초록 ▼

Methods and systems for producing hydrogen are provided. In one embodiment, a method of producing hydrogen comprises reacting a feed source with steam to produce a gas mixture containing hydrogen and a residue gas; introducing the gas mixture into a purification unit; adsorbing the residue gas; and

Methods and systems for producing hydrogen are provided. In one embodiment, a method of producing hydrogen comprises reacting a feed source with steam to produce a gas mixture containing hydrogen and a residue gas; introducing the gas mixture into a purification unit; adsorbing the residue gas; and discharging at least a portion of the hydrogen. The method further comprises depressurizing the purification unit; discharging at least a portion of the residue gas during the depressurization; recycling the residue gas to the feed source; and discharging the residue gas remaining in the purification unit. In another embodiment, the method includes discharging a portion of the residue gas during the depressurization such that the residue gas discharged has a higher hydrocarbon content than the secondary product remaining in the purification unit.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A pressure adsorption method for separating a gas mixture containing a primary product and a secondary product, comprising: introducing the gas mixture into a pressure adsorption unit; adsorbing the secondary product in the gas mixture; discharging at least a portion of the p

What is claimed is: 1. A pressure adsorption method for separating a gas mixture containing a primary product and a secondary product, comprising: introducing the gas mixture into a pressure adsorption unit