Patent ID: 6165438
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: B01D,B01J,C01B,Y02C,Y02P

Abstract:
An apparatus for recovering hydrogen from gaseous hydrocarbon and water feed material, which comprises in combination:a. a first gas-tight chamber having an inlet for said gaseous feed material and an outlet for reacted gases;b. a first hollow Pd/Ag tube suitable for permitting hydrogen to permeate therethrough having a closed end, and an open end, said first hollow Pd/Ag tube being disposed within said first gas-tight chamber with the closed end thereof within said first gas-tight chamber;c. a first catalyst disposed within said first chamber and around said first Pd/Ag tube suitable for inducing the reactions CO+H.sub.2 OCO.sub.2 +H.sub.2 and CH.sub.4 +H.sub.2 OCO+3H.sub.2 ;d. means for flowing the feed material through said first catalyst;e. means for extracting hydrogen from the inside of said first Pd/Ag tube through the open end thereof;f. means for heating said first gas-tight chamber to a temperature such that the reactions proceed therein at a desired rate;g. a second hollow Pd/Ag tube having a first open end and a second open end and suitable for permitting hydrogen to permeate therethrough for receiving the reacted gases exiting the outlet of said first gas-tight chamber through the first open end thereof;h. a second catalyst disposed within said second hollow Pd/Ag tube suitable for inducing the reactions CO+H.sub.2 OCO.sub.2 +H.sub.2 and CH.sub.4 +H.sub.2 CO+3H.sub.2 ;i. a second gas-tight chamber having an outlet for extracting hydrogen therefrom adapted to receive said second hollow Pd/Ag tube, the first open end and the second open end of said second hollow Pd/Ag tube being located outside of said second gas-tight chamber;j. means for extracting hydrogen from the inside of said second gas-tight chamber through the outlet thereof; andk. means for heating said second gas-tight chamber to a temperature such that the reactions proceed within said second hollow Pd/Ag tube at a desired rate.