Chinese Scientist Unveils Method to Extract Ultra-Pure Helium from Any Natural Gas Stream and Researchers Find that Helium can increase Rocket efficiency and Reduce Its Exhaust Plume Temperature

     This post involves two different new innovations associated with helium: new capabilities to extract high-purity helium even from low-helium natural gas and research showing that helium added to rocket fuel can increase efficiency and lower exhaust temperatures, which can improve cost. Both involve Chinese research.

 

New Technique to Extract Helium from Natural Gas with Very Low Helium Content

     Chinese scientist Rong Chengxu led research for six years to develop the technique for extracting high-purity helium from natural gas, which often contains trace quantities. The technique involves a multi-step process that includes the following:

“…catalytic dehydrogenation removes hydrogen impurities; membrane separation and pressure swing adsorption filter out gases such as nitrogen and methane; and ultra-low-temperature refining eliminates neon. This multi-layered approach has been confirmed by third-party evaluations to be at a world-class level.”

     Helium-enriched natural gas is rare. The U.S., Qatar, and Algeria are the world’s biggest helium producers, extracting helium, which occurs as 1-7% of the total gas content, often along with natural gas, nitrogen, CO2, and other inert gases like neon and argon. China’s gas fields are typically very low in helium content at 0.03-0.05% helium content.

     The new technique can yield helium at 99.99997%, where only one molecule out of a million is not pure helium. This grade is known as the 6N9 grade, which surpasses the 6N grade of 99.9999% purity. Neon impurities are below 0.3 ppm. Helium general purity grades and their uses are shown below.

     The technique will be good for China for developing domestic sources of high-purity helium. Helium demand is expected to grow in the coming years, and more geological exploration for it, as well as better extraction and some reuse and recycling of it, is likely in the future. The extraction process can operate continuously, producing up to 400,000 cubic meters of ultra-pure helium annually.

 

New Technique to Inject Helium for Rockets

     In February 2025, Interesting Engineering’s Christopher McFadden wrote about Chinese research into using helium to increase the efficiency of rockets, finding that it also decreased exhaust temperatures, which increases safety. The researchers apparently studied flaws in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Helium is commonly used to pressurize the fuel systems of space rockets. 

     The Chinese scientists at Harbin Engineering University discovered a method to inject helium into solid-fuel rocket motors, improving thrust and stealth capabilities. They found that they could triple the rockets’ thrust and dramatically reduce the exhaust temperature. Theoretically, the drop in temperature could also make it harder to detect such rockets with infrared technology, possibly aiding stealth missions.

“If this injection is precisely controlled (about 1 part to 4 helium to combustion gases) through tiny 2mm pores, impressive results can be achieved. The team found that the rocket’s specific impulse efficiency was increased by 5.77% by doing this.”

“Furthermore, they found that the rocket engine received 300% more thrust on demand. They also found that the exhaust temperature was reduced by 2420.6°F (1,327°C), making the plume much more challenging to detect by heat-seeking sensors.”

     The technique was tested using simulations, so it is still in the research phase. The potential applications of helium-injected rocketry are significant. There are potential military as well as space travel and satellite installation applications.

“The ability to adjust thrust in real-time from 100% to 313% could allow missiles to change speeds unpredictably, making them harder to intercept. The method could also be applied to solid-fuel space launch systems, allowing quick, cost-effective deployment of satellites.”

 

     

 

References:

China develops device that extracts 99.99997% pure helium from natural gas fields. Neetika Walter. Interesting Engineering. August 27, 2025. China develops device that extracts 99.99997% pure helium from natural gas fields

Boeing Starliner’s helium headache becomes China’s missile miracle, claims study. Christopher McFadden. Interesting Engineering.  February 23, 2025. Starliner's helium headache becomes China’s missile miracle: Study