Neon production method and neon production apparatus
The use of low-temperature hydrogen for neon production through heat exchange addresses the high power and equipment load issues of conventional methods, achieving efficient and cost-effective neon liquefaction and purification with industrial applications.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024113763
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-29
AI Technical Summary
Conventional neon production methods require high power consumption and significant equipment installation load due to the use of helium as a refrigerant, leading to high manufacturing costs.
A method and apparatus that liquefies or purifies neon using low-temperature hydrogen for cooling and heat exchange, eliminating the need for helium compression and reducing power consumption, while effectively utilizing the cold energy of hydrogen.
Achieves lower production costs and reduced equipment load by efficiently liquefying or purifying neon with less power, allowing for the effective utilization of hydrogen's cold energy and enabling industrial applications.
Smart Images
Figure 2026013451000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The technology disclosed herein relates to a neon production method and apparatus. [Background technology]
[0002] Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a neon production method in which neon is liquefied or purified from a crude gas by cooling the crude gas containing neon using a heat cycle refrigerator that uses helium as a refrigerant. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]
[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Toshio Watanabe, "About Neon", Cryogenics and Superconductivity Society of Japan, 1976, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 40-41 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] The technology in Non-Patent Document 1 requires a huge amount of power to compress the helium used as a refrigerant. The equipment installation load and manufacturing costs for liquefying or refining neon are also high.
[0005] This specification discloses a technology that can produce high-purity neon or liquefied neon at lower cost than conventional methods, with less power consumption and less equipment installation load. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] The neon production method disclosed in this specification liquefies or purifies neon from a neon-containing gas by heat exchange between the neon-containing gas and low-temperature hydrogen, the temperature of which is lower than that of the neon-containing gas.
[0007] According to the above-described method, neon-containing gas can be cooled by heat exchange between the neon-containing gas and low-temperature hydrogen, which is at a lower temperature than the neon-containing gas. If the neon-containing gas can be cooled to a temperature below the boiling point of neon (27 K), neon can be liquefied from the neon-containing gas. Even if the neon-containing gas is only cooled to a temperature higher than the boiling point of neon, impurities other than neon contained in the neon-containing gas are removed during the cooling process, thereby increasing the purity of the neon (i.e., neon can be purified). Therefore, the above-described method can liquefy or purify neon from the neon-containing gas. Compared to conventional methods that use a cooling device that uses helium as a refrigerant to cool neon-containing gas, this method consumes less power because it does not require the enormous amount of electricity required to compress helium. As a result, the equipment installation load is smaller than conventional methods. The production cost of high-purity neon or liquid neon is also reduced. At the same time, the low-temperature hydrogen can be heated to a temperature suitable for industrial use (e.g., use at hydrogen stations, etc.). This can prevent the cold energy of the low-temperature hydrogen from being wasted and released into the atmosphere, and the cold energy of the low-temperature hydrogen can be effectively utilized.
[0008] In the above-described manufacturing method, the temperature of the low-temperature hydrogen may be 27K or lower.
[0009] This method allows neon-containing gas to be cooled with low-temperature hydrogen at a temperature below the boiling point of neon (27 K). Neon can be liquefied or purified from the neon-containing gas. It is also possible to heat low-temperature hydrogen at a temperature below 27 K to a temperature suitable for industrial use. The cold energy of low-temperature hydrogen can be utilized more effectively.
[0010] In the above-described production method, the low-temperature hydrogen may be liquid hydrogen.
[0011] The temperature of liquid hydrogen is below 22 K, the boiling point of hydrogen. Therefore, this method allows the neon-containing gas to be cooled sufficiently (i.e., cooled to below 27 K, the boiling point of neon). This allows neon to be liquefied or purified more efficiently. Furthermore, heat exchange with the neon-containing gas allows the liquid hydrogen to be vaporized sufficiently. This allows the cold energy of the liquid hydrogen to be used more effectively.
