DEPHLEGMATOR PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF HELIUM

摘要

A crude helium product is produced from a natural gas stream containing helium by rectification of the feed gas in a dephlegmator heat exchanger. The process is fully auto-refrigerated, and is capable of achieving a helium recovery of 99% without the use of a recycle compressor or a heat pump compressor. A nitrogen product stream can be concurrently produced by addition of a second rectification circuit in the dephlegmator heat exchanger.