Neon-Helium Refining Adsorber Residual Gas Recovery Device

Abstract

This invention discloses a residual gas recovery device for a neon-helium refining adsorber. The neon-helium refining adsorber includes at least two adsors connected in parallel and equipped with pressure sensors. An inlet pipe and an outlet pipe are externally connected. The inlet pipe is equipped with a pressure relief pipe with a pressure relief valve. The two pressure relief pipes are connected to a main pressure relief pipe. The other end of the main pressure relief pipe is connected to two other pressure relief pipes equipped with pressure relief valves; one connects to a gas storage tank with a pressure sensor, and the other connects to a recovery gas bladder with a pressure sensor. The device also includes a control unit. Each pressure sensor sends a signal to the control unit, which generates a control signal and sends it to each pressure relief valve for control. This invention achieves fully automatic recovery of residual gas from the adsorber, reducing operational intensity, lowering the error rate, improving the recovery and recycling efficiency of residual gas and gas generated during regeneration, reducing production costs, and ensuring stable adsorber regeneration effect and adsorbent performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of gas recovery technology, and in particular to a device for recovering residual gas from a neon-helium refining adsorber. Background Technology

[0002] In the rare gas industry, neon and helium are key industrial raw materials, and optimizing their processing and recycling technologies is crucial for improving production efficiency and resource utilization. Currently, in the separation of impurities in neon-helium mixtures and the extraction of ultrapure helium, low-temperature adsorption technology, with its scientifically sound separation and purification principles, has become a widely used and highly mature method in the industry. Based on the differences in the adsorption characteristics of different gases on adsorbents at low temperatures, this technology effectively adsorbs various impurities in the neon-helium mixture by precisely selecting suitable adsorbents and strictly controlling the low-temperature conditions during impurity separation, thereby obtaining a high-purity neon-helium mixture. In the ultrapure helium extraction process, it can further remove trace impurities from the helium, ensuring that the extracted ultrapure helium meets stringent quality standards.

[0003] However, after a period of operation, adsorbers using low-temperature adsorption technology will lose their ability to adsorb impurities due to adsorption saturation. At this point, desorption and regeneration operations must be performed to restore the activity of the adsorbent and ensure its continued high-efficiency adsorption performance. However, there are many problems to be solved in the gas recovery stage of the desorption and regeneration process.

[0004] On the one hand, before the desorption and regeneration operation, a certain amount of pure neon-helium mixture or ultrapure helium gas will remain in the adsorber. These gases have high purity and economic value; if they are not recycled, it will result in a huge waste of resources and directly increase production costs. Therefore, from the perspective of resource conservation and cost control, it is necessary and crucial to recover this residual gas. In practice, this residual gas is usually introduced into the gasbag recovery system for treatment.

[0005] On the other hand, the regeneration process generates gases containing incompletely separated neon, helium, and other impurities. Directly releasing these gases would not only lead to the loss of rare gases like neon and helium, reducing the overall utilization rate of raw materials and further increasing production costs, but also violate environmental protection requirements and potentially negatively impact the atmospheric environment. In practice, these residual gases are typically introduced into the airbag recovery system for treatment.

[0006] However, existing technologies have significant shortcomings in recovering these gases. Firstly, whether it's the residual pure neon-helium mixture or ultrapure helium gas in the adsorber, or gases containing incompletely separated neon, helium, and other impurities generated during regeneration, the recovery process largely relies on manual operation. This presents significant drawbacks. Manual operation has a slow response time, making it difficult to accurately and promptly control the residual gas recovery operation based on real-time changes in gas pressure within the adsorber and the dynamic demands of the regeneration process. This results in low recovery efficiency, failing to achieve high-efficiency gas recovery, and the lack of effective monitoring and precise control during the recovery process makes it difficult to guarantee its stability and reliability.

