Recovering hydrogen from gas stream using metal hydride
AssigneeAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsJohn J. Sheridan, III, Fred G. Eisenberg, Gary D. Sandrock, Ernest L. Huston, Edwin Snape, Raymond P. Stickles, Gordon C. Cheng
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Abstract
This invention relates to an improved adiabatic process for separating hydrogen from mixed gas streams using hydridable materials as the absorbing medium. The improvement comprises utilizing a composite comprising a thermal ballast in admixture with the hydride material to absorb the heat of reaction and to aid in desorption. By virtue of the intimate contact of the ballast with the hydridable material rapid cycle times plus good bed utilization are achieved.
Claims12
A rapid cycling process for separating hydrogen from a gas mixture which comprises:
- (a) passing a gas mixture containing hydrogen through a bed containing an intimate composite of hydridable material and inert thermal ballast under conditions such that the composite moves from an initial hydrogen pressure, hydrogen concentration and temperature (P.sub.1, C.sub.1, T.sub.1) to a final hydrogen pressure, hydrogen concentration and temperature (P.sub.2,C.sub.2,T.sub.2) and P.sub.2 is greater than P.sub.1, C.sub.2 is greater than C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 -C.sub.1 represents at least 50% of the theoretical hydriding capacity and T.sub.2 is greater than T.sub.1, said ballast being incorporated in an amount such that the composite can absorb at least 50% of the theoretical energy of hydride formation;
- and
- (b) desorbing hydrogen from the bed by reducing the pressure and utilizing the energy of hydride formation to aid in desorption.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.