Membrane adsorption technology of helium purification
38EN
р.
р.
Process Description Feedstock - a helium concentrate with a content of 90% vol. is heated in a recuperative heat exchanger 2, is fed to compressor 3, is mixed with an oxygen–containing gas (air or oxygen) supplied in an amount no less than the stoichiometric one. The produced mixture is heated in a recuperative heat exchanger 5 and fed into a reactor 4, where, in presence of a catalyst, hydrogen is oxidized to form oxidation products containing water vapor . The oxidation products are cooled in recuperative heat exchanger 5, in cooler 6 and fed to separator 7, where they are separated into water discharged from the plant and separation gas. Further , the separated gas enters the adsorption drying unit 8, mixes with the regeneration gas from the pressure swing adsorption unit 10 and enters the membrane unit 9 at a set temperature. The produced permeate, containing helium 99% vol. , enters unit 10 and is removed from the plant with a helium content 99.99% vol. A mixture of heated inert gases is fed into cooler 6 as a refrigerant. Part of heated mixture flows into unit 8 as a purge gas, and the remainder is removed from the plant. The regeneration gas from unit 8 is removed from the plant. The retentate containing 30% vol. helium from the unit 9 is cooled in the heat exchanger 2.
Process features
Use of energy-saving membrane adsorption technology with adsorption after treatment, if necessary
Exclusion of neon concentration due to removal of neon-containing streams with a mixture of non-condensed and inert gases
Ensuring optimal temperature conditions for operation of hydrogen purification and membrane concentration units
Block-modular arrangement
Technical Specification
Helium concentrate pressure: 1.0–3.0 MPa
Helium content in the concentrate: 80-90% vol.
Unit capacity of the helium plant: up to 50,000 nm³/day
Helium extraction up to 99%
Helium content is up to 99.999% vol.
Patents of the Russian Federation No. 2738512, 2740992