Land gathering and transportation treatment system and method for co-mining natural hydrogen and helium

Abstract

The invention provides an onshore gathering and transportation treatment system and method for co-production of natural hydrogen and helium, and belongs to the technical field of oil and gas field surface engineering.The method comprises the steps that an adaptive gathering and transportation module collects and transports natural hydrogen mixed gas and removes free liquid phase and solid impurities, and primary treatment natural hydrogen mixed gas is obtained; the customized pretreatment module selectively performs deacidification, dehydration and heavy hydrocarbon removal according to the component content in the natural hydrogen mixed gas to obtain pretreated natural hydrogen mixed gas; the main body separation module is used for carrying out customized separation treatment according to the component content in the natural hydrogen mixed gas, and hydrogen-helium mixed gas and nitrogen impurity gas are obtained through separation; the hydrogen and helium separation module is used for separating and purifying hydrogen and helium by using a designed pressure swing adsorption method according to the hydrogen and helium mixed gas; and the product treatment module is used for respectively treating impurity gases such as hydrogen, helium and nitrogen to obtain a hydrogen product, a helium product and a by-product. According to the invention, the problem of difficult exploitation and separation caused by coexistence of hydrogen and helium and complex raw material gas components is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of oil and gas field surface engineering technology, and in particular relates to an onshore gathering and processing system and method for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium. Background Technology

[0002] With the global energy structure transformation and the increasing demand for clean energy, natural hydrogen, as a potential and widely available clean energy carrier, is gradually entering the vision of the scientific and industrial communities. Natural hydrogen resources do not exist in pure hydrogen form, but are produced in association with helium, a rare gas with extremely high economic value, forming unique hydrogen-helium co-production gas reservoirs. Compared with conventional natural gas reservoirs, the composition of hydrogen-helium co-production gas reservoirs is extremely complex and varies greatly. Besides the significant differences in the proportion of the target products, hydrogen and helium, the produced gas often contains a large amount of inert diluent components. Furthermore, due to the extreme differences in the physical properties of the mixed gas components, the design of the entire processing flow, including material selection, equipment sealing, separation process selection, and energy consumption control, presents severe challenges.

[0003] Traditional separation methods such as cryogenic distillation and solvent absorption are often inefficient or energy-intensive when handling mixtures with such extreme differences in physical properties. The separation of hydrogen and helium, in particular, is difficult to achieve economically and effectively using conventional methods due to their similar molecular sizes, extremely low and similar boiling points. Furthermore, the permeability of hydrogen and its potential damage to materials necessitate the use of special materials or protective measures, and place far greater demands on the sealing performance of the system than conventional natural gas systems. The low density of hydrogen and its compressibility, unlike that of methane, also necessitate a reassessment and redesign of equipment and requirements.

[0004] Current separation technologies face the challenge of balancing selectivity and processing throughput when processing hydrogen-helium co-extraction gas reservoirs. To achieve the product purity required for industrial applications or sales, multiple separation technologies need to be connected in series and integrated in a complex manner, significantly increasing system complexity, investment costs, and operation and maintenance difficulties. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings in the prior art, the present invention provides an onshore gathering and transportation system and method for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium, which solves the problems of difficult extraction and separation and huge economic costs caused by the coexistence of hydrogen and helium and the complex composition of the raw gas.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this invention is: an onshore gathering and processing system for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium, comprising: An adaptive gathering and transportation module is used to collect and transport natural hydrogen mixtures and remove free liquid phases and solid impurities from the natural hydrogen mixtures to obtain pre-treated natural hydrogen mixtures. A customized pretreatment module is used to selectively remove acid, water, and heavy hydrocarbons from the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture based on the component content in the initially treated natural hydrogen mixture, to obtain a pretreated natural hydrogen mixture. The main separation module is used to perform customized separation processing based on the relative contents of hydrogen, helium and nitrogen in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture and the purity of the target substance, to separate a hydrogen-helium mixture and nitrogen impurity gas. The hydrogen-helium separation module is used to separate and purify hydrogen and helium from a mixture of hydrogen and helium using a designed pressure swing adsorption method and cryogenic distillation method to obtain hydrogen and helium. The product processing module is used to separate hydrogen, helium and nitrogen impurity gases to obtain hydrogen products, helium products and by-products. The intelligent control and safety assurance module is used to monitor and optimize the operation of each module in real time.

