Optimization of helium/methane adsorption separation process based on Aspen Adsorption simulation

XIAO Yonghou; XIAO Hongyan; LI Benyuan; QIN Jianliang; QIU Shuang; HE Gaohong

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20181046

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Optimization of helium/methane adsorption separation process based on Aspen Adsorption simulation

Separation engineering | 更新时间：2026-07-24

- Optimization of helium/methane adsorption separation process based on Aspen Adsorption simulation
- CIESC Journal Vol. 70, Issue 7, Pages: 2556-2563(2019)
- 作者机构：
  
  1.大连理工大学盘锦产业技术研究院，辽宁盘锦 124221
  2.大连理工大学石油与化学工程学院，辽宁盘锦 124221
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
- DOI：10.11949/0438-1157.20181046
  CLC： TQ 028.8
- Received：19 September 2018，
  
  Revised：2019-05-24，
  
  Online First：24 July 2026，
  
  Published：05 July 2019
- 稿件说明：
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肖永厚, 肖红岩, 李本源, 秦剑亮, 邱爽, 贺高红. 基于Aspen Adsorption的氦气/甲烷吸附分离过程模拟优化[J]. 化工学报, 2019, 70(7): 2556-2563

XIAO Yonghou, XIAO Hongyan, LI Benyuan, QIN Jianliang, QIU Shuang, HE Gaohong. Optimization of helium/methane adsorption separation process based on Aspen Adsorption simulation[J]. CIESC Journal, 2019, 70(7): 2556-2563
肖永厚, 肖红岩, 李本源, 秦剑亮, 邱爽, 贺高红. 基于Aspen Adsorption的氦气/甲烷吸附分离过程模拟优化[J]. 化工学报, 2019, 70(7): 2556-2563 DOI： 10.11949/0438-1157.20181046.

XIAO Yonghou, XIAO Hongyan, LI Benyuan, QIN Jianliang, QIU Shuang, HE Gaohong. Optimization of helium/methane adsorption separation process based on Aspen Adsorption simulation[J]. CIESC Journal, 2019, 70(7): 2556-2563 DOI： 10.11949/0438-1157.20181046.

摘要

工业氦气主要通过深冷、膜分离和变压吸附（PSA）耦合从天然气提取，其中PSA是获得高纯He的关键。吸附过程模拟可以克服实验局限，有效指导工程设计、优化工艺条件。以体积分数90%的粗He为原料，利用Aspen Adsorption软件建立He/CH

单塔PSA模型，获得穿透曲线。以此为基础，建立双塔分离流程，分析吸附、顺放、逆放、冲洗、升压步骤中吸附塔内气相组成的变化，五步最佳操作时间分别为 60、180、30、60和180 s。在三塔流程中，一个循环周期的最佳吸附时间和均压时间分别为135 s和90 s，产品纯度可达98.42%，回收率达60.45%。在五塔流程中，考虑到各步骤时间的匹配及生产的连续性，需要对一个周期内的循环时间进行优化。循环时间为300~340 s时，产品纯度达到99.07%以上。

Abstract

Industrial helium is mainly extracted from natural gas by cryogenic

membrane separation and pressure swing adsorption（PSA） coupling of which PSA is the key to obtain high purity helium. It is helpful to overcome experimental limitations

via

adsorption process sim

ulation

which can effectively guide engineering design and optimize process conditions. A helium/methane single-column pressure swing adsorption model was established by Aspen Adsorption software to obtain breakthrough curves. Based on the results

a two-column PSA process was established. The optimal operation time of adsorption

forward

reverse

flush

and boost step is 60

180

60 and 180 s

through analyzing the changes of the gas phase composition in the adsorption column. In three-column PSA process

the optimal time of adsorption and pressure equalization for one cycle are 135 s and 90 s

helium purity can reach 98.42% and the recovery is up to 60.45%. It is necessary to optimize the cycle time in one cycle by considering the matching of each step time and the continuity of production in five-tower PSA process. When cycle time is between 300 s and 340 s

purity of helium reaches 99.07%.

关键词

Keywords

references

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