Helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system

Abstract

The utility model provides a helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system, and relates to the field of isotope separation. The helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system comprises a helium-4 liquefying device, a helium-3 enriching device and a helium-3 purifying device; the helium-4 liquefying device is used for liquefying helium to form liquid helium; the helium-3 enriching device is communicated with the helium-4 liquefying device, and the helium-3 enriching device is used for increasing the concentration of helium-3 in liquid helium; the helium-3 purification device is communicated with the helium-3 enrichment device and the helium-4 liquefaction device, and the helium-3 purification device is used for purifying helium-3. According to the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system provided by the utility model, helium-3 is continuously purified on the basis of helium extraction, so that helium-3 can be extracted on a large scale at lower cost. The main economic cost of the process is at the front end, namely the helium extraction part and the helium liquefaction part in the helium-rich natural gas, the cost of a helium-3 enrichment and helium-3 purification device is low, and the helium-3 extraction cost is greatly reduced on the whole.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of isotope separation especially relates to a helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system. BACKGROUND

[0002] Helium-3 is a rare isotope of helium, is the irreplaceable working medium of mK level dilution refrigerator, clean nuclear fusion and other devices, is the indispensable material for guaranteeing the development of quantum computer and long-term safe fusion energy acquisition in China. At present, the helium-3 of China is completely dependent on import, therefore, it is crucial to study the domestic industrialized helium-3 enrichment method and equipment. At present, the known sources of helium-3 mainly have three kinds, tritium nuclear beta decay, rich helium natural gas and lunar soil. China has found that the helium-3 content in some areas rich sea natural gas field is higher, has the industrial extraction value. The extraction cost of prior art is high, how to reduce the extraction cost of helium-3 becomes a problem to be solved urgently. INVENTION CONTENTS

[0003] The utility model provides a helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system to solve the problem of high extraction cost of prior art.

[0004] The utility model provides a helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system, comprising:

[0005] Helium-4 liquefaction device, the helium-4 liquefaction device is used to liquefy helium gas to form liquid helium;

[0006] Helium-3 enrichment device, the helium-3 enrichment device is communicated with the helium-4 liquefaction device, and the helium-3 enrichment device is used to improve the concentration of helium-3 in liquid helium;

[0007] Helium-3 purification device, the helium-3 purification device is communicated with the helium-3 enrichment device and the helium-4 liquefaction device, and the helium-3 purification device is used to purify helium-3.

[0008] According to the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system provided by the utility model, the helium-4 liquefaction device comprises:

[0009] First heat exchanger assembly, the first heat exchanger assembly is communicated with liquid nitrogen storage tank and helium gas storage tank;

[0010] Primary purifier assembly, the primary purifier assembly is communicated with the first heat exchanger assembly;

[0011] Second heat exchanger assembly, the second heat exchanger assembly is communicated with the primary purifier assembly;

[0012] Secondary purifier assembly, the secondary purifier assembly is communicated with the second heat exchanger assembly;

[0013] a third heat exchanger assembly in communication with the secondary purifier assembly;

[0014] a liquid helium dewar in communication with the third heat exchanger assembly, the helium-3 enrichment device, and the helium-3 purification device;

[0015] a compressor assembly in communication with the first heat exchanger assembly, the helium-3 enrichment device, and the helium-3 purification device.

[0016] According to the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system, the first heat exchanger assembly comprises a first-stage heat exchanger and a second-stage heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger assembly comprises a third-stage heat exchanger, a fourth-stage heat exchanger and a fifth-stage heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger assembly comprises a sixth-stage heat exchanger, a liquid nitrogen heat exchange channel of the first-stage heat exchanger is in communication with the liquid nitrogen storage tank through a first pipeline, first heat exchange channels of the first-stage heat exchanger, the second-stage heat exchanger, the third-stage heat exchanger, the fourth-stage heat exchanger, the fifth-stage heat exchanger and the sixth-stage heat exchanger are sequentially connected in a second pipeline, one end of the second pipeline is in communication with the helium storage tank and the compressor assembly, and the other end of the second pipeline is in communication with the liquid helium dewar.

