Systems and methods for maintaining hydrogen-selective membranes during periods of inactivity

A method for maintaining hydrogen permeability in a thermally buffered hydrogen-producing fuel processing system that includes a feedstock supply system adapted to supply a feedstock stream, a hydrogen-producing region adapted to produce from the feedstock stream a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas as a majority component, and a separation assembly including at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and adapted to separate the mixed gas stream into a product hydrogen stream and a byproduct stream, the method comprising:

• heating a portion of the thermally buffered hydrogen-producing fuel processing system to a thermally buffered temperature range, wherein the portion of the thermally buffered hydrogen-producing fuel processing system includes at least the hydrogen-selective membrane, and further wherein the thermally buffered temperature range includes a temperature range at which at least a portion of the hydrogen-selective membrane may be oxidized upon exposure to an oxidant;
• maintaining the portion of the thermally buffered hydrogen-producing fuel processing system in the thermally buffered temperature range during a period of inactivity;
• and
• periodically supplying a non-oxidizing gas stream to the separation assembly during the period of inactivity, wherein the periodically supplying includes periodically supplying responsive to a supply criterion.