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US 12,138,586 B2Granted
Hydrogen purification devices
AssigneeElement 1 Corp.
InventorsDavid J. Edlund, Robert Todd Studebaker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hydrogen purification devices and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to first and second end frames. The at least one foil-microscreen assembly may include at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages. The planar sheet may include generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side. The plurality of fluid passages may extend between the opposed surfaces. The at least one hydrogen-selective membrane may be metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure.
Claims23
A hydrogen purification device, comprising:
- first and second end frames including:
- an input port configured to receive a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases;
- an output port configured to receive a permeate stream containing at least one of a greater concentration of hydrogen gas and a lower concentration of the other gases than the mixed gas stream;
- and
- a byproduct port configured to receive a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases;
- at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to the first and second end frames, the at least one foil-microscreen assembly including:
- at least one hydrogen-selective membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, at least part of the permeate stream being formed from the portion of the mixed gas stream that passes from the feed side to the permeate side, with the remaining portion of the mixed gas stream, which remains on the feed side, forming at least part of the byproduct stream, and
- at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages, each aperture of the plurality of apertures having a length that defines a longitudinal axis, the plurality of apertures being positioned on the non-porous planar sheet in a plurality of rows, the longitudinal axis of an aperture of the plurality of apertures of a row of the plurality of rows being not parallel to the longitudinal axis of an aperture of the plurality of apertures of an adjacent row of the plurality of rows, the non-porous planar sheet including generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side, the plurality of fluid passages extending between the opposed surfaces, wherein the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane is metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure;
- and
- a plurality of frames disposed between the first and second end frames and the at least one foil-microscreen assembly and secured to the first and second end frames, each frame of the plurality of frames including a perimeter shell defining an open region.
7 more elements
A hydrogen purification device, comprising:
- first and second end frames including:
- an input port configured to receive a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases;
- an output port configured to receive a permeate stream containing at least one of a greater concentration of hydrogen gas and a lower concentration of the other gases than the mixed gas stream;
- and
- a byproduct port configured to receive a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases;
- at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to the first and second end frames, the at least one foil-microscreen assembly including:
- at least one hydrogen-selective membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, at least part of the permeate stream being formed from the portion of the mixed gas stream that passes from the feed side to the permeate side, with the remaining portion of the mixed gas stream, which remains on the feed side, forming at least part of the byproduct stream, and
- at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of stadium-shaped apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages, at least one aperture of the plurality of stadium-shaped apertures having a length that is at least ten times the radius of the aperture, the planar sheet including generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side, the plurality of fluid passages extending between the opposed surfaces, wherein the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane is metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure;
- and
- a plurality of frames disposed between the first and second end frames and the at least one foil-microscreen assembly and secured to the first and second end frames, each frame of the plurality of frames including a perimeter shell defining an open region.
7 more elements
A foil-microscreen assembly, comprising:
- at least one hydrogen-selective membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, wherein the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane is configured to receive a mixed gas stream, to form a permeate stream from the portion of the mixed gas stream that passes from the feed side to the permeate side, and to form a byproduct stream from the remaining portion of the mixed gas stream that remains on the feed side;
- and
- at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages, each aperture of the plurality of apertures having a length that defines a longitudinal axis, the plurality of apertures being positioned on the non-porous planar sheet in a plurality of rows, the longitudinal axis of an aperture of the plurality of apertures of a row of the plurality of rows being not parallel to the longitudinal axis an aperture of the plurality of apertures of an adjacent row of the plurality of rows, the non-porous planar sheet includes generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side, the plurality of fluid passages extending between the opposed surfaces, wherein the permeate side of the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane is metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure.
A foil-microscreen assembly, comprising:
- at least one hydrogen-selective membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, wherein the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane is configured to receive a mixed gas stream, to form a permeate stream from the portion of the mixed gas stream that passes from the feed side to the permeate side, and to form a byproduct stream from the remaining portion of the mixed gas stream that remains on the feed side;
- and
- at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of stadium-shaped apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages, at least one aperture of the plurality of stadium-shaped apertures having a length that is at least ten times the radius of the aperture, the planar sheet includes generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side, the plurality of fluid passages extending between the opposed surfaces, wherein the permeate side of the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane is metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.