[0017] According to the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system, the first purifier assembly comprises two first purifiers and two first control valves, the two first purifiers are connected in parallel to the second pipeline between the second-stage heat exchanger and the third-stage heat exchanger, and the two first control valves are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence at inlets of the two first purifiers.

[0018] According to the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system, the second heat exchanger assembly further comprises a first-stage turbine expander, a second-stage turbine expander and a turbine control valve, an inlet of the first-stage turbine expander is in communication with an outlet of the first purifier through the turbine control valve, an outlet of the first-stage turbine expander is in communication with a helium gas heat exchange channel inlet of the fourth-stage heat exchanger, an inlet of the second-stage turbine expander is in communication with a helium gas heat exchange channel outlet of the fourth-stage heat exchanger, and an outlet of the second-stage turbine expander is in communication with the third pipeline between the fifth-stage heat exchanger and the sixth-stage heat exchanger.

[0019] According to the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system, one end of the second pipeline is provided with a first helium control valve, and the other end of the second pipeline is provided with a throttle valve.

[0020] According to the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system, one end of the second pipeline is provided with a first helium control valve, and the other end of the second pipeline is provided with a throttle valve.

[0021] According to the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system, the first pipeline between the first heat exchanger and the liquid nitrogen storage tank is provided with a liquid nitrogen control valve.

[0022] According to the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system, the helium-3 enrichment device comprises a helium-3 enriching device, a third control valve, a first liquid outlet pipe and a first gas outlet pipe, the inlet of the helium-3 enriching device is communicated with the other end of the second pipeline through the third control valve, one end of the first liquid outlet pipe is communicated with the liquid outlet of the helium-3 enriching device, the first liquid outlet pipe is provided with a first liquid outlet control valve, and the other end of the first liquid outlet pipe is communicated with the liquid helium Dewar through a connecting pipe; one end of the first gas outlet pipe is communicated with the gas outlet of the helium-3 enriching device, the first gas outlet pipe is provided with a first gas outlet control valve, and the other end of the first gas outlet pipe is communicated with the compressor assembly through a low-pressure pipeline.

[0023] According to the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system, the helium-3 enrichment device comprises a helium-3 enriching device, a third control valve, a first liquid outlet pipe and a first gas outlet pipe, the inlet of the helium-3 enriching device is communicated with the other end of the second pipeline through the third control valve, one end of the first liquid outlet pipe is communicated with the liquid outlet of the helium-3 enriching device, the first liquid outlet pipe is provided with a first liquid outlet control valve, and the other end of the first liquid outlet pipe is communicated with the liquid helium Dewar through a connecting pipe; one end of the first gas outlet pipe is communicated with the gas outlet of the helium-3 enriching device, the first gas outlet pipe is provided with a first gas outlet control valve, and the other end of the first gas outlet pipe is communicated with the compressor assembly through a low-pressure pipeline.

[0024] The helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system provided by the utility model can continue to purify helium-3 on the basis of extracting helium, and can extract helium-3 on a large scale at a low cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or the prior art description. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained without creative labor on the basis of these drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 It is the structural schematic diagram of the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system provided by the present application.

[0027] Reference signs:

[0028] 1, helium-4 liquefaction device; 2, helium-3 enrichment device; 3, helium-3 purification device; 4, first pipeline; 5, second pipeline; 6, third pipeline; 11, liquid nitrogen control valve; 12, first helium control valve; 13, first control valve; 14, primary purifier; 15, turbine control valve; 16, second control valve; 17, secondary purifier; 18, throttle valve; 19, third control valve; 20, liquid helium Dewar; 24, liquid helium output control valve; 25, fourth control valve; 26, helium-3 enriching device; 27, helium-3 purifier; 31, compressor assembly; 32, primary turbine expander; 33, secondary turbine expander; 34, first liquid outlet control valve; 35, second gas outlet control valve; 36, second liquid outlet control valve; 37, second gas outlet control valve; 41, primary heat exchanger; 42, secondary heat exchanger; 43, tertiary heat exchanger; 44, quaternary heat exchanger; 45, quinary heat exchanger; 46, sextuple heat exchanger; 52, first liquid outlet pipe; 53, first gas outlet pipe; 54, second liquid outlet pipe; 55, second gas outlet pipe; 56, connecting pipe; 57, low-pressure pipeline. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the present application more clear, the technical scheme of the present application will be described clearly and completely in combination with the drawings in the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are some embodiments of the present application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor belong to the scope of protection of the present application.