[0007] To address the problems of hydrogen embrittlement leading to leakage, impurities interfering with separation, difficulty in adapting to gas composition fluctuations during onshore gathering and transportation of natural hydrogen and helium, as well as resource waste and unstable operation in such processes, this invention designs an onshore gathering and transportation system for the co-harvesting of natural hydrogen and helium. The adaptive gathering and transportation module uses hydrogen-resistant materials and removes liquid and solid impurities. The customized pretreatment module removes acid gas, water, and heavy hydrocarbons as needed. The main separation module customizes separation methods according to gas composition and purity requirements. The hydrogen-helium separation module uses customized pressure swing adsorption for purification. The product processing module processes products and by-products for resource utilization. The intelligent control and safety assurance module monitors and optimizes in real time. Ultimately, this system achieves safe transportation, efficient separation, product compliance, high resource utilization, and stable operation.

[0008] Furthermore: the adaptive gathering and transportation module includes a wellhead device, a gas gathering pipeline network, and preliminary separation equipment; The wellhead equipment and gas gathering pipeline are both made of hydrogen-resistant materials and have undergone special protective treatment. The preliminary separation equipment is used to remove free liquid phase and solid impurities from the natural hydrogen mixture.

[0009] The further beneficial effects mentioned above are as follows: the wellhead device and gas gathering pipeline of the present invention, with the help of hydrogen-resistant materials and special protection, avoid the risk of hydrogen-induced device embrittlement and leakage, and ensure the safety of gathering and transportation; at the same time, the liquid-solid impurities are removed by the preliminary separation equipment, avoiding wear or blockage of downstream equipment and reducing failures.

[0010] Furthermore: the customized pretreatment module includes a component content detection unit, a deacidification gas unit, a deep dehydration unit, and a heavy hydrocarbon removal unit; The component content detection unit is used to detect the contents of acidic gases, water vapor and heavy hydrocarbons in the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture, and selectively activate the deacidification unit, the deep dehydration unit and the heavy hydrocarbon removal unit according to the detection results. The deacidification unit is used to process the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture by means of membrane separation, physical absorption and pressure swing adsorption when the content of acidic gas in the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture exceeds the set acidic gas threshold. The deep dehydration unit is used to process the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture by using temperature swing adsorption and pressure swing adsorption when the water vapor content in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture exceeds a set water vapor threshold. The heavy hydrocarbon removal unit is used to process the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture by adsorption and low-temperature separation when the content of heavy hydrocarbons in the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture exceeds the set heavy hydrocarbon threshold.

[0011] The further beneficial effects mentioned above are as follows: the customized pretreatment module first determines the impurity situation through the component content detection unit, avoiding blind processing that leads to separation difficulties; then, the corresponding removal unit is selectively activated as needed to reduce system energy consumption; and each unit adopts an appropriate impurity removal method, which can efficiently remove acid gas, water, and heavy hydrocarbons, reduce the loss of target components, provide qualified mixed gas for the subsequent main separation module, and ensure overall separation efficiency and equipment stability.

[0012] Furthermore, the main body separation module undergoes customized processing, specifically including: When the nitrogen content in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture is greater than the nitrogen threshold, the nitrogen is removed by membrane separation to obtain a first gas rich in hydrogen and helium, as well as a first impurity gas. When the sum of hydrogen and helium content in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture is greater than the nitrogen content, pressure swing adsorption and temperature swing adsorption are used to adsorb impurities, resulting in a second gas rich in hydrogen and helium, as well as a second impurity gas. When the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture contains recyclable gases, the impurities are fractionated using a low-temperature separation method to obtain a third gas rich in hydrogen and helium, as well as a third impurity gas. The first gas, the second gas, and the third gas constitute a mixture of hydrogen and helium. The first impurity gas, the second impurity gas, and the third impurity gas constitute nitrogen impurity gas.

