Helium is a rare gas that is in the gaseous state at room temperature and pressure, and has extremely low chemical activity. Due to its unique physical and chemical properties, helium plays a crucial role in many industrial and technological applications, including deep-sea diving, balloons and airships, refrigeration and cooling systems, etc. However, with the development of technology and the increasing demand for helium, the supply and cost issues of helium have gradually become prominent. Therefore, recovering and purifying helium has become the key to solving this problem.

1、 Basic principles of helium recovery and purification

1. Physical principle: The purification of helium is mainly achieved through physical methods, such as low-temperature distillation and adsorption. Low temperature distillation is the process of separating gases of different components in different temperature regions by reducing temperature and increasing pressure. Adsorption utilizes the physical properties of the adsorbent to separate helium from the mixed gas.

2. Chemical principle: In some special cases, chemical methods can also be used to purify helium. For example, helium can be distinguished from other gases through chemical reactions, or it can be separated by reacting with other gases to generate new compounds.

2、 Technology for helium recovery and purification

1. Low temperature distillation: Low temperature distillation is one of the main methods for helium purification. By cooling the mixed gas to a temperature close to absolute zero, different components of the gas exhibit different boiling points at low temperatures, thus achieving separation. This process requires the use of complex equipment and precise control systems.

2. Adsorption: Adsorption is another commonly used method for helium purification. It distinguishes helium from other gases by utilizing the physical properties of the adsorbent, such as molecular size and polarity. Commonly used adsorbents include molecular sieves and carbon based adsorbents.

3. Other technologies: In addition to low-temperature distillation and adsorption, there are also other technologies and methods that can be used to recover and purify helium gas. For example, membrane separation technology, chromatographic separation technology, electrochemical methods, etc. These methods typically require special equipment and conditions, but may also have higher efficiency and lower costs.

3、 Development Trends

With the continuous progress of technology and the increasing demand for helium, the recovery and purification technology of helium is also constantly developing. In the future, the development trends of these technologies may include the following aspects:

1. Efficiency: With the increasing demand for helium, improving the efficiency of helium recovery and purification has become crucial. Future technologies need to be able to recover and purify helium more efficiently to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

2. Energy efficiency: The process of recovering and purifying helium requires a large amount of energy consumption, so energy conservation has become the key. Future technologies need to be able to reduce energy consumption in order to achieve more energy-efficient and sustainable development.

3. Intelligence: With the development of intelligent technology, future helium recovery and purification technologies may also become more intelligent, achieving more automated and intelligent operations and management.

4. Widely used: With the increasing demand for helium and the expansion of its application fields, future helium recovery and purification technologies may also be more widely applied in various fields, such as aerospace, hospitals, scientific research, etc.

5、 Conclusion

The recovery and purification of helium is an important technology, which is of great significance for solving the problems of helium supply and cost. This article introduces the basic principles and technologies of helium recovery and purification, including physical methods such as low-temperature distillation, adsorption, and other chemical methods. The development trends of these technologies may include efficiency, energy conservation, intelligence, and widespread application. In the future, with the continuous progress of technology and the expansion of application fields, we need to continuously explore and develop new technologies and methods to better meet the growing demand and reduce costs.