794results about "Hydrogen separation using solid contact" patented technology

The present invention provides a method and system for efficiently producing hydrogen that can be supplied to a fuel cell. The method and system of the present invention produces hydrogen in a reforming reactor using a hydrocarbon stream and water vapor stream as reactants. The hydrogen produced is purified in a hydrogen separating membrane to form a retentate stream and purified hydrogen stream. The purified hydrogen can then be fed to a fuel cell where electrical energy is produced and a fuel cell exhaust stream containing water vapor and oxygen depleted air is emitted. In one embodiment of the present invention, a means and method is provided for recycling a portion of the retentate stream to the reforming reactor for increased hydrogen yields. In another embodiment, a combustor is provided for combusting a second portion of the retentate stream to provide heat to the reforming reaction or other reactants. In a preferred embodiment, the combustion is carried out in the presence of at least a portion of the oxygen depleted air stream from the fuel cell. Thus, the system and method of the present invention advantageously uses products generated from the system to enhance the overall efficiency of the system.

Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) separation of a gas mixture is performed in an apparatus with a plurality of adsorbent beds. The invention provides rotary multiport distributor valves to control the timing sequence of the PSA cycle steps between the beds, with flow controls cooperating with the rotary distributor valves to control the volume rates of gas flows to and from the adsorbent beds in blowdown, purge, equalization and repressurization steps.

Hydrogen is produced from solid or liquid carbon-containing fuels in a two-step process. The fuel is gasified with hydrogen in a hydrogenation reaction to produce a methane-rich gaseous reaction product, which is then reacted with water and calcium oxide in a hydrogen production and carbonation reaction to produce hydrogen and calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate may be continuously removed from the hydrogen production and carbonation reaction zone and calcined to regenerate calcium oxide, which may be reintroduced into the hydrogen production and carbonation reaction zone. Hydrogen produced in the hydrogen production and carbonation reaction is more than sufficient both to provide the energy necessary for the calcination reaction and also to sustain the hydrogenation of the coal in the gasification reaction. The excess hydrogen is available for energy production or other purposes. Substantially all of the carbon introduced as fuel ultimately emerges from the invention process in a stream of substantially pure carbon dioxide. The water necessary for the hydrogen production and carbonation reaction may be introduced into both the gasification and hydrogen production and carbonation reactions, and allocated so as transfer the exothermic heat of reaction of the gasification reaction to the endothermic hydrogen production and carbonation reaction.

A system and method for co-production of hydrogen and electrical energy. The system comprises a fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cells further comprise a cathode inlet for receiving a compressed oxidant, an anode inlet for receiving a fuel feed stream, an anode outlet in fluid communication with an anode exhaust stream and a cathode outlet in fluid communication with a cathode exhaust stream. At least a portion of the fuel feed stream reacts with the oxidant to produce electrical power. The anode exhaust stream comprises hydrogen. The co-production system further comprises a separation unit in fluid communication with the fuel cell assembly. The separation unit is configured to receive the anode exhaust stream from the fuel cell assembly to separate hydrogen from the anode exhaust stream.

A process for the separation/recovery of gases is described where the desired component to be separated from the gaseous mixture is present in low/very low molar amount and/or low/moderate pressure, the process comprising contacting the gaseous mixture with a separation membrane unit containing high permeability/medium selectivity membranes which separate the feed stream into a permeate stream, enriched in the desired component and at a lower pressure and a retentate stream lean in the desired component and at a higher pressure. The retentate stream is made to convey its pressure to the permeate stream which then is directed to an adsorption PSA unit for further purification of the permeate stream so that the effluent stream from the PSA unit which contains the purified component has a purity of up to 99.90%. The process is useful for separating hydrogen from refinery off gases such as FCC gases and can also be applied to other gases such as helium and any other valuable gases present in gaseous streams in low to very low molar contents and low to moderate pressures.

A steam methane reforming method in which a feed stream is treated in a reactor containing a catalyst that is capable of promoting both hydrogenation and partial oxidation reactions. The reactor is either operated in a catalytic hydrogenation mode to convert olefins into saturated hydrocarbons and/or to chemically reduce sulfur species to hydrogen sulfide or a catalytic oxidative mode utilizing oxygen and steam to prereform the feed and thus, increase the hydrogen content of a synthesis gas produced by a steam methane reformer. The method is applicable to the treatment of feed streams containing at least 15% by volume of hydrocarbons with two or more carbon atoms and/or 3% by volume of olefins, such as a refinery off-gas. In such case, the catalytic oxidative mode is conducted with a steam to carbon ratio of less than 0.5, an oxygen to carbon ratio of less than 0.25 and a reaction temperature of between about 500° C. and about 860° C. to limit the feed to the steam methane reformer to volumetric dry concentrations of less than about 0.5% for the olefins and less than about 10% for alkanes with two or more carbon atoms.

