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Abstract

The disclosed pressure swing adsorption processes can recover helium from source streams of less than about 10 percent by volume helium and concentrate the helium to a concentration of greater than about 98 percent by volume. Two stages of pressure swing adsorption are used in series. The source of the helium gas will be natural gas wells. The source gas will contain hydrocarbons but in most instances the primary gas other than helium will be nitrogen. Each stage of pressure swing adsorption will contain a plurality of adsorbent beds, and preferably about four. In each stage the adsorbent beds will be cycled through multiple phases. In the first stage the adsorbent beds will sequentially undergo the phases of adsorption, recycle, depressurization, evacuation, helium pressurization and recycle feed pressurization. The product gas from the first stage is flowed to the second stage and in the second stage sequentially will undergo the phases of adsorption, depressurization, evacuation, purge, and helium pressurization. The offgas from evacuation and purge in the second stage is flowed to input to the first stage. The processes using an adsorbent that adsorbs the gases other than helium produces a product stream in a high volume with a helium content of more than 98 percent by volume.

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First Claim