[0013] The further beneficial effects mentioned above are as follows: the main separation module can select an appropriate separation method according to the different components in the natural hydrogen mixture, efficiently remove impurity gases such as nitrogen, ensure the purity of the hydrogen-helium mixture, and collect impurity gases to facilitate the production of by-products. This not only improves separation efficiency and reduces energy consumption, but also increases the utilization rate of the natural hydrogen mixture and improves economic benefits.

[0014] Furthermore: the product processing module includes: The hydrogen product processing unit is used to purify hydrogen by compressing it with a compressor, and then store it in high-pressure gaseous state and liquid hydrogen to obtain hydrogen products. The helium product processing unit is used to purify helium through pressure swing adsorption and then store it in high-pressure gaseous state and liquid helium to obtain helium products. The by-product processing unit is used to separate nitrogen impurity gases such as nitrogen, methane, argon, and carbon dioxide to obtain by-products.

[0015] The further beneficial effects mentioned above are as follows: the product processing module can process different products in a targeted manner; the hydrogen product processing unit can adapt to different transportation scenarios through compression, purification and dual storage, ensuring the quality of hydrogen products and the flexibility of supply; the helium product processing unit can meet the high purity requirements through pressure swing adsorption purification; and the by-product processing unit can separate impurities, realize resource recovery and improve overall economic efficiency.

[0016] This invention also provides an onshore gathering and transportation method for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium, comprising the following steps: The natural hydrogen mixture is collected and transported to remove free liquid phase and solid impurities from the natural hydrogen mixture, resulting in a pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture. Based on the component content of the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture, selective deacidification, dehydration and heavy hydrocarbon removal are performed to obtain a pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture. Based on the relative content of hydrogen, helium and nitrogen in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture and the purity of the target substance, a customized separation process is carried out to separate a hydrogen-helium mixture and nitrogen impurity gas. Based on the mixture of hydrogen and helium, hydrogen and helium are separated and purified by a designed pressure swing adsorption method. Hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen impurity gases are processed separately to obtain hydrogen products, helium products, and by-products.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention achieves the collection and separation of natural hydrogen mixtures through the coordinated operation of six modules: adaptive gathering and transportation, customized pretreatment, main separation, hydrogen-helium separation, product processing, and intelligent control. The adaptive gathering and transportation module uses hydrogen-resistant materials and special protection to avoid the risks of hydrogen leakage and equipment embrittlement at the source. Combined with the intelligent control and safety assurance module, it provides real-time monitoring and emergency response, ensuring stable operation under high-pressure conditions. The customized pretreatment module precisely removes impurities based on the composition of the mixture, and the main separation module performs customized separation according to the hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen content, solving the problem of single-phase separation caused by large fluctuations in the composition of the raw gas. The invention addresses the limitations of conventional methods; the main separation module precisely separates the hydrogen-helium mixture from impurity gases, reducing the loss of target hydrogen and helium components; the hydrogen-helium separation module utilizes a customized adsorbent and performs cyclical operations of adsorption, depressurization desorption, rinsing, and pressurization to amplify the hydrogen-helium separation coefficient, facilitating precise separation of hydrogen and helium; the product processing module adapts to the compression, purification, and dual storage of hydrogen and helium respectively, while simultaneously recovering byproducts such as nitrogen, methane, and argon, avoiding waste and environmental risks, and improving economic efficiency; the onshore gathering and processing system for the co-harvesting of natural hydrogen and helium in this invention reduces the investment in hydrogen-helium co-harvesting equipment and the energy consumption of the entire process, thereby increasing overall benefits. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is an onshore gathering and processing system for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium, as described in Example 1. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The specific embodiments of the present invention are described below to enable those skilled in the art to understand the present invention. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the scope of the specific embodiments. For those skilled in the art, various changes are obvious as long as they are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined and determined by the appended claims. All inventions utilizing the concept of the present invention are protected.

