PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION OF A HYDROGEN-CONTAINING GASEOUS MIXTURE

A process and apparatus is provided for separation of a hydrogen-containing gaseous mixture, wherein the gaseous mixture is separated into a condensate fraction and a crude hydrogen fraction containing the hydrogen in addition to other residual components. Separation is accomplished by refrigeration under pressure in at least two reversible regenerators which are charged alternately with crude gas and scavenging gas. The crude hydrogen, after further cooling by partial condensation or by a washing step with liquid nitrogen, is freed of the residues of other components. The purified hydrogen product, which can optionally contain nitrogen, is engine-expanded for the purpose of producing refrigeration and then conducted through heat exchange coils in at least one of the regenerators.