-aerospace, i-argon kufanele ibe "yisishiyagalolunye nine" ehlanzekile (99.999%). I-argon eluhlaza kufanele ihlanzwe kanzima.

Inqubo ye- “Deoxo” Catalytic

Ukuze kukhishwe umoya-mpilo ongu-2% osele, i-argon engahluziwe ihanjiswa ku-catalytic reactor eyaziwa ngokuthi iyunithi ye-Deoxo. Ngaphakathi, igesi ye-hydrogen emsulwa kakhulu ijovwa emfudlaneni owuketshezi.
Ngaphansi kokuba khona kwe-palladium noma i-platinum catalyst, i-hydrogen ngamakhemikhali ihlangana nama-athomu anamandla omoya-mpilo ukuze kwakhe amanzi (2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O). Lokhu kusabela kukhipha isilinganiso esincane sokushisa, okwesikhashana ukuguqula i-argon ibe igesi.

Ukomisa Okokugcina kanye Nokukhishwa Kwe-Distillation

Khona-ke igesi idluliselwa ngesisefo se-molecular yesibili ukuze kukhishwe ama-molecule amanzi asanda kwakheka. Ekugcineni, okomile, igesi ye-argon engenawo umoya-mpilo ifakwa kukholomu yokugcina ye-distillation-ikholomu ye-argon ehlanzekile.

Lapha, i-argon iphinda ipholiswe futhi ize ibuyele esimweni samanzi. Noma iyiphi i-nitrogen trace trace, ehlala inegesi emazingeni okushisa e-argon e-liquid, ikhishwa phezulu kwekholomu. Umphumela wokuhlanganisa umkhiqizo ngezansi uhlanzwe kakhulu, u-Liquid Argon (LAR) obandayo kakhulu, ulungele ukusatshalaliswa ngokwentengiso.

5. Ukugcinwa Nokuthuthwa kwe-Liquid Argon

Uma umbuzo wokuthi i-argon gas liquefied iphendulwa kanjani, inselele elandelayo ukuyigcina ikuleso simo. Ku--185.8°C, noma yikuphi ukuchayeka ekushiseni okuzungezile kuzobangela uketshezi ukuthi lubilile ngamandla lube yigesi—into eyaziwa ngokuthi i-Boil-Off Gas (BOG).

Ukuze ulwe nalokhu, i-argon ewuketshezi iphonswa emathangini okugcina akhethekile, afakwe i-vacuum-insulated cryogenic. Lawa mathangi asebenza ngokufanayo neflask ye-thermos. Zihlanganisa umkhumbi wangaphakathi owenziwe ngensimbi engagqwali (engaphenduki emazingeni okushisa e-cryogenic) kanye nomkhumbi wangaphandle owenziwe nge-carbon steel. Isikhala phakathi kwemikhumbi emibili sigcwaliswa ngempushana evikelayo (njenge-perlite) bese iphonswa phansi endaweni ecishe ibe sesimweni esihle ukuze kuqedwe ukudluliswa kokushisa okuguquguqukayo nokuqhubayo.

Lapho ithuthwa iyiswa kubasebenzisi bokugcina, i-LAR ithwalwa ngamaloli akhethekile angama-cryogenic tanker. Lapho ifika endaweni yokukhiqiza noma esibhedlela, idluliselwa emkhunjini onganyakazi wejakhethi esizeni. Uma ikhasimende lidinga i-gaseous argon ngezinqubo zalo, uketshezi lumane ludluliselwe ku-ambient air vaporizer—uchungechunge lwamashubhu e-aluminium acijile amunca ukushisa emoyeni ozungezile, lufudumeza ngokuphephile uketshezi lubuyele kugesi enomfutho ophezulu.

6. Isiphetho

Ukuguqulwa komoya ongabonakali, osendaweni ube uketshezi oluhlanzekile kakhulu, olungaphansi kweziro kuyisimangaliso sobunjiniyela bamakhemikhali besimanje kanye ne-thermodynamics. Ngezigaba eziqinile zokucindezelwa okuphezulu, ukuhlungwa kwamangqamuzana, ukunwetshwa kwe-Joule-Thomson, kanye ne-fractional distillation ebucayi kakhulu, izimboni zingavuna ngempumelelo i-argon emboza iplanethi yethu.

-Zwayo i-argon gas liquefaction kubalulekile ekuthuthukiseni amaketanga okunikezela emhlabeni jikelele. Njengoba ubuchwepheshe buthuthuka—ikakhulukazi ekukhiqizeni i-electronics, ukuphrinta kwensimbi ye-3D, kanye nobunjiniyela be-aerospace—ukuthembela ku-argon ye-liquid ehlanzekile, ethuthwa kahle kuzoqhubeka nokukhula, okwenza ukuhlukaniswa komoya we-cryogenic kube ngenye yezinqubo ezibucayi kakhulu, kodwa ezingaziswa kangako, zezimboni emhlabeni wanamuhla.

7. Imibuzo Evame Ukubuzwa

Q1: Yiliphi izinga lokushisa i-argon eba uketshezi?

I-Argon ishintsha isuka kugesi iye oketshezini endaweni abilayo -185.8°C (-302.4°F) ekucindezelweni okujwayelekile komkhathi. Ukuyigcina isesimweni esiwuketshezi ukuze igcinwe futhi ithuthwe, kufanele igcinwe ngaphansi noma ngaphansi kwalokhu kushisa kwe-cryogenic kusetshenziswa izitsha ezikhethekile ze-vacuum-insulated ukuvimbela ukubilisa nokunwetshwa ngokushesha.

Q2: Kungani i-argon ithuthwa njengoketshezi kunegesi?

Isizathu esiyinhloko ukusebenza kahle kwevolumu. Uma i-argon ipholiswa ibe uketshezi, iyancipha ngesilinganiso sika-1 kuya ku-840. Lokhu kusho ukuthi ilitha elilodwa le-argon ye-liquid iqukethe okulingana namalitha angu-840 e-argon gas. Ukuyihambisa njengoketshezi kuvumela abahlinzeki ukuba balethe amanani amakhulu, ngobuningi ngeloli elilodwa, elibiza kakhulu futhi elisebenziseka kalula kunokuthutha amasilinda esindayo, anengcindezi ephezulu.

Q3: Ingabe ukuphatha i-argon ye-liquid kuyingozi?

Yebo, i-liquid argon iveza izingozi eziphawulekayo zezimboni ngokuyinhloko ngenxa yokubanda kwayo ngokweqile kanye nemvelo yayo njenge-asphyxiant. Ukuthinta isikhumba nge-argon ewuketshezi noma amapayipi e-cryogenic angafakwanga kungabangela isithwathwa esibi kakhulu noma ukusha kwe-cryogenic ngokushesha. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngenxa yokuthi ikhula ngokushesha njengoba ifudumala (izikhathi ezingu-840 ubukhulu bayo), ukuvuza okuncane kwe-argon ewuketshezi endaweni evalekile kungasusa ngokushesha umoya-mpilo osendaweni, okuholela engcupheni enkulu yokuphelelwa umoya kubasebenzi abaseduze ngaphandle kwanoma yisiphi isixwayiso, njengoba igesi ayinambala futhi ayinaphunga. Ukungena komoya ngendlela efanele kanye nempahla yokuzivikela yomuntu siqu (i-PPE) iyadingeka ngokuqinile.