[0020] Example 1 like Figure 1 As shown, this invention provides an onshore gathering and processing system for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium, comprising: An adaptive gathering and transportation module is used to collect and transport natural hydrogen mixtures and remove free liquid phases and solid impurities from the natural hydrogen mixtures to obtain pre-treated natural hydrogen mixtures. A customized pretreatment module is used to selectively remove acid, water, and heavy hydrocarbons from the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture based on the component content in the initially treated natural hydrogen mixture, to obtain a pretreated natural hydrogen mixture. The main separation module is used to perform customized separation processing based on the relative contents of hydrogen, helium and nitrogen in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture and the purity of the target substance, to separate a hydrogen-helium mixture and nitrogen impurity gas. The hydrogen-helium separation module is used to separate and purify hydrogen and helium from a mixture of hydrogen and helium using a designed pressure swing adsorption method and cryogenic distillation method to obtain hydrogen and helium. The product processing module is used to separate hydrogen, helium and nitrogen impurity gases to obtain hydrogen products, helium products and by-products. The intelligent control and safety assurance module is used to monitor and optimize the operation of each module in real time.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, considering the special physical properties of natural hydrogen and its associated components, especially hydrogen, traditional natural gas gathering and transmission pipelines and seals are not suitable. The present invention designs an adaptive gathering and transmission module, which includes a wellhead device, a gas gathering pipeline network and a preliminary separation device. The wellhead equipment and gas gathering pipeline are both made of hydrogen-resistant materials and undergo special protective treatment. In specific embodiments of the present invention, the gas production tree and related pressure-bearing components such as valves and flanges of the wellhead equipment are preferably made of materials with excellent resistance to hydrogen-induced corrosion cracking (HIC) and sulfide stress corrosion cracking, such as hydrogen-resistant steel conforming to NACEMR0175 / ISO 15156 standards, or internally welded corrosion-resistant and hydrogen-resistant alloy layers. For non-metallic materials, their long-term stability and permeability in hydrogen-containing environments need to be evaluated. Simultaneously, high-grade sealing structures and materials such as metal seals and high-performance polymer seals are used to address the leakage problem caused by the small molecular size of hydrogen and helium. Valve stuffing boxes, valve seat seals, flange gaskets, etc., require special reinforcement. The gas gathering pipeline network also needs to use hydrogen-resistant materials. For long-distance, large-diameter gathering and transmission trunk lines, the following options can be considered: solid hydrogen-resistant alloy pipes: high cost, but high reliability; composite pipes lined with hydrogen-resistant materials: such as carbon steel pipes lined with stainless steel or polymer materials, balancing cost and performance; surface-treated coatings: special internal coating treatments for existing pipelines to form a hydrogen permeation barrier; non-metallic pipes: such as reinforced thermoplastic pipes or fiberglass pipes, requiring rigorous evaluation of their pressure rating, temperature range, H2 permeation resistance, and long-term performance; through pipe selection, the higher pressure of natural hydrogen mixtures compared to conventional hydrogen can be addressed, avoiding excessive pressure that could exacerbate the risk of hydrogen damage. The preliminary separation equipment is used to remove free liquid phase and solid impurities from the natural hydrogen mixture. An inlet separator may be installed to remove free liquid phase and solid particles carried in the natural hydrogen