Residual Gas Recovery Path in PSA Helium Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas purification devices using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) require complex control systems to maintain purity, leading to increased costs and complications, and result in helium loss during the regenerating step.
Innovation Solution
A gas purification device with a compressor, adsorption towers filled with adsorbents, and a residual gas recovery path that includes a pressure regulator and a mass flow controller, allowing for automatic adjustment of flow rates and pressure equalization to minimize helium loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the number of adsorption towers is increased to three or more to reduce helium loss during regenerating step, then helium recovery is improved, but device price and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple adsorption towers by implementing a residual gas recovery path that connects the outlet side of the adsorption tower to the suction side of the compressor. This allows residual gas to be recovered and reused, achieving the helium loss reduction benefit of multiple towers without actually adding more tower units, thus avoiding the associated increase in device size and complexity
2Loss of substance
If exhaust gas is mixed with raw material gas to recover noble gas, then helium recovery is improved, but control system complexity increases due to need for concentration measurement and adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves automatic self-regulation through the residual gas recovery path configuration. The mass flow controller automatically adjusts the flow rate of residual gas mixed with raw material gas based on system conditions, eliminating the need for manual concentration measurement and control parameter adjustment. The system serves itself by utilizing the pressure differential and flow characteristics to maintain optimal operation without complex external control
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
The device effectively recovers residual gases, reduces helium loss, and maintains product gas purity without the need for complex control systems, thereby enhancing recovery benefits while keeping costs and device size in check.
Implementation Method 1
an adsorption tower filled with an adsorbent into which the compressed raw material gas is introduced, the adsorption tower being configured to purify the raw material gas by a pressure swing adsorption method including sequentially performing an adsorbing step and a regenerating step to conduct gas separation
Implementation Method 2
a pressure swing adsorption method including sequentially performing an adsorbing step and a regenerating step
Implementation Method 3
a compressor configured to compress a raw material gas
Implementation Method 4
a residual gas recovery path connecting an outlet side of the adsorption tower and a suction side of the compressor is provided, the residual gas recovery path includes a pressure regulator
Data Source
AI summary
A gas purification device capable of maximizing recovery benefits by reducing an amount of loss of a purified gas while suppressing an increase in price of the device and an increase in size of the device, the gas purification device comprising: a compressor configured to compress a raw material gas; and an adsorption tower filled with an adsorbent into which the compressed raw material gas is introduced, the adsorption tower being configured to purify the raw material gas by a pressure swing adsorption method including sequentially performing an adsorbing step and a regenerating step to conduct gas separation, wherein a residual gas recovery path connecting an outlet side of the adsorption tower and a suction side of the compressor is provided, and the residual gas recovery path includes a pressure regulator such as a pressure reducing valve. A mass flow controller is provided on a raw material supply path.