Hybrid Membrane - Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Hydrogen Purification Systems

The main goal of the proposed work is the design and testing of hybrid separation schemes that combine membrane and Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology for the purification of H2 from a reformate stream that also contains CO2, CO, CH4, and N2. The general objectives comply with SP1-JTI-FCH.2010.2.3: “Development of gas purification technologies”, which is part of the application area SP1-JTI-FCH.2: “Hydrogen production & distribution”.
A hybrid process should combine the very high throughput and purity of a PSA process with a membrane separation process which has lower operating costs. As a result a hybrid process is expected to increase the overall H2 recovery without sacrificing its purity. Furthermore, it provides the means for co-producing CO2 stream ready for capture and sequestration.
In order to achieve this goal the following scientific and technological objectives have been identified the proposed two year project:
•Optimization of the carbon membrane synthesis procedure and scale–up of their production.
•Detailed characterization & generation of transport & adsorption data for the adsorbent and membrane materials
•Investigate the benefits of using layered adsorbents on the PSA performance.
•Simultaneous design, control and optimization of a hybrid PSA membrane separation system.
•Evaluation of membrane material performance under real operating conditions.
•Assembly and testing of a hybrid membrane – PSA separation system.
•Investigation of the potential of generating a CO2 rich stream ready for capture.

Topic:

Development of gas purification technologies

Coordinator:

Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH), Greece

Contact:

Theophilos Ioannides

Other participating organisations: