Membrane-method helium and neon separation integrated process system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a membrane-method helium and neon gas separation integrated process system, which is characterized in that a feed gas pipeline is connected with a feed port of a low-temperature adsorption purifier, and the low-temperature adsorption purifier is used for separating feed gas into high-purity helium gas and regenerated gas; the first-stage membrane separator and the second-stage membrane separator are both used for separating the regenerated gas into helium-rich permeated gas and neon-rich intercepted gas; a product gas pipeline is arranged at a product side outlet of the low-temperature adsorption purifier, a regeneration side outlet of the low-temperature adsorption purifier is connected with a gas inlet of the regeneration gas compressor, and a gas outlet of the regeneration gas compressor is connected with a feeding hole of the primary membrane separator; a first interception side outlet of the first-stage membrane separator is connected with an exhaust gas pipeline, and a first permeation side outlet of the first-stage membrane separator is connected with a feeding hole of the second-stage membrane separator; a second permeation side outlet of the second-stage membrane separator is connected with a gas inlet of a recycled gas compressor, and a gas outlet of the recycled gas compressor is connected with a feed gas pipeline in parallel through a seventh pipeline and then is connected with a feed port of a low-temperature adsorption purifier; and a second interception side outlet of the second-stage membrane separator is connected in parallel with the first pipeline through a fifth pipeline and then is connected with a gas inlet of the regeneration gas compressor. The loss rate of helium is reduced, and high-value helium in regenerated gas is effectively recycled.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of gas separation, in particular to a membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development of my country's defense industry technology, the demand for helium is showing an increasing trend. Furthermore, with continuous breakthroughs in cryogenic technology, my country's demand for helium will further expand. However, for a long time, my country has relied primarily on imported helium and liquid helium for industrial production and scientific experiments, which are not only expensive but also have long lead times. In extraordinary times, if relevant countries restrict helium exports, my country will face a helium shortage, with profound impacts on defense, scientific research, production, and other fields. Therefore, my country urgently needs to break away from its complete dependence on imported helium and actively explore and develop domestic helium resources.

[0003] Currently, the primary source of helium is through extraction and purification from natural gas. Natural gas has a complex composition. In addition to valuable components like methane and helium, it often contains impurities such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, and neon. Therefore, removing impurities and purifying helium from natural gas is a critical step. Currently, crude helium is typically purified using cryogenic adsorption, which effectively adsorbs and removes impurities such as nitrogen, argon, and methane. However, due to the small size of neon molecules, effective adsorption is difficult, so shortening the adsorption cycle is often necessary to ensure the purity of the product helium. This process requires frequent regeneration to remove neon, resulting in large amounts of helium being emitted with the regenerated gas, leading to helium losses that can reach up to 10%. Particularly noteworthy is that helium losses become more pronounced with increasing neon concentrations. Given the high economic value of helium, effectively reducing its losses has become a critical issue that needs to be addressed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The utility model provides a membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system to reduce the loss rate of helium and effectively recover high-value helium in regenerated gas.

[0005] In order to achieve the above purpose, the technical solution of the utility model is:

[0006] A membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system comprises: a cryogenic adsorption purifier, a regeneration gas compressor, a primary membrane separator, a secondary membrane separator, and a recovery gas compressor; a feed gas pipeline is connected to the feed inlet of the cryogenic adsorption purifier; the cryogenic adsorption purifier is used to separate the feed gas into high-purity helium and regeneration gas; and the primary membrane separator and the secondary membrane separator are both used to separate the regeneration gas into helium-rich permeate gas and neon-rich intercepted gas;

[0007] The product side outlet of the low-temperature adsorption purifier is provided with a product gas pipeline, the regeneration side outlet of the low-temperature adsorption purifier is connected to the air inlet of the regeneration gas compressor through a first pipeline, and the air outlet of the regeneration gas compressor is connected to the feed port of the primary membrane separator through a second pipeline;

[0008] The first interception side outlet of the first-stage membrane separator is connected to the exhaust gas pipeline, and the first permeation side outlet of the first-stage membrane separator is connected to the feed port of the second-stage membrane separator;

[0009] The second permeate side outlet of the secondary membrane separator is connected to the air inlet of the recovery gas compressor through the sixth pipeline, the air outlet of the recovery gas compressor is connected to the feed port of the low-temperature adsorption purifier through the seventh pipeline and the raw gas pipeline, and the second retentate side outlet of the secondary membrane separator is connected to the air inlet of the regeneration gas compressor through the fifth pipeline and the first pipeline.

