Electrochemical Pump Stack for Low-Temperature Hydrogen Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen produced through steam methane reforming processes contains impurities like sulfur oxides, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide, requiring effective purification methods to achieve ultra-high purity suitable for applications such as fuel cell stacks, which existing technologies struggle to achieve efficiently at low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
The method involves humidifying an impure gas stream, oxygenating it, and then electrochemically purifying it using an electrochemical pump stack at temperatures between 25° C to 90° C, with a controller managing the process by adding oxygen, recirculating hydrogen, and segregating purified hydrogen from other gases, followed by compression and drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If steam methane reforming process is used to produce hydrogen, then hydrogen production efficiency is improved, but hydrogen purity deteriorates due to impurities like sulfur oxides, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes impurities (sulfur oxides, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide) from the hydrogen stream produced by steam methane reforming through electrochemical purification processes, achieving both high productivity and ultra-high purity (>99.99%) by separating harmful components from the product stream
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the impure hydrogen stream containing harmful substances into a purification opportunity by using electrochemical cells that selectively remove impurities, transforming the waste removal process into a value-added purification function that delivers ultra-high purity hydrogen
2Manufacturing precision
If high temperature processes are used for hydrogen purification, then purification effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal/mechanical purification systems with electrochemical systems that use electrical energy to drive impurity removal reactions, enabling effective purification at lower temperatures and reducing overall thermal energy consumption while maintaining high purification effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating temperature parameter from high temperature conventional processes to low temperature electrochemical processes (operating at ambient to moderate temperatures), thereby reducing energy consumption while achieving ultra-high purity through electrochemical reactions
3Manufacturing precision
If electrochemical pump stacks are used for hydrogen purification, then hydrogen purity is improved to ultra-high levels, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs electrochemical pump stacks that perform multiple functions simultaneously: purification of hydrogen, pressurization of the gas stream, and selective separation of impurities, thereby reducing the need for separate equipment and simplifying the overall system despite the advanced technology used
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges purification and pressurization functions into a single integrated electrochemical pump stack system, combining multiple process steps into one device that simultaneously removes impurities and increases hydrogen pressure, reducing system complexity through functional integration
4Use of energy by moving object
If low temperature operation is used for electrochemical pump stacks, then energy consumption is reduced, but purification effectiveness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes electrochemical reaction parameters (catalyst selection, electrode design, operating voltage, pH control) to enable effective impurity removal at low temperatures, changing the reaction conditions to favor electrochemical kinetics over thermal processes and achieving high purification effectiveness with reduced energy input
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
This approach effectively purifies hydrogen to high concentrations (>98%) while minimizing energy requirements, achieving efficient purification and pressurization simultaneously, thereby addressing the impurity issues and temperature constraints of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
Each electrochemical pump stack separates pure hydrogen from impure hydrogen via electrochemically splitting hydrogen at an anode and recombining it at a cathode
Implementation Method 2
The electrochemical pump stack may be enclosed in a cooling jacket
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods of purifying hydrogen, comprising humidifying, oxygenating, and purifying an impure gas stream to produce hydrogen in an electrochemical pump stack. The purified hydrogen is segregated and dispelled from the electrochemical pump stack.