mixture, i.e., the feed gas. The free liquid phase mainly consists of condensate water, but also includes a small amount of liquid hydrocarbons. The solid particles include sand, corrosion products, and other substances, to protect the compressor and subsequent equipment such as solid-sensitive separation elements. The design of the inlet separator must consider the impact of differences in density, viscosity, and other physical properties between the hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen mixture and the liquid phase on the separation efficiency. The separated liquid and solid phases can be collected, stored, and processed through additional pipelines and equipment.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture includes acidic gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, water vapor, and heavy hydrocarbons. Acidic gases can corrode or damage the adsorbents and membrane materials of downstream separation devices; water vapor can freeze and clog pipes in low-temperature separation methods, reduce membrane separation efficiency, damage adsorbent performance, and decrease separation quality; heavy hydrocarbons also reduce the effectiveness of low-temperature separation. Furthermore, natural hydrogen mixtures from different sources have different component ratios, with significant differences in the proportions of hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen. Therefore, addressing the difficulties and low efficiency of hydrogen-helium separation caused by the complex and variable composition of natural hydrogen mixtures, which traditional natural gas equipment struggles to handle, the present invention designs a customized pretreatment module. This module can perform customized separation combinations based on the different components in the natural hydrogen mixture, improving resource recovery rates and reducing equipment operating costs. The customized pretreatment module includes a component content detection unit, an acid gas removal unit, a deep dehydration unit, and a heavy hydrocarbon removal unit. The component content detection unit is used to detect the content of acidic gases, water vapor, and heavy hydrocarbons in the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture, and selectively activate the acid removal unit, deep dehydration unit, and heavy hydrocarbon removal unit based on the detection results; among them, acidic gases mainly include carbon dioxide, and some samples contain hydrogen sulfide; The acid gas removal unit is used to treat the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture when the acid gas content in the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture exceeds a set acid gas threshold. This is achieved using membrane separation, physical absorption, and pressure swing adsorption (PSA) methods. The acid gas threshold is generally set based on the corrosion resistance of the downstream equipment. The specific methods for separating acid gases include low hydrogen and helium loss technologies, such as membrane separation and physical absorption methods with high selectivity for acid gases, or pressure swing adsorption (PSA) for carbon dioxide, replacing the traditional amine method. The deep dehydration unit is used to treat the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture when the water vapor content in the initially treated natural hydrogen mixture exceeds a set water vapor threshold using temperature swing adsorption and pressure swing adsorption methods. Because water vapor can freeze and clog equipment in subsequent low-temperature processes, and can also reduce membrane separation efficiency or poison the adsorbent, the deep dehydration unit is essential in the natural hydrogen treatment process. The mainstream method is adsorption dehydration, and molecular sieves are usually used as adsorbents. Temperature-switched adsorption, which uses heated regeneration gas to regenerate saturated molecular sieves at high temperatures, is the most commonly used deep dehydration technology in industry. However, in this invention, the regeneration temperature and regeneration gas source need to be adjusted according to the properties of hydrogen and helium to reduce product gas loss.