[0007] Secondly, the process of recovering gas using a gas recovery bladder system also faces many problems. For example, in the later stages of recovery, the pressure inside the adsorber gradually decreases, while the pressure in the recovery bladder remains relatively high. At this point, residual gas in the bladder can backflow into the adsorber that is undergoing regeneration. This backflow severely interferes with the adsorber's regeneration process, leading to a decline in adsorbent performance, which in turn affects the quality and efficiency of subsequent neon-helium mixed gas impurity separation and ultrapure helium extraction, creating a vicious cycle. Helium, in particular, is difficult to effectively improve due to its small molecular size and high permeability, which undoubtedly exacerbates the predicament of low raw material utilization and increased costs.

[0008] Given the numerous problems existing in the residual gas recovery technology of neon-helium adsorbers in terms of the comprehensiveness of gas recovery, recovery efficiency, process controllability, and guarantee of regeneration effect, in order to improve the recovery and recycling efficiency of residual gas in the adsorber and the gas generated during regeneration during the production or use of rare gases (neon and helium), reduce production costs, and ensure the regeneration effect and stable performance of the adsorber and adsorbent, it is of great practical significance to develop a new type of residual gas recovery device for neon-helium refining adsorbers, which also meets the urgent needs of the market. Summary of the Invention

[0009] This invention provides a residual gas recovery device for a neon-helium refining adsorber. This device achieves fully automated recovery of residual gas from the depressurized adsorber in the neon-helium refining device, reducing operational intensity, lowering the error rate, improving the recovery and recycling efficiency of residual gas and gas generated during regeneration, reducing production costs, and ensuring stable adsorbent regeneration effect and adsorbent performance. Thus, it solves the problems existing in the residual gas recovery technology of neon-helium adsorbers in terms of the comprehensiveness of gas recovery, recovery efficiency, process controllability, and guarantee of regeneration effect.

[0010] To solve the above problems, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is: The neon-helium refining adsorber includes at least two adsorbers connected in parallel: an adsorber 1 and an adsorber 2. The adsorber 1 contains a pressure sensor 1 and is connected to an inlet pipe 1 and an outlet pipe 1. The inlet pipe 1 has a pressure relief pipe 1 and a pressure relief valve 1. The adsorber 2 contains a pressure sensor 2 and is connected to an inlet pipe 2 and an outlet pipe 2. The inlet pipe 2 has a pressure relief pipe 2 and a pressure relief valve 2. The pressure relief pipes 1 and 2 are connected to a main pressure relief pipe. The other end of the main pressure relief pipe is connected to two pressure relief pipes: a third and a fourth. The third pressure relief pipe has a pressure relief valve 3 and a gas storage tank. The gas storage tank contains a pressure sensor 3. The fourth pressure relief pipe has a pressure relief valve 4 and a recovery gas bag. The recovery gas bag contains a pressure sensor 4. It also includes a control unit, to which pressure sensor one, pressure sensor two, pressure sensor three and pressure sensor four send signals to the control unit, which generates control signals and sends them to pressure relief valve one, pressure relief valve two, pressure relief valve three and pressure relief valve four for corresponding control.

[0011] In the above technical solution, a more specific technical solution could be that both the pressure relief valve one and the pressure relief valve two are pneumatic regulating valves.

[0012] Furthermore, both the pressure relief valve three and the pressure relief valve four are pneumatic solenoid valves.

[0013] Furthermore, an inlet valve is provided on the first inlet pipe, and the first pressure relief pipe is located between the first inlet valve and the first adsorber; an inlet valve is provided on the second inlet pipe, and the second pressure relief pipe is located between the second inlet valve and the second adsorber.

[0014] Furthermore, an outlet valve is provided on the first outlet pipe, and an outlet valve is provided on the second outlet pipe.