[0010] Furthermore, the He / Ne separation coefficient of the first membrane separator is not less than 6, and the He / Ne separation coefficient of the second membrane separator is not less than 6.

[0011] Furthermore, the operating temperature of the low-temperature adsorption purifier is not greater than -190°C.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes an interstage compressor, the first permeate side outlet is connected to the air inlet of the interstage compressor through a third pipeline, and the air outlet of the interstage compressor is connected to the feed inlet of the secondary membrane separator through a fourth pipeline.

[0013] Beneficial effects:

[0014] Compared with the prior art that uses low-temperature adsorption to purify crude helium, the present invention ensures the purity of the product helium by shortening the adsorption cycle. The utility model provides a membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system. By connecting a low-temperature adsorption purifier with a primary membrane separator and a secondary membrane separator, the regenerated gas produced by the low-temperature adsorption purifier flows through the primary membrane separator and the secondary membrane separator in sequence, and the helium and neon are effectively separated, thereby achieving effective separation of helium and neon, and completing the recycling and utilization of high-value helium in the regenerated gas.

[0015] By introducing the helium-rich permeate gas produced by the secondary membrane separator into the low-temperature adsorption purifier, the raw gas is diluted and the neon concentration of the raw gas in the low-temperature adsorption purifier is reduced, thereby further improving the helium recovery efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of a membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system disclosed in the utility model.

[0018] In the picture:

[0019] 1. Low-temperature adsorption purifier; 101. Regeneration side outlet; 102. Product side outlet;

[0020] 2. Regeneration gas compressor;

[0021] 3. Primary membrane separator; 301. First permeate side outlet; 302. First interception side outlet;

[0022] 4. Interstage compressor;

[0023] 5. Secondary membrane separator; 501. Second permeate side outlet; 502. Second interception side outlet;

[0024] 6. Recovery gas compressor;

[0025] a, raw gas pipeline; b, first pipeline; c, second pipeline; d, exhaust gas pipeline; e, third pipeline; f, fourth pipeline; g, fifth pipeline; h, sixth pipeline; i, seventh pipeline; j, product gas pipeline. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] This embodiment provides a membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system, such as Figure 1As shown, it includes: a low-temperature adsorption purifier 1, a regeneration gas compressor 2, a primary membrane separator 3, a secondary membrane separator 5 and a recovery gas compressor 6. The raw gas pipeline a is connected to the feed port of the low-temperature adsorption purifier 1. The low-temperature adsorption purifier 1 is used to separate the raw helium into high-purity helium and regeneration gas containing impurities such as neon. The primary membrane separator 3 and the secondary membrane separator 5 are both used to separate the regeneration gas into helium-rich permeate gas and neon-rich intercepted gas.

[0028] The product side outlet 102 of the low-temperature adsorption purifier 1 is provided with a product gas pipeline j, the regeneration side outlet 101 of the low-temperature adsorption purifier 1 is connected to the air inlet of the regeneration gas compressor 2 through a first pipeline b, and the air outlet of the regeneration gas compressor 2 is connected to the feed port of the primary membrane separator 3 through a second pipeline c;

[0029] The first interception side outlet 302 of the primary membrane separator 3 is connected to the exhaust gas pipeline d, and the first permeation side outlet 301 of the primary membrane separator 3 is connected to the feed port of the secondary membrane separator 5. Most of the neon in the regenerated gas is discharged through the first interception side outlet 302 via the exhaust gas pipeline d, and most of the helium in the regenerated gas is transported to the secondary membrane separator 5 after the first separation through the first permeation side outlet 301;

[0030] The second permeate side outlet 501 of the secondary membrane separator 5 is connected to the air inlet of the recovery gas compressor 6 through the sixth pipeline h. The air outlet of the recovery gas compressor 6 is connected to the raw gas pipeline a through the seventh pipeline i and then connected to the feed port of the low-temperature adsorption purifier 1. The gas after secondary separation by the secondary membrane separator 5 is fed into the raw gas pipeline a. The second retentate side outlet 502 of the secondary membrane separator 5 is connected to the first pipeline b through the fifth pipeline g and then connected to the air inlet of the regeneration gas compressor 2.

