Patent ID: 8673510
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: B01D,C01B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for maintaining hydrogen permeability in a thermally buffered hydrogen-producing fuel processing system that includes a feedstock supply system adapted to supply a feedstock stream, a hydrogen-producing region adapted to produce from the feedstock stream a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas as a majority component, and a separation assembly including at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and adapted to separate the mixed gas stream into a product hydrogen stream and a byproduct stream, the method comprising: heating a portion of the thermally buffered hydrogen-producing fuel processing system to a thermally buffered temperature range, wherein the portion of the thermally buffered hydrogen-producing fuel processing system includes at least the hydrogen-selective membrane, and further wherein the thermally buffered temperature range includes a temperature range at which at least a portion of the hydrogen-selective membrane may be oxidized upon exposure to an oxidant; maintaining the portion of the thermally buffered hydrogen-producing fuel processing system in the thermally buffered temperature range during a period of inactivity; and periodically supplying a non-oxidizing gas stream to the separation assembly during the period of inactivity to maintain the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane in a non-oxidizing environment, wherein the periodically supplying includes periodically supplying responsive to a supply criterion.