Abstract:
The materials of adjoining porous metal substrate (12), oxide (14), and Pd-alloy membrane (16) layers of a composite, H2 - separation palladium membrane (10) have respective thermal expansion coefficients (TEC) which differ from one another so little as to resist failure by TEC mismatch from thermal cycling. TEC differences (20, 22) of less than 3 µm/ (m.k) between materials of adjacent layers are achieved by a composite system of a 446 stainless steel substrate, an oxide layer of 4 wt % yittria-zirconia, and a 77 wt% Pd-23 wt% Ag or 60 wt% Pd-40 wt% Cu, membrane, having TECs of 11, 11, and 13.9 µm/ (m.k), respectively. The Intermediate oxide layer comprises particles forming pores having an average pore sizeless than about 0.1 microns, and is less than 5 microns, and preferably less than about 3 microns, in thickness.
Abstract:
The fuel processing system of the present invention supplies a flow of H2-r?ch reformate to a water gas shift membrane reactor, comprising a water gas shift reaction region and a permeate region, separated by an H2-separat?on membrane H2 formed over a catalyst in the reaction region selectively passes through the H2-separat?on membrane to the permeate region for delivery to a use point (such as the fuel cell of a fuel cell power plant) A sweep gas, preferably steam, removes the H2 from the permeate region The direction of sweep gas flow relative to the reformate flow is controlled for H2-separat?on performance and is used to determine the loading of the catalyst in the reaction region Coolant, thermal and/or pressure control subsystems of the fuel cell power plant may be integrated with the fuel processing system
Abstract:
A powder classification apparatus (10; 110; 210) includes a first chamber (12; 112; 212) that includes a fluidized bed and has an inlet (16; 116; 216A) and an outlet (18; 118; 218), the inlet (16; 116; 216A) configured to receive a gas (G) and distribute the gas (G) in a uniform flow through the first chamber (12; 112; 212), the first chamber (12; 112; 212) configured to receive a powder (P) and the gas (G) and create a fluidization zone, the outlet (18; 118; 218) configured to allow at least a portion of the powder (P) to exit the first chamber (12; 112; 212); and a second chamber (14; 114; 214) having a powder inlet (24; 124; 224) configured to accept at least a portion of the powder (P) from the outlet (18; 118; 218) in the first chamber (12; 112; 212) caused by at least a portion of the powder (P) being ejected from the first chamber (12; 112; 212) by the gas (G).
Abstract:
A method includes introducing metallic powder into a fluidizing chamber of a fluidized bed reactor. A fluidization gas is flowed into the fluidizing chamber. The metallic power becomes entrained in the flow of the fluidization gas. Adsorbed water is removed from the metallic powder by exposing the metallic powder to the fluidization gas for a duration of time and at a treatment temperature to cause the adsorbed water to be removed from the metallic powder.