[0030] In the description of the embodiments of the utility model, it needs to explain, the term "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer" and so on indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawing, just for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the utility model and simplifying the description, and it is not indicated or implied that the device or element indicated must have a particular orientation, a particular orientation and operation, therefore it cannot be understood as the limitation of the embodiments of the utility model. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third" are only for the purpose of description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0031] In the description of the embodiments of the utility model, it needs to explain, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixedly connected, or it can be detachably connected, or integrally connected, it can be mechanically connected, or it can be electrically connected, it can be directly connected, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For ordinary skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of the utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0032] In the embodiments of the utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the first feature is "on" or "under" the second feature, which can be direct contact between the first and second features, or indirect contact between the first and second features through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature "above", "above" and "above" of the second feature can be directly above or obliquely above the first feature, or just indicate that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The first feature "below", "below" and "below" of the second feature can be directly below or obliquely below the first feature, or just indicate that the horizontal height of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.

[0033] In the description of the specification, the description of the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example" or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiments of the utility model. In the specification, the illustrative description of the above terms is not necessarily for the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in the specification and the features of different embodiments or examples without contradiction.

[0034] As Figure 1As shown, the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system comprises a helium-4 liquefaction device 1, a helium-3 enrichment device 2 and a helium-3 purification device 3, the helium-4 liquefaction device 1 is used for liquefying helium to form liquid helium; the helium-3 enrichment device 2 is communicated with the helium-4 liquefaction device 1, the helium-3 enrichment device 2 is used for increasing the concentration of helium-3 in the liquid helium; the helium-3 purification device 3 is communicated with the helium-3 enrichment device 2 and the helium-4 liquefaction device 1, and the helium-3 purification device 3 is used for purifying helium-3.

[0035] The helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system provided by the utility model can continue to purify helium-3 on the basis of extracting helium, and can extract helium-3 on a large scale at a low cost. The main economic cost of the process is in the front end, that is, the part of extracting helium from the helium-rich natural gas and the helium liquefaction part, and the cost of the helium-3 enrichment and helium-3 purification device is low, and the helium-3 extraction cost is greatly reduced as a whole.

[0036] In an embodiment of the utility model, as shown in the figure, Figure 1 As shown, the helium-4 liquefaction device 1 comprises a first heat exchanger assembly, a first-stage purifier assembly, a second heat exchanger assembly, a second-stage purifier assembly, a third heat exchanger assembly, a liquid helium Dewar 20 and a compressor assembly 31, the first heat exchanger assembly is communicated with a liquid nitrogen storage tank and a helium storage tank, the first-stage purifier assembly is used for reducing the temperature of helium, the first-stage purifier assembly is communicated with the first heat exchanger assembly, the first-stage purifier assembly is mainly used for removing nitrogen and oxygen impurities in helium, the second heat exchanger assembly is communicated with the first-stage purifier assembly, the second-stage purifier assembly is communicated with the second heat exchanger assembly, the second-stage purifier assembly is mainly used for removing neon and hydrogen impurities in helium, the third heat exchanger assembly is communicated with the second-stage purifier assembly, the helium Dewar is communicated with the third heat exchanger assembly, the helium-3 enrichment device 2 and the helium-3 purification device 3, the compressor assembly 31 is communicated with the first heat exchanger assembly, the helium-3 enrichment device 2 and the helium-3 purification device 3. The first heat exchanger assembly, the first-stage purifier assembly, the second heat exchanger assembly, the second-stage purifier assembly, the third heat exchanger assembly, the liquid helium Dewar 20 and the compressor assembly 31 constitute a collins cycle, of course, the specific structure type of the helium-4 liquefaction device 1 is not limited to this, and it can also be a claude cycle or a double-pressure cycle.

