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An apparatus for purifying a hydrogen feed stream, comprising a hydrogen diffusion membrane, a first feed line for supplying a hydrogen feed stream and a second feed line for supplying a purge gas, is disclosed. A flow-restricting device is located in the second feed line. Apparatus for purging a hy

An apparatus for purifying a hydrogen feed stream, comprising a hydrogen diffusion membrane, a first feed line for supplying a hydrogen feed stream and a second feed line for supplying a purge gas, is disclosed. A flow-restricting device is located in the second feed line. Apparatus for purging a hydrogen purification apparatus, methods for purifying a hydrogen stream and methods for purging a hydrogen purification apparatus are also disclosed.

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1. A method for purging a hydrogen purification apparatus comprising the steps of:a) stopping the supply of a hydrogen feed stream to a chamber by closing one or more valves in a first feed line which is connected to the chamber at a first inlet; b) supplying a purge gas to the chamber by opening on

1. A method for purging a hydrogen purification apparatus comprising the steps of:a) stopping the supply of a hydrogen feed stream to a chamber by closing one or more valves in a first feed line which is connected to the chamber at a first inlet; b) supplying a purge gas to the chamber by opening one or more valves in a second feed line which is connected to the chamber at the first inlet or at a second inlet; c) allowing the exit of gas from the apparatus through a bleed line, which is connected to the chamber at a first outlet, by opening one or more valves in the bleed line; and d) stopping the exit of gas through a product line, which is connected to the chamber at second outlet, by closing one or more valves in the product line; wherein in step (b) the purge stream is supplied to the chamber via a flow-restricting device which is located in the second feed line.2. A method according to claim 1, wherein steps (a)-(d) are carried out simultaneously.3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step ofa) switching on a vacuum generating device which is located in the bleed line. 4. A method for purifying a hydrogen feed stream with a hydrogen purification apparatus comprising a chamber having a first inlet and, optionally, a second inlet for supplying gas streams into the chamber, and a first outlet and a second outlet for removing gas streams from the chamber,a first feed line for supplying a hydrogen feed stream, which is connected to the first inlet, a hydrogen diffusion membrane which is located such that any gas that passes through the membrane will exit the chamber through the second outlet and any gas that does not pass through the membrane will exit the chamber through the first outlet, a second feed line for supplying a purge gas, which is connected to the first inlet or the second inlet, a bleed line, which is connected to the first outlet, a product line, which is connected to the second outlet, at least one valve located in each of the first and second feed lines, the bleed line and the product line, and a flow-restricting device located in the second feed line, the method comprising the steps of: supplying the feed stream to the chamber by opening the at least one valve in the first feed line; and removing ultra pure hydrogen from the apparatus by opening the at least one valve in the product line. 5. An apparatus for purifying a hydrogen feed stream, comprisinga chamber having a first inlet and, optionally, a second inlet for supplying gas streams into the chamber, and a first outlet and a second outlet for removing gas streams from the chamber; a first feed line for supplying a hydrogen feed stream, which is connected to the first inlet; a hydrogen diffusion membrane which is located such that any gas that passes through the membrane will exit the chamber through the second outlet and any gas that does not pass through the membrane will exit the chamber through the first outlet; a second feed line for supplying a purge gas, which is connected to the first inlet or the second inlet; a bleed line, which is connected to the first outlet; a product line, which is connected to the second outlet; at least one valve located in each of the first and second feed lines, the bleed line and the product line; and a flow-restricting device located in the second feed line. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the purge gas is nitrogen.7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the hydrogen diffusion membrane is a palladium or palladium alloy membrane.8. An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising additional flow-restricting devices located in the first feed line and the bleed line.9. An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising at least one heater located within or adjacent to the chamber.10. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the flow-restricting device located in the second feed line is a flow control orifice.11. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one valve in the feed lines, the bleed line and the product line is a pneumatic valve.12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each valve has a normal position selected from open or closed and the apparatus further comprises a pneumatic valve system for switching the at least one valve to the opposite position by applying air pressure to the at least one valve via at least one air control line.13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the valve(s) in the first feed line are closed in their normal position, the valve(s) in the second feed line are open in their normal position, the valve(s) in the bleed line are open in their normal position and the valve(s) in the product line are closed in their normal position.14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one air control line comprises a first air control line and a second air control line, and the valves in the first and second feed lines and the bleed line are controlled by a first air control line, and the valve(s) in the product line are controlled by a second air control line.15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the air control line is configured such that certain valves can be actuated immediately, and other valves can be actuated after a delay.16. An apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising a further flow-restricting device and a reservoir inserted into the at least one air control line.17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the valve(s) in the second feed line and the at least one valve in the first feed line are actuated immediately by the air control line and the valve(s) in the bleed line are actuated after a time delay.18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first feed line is split so that it comprises a first section and a second section through which gas can flow, and the at least one valve in the first feed line comprises a first valve in the first section and a second valve in the second section, the first valve is actuated immediately by the air control line, and a second valve is actuated after a time delay.19. An apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a further flow-restricting device in the first feed line which is located in the first section of the feed line, downstream of the first valve.20. An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a vacuum generating device in the bleed line.21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the vacuum generating device is a venturi.22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the bleed line is split so that it comprises a first section and a second section through which the gas can flow and in the first section there is a valve and a vacuum generating device which is downstream of the valve, and in the second section there is an additional flow-restricting device.23. A purge apparatus for attachment to a hydrogen purification apparatus wherein the hydrogen purification apparatus comprises a chamber having a first inlet and, optionally, a second inlet for supplying gas streams into the chamber; a first outlet and a second outlet for removing gas streams from the chamber; and a hydrogen diffusion membrane which is located such that any gas that passes through the membrane will exit the chamber through the second outlet and any gas that does not pass through the membrane will exit the chamber through the first outlet;and wherein the purge apparatus comprises: a first feed line for supplying a hydrogen feed stream, which is connectable to the first inlet; a second feed line for supplying a purge gas, which is connectable to the first inlet or the second inlet; a bleed line, which connectable to the first outlet; a product line, which is connectable to the second outlet; at least one valve located in each of the first and second feed lines, the bleed line and the product line; and a flow-restricting device located in the second feed line. 24. A purge apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising additional flow-restricting devices in the first feed line and the bleed line and a vacuum generating device in the bleed line.