[0012] The neon production apparatus disclosed in this specification comprises a first flow path through which a neon-containing gas containing neon flows, a second flow path through which low-temperature hydrogen at a temperature lower than that of the neon-containing gas flows, a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the neon-containing gas flowing through the first flow path and the low-temperature hydrogen flowing through the second flow path, a third flow path through which the neon-containing gas cooled by heat exchange with the low-temperature hydrogen, liquefied neon, or purified neon flows, and a fourth flow path through which heated hydrogen obtained by heating the low-temperature hydrogen by heat exchange with the neon-containing gas flows.
[0013] According to the above configuration, the neon-containing gas is cooled by heat exchange between the neon-containing gas and low-temperature hydrogen, which is at a lower temperature than the neon-containing gas. If the neon-containing gas can be cooled to below the boiling point of neon (27 K), neon can be liquefied from the neon-containing gas. Even if the neon-containing gas is only cooled to a temperature higher than the boiling point of neon, impurities other than neon contained in the neon-containing gas are removed during the cooling process, thereby increasing the purity of the neon (i.e., neon can be purified). Therefore, according to the above configuration, neon can be liquefied or purified from the neon-containing gas. Compared to conventional production equipment using helium as a refrigerant, this system consumes less power because it does not require a large amount of electricity to compress helium. As a result, the equipment installation load is smaller than conventional systems. The production cost of high-purity neon or liquid neon is also reduced. Furthermore, low-temperature hydrogen can be sufficiently vaporized by heat exchange with the neon-containing gas. The vaporized hydrogen can be used industrially (e.g., at hydrogen stations). This can prevent the cold energy of the low-temperature hydrogen from being wasted and released into the atmosphere, and the cold energy of the low-temperature hydrogen can be effectively utilized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0014] [Figure 1] 1 shows an outline of a neon manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] (Example) A neon production apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1. The neon production apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus for liquefying or purifying neon from a neon-containing gas, which is a gas containing neon. The neon production apparatus 2 has a first flow path 11, a second flow path 22, a heat exchanger 30, a third flow path 13, and a fourth flow path 24.
[0016] The first flow path 11 is a flow path through which the neon-containing gas flows. Here, "neon-containing gas" includes any gas containing neon. The temperature of the neon-containing gas is higher than the boiling point of neon (27 K). In this embodiment, the neon-containing gas is the gas remaining after nitrogen, oxygen, and argon have been removed from air (sometimes referred to as "crude gas"). This crude gas is the gas remaining after industrially purifying air into nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, and is characterized by its relatively easy procurement. This crude gas contains, for example, approximately 45% neon, approximately 15% helium, approximately 1-3% hydrogen, and approximately 22% nitrogen. However, this crude gas composition is merely an example. As long as the crude gas contains neon, the crude gas may actually have a different composition. In another example, the neon-containing gas may be air.
[0017] The second flow path 22 is a flow path through which hydrogen at a lower temperature than the neon-containing gas flows. Hydrogen at a lower temperature than the neon-containing gas may be referred to as "low-temperature hydrogen" hereinafter. In this embodiment, the low-temperature hydrogen is liquid hydrogen. The temperature of liquid hydrogen is below 22 K, which is the boiling point of hydrogen, and is lower than the boiling point of neon (27 K). In another example, the hydrogen (low-temperature hydrogen) flowing through the second flow path 22 may be gas.
[0018] Heat exchanger 30 is a device that exchanges heat between the neon-containing gas flowing through first flow path 11 and the low-temperature hydrogen flowing through second flow path 22. The neon-containing gas flowing through first flow path 11 is cooled by heat exchange with the low-temperature hydrogen. In this embodiment, the low-temperature hydrogen is liquid hydrogen, so the neon-containing gas is cooled to below 27 K, the boiling point of neon. As a result, neon can be liquefied from the neon-containing gas. Liquid neon is obtained. In other words, high-purity neon is obtained. Meanwhile, the hydrogen flowing through second flow path 22 is heated by heat exchange with the neon-containing gas. In this embodiment, it is liquid hydrogen. After heating, the liquid hydrogen rises in temperature, and when it exceeds its boiling point, it is vaporized.
[0019] The third flow path 13 is a flow path through which neon liquefied or purified in the heat exchanger 30 flows. The obtained neon can be used industrially (for example, as an inert gas or a refrigerant for high-temperature superconducting devices). The third flow path 13 may also be used for neon-containing gas cooled by heat exchange with low-temperature hydrogen.
