Idatech, LLC

H2 Powertech, LLC

Chung-hsin Electric & Machinery Mfg. Corporation

Peak 3, LLC

Dcns

Charles R Hill

William A Pledger

David J Edlund

R Todd Studebaker

Vernon Wade Popham

Walter H Wilsford

Edward D Sollenberger

Walter Wilsford

Todd R Studebaker

Hydrogen-producing fuel processing systems and related methods. The systems include a hydrogen-producing region configured to produce a mixed gas stream from a feedstock stream, a hydrogen-separation membrane module having at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and configured to separate the mixed gas stream into a product hydrogen stream and a byproduct stream, and an oxidant delivery system configured to deliver an oxidant-containing stream to the hydrogen-separation membrane module in situ to increase hydrogen permeance of the hydrogen-selective membrane. The methods include operating a hydrogen-producing fuel processing system in a hydrogen-producing regime, and subsequently operating the hydrogen-producing fuel processing system in a restoration regime, in which an oxidant-containing stream is delivered to the hydrogen-separation membrane module in situ to expose the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane to the oxidant-containing stream to increase the hydrogen permeance of the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane.

Systems and methods for increasing the hydrogen permeance of hydrogen separation membranes in situ

Membrane-based hydrogen purifiers having graphite frame members. The purifiers include a hydrogen-separation membrane module with at least one membrane cell containing at least one hydrogen-selective membrane, which includes a permeate face and an opposed mixed gas face, and a fluid-permeable support structure that physically contacts and supports at least a central region of the permeate face. The membrane cell further includes a permeate-side frame member and a mixed gas-side frame member. The permeate-side frame member is interposed between the hydrogen-selective membrane and the fluid-permeable support structure to physically contact a peripheral region of the permeate face and a peripheral region of the fluid-permeable support structure. The mixed gas-side frame member physically contacts a peripheral region of the mixed gas face. At least one of the permeate-side frame member and the mixed gas-side frame member is a graphite frame member.

Membrane-based hydrogen purifiers

Systems and methods for increasing the hydrogen permeance of hydrogen-separation membranes in situ

A polymer injection-molding mold having a polymer injection-molding mold having a core insert and a cavity insert; at least two rear-wall glass-filled polyimide insulation plates, one of the rear-wall insulation plates being inset into a rear-exterior wall of the core insert and one of the rear-wall insulation plates being inset into a rear-exterior wall of the cavity insert; at least two side-wall glass-filled polyimide insulation plates, one of the side-wall insulation plates being inset into a side-exterior wall of the core insert and one of the side-wall insulation plates being inset into a side-exterior wall of the cavity insert; the at least two rear-wall glass-filled polyimide insulation plates and the at least two side-wall glass-filled polyimide insulation plates being inset into each of their respective walls such that a substantially planer surface of each insulation plate is substantially flush with an exterior planar surface of the respective wall into which it is inset; the rear-wall and side-wall glass-filled polyimide insulation plates having the following physical properties: i) thermal conductivity of about 0.30 W/mk; ii) a coefficient of expansion (in length and width) of about 11&#xd7;101/K; iii) a compressive strength of about 750 N/mmat 23&#xb0; C.; iv) a compressive strength of about 500 N/mmat 200&#xb0; C.; v) a bending strength of about 720 N/mmat 23&#xb0; C.; and vi) a density of about 2 g/cm; the rear-wall and side-wall glass-filled insulation plates having a thickness ranging from 3 to 5 millimeters; the cavity insert and core insert having a plurality of cooling holes, the cooling holes having a diameter ranging from 3 to 6 millimeters; a plurality of substantially cylindrical fluid-cooling channels that are respectively positioned within the cavity insert and core insert at a relative distance from a cavity-insert molding surface or a core-insert molding surface, wherein the relative distance for each fluid-cooling channel is substantially equal to the fluid-cooling channel's cross-sectional diameter, wherein the relative distance is also the shortest distance between a fluid-cooling channel's wall and a cavity-insert molding surface or a core-insert molding surface; and a temperature-sensing thermocouple that is located within the cavity insert or core insert in a position that is substantially adjacent to an estimated last volume of space to be filled by polymer-mold flow.

Polymer injection-molding mold and related methods

Membrane modules for hydrogen separation and fuel processors and fuel cell systems including the same are disclosed herein. The membrane modules include a plurality of membrane packs. Each membrane pack includes a first hydrogen-selective membrane, a second hydrogen-selective membrane, and a fluid-permeable support structure positioned between the first hydrogen-selective membrane and the second hydrogen-selective membrane. In some embodiments, the membrane modules also include a permeate-side frame member and a mixed gas-side frame member, and a thickness of the permeate-side frame member may be less than a thickness of the mixed gas-side frame member. In some embodiments, the support structure includes a screen structure that includes two fine mesh screens. The two fine mesh screens may include a plain weave fine mesh screen and/or a Dutch weave fine mesh screen. The fine mesh screens may be selected to provide at most 100 micrometers of undulation in the hydrogen-selective membranes.

Membrane modules for hydrogen separation and fuel processors and fuel cell systems including the same

Hydrogen purification devices, components thereof, and fuel processors and fuel cell system containing the same. The hydrogen purification devices include an enclosure that contains a separation assembly adapted to receive a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and to produce a stream that contains pure or at least substantially pure hydrogen gas therefrom. The separation assembly includes at least one hydrogen-permeable and/or hydrogen-selective membrane. The device components that are formed from materials having similar or the same coefficients of thermal expansion as the at least one membrane and/or which are formed from an alloy comprising nickel and copper. In some embodiments, these components include at least a portion of a support for the at least one membrane, and in some embodiments, these components include at least a portion of the enclosure.

Hydrogen purification devices, components and fuel processing systems containing the same

A hydrogen purification device, components thereof, and fuel processors and fuel cell system containing the same. The hydrogen purification devices include an enclosure that contains a separation assembly adapted to receive a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and to produce a stream that contains pure or at least substantially pure hydrogen gas therefrom. The separation assembly includes at least one hydrogen-permeable and/or hydrogen-selective membrane, and in some embodiments includes at least one membrane envelope that includes a pair of generally opposed membrane regions that define a harvesting conduit therebetween and which are separated by a support. The enclosure includes components that are formed from materials having similar or the same coefficients of thermal expansion as the membrane or membranes. In some embodiments, these components include at least a portion of the support, and in some embodiments, these components include at least a portion of the enclosure.

End plate

A hydrogen purification device, components thereof, and fuel processors and fuel cell system containing the same. The hydrogen purification devices include an enclosure that contains a separation assembly adapted to receive a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and to produce a stream that contains pure or at least substantially pure hydrogen gas therefrom. The separation assembly may include at least one hydrogen-permeable and/or hydrogen-selective membrane, In some embodiments, the enclosure includes a pair of end plates and a shell extending generally between the end plates. In some embodiments, the enclosure includes a shell that is integrated with at least one of the end plates. In some embodiments, at least one of the end plates includes a deflection and/or stress abatement structure. In some embodiments, the device includes components formed from materials having similar or the same coefficients of thermal expansion.

Growing community of inventors

Bend, OR, United States of America

Charles R Hill