A Review of Conventional and Emerging Process Technologies for the Recovery of Helium from Natural Gas

Rufford, Thomas E.; Chan, Kit Yan; Huang, Shitian; May, Eric F.

doi:10.1260/0263-6174.32.1.49

Cited by 114 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no large scale membrane plant currently exists that separates and purifies helium from natural gas. In part this is because pressure swing adsorption (PSA) dominates the industry [6]. Similarly, the recycling and purification of helium from industrial processes, such as coolant leakage and waste gas from pressure vessels is technically possible through membrane separation.…”

Section: Helium Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The global usage of helium has grown by 990 million cubic feet from 2000 to 2015, and as such the helium price has risen from US$50 to US$104 per thousand cubic feet in that time [4,5]. To meet this demand new helium production facilities have recently been commissioned in Qatar and Australia [6]. However, global production is anticipated to fall short of global demand over the coming decades [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review of Membranes for Helium Separation and Purification

Scholes

Ghosh

2017

Membranes

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Membrane gas separation has potential for the recovery and purification of helium, because the majority of membranes have selectivity for helium. This review reports on the current state of the research and patent literature for membranes undertaking helium separation. This includes direct recovery from natural gas, as an ancillary stage in natural gas processing, as well as niche applications where helium recycling has potential. A review of the available polymeric and inorganic membranes for helium separation is provided. Commercial gas separation membranes in comparable gas industries are discussed in terms of their potential in helium separation. Also presented are the various membrane process designs patented for the recovery and purification of helium from various sources, as these demonstrate that it is viable to separate helium through currently available polymeric membranes. This review places a particular focus on those processes where membranes are combined in series with another separation technology, commonly pressure swing adsorption. These combined processes have the most potential for membranes to produce a high purity helium product. The review demonstrates that membrane gas separation is technically feasible for helium recovery and purification, though membranes are currently only applied in niche applications focused on reusing helium rather than separation from natural sources.

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Section: Helium Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of Membranes for Helium Separation and Purification

Scholes

Ghosh

2017

Membranes

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“…Concentration of outlet helium from this process is about 50% mole and the rest is nitrogen. Three conventional methods have been proposed for cryogenic extraction of helium from the natural gas, they are flash, distillation, and hybrid method 20 . A new integrated helium recovery process is studied by exergeconomic and exergienvironmental analysis methods 21 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel integrated helium extraction and natural gas liquefaction process configurations using absorption refrigeration and waste heat

et al. 2020

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Summary Conceptual design and modeling of novel‐integrated process configurations for helium extraction and natural gas liquefaction is investigated. Mixed fluid cascade (MFC) refrigeration system is considered for providing the needed refrigeration in the natural liquefaction section. Using an absorption refrigeration system as the precooling cycle is investigated in one of the introduced processes. Integrated flash and distillation method is used for helium extraction. Purity of the extracted crude helium is 50% (mole). Process streams operational condition and specifications of the devices are presented and explained. Composite curves of the heat exchangers demonstrate that thermal design has been done properly. Ratio of the power consumption to the produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) of the MFC process is 0.265 kWh per kg LNG and applying absorption refrigeration system instead of the pre‐cooling cycle decreases it to 0.1849 kWh per kg LNG. For the modified process with absorption refrigeration system helium extraction rate and power consumption ratio are 0.951 and 132.9 (kWh/[kgmole Helium]) respectively. Exergy method is applied on the under consideration processes. The results show that the compressors have the highest rate of exergy destruction among the other process equipment. An extensive economic analysis is done on the proposed processes. The results show that prime cost of the product (US$/kg LNG) for MFC and modified MFC processes are 0.1939 and 0.2069, respectively. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is done based on the economic factors such as electrical energy price and prime cost of the product.

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“…Despite the variety of commercial companies which produce MEs for helium extraction from natural gas, data on polymer chemical structures being used, and membrane separation performance are scarcely presented in the literature [7,8]. Vigorous work was conducted in the field of synthesis of new polymer materials with promising helium separation characteristics [9,10], although few of them are known to be processed into asymmetric hollow fibers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Pressure Aging of Asymmetric Torlon® Hollow Fibers for Helium Separation from Natural Gas

Dibrov

Ivanov

Semyashkin

et al. 2018

Fibers

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Membrane separation for helium extraction from natural gas gained increased interest recently. Several vendors offer membrane elements for helium extraction, although data on their performance and operating experience are unpublished. The aim of this work was to obtain and study the separation performance of asymmetric hollow-fiber membrane element from commercial polyamide-imide Torlon®, in conditions close to the industrial process of helium extraction from natural gas. A membrane element with an active area of 0.177 m2, a helium permeance of 100 l(STP)/(m2·h·bar), and a selectivity α(He/CH4) = 340 was produced. This corresponds to a selective layer thickness of 82.3 nm, which was confirmed by SEM and resistance model calculations. The obtained membrane element was employed to decrease the concentration of helium in its binary mixture with methane from 0.4% to 0.05%. A relationship of separation characteristics from transmembrane pressure is also presented. At 70 bar and a stage cut of 2.7%, the feed flow rate was 0.16 m3(STP)/h, which yielded a helium permeate concentration of 14.7%. At 80 bar, a decrease in permeance to 60 l(STP)/(m2·h·bar) and in selectivity to 240 was observed. It was shown that the main reason for aging was the increased support resistance, due to a partial compaction of pores with a radius of less than 15 nm.

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A Review of Conventional and Emerging Process Technologies for the Recovery of Helium from Natural Gas

Cited by 114 publications

References 28 publications

Review of Membranes for Helium Separation and Purification

Review of Membranes for Helium Separation and Purification

Novel integrated helium extraction and natural gas liquefaction process configurations using absorption refrigeration and waste heat

High-Pressure Aging of Asymmetric Torlon® Hollow Fibers for Helium Separation from Natural Gas

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