A high purity hydrogen generator

Abstract

This invention relates to a high-purity hydrogen generator, which includes a hydrogen production module, a palladium membrane purification module, a vacuum pump, a six-way valve, and a three-way valve. This hydrogen generator uses the temperature control component of the palladium membrane purification module for automated system control. It not only has advantages such as simple device structure and portability, but also eliminates the need for additional control software while achieving automated one-button start-up.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of hydrogen production and relates to a high-purity hydrogen generator. Background Technology

[0002] Common hydrogen production methods include coal-to-hydrogen, alcohol reforming, alkane reforming, and water electrolysis. Among these, alcohol reforming and water electrolysis are widely used in distributed, small-scale hydrogen production, especially water electrolysis, which offers advantages such as high efficiency, simple equipment, and relatively high purity of the produced hydrogen. However, for most hydrogen-using applications, even the purity of hydrogen produced by water electrolysis is insufficient. Therefore, hydrogen production coupled with purification is particularly crucial in distributed applications.

[0003] Hydrogen purification methods include pressure swing adsorption (PSA), cryogenic methods, and membrane separation. PSA is often suitable for large-scale and ultra-large-scale hydrogen production and purification, but its output hydrogen purity is relative, with an extremely low hydrogen-helium separation coefficient. The output hydrogen purity depends on the type of adsorbent, especially when the hydrogen source mass changes. Cryogenic methods are often suitable for medium-to-large-scale hydrogen purification because hydrogen liquefaction temperatures are extremely low, resulting in relatively reliable output hydrogen purity, but this comes at the cost of high energy consumption. Membrane separation offers advantages such as low investment, low energy consumption, and high efficiency, and is often used in small-to-medium-scale hydrogen purification, especially palladium membrane separation. Palladium membrane separation has unique selective permeability to hydrogen, resulting in the highest hydrogen purity, and is particularly widely used in the semiconductor field.

[0004] Commonly used hydrogen production instruments based on palladium membrane purification have multiple valve controls. Due to the protection mechanism of the palladium membrane, a set of palladium membrane purification modules often requires at least five control valves, which not only makes the control complex, but also increases the space and weight required by the equipment, thus hindering the advantages of palladium membrane purification in portable applications. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned shortcomings, the present invention aims to provide a high-purity hydrogen generator with a simple structure, easy portability, and fully automated control.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A high-purity hydrogen generator includes a hydrogen production module, a palladium membrane purification module, a vacuum pump, a six-way valve, and a three-way valve. The six-way valve has six ports: A, B, C, D, E, and F. Port A of the six-way valve is connected to the hydrogen production feedstock; port B of the six-way valve is connected to the hydrogen production module, the palladium membrane purification module, and port E of the six-way valve; port C of the six-way valve is connected to the first port of the three-way valve; port D of the six-way valve is connected to the vacuum pump; port F of the six-way valve is connected to the atmosphere; the high-purity hydrogen outlet of the palladium membrane purification module is connected to the second port of the three-way valve; and the third port of the three-way valve outputs high-purity hydrogen.

[0008] The hydrogen production module involves one of the following methods: water electrolysis, metal hydride hydrolysis, metal production, ammonia decomposition, alcohol production, or alkane production.

[0009] The palladium membrane in the palladium membrane purification module is one of pure palladium membrane, palladium-silver alloy membrane, palladium-copper alloy membrane, and palladium-gold alloy membrane.

[0010] The six-way valve and the three-way valve are electrically or pneumatically controlled two-position valves, and the six-way valve and the three-way valve include a protection position and a hydrogen production position.

[0011] The palladium membrane purification module includes heating and temperature control components. The temperature control component can output either a low-temperature signal or a high-temperature signal. When the actual temperature of the palladium membrane purification module is lower than the set operating temperature, the temperature control component outputs a low-temperature signal, the six-way valve and three-way valve automatically switch to the protection position, and the vacuum pump is activated. When the actual temperature of the palladium membrane purification module reaches the set operating temperature, the temperature control component outputs a high-temperature signal, the six-way valve and three-way valve automatically switch to the hydrogen production position, the vacuum pump is shut down, and hydrogen production begins. The operating temperature of the palladium membrane purification module is 350℃~500℃.

