Hydrogen extraction unit

A fuel cell system comprising:

• a hydrogen extraction unit;
• and
• a fuel cell that obtains an electromotive force by using hydrogen extracted from the hydrogen extraction unit in an electrochemical reaction,
• wherein:
• the hydrogen extraction unit is equipped with:
• a hydrogen separation member designed as a thin metal plate member that is equipped with a hydrogen separation film that selectively allows penetration of hydrogen, the hydrogen separation member having a first face and an opposing second face;
• a first flow channel member disposed in a laminated manner, designed as a thin metal plate member, disposed adjacent to the first face of the hydrogen separation member, bonded to the hydrogen separation member by a bonding method free from fusion of a base material, and constituting, together with the hydrogen separation member adjacent to the first flow channel member, a hydrogen-containing gas flow channel and through which the hydrogen-containing gas flows laterally across the first face of the hydrogen separation member in a first direction;
• and
• a second flow channel member disposed in a laminated manner, designed as a thin metal plate member, disposed adjacent to the second face of the hydrogen separation member, bonded to the hydrogen separation member by a bonding method free from fusion of a base material, and constituting, together with the hydrogen separation member adjacent to the second flow channel member, a hydrogen flow channel through which hydrogen penetrating the hydrogen separation film and extracted from the hydrogen-containing gas flows laterally across the second face of the hydrogen separation member in a second direction, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

A hydrogen extraction unit for extracting hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing gas that contains hydrogen, comprising:

• a hydrogen separation member having a first face and an opposing second face, the hydrogen separation member designed as a thin plate having a coat made from one of palladium and a palladium alloy on opposed first and second faces that selectively allows penetration of hydrogen and that is made of a group five metal or a group five metal alloy;
• a first flow channel member designed as a thin plate member, disposed adjacent to the first face of the hydrogen separation member, and constituting, together with the hydrogen separation member adjacent to the first flow channel member, a hydrogen-containing gas flow channel through which the hydrogen-containing gas flows laterally across the first face of the hydrogen separation member in a first direction;
• and
• a second flow channel member designed as a thin plate member, disposed adjacent to the second face of the hydrogen separation member, and constituting, together with the hydrogen separation member adjacent to the second flow channel member, a hydrogen flow channel through which hydrogen penetrating the hydrogen separation film and extracted from the hydrogen-containing gas flows laterally across the second face of the hydrogen separation member in a second direction, the first direction being approximately perpendicular to the second direction;
• wherein
• the hydrogen separation member, the first flow channel member, and the second flow channel member are constructed in a laminated manner.

A hydrogen extraction unit for extracting hydrogen from a hydrogen containing gas that contains hydrogen, comprising:

• a plurality of hydrogen separation plates, first flow channel plates and second flow channel plates;
• each hydrogen separation plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and being permeable to hydrogen gas;
• each first flow channel plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the first flow channel plate being adjacent the top surface of the hydrogen separation plate and when bonded together defining a first flow channel in a first direction, the first flow channel having a first flow inlet at one end and a first flow outlet at an opposing end;
• each second flow channel plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the second flow channel plate being adjacent the bottom surface of the hydrogen separation plate and when bonded together defining a second flow channel in a second direction, the second flow channel having a second flow inlet at one end and a second flow outlet at an opposing end;
• and
• when the plurality of plates are stacked together the top surface of the first flow channel plate is adjacent and bonded together with the bottom surface of the next hydrogen separation-plate above it and the bottom surface of the second flow channel plate is bonded with the top surface of the next hydrogen separation plate below it, the plurality of plates defining a first channel inlet side exposing the first flow channel inlet for the entrance of reforming gas, a second channel inlet side exposing the second flow channel inlet for the entrance of purged gas, a first channel outlet side exposing the first flow channel outlet for the transfer of exhaust gas and a second channel outlet side exposing the second flow channel outlet for the transfer of enriched gas.

A method of manufacturing a hydrogen extraction unit for extracting hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing gas that contains hydrogen, comprising the steps of:

• (a) preparing a hydrogen separation member having a first and second face, the hydrogen separation member designed as a thin metal plate member equipped with a hydrogen separation film that selectively allows penetration of hydrogen;
• (b) preparing a first flow channel member designed as a thin metal plate member and equipped with a first flow channel portion for constituting a first gas flow channel that extends in a first direction between the first flow channel member and the first face of the hydrogen separation member that is adjacent to the first flow channel member when the hydrogen extraction unit has been assembled;
• (c) preparing a second flow channel member designed as a thin metal plate member and equipped with a second flow channel portion for constituting a second gas flow channel that extends in a second direction between the second flow channel member and the second face of the hydrogen separation member that is adjacent to the second flow channel member when the hydrogen extraction unit has been assembled.
• (d) laminating a plurality of members including the hydrogen separation member the first flow channel member, and the second flow member in a predetermined sequence;
• and
• (e) bonding the hydrogen separation member and the first and second flow channel member together by a bonding method free from fusion of a base material so that the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.