Helium purification for helium extraction
Helium – many people initially think of balloons or the voice of a cartoon character when they hear the word. In fact, it is an important cooling gas for magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) or for research, and in addition to its use in space travel, it is indispensable in semiconductor production and much more.
Unlike other rare noble gases, helium cannot be extracted from the air. It comes from the earth’s interior and is usually extracted as a component of natural gas. And demand is increasing.
This is no easy task, as helium is one of those limited resources for which chemical production is not possible. In 2021, the majority of helium production, around 71 million m³, was in the USA, around 51 million m³ was produced in Qatar, and other production sites are located in Algeria, Russia, Australia and elsewhere (source: Statista).
A ReiCat methane purification plant for helium production with a volume of up to 9000 Nm³/h is currently being manufacutred. Hydrogen, moisture and oxygen are removed in accordance with specifications. The special ReiCat system design prevents the loss of helium during the purification process or as an emission. The system is also characterized by long running times as there are no rotating parts. Our CH4 purification system for use in the USA is designed for outdoor installation (-10 – +40°C) in accordance with the ASME standard and measures approx. 11 x 2.5 m with a height of around 5 m.
