Metallurgically Bonded Microscreen Membranes for Hydrogen Purification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen generation assemblies produce mixed gas streams with impurities, requiring effective purification to increase hydrogen purity for applications like energy production in fuel cells, but existing methods may not adequately remove all impurities, especially carbon monoxide, which can damage fuel cell stacks.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen purification device incorporating a foil-microscreen assembly with hydrogen-selective membranes, where the membranes are metallurgically bonded to a microscreen structure, allowing for pressure-driven separation of hydrogen gas from other gases, forming a permeate stream with higher hydrogen concentration and a byproduct stream with reduced impurities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional purification methods are used, then the purification process is simple, but hydrogen purity is insufficient and impurities like carbon monoxide remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-film hydrogen-selective membranes to achieve high-purity hydrogen separation. These membranes are metallurgically bonded to microscreen structures, creating a compact purification device that effectively removes impurities like carbon monoxide while maintaining structural integrity and enabling high hydrogen purity output
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite structures combining hydrogen-selective membrane materials with microscreen support structures. This composite approach integrates separation functionality with mechanical support, achieving both high hydrogen purity and structural stability in a single integrated component
2Manufacturing precision
If hydrogen-selective membranes are used, then hydrogen purity is increased, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hydrogen-selective membrane with the microscreen support structure through metallurgical bonding, creating an integrated assembly. This combination simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of separate components and assembly steps while maintaining high hydrogen purity separation performance
Solution Approach 2:
The microscreen structure serves as an intermediary support that enables the thin hydrogen-selective membrane to function effectively. This intermediary structure provides mechanical strength and structural stability to the membrane, facilitating easier handling and manufacturing while preserving the membrane's selective separation properties
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively increases hydrogen purity by separating hydrogen gas from impurities, reducing the concentration of harmful gases like carbon monoxide, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of hydrogen use in energy production applications.
Implementation Method 1
Hydrogen purification using one or more hydrogen-selective membranes is a pressure driven separation process in which the one or more hydrogen-selective membranes are contained in a pressure vessel. The mixed gas stream contacts the mixed gas surface of the membrane(s), and the product stream is formed from at least a portion of the mixed gas stream that permeates through the membrane(s).
Data Source
AI summary
Hydrogen purification devices and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to first and second end frames. The at least one foil-microscreen assembly may include at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages. The planar sheet may include generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side. The plurality of fluid passages may extend between the opposed surfaces. The at least one hydrogen-selective membrane may be metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure. In some embodiments, the devices may include a permeate frame having at least one membrane support structure that spans at least a substantial portion of an open region and that is configured to support at least one foil-microscreen assembly.