天然气工业2025，Vol.45Issue(4)：155-169,15.DOI:10.3787/j.issn.1000-0976.2025.04.013
天然气提氦工艺关键技术研究进展
Research progress on key technologies of helium extraction from natural gas
摘要
Abstract
China is a helium-poor country,and the efficient and low-cost helium extraction from natural gas is one of the main ways to alleviate the shortage of helium resources.In this paper,three most commonly used technologies of helium extraction from natural gas,i.e.,cryogenic method,pressure swing adsorption method,and membrane separation method,are reviewed systematically,and their characteristics are presented.There are many ways to extract helium from natural gas,and process design requires screening,integration and demonstration of different helium extraction technologies for different feed gas compositions and parameters.It is in urgent need to form the process with the lowest helium extraction cost while ensuring helium recovery efficiency and purity.The following results are obtained.First,the cryogenic method separates helium from other gases based on the differences in boiling points.In view of the natural gas components and economy,the cryogenic method is usually applied in preliminary purification and natural gas liquefaction.Second,the pressure swing adsorption method takes advantage of the selective adsorption of gases by adsorbents for separation,and it is usually used for final purification.Third,the membrane separation method makes use of the membrane for separation based on the differences in the size of gas molecules.Due to its low energy consumption and relatively low purity,it is usually coupled with other technologies,and the selection of specific technology is based on the actual conditions.In conclusion,a new active+passive helium extraction technology proposed on the basis of natural gas liquefaction and co-production not only adopts the BOG helium extraction(i.e.passive helium extraction)technology,but also avoids the discontinuous helium extraction caused by environmental impacts.The crude helium recovery rate can reach up to 99%or more,with subsequent integration of other helium purification technologies to obtain high purity helium with a purity of 99.99%or more.Moreover,by summarizing the application scope and stages of the three helium extraction processes,and by proposing a new active-positive helium extraction coupled with natural gas liquefaction technology,new ideas can be provided for the high-quality development of helium extraction industry in China.关键词
天然气提氦/低温法/变压吸附法/膜分离法/BOG/主动式+被动式Key words
Helium extraction from natural gas/Cryogenic method/Pressure swing adsorption method/Membrane separation method/BOG/Active+passive分类
能源科技引用本文复制引用
谢福寿,杨迪,陈兵,韩泽..天然气提氦工艺关键技术研究进展[J].天然气工业,2025,45(4):155-169,15.基金项目
宁夏回族自治区重点研发计划项目"单列大型天然气液化及高纯氦提取一体化关键技术的研发与应用研究"(编号:2023BDE02016). （编号:2023BDE02016）
