System and method for efficiently separating hydrogen gas from a mixed gas source

A method of separating hydrogen gas from a source gas, comprising the steps of:

• providing a hydrogen permeable tube;
• providing a support tube, wherein said hydrogen permeable tube and said support tube overlap and are coaxially aligned so that a gap space exists between said hydrogen permeable tube and said support tube;
• passing said source gas through a catalyst;
• and
• passing the source gas through said gap space between said hydrogen permeable tube and said support tube after passing through said catalyst, wherein hydrogen from said source gas passes through said hydrogen permeable tube and is separated from said source gas.

A hydrogen separator for separating hydrogen gas from a source gas, said hydrogen separator comprising:

• a hydrogen permeable tube having an open first end and a closed second end, wherein said hydrogen permeable tube extends inside said support tube, and wherein said hydrogen permeable tube is made of a hydrogen permeable material;
• and
• a support tube coaxially aligned with said hydrogen permeable tube, wherein a gap space exists between said hydrogen permeable tube and said support tube;
• wherein the source gas is introduced into said gap space by flowing through said support tube and hydrogen from said source gas passes through said hydrogen permeable tube from said gap space and is collected.