Dense, layered membranes for hydrogen separation
AssigneeEltron Research, Inc.
InventorsShane E. Roark, Richard MacKay, Michael V. Mundschau
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Abstract
This invention provides hydrogen-permeable membranes for separation of hydrogen from hydrogen-containing gases. The membranes are multi-layer having a central hydrogen-permeable layer with one or more catalyst layers, barrier layers, and/or protective layers. The invention also relates to membrane reactors employing the hydrogen-permeable membranes of the invention and to methods for separation of hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing gas using the membranes and reactors. The reactors of this invention can be combined with additional reactor systems for direct use of the separated hydrogen.
Claims45
A non-porous multi-layer membrane that is selectively permeable to hydrogen having a hydrogen source surface and a hydrogen sink surface and which comprises a hydrogen-permeable central layer and at least one catalyst layer that facilitates the dissociation of hydrogen positioned in the membrane between the central layer and the hydrogen source surface, at least one protective layer, and at least one barrier layer.
A non-porous multi-layer membrane that is selectively permeable to hydrogen having a hydrogen source surface and a hydrogen sink surface and which comprises a hydrogen-permeable central layer and at least one catalyst layer that facilitates the dissociation of hydrogen positioned in the membrane between the central layer and the hydrogen source surface and at least one protective layer or at least one barrier layer wherein the hydrogen-permeable layer is a cermet wherein the metal of the cermet is a metal or alloy that is permeable to hydrogen, except that the metal or alloy is not palladium or an alloy of palladium.
A non-porous multi-layer membrane that is selectively permeable to hydrogen having a hydrogen source surface and a hydrogen sink surface and which comprises a hydrogen-permeable central layer and at least one catalyst layer that facilitates the dissociation of hydrogen positioned in the membrane between the central layer and the hydrogen source surface and at least one protective layer or at least one barrier layer wherein the hydrogen-permeable membrane layer is a multiphase material comprising at least one hydrogen ion-conducting phase and at least one electron-conducting phase.
A non-porous multi-layer membrane that is selectively permeable to hydrogen having a hydrogen source surface and a hydrogen sink surface and which comprises a hydrogen-permeable central layer and at least one catalyst layer that facilitates the dissociation of hydrogen positioned in the membrane between the central layer and the hydrogen source surface and at least one protective layer and optionally at least one barrier layer wherein the at least one protective layer is a porous metal oxide.
A non-porous multi-layer membrane that is selectively permeable to hydrogen having a hydrogen source surface and a hydrogen sink surface and which comprises a hydrogen-permeable central layer and at least one catalyst layer that facilitates the dissociation of hydrogen positioned in the membrane between the central layer and the hydrogen source surface and at least one protective layer or at least one barrier layer wherein the at least one catalyst layer is porous, non-continuous or both.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.