Patent GB-1051635-A (GB)
IPC: C01B3/50
Abstract: 1,051,635. Purifying hydrogen. CHEMETRON CORPORATION. Aug. 2, 1963 [Aug. 6, 1962]. No. 30809/63. Heading C1A. [Also in Division B1 Hydrogen is purified in an apparatus comprising a plurality of diffusion cells in linear and parallel alignment, each cell having an inlet for impure hydrogen and outlets for purified hydrogen and for foreign gaseous material, and containing a plurality of palladium diffusion tubes, said cells having a pair of metallic plates on opposite sides thereof and in contact therewith, heating means in contact with the plates on the sides remote from the cells, means to introduce hydrogen under pressure and means to insulate the heating means. The diffusion cells 12 are equidistantly spaced in the centre of diffusion apparatus 10 (see Fig. 2, not shown) each cell unit having a tubular body section 13, a hydrogen inlet 14 and outlet 15 in coaxial alignment, inlet 14 being disposed concentrically inside vent tube 18 for foreign gases. The palladium alloy tubes 23, of 1/ 16  inch external diameter and wall thickness about 3 mils, closed at one end 26, are secured in parallel alignment within 13 by partition wall 20. Metallic plates 30, 31 (Figs. 2 and 3, not shown) are in contact with the cells along entire length of body section 13, and a thermoconductive material, e.g. a mixture of silicates and carbon, or ceramic or bricklike material, placed around the body sections 13, has vents to allow any gas leaking from cells 12 to escape, and thin sheets of aluminium foil are positioned between the cells. Hydrogen inlets 42, 43, fed from common line 50 through T-junction 49 (see Figs. 1 and 3) lead to single inlet tube 14 within vent tube 18 which communicates with tube 47. Hydrogen outlet tube 15 leads to common outlet manifold 52. Heating elements 55 and 56 (see Figs. 2 and 3) may be connected to a 440-volt system with a balanced 3-phase system, groups of five elements being wired together in parallel in delta fashion. Thermoconductive material is also applied to the outsides of plates 30 and 31 around inlets 42 and 43. Insulating material, e.g. diatomaceous earth, fibre glass or rock wool, is placed around this material. Compartments 88, 89 and 90 (Fig. 2) contain air as a cooling zone for the heating elements 95 and 56. The diffusion unit is supplied with impure hydrogen, which should contain virtually no halogen or sulphur and not more than 1% oxygen, contained in a holding tank 100 at low pressure. The hydrogen. is compressed to 200 p.s.i. by compressor 101, and recycling system 104 maintains a fixed hydrogen discharge at 200 p.s.i. The hydrogen passes through caustic potash drier 109 to surge tank 110 and thence through flow meters 111, and the hydrogen pressure is subsequently measured by 112. Temperature controller 114 measures and controls the temperature of heating elements 55 and 56 at about 600 F., while 115 measures and controls the temperature of pure hydrogen in 52. The separated impurities leaving via 47 pass through water separator 116, flow meter 117 and flash arrestor 119, and their hydrogen content is measured in analyzer 120. Valve 118 reduces the flow rate if too much hydrogen is being expelled. 121 measures the pressure of the hydrogen in 52, and the pressure differential across cells 12 is controlled at about 200 p.s.i. by switch 122. Pure hydrogen passes through water cooler 125 to surge tank 126, and hygrometer 137 measures its moisture content. The hydrogen then passes to compressors 127 and 128 and thence through common header 140 to filtering/apparatus 138 and 139, which may include an entrainment separator 143, refrigerator 144, mechanical filter 145, active alumina 146, zeolite 147 and activated carbon 148, and removes oil vapour and mist from lubrication of the compressors and any moisture. All hydrogen leaving the filtering apparatus 138 through pressure regulator 149, and a portion of that leaving 139 through 150, is discharged into containers, and the remainder is recycled by 151 to surge tank 126. A relief valve 153 vents all hydrogen from 126 in excess of that required by compressors 127 and 128.