IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,881,242
Granted Patent B2
US 6,881,242 · App. 10/340,949 · Granted Apr 19, 2005

Hydrogen reclamation apparatus and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,881,242
App. No.
10/340,949
Granted
Apr 19, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An industrial system includes a processing region for treating an article in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogen reclamation apparatus. In one embodiment, the hydrogen reclamation apparatus includes a compressor and a separation region having a hydrogen metal membrane. The compressor receives and compresses a hydrogen-containing output gas that is exhausted from the processing region. The compressed gas is conveyed to the separation region where it is separated into a permeate gas and a hydrogen-depleted raffinate gas. In one embodiment, the permeate gas is conveyed back to the processing region.

Claims (82)

1. A method for reclaiming hydrogen used in an industrial process for treating an article, wherein the industrial process utilizes a first processing region exhausting a hydrogen-containing output gas that is not produced by a catalytic reaction within the first processing region to a first exhaust region, the method comprising:

connecting a hydrogen reclamation apparatus to the first exhaust region;

compressing the output gas and outputting a compressed gas to the hydrogen reclamation apparatus;

contacting a heated, hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent a wire mesh membrane with the compressed gas to provide a hydrogen-depleted raffinate gas and a permeate gas within the hydrogen reclamation apparatus; and

conveying at least a first portion of the permeate gas to the first processing region.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting hydrogen reclamation apparatus comprises transporting the hydrogen reclamation apparatus to the vicinity of the first processing region.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

connecting the hydrogen reclamation apparatus to a second exhaust region of a second processing region; and

conveying a second portion of the permeate gas to the second processing region.

4. A method for reclaiming hydrogen used in an industrial process for treating an article, wherein the industrial process utilizes a first processing region exhausting a hydrogen-containing output gas that is not produced by a catalytic reaction within the processing region to a first exhaust region, the method comprising:

connecting a hydrogen reclamation apparatus to the first exhaust region;

contacting a heated, hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent a wire mesh membrane with the output gas to provide a hydrogen-depleted raffinate gas and a permeate gas within the hydrogen reclamation apparatus; and

conveying at least a first portion of the permeate gas to the first processing region.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein connecting a hydrogen reclamation apparatus comprises transporting the hydrogen reclamation apparatus to the vicinity of the first processing region.

6. An industrial system, the system comprising:

a processing region for treating an article in the presence of hydrogen, the processing region exhausting a hydrogen-containing output gas that is not produced by a catalytic reaction within the processing region; and

a hydrogen reclamation apparatus comprising:

a compressor receiving at least a portion of the output gas and exhausting a compressed gas;

a separation region comprising a heated, hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent a wire mesh membrane, the separation region receiving the compressed gas and exhausting a permeate gas and a hydrogen-depleted raffinate gas; and

a fluid pathway conveying the permeate gas from the hydrogen reclamation apparatus to the processing region.

7. The industrial system of claim 6 , wherein the hydrogen reclamation apparatus is a portable unit.

8. The industrial system of claim 6 , wherein the processing region comprises an annealing furnace.

9. The industrial system of claim 8 , wherein the annealing furnace is a continuous annealing furnace.

10. The industrial system of claim 8 , wherein the annealing furnace is a batch-annealing furnace.

11. The industrial system of claim 6 , wherein the processing region comprises a powder metal sintering furnace.

12. The industrial system of claim 11 , wherein the sintering furnace is a continuous sintering furnace.

13. The industrial system of claim 11 , wherein the sintering furnace is a batch sintering furnace.

14. The industrial system of claim 6 , further comprising a pre-filter intermediate the processing region and the compressor.

15. The industrial system of claim 14 , further comprising a water vapor separation region intermediate the processing region and the pre-filter.

16. The industrial system of claim 14 , further comprising an accumulator intermediate the compressor and the separation region.

17. The industrial system of claim 14 , further comprising a backpressure regulator intermediate the compressor and the separation region.

18. The industrial system of claim 6 , further comprising an inline filter intermediate the compressor and the separation region.

19. The industrial system of claim 6 , further comprising a moisture removal region intermediate the compressor and the separation region.

20. The industrial system of claim 6 , further comprising a heat exchanger receiving the permeate gas and the raffinate gas.

21. The industrial system of claim 20 , further comprising a flash back arrestor controlling the raffinate gas downstream the heat exchanger.

22. The industrial system of claim 20 , further comprising a flash back arrestor controlling the permeate gas downstream the heat exchanger.

