Patent ID: 6719832
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: B01D,B01J,C01B

Abstract:
A fuel processing assembly, comprising:a hydrogen-producing region adapted to produce a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases from a feed stream; an enclosure defining an internal compartment; wherein the enclosure includes a pair of end plates and a shell portion that extends at least partially between the end plates to define at least a portion of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure is adapted to receive at least a portion of the mixed gas stream and to separate the mixed gas stream, via a pressure-driven separation process, into at least one product stream and at least one byproduct stream, and further wherein the enclosure further includes means for removing the at least one product stream from the internal compartment and means for removing the at least one byproduct stream from the internal compartment; at least one hydrogen-selective membrane supported 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 product stream is formed from a 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 a portion of the mixed gas stream that does not pass through the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane; and a support structure adapted to support the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane within the compartment, wherein the support structure has a different composition than the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane, is formed from a composition that includes an alloy comprising nickel and copper, and has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is within approximately 10% of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane.