Poster presentation at RRCAT Indore

1. Design and Analysis of Adsorbent Column Header of Helium Liquifier
Sumeet Raikwar1,*, Hemant Kumar Patel 2, Vinod Pare1
1Shri Govindram Seksaria Institute of Technology and Science, Indore, M.P. - 452003
2 Cryo-engineering & Cryo –module Development Division, RRCAT, Indore, M.P. - 452013
Abstract
Helium is classified as rare gas, helium is being used in many fields like MRI scanner, in arc welding for protective atmosphere, as pressurizing and
purge gas, cooling of superconducting magnets etc. Helium liquefaction system is a closed cycle in which gas used contains impurities like
Nitrogen, oxygen, moisture and oil etc.The gas is needed to be purified before liquefaction in order to avoid problem caused by impurities. Helium
purification can be done using refrigeration purification and/or physical adsorption. In physical adsorption the impurities stick on the surface of the
activated adsorbent bed allowing only pure helium to pass. Mal-distribution of flow inside Adsorber results in low performance of adsorber unit or
impure helium or overestimate the adsorber mass.It is desirable to have an efficient design of adsorbent column. Present work details about header
design for adsorber column to eliminate flow mal distribution and also 3D modelling of system.
Project Objective and Problem Formulation
•To decide the layout of Helium purification system by modelling and performing interference test.
•To design Helium Adsorber column.
•To design and perform CFD analysis of Adsorber column Header.
•To estimate the adsorber bed size.
Our Main Problem
Our main problem is to select best suitable design of Header for the Adsorber column used in Helium purification system of Helium liquefaction
system in order to avoid flow mal-distribution inside Adsorber column which result in low wrong estimation of adsorber bed size, increased size of
adsorber column, performance of Adsorber, over design Adsorber mass and also effects the quality of helium
Methodogy
•Based on operating condition and different component size, system layout & modelling is performed and interference check has to be done.
•Proposing different type of header design as per the input and desired condition of the flow of fluid.
•Modelling of different type of header’s using 3D modelling.
•Analysis of proposed header design using CFD to predict flow distribution.
•Selection of suitable header based on the results obtained by above proced
Desired Outcome
•. Layout of the components used in Helium liquefier.
•Size optimization of vacuum vessel.
•Header design will result in proper flow distribution.
•Accurate adsorber bed size.
•Desired grade of helium purity
Scope of Helium Purifier
•High grade of liquid helium can be obtained.
•Reduces the possibilities of system component failure by eliminating
impurities.
•As per the requirement area of use different grades of helium can be
obtained.
•Increased effectiveness of the gas liquefaction system as the temperature
is lowered into ryogenic range in purification process.
Block Diagram of Helium Purification System