[0012] The vacuum pump is used to evacuate the pipeline to protect the palladium membrane during the heating and cooling phases of the palladium membrane purification module.

[0013] The working process of the high-purity hydrogen generator involved in this invention is as follows: The operating temperature of the palladium membrane purification module is set, and the temperature is increased according to a set heating rate. During the heating stage, because the actual temperature of the palladium membrane purification module is lower than the set operating temperature, the temperature control component outputs a low-temperature signal, the six-way valve and three-way valve automatically switch to the protection position, and the vacuum pump is simultaneously activated to evacuate the system pipeline for protection. When the actual temperature of the palladium membrane purification module reaches the set operating temperature, the temperature control component outputs a high-temperature signal, the six-way valve and three-way valve automatically switch to the hydrogen production position, the vacuum pump stops working, and the hydrogen production feedstock is input from port A of the six-way valve and output from port B of the six-way valve to the hydrogen production generator. The hydrogen module produces hydrogen-rich gas, which is then transported to the palladium membrane purification module. The residual tail gas after purification is transported from the tail gas outlet of the palladium membrane purification module to port E of the six-way valve and discharged from port F. The purified high-purity hydrogen is transported from the pure hydrogen outlet of the palladium membrane purification module to port 2 of the three-way valve and discharged from port 3. When shutdown is required, the heating of the palladium membrane purification module is turned off, allowing it to cool naturally. During the cooling phase, when the actual temperature of the palladium membrane purification module falls below the set operating temperature, the temperature control component outputs a low-temperature signal. At this time, the six-way valve and three-way valve automatically switch to the protection position, stopping hydrogen production and simultaneously activating the vacuum pump to evacuate the system pipelines for protection.

[0014] Beneficial effects: The high-purity hydrogen generator of the present invention connects the hydrogen production module and the palladium membrane purification module through a six-way valve and a three-way valve. The system is automatically controlled by a temperature control component. It not only has the advantages of simple device structure and easy portability, but also achieves automatic one-button operation without the need to write additional control software. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a high-purity hydrogen generator. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0017] Example 1

[0018] Please refer to Figure 1According to one embodiment of the present invention, a high-purity hydrogen generator includes a hydrogen production module 1, a palladium membrane purification module 2, a vacuum pump 3, a six-way valve 4, and a three-way valve 5. The six-way valve 4 has six ports: A, B, C, D, E, and F. Port A of the six-way valve 4 is connected to the hydrogen production raw material, port B of the six-way valve 4 is connected to the hydrogen production module 1, the palladium membrane purification module 2, and port E of the six-way valve 4, port C of the six-way valve 4 is connected to the first port 51 of the three-way valve 5, port D of the six-way valve 4 is connected to the vacuum pump 3, port F of the six-way valve 4 is connected to the atmosphere, the high-purity hydrogen outlet of the palladium membrane purification module 2 is connected to the second port 52 of the three-way valve 5, and the third port 53 of the three-way valve 5 outputs high-purity hydrogen.

[0019] In this embodiment, the hydrogen production module 1 uses water electrolysis to produce hydrogen, the palladium membrane in the palladium membrane purification module 2 is a pure palladium membrane, the operating temperature of the palladium membrane purification module 2 is 350℃, and the six-way valve 4 and the three-way valve 5 are electric two-position valves.

