Highlights：
1、LifenGas’s high-concentration helium recovery system for FiberHome Yonex has operated reliably for 4 years, achieving over 60% recovery efficiency.
2、Optimized for exhaust with 35% helium content, the system’s cryogenic condensation design reduces energy consumption per unit by about 15% compared to conventional processes.
3、The innovative process avoids helium-nitrogen co-condensation risks, ensuring ice-free, fault-free operation and stable product purity above 5N.
The optical fiber helium recovery project at FiberHome Yonex Fiber Technology Co., Ltd., engineered and constructed by LifenGas , has now operated safely and stably for four consecutive years. Unlike typical low-concentration exhaust streams, the tail gas at this facility contains approximately 35% helium. Using a customized high-concentration recovery process, Shanghai LifenGas has achieved a steady comprehensive recovery efficiency of over 60% , recovering hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of high-purity helium annually and greatly saving the operation costs for clients.
FiberHome Yonex, a joint venture between FiberHome and Yonex, imposes extremely stringent requirements on gas purity, process stability, and equipment reliability. During fiber drawing, helium used as a shielding gas is traditionally vented after a single pass, with the exhaust containing about 35% helium and the balance mainly nitrogen and hydrogen. LifenGas’s technical team recognized that this “medium‑flow, high‑concentration” helium exhaust required a departure from standard designs. Based on the core process route of catalytic oxidation for hydrogen removal, cryogenic condensation for nitrogen removal, and cryogenic adsorption for final purification, the team focused on optimizing the heat exchanger design and chiller matching for the cryogenic condensation stage.
The key innovation lies in precise control of the condensation temperature gradient, which maximizes nitrogen separation while significantly reducing refrigeration energy loss. Compared to conventional designs, the unit’s energy consumption per product volume is lowered by approximately 15%. Moreover, the optimized process avoids the risk of “helium‑nitrogen co‑condensation” that can occur with higher inlet helium concentrations, ensuring long‑term operation free from ice blockage or process fluctuations.
Over four years of operation, the system has never caused a production stoppage due to product quality issues. The recovered helium purity consistently exceeds 5N (99.999%) . Operational data show a stable recovery efficiency of around 60%, well above the early industry average of 30–40%.
LifenGas emphasizes that helium tail gas with different concentrations and flow rates requires differentiated technical solutions. The success of the FiberHome Yonex project validates the company’s technological maturity and engineering capability in the field of high-concentration helium recovery. LifenGas will continue to drive innovation in the gas recovery economy, enabling the optical communications and semiconductor industries to achieve better efficient, lower‑carbon, and more sustainable production.
Post time: May-14-2026
