Abstract: A system and method for producing hydrogen from hydrocarbon and steam, including a membrane reformer with multiple membrane reactors each having a tubular membrane. The bore of the tubular membrane is the permeate side for the hydrogen. The region external to the tubular membrane is the retentate side for carbon dioxide. A sweep gas flows through the bore to displace hydrogen in a direction countercurrent to flow of hydrocarbon and steam in the region external to the tubular membrane. The method includes discharging hydrogen as permeate with the sweep gas from the bore, and discharging carbon dioxide in the region external to the tubular membrane as retentate from the membrane reactor.

Abstract: A system and method of producing hydrogen, including converting hydrocarbon to methane via steam and pre-reforming catalyst in a pre-reformer, converting the methane to hydrogen and carbon dioxide by steam reforming via a reforming catalyst in a membrane reformer, diffusing through hydrogen through a tubular membrane in the membrane reformer.

Abstract: A hydrogen-selective membrane including a metal leaf applied to a substrate. A system and method for fabricating a hydrogen-selective membrane, including applying a metal leaf to a substrate, annealing the metal leaf, applying a hydrogen-permeable metal to the annealed metal leaf on the substrate, and annealing the hydrogen-permeable metal and the annealed metal leaf to give an alloy of the hydrogen-permeable metal and the metal leaf. A system and method for repairing a hydrogen-selective membrane having defects including applying a metal leaf to an external surface of membrane material of the hydrogen-selective membrane, annealing the metal leaf and metal of the membrane material to form an alloy of the metal leaf and the metal to repair the defects.

Abstract: A system and method for producing hydrogen, including providing hydrocarbon and steam into a vessel to a region external to a tubular membrane in the vessel. The method includes steam reforming the hydrocarbon in the vessel via reforming catalyst to generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The method includes diffusing the hydrogen through the tubular membrane into a bore of the tubular membrane, wherein the tubular membrane is hydrogen selective.

Abstract: A system and method for producing hydrogen from hydrocarbon and steam, including a membrane reformer with multiple membrane reactors each having a tubular membrane. The bore of the tubular membrane is the permeate side for the hydrogen. The region external to the tubular membrane is the retentate side for carbon dioxide. A sweep gas flows through the bore to displace hydrogen in a direction countercurrent to flow of hydrocarbon and steam in the region external to the tubular membrane. The method includes discharging hydrogen as permeate with the sweep gas from the bore, and discharging carbon dioxide in the region external to the tubular membrane as retentate from the membrane reactor.

Abstract: A system and method of producing hydrogen, including converting hydrocarbon to methane via steam and pre-reforming catalyst in a pre-reformer, converting the methane to hydrogen and carbon dioxide by steam reforming via a reforming catalyst in a membrane reformer, diffusing through hydrogen through a tubular membrane in the membrane reformer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing Palladium alloy composite membranes that are useful in applications that involve the need to separate hydrogen from a gas mixture. The method includes providing a substrate for supporting a palladium alloy film, seeding the support surface with palladium crystallites to produce an activated surface, first plating, over the activated surface, a palladium film, second plating, over the palladium film, an alloying material other than silver, and annealing the porous substrate, palladium film, and alloying material so that there is intermetallic diffusion of the alloying material into the palladium film to produce a palladium alloy film over the porous substrate.

Abstract: A tritium sensor and method are provided. The sensor involves the use of an electrode having a semiconductor coating that has properties selected to allow the passage of beta particles at the particular energy level for tritium through the semiconductor layer to a conductive electrode core and produce current. Current flow in the core can be measured by a current measuring device. The current flow can be correlated to the concentration of tritium in the gas surrounding the electrode to provide an indication of the amount of tritium present. The device can be used in a static system or a system in which the tritium containing gas flows. The apparatus provides real time readings of the tritium concentration in gas.

Abstract: A device for hydrogen separation has a porous support and hydrogen separation material on the support. The support is prepared by heat treatment of metal microparticles, preferably of iron-based or nickel-based alloys that also include aluminum and/or yttrium. The hydrogen separation material is then deposited on the support. Preferred hydrogen separation materials include metals such as palladium, alloys, platinum, refractory metals, and alloys.

Abstract: A tubular hydrogen permeable metal membrane and fabrication process comprises obtaining a metal alloy foil having two surfaces, coating the surfaces with a metal or metal alloy catalytic layer to produce a hydrogen permeable metal membrane, sizing the membrane into a sheet with two long edges, wrapping the membrane around an elongated expandable rod with the two long edges aligned and overlapping to facilitate welding of the two together, placing the foil wrapped rod into a surrounding fixture housing with the two aligned and overlapping foil edges accessible through an elongated aperture in the surrounding fixture housing, expanding the elongated expandable rod within the surrounding fixture housing to tighten the foil about the expanded rod, welding the two long overlapping foil edges to one another generating a tubular membrane, and removing the tubular membrane from within the surrounding fixture housing and the expandable rod from with the tubular membrane.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing Palladium alloy composite membranes that are useful in applications that involve the need to separate hydrogen from a gas mixture. Further, in one embodiment, a Pd alloy composite membrane is realized in which the Pd alloy film is 1 &mgr;m or less in thickness and resistant to poisoning by sulfide compounds. Further, the Pd alloy composite membranes are applied to a number of applications, such a fuel reforming.