Patent ID: 8002875

Claim:
A hydrogen separator assembly for separating hydrogen gas from a mixed gas source, said assembly comprising: a distribution chamber for receiving mixed gas from said mixed gas source; a diffusion chamber; a perforated barrier separating said distribution chamber from said diffusion chamber, wherein said perforated barrier enables said mixed gas to enter said diffusion chamber uniformly across said perforated barrier; a waste gas collection chamber; a plurality of tubes extending into said diffusion chamber, each of said plurality of tubes having at least one wall segment that is a composite of different layers of material and is permeable only to hydrogen, wherein said different layers of material include a porous tubular support made from a metal that does not react with said mixed gas, and wherein a gap space exists between any of said plurality of tubes that are arranged in adjacent positions; a flow restriction barrier separating said diffusion chamber from said waste gas collection chamber, wherein said flow restriction barrier and said perforated barrier limit flow of said mixed gas through said diffusion chamber, therein creating an even flow of said mixed gases through said gap spaces.