Hydrogen purifier

Claim 1

An apparatus for separating pure hydrogen gas from a hydrogen containing gas, comprising in combination: a. a gas-impervious metal jacket tube having an inlet end and a vent end and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening capable of receiving a second tube therein, said jacket tube having the characteristics of withstanding high internal pressures and of being bendable by means of a jig, or the like, to form a helical coil, and when in a coiled condition said jacket tube substantially maintaining said continuous central opening; b. a hydrogen permeable tube inserted within said jacket tube and residing within said jacket tube along a substantial portion of the length of said permeable tube, said permeable tube having one end thereof sealed gas tight and the other end connected to a pure hydrogen outlet, and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening for the passing of pure hydrogen gas therethrough, said permeable tube having an outside diameter slightly less than the diameter of said jacket tube central opening and the spacing between said permeable tube outer wall and the wall of said jacket tube central opening being such that said permeable tube may not be appreciably bent without forming a corresponding bend in the respective adjacent portion of said jacket tube, said permeable tube having the characteristic of withstanding an external pressure substantially greater than its internal pressure and having the further characteristic of being bendable by a jig, or the like, to form a helical coil without substantially altering said permeable tube continuous central opening, said jacket tube with said permeable tube inserted therein together being coiled into a helical coil having a hollow core running the length of said coil and such that the outer wall portions of said permeable tube remain in close spaced relation with the respective adjacent wall surfaces of said jacket tube central opening; c. heater block means having associated temperature control means, said heater block means being inserted within said coil hollow core for maintaining said tubes at a controlled temperature; d. heat insulation means for at least partially surrounding and insulating said tubes and heater block means; e. outer container means; f. means for introducing a hydrogen containing gas into the inlet end of said jacket tube; g. means for venting gas impurities from the vent end of said jacket tube; and h. means for controlling the pressure in said tubes so that the pressure within said jacket tube and external of said permeable tube is greater than the pressure within said permeable tube.

Claim 2

An apparatus for separating pure hydrogen gas from a hydrogen containing gas, comprising in combination: a. a gas-impervious metal jacket tube having an inlet end and a vent end and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening capable of receiving a second tube therein, said jacket tube having the characteristics of withstanding high internal pressures and of being bendable by means of a jig, or the like, to form a helical coil, and when in a coiled condition said jacket tube substantially maintaining said continuous central opening; b. a hydrogen permeable tube inserted within said jacket tube and residing within said jacket tube along a substantial portion of the length of said permeable tube, said permeable tube having one end thereof sealed gas tight and the other end connected to a pure hydrogen outlet, and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening for the passing of pure hydrogen gas therethrough, said permeable tube having an outside diameter slightly less than the diameter of said jacket tube central opening and the spacing between said permeable tube outer wall and the wall of said jacket tube central opening being such that said permeable tube may not be appreciably bent without forming a corresponding bend in the respective adjacent portion of said jacket tube, said permeable tube having the characteristic of withstanding an external pressure substantially greater than its internal pressure and having the further characteristic of being bendable by a jig, or the like, to form a helical coil without substantially altering said permeable tube continuous central opening, said jacket tube with said permeable tube inserted therein together being coiled into a helical coil having a hollow core running the length of said coil and such that the outer wall portions of said permeable tube remain in close spaced relation with the respective adjacent wall surfaces of said jacket tube central opening; c. heater block means having associated temperature control means, said heater block means being inserted within said coil hollow core for maintaining said tubes at a controlled temperature; d. heat insulation means for at least partially surrounding and insulating said tubes and heater block means; e. outer container means; f. means for introducing a hydrogen containing gas into the inlet end of said jacket tube; g. means for venting gas impurities from the vent end of said jacket tube; and h. means for controlling the pressure in said tubes so that the pressure within said jacket tube and external of said permeable tube is greater than the pressure within said permeable tube.

Claim 9

An apparatus for separating pure hydrogen gas from a hydrogen containing gas, comprising in combination: a. a gas-impervious metal jacket tube having an inlet end and a vent end and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening capable of receiving a second tube therein, said jacket tube having the characteristics of withstanding high internal pressures and of being bendable by means of a jig, or the like, to form a helical coil, and when in a coiled condition said jacket tube substantially maintaining said continuous central opening; b. a hydrogen permeable tube inserted within said jacket tube and residing within said jacket tube along a substantial portion of the length of said permeable tube, said permeable tube having both ends thereof open and connected to a pure hydrogen outlet means, and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening for the passing of pure hydrogen gas therethrough, said permeable tube having an outside diameter slightly less than the diameter of said jacket tube central opening and the spacing between said permeable tube outer wall and the wall of said jacket tube central opening being such that said permeable tube may not be appreciably bent without forming a corresponding bend in the respective adjacent portion of said jacket tube, said permeable tube having the characteristic of withstanding an external pressure substantially greater than its internal pressure and having the further characteristic of being bendable by a jig, or the like, to form a helical coil without substantially altering said permeable tube continuous central opening, said jacket tube with said permeable tube inserted therein together being coiled into a helical coil having a hollow core running the length of said coil and such that the outer wall portions of said permeable tube remain in close spaced relation with the respective adjacent wall surfaces of said jacket tube central opening; c. heater block means having associated temperature control means, said heater block means being inserted within said coil hollow core for maintaining said tubes at a controlled temperature; d. heat insulation means for at least partially surrounding and insulating said tubes and heater block means; e. outer container means; f. means for introducing a hydrogen containing gas into the inlet end of said jacket tube; g. means for venting gas impurities from the vent end of said jacket tube; and h. means for controlling the pressure in said tubes so that the pressure within said jacket tube and external of said permeable tube is greater than the pressure within said permeable tube.

