Membrane-based hydrogen purifiers

A hydrogen purifier comprising a hydrogen-separation membrane module, the membrane module comprising:

• at least one membrane cell, comprising:
• (i) a hydrogen-selective membrane defining a permeate face and an opposed mixed gas face;
• wherein the hydrogen-selective membrane is formed from a palladium alloy, has a hardness, and has a thickness of at most 20 microns;
• (ii) a fluid-permeable support structure that physically contacts and supports at least a central region of the permeate face;
• (iii) a permeate-side frame member interposed between the hydrogen-selective membrane and the fluid-permeable support structure such that the permeate-side frame member physically contacts a peripheral region of the permeate face and a peripheral region of the fluid-permeable support structure;
• (iv) a mixed gas-side frame member that physically contacts a peripheral region of the mixed gas face of the hydrogen-selective membrane;
• wherein the mixed gas-side frame member has a thickness of at most 350 microns;
• wherein at least the mixed gas-side frame member is a graphite frame member;
• wherein the graphite frame member comprises a granular particulate having a non-graphite composition, wherein the granular particulate has a hardness that is greater than the hardness of the hydrogen-selective membrane;
• and wherein the granular particulate has a maximum dimension that is at most 400 microns.