Patent ID: 9375677
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: B01D,C01B,C10L,E21B

Claim Text:
1. A method of separating natural gas and Helium from a gas mixture, comprising the steps of: separating Helium-containing natural gas at a first gas separation membrane into a first permeate and a first non-permeate, the Helium preferentially permeating over the natural gas at the first gas separation membrane; compressing the first permeate to provide a compressed first permeate; separating the compressed first permeate at a second gas separation membrane into a second permeate and a second non-permeate, the Helium preferentially permeating over the natural gas at the second gas separation membrane; separating the second non-permeate at a third gas separation membrane into a third permeate and a third non-permeate, the Helium preferentially permeating over the natural gas at the third gas separation membrane; combining the first and third non-permeates to provide a product natural gas stream; and combining the first and third permeates upstream of the compressor.