A process and system for providing a hydrogen-containing gas stream to a fuel cell anode that includes providing a hydrogen-containing gas stream that includes carbon monoxide, introducing the hydrogen-containing gas stream into a pressure swing adsorption module that includes at least one carbon monoxide-selective adsorbent to produce a purified hydrogen-containing gas stream, and introducing the purified hydrogen-containing gas stream to the fuel cell anode. The pressure swing adsorption module can also include a second adsorbent and/or catalyst. Also disclosed is a fuel cell system coupled to an internal combustion engine and a fuel cell system that utilizes fuel cell waste heat for vaporizing a hydrocarbon/water mixture.

Hydrogen (H₂) gas and crude carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas are separated from a gaseous mixture thereof. Combustible gas(es) in the crude CO₂ gas are combusted to produce heat, at least a portion of which is recovered by indirect heat exchange with at least a portion of the separated H₂ gas or a gas derived therefrom. The invention may be integrated with coal-fired power stations to reduce or eliminate emission of harmful components into the atmosphere.

The present invention relates to processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular methane, via the hydromethanation of carbonaceous feedstocks in the presence of steam, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and a hydromethanation catalyst.

The present invention provides compact adsorption systems that are capable of rapid temperature swings and rapid cycling. Novel methods of thermal swing adsorption and thermally-enhanced pressure swing adsorption are also described. In some aspects of the invention, a gas is passed through the adsorbent thus allowing heat exchangers to be very close to all portions of the adsorbent and utilize less space. In another aspect, the adsorption media is selectively heated, thus reducing energy costs. Methods and systems for gas adsorption/desorption having improved energy efficiency with capability of short cycle times are also described. Advantages of the invention include the ability to use (typically) 30-100 times less adsorbent compared to conventional systems.

A multi-channel modular device (10) processes between two fluid streams of different compositions. The device (10) includes a porous body (150) having a first plurality of feed-flow pathways (110) disposed in the body (150) for transporting a first stream (180). A pathway wall (114) surrounds each of the first plurality of feed-flow pathways (110) for processing the first stream (180) into a first composition (1852) and a second composition (1802). At least one feed-flow inlet (1101) is disposed in the body (150) for introducing the first stream (180) into the first plurality of feed-flow pathways (110). At least one feed-flow outlet (1102) is disposed in the body (150) for discharging the remaining first stream containing the second composition (1802). At least one second pathway (210) is disposed in the body (150) for transporting a second stream (280) having a second inlet (2101) and a second outlet (2102). A networked plurality of fluid conduits (152) formed in the porous body (150) provides the flow-conduit for the second stream (280) to sweep the first composition (1852) from each of the first plurality of the feed-flow pathways (110) to the second outlet (2102). A vessel (300) ports the inlets (1101 and 2101) and outlets (1102 and 2102) to provide a second stream flow access and for spacing the body within and away from the inner surfaces of the vessel (300) to provide a gap (310) for access. A partition (350) is disposed in the gap between the body and the vessel for diverting the flow within the gap (310).

A process for producing a high temperature CO_x-lean product gas from a high temperature CO_x-containing feed gas, includes: providing a sorption enhanced reactor containing a first adsorbent, a shift catalyst and a second adsorbent; feeding into the reactor a feed gas containing H₂, H₂O, CO and CO₂; contacting the feed gas with the first adsorbent to provide a CO₂ depleted feed gas; contacting the CO₂ depleted feed gas with the shift catalyst to form a product mixture comprising CO₂ and H₂; and contacting the product mixture with a mixture of second adsorbent and shift catalyst to produce the product gas, which contains at least 50 vol. % H₂, and less than 5 combined vol. % of CO₂ and CO. The adsorbent is a high temperature adsorbent for a Sorption Enhanced Reaction process, such as K₂CO₃ promoted hydrotalcites, modified double-layered hydroxides, spinels, modified spinels, and magnesium oxides.

Materials that are useful for absorption enhanced reforming (AER) of a fuel, including absorbent materials and catalyst materials. The materials can be fabricated by spray processing. The use of the materials in AER can produce a H₂ product gas having a high H₂ content and a low level of carbon oxides.

Solid absorbent materials that are useful for absorption of chemical species from a fluid, such as a gas stream or a liquid stream. The absorbent materials are formed by spray processing and posses a well-defined chemical composition and microstructure. The absorbent materials can have a high absorption capacity for a chemical species such as H₂S, CO₂, NO, and H₂ and have a high recylability, such that the chemical species can be absorbed and desorbed over a large number of cycles.