[0015] Furthermore, the control unit is a DCS controller.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, this utility model has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art: 1. Based on the original single recovery airbag, this utility model innovatively adds a gas storage tank to form a hierarchical storage architecture of "buffer storage tank + recovery airbag". This structure solves the problem of insufficient storage capacity of traditional systems by expanding physical space. At the same time, by utilizing the different pressure characteristics of the gas storage tank and the recovery airbag, it realizes the classified storage of gases of different pressure levels, thereby improving the overall recovery efficiency and resource utilization rate.

[0017] 2. This utility model scientifically configures valves on the depressurization pipeline leading to the recovery air bag and gas storage tank. At the same time, pressure sensors are installed at each adsorber, recovery air bag and gas storage tank to monitor pressure data in real time. The control unit compares and analyzes the detected pressure values ​​according to preset conditions, and accurately controls the opening and closing status of each valve accordingly. This design not only realizes the fully automatic recovery of depressurized residual gas, effectively reduces the workload of operators, and greatly reduces the risk of misoperation, but also significantly improves the recovery and utilization rate of residual gas in the adsorber and gas generated in the regeneration process. While reducing production costs, it ensures the continuous stability of adsorber regeneration effect and adsorbent performance.

[0018] 3. By adopting this utility model to achieve fully automatic recovery of residual gas after depressurization in the neon-helium refining adsorber, the extraction rate of the neon-helium refining adsorber is increased from 80% to over 95%, maximizing the efficiency of the device. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the control principle of the residual gas recovery process in the neon-helium refining adsorber of this utility model.

[0021] Figures 1-2 In the diagram, the following labels represent different components: 1 – Adsorber I, 2 – Adsorber II, 3 – Pressure Sensor I, 4 – Inlet Pipe I, 5 – Outlet Pipe I, 6 – Pressure Relief Pipe I, 7 – Pressure Relief Valve I, 8 – Pressure Sensor II, 9 – Inlet Pipe II, 10 – Outlet Pipe II, 11 – Pressure Relief Pipe II, 12 – Pressure Relief Valve II, 13 – Main Pressure Relief Pipe, 14 – Pressure Relief Pipe III, 15 – Pressure Relief Pipe IV, 16 – Pressure Relief Valve III, 17 – Gas Storage Tank, 18 – Pressure Sensor III, 19 – Pressure Relief Valve IV, 20 – Recovery Gas Bag, 21 – Pressure Sensor IV, 22 – Inlet Valve I, 23 – Inlet Valve II, 24 – Outlet Valve I, 25 – Outlet Valve II. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings: like Figure 1The device shown is a residual gas recovery device for a neon-helium refining adsorber. The neon-helium refining adsorber includes at least two adsorbers, 1 and 2, connected in parallel, with one adsorber 1 and the other adsorber 2 configured as a backup. Adsorber 1 is equipped with a pressure sensor 3, and is connected to an inlet pipe 4 and an outlet pipe 5. A pressure relief pipe 6 is connected to the inlet pipe 4, and a pressure relief valve 7 is installed on the pressure relief pipe 6. Adsorber 2 is equipped with a pressure sensor 8, and is connected to an inlet pipe 9 and an outlet pipe 10. A pressure relief pipe 10 is installed on the inlet pipe 9. 1. Pressure relief valve 2 12 is installed on pressure relief pipe 2 11; pressure relief pipe 1 6 and pressure relief pipe 2 11 are connected to pressure relief main pipe 13 by a tee; the other end of pressure relief main pipe 13 is connected to pressure relief pipe 3 14 and pressure relief pipe 4 15 by a tee, pressure relief valve 3 16 is installed on pressure relief pipe 3 14, and the other end of pressure relief pipe 3 16 is connected to gas storage tank 17, and pressure sensor 3 18 is installed in gas storage tank 17; pressure relief valve 4 19 is installed on pressure relief pipe 4 15, and the other end of pressure relief pipe 4 15 is connected to recovery air bag 20, and pressure sensor 4 21 is installed in recovery air bag 20.