[0037] The helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system has economic advantages, crude helium is liquefied and purified through the helium-4 liquefaction device 1, liquid helium is obtained, and helium-3 purification is continued, and helium-3 needs to be separated from liquid helium below the helium-4 superfluid conversion temperature (2.17K). If the process of separating helium-3 from natural gas is carried out at the same time as the process of extracting helium-4 from natural gas, after the liquefaction of helium-4, only 1℃ is left for the liquefaction of helium-3, most of the energy required for cooling and most of the cost of the infrastructure and equipment for liquefaction and separation are already included in the extraction cost of helium-4. By adding the end ultra-low temperature helium-3 enrichment device 2, the enrichment, concentration and purification of helium-3 in helium-4 can be realized, so that the extraction cost of helium-3 is low.

[0038] In an embodiment of the present application, as shown in Figure 1 The first heat exchanger assembly includes a first heat exchanger 41 and a second heat exchanger 42, of course, the number of heat exchangers in the first heat exchanger assembly is not limited to two, and three or more can also be provided. The second heat exchanger assembly includes a third heat exchanger 43, a fourth heat exchanger 44 and a fifth heat exchanger 45, of course, the number of heat exchangers in the second heat exchanger assembly is not limited to three, and two or more can also be provided. The third heat exchanger assembly includes a sixth heat exchanger 46, of course, the number of heat exchangers in the third heat exchanger assembly is not limited to one, and two, three or more can also be provided.

[0039] The liquid nitrogen heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 41 is communicated with the liquid nitrogen storage tank through the first pipeline 4; the first heat exchange channels of the first heat exchanger 41, the second heat exchanger 42, the third heat exchanger 43, the fourth heat exchanger 44, the fifth heat exchanger 45 and the sixth heat exchanger 46 are sequentially connected in the second pipeline 5, one end of the second pipeline 5 is communicated with the helium storage tank and the compressor assembly 31, and the other end of the second pipeline 5 is communicated with the liquid helium Dewar 20; the second heat exchange channels of the first heat exchanger 41, the second heat exchanger 42, the third heat exchanger 43, the fourth heat exchanger 44, the fifth heat exchanger 45 and the sixth heat exchanger 46 are sequentially connected in the third pipeline 6, one end of the third pipeline 6 is communicated with the compressor assembly 31, and the other end of the third pipeline 6 is communicated with the liquid helium Dewar 20.

[0040] It should be noted here that the present application means that the second pipeline 5 flows in the direction of the helium.

[0041] In an embodiment of the utility model, one -level purifier subassembly includes two one -level purifiers 14 and two first control valves 13, two one -level purifiers 14 are connected in parallel in the second pipeline 5 between two -level heat exchanger 42 and three -level heat exchanger 43, and two first control valves 13 are set up in the entrance of two one -level purifiers 14 one by one. When working, open a first control valve 13, make the corresponding one -level purifier 14 work, when one -level purifier 14 is used up, close first control valve 13, open another first control valve 13, make another one -level purifier 14 work. Of course, the quantity of purifier in one -level purifier subassembly is not limited to two, and can be three or more quantity, and is determined according to actual needs.

[0042] In an embodiment of the utility model, the second heat exchanger subassembly further includes a first turbine expander 32, a second turbine expander 33 and a turbine control valve 15, the inlet of the first turbine expander 32 is communicated with the outlet of the first purifier 14 through the turbine control valve 15, the outlet of the first turbine expander 32 is communicated with the helium gas heat exchange channel inlet of the fourth heat exchanger 44, the inlet of the second turbine expander 33 is communicated with the helium gas heat exchange channel outlet of the fourth heat exchanger 44, the outlet of the second turbine expander 33 is communicated with the third pipeline 6 between the fifth heat exchanger 45 and the sixth heat exchanger 46, and the first turbine expander 32 and the second turbine expander 33 are used for cooling and decompressing helium. Of course, the number of turbine expanders is not limited to two, and can be three or more, which is determined according to the number of heat exchangers in the second heat exchanger subassembly.

[0043] In an embodiment of the utility model, as shown in Figure 1 The second purifier subassembly includes two second purifiers 17 and two second control valves 16, the two second purifiers 17 are connected in parallel in the second pipeline 5 between the fifth heat exchanger 45 and the sixth heat exchanger 46, and the two second control valves 16 are set up in the entrance of the two second purifiers 17 one by one. When working, open a second control valve 16, make the corresponding second purifier 17 work, when the second purifier 17 is used up, close the second control valve 16, open another second control valve 16, make another second purifier 17 work. Of course, the number of purifiers in the second purifier subassembly is not limited to two, and can be three or more, which is determined according to actual needs.