[0020] The fourth flow path 14 is a flow path through which hydrogen flows after being heated by the heat exchanger 30. The vaporized hydrogen can be used industrially (for example, at hydrogen stations). If the hydrogen is not sufficiently heated by the heat exchanger 30, further heat exchange may be performed between the hydrogen flowing through the fourth flow path 14 and the surrounding air to further heat the hydrogen and promote its vaporization.
[0021] Next, a method for producing high-purity neon (liquid neon) using the neon production apparatus 2 of this embodiment will be described. First, neon-containing gas (crude gas) is supplied to the first flow path 11, and low-temperature hydrogen (liquid hydrogen) is supplied to the second flow path 12. Both the neon-containing gas flowing through the first flow path 11 and the low-temperature hydrogen flowing through the second flow path 12 are supplied to the heat exchanger 30. In the heat exchanger 30, the neon-containing gas and the low-temperature hydrogen are heat-exchanged. The neon-containing gas is cooled by heat exchange with the low-temperature hydrogen. Specifically, the neon-containing gas is cooled to below 27 K, the boiling point of neon. The neon-containing gas is liquefied or purified. Liquid neon is obtained. Liquid neon is separated from the neon-containing gas, resulting in high-purity neon. Meanwhile, the low-temperature hydrogen is heated by heat exchange with the neon-containing gas. By heating, the low-temperature hydrogen (liquid hydrogen) is heated or vaporized. Heated or vaporized hydrogen is obtained.
[0022] The neon production apparatus 2 and neon production method using the neon production apparatus 2 of this embodiment have been described above. According to the neon production apparatus 2 and production method of this embodiment, neon can be liquefied or purified from neon-containing gas by cooling the neon-containing gas with low-temperature hydrogen. Compared to conventional production apparatuses and methods that use helium to cool neon-containing gas, this eliminates the need for a huge amount of power for helium compression, resulting in less power consumption. As a result, the equipment installation load is smaller than conventional methods. The production cost of high-purity neon or liquid neon is also low. The resulting neon can be used industrially (e.g., as an inert gas or a refrigerant for high-temperature superconducting equipment). Furthermore, low-temperature hydrogen can be sufficiently vaporized by heat exchange with the neon-containing gas and further heated to a temperature suitable for industrial use. The heated hydrogen can be used industrially (e.g., at hydrogen stations, etc.). The cold energy of the low-temperature hydrogen is prevented from being wasted in the atmosphere. The cold energy of the low-temperature hydrogen can be effectively utilized.
[0023] As described above, the cryogenic hydrogen in this embodiment is liquid hydrogen. The temperature of liquid hydrogen is below 22 K, which is the boiling point of hydrogen. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the neon-containing gas can be sufficiently cooled (i.e., cooled to below 27 K, which is the boiling point of neon). Neon can be more efficiently liquefied or refined. Furthermore, by heat exchange with the neon-containing gas, the liquid hydrogen can be sufficiently vaporized and heated to a temperature suitable for industrial use. The cold energy of the liquid hydrogen can be more effectively utilized.
[0024] The liquid neon obtained by the technology of this embodiment can be used industrially. For example, liquid neon can be used as a refrigerant for high-temperature superconducting equipment. Neon is not explosive and does not embrittle structural materials, so it has advantages over hydrogen in industrial use, such as the elimination of the need for explosion-proof equipment or embrittlement prevention measures. The technology of this embodiment may enable the mass production of liquid neon (high-purity neon) at low cost. This will enable a wide range of industrial uses for neon.
[0025] Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and alterations of the specific examples exemplified above. For example, the following modifications may be adopted.
[0026] (Variation 1) In a variation, a bypass passage 15 may be provided to return a portion of the fluid flowing through third flow passage 13 to first flow passage 11 (see the dashed line in FIG. 1). If the neon-containing gas is not sufficiently cooled in heat exchanger 30, a mixture of liquid neon and neon-containing gas may flow through third flow passage 13. In this case, the neon-containing gas flowing through third flow passage 13 may be returned to first flow passage 11 via bypass passage 15 and cooled again in heat exchanger 30. In this case, neon can be sufficiently liquefied or purified.
