EXTRACTION OF HELIUM FROM NATURAL GAS Russian patent published in 2021 - IPC F25J3/02 

FIELD: gas industry.

SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to a method of extracting helium from raw natural gas containing methane, nitrogen and helium. Method includes cooling natural gas to obtain partially condensed cooled natural gas, separation of cooled natural gas in the system of the distillation column to obtain helium-enriched steam removed from the top of the column, and helium-depleted still liquor, cooling of the helium-rich vapor, by indirect heat exchange to obtain partially condensed head stream, Separation of partially condensed overhead stream in separator of overhead for production of crude helium vapor and recycled liquid and expanding the portion of the helium-depleted still residue to obtain a first fraction of the helium-depleted still residue. At that, cooling load for helium-enriched steam is partially provided due to indirect heat exchange with first fraction of helium depleted still residue.

EFFECT: invention provides maximum total output of helium using an energy-saving method.

13 cl, 2 dwg, 2 tbl, 2 ex