Integrated membrane system for pure hydrogen production: A PdAg membrane reactor and a PEMFC

Abstract In this work, an integrated system consisting of single stage hydrogen production and a commercial PEMFC was investigated experimentally. The CO-free hydrogen fed to the PEMFC was produced in a Pd–Ag membrane reactor (MR), upgrading a syngas stream with a composition similar to that coming out of a reformer (CO 45%; H 2 50%; CO 2 4%; N 2 balance, on dry basis). The performance of the MR was evaluated in terms of CO conversion and H 2 recovery as a function of the feed pressure (up to 600 kPa) and space velocity; no sweep gas was used for promoting the H 2 permeation, since this role was assigned exclusively to the feed pressure. Special attention was paid to the analysis of the integrated system, focusing on the influence of the Pd–Ag MR operating conditions on the electrical performance of the PEMFC. The PEMFC internal crossover was also considered to have an effect on the electrical performance and this was taken into account estimating the PEMFC actual efficiency. Furthermore, the chemical efficiency of the integrated membrane plant was evaluated, considering the H 2 converted into electricity with respect to the total amount of H 2 contained in the feed mixture. An interesting performance was shown by the integrated system since the PEMFC performance was close to the power nominal value.

[1]  Mahlon S. Wilson,et al.  Methanol decomposition fuel processor for portable power applications , 2009 .

[2]  Roland Dittmeyer,et al.  Membrane reactors for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation processes based on supported palladium , 2001 .

[3]  Enrico Drioli,et al.  A PEMFC and H2 membrane purification integrated plant , 2006 .

[4]  J. M. Zalc,et al.  Fuel processing for PEM fuel cells: transport and kinetic issues of system design , 2002 .

[5]  Enrico Drioli,et al.  Effect of energy transport on a palladium-based membrane reactor for methane steam reforming process , 2001 .

[6]  Dylan Mason,et al.  A light hydrocarbon fuel processor producing high-purity hydrogen , 2003 .

[7]  Thomas Aicher,et al.  A portable fuel processor for hydrogen production from ethanol in a 250 Wel fuel cell system , 2009 .

[8]  S. Tosti,et al.  Integrated analysis of a membrane-based process for hydrogen production from ethanol steam reforming , 2010 .

[9]  M. Lyubovsky,et al.  A reforming system for co-generation of hydrogen and mechanical work from methanol , 2006 .

[10]  Z. Prete,et al.  Theoretical analysis of a pure hydrogen production separation plant for fuel cells dynamical applications , 2006 .

[11]  Enrico Drioli,et al.  Upgrading of a syngas mixture for pure hydrogen production in a Pd–Ag membrane reactor , 2009 .

[12]  R. Baker.  Future directions of membrane gas separation technology , 2002 .

[13]  H. Gasteiger.  Fundamental Research and Development Challenges in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Technology , 2002 .

[14]  L. Menna,et al.  Analysis of the energy efficiency of innovative ATR-based PEM fuel cell system with hydrogen membrane separation , 2009 .

[15]  Enrico Drioli,et al.  An innovative configuration of a Pd-based membrane reactor for the production of pure hydrogen: Experimental analysis of water gas shift , 2008 .

[16]  R. Buxbaum,et al.  Power output and load following in a fuel cell fueled by membrane reactor hydrogen , 2003 .

[17]  Keith Scott,et al.  Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: Principles and advances , 2004 .

[18]  Toshimitsu Suzuki.  Future Opportunities in Catalytic and Separation Technology : M. Misono, Y. Moro-oka and S. Kimura (Eds.) Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1990, 382 pp, ISBN 0444885927, US$179.50 , 1992 .

[19]  F. Barbir.  PEM electrolysis for production of hydrogen from renewable energy sources , 2005 .

[20]  Enrico Drioli,et al.  Conversion−Temperature Diagram for a Palladium Membrane Reactor. Analysis of an Endothermic Reaction: Methane Steam Reforming , 2001 .

[21]  Lin Wang,et al.  Performance studies of PEM fuel cells with interdigitated flow fields , 2004 .

[22]  E. Drioli,et al.  A novel model equation for the permeation of hydrogen in mixture with carbon monoxide through Pd–Ag membranes , 2008 .

[23]  V. Violante,et al.  Pd-Ag Membrane Reactors for Water Gas Shift Reaction , 2003 .