A process and apparatus for the decontamination of gaseous contaminants (especially oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor) from hydride gases (including their lower alkyl analogs) down to <=100 ppb contaminant concentration are described. The critical component is a high surface area metal oxide substrate with reduced metal active sites, which in various physical forms is capable of decontaminating such gases to <=100 ppb, <=50 ppb or <=10 ppb level without being detrimentally affected by the hydride gases. The surface area of the substrate will be >=100 m2/g, and preferably 200-800 m2/g. Oxides of various metals, especially manganese or molybdenum, can be used, and mixtures of integrated oxides, or one type of oxide coated on another, may be used. The substrate is preferably retained in a hydride-gas-resistant container which is installed in a gas supply line, such as to a gas- or vapor-deposition manufacturing unit. The invention provides final decontamination for hydride gas streams intended for gas- or vapor-deposition formation of high purity LED, laser (especially blue laser), electronic, optical or similar products, and can be used in combination with upstream preliminary decontamination process and/or upstream or downstream solid particulate removal units.

A system for producing synthesis gas includes a regeneration zone. The regeneration zone includes a first fluidized bed configured to receive an oxidant for producing a regenerated oxygen transfer material. The system further includes a mixed reforming zone comprising a second fluidized bed configured to receive a first fuel and the regenerated oxygen transfer material to produce a first reformate stream and a steam reforming zone comprising a third fluidized bed configured to receive the first reformate stream, a second fuel and steam to produce the synthesis gas. The regeneration zone, mixed reforming zone and steam-reforming zone are in fluid communication with each other.

The invention provides a method for generating power with a gas turbine which utilizes pressure swing reforming under conditions that facilitate CO₂ capture. First a synthesis gas stream at a first pressure is produced in a pressure swing reformer. Next the synthesis gas stream is subjected to a high temperature water gas shift process to produce a CO₂ containing hydrogen enriched stream from which hydrogen and CO₂ each are separated. The separated hydrogen in turn is combusted with air to produce a gas turbine and the separated CO₂ is easily sequestered.

A description is given of agglomerates of faujasite X with an Si/Al ratio of 1, the inert binder of which, on the one hand, has been converted to active zeolite by conversion to zeolite in an alkaline liquor, and which have been subjected, on the other hand, to an exhaustive lithium exchange. These adsorbents develop a nitrogen adsorption capacity (1 bar/25° C.) of at least 26 cm<3>/g, which makes them excellent adsorbents for the non-cryogenic separation of gases from air and for the purification of hydrogen.

A three-bed pressure swing adsorption system providing a constant continuous supply gas, preferably containing a hydrogen component, in a multi-step and preferably in a twelve-step, process cycle that can produce a purified gas product, preferably hydrogen, on a constant flow.

A gas supplying system for fuel cell includes a reformer generating a reformed gas by reforming a mixed raw material including a fuel and a first water, a piping network distributing the reformed gas to fuel cell systems each of which is installed in different rooms or buildings, a drain recovery unit recovering a water condensed from the reformed gas in the piping network. The piping network has a circulating route. By the circulation route, the reformed gas does not stay in the piping network so that the water condensation in the piping is suppressed. The water in the piping is removed by the drain recovery unit. According to this configuration, the clogging and corrosion of the piping caused by the condensed water is avoided.

Hydrogen sulfide is removed from a hydrogen rich gas stream using adsorbents having a low loss of carbon dioxide adsorption capacity upon sulfur loading including high purity silica gels, titania or highly cross-linked, non-chemically reactive resins. The adsorbents may be used to adsorb both carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, or may be used as a guard bed upstream of a separate carbon dioxide adsorbent.

The invention discloses a membrane separator for methyl alcohol water hydrogen production equipment and a fabrication method of the membrane separator. The method comprises the following steps that Step S1, a metal palladium membrane tube and a ceramic membrane tube are fabricated respectively; Step S2, set packing is filled in joint parts at one end of the metal palladium membrane tube and one end of the ceramic membrane tube; an expansion coefficient of the packing falls in between those of a metal palladium membrane tube material and a ceramic membrane tube material; and Step S3, the packing is sintered on site at 50-1000 DEG C, and solidified; and the joint parts of the metal palladium membrane tube and the ceramic membrane tube are sealed. With the adoption of the fabrication method of the membrane separator for the methyl alcohol water hydrogen production equipment, the membrane separator with good sealability can be fabricated, so that the preparation efficiency of hydrogen is ensured.

