Vapor-liquid phase behavior of the helium-methane system

✍ Scribed by J. E. Sinor; D. L. Schindler; Fred Kurata

• Publisher: American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Year: 1966
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 492 KB
• Volume: 12
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0001-1541
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.690120227

✦ Synopsis

This report presents more extensive experimental vapor-liquid equilibria data for the helium methane system than are found in the literature. A static sampling technique was used to obtain vopor and liquid compositions for six temperatures between -180" and -85°C. and pressures up to 2,000 Ib./sq.in.abs. Data a t 2,000 Ib./sq.in.abs. were extended to the critical temperature of the mixture.

Average scatter of the data from the smoothed lines i s approximately 1% of the helium concentration or 0.03 mole % helium, whichever is larger. Vapor compositions at -140", -160", and -180°C. were analyzed by a different technique and scattered on the average from the smoothed curve less than 4% of the methane concentration. Comparisons are drawn between the data of this study and the previously published work of Kharakhorin. The solubility of helium in liquid methane was found to be considerably less than the values indicated by Kharathorin.

Experimental data are presented i n tabulor form and in various phase composition diagrams. The behavior of the helium-methane system is seen to be very similar to that of the heliumnitrogen system, with helium being much less soluble in methane than in nitrogen.

The data were satisfactorily represented by means of the Krichevsky-Kazarnovsky equation.

Extrapolations to higher pressures should be feasible.