SBIR Phase II: Efficient Separation of Hydrogen From Reformate

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目研究了电化学设备的可行性，用于从工业气体和能源应用中至关重要的低压混合气流中分离和压缩氢气。 先前的研究已经表明，源自烃重整的氢气产生富含CO2、CO和H2的气流。 已经充分证明，与这些装置中使用的电极类似的低温电极通常被一氧化碳污染，从而对其操作产生负面影响。虽然现有技术的解决方案依赖于先进催化剂或高温膜的实施，但是这些解决方案对于在进料流中具有显著水平的CO的系统是不可行的。具体而言，该项目将通过一系列设计修改来解决电极污染问题，使系统能够持续高效运行。 研究工作将利用流体传输模型的结果来优化电池和系统设计。将在一系列操作参数范围内建造和评价实验室单元，以更好地了解与这种方法相关的性能改进。 该项目最终将建造一个完全集成的系统包，该系统包将通过实际重整油化学进行测试和验证。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力与以下事实有关：化石燃料储量的枯竭和全球对可持续经济发展的需求，氢基能源的前景越来越重要。 氢气的生产、纯化和压缩是实施氢经济的关键技术挑战，特别是在需要新的氢气来源和输送模式的运输部门。这些技术必须是强大的，高效的，具有成本效益的，以满足我们的能源需求的价值。由于氢能市场正在兴起，可行的产品解决方案必须满足近期的工业需求，作为通往低成本能源产品的商业桥梁。当前的氢气市场很大且在增长，其中绝大多数氢气由烃源产生，产生含有可观量的CO和CO2的气流 和氢气。 目前用于分离和压缩氢气的方法非常昂贵，并且这些成本被传递给最终用户。所提出的技术的成功开发将整合分离和压缩功能，并将该装置的适用性扩展到以低成本配置分离重整产物和其他混合气体流，这提供了显著的商业吸引力。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project investigates the viability of an electrochemical device for separation and compression of hydrogen from low-pressure mixed gas streams that are critical for industrial gas and energy applications. Previous studies have shown that hydrogen derived from reformation of hydrocarbons produces a gas stream rich in CO2, CO and H2. It has been well- documented that low-temperature electrodes similar to those used in these devices are often contaminated by carbon monoxide, negatively affecting their operation. While state-of-the-art solutions rely upon implementation of advanced catalysts or high temperature membranes, these solutions are not viable for systems having significant levels of CO in the feed stream. Specifically the project will focus on solving electrode contamination issues through a series of design modifications; allowing the system to operate continually at high efficiency. Research efforts will leverage results from a fluids transport model to optimize the cell and system design. Laboratory cells will be constructed and evaluated over a range of operational parameters to develop a better understanding of the performance improvement associated with this approach. This program will culminate in the construction of a fully-integrated system package that will be tested and validated with real-world reformate chemistries.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project relates to the fact that depletion of fossil fuel reserves and a global requirement for the development of a sustainable economy, the prospect of hydrogen-based energy is of growing importance. Production, purification and compression of hydrogen represent key technical challenges for the implementation of a hydrogen economy, especially in the transportation sector where new sources and modes of delivery of hydrogen are needed. These technologies must be robust, efficient, and cost effective in order to have value in meeting our energy needs. Since hydrogen energy markets are emerging, viable product solutions must meet near-term industrial needs as a commercial bridge toward low-cost energy products. The current market for hydrogen is large and growing, with the vast majority of hydrogen produced from hydrocarbon sources resulting in gas streams containing appreciable quantities of CO and CO2 and hydrogen. Current methods for separation and compression of hydrogen are very expensive and these costs are passed to the end-user. Successful development of the proposed technology will integrate the separation and compression functions, and expand the applicability of this device to separation of reformate and other mixed gas streams in a low-cost configuration which offers significant commercial appeal.