[0027] (Variation 2) In the example of FIG. 1, the neon production apparatus 2 includes only one heat exchanger 30. However, this is not limited to this, and the neon production apparatus may include multiple heat exchangers for exchanging heat between the neon-containing gas and the low-temperature hydrogen. The multiple heat exchangers may be connected in series. In this case, heat exchange can be performed in multiple stages using the multiple heat exchangers. As a result, the neon-containing gas can be sufficiently cooled. Neon can be more efficiently liquefied or purified. In addition, the low-temperature hydrogen can be sufficiently heated to a temperature suitable for vaporization and industrial use. The cold energy of the low-temperature hydrogen can be effectively utilized.
[0028] (Variation 3) Instead of liquid hydrogen, gaseous hydrogen at 27 K or below may be used as the low-temperature hydrogen. In this case, the neon-containing gas can also be sufficiently cooled (i.e., cooled to 27 K or below, the boiling point of neon). When the low-temperature hydrogen is gaseous hydrogen at 27 K or below, it can be heated by the neon-containing gas in heat exchanger 30 to a temperature suitable for industrial use.
[0029] (Variation 4) Hydrogen at any temperature may be used as the low-temperature hydrogen, provided that it is lower in temperature than the neon-containing gas. That is, hydrogen at a temperature higher than 27 K may be used as the low-temperature hydrogen, provided that it is lower in temperature than the neon-containing gas. In this case, even if the neon-containing gas is cooled only to a temperature higher than the boiling point of neon, impurities other than neon contained in the neon-containing gas are removed during the cooling process, and the purity of the neon can be increased (i.e., the neon can be purified). Therefore, even in this case, neon can be liquefied or purified from the neon-containing gas.
[0030] (Variation 5) The neon-containing gas raw material may be air. In this case, the heat exchanger 30 may be configured to extract oxygen, nitrogen, argon, etc., which are separated as the air is cooled, separately from the neon. Using air as the neon-containing gas raw material makes it easier to procure the raw material. In addition to neon, gases in high demand, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, can also be produced.
[0031] (Variation 6) In addition to heat exchange with low-temperature hydrogen, conventional mechanical cooling methods (e.g., Gifford-McMahon cycle, pulse tube, Starlin cycle) may be partially introduced to cool the neon-containing gas to 77 K or below. For example, after cooling the neon-containing gas with low-temperature hydrogen to near the boiling point of neon, mechanical cooling may be used only in the liquefaction and purification process. This prevents the purity of the produced neon from decreasing due to hydrogen permeation or diffusion.
[0032] Furthermore, the technical elements described in this specification or drawings may exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technologies illustrated in this specification or drawings simultaneously achieve multiple objectives, and achieving one of those objectives alone has technical utility. [Explanation of symbols]
[0033] 2: Neon manufacturing equipment 11: First flow path 12: Second flow path 13: Third flow path 14: Fourth channel 15: Bypass road 22: Second flow path 24: Fourth channel 30: Heat exchanger
Claims
1. A method for producing neon, comprising the steps of: liquefying or purifying neon from a neon-containing gas by heat exchange between the neon-containing gas and low-temperature hydrogen having a lower temperature than the neon-containing gas;
2. 2. The neon production method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the cryogenic hydrogen is 27 K or less.
3. 3. The neon production method of claim 2, wherein the cryogenic hydrogen is liquid hydrogen.
4. a first flow path through which a neon-containing gas containing neon flows; a second flow path through which cryogenic hydrogen, the temperature of which is lower than that of the neon-containing gas, flows; a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the neon-containing gas flowing through the first flow path and the low-temperature hydrogen flowing through the second flow path; a third flow path through which the neon-containing gas, liquefied neon, or purified neon cooled by heat exchange with the cryogenic hydrogen flows; a fourth flow path through which heated hydrogen obtained by heating the low-temperature hydrogen through heat exchange with the neon-containing gas flows; Neon manufacturing equipment.