Patent ID: 7101421

Claim:
A hydrogen purification assembly, comprising: a membrane module adapted to receive a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases and to separate 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 sealed enclosure having at least one inlet adapted to receive under pressure the mixed gas stream, at least one outlet through which the byproduct stream may be withdrawn from the enclosure, and at least one outlet through which the product stream may be removed from the enclosure; a hydrogen-selective membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, wherein the product stream is formed from a portion of the mixed gas stream that passes through the membrane and the byproduct stream is formed from a portion of the mixed gas stream that does not pass through the membrane, wherein the membrane is at least substantially comprised of an alloy comprising palladium and copper and has an average thickness of approximately 25 microns or less, and further wherein the membrane includes at least one region that is at least substantially formed from a material having a different composition than the alloy; and a support adapted to support the membrane within the enclosure, wherein the support includes a surface adapted to engage the permeate side of the membrane.