Hydrogen Refining with Palladium Alloy Capillaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for refining hydrogen using palladium alloy membranes are inefficient in collecting pure hydrogen due to impurities accumulating in the primary side space, leading to a smaller amount of hydrogen collected and increased loss of raw material hydrogen.
Innovation Solution
Control the flow rate of gas containing impurities removed from the primary side space, either at a constant rate or proportionally to the impurity concentration, to minimize the discharge of impurities and maximize the collection of pure hydrogen from the secondary side space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If raw material hydrogen containing impurities is supplied to palladium alloy membrane for hydrogen separation, then high-purity hydrogen gas can be obtained, but impurities accumulate in the primary side space decreasing hydrogen partial pressure and reducing collection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes accumulated impurities from the primary side space at controlled intervals. By periodically discharging the impurity-containing gas and replacing it with fresh raw material hydrogen, the system maintains high hydrogen partial pressure in the primary side space, thereby sustaining efficient hydrogen permeation through the palladium alloy membrane while ensuring high-purity hydrogen collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements periodic removal of impurity-containing gas from the primary side space. Instead of continuous operation without maintenance, the system periodically discharges accumulated impurities and replenishes with fresh feed gas. This periodic action prevents impurity accumulation that would otherwise reduce hydrogen partial pressure and permeation efficiency, thereby maintaining both high purity and high productivity over extended operation periods.
2Productivity
If impurities are continuously removed from primary side space, then hydrogen collection efficiency is maintained, but loss of raw material hydrogen increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies partial removal action by periodically discharging only the necessary amount of impurity-containing gas rather than continuous complete removal. The discharge volume and frequency are optimized to maintain hydrogen partial pressure above the threshold required for efficient permeation, while minimizing the discharge of valuable hydrogen that has not yet permeated. This partial action approach balances productivity maintenance with raw material conservation.
3Device complexity
If palladium alloy capillaries are used for hydrogen separation, then device size is reduced and simplified, but only small amount of pure hydrogen is collected per unit time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention ensures continuous efficient hydrogen separation by periodically removing impurities that would otherwise accumulate and reduce permeation driving force. By maintaining optimal hydrogen partial pressure in the primary side space through periodic impurity discharge, the palladium alloy capillaries operate at maximum efficiency continuously, maximizing the hydrogen collection rate per unit time while preserving the compact device structure.
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 reduces the loss of raw material hydrogen and efficiently collects pure hydrogen by controlling the flow rate of impurities, ensuring a higher yield of hydrogen with reduced impurity discharge.
Implementation Method 1
a method for refining hydrogen using the hydrogen gas permselectivity of palladium alloy membrane
Implementation Method 2
only hydrogen penetrates the palladium alloy capillaries from the primary side space to the secondary side space
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is to provide a method for refining hydrogen with a hydrogen refining device in which the inside of a cell is divided into a primary side space and a secondary side space by palladium alloy capillaries each having one end being closed and a tube sheet supporting the open end of the palladium alloy capillaries, in which impurity-containing hydrogen is introduced from the primary side space to allow hydrogen to permeate the palladium alloy capillaries so as to collect pure hydrogen from the secondary side space. The method for refining hydrogen has a capability of decreasing the removed amount of gas containing impurities and efficiently collecting pure hydrogen from the secondary side space. From hydrogen with 1000 ppm or less of impurities as raw material hydrogen, gas containing impurities that does not penetrate the palladium alloy capillaries is removed from the primary side space at the flow rate of 10% or less of the introduction flow rate of the raw material hydrogen. Furthermore, gas containing impurities that does not penetrate the palladium alloy capillaries is removed from the primary side space at a flow rate based on the content of impurities contained in raw material hydrogen.