Method and apparatus for recovery and recycling of hydrogen

1. An apparatus for recovering and recycling hydrogen from a reforming process comprising:

at least one pressurizing means for raising pressure of at least one hydrogen-rich gas stream from at least one catalyst lock hopper, containing a reforming catalyst,

at least one means for delivering at least a portion of the pressurized hydrogen-rich gas stream to at least one predetermined downstream location; and

at least one pressure maintaining means for maintaining a desired pressure of the hydrogen-rich gas stream from the catalyst lock hopper;

wherein the at least one pressure maintaining means further comprises:

at least one large vessel for damping flow upsets operatively connected to the hydrogen-rich gas stream; and

at least one means for regulating at least a portion of the pressurized hydrogen-rich gas stream flowing through the pressurizing means; and

wherein the regulating means is located downstream of the pressurizing means; and

wherein the at least one pressure maintaining means further comprises:

at least one first, or feedforward, controller means operatively connected to the hydrogen-rich gas stream exiting the catalyst lock hopper and to the regulating means, the first, or feedforward, controller means adjusting the regulating means by measuring the flow of the hydrogen-rich gas stream from the catalyst lock hopper to keep the hydrogen-rich gas steam flow stable and within previously determined parameters.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first, or feedforward, controller means includes a fast responding measuring means to monitor the hydrogen-rich gas stream flow rate from the catalyst lock hopper.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one first, or feedforward, controller means adjusting the regulating means by monitoring the signals to move or the positions of at least one equalizing valve on the catalyst lock hopper.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure maintaining means further comprises:

at least one second, or feedback, controller means operatively connected to the surge minimizing means and the regulating means to further maintain the hydrogen-rich gas stream pressure at a desired pressure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing device comprises at least one compressor means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the pressurizing device comprises at least one ejector means.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the compressor means has a compressor recycle valve having a linear characteristic.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the compressor means has a size sufficient to process a peak flow from a surge minimizing means.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the compressor means has a size sufficient to process up to several times a peak flow from a surge minimizing means.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one alarm and/or at least one mechanism for terminating the hydrogen recovery process.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing means and the delivery means comprises a compressor means.