[0023] like Figure 2 As shown, it also includes a control unit. Pressure sensor 1 3, pressure sensor 2 8, pressure sensor 3 18 and pressure sensor 4 21 send signals to the control unit. The control unit compares and analyzes the detected pressure values ​​according to preset conditions and generates control signals, which are then sent to pressure relief valve 1 7, pressure relief valve 2 12, pressure relief valve 3 16 and pressure relief valve 4 19 to precisely control the opening and closing status of each valve.

[0024] In the above solution, this utility model innovatively adds a gas storage tank 17 on the basis of the original single recovery airbag 20, forming a hierarchical storage architecture of "buffer storage tank + recovery airbag". This structure solves the problem of insufficient storage capacity of traditional systems by expanding physical space. At the same time, by utilizing the different pressure characteristics of the gas storage tank 17 and the recovery airbag 20, it realizes the classified storage of gases of different pressure levels, thereby improving the overall recovery efficiency and resource utilization rate.

[0025] On the other hand, valves are scientifically configured on the depressurization pipelines leading to the recovery air bladder 20 and the gas storage tank 17. At the same time, pressure sensors are installed at each adsorber, recovery air bladder 20 and gas storage tank 17 to monitor pressure data in real time. The control unit compares and analyzes the detected pressure values ​​according to preset conditions, and precisely controls the opening and closing status of each valve accordingly. This design not only realizes the fully automatic recovery of depressurized residual gas, effectively reducing the workload of operators and significantly reducing the risk of misoperation, but also significantly improves the recovery and utilization rate of residual gas in the adsorber and gas generated in the regeneration process. While reducing production costs, it ensures the continuous stability of adsorber regeneration effect and adsorbent performance.

[0026] Both pressure relief valve 7 and pressure relief valve 12 are pneumatic control valves.

[0027] Both pressure relief valve 316 and pressure relief valve 419 are pneumatic solenoid valves.

[0028] An inlet valve 22 is provided on inlet pipe 4, and a pressure relief pipe 6 is located between inlet valve 22 and adsorber 1; an inlet valve 23 is provided on inlet pipe 9, and a pressure relief pipe 11 is located between inlet valve 23 and adsorber 2.

[0029] Outlet valve 24 is installed on outlet pipe 15, and outlet valve 25 is installed on outlet pipe 210.

[0030] The control unit is a DCS controller, which compares and analyzes the detected pressure values ​​according to preset conditions, and then precisely controls the opening and closing status of each valve.

