Foil-Microscreen Membrane Assembly for Hydrogen Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen generation assemblies produce mixed gas streams with impurities, requiring effective purification methods to increase hydrogen purity for applications like energy production in fuel cells, but existing methods may not adequately remove all impurities, particularly harmful components like carbon monoxide.
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, producing a permeate stream with higher hydrogen concentration and a byproduct stream with reduced impurities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional purification methods are used, then some impurities are removed, but harmful components like carbon monoxide are not adequately removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous support structure with specific pore size and distribution to enable selective removal of carbon monoxide impurities while maintaining structural integrity and flow characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material composition combining multiple functional layers with different properties to achieve enhanced purification effectiveness, where each layer contributes specific separation capabilities
2Reliability
If pressure-driven separation through hydrogen-selective membranes is used, then hydrogen purity is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane assembly is divided into multiple discrete membrane elements arranged in series, allowing independent optimization of each segment and simplifying manufacturing, maintenance, and replacement operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes thin-film hydrogen-selective membranes with controlled thickness to achieve high purity separation while minimizing pressure drop and reducing overall device complexity
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 solution effectively increases hydrogen purity by selectively removing impurities, enhancing the suitability of the hydrogen stream for energy production applications while managing impurities, thus improving the efficiency and safety of fuel cell operations.
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.