SBIR Phase I: Efficient Separation of Hydrogen From Reformate

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目研究了使用电化学设备从低压混合气流中分离和压缩氢气，这些气流正在开发用于关键的工业气体和能源应用。许多应用将从烃的重整得到氢，从而产生富含CO2、CO和H2的产物流。有充分的证据表明，与这些设备中使用的电极类似的低温电极经常被一氧化碳污染，对它们的操作产生负面影响。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。该项目研究了系统改造的可行性，该系统改造在正常运行期间从电极表面去除CO和其他杂质，从而使系统能够以高效率持续运行。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。最后，将进行耐久性测试，以评估这一设计的长期可行性。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将有助于通过推进氢基能源的前景来缓解化石燃料储量的枯竭。氢的生产、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燃料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，以满足我们不断增长的能源需求的价值。此外，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气体应用需求，作为通往氢经济低成本产品的商业桥梁。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，导致气体流含有可观量的CO和CO2以及氢气沿着。目前用于分离和随后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。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project investigates the use of electrochemical devices for separation and compression of hydrogen from low-pressure mixed gas streams which are being developed for critical industrial gas and energy applications. Many applications will derive hydrogen from reformation of hydrocarbons resulting in a product 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. This project investigates the viability of a system modification that removes CO and other impurities from the electrode surface during normal operation thereby 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. Finally, durability tests will be conducted to assess the long-term viability of this design. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will help alleviate the depletion of fossil fuel reserves by advancing the prospect of hydrogen-based energy. 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 fuel are needed. These technologies must be robust, efficient, and cost effective in order to have value in meeting our growing energy needs. Furthermore, since hydrogen energy markets are emerging, viable product solutions must meet near-term industrial gas application needs as a commercial bridge toward low-cost products for a hydrogen economy. 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 along with hydrogen. Current methods for separation and subsequent 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.