[0044] In an embodiment of the utility model, as shown in Figure 1As shown, one end of the second pipeline 5 is provided with a first helium control valve 12, when the first helium control valve 12 is opened, helium enters the second pipeline 5, the outlet of the compressor assembly 31 is communicated with the second pipeline 5 between the first helium control valve 12 and the primary heat exchanger 41, and the other end of the second pipeline 5 is provided with a throttle valve 18. After the liquid helium passes through the throttle valve 18, it is divided into two ways, one way enters the liquid helium Dewar 20, and the other way enters the helium-3 concentrator 26.

[0045] In an embodiment of the present application, the first pipeline 4 between the primary heat exchanger 41 and the liquid nitrogen storage tank is provided with a liquid nitrogen control valve 11. After the liquid nitrogen control valve 11 is opened, the liquid nitrogen in the liquid nitrogen storage tank enters the primary heat exchanger 41 through the first pipeline 4 to exchange heat with the helium, so that the temperature of the helium is reduced.

[0046] In an embodiment of the present application, as shown in the figure, Figure 1 The helium-3 enrichment device 2 includes a helium-3 concentrator 26, a third control valve 19, a first liquid outlet pipe 52 and a first gas outlet pipe 53, the inlet of the helium-3 concentrator 26 is communicated with the other end of the second pipeline 5 through the third control valve 19, one end of the first liquid outlet pipe 52 is communicated with the liquid outlet of the helium-3 concentrator 26, the first liquid outlet pipe 52 is provided with a first liquid outlet control valve 34, the other end of the first liquid outlet pipe 52 is communicated with the liquid helium Dewar 20 through a connecting pipe 56, and the connecting pipe 56 is provided with a liquid helium output control valve 24. One end of the first gas outlet pipe 53 is communicated with the gas outlet of the helium-3 concentrator 26, the first gas outlet pipe 53 is provided with a first gas outlet control valve, and the other end of the first gas outlet pipe 53 is communicated with the compressor assembly 31 through a low-pressure pipeline 57. The helium-3 containing helium gas enters the helium-4 liquefaction process to be liquefied, and the content of helium-3 in the liquid helium is about 10 -6 , the concentration of helium-3 can be increased by 1000-10000 times through the helium-3 concentrator, and the content of helium-3 is 10 -3 -10 -2 . The enrichment method of the helium-3 concentrator 26 includes but is not limited to low-temperature rectification method, thermal diffusion method and membrane separation method.

[0047] In an embodiment of the present application, as shown in the figure, Figure 1As shown, the helium-3 purification device 3 includes a helium-3 purifier 27, a fourth control valve 25, a second liquid outlet pipe 54 and a second gas outlet pipe 55, the inlet of the helium-3 purifier 27 is communicated with the outlet of the helium-3 enriching device 26, the outlet of the helium-3 purifier 27 is communicated with the helium-3 storage through the fourth control valve 25, the liquid outlet of the helium-3 purifier 27 is communicated with the connecting pipe 56 through the second liquid outlet pipe 54, and the second liquid outlet pipe 54 is provided with a second liquid outlet control valve 36; the gas outlet of the helium-3 purifier 27 is communicated with the low-pressure pipeline 57 through the second gas outlet pipe 55, and the second gas outlet pipe 55 is provided with a second gas outlet control valve 3735. The helium-3 after passing through the helium-3 enriching device 26 enters the helium-3 purifier 27, and the content of helium-3 after passing through the helium-3 purifier 27 can reach 99.9%, and the remaining helium-4 in the helium-3 enriching device 26 and the helium-3 purifier 27 reenters the helium-4 liquefying device 1 through the low-pressure pipeline 57 to be recycled.

[0048] The working principle of the helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system is as follows:

[0049] The helium gas enters the first pipeline 4 from the helium gas storage tank, is heat-exchanged with liquid nitrogen in the first heat exchanger 41, and the temperature of the helium gas at the outlet of the first heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 41 is about 80K; then the helium gas enters the second heat exchanger 42 and then enters the first purifier 14 to remove impurities such as nitrogen and oxygen; after the helium gas exits the first purifier 14, part of the helium gas enters the first turbine expander 32 and the second turbine expander 33 branch to be cooled and decompressed, the temperature of the helium at the outlet of the second turbine expander 33 is about 11K, this part of helium gas is combined with the helium gas that escapes from the liquid helium Dewar 20, and then enters the fifth heat exchanger 45, the fourth heat exchanger 44, the third heat exchanger 43, the second heat exchanger 42 and the first heat exchanger 41 in turn, and is heat-exchanged with the helium gas in the second pipeline 5 in the above-mentioned heat exchangers; the helium gas in the second pipeline 5 enters the second purifier 17 after passing through the third heat exchanger 43, the fourth heat exchanger 44 and the fifth heat exchanger 45 in turn, removes neon and hydrogen impurities in the second purifier 17, and then enters the sixth heat exchanger 46, and obtains liquid helium, i.e. a mixture of helium-3 and helium-4, after passing through the throttle valve 18, the content of helium-3 is about 10 -6 Part of the liquid helium enters the liquid helium Dewar 20 for storage (when the flow rate of the helium-3 treated by the helium-3 enrichment device 2 and the helium-3 purification device 3 is less than the output flow rate of the helium-4 liquefier), and the other part of the liquid helium enters the helium-3 enriching device 26 through the pipeline and the third control valve 19 to enrich the concentration of helium-3 by 1000-10000 times, and the content of helium-3 is about 10 -3 -10 -2The helium-3 enriched by the helium-3 enrichment device 2 and the helium-3 purified by the helium-3 purification device 3 is then introduced into a helium-3 purifier 27, and the purity of the helium-3 is up to 99.9%. If the remaining helium-4 in the helium-3 enrichment device 2 and the helium-3 purification device 3 is in liquid form when being discharged, the liquid is introduced into the liquid helium Dewar 20 through the first liquid outlet pipe 52 and the second liquid outlet pipe 54, respectively; if the remaining helium-4 in the helium-3 enrichment device 2 and the helium-3 purification device 3 is in gaseous form when being discharged, the gas is introduced into the low-pressure pipeline 57 through the first gas outlet pipe 53 and the second gas outlet pipe 55, respectively, and then introduced into the helium-4 liquefaction device 1 again after passing through the compressor assembly 31 for liquefaction.

[0050] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and are not limited thereto; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments can still be modified, or some technical features can be replaced by equivalents; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A helium-3 and helium-4 co-production system, characterized by, The application relates to a helium-4 liquefaction device (1) for liquefying helium to form liquid helium, a helium-3 enrichment device (2) in communication with the helium-4 liquefaction device (1) for increasing the concentration of helium-3 in the liquid helium, and a helium-3 purification device (3) in communication with the helium-3 enrichment device (2) and the helium-4 liquefaction device (1) for purifying helium-3. The helium-4 liquefaction device (1) comprises a first heat exchanger assembly in communication with a liquid nitrogen storage tank and a helium storage tank, a primary purifier assembly in communication with the first heat exchanger assembly, a second heat exchanger assembly in communication with the primary purifier assembly, a secondary purifier assembly in communication with the second heat exchanger assembly, a third heat exchanger assembly in communication with the secondary purifier assembly, a liquid helium Dewar (20) in communication with the third heat exchanger assembly, the helium-3 enrichment device (2) and the helium-3 purification device (3), and a compressor assembly (31) in communication with the first heat exchanger assembly, the helium-3 enrichment device (2) and the helium-3 purification device (3). The first heat exchanger assembly comprises a primary heat exchanger (41) and a secondary heat exchanger (42), the second heat exchanger assembly comprises a tertiary heat exchanger (43), a quaternary heat exchanger (44) and a quinary heat exchanger (45), the third heat exchanger assembly comprises a sexta heat exchanger (46), a liquid nitrogen heat exchange channel of the primary heat exchanger (41) is in communication with the liquid nitrogen storage tank through a first pipeline (4), first heat exchange channels of the primary heat exchanger (41), the secondary heat exchanger (42), the tertiary heat exchanger (43), the quaternary heat exchanger (44), the quinary heat exchanger (45) and the sexta heat exchanger (46) are sequentially connected in a second pipeline (5), one end of the second pipeline (5) is in communication with the helium storage tank and the compressor assembly (31), and the other end of the second pipeline (5) is in communication with the liquid helium Dewar (20), and second heat exchange channels of the primary heat exchanger (41), the secondary heat exchanger (42), the tertiary heat exchanger (43), the quaternary heat exchanger (44), the quinary heat exchanger (45) and the sexta heat exchanger (46) are sequentially connected in a third pipeline (6), one end of the third pipeline (6) is in communication with the compressor assembly (31), and the other end of the third pipeline (6) is in communication with the liquid helium Dewar (20). ​ 2. The helium-3 and helium-4 coproduction system of claim 1, wherein, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 3. The helium-3 and helium-4 coproduction system of claim 2, wherein, ​ 4. The helium-3 and helium-4 coproduction system of claim 3, wherein, The primary purifier assembly comprises two primary purifiers (14) and two first control valves (13), the two primary purifiers (14) are connected in parallel to the second pipeline (5) between the secondary heat exchanger (42) and the tertiary heat exchanger (43), and the two first control valves (13) are arranged one by one at the inlets of the two primary purifiers (14).

