Method of optimally operating a palladium-copper alloy membrane in the generation of pure hydrogen from a fossil fuel reformate at a controlled high temperature
AssigneeHy9 Corporation
InventorCharles W. Krueger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optimized method of operating a palladium-copper alloy membrane in the generation of pure hydrogen from a fossil fuel reformate and the like in a controlled high temperature range of from about 470° C. to 600° C., achieving substantially constant hydrogen permeation flux flow rate over that range and without the development of leakage breaks.
Claims8
A method of controlling a palladium-copper alloy membrane in the generation of pure hydrogen from a fossil fuel reformate, that comprises, permeating hydrogen from the reformate through a surface of a leak-free palladium-copper alloy membrane of composition adjusted to be of substantially 54 to 58 weight percentage of palladium and 46 to 42 weight percentage of copper, respectively, and mounted with a porous-oxide support in direct contact with said membrane surface;
- and controlling the temperature to which the membrane is subjected during said permeation to operation in the range of from about 470° C. to about 600° C., wherein substantially constant hydrogen flux is permeated through the membrane over said temperature range and without leakage breakage.
A method of separating hydrogen from a gas mixture containing hydrogen in a temperature range from about 470° C. to about 600° C., that comprises, permeating the hydrogen through a leak-free palladium-copper alloy membrane of composition adjusted to be optimized both for permeability rate and resistance to leakage breakage during operation in said temperature range, and mounted with a porous-oxide support in direct contact therewith;
- and controlling the temperature to which the membrane is subjected while being permeated by a stable flux of pure hydrogen to confine said operation to said temperature range.
In the generation of pure hydrogen from a fossil fuel reformate, a cell having a controller of temperature in the range of about 470° C. to about 570° C. and mounting therein a leak-free membrane consisting of a palladium copper alloy having a surface through which hydrogen is permeated and provided with a porous oxide-bearing support in direct contact with said surface of the membrane, the membrane having a composition adjusted to be of substantially 54 to 58 weight percentage of palladium and 46 to 42 weight percentage of copper, respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.