Claim 10

An apparatus for separating pure hydrogen gas from a hydrogen containing gas, comprising in combination: a. a gas-impervious metal jacket tube having an inlet end and a vent end and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening capable of receiving a second tube therein, said jacket tube having the characteristics of withstanding high internal pressures and of being bendable by means of a jig, or the like, to form a helical coil, and when in a coiled condition said jacket tube substantially maintaining said continuous central opening; b. a hydrogen permeable tube inserted within said jacket tube and residing within said jacket tube along a substantial portion of the length of said permeable tube, said permeable tube having both ends thereof open and connected to a pure hydrogen outlet means, and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening for the passing of pure hydrogen gas therethrough, said permeable tube having an outside diameter slightly less than the diameter of said jacket tube central opening and the spacing between said permeable tube outer wall and the wall of said jacket tube central opening being such that said permeable tube may not be appreciably bent without forming a corresponding bend in the respective adjacent portion of said jacket tube, said permeable tube having the characteristic of withstanding an external pressure substantially greater than its internal pressure and having the further characteristic of being bendable by a jig, or the like, to form a helical coil without substantially altering said permeable tube continuous central opening, said jacket tube with said permeable tube inserted therein together being coiled into a helical coil having a hollow core running the length of said coil and such that the outer wall portions of said permeable tube remain in close spaced relation with the respective adjacent wall surfaces of said jacket tube central opening; c. heater block means having associated temperature control means, said heater block means being inserted within said coil hollow core for maintaining said tubes at a controlled temperature; d. heat insulation means for at least partially surrounding and insulating said tubes and heater block means; e. outer container means; f. means for introducing a hydrogen containing gas into the inlet end of said jacket tube; g. means for venting gas impurities from the vent end of said jacket tube; and h. means for controlling the pressure in said tubes so that the pressure within said jacket tube and external of said permeable tube is greater than the pressure within said permeable tube.

Claim 17

An apparatus for separating pure hydrogen gas from a hydrogen containing gas, comprising in combination: a. a gas-impervious metal jacket tube having an inlet end and a vent end and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening capable of receiving a second tube therein, said jacket tube having the characteristics of withstanding high internal pressures and of being bendable by means of a jig, or the like, to form a compact tortuous path and when in such tortuous condition said jacket tube substantially maintaining said continuous central opening; b. a hydrogen permeable tube inserted within said jacket tube and residing within said jacket tube along a substantial portion of the length of said permeable tube, said permeable tube having at least one end thereof connected to a pure hydrogen outlet means, and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening for the passing of pure hydrogen gas therethrough, said permeable tube having an outside diameter slightly less than the diameter of said jacket tube central opening and the spacing between said permeable tube outer wall and the wall of said jacket tube central opening being such that said permeable tube may not be appreciably bent without forming a corresponding bend in the respective adjacent portion of said jacket tube, said permeable tube having the characteristic of being bendable by a jig, or the like, to form a compact tortuous path without substantially altering said permeable tube continuous central opening, said jacket tube with said permeable tube inserted therein together being bent into a compact tortuous path such that the outer wall portions of said permeable tube remain in close spaced relation with the respective adjacent wall surfaces of said jacket tube central opening; c. heater means located proximate the tubes for maintaining said tubes at a controlled temperature; d. means for introducing a hydrogen containing gas into the inlet end of said jacket tube; e. means for venting gas impurities from the vent end of said jacket tube; and f. means for controlling the pressure in said tubes so that the pressure within said jacket tube and external of said permeable tube is greater than the pressure within said permeable tube.

Claim 18

An apparatus for separating pure hydrogen gas from a hydrogen containing gas, comprising in combination: a. a gas-impervious metal jacket tube having an inlet end and a vent end and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening capable of receiving a second tube therein, said jacket tube having the characteristics of withstanding high internal pressures and of being bendable by means of a jig, or the like, to form a compact tortuous path and when in such tortuous condition said jacket tube substantially maintaining said continuous central opening; b. a hydrogen permeable tube inserted within said jacket tube and residing within said jacket tube along a substantial portion of the length of said permeable tube, said permeable tube having at least one end thereof connected to a pure hydrogen outlet means, and having a circular cross-section and a continuous central opening for the passing of pure hydrogen gas therethrough, said permeable tube having an outside diameter slightly less than the diameter of said jacket tube central opening and the spacing between said permeable tube outer wall and the wall of said jacket tube central opening being such that said permeable tube may not be appreciably bent without forming a corresponding bend in the respective adjacent portion of said jacket tube, said permeable tube having the characteristic of being bendable by a jig, or the like, to form a compact tortuous path without substantially altering said permeable tube continuous central opening, said jacket tube with said permeable tube inserted therein together being bent into a compact tortuous path such that the outer wall portions of said permeable tube remain in close spaced relation with the respective adjacent wall surfaces of said jacket tube central opening; c. heater means located proximate the tubes for maintaining said tubes at a controlled temperature; d. means for introducing a hydrogen containing gas into the inlet end of said jacket tube; e. means for venting gas impurities from the vent end of said jacket tube; and f. means for controlling the pressure in said tubes so that the pressure within said jacket tube and external of said permeable tube is greater than the pressure within said permeable tube.