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Operational Costs of He3 Separation Using the Superfluidity of He4

Author

Listed:
  • Jakub Niechciał

    (Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Smoluchowskiego 17, 60-179 Poznań, Poland)

  • Piotr Banat

    (Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Smoluchowskiego 17, 60-179 Poznań, Poland)

  • Wojciech Kempiński

    (Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Smoluchowskiego 17, 60-179 Poznań, Poland)

  • Zbigniew Trybuła

    (Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Smoluchowskiego 17, 60-179 Poznań, Poland)

  • Maciej Chorowski

    (Department of Cryogenic, Aeronautical and Process Engineering, Wrocław University of Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-560 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Jarosław Poliński

    (Department of Cryogenic, Aeronautical and Process Engineering, Wrocław University of Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-560 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Katarzyna Chołast

    (Polish Oil and Gas Company—Odolanów, Krotoszyńska 148, 63-430 Odolanów, Poland)

  • Andrzej Kociemba

    (Polish Oil and Gas Company—Odolanów, Krotoszyńska 148, 63-430 Odolanów, Poland)

Abstract

Helium is the second most abundant element in the Universe after hydrogen. Considerable resources of helium-3 isotope (He3) are located mostly outside the Earth. He3 is very important for science and industry, especially for airport neutron detectors, lung tomography and helium dilution refrigerators. Besides, global warming is forcing the industry and governments to search for alternative energy sources, and He3 has the potential to be used as fuel in future nuclear fusion power plants. Unfortunately, the price of gaseous He3 has recently increased from $200 per liter to over $2750. The expected further increase in price and demands led us to present an analysis of the economic profitability for He3 separation process, which utilizes the properties of superfluid helium. This paper shows the arguments supporting the idea that extraction from natural sources is the only economically viable way of obtaining He3 isotope nowadays. The method could be relatively easily implemented into the production cycles of the low temperature natural gas purification plant.

Suggested Citation

  • Jakub Niechciał & Piotr Banat & Wojciech Kempiński & Zbigniew Trybuła & Maciej Chorowski & Jarosław Poliński & Katarzyna Chołast & Andrzej Kociemba, 2020. "Operational Costs of He3 Separation Using the Superfluidity of He4," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:22:p:6134-:d:449816
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Adam Jan Zwierzyński & Wojciech Teper & Rafał Wiśniowski & Andrzej Gonet & Tomasz Buratowski & Tadeusz Uhl & Karol Seweryn, 2021. "Feasibility Study of Low Mass and Low Energy Consumption Drilling Devices for Future Space (Mining Surveying) Missions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Jakub Niechciał & Wojciech Kempiński & Leszek Stobiński & Zbigniew Trybuła & Piotr Banat & Maciej Chorowski & Jarosław Poliński & Katarzyna Chołast & Andrzej Kociemba, 2021. "Separation of 3 He Isotope from Liquid Helium with the Use of Entropy Filter Composed of Carbon Nanotubes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-10, October.

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