Helium Purification via PSA and Membrane Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods lack an efficient solution for purifying a stream with a high helium concentration and do not effectively optimize helium purification in the presence of a second stream with lower helium content.
Innovation Solution
The method involves combining a feed stream with a second stream, processing it through a Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) device, and then using membrane separation to produce a high-purity helium stream, with optional catalytic oxidation units to enhance the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional purification methods are used on high helium concentration streams, then purification is achieved, but the process is inefficient and cannot optimize purification when a second stream with lower helium content is present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate feed streams with different helium concentrations into a single combined feed stream that is processed together through the PSA unit, thereby optimizing the use of purification capacity and improving overall productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The PSA device is designed to handle multiple feed streams with varying helium concentrations simultaneously, making it a multi-functional unit that can optimize purification for both high-concentration and low-concentration streams in a single operation
2Manufacturing precision
If a single PSA unit processes mixed streams, then purification is achieved, but achieving very high purity (>99.99%) requires additional separation stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the purification process into two distinct PSA units with different functions: the first unit handles bulk purification and produces intermediate purity helium, while the second unit performs final polishing to achieve very high purity (>99.99%), with each unit optimized for its specific purification stage
Solution Approach 2:
The first PSA unit acts as an intermediary stage that pre-purifies the helium stream before it enters the second PSA unit, reducing the burden on the final purification stage and enabling high purity output without requiring a single overly complex unit
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively purifies helium to a high quality, even when starting with a stream of significant helium content, and can optimize the purification process in the presence of a second stream with lower helium content, achieving high-purity helium production.
Implementation Method 1
introducing the combined feed stream into a pressure swing adsorption device, thereby producing a high purity product gas stream
Implementation Method 2
introducing the off-gas stream into a membrane separation device, thereby producing a gas stream lean in product gas and a permeate stream
Data Source
AI summary
A method of purifying a gas composed of a product gas and one or more impurity gases including combining a feed stream with a second stream thereby forming a combined feed stream, introducing the combined feed stream into a pressure swing adsorption device, thereby producing a high purity product gas stream and an off-gas stream, and introducing the off-gas stream into a membrane separation device, thereby producing a gas stream lean in product gas and a permeate stream.