5. The helium-3 and helium-4 coproduction system of claim 4, wherein, The second heat exchanger assembly further comprises a primary turbine expander (32), a secondary turbine expander (33) and a turbine control valve (15), the inlet of the primary turbine expander (32) is communicated with the outlet of the primary purifier (14) through the turbine control valve (15), the outlet of the primary turbine expander (32) is communicated with the helium gas heat exchange channel inlet of the quaternary heat exchanger (44), the inlet of the secondary turbine expander (33) is communicated with the helium gas heat exchange channel outlet of the quaternary heat exchanger (44), and the outlet of the secondary turbine expander (33) is communicated with the third pipeline (6) between the quinary heat exchanger (45) and the senary heat exchanger (46).

6. The helium-3 and helium-4 coproduction system of claim 4, wherein, The secondary purifier assembly comprises two secondary purifiers (17) and two second control valves (16), the two secondary purifiers (17) are connected in parallel to the second pipeline (5) between the quinary heat exchanger (45) and the senary heat exchanger (46), and the two second control valves (16) are arranged one by one at the inlets of the two secondary purifiers (17).

7. The helium-3 and helium-4 coproduction system of any of claims 3-6, wherein, One end of the second pipeline (5) is provided with a first helium control valve (12), and the other end of the second pipeline (5) is provided with a throttle valve (18).

8. The helium-3 and helium-4 coproduction system of any of claims 3-6, wherein, The first pipeline (4) between the primary heat exchanger (41) and the liquid nitrogen storage tank is provided with a liquid nitrogen control valve (11).

9. The helium-3 and helium-4 coproduction system of any of claims 3-6, wherein, The helium-3 enrichment device (2) comprises a helium-3 enriching device (26), a third control valve (19), a first liquid outlet pipe (52) and a first gas outlet pipe (53), the inlet of the helium-3 enriching device (26) is communicated with the other end of the second pipeline (5) through the third control valve (19), one end of the first liquid outlet pipe (52) is communicated with the liquid outlet of the helium-3 enriching device (26), the first liquid outlet pipe (52) is provided with a first liquid outlet control valve, the other end of the first liquid outlet pipe (52) is communicated with the liquid helium Dewar (20) through a connecting pipe (56); one end of the first gas outlet pipe (53) is communicated with the gas outlet of the helium-3 enriching device (26), the first gas outlet pipe (53) is provided with a first gas outlet control valve, and the other end of the first gas outlet pipe (53) is communicated with the compressor assembly (31) through a low-pressure pipeline (57).

10. The helium-3 and helium-4 coproduction system of claim 9, wherein, The helium-3 purifier (27) is connected with the outlet of the helium-3 enriching device (26), the outlet of the helium-3 purifier (27) is communicated with the helium-3 storage device through the fourth control valve (25), the liquid outlet of the helium-3 purifier (27) is communicated with the connecting pipe (56) through the second liquid outlet pipe (54), and the second liquid outlet pipe (54) is provided with a second liquid outlet control valve; the gas outlet of the helium-3 purifier (27) is communicated with the low-pressure pipeline (57) through the second gas outlet pipe (55), and the second gas outlet pipe (55) is provided with a second gas outlet control valve.

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