New technology to produce raw neon-helium mixture

Until 2022, Ukraine was a major producer of pure neon gas. The crude neon product is obtained as a byproduct at large cryogenic air separation units (ASUs) that supply oxygen and nitrogen to steelmakers. After the stop of such industries in Ukraine, a global shortage of neon, which is necessary for the production of semiconductor microchips, appeared. The conceptually new technology for obtaining the crude neon product at ASUs, which is not adapted for the selection of a raw neon-helium mixture, is proposed. The enrichment of the neon-helium mixture taken from the ASU condenser-evaporator is carried out by the pressure swing adsorption method. Calculations of the adsorption enrichment processes of the neon-helium mixture were carried out using the wave method. The wave method is based on the physically accurate concept that the nonstationary flow of components occurs as a result of propagation concentration waves in the entire adsorption layer and inside the adsorbent grains. It is shown that the proposed technology makes it possible to obtain a crude neon-helium mixture with a total concentration of neon and helium of more than 90% at an extraction ratio of 40-50%.