{"id":32109,"date":"2023-04-21T12:35:59","date_gmt":"2023-04-21T11:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=32109"},"modified":"2023-05-12T13:52:17","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T12:52:17","slug":"how-helium-gas-obtained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/how-helium-gas-obtained\/32109\/","title":{"rendered":"How is helium gas obtained?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Innovation News Network explores the ways in which helium gas can be obtained and explains why it is so valuable.<\/h2>\n

Helium gas is a noble gas that has many uses, from manufacturing products to providing medical treatments. It is also non-toxic and does not react with other elements or compounds. Due to its unique properties, helium gas is highly sought after for various applications.<\/p>\n

The process of obtaining helium gas begins with locating underground reservoirs of natural gas that contain the element in trace amounts. The extraction process consists of separating out the impurities from this natural gas, leaving behind only pure helium molecules. Once extracted, the purified form of helium must then be compressed into tanks or containers before being shipped off for use in industrial or healthcare settings.<\/p>\n

Understanding how helium gas is obtained helps us to appreciate its importance as an essential resource used throughout industry and medicine today. The next section of this article will discuss each stage of the extraction process in more detail, highlighting the technologies involved and their benefits.<\/p>\n

Definition of helium<\/h3>\n

Helium is a noble gas that has been known for centuries, yet its true properties were only recently discovered. Its atomic number is two and it is the second lightest element in the periodic table. It exists naturally as a monatomic gas and is colourless and odourless. One of its most remarkable characteristics is that, unlike other gases, helium remains liquid at extremely low temperatures, allowing scientists to explore this unique property further.<\/p>\n

Helium’s physical structure consists of one electron orbiting around an atomic nucleus made up of two protons and two neutrons. This combination gives helium certain characteristics that distinguish it from other elements; it does not react with any other element except under special circumstances such as extreme heat or pressure. Helium belongs to the group 18 family on the periodic table and has seven electrons in its outermost shell, making it exceptionally stable compared to other elements in its same family.<\/p>\n

When viewed through spectroscopy, helium can be classified into three different types: singlet He-1 line emission spectrum, doublet He-2 line emission spectrum, and triplet He-3 line emission spectrum. These are all variants of hydrogen but have slightly different properties which allow them to absorb or emit light energy differently depending on their composition. By studying these spectral lines closely, scientists can tell how much each type of helium is present in a sample.<\/p>\n

\"Helium
\u00a9 shutterstock\/Ladanifer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From thermodynamic studies, we now know that helium gas can be obtained by liquefying air either by cooling or compressing it until it reaches -269\u00b0C (-452\u00b0F). At this temperature, some components become solid while others remain gaseous including nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), and trace amounts of argon (0.9%). The remaining 0.1% is composed mostly of helium so separating out this small amount requires very sophisticated equipment which allows us to finally access pure samples of this precious resource found deep within our planet’s atmosphere.<\/p>\n

History of helium production<\/h3>\n

Having explored the definition of helium, it is now necessary to examine how this element is obtained. Historically, helium was produced in various ways as far back as 1895. Today’s production processes are much more advanced and efficient than those used a century ago.<\/p>\n

The majority of current-day helium gas production comes from natural gas deposits located around the world, such as those found in Qatar, Russia, and the United States. The industry has developed sophisticated extraction techniques that allow for large amounts of this noble gas to be harvested from these reserves. Here is an overview of some key aspects related to helium production:<\/p>\n

Extraction:<\/strong> The process starts with extracting helium from underground deposits using specialised drills and pumps<\/a>. This extracted material then needs to go through several stages before becoming pure enough for use in medical or industrial applications.<\/p>\n

Purification:<\/strong> Once extracted, impurities must be removed from the raw material using special filters and chemical treatments. After purification, the product can reach up to 99% purity levels suitable for commercial purposes.<\/p>\n

Storage:<\/strong> Since there are no known sources of liquid helium on Earth, storage tanks are employed by producers to store their products until needed by customers. These tanks have been designed to maintain extremely low temperatures without losing any pressure during transport or handling operations.<\/p>\n

To sum up, modern-day technology makes it possible for companies involved in producing helium gas to extract vast quantities from natural gas fields around the globe while also ensuring its purity before reaching customers. With careful management and innovative research into new extraction methods, we can expect even greater strides forward when it comes to harvesting this essential resource in years ahead.<\/p>\n

