Apparatus and methods for hydrogen separation/purification utilizing rapidly cycled thermal swing sorption

A method of separating hydrogen gas comprising:

• a first step comprising sorbing hydrogen gas, this first step comprising passing a hydrogen-containing gas mixture into a channel at a first temperature;
• wherein the channel has a surface exposed to the gas and comprises sorbent on at least a portion of the surface, and
• a second step comprising increasing the temperature of the sorbent surface, this second step comprising adding energy from an energy source;
• and
• a third step comprising desorption of hydrogen gas at a second temperature and obtaining hydrogen that was sorbed in the first step, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature;
• and
• wherein the second and third steps, combined, take 10 seconds or less and wherein at least 20% of the hydrogen sorbed in the first step is desorbed from the sorbent.

A method for separating hydrogen from a gas mixture, comprising:

• in a first step, at a first temperature, contacting a hydrogen-containing gas mixture with a sorbent comprising a layer of Pd overlying a hydrogen sorbent to selectively sorb hydrogen into the sorbent;
• then subsequently, in a second step, adding energy to the sorbent, thus bringing the sorbent to a second temperature that is at least 5° C. higher than the first temperature and desorbing hydrogen from the sorbent;
• and
• obtaining the desorbed hydrogen in a higher purity form than the gas mixture.

A method for separating hydrogen from a gas mixture, comprising:

• passing a hydrogen-containing gas mixture into a first sorption region at a first temperature and first pressure, wherein the first sorption region comprises a first sorbent and wherein the temperature and pressure in the first sorption region are selected to favor sorption of hydrogen into the first sorbent in the first sorption region;
• and selectively removing hydrogen from said gas mixture thus resulting in sorbed hydrogen in the first sorbent and a relatively hydrogen-depleted gas mixture;
• passing the relatively hydrogen-depleted gas mixture into a second sorption region at a second temperature and second pressure, wherein the second sorption region comprises a second sorbent and wherein the temperature and pressure in the second sorption region are selected to favor sorption of hydrogen into the sorbent in the second sorption region;
• and selectively removing hydrogen from said relatively hydrogen-depleted gas mixture thus resulting in sorbed hydrogen in the second sorbent and a relatively more hydrogen-depleted gas mixture;
• wherein the second temperature and second pressure are different than the first temperature and first pressure;
• adding heat to the first sorbent, through a distance of about 1 cm or less to substantially the entire first sorbent, to raise the first sorbent to a third temperature and desorbing hydrogen from the first sorbent;
• adding heat to the second sorbent, through a distance of about 1 cm or less to substantially the entire second sorbent, to raise the second sorbent to a fourth temperature and desorbing hydrogen from the second sorbent;
• and
• obtaining the hydrogen desorbed from the first and second sorbents.

An hydrogen separation apparatus comprising:

• a flow channel comprising an inlet, an outlet and a sorbent disposed between the inlet and the outlet;
• wherein the sorbent comprises a hydrogen sorbent having a surface coating over more than 90% of the surface of the hydrogen sorbent, wherein the surface coating comprises palladium;
• and
• a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the sorbent.