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US 6,319,306 B1Granted
Hydrogen-selective metal membrane modules and method of forming the same
AssigneeIdaTech, LLC
InventorsDavid J. Edlund, William A. Pledger, Todd Studebaker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Membrane modules that contain one or more hydrogen-selective membranes, methods for preparing the same, and hydrogen purification systems, fuel processors and devices containing the same. In some embodiments, the membrane modules include one or more hydrogen-selective membranes supported on a screen structure, of which a variety of embodiments are disclosed. In some embodiments, the membrane or membranes are adhesively mounted on the screen structure during assembly. In some embodiments, the screen structure includes a plurality of screen members adhesively mounted together during assembly. In some embodiments, the screen structure includes a coating.
Claims71
A fuel processor, comprising:
- a hydrogen-producing region adapted to receive a feedstock and produce a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases therefrom;
- and
- a membrane module adapted to receive the mixed gas stream and divide the mixed gas stream into a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases and a product stream containing at least substantially hydrogen gas, the membrane module comprising:
- a plurality of hydrogen-selective membranes, each having a feed side and a permeate side, wherein the membranes are spaced-apart from each other and oriented with their permeate sides generally facing each other to define a harvesting conduit extending therebetween, and further wherein the product stream is formed from the portion of the mixed gas stream that passes through the membranes to the harvesting conduit, with the remaining portion of the mixed gas stream, which remains on the feed side of the membranes, forming the byproduct stream;
- and
- a screen structure within the harvesting conduit adapted to support the membranes, wherein the screen structure includes a pair of generally opposed surfaces which are adapted to provide support to a respective one of the permeate sides of the membranes and which include a coating on at least a portion of the surfaces;
- and
- a product outlet port in fluid communication with the harvesting conduit and through which the product stream is withdrawn from the membrane module.
5 more elements
A hydrogen purification assembly, comprising:
- a housing including at least one end plate and containing a housing inlet adapted to receive a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases, a product output through which a product stream is removed from the housing, and a byproduct output through which a byproduct stream is removed from the housing, wherein the product stream contains at least substantially hydrogen gas and further wherein the byproduct stream contains at least a substantial portion of the other gases;
- and
- a plurality of membrane envelopes, wherein each envelope comprises:
- a hydrogen-selective membrane region having a feed side and a permeate side;
- another hydrogen-selective membrane region having a feed side and a permeate side, wherein the membrane regions are spaced-apart from each other with their permeate sides facing each other and defining a harvesting conduit extending therebetween, wherein the harvesting conduit is in fluid communication with the product output to enable gas passing through the membranes to be withdrawn from the housing through the product output, and further wherein the feed sides are in fluid communication with the housing inlet;
- and
- a support within the harvesting conduit and adapted to support the permeate sides of the membrane regions, wherein the support includes a plurality of screen members, wherein the plurality of screen members includes at least a pair of outer screen members having outer surfaces adapted to support the membranes, and further wherein the outer screen members are selected from the group consisting of screen members that include a coating on the outer surfaces and screen members that are formed from an expanded metal material.
4 more elements
A method for forming a hydrogen-selective membrane module, the method comprising:
- providing a pair of hydrogen-selective metal membranes having feed sides and permeate sides;
- providing a support including outer surfaces through which hydrogen gas may flow;
- adhesively mounting the permeate side of one the hydrogen-selective metal membranes to one of the outer surfaces of the support and adhesively mounting the permeate side of another of the hydrogen-selective metal membranes to the other of the outer surfaces of the support to form a membrane envelope having a harvesting conduit extending between the permeate sides of the hydrogen-selective metal membranes;
- placing the membrane envelope in a membrane module having a pair of end plates;
- and
- subjecting the membrane module to oxidizing conditions to remove at least a substantial portion of the adhesive.
3 more elements
A hydrogen-selective membrane envelope, comprising:
- a hydrogen-selective membrane region having a feed side and a permeate side;
- another hydrogen-selective membrane region having a feed side and a permeate side, wherein the membrane regions are spaced-apart from each other with their permeate sides facing each other and defining a harvesting conduit extending therebetween;
- a screen structure within the harvesting conduit and adapted to support the permeate sides of the membrane regions, wherein the screen structure enables gas passing through the membrane regions to the harvesting conduit to travel transverse and parallel to the permeate sides of the membrane regions, wherein the screen structure includes an inner screen member and a pair of expanded metal screen members separating the inner screen member and the permeate sides of the membrane regions;
- and
- an outlet through which gas may be harvested from the harvesting conduit.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.