[0023] Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) utilizes depressurization desorption for regeneration, resulting in lower energy consumption. However, it requires more complex process designs, such as multi-bed operation, to ensure continuous operation of PSA and the purity of the product gas.

[0024] The heavy hydrocarbon removal unit is used to treat the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture when the content of heavy hydrocarbons in the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture exceeds a set heavy hydrocarbon threshold. The treatment employs adsorption and low-temperature separation methods to obtain a pretreated natural hydrogen mixture. Heavy hydrocarbons include ethane and higher or aromatic components, and their content affects the subsequent low-temperature separation pipeline blockage or the performance of adsorption and membrane separation. Activated carbon or specific molecular sieves can be used to adsorb heavy hydrocarbons, and the low-temperature separation method is used to condense and liquefy the heavy hydrocarbons through pre-cooling before separation.

[0025] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the acid removal unit, the deep dehydration unit, and the heavy hydrocarbon removal unit can be arbitrarily combined and repeated to remove acidic gases, water vapor, and heavy hydrocarbons from the natural hydrogen mixture to an extremely low level that meets the requirements of downstream equipment. At this time, the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture output is usually the remaining mixture of dried and purified H2 / He / N2 / Ar / CH4.

[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention, the content of components such as hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture fluctuates greatly, and a single separation technology is difficult to adapt to all possible operating conditions. Hydrogen and helium have extremely low boiling points, -252.87℃ and -268.93℃ respectively, and their molecular sizes are similar, resulting in significant differences in physical properties compared to components such as N2, CH4, and Ar. Traditional separation technologies are either too energy-intensive or inefficient. The present invention designs a main separation module for customized processing, specifically including: When the nitrogen content in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture exceeds the nitrogen threshold, a membrane separation method is used to remove the nitrogen, resulting in a first gas rich in hydrogen and helium, as well as a first impurity gas. The nitrogen threshold can be set at 70% based on experience. The membrane separation method specifically uses membranes with high selectivity for hydrogen and helium, such as polymer membranes and carbon membranes, to remove most of the nitrogen. Multiple layers of membranes can be used for repeated removal to obtain a permeate gas rich in hydrogen and helium, i.e., the first gas. When the sum of hydrogen and helium content in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture is greater than the nitrogen content, pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and temperature swing adsorption (TSA) are used to adsorb impurities, resulting in a second gas rich in hydrogen and helium, as well as a second impurity gas; either PSA or TSA can be used. When the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture contains recyclable gases, the impurities are fractionated using a low-temperature separation method to obtain a third gas rich in hydrogen and helium, as well as a third impurity gas. The low-temperature separation method can separate impurity components such as nitrogen and methane at different temperature ranges, and finally obtain a third gas rich in hydrogen and helium. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the three customized processing methods in the main separation module based on the component composition of the natural hydrogen mixture can be operated and combined multiple times according to the purity requirements of the target substance to achieve high-quality separation of hydrogen and helium. Alternatively, separation can be performed based on the component composition of the natural hydrogen mixture according to economic cost, resulting in a hydrogen-helium mixture composed of a first gas, a second gas, and a third gas; and a nitrogen impurity gas composed of a first impurity gas, a second impurity gas, and a third impurity gas.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, hydrogen and helium are obtained in the hydrogen-helium separation module, specifically including: Based on a hydrogen-helium mixture, a customized adsorbent is developed to address the adsorption differences between hydrogen and helium. Through a cyclical process of adsorption, depressurization-desorption, rinsing, and pressurization, the separation coefficient of hydrogen and helium is amplified, resulting in the efficient separation of these two gases with extremely similar physical properties. Since hydrogen and helium molecules are similar, customized adsorbents for their adsorption differences include molecular sieves with specific pore sizes, specially treated activated carbon, and customized metal-organic framework (MOF) materials. The hydrogen-helium separation module, by customizing adsorbents to meet the adsorption differences, adapts to the hydrogen-helium separation requirements. The cyclical process of adsorption, depressurization-desorption, rinsing, and pressurization amplifies the separation coefficient, achieving efficient purification. This yields hydrogen and helium products that meet purity requirements and is more energy-efficient than technologies such as cryogenic distillation, reducing operating costs.

[0028] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, considering the extremely similar physical properties of H2 and He, a composite adsorbent bed can be used in the hydrogen-helium separation module. The molecular sieve with a specific pore size is preferably a modified carbon molecular sieve with an effective pore size distribution between 2.8 Å and 3.8 Å, utilizing the faster diffusion rate of helium within the micropores compared to hydrogen to achieve kinetic separation. The specially treated activated carbon is activated carbon modified by chemical vapor deposition, i.e., a layer of carbon atoms is deposited at the pore openings of the activated carbon matrix, reducing its average pore size to below 4.0 Å. The customized MOFs are achieved by introducing ligand functional groups such as methyl or halogen groups onto organic ligands, finely adjusting the pore window size of framework materials such as ZIF-8 or UiO-66 at the sub-angstrom level, so that the pore window size is between 2.9 Å and 3.3 Å, thereby precisely trapping hydrogen molecules while allowing helium molecules to pass through.

[0029] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the hydrogen-helium separation module employs cryogenic distillation to separate hydrogen and helium. The hydrogen-helium mixture is cooled to near the temperature of liquid hydrogen, approximately -253°C to -269°C. Utilizing the extremely low but existing relative volatility difference between H2 and He, separation is carried out in a specially designed distillation column. This method consumes a great deal of energy and requires a large investment in equipment, but it can achieve very high helium purity, such as >99.999%, making it a method for producing high-purity and ultra-pure helium.

[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the product processing module includes: The hydrogen product processing unit is used to purify hydrogen by compressing it with a compressor, and then store it in high-pressure gaseous state and liquid hydrogen to obtain hydrogen products. The helium product processing unit is used to purify helium through pressure swing adsorption and then store it in high-pressure gaseous state and liquid helium to obtain helium products. The by-product processing unit is used to separate nitrogen impurity gases such as nitrogen, methane, argon, and carbon dioxide to obtain by-products.