23. The industrial system of claim 22 , further comprising a moisture removal region for the raffinate gas stream intermediate the heat exchanger and the flash back arrestor.

24. The industrial system of claim 20 , further comprising a sample port accessing the raffinate gas downstream the heat exchanger.

25. The industrial system of claim 20 , further comprising a sample port accessing the permeate gas downstream the heat exchanger.

26. The industrial system of claim 6 , further comprising vibration isolation mounts supporting the hydrogen permeable membrane within the separation region.

27. The industrial system of claim 6 , further comprising a second processing region exhausting a second hydrogen-containing output gas, the second hydrogen containing output gas received by the compressor.

28. An industrial system comprising:

a first processing region wherein a first article is treated in the presence of hydrogen, the first processing region exhausting a first hydrogen-containing output gas that is not produced by a catalytic reaction within the processing region;

a second processing region wherein a second article is treated in the presence of hydrogen, the second processing region exhausting a second hydrogen-containing output gas; and

a hydrogen reclamation apparatus comprising:

a compressor receiving at least a portion of the first and second output gases and exhausting a compressed gas;

a separation region comprising a heated, hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent a wire mesh membrane, the separation region receiving the compressed gas and exhausting a permeate gas and a hydrogen-depleted raffinate gas; and

a fluid pathway conveying portions of the permeate gas to the first and second processing regions.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the hydrogen reclamation apparatus is a portable unit.

30. A continuous annealing system comprising:

a furnace adapted to anneal an article in the presence of hydrogen and exhausting a hydrogen-containing output gas that is not produced by a catalytic reaction within the processing region;

a track conveying the article to the furnace and removing the article from the furnace; and

a hydrogen reclamation apparatus comprising:

a compressor receiving at least a portion of the output gas and exhausting a compressed gas;

a separation region comprising a heated, hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent a wire mesh membrane, the separation region receiving the compressed gas and exhausting a penetrate gas and a hydrogen-depleted raffinate gas; and

a fluid pathway conveying the permeate gas to the furnace.

31. A portable hydrogen reclamation apparatus for use in an industrial system, the industrial system including a processing region exhausting a hydrogen containing output gas that is not produced by a catalytic reaction within the processing region, the reclamation apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a compressor supported by the housing, receiving the output gas and exhausting a compressed gas;

a separation region including a heated, hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent a wire mesh membrane supported by the housing, the separation region receiving the compressed gas and exhausting a permeate gas and a hydrogen-depleted raffinate gas; and

a fluid pathway conveying the permeate gas from the separation region to the processing region of the industrial system.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising an inline filter intermediate the compressor and the separation region.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising a heat exchanger receiving the permeate gas and the raffinate gas.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 , further comprising a flash back arrestor controlling the raffinate gas downstream the heat exchanger.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 , further comprising a flash back arrestor controlling the permeate gas downstream the heat exchanger.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 , comprising a sample port accessing the raffinate gas downstream the heat exchanger.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 , further comprising a sample port accessing the permeate gas downstream the heat exchanger.

38. The apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising vibration isolation mounts supporting the hydrogen permeable membrane within the separation region.

39. The apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising a water vapor removal region receiving the output gas upstream of the compressor.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 , further comprising a first moisture removal region receiving the compressed gas.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 , further comprising a second moisture removal region downstream the separation region receiving the raffinate gas.

42. A portable purification apparatus for use in an industrial system, the industrial system including a processing region exhausting a hydrogen containing output gas that is not produced by a catalytic reaction within the processing region, the purification apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a compressor supported by the housing, the compressor receiving the output gas and exhausting a compressed gas; and

a separation region including a heated, hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent a wire mesh membrane supported by the housing, the separation region receiving the compressed gas and exhausting a permeate gas and a hydrogen-depleted raffinate gas.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 , further including a region for storing the permeate gas.

44. An industrial system, the system comprising:

a processing region for treating an article in the presence of hydrogen, the processing region exhausting a hydrogen-containing output gas that is not produced by a catalytic reaction within the processing region; and

a hydrogen reclamation apparatus comprising:

a separation region receiving at least a portion of the output gas and comprising a heated, hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent a wire mesh membrane, the separation region receiving the output gas and exhausting a permeate gas and a hydrogen-depleted raffinate gas; and

a fluid pathway conveying the permeate gas from the hydrogen reclamation apparatus to the processing region.

45. The industrial system of claim 44 , wherein the hydrogen reclamation apparatus is a portable unit.