Integrated Process Modeling and Simulation for Helium Recovery and Liquefaction from Liquified Natural Gas Production

Helium, a rare yet valuable inert gas on earth, present in economically viable concentrations in some raw natural gases, can be effectively recovered from natural gas processing. In this article, an integrated industrial complex for helium recovery and liquefaction has been developed, modeled, and simulated along with the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The complex, so-called LBNH, consists of four subsystems: (i) LNG production ( L NGP), (ii) boil-off gas collection ( B OGC), (iii) nitrogen removal and helium recovery ( N RHR), and (iv) helium liquefaction and storage ( H LS). Sequentially, the helium contained in the LNGP subsystem feed is passed to the BOGC subsystem, where helium will be concentrated. After that, the helium will be recovered and purified via the NRHR subsystem, and finally, the recovered helium vapor will undergo a multistage self-cooling process in the HLS subsystem to be liquefied. The simulation results indicate that the natural gas feed containing 0.14 wt % helium will render about 1.28 wt % helium in the BOGC stream, which eventually yields a helium liquid product with 100.00 wt % purity. The efficacy of the developed LBNH complex has been virtually demonstrated. Meanwhile, an economic analysis for the LBNH complex has also been performed. The study provides deep insights into helium recovery and liquefaction processes, with the potential to enhance the profitability of existing LNG facilities by optimizing future helium production.