[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, an intelligent control and safety assurance module is used to monitor and optimize the operation of each module in real time; the intelligent control and safety assurance module runs through the entire system to ensure efficient, stable, and safe operation of the process; it can be divided into: Process control unit: centrally monitors key operating parameters of all units, such as temperature, pressure, flow rate, liquid level, composition, etc., and executes automatic control logic such as PID control and sequential control to optimize operation; Advanced process control unit: Based on algorithms such as model predictive control, it can cope with fluctuations in feed gas composition and dynamically optimize separation efficiency and energy consumption; Online analysis unit: Online gas chromatographs or other analyzers are installed at key nodes, such as feed gas inlet, unit outlet, and product gas, to monitor component changes in real time and provide a basis for regulation; Safety Instrumented Unit (SIU): Independent of the process control unit, it performs safety-related functions such as overpressure protection and emergency shutdown, ensuring the system meets the required safety integrity level.

[0032] Flame detection unit: Flame detectors are installed. Since H2 flames are invisible, ultraviolet or infrared detectors are used. Combustible gas detectors are installed for H2, and toxic gas detectors are installed for H2S. The unit is linked to audible and visual alarms and fire protection systems to provide alerts.

[0033] Emergency stop unit: In an emergency, it can quickly and safely stop all or part of the equipment, cut off the feed and product output, and perform emergency pressure relief or venting.

[0034] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The onshore gathering and processing system for the co-production of natural hydrogen and helium provided by this invention solves the problem of difficult hydrogen-helium separation due to the complex and variable composition of natural hydrogen reservoirs, and the inapplicability of traditional natural gas processes, by constructing a system that includes adaptive gathering and transportation, customized pretreatment, main separation, hydrogen-helium purification, and intelligent control. Each module is customized based on the characteristics of the feed gas, improving adaptability to different natural hydrogen reservoirs. By optimizing and integrating multiple separation technologies such as membrane separation, adsorption, and cryogenics, efficient separation of various complex components of natural hydrogen is achieved, reducing energy consumption and economic costs. Furthermore, material safety and leakage protection are strengthened for hydrogen characteristics, ensuring long-term stable operation of the system. Simultaneously, the intelligent control system ensures stable operation and process optimization under fluctuations in feed gas composition. Compared with existing hydrogen-helium supply and production systems, this invention has higher economic efficiency and operational safety.

[0035] Example 2 Based on Example 1, this invention provides an onshore gathering and processing method for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium, which can guide the operation of the onshore gathering and processing system for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium provided in Example 1, and includes the following steps: The natural hydrogen mixture is collected and transported to remove free liquid phase and solid impurities from the natural hydrogen mixture, resulting in a pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture. Based on the component content of the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture, selective deacidification, dehydration and heavy hydrocarbon removal are performed to obtain a pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture. Based on the relative content of hydrogen, helium and nitrogen in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture and the purity of the target substance, a customized separation process is carried out to separate a hydrogen-helium mixture and nitrogen impurity gas. Based on the mixture of hydrogen and helium, hydrogen and helium are separated and purified by a designed pressure swing adsorption method. Hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen impurity gases are processed separately to obtain hydrogen products, helium products, and by-products.

[0036] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By constructing a complete gathering, transportation, and processing chain, the efficient development of natural hydrogen resources with complex and variable compositions is achieved. The system adopts a customized process design, flexibly combining membrane separation, adsorption, and cryogenic separation technologies according to the characteristics of the feed gas, thereby improving the separation efficiency and recovery rate of hydrogen and helium. The specially designed hydrogen-resistant materials and intelligent control system ensure the safe and stable operation of the entire process, effectively addressing the technical challenges of hydrogen leakage and material damage. At the same time, the resource utilization of byproducts such as nitrogen enhances the overall economic benefits of the project. This method has advantages such as wide process adaptability, low operating energy consumption, and high safety and reliability, providing reliable technical support for the industrial application of co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium.

