HYDROGEN SEPARATION APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20100101419A1
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hoshino, Maki, Izumi, Takao
• Granted Patent: US 8,834,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 96/11
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/16 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/42 Catalysts within the flow path
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/04 Characteristic thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/22 by diffusion manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/228 characterised by specific membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/087 Single membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0069 by deposition from the liquid phase, e.g. electrochemical deposition B01D67/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0072 by deposition from the gaseous phase, e.g. sputtering, CVD, PVD
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0076 Pretreatment of inorganic membrane material prior to membrane formation, e.g. coating of metal powder
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/105 Support pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/12 Composite membranes; Ultra-thin membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/022 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/0221 Group 4 or 5 metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/02231 Palladium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/025 Aluminium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0405 Purification by membrane separation
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/503 characterised by the membrane
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/505 Membranes containing palladium
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 : Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0687 : Reactant purification by the use of membranes or filters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

[Object] To provide a hydrogen separation apparatus provided with an independent hydrogen permeable membrane and capable of suppressing or preventing deformation of the hydrogen permeable membrane, and a production process therefor.

[Solving Means] A hydrogen separation apparatus includes a porous support member, an independent hydrogen permeable membrane disposed adjacent to the porous support member, and a joining member for joining the porous support member and the hydrogen permeable membrane.

A production process for the hydrogen separation apparatus includes (1) the step of disposing a joining member forming material at a surface side of a porous support member, to be opposite to an independent hydrogen permeable membrane, (2) the step of disposing the independent hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent to the porous support member at the surface side of the porous support member to which surface side the joining member forming material is disposed, and (3) the step of joining the porous support member and the independent hydrogen permeable membrane with the joining member forming material.

Claims

1. A hydrogen separation apparatus comprising:

a porous support member;

an independent hydrogen permeable membrane disposed adjacent to the porous support member; and

a joining member for joining the porous support member and the hydrogen permeable membrane, the joining member being formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of palladium, silver, palladium-silver, copper and palladium-copper.

2. A hydrogen separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joining member includes a plurality of joining members disposed to the porous support member, wherein the joining members are disposed separate from each other by a certain distance in a direction parallel with an interface between the porous support member and the hydrogen permeable membrane.

3. A hydrogen separation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the certain distance is 200 t_hpm or smaller when a thickness of the hydrogen permeable membrane is t_hpm.

4. A hydrogen separation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the certain distance is 50 to 200 t_hpm or smaller when a thickness of the hydrogen permeable membrane is t_hpm.

5. A hydrogen separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joining member has a thickness equivalent to or more than pore diameter of the porous support member at an interface of the porous support member and the hydrogen permeable membrane in a direction of a normal line of the interface between the porous support member and the hydrogen permeable membrane.

7. A hydrogen separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous support member is provided with a protective layer disposed at a surface side opposite to the hydrogen permeable membrane.

8. A process for producing the hydrogen separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

(1) the step of disposing a joining member forming material at a surface side of the porous support member, to be opposite to the independent hydrogen permeable membrane;

(2) the step of disposing the independent hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent to the porous support member at the surface side of the porous support member to which surface side the joining member forming material is disposed; and

(3) the step of joining the porous support member and the independent hydrogen permeable membrane with the joining member forming material.

9. A process for producing the hydrogen separation apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein a method of disposing the joining member forming material at the step (1) is at least one selected from the group consisting of a plating method, an impregnation method, a sputtering method, a spraying method, and an ion implantation method.

10. A process for producing the hydrogen separation apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the joining member forming material and the independent hydrogen permeable membrane are previously brought into contact with each other in order to join the porous support member and the hydrogen permeable membrane with the joining member forming material at the step (3).

6. (canceled)