Installation for the production of pure hydrogen from a gas containing helium
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorFrançois Fuentes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The feed gas contains essentially hydrocarbons, particularly methane, and impurities including helium. The process includes the conversion of the hydrocarbons into hydrogen and CO2, and the purification by adsorption of the hydrogen contained in the resulting gaseous mixture. Prior to the conversion of the hydrocarbons, the feed gas is processed in a unit for separation by permeation producing a retentate gas impoverished in helium, containing essentially hydrocarbons, and a permeate gas enriched in helium, the retentate gas being then treated by the conversion of the hydrocarbons, particularly of the methane.
Claims20
A process for the production of hydrogen of high-purity, substantially free from helium, from a feed gas containing essentially hydrocarbons and impurities including helium, comprising the following steps:
- supplying said feed gas to a permeation unit so as to obtain a permeate gas rich in helium and a retentate gas impoverished in helium and enriched in hydrocarbons;
- supplying said retentate gas to a conversion unit to convert the hydrocarbons into a converted gas containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide;
- and
- supplying said converted gas to an adsorption unit to produce pure hydrogen substantially free from helium as product gas.
An installation for the production of high-purity hydrogen substantially free from helium from a feed gas containing essentially hydrocarbons and at least 100 ppm of helium, comprising:
- a permeation unit having an inlet connectable to a source of said feed gas, a retentate outlet for discharging a helium-impoverished and hydrocarbon-enriched retentate gas and a permeate outlet for discharging a helium rich permeate gas;
- a conversion unit having a supply inlet connected to said retentate outlet of said permeation unit, a converted gas outlet, and at least one fuel inlet;
- and
- an adsorption unit having a supply inlet, a residual gas outlet and a product gas outlet for supplying said high-purity hydrogen.
A pure hydrogen gas production installation, comprising:
- a gas feed providing feed gas with a helium content;
- a permeation unit having an inlet connected to the gas feed gas, a retentate outlet for discharging a helium-impoverished and hydrocarbon-enriched retentate gas and a permeate outlet for discharging a helium rich permeate gas;
- a conversion unit, for converting hydrocarbons to hydrogen and carbon dioxide, having a supply inlet connected to the retentate outlet,
- the conversion unit comprising a steam reformer reactor, the steam reformer reactor discharging into a catalytic conversion reactor with a converted gas outlet for discharging an impure hydrogen gaseous mixture consisting essentially of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, residual carbon monoxide, and residual impurities of the feed gas, the gaseous mixture being essentially free from helium;
- and
- an adsorption unit having a supply inlet connected to the converted gas outlet of the catalytic conversion reactor, a residual gas outlet and a product gas outlet for supplying high-purity hydrogen of about 99.99% pure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.