The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 30, 1991
Filed:
Jan. 25, 1990
Gerry N Gottier, Emmaus, PA (US);
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a process for prefractionating a pressurized, helium-containing feed gas mixture (typically containing helium, natural gas and nitrogen) to produce a helium-enriched stream which comprises the following steps: (a) the pressurized, helium-containing feed gas mixture is liquefied and subcooled by indirect heat exchange; (b) the liquefied, subcooled, pressurized, helium-containing feed gas mixture is expanded whereby it is partially vaporized, thus producing a partially vaporized frationation feed stream; (c) the partially vaporized frationation feed stream is stripped in a cryogenic distillation column thereby producing as an overhead, the helium-enriched stream, and a bottoms liquid, the helium-lean stream; and (d) the cryogenic distillation column is reboiled by vaporizing at least a portion of the helium-lean stream. The present invention is also applicable as an improvement to a process for the production of a crude helium product (i.e.,>30 vol % helium).