Claims

1. A land-based gathering and processing system for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium, characterized in that, include: An adaptive gathering and transportation module is used to collect and transport natural hydrogen mixtures and remove free liquid phases and solid impurities from the natural hydrogen mixtures to obtain pre-treated natural hydrogen mixtures. A customized pretreatment module is used to selectively remove acid, water, and heavy hydrocarbons from the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture based on the component content in the initially treated natural hydrogen mixture, to obtain a pretreated natural hydrogen mixture. The main separation module is used to perform customized separation processing based on the relative contents of hydrogen, helium and nitrogen in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture and the purity of the target substance, to separate a hydrogen-helium mixture and nitrogen impurity gas. The hydrogen-helium separation module is used to separate and purify hydrogen and helium from a mixture of hydrogen and helium using a designed pressure swing adsorption method and cryogenic distillation method to obtain hydrogen and helium. The product processing module is used to separate hydrogen, helium and nitrogen impurity gases to obtain hydrogen products, helium products and by-products. The intelligent control and safety assurance module is used to monitor and optimize the operation of each module in real time.

2. The onshore gathering and processing system for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adaptive gathering and transportation module includes a wellhead device, a gas gathering pipeline network, and a preliminary separation device; The wellhead equipment and gas gathering pipeline are both made of hydrogen-resistant materials and have undergone special protective treatment. The preliminary separation equipment is used to remove free liquid phase and solid impurities from the natural hydrogen mixture.

3. The onshore gathering and processing system for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium according to claim 1, characterized in that, The customized pretreatment module includes a component content detection unit, a deacidification gas unit, a deep dehydration unit, and a heavy hydrocarbon removal unit; The component content detection unit is used to detect the contents of acidic gases, water vapor and heavy hydrocarbons in the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture, and selectively activate the deacidification unit, the deep dehydration unit and the heavy hydrocarbon removal unit according to the detection results. The deacidification unit is used to process the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture by means of membrane separation, physical absorption and pressure swing adsorption when the content of acidic gas in the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture exceeds the set acidic gas threshold. The deep dehydration unit is used to process the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture by using temperature swing adsorption and pressure swing adsorption when the water vapor content in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture exceeds a set water vapor threshold. The heavy hydrocarbon removal unit is used to process the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture by adsorption and low-temperature separation when the content of heavy hydrocarbons in the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture exceeds the set heavy hydrocarbon threshold.

4. The onshore gathering and processing system for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body separation module undergoes customized processing, specifically including: When the nitrogen content in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture is greater than the nitrogen threshold, the nitrogen is removed by membrane separation to obtain a first gas rich in hydrogen and helium, as well as a first impurity gas. When the sum of hydrogen and helium content in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture is greater than the nitrogen content, pressure swing adsorption and temperature swing adsorption are used to adsorb impurities, resulting in a second gas rich in hydrogen and helium, as well as a second impurity gas. When the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture contains recyclable gases, the impurities are fractionated using a low-temperature separation method to obtain a third gas rich in hydrogen and helium, as well as a third impurity gas. The first gas, the second gas, and the third gas constitute a mixture of hydrogen and helium. The first impurity gas, the second impurity gas, and the third impurity gas constitute nitrogen impurity gas.

5. The onshore gathering and processing system for the co-extraction of natural hydrogen and helium according to claim 1, characterized in that, The product processing module includes: The hydrogen product processing unit is used to purify hydrogen by compressing it with a compressor, and then store it in high-pressure gaseous state and liquid hydrogen to obtain hydrogen products. The helium product processing unit is used to purify helium through pressure swing adsorption and then store it in high-pressure gaseous state and liquid helium to obtain helium products. The by-product processing unit is used to separate nitrogen impurity gases such as nitrogen, methane, argon, and carbon dioxide to obtain by-products.

6. A method for onshore gathering and processing of natural hydrogen and helium co-extraction, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: The natural hydrogen mixture is collected and transported to remove free liquid phase and solid impurities from the natural hydrogen mixture, resulting in a pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture. Based on the component content of the pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture, selective deacidification, dehydration and heavy hydrocarbon removal are performed to obtain a pre-treated natural hydrogen mixture. Based on the relative content of hydrogen, helium and nitrogen in the pretreated natural hydrogen mixture and the purity of the target substance, a customized separation process is carried out to separate a hydrogen-helium mixture and nitrogen impurity gas. Based on the mixture of hydrogen and helium, hydrogen and helium are separated and purified by a designed pressure swing adsorption method. Hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen impurity gases are processed separately to obtain hydrogen products, helium products, and by-products.

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