System for production of high-purity hydrogen, process for production of

Abstract

There is a system for producing high-purity hydrogen by reforming a hydrocarbon and/or an oxygen atom-containing hydrocarbon to form a reformed gas containing hydrogen and separating the hydrogen from said gas. The system includes a hydrocarbon source, a water source, an oxygen source, a vaporization chamber connecting with the hydrocarbon source, the water source and the oxygen source, and a reforming chamber provided with a catalyst for steam reforming and partial oxidation and a hydrogen-separating membrane. The reforming chamber is thermally connected with the vaporization chamber. A process for producing high-purity hydrogen includes heating a reforming chamber provided with a hydrogen-separating membrane, feeding, into the reforming chamber, hydrocarbon, steam and oxygen or air to give rise to steam reforming and partial oxidation therein to produce a reaction gas, and passing the reaction gas through the hydrogen-separating membrane to recover high-purity hydrogen. The heat possessed by the portion of the reaction gas not permeable into the hydrogen-separating membrane and the heat generated by the partial oxidation are utilized for the heating and reforming of the hydrocarbon, water and oxygen or air.