Patent ID: 6494937
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: B01D,B01J,C01B

Abstract:
A hydrogen purification device, comprising:an enclosure having a pair of spaced-apart end plates and a perimeter shell extending therebetween to define with the end plates an internal compartment; wherein the enclosure includes at least one input port through which a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas is delivered to the enclosure, at least one product output port through which a permeate stream containing at least substantially pure hydrogen gas is removed from the enclosure, and at least one byproduct output port through which a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases is removed from the enclosure; at least one hydrogen-selective membrane within the compartment, wherein the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane includes a first surface adapted to be contacted by the mixed gas stream and a permeate surface generally opposed to the first surface, wherein the permeate stream is formed from the portion of the mixed gas stream that passes through the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane to the permeate surface, and the byproduct stream is formed from the portion of the mixed gas stream that does not pass through the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane; wherein each of the end plates includes an interior surface that generally faces the compartment, an exterior surface that generally faces away from the enclosure, and a sealing region that forms at least a portion of a seal with the perimeter shell; and wherein at least one of the end plates includes a base plate containing the sealing region and a truss assembly projecting from the base plate.