Nano-porous Inorganic Membrane as a One-Step Sulfur Tolerant Hydrogen Recovery Device

This SBIR Phase I project focuses on the use of our hydrogen selective nanoporous inorganic membrane for hydrogen recovery from reformats. We believe that the unique performance features of our proposed membrane-based process can deliver an one-step hydrogen recovery process to meet the hydrogen purity requirement of the Navy SSFC, and, more importantly, to streamline the up-stream fuel reforming and down stream hydrogen preparation. In addition, this proposed non-metallic inorganic-based membrane product is not only sulfur tolerant, but also thermally, hydrothermally and "pressure" stable, suitable to integrate directly with the upstream and downstream processes. Our proposed Phase I program will generate separation performance database using synthetic streams simulating reformates generated from the Navy logistic fuel via both steam reforming and partial oxidation processes. In addition, a bench top treatability study will be performed to demonstrate the long-term (~ 4 weeks) performance stability in the presence of the maximum sulfur level. Finally, we will perform capital and operation economic analysis and the preliminary system design for the 40 and 300kW fuel cell system for evaluation by Navy.