Sources of helium<\/h3>\n

As the old saying goes, \u201cYou have to know where to look.\u201d This is certainly true when it comes to finding helium gas. Helium can be obtained from a few different sources, each with their own pros and cons.<\/p>\n

\"Helium
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Naturally occurring sources of helium are often found in areas that contain natural gas deposits as well as underground stores of crude oil. These materials tend to release small amounts of helium into the atmosphere during production or extraction activities such as fracking and drilling. In order to capture these naturally-occurring gases, specialised equipment must be used; this includes vacuum pumps, separators, tanks, and filters. Additionally, some mining operations may also extract pockets of raw helium from subsurface reserves which require further refining at refinery processing plants before being suitable for use in industrial applications or research studies.<\/p>\n

The other major source for obtaining helium is through commercial suppliers who obtain their supply either by extracting it directly from the air (called atmospheric collection) or purchasing it from producers who refine it from natural resources like those mentioned above. Large-scale producers typically employ advanced technologies such as cryogenic separation techniques to ensure high purity levels prior to sale on the market. The cost associated with purchasing helium from these vendors varies significantly depending on its grade and intended purpose but generally falls within an acceptable range for most consumers.<\/p>\n

Understanding all of the available methods for obtaining helium helps researchers identify what will work best for their particular needs while keeping costs under control without sacrificing quality standards in any way. It’s important to remember that no matter how you get your hands on this useful element \u2013 whether through natural means or commercially \u2013 if handled properly, it can provide invaluable benefits both now and in the future.<\/p>\n

Helium gas extraction methods<\/h3>\n

Helium gas is obtained through various extraction methods. Gas extraction involves the production of helium from natural gas sources such as methane, ethane, and propane. This process begins with the purification of raw natural gas to separate the different gases into their pure components. The purification process typically consists of cooling and pressurising the raw natural gas in order to remove any impurities or other unwanted by-products. After this step, a separator is used to isolate the desired helium component from the rest of the gaseous mixture.<\/p>\n

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The extracted helium must then be further purified before it can be used for industrial applications or medical purposes. This entails passing the extracted helium through a high-pressure liquefier which removes any remaining impurities that could contaminate its intended purpose. Once all contaminants have been removed, what remains is highly concentrated liquid helium which is ready for use as an industrial coolant or medical application such as MRI scans.<\/p>\n

Gas extraction has become increasingly important over recent years due to increased demand for cryogenic materials (such as liquid nitrogen) and inert gases (e.g., argon). Helium has also gained prominence in scientific research-related fields due to its unique properties such as low boiling point, lack of colour and door, nonflammability, and resistance to chemical reactions compared to other elements. As a result, there has been an increase in investment towards efficient ways of extracting and refining helium resources so that they are readily available on demand when needed.<\/p>\n

Obtaining helium gas requires careful processes involving multiple stages ranging from purifying raw natural gas through separating specific components up to producing highly concentrated liquids suitable for many uses across numerous industries including medicine, aeronautics, and manufacturing amongst others.<\/p>\n

Steps in the purification process<\/h3>\n

Helium gas is obtained through a purification process, which involves separating the helium from other heavier gases. The first step of this process is to collect natural gas and isolate it in an enclosed container. Since helium has a much lower boiling point than other elements found in natural gas, cooling the mixture down can cause some components to liquefy or solidify while leaving the lighter gases like helium as a vapour.<\/p>\n

The next step of purifying the helium involves using specialised techniques such as adsorption, absorption, and cryogenic distillation processes. Adsorption works by trapping molecules onto its surface with weak interactions, allowing only certain molecules to pass through depending on its size and shape. Absorption also works similarly but uses chemical bonding instead of physical forces for separation. Cryogenic distillation takes advantage of extreme temperatures to separate different types of molecules based on their boiling points.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 shutterstock\/Kodda<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once these processes have been completed, the remaining light fraction that consists mostly of helium can be collected and further purified using additional techniques such as pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and membrane filtration systems that use high-density polymers membranes to filter out impurities like carbon dioxide. When these steps are complete, pure liquid or gaseous forms of helium can finally be produced for industrial applications.<\/p>\n

Safety considerations are key to helium extraction<\/h3>\n

When it comes to obtaining helium gas, safety is paramount. Utmost caution must be taken when dealing with this highly flammable material, as any careless mistake can have catastrophic consequences. Exercising extreme vigilance and following established safety regulations are essential for ensuring the safe handling of helium gas.<\/p>\n

To protect against potential risks while working with helium gas, a few key safety considerations should always be kept in mind:<\/p>\n