Patent ID: 6319306
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: B01D,C01B,H01M,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
A fuel processor, comprising:a hydrogen-producing region adapted to receive a feedstock and produce a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases therefrom; anda membrane module adapted to receive the mixed gas stream and divide the mixed gas stream into a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases and a product stream containing at least substantially hydrogen gas, the membrane module comprising:a plurality of hydrogen-selective membranes, each having a feed side and a permeate side, wherein the membranes are spaced-apart from each other and oriented with their permeate sides generally facing each other to define a harvesting conduit extending therebetween, and further wherein the product stream is formed from the portion of the mixed gas stream that passes through the membranes to the harvesting conduit, with the remaining portion of the mixed gas stream, which remains on the feed side of the membranes, forming the byproduct stream; anda screen structure within the harvesting conduit adapted to support the membranes, wherein the screen structure includes a pair of generally opposed surfaces which are adapted to provide support to a respective one of the permeate sides of the membranes and which include a coating on at least a portion of the surfaces; anda product outlet port in fluid communication with the harvesting conduit and through which the product stream is withdrawn from the membrane module.