[0031] Compared with the prior art that uses low-temperature adsorption to purify crude helium, the purity of the product helium is ensured by shortening the adsorption cycle. In this embodiment, a membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system is provided. By connecting a low-temperature adsorption purifier 1 with a primary membrane separator 3 and a secondary membrane separator 5, the regenerated gas produced by the low-temperature adsorption purifier 1 flows through the primary membrane separator 3 and the secondary membrane separator 5 in sequence, and the helium and neon are effectively separated, thereby achieving effective separation of helium and neon, and further completing the recycling and utilization of high-value helium in the regenerated gas.

[0032] The neon concentration of the helium-rich permeate gas discharged from the second permeate side outlet 501 of the secondary membrane separator 5 is lower than the neon concentration of the raw gas in the raw gas pipeline a. By introducing the helium-rich permeate gas produced by the secondary membrane separator 5 into the low-temperature adsorption purifier 1 to dilute the raw gas, the neon concentration of the raw gas in the low-temperature adsorption purifier 1 is reduced, thereby further improving the helium recovery efficiency.

[0033] In a specific embodiment, the He / Ne separation coefficient of the first membrane separator 3 is not less than 6 to ensure the separation effect of He and Ne.

[0034] In a specific embodiment, the He / Ne separation coefficient of the second membrane separator 5 is not less than 6 to ensure the separation effect of He and Ne.

[0035] In a specific embodiment, the operating temperature of the low-temperature adsorption purifier 1 is not greater than -190° C. to ensure the separation effect.

[0036] In a specific embodiment, an interstage compressor 4 is further included. The first permeate side outlet 301 is connected to the air inlet of the interstage compressor 4 through a third pipeline e. The air outlet of the interstage compressor 4 is connected to the feed port of the secondary membrane separator 5 through a fourth pipeline f. The interstage compressor 4 provides pressurization for the gas to ensure recovery efficiency.

[0037] To better illustrate the effect of the membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system disclosed in the present invention, the following process flow is introduced:

[0038] The raw gas is crude helium with a gas volume of 100Nm 3 / h, pressure 1.2MPaG, its composition is as follows:

[0039] Components He <![CDATA[N2]]> <![CDATA[CH4]]> Ne Composition (vol%) 99.00 0.88 0.1 0.02

[0040] The raw gas enters the cryogenic adsorption purifier 1 through the raw gas pipeline a. Helium is not adsorbed and is therefore enriched on the product side and enters the product gas pipeline j through the product side outlet 102.

[0041] After being adsorbed and purified by the cryogenic adsorption purifier 1, the remaining helium gas carrying impurities such as neon passes through the regeneration process from the regeneration side outlet 101 through the first pipeline b into the regeneration gas compressor 2 for compression, and then enters the first-stage membrane separator 3 through the second pipeline c. The helium gas preferentially permeates the first-stage membrane separator 3 and is enriched on the permeation side of the first-stage membrane permeator 3. The resulting helium-rich permeate gas is discharged from the first permeate side outlet 301, enters the interstage compressor 4 for compression through the third pipeline e, and then enters the second-stage membrane separator 5 through the fourth pipeline f. The helium gas preferentially permeates the second-stage membrane separator 5 and is enriched on the permeation side of the second-stage membrane separator 5. The resulting helium-rich permeate gas is discharged from the second permeate side outlet 501, enters the recovery gas compressor 6 for compression through the sixth pipeline h, and then enters the raw gas pipeline a through the seventh pipeline i.

[0042] The neon-rich intercepted gas from the secondary membrane separator 5 is returned to the first pipeline b via the fifth pipeline g to further recover the helium therein. The neon is enriched on the intercepted side of the primary membrane separator 3 and enters the exhaust gas pipeline d from the first intercepted side outlet 302;

[0043] Among them, the amount of regeneration gas discharged through the low-temperature adsorption purifier is 5.95Nm 3 / h, composed as follows:

[0044] Components He <![CDATA[N2]]> <![CDATA[CH4]]> Ne Composition (vol%) 83.19 14.79 1.68 0.34

[0045] Among them, the trapped gas discharged by the first-stage membrane separator 3 has a gas volume of 1.15Nm 3 / h, composed as follows:

[0046] Components He <![CDATA[N2]]> <![CDATA[CH4]]> Ne Composition (vol%) 12.97 76.69 8.72 1.62

[0047] After a two-stage membrane separation process, 97% of the helium can be recovered from the regenerated gas produced by the cryogenic adsorption purifier 1 (wherein the helium recovered in the regenerated gas = 1-(the amount of helium in the exhaust gas pipeline divided by the amount of helium in the first pipeline)). For the raw gas fed into the inlet of the cryogenic adsorption purifier 1, the regenerated gas produced by the cryogenic adsorption purifier is directly discharged, and the helium loss rate is 5% (wherein the helium loss rate is the ratio of the amount of helium in the first pipeline to the amount of helium in the raw gas pipeline). The utility model provides an integrated membrane helium and neon separation process system, which reduces the helium loss rate to 0.15% (wherein the helium loss rate is the ratio of the amount of helium in the exhaust gas pipeline to the amount of helium in the raw gas pipeline) by separating the regenerated gas produced by the cryogenic adsorption purifier using an integrated two-stage membrane, and has significant economic benefits.

[0048] The utility model provides a membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system, which effectively separates helium and neon in the regenerated gas of a cryogenic adsorption purifier by combining cryogenic adsorption with two-stage membrane separation, thereby optimizing the helium recovery process, improving the helium recovery rate, and increasing economic benefits. At the same time, by introducing the helium-rich permeate gas produced by the two-stage membrane separator into the cryogenic adsorption purifier, the neon concentration in the cryogenic adsorption purifier is reduced, further improving the helium recovery efficiency.

[0049] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system, characterized in that: include: A low-temperature adsorption purifier (1), a regeneration gas compressor (2), a primary membrane separator (3), a secondary membrane separator (5) and a recovery gas compressor (6); a raw gas pipeline (a) is connected to the feed port of the low-temperature adsorption purifier (1); the low-temperature adsorption purifier (1) is used to separate the raw gas into high-purity helium and regeneration gas; the primary membrane separator (3) and the secondary membrane separator (5) are both used to separate the regeneration gas into helium-rich permeate gas and neon-rich intercepted gas; The product side outlet (102) of the low-temperature adsorption purifier (1) is provided with a product gas pipeline (j), the regeneration side outlet (101) of the low-temperature adsorption purifier (1) is connected to the air inlet of the regeneration gas compressor (2) through a first pipeline (b), and the air outlet of the regeneration gas compressor (2) is connected to the feed port of the primary membrane separator (3) through a second pipeline (c); The first interception side outlet (302) of the first-stage membrane separator (3) is connected to the exhaust gas pipeline (d), and the first permeation side outlet (301) of the first-stage membrane separator (3) is connected to the feed port of the second-stage membrane separator (5); The second permeate side outlet (501) of the secondary membrane separator (5) is connected to the air inlet of the recovery gas compressor (6) through the sixth pipeline (h); the air outlet of the recovery gas compressor (6) is connected to the feed port of the low-temperature adsorption purifier (1) through the seventh pipeline (i) and the raw gas pipeline (a); the second retentate side outlet (502) of the secondary membrane separator (5) is connected to the air inlet of the regeneration gas compressor (2) through the fifth pipeline (g) and the first pipeline (b).

2. The membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The He / Ne separation coefficient of the first-stage membrane separator (3) is not less than 6.

3. The membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The He / Ne separation coefficient of the secondary membrane separator (5) is not less than 6.

4. The membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The operating temperature of the low-temperature adsorption purifier (1) is not greater than -190°C.

5. The membrane helium and neon separation integrated process system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The invention also includes an interstage compressor (4), wherein the first permeate side outlet (301) is connected to the air inlet of the interstage compressor (4) through a third pipeline (e), and the air outlet of the interstage compressor (4) is connected to the feed port of the secondary membrane separator (5) through a fourth pipeline (f).

Images