A fuel reformer suited for mounting on a vehicle is provided. A raw material gas containing methanol and water is vaporized at a vaporization section 30. The vaporized gas flows horizontally to a reforming section 60 with monolithic catalyst 70. The reforming section is divided into two sides, a front side 62 and a rear side 64, with an interconnecting pipe 66 bent at 180 degrees, for connecting the front and rear sides. By making the material gas flow horizontally, even when the reformer is mounted to a vehicle which has a larger space in its horizontal direction than in its vertical direction, especially a small passenger car, the contact time period between gas and catalyst can be extended. By bending the reforming section by 180 degrees, the size of the reformer can be reduced so that the reformer is suited for mounting on a vehicle having limited space. Because the vaporization section 30 and the CO reducing section 80 can be placed adjacent to each other, by using heat generated at the CO reducing section, the heat loss during pre-heating of the methanol and water can be reduced.

The present disclosure provides teachings relating to ammonia-based hydrogen generation apparatus and associated methods of use. Exemplary methods and apparatus comprise a thermocatalytic hydrogen generation reactor which includes a reaction chamber containing a catalyst-coated substrate, and a combustion chamber containing a catalyst-coated substrate. Exemplary catalyst-coated substrates include, but are not limited to, metal foam, monolith, mesh, ceramic foam or ceramic monolith.

This invention provides a process for making ammonia from biomass. The biomass may be first reacted with oxygen and steam to generate a biosyngas comprising hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) as the active components. The gasification step may be regulated to reduce the amount of methane in the biosyngas that may leave the gasifier.

A method of storing and supplying a gaseous hydrogen product to a pipeline under a product purity specification in which a hydrogen stream made up of gaseous hydrogen is compressed to form a compressed hydrogen stream and introduced into a salt cavern for storage. A crude hydrogen stream, contaminated from storage in the salt cavern is recovered and purified by sufficiently removing at least carbon dioxide and water vapor to produce a hydrogen product stream having an impurity level at or below the product purity specification. The hydrogen product stream is supplied back to the pipeline. Alternatively, during periods of low demand, hydrogen produced by a production facility is both purified and supplied to the pipeline and stored in the salt cavern. During high demand period, both the output of the production facility and hydrogen retrieved from the salt cavern are purified and supplied to the pipeline.

Methods for converting hydrocarbon fuels to hydrogen-rich reformate that incorporate a carbon dioxide fixing mechanism into the initial hydrocarbon conversion process. The mechanism utilizes a carbon dioxide fixing material to remove carbon dioxide from the reformate product stream. The removal of carbon dioxide from the product stream shifts the reforming reaction equilibrium toward higher hydrocarbon conversion with only small amounts of carbon oxides produced. Repeated absorption/desorption of carbon dioxide by the fixing materials tends to decrease the fixing capacity of the materials. Hydration of the carbon dioxide fixing materials between one or more cycles serves to sustain their fixing capacity and to enhance the efficiencies of the reforming and shift reactions occurring in the catalyst bed. Hydration can occur during reactor start-up or shut down, periodically over a number of cycles, and/or upon a monitored change in the reformate composition.

A self-sustaining process for producing liquid fuels from biomass in which the biomass is hydropyrolyzed in a reactor vessel containing molecular hydrogen and a deoxygenating catalyst, producing a partially deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid, which is hydrogenated using a hydroconversion catalyst, producing a substantially fully deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid and a gaseous mixture comprising CO and light hydrocarbon gases (C₁-C₄). The gaseous mixture is reformed in a steam reformer, producing reformed molecular hydrogen, which is then introduced into the reactor vessel for hydropyrolizing the biomass. The deoxygenated liquid product is further processed to produce diesel fuel and gasoline.

A hydrogen production method and facility in which a synthesis gas stream produced by the gasification of a carbonaceous substance is processed within a synthesis gas processing unit in which the carbon monoxide content is reacted with steam to produce additional hydrogen that is removed by a pressure swing adsorption unit. The tail gas from the pressure swing adsorption unit is further reformed with the addition of a hydrocarbon containing stream in a steam methane reforming system, further shifted to produce further additional hydrogen. The further hydrogen is then separated in another pressure swing adsorption unit.

A self-sustaining process for producing liquid fuels from biomass in which the biomass is hydropyrolyzed in a reactor vessel containing molecular hydrogen and a deoxygenating catalyst, producing a partially deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid, which is hydrogenated using a hydroconversion catalyst, producing a substantially fully deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid and a gaseous mixture comprising CO and light hydrocarbon gases (C₁-C₄). The gaseous mixture is reformed in a steam reformer, producing reformed molecular hydrogen, which is then introduced into the reactor vessel for hydropyrolizing the biomass. The deoxygenated liquid product is further processed to produce diesel fuel and gasoline.