[0020] The specific working process of this high-purity hydrogen generator is as follows: The operating temperature of the palladium membrane purification module 2 is set to 350℃, and the heating rate is set to 20℃ / min. During the heating phase, because the actual temperature of the palladium membrane purification module 2 is lower than the set operating temperature, the temperature control component of the palladium membrane purification module 2 outputs a low-temperature signal. The six-way valve 4 and three-way valve 5 automatically switch to the protection position, and simultaneously, the vacuum pump 3 is activated to evacuate the system pipeline for protection. When the actual temperature of the palladium membrane purification module 2 reaches the set operating temperature, the temperature control component of the palladium membrane purification module 2 outputs a high-temperature signal. The six-way valve 4 and three-way valve 5 automatically switch to the hydrogen production position, the vacuum pump 3 stops working, and the hydrogen production feedstock is input from the A port of the six-way valve 4. The B interface outputs to the hydrogen production module 1. The hydrogen-rich gas produced by the hydrogen production module 1 is delivered to the palladium membrane purification module 2. The residual tail gas after purification is delivered from the tail gas outlet of the palladium membrane purification module 2 to the E port of the six-way valve 4 and discharged from the F port of the six-way valve 4. The purified high-purity hydrogen is delivered from the pure hydrogen outlet of the palladium membrane purification module 2 to the second port 52 of the three-way valve 5 and discharged from the third port 53 of the three-way valve 5. When it is necessary to shut down, the heating of the palladium membrane purification module 2 is turned off, and it cools down naturally. During the cooling stage, when the actual temperature of the palladium membrane purification module 2 is lower than the set operating temperature of the palladium membrane purification module 2, the temperature control component outputs a low temperature signal. At this time, the six-way valve 4 and the three-way valve 5 automatically switch to the protection position, stop hydrogen production, and at the same time start the vacuum pump 3 to evacuate the system pipeline for protection.

[0021] Example 2

[0022] Unlike Example 1, the hydrogen production method involved in the hydrogen production module 1 is hydrogen production by hydrolysis of metal hydrides, the palladium membrane involved in the palladium membrane purification module 2 is a palladium-copper alloy membrane, the operating temperature of the palladium membrane purification module 2 is 450℃, and the six-way valve 4 and the three-way valve 5 are pneumatic two-position valves.

[0023] Example 3

[0024] Unlike Example 1, the hydrogen production method involved in the hydrogen production module 1 is ammonia decomposition hydrogen production, the palladium membrane involved in the palladium membrane purification module 2 is a palladium-silver alloy membrane, and the operating temperature of the palladium membrane purification module 2 is 500℃.

Claims

1. A high purity hydrogen gas generator characterized by: The hydrogen production module, the palladium membrane purification module, the vacuum pump, the six-way valve and the three-way valve are connected. The six-way valve and the three-way valve are electric or pneumatic control two-position valves, and the six-way valve and the three-way valve comprise a protection position and a hydrogen production position. The palladium membrane purification module comprises a heating and temperature control component, and the temperature control component can output a low temperature signal or a high temperature signal; when the actual temperature of the palladium membrane purification module is lower than the set operating temperature of the palladium membrane purification module, the temperature control component outputs the low temperature signal, the six-way valve and the three-way valve are automatically switched to the protection position, and the vacuum pump is started; when the actual temperature of the palladium membrane purification module reaches the set operating temperature of the palladium membrane purification module, the temperature control component outputs the high temperature signal, the six-way valve and the three-way valve are automatically switched to the hydrogen production position, the vacuum pump is stopped, and hydrogen production is started.

2. The high-purity hydrogen gas generator according to claim 1, characterized by: The hydrogen production method involved in the hydrogen production module is one of electrolysis of water, hydrolysis of metal hydride, metal hydrogen production, ammonia decomposition, alcohol hydrogen production and alkane hydrogen production.

3. The high-purity hydrogen gas generator according to claim 1, characterized by: The palladium membrane in the palladium membrane purification module is one of a pure palladium membrane, a palladium-silver alloy membrane, a palladium-copper alloy membrane and a palladium-gold alloy membrane.

4. The high-purity hydrogen gas generator according to claim 1, characterized by: The operating temperature of the palladium membrane purification module is 350-500 DEG C.

5. The high-purity hydrogen gas generator of claim 1, wherein: The vacuum pump is used to pump the pipeline to protect the palladium membrane when the palladium membrane purification module is heated and cooled.

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