[0031] The following is a specific example of using this invention to depressurize and recover residual gas from a neon-helium refining adsorber (wherein, the residual gas, whether it is the pure neon-helium mixture or ultrapure helium gas remaining in adsorber 1 / adsorber 2, or the gas containing incompletely separated neon, helium, and other impurities generated during the regeneration process, is recovered using the same process): ①When the adsorption stage detects that the usage time of Adsorber 1 / Adsorber 2 has reached the usage cycle, the program enters the depressurization stage; ② The gradually opening pressure relief valve 17 / pressure relief valve 212 (pneumatic regulating valve) depressurizes the gas in adsorber 11 / adsorber 22. When the pressure displayed by pressure sensor 3 in adsorber 1 / pressure sensor 8 in adsorber 22 is higher than the set pressure, the pressure relief valve 419 (pneumatic solenoid valve) to the recovery air bag 20 closes and the pressure relief valve 316 (pneumatic solenoid valve) to the gas storage tank 17 opens; the pressure relief valve 17 / pressure relief valve 212 (pneumatic regulating valve) opens, gradually depressurizing to the gas storage tank 17, maximizing gas recovery; ③ When the pressure displayed by pressure sensor 3 inside adsorber 1 / pressure sensor 8 inside adsorber 2 is lower than the set pressure, the pressure relief valve 16 (pneumatic solenoid valve) of gas storage tank 17 is closed. The pressure displayed by pressure sensor 21 inside recovery air bag 20 is used to determine whether the pressure of recovery air bag 20 is lower than the set pressure. If it is lower than the set pressure, the pressure relief valve 19 (pneumatic solenoid valve) of recovery air bag 20 is opened to relieve the residual pressure of adsorber 1 / adsorber 2 to recovery air bag 20. ④ Set corresponding interlocks: During the depressurization stage, when the pressure displayed by pressure sensor 318 in gas storage tank 17 is higher than the pressure displayed by pressure sensor 3 in adsorber 1 / pressure sensor 28 in adsorber 2, depressurization valve 7 / depressurization valve 12 (pneumatic regulating valve) will be fully closed to prevent gas in gas storage tank 17 from backflowing into adsorber 1 / adsorber 2. When the pressure displayed by pressure sensor 318 in gas storage tank 17 is lower than the pressure displayed by pressure sensor 3 in adsorber 1 / pressure sensor 28 in adsorber 2, the gas storage... The pressure relief valve 3 18 (pneumatic solenoid valve) of tank 17 opens to continue depressurizing. After reaching the set pressure, the pressure relief valve 3 18 (pneumatic solenoid valve) of gas storage tank 17 closes, and the pressure relief valve 4 21 (pneumatic solenoid valve) of recovery air bag 20 opens, allowing residual gas to enter recovery air bag 20. When the pressure displayed by pressure sensor 4 21 inside recovery air bag 20 is higher than the set pressure, the pressure relief valve 4 21 (pneumatic solenoid valve) of recovery air bag 20 closes to protect the safety of recovery air bag 20. When the pressure of recovery air bag 20 is lower than the set value, the pressure relief valve 4 21 opens to continue depressurizing.

[0032] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and not to limit it; although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. A residual gas recovery device for a neon-helium refining adsorber, characterized in that: The neon-helium refining adsorber includes at least two adsorbers connected in parallel: an adsorber 1 and an adsorber 2. The adsorber 1 contains a pressure sensor 1 and is connected to an inlet pipe 1 and an outlet pipe 1. The inlet pipe 1 has a pressure relief pipe 1 and a pressure relief valve 1. The adsorber 2 contains a pressure sensor 2 and is connected to an inlet pipe 2 and an outlet pipe 2. The inlet pipe 2 has a pressure relief pipe 2 and a pressure relief valve 2. The pressure relief pipes 1 and 2 are connected to a main pressure relief pipe. The other end of the main pressure relief pipe is connected to two pressure relief pipes: a third and a fourth. The third pressure relief pipe has a pressure relief valve 3 and a gas storage tank. The gas storage tank contains a pressure sensor 3. The fourth pressure relief pipe has a pressure relief valve 4 and a recovery gas bag. The recovery gas bag contains a pressure sensor 4. It also includes a control unit, to which pressure sensor one, pressure sensor two, pressure sensor three and pressure sensor four send signals to the control unit, which generates control signals and sends them to pressure relief valve one, pressure relief valve two, pressure relief valve three and pressure relief valve four for corresponding control.

2. The residual gas recovery device for the neon-helium refining adsorber according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the pressure relief valve one and the pressure relief valve two are pneumatic regulating valves.

3. The residual gas recovery device for the neon-helium refining adsorber according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Both pressure relief valve three and pressure relief valve four are pneumatic solenoid valves.

4. The residual gas recovery device for the neon-helium refining adsorber according to claim 3, characterized in that: An inlet valve is provided on the first inlet pipe, and the first pressure relief pipe is located between the first inlet valve and the first adsorber; an inlet valve is provided on the second inlet pipe, and the second pressure relief pipe is located between the second inlet valve and the second adsorber.

5. The residual gas recovery device for the neon-helium refining adsorber according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first outlet pipe is equipped with an outlet valve, and the second outlet pipe is equipped with an outlet valve.

6. The residual gas recovery device for the neon-helium refining adsorber according to claim 5, characterized in that: The control unit is a DCS controller.

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