Title: Exergetic design and analysis of a freeze-out heat exchanger for helium purification

Authors: Duncan Kroll; Nusair Hasan

Addresses: Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University, 640 S Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA ' Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University, 640 S Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

Abstract: The freeze-out purification process is very effective in removing moisture contamination and can be utilised for purification of helium gas in cryogenic applications. A process model for a freeze-out helium purifier (up to 30 g/s of contaminated helium at 10 ppmv) with a coiled finned-tube heat exchanger is developed. An extensive 1st and 2nd law (exergy) analysis is carried out and the exergetically optimal heat exchanger configuration (diameter and number of flow passes) for a given heat exchanger surface area ranging from 42.5 m² to 57.5 m² are found.

Keywords: gas purification; frost accretion; freeze-out; heat exchanger; cryogenics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2024.142629

International Journal of Exergy, 2024 Vol.45 No.3/4, pp.236 - 256

Received: 03 Jun 2024
Accepted: 03 Sep 2024
Published online: 12 Nov 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article