Hydrogen purification devices

A hydrogen purification device, comprising:

• first and second end frames including:
• an input port capable of receiving a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases;
• an output port capable of receiving 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 capable of receiving a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases;
• at least one hydrogen-selective membrane disposed between and secured to the first and second end frames, the 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
• a plurality of frames disposed between the first and second end frames and the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and secured to the first and second end frames, the plurality of frames including a permeate frame disposed between the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and the first end frame, the permeate frame including:
• a perimeter portion,
• a membrane support portion surrounded by the perimeter portion, the membrane support portion having opposed first and second surfaces with each of the first and second surfaces having a plurality of grooves, the membrane support portion being in contact with and supporting the at least one hydrogen selective membrane, and the membrane support portion being integrally formed with the perimeter portion,
• one or more output apertures in at least one of the perimeter portion and the membrane support portion, at least one output aperture of the one or more output apertures forming a portion of at least one output conduit with corresponding output apertures of other frames of the plurality of frames, and the at least one output conduit capable of receiving at least part of the permeate stream, and
• at least one input aperture in the perimeter portion, the at least one input aperture being distinct and spaced from the one or more output apertures, the at least one input aperture forming a portion of at least one input conduit with corresponding input apertures of other frames of the plurality of frames, and the at least one input conduit capable of receiving at least a portion of the mixed gas stream,
• wherein the plurality of frames includes at least one gasket frame, the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane being disposed between the permeate frame and the at least one gasket frame, the at least one gasket frame including:
• a planar perimeter base,
• an open area surrounded by the perimeter base,
• at least one input aperture in the perimeter base, the at least one input aperture being distinct and spaced from the open area, and the least one input aperture in the perimeter base forming a portion of the at least one input conduit with the at least one input aperture of the permeate frame, and
• at least one output aperture in the perimeter base, the at least one output aperture being distinct and spaced from the open area and the at least one input aperture, and the at least one output aperture in the perimeter base forming a portion of the at least one output conduit with the at least one output aperture of the permeate frame,
• where the plurality of frames defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one output aperture in the perimeter base has a length that is measured parallel to the longitudinal axis and a width that is measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of frames includes at least one feed frame, the at least one gasket frame being disposed between the at least one feed frame and the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane,
• wherein, when viewed along a plane that is parallel to the plurality of frames and that cuts through the device between the at least one feed frame and the at least one gasket frame and looking toward the at least one gasket frame, an end portion of the membrane support portion that is visible through the at least one output aperture of the at least one gasket frame spans the entirety of the width of the at least one output aperture of the at least one gasket frame.

A hydrogen purification device, comprising:

• first and second end frames including:
• an input port capable of receiving a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases;
• an output port capable of receiving 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 capable of receiving a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases;
• at least one hydrogen-selective membrane disposed between and secured to the first and second end frames, the 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
• a plurality of frames disposed between the first and second end frames and the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and secured to the first and second end frames, the plurality of frames including a permeate frame disposed between the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and the first end frame, the permeate frame including:
• a perimeter portion,
• a membrane support portion surrounded by the perimeter portion, the membrane support portion having opposed first and second surfaces with each of the first and second surfaces having a plurality of grooves, the membrane support portion being in contact with and supporting the at least one hydrogen selective membrane, and the membrane support portion being integrally formed with the perimeter portion,
• one or more output apertures in at least one of the perimeter portion and the membrane support portion, at least one output aperture of the one or more output apertures forming a portion of at least one output conduit with corresponding output apertures of other frames of the plurality of frames, and the at least one output conduit capable of receiving at least part of the permeate stream, and
• at least one input aperture in the perimeter portion, the at least one input aperture being distinct and spaced from the one or more output apertures, the at least one input aperture forming a portion of at least one input conduit with corresponding input apertures of other frames of the plurality of frames, and the at least one input conduit capable of receiving at least a portion of the mixed gas stream,
• wherein the plurality of frames includes at least one gasket frame, the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane being disposed between the permeate frame and the at least one gasket frame, the at least one gasket frame including:
• a planar perimeter base,
• an open area surrounded by the perimeter base,
• at least one input aperture in the perimeter base, the at least one input aperture being distinct and spaced from the open area, and the least one input aperture in the perimeter base forming a portion of the at least one input conduit with the at least one input aperture of the permeate frame, and
• at least one output aperture in the perimeter base, the at least one output aperture being distinct and spaced from the open area and the at least one input aperture, and the at least one output aperture in the perimeter base forming a portion of the at least one output conduit with the at least one output aperture of the permeate frame,
• where the plurality of frames defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one output aperture in the perimeter base has a length that is measured parallel to the longitudinal axis and a width that is measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of frames includes at least one feed frame, the at least one gasket frame being disposed between the at least one feed frame and the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane,
• wherein, when viewed along a plane that is parallel to the plurality of frame and that cuts through the device between the at least one feed frame and the at least one gasket frame and looking toward the at least one gasket frame, an end portion of the membrane support that is visible through the at least one output aperture of the at least one gasket frame spans only a portion of the width of the at least one output aperture of the at least one gasket frame.

A hydrogen purification device, comprising:

• first and second end frames including:
• an input port capable of receiving a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases;
• an output port capable of receiving 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 capable of receiving a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases;
• at least one hydrogen-selective membrane disposed between and secured to the first and second end frames, the 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
• a plurality of frames disposed between the first and second end frames and the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and secured to the first and second end frames, the plurality of frames including a permeate frame disposed between the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and the first end frame, the permeate frame including:
• a perimeter portion,
• a membrane support portion surrounded by the perimeter portion, the membrane support portion having opposed first and second surfaces with each of the first and second surfaces having a plurality of grooves, the membrane support portion being in contact with and supporting the at least one hydrogen selective membrane, and the membrane support portion being integrally formed with the perimeter portion,
• one or more output apertures in at least one of the perimeter portion and the membrane support portion, at least one output aperture of the one or more output apertures forming a portion of at least one output conduit with corresponding output apertures of other frames of the plurality of frames, and the at least one output conduit capable of receiving at least part of the permeate stream, and
• at least one input aperture in the perimeter portion, the at least one input aperture being distinct and spaced from the one or more output apertures, the at least one input aperture forming a portion of at least one input conduit with corresponding input apertures of other frames of the plurality of frames, and the at least one input conduit capable of receiving at least a portion of the mixed gas stream,
• wherein the plurality of frames includes at least one gasket frame, the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane being disposed between the permeate frame and the at least one gasket frame, the at least one gasket frame including:
• a planar perimeter base,
• an open area surrounded by the perimeter base,
• at least one input aperture in the perimeter base, the at least one input aperture being distinct and spaced from the open area, and the least one input aperture in the perimeter base forming a portion of the at least one input conduit with the at least one input aperture of the permeate frame, and
• at least one output aperture in the perimeter base, the at least one output aperture being distinct and spaced from the open area and the at least one input aperture, and the at least one output aperture in the perimeter base forming a portion of the at least one output conduit with the at least one output aperture of the permeate frame,
• where the plurality of frames defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one output aperture in the perimeter base has a length that is measured parallel to the longitudinal axis and a width that is measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of frames includes at least one feed frame, the at least one gasket frame being disposed between the at least one feed frame and the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane,
• wherein, when viewed along a plane that is parallel to the plurality of frame and that cuts through the device between the at least one feed frame and the at least one gasket frame and looking toward the at least one gasket frame, an end portion of the membrane support portion and a solid part of the perimeter portion that are visible through the at least one output aperture of the at least one gasket frame spans only a portion of the width of the at least one output aperture of the at least one gasket frame.