Patent ID: 8973397
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: F25J

Abstract:
1. A helium recovery plant for recovering helium from helium-using equipment, the recovery plant comprising: a recovery module coupled to the helium gas using equipment, said recovery module being adapted to recover gas-phase helium from the helium-using equipment: a gas-collection and storage module coupled to said recovery module, said storage module being adapted to filter, compress, and store the recovered gas-phase helium of said recovery module; a purification module coupled to said storage module, said purification module comprising one or more refrigerators adapted to remove impurities from the recovered gas-phase helium to form an amount of purified gas-phase helium; a first distribution management module comprising a first distribution means, said first distribution management module being disposed between said storage module and said purification module and adapted to regulate a flow of the gas-phase helium from said storage module to said purification module; a liquefaction module comprising one or more liquefiers, said liquefaction module being adapted to liquefy the purified gas-phase helium into liquid-phase helium using said one or more liquefiers; a second distribution management module comprising a second distribution means, said second distribution management module being disposed between said purification module and said liquefaction module and adapted to regulate a flow of gas therebetween; and a gas storage tank for storage of helium gas, said gas storage tank being disposed in parallel with said storage module and adapted to receive and store purified helium gas from said purification module and to provide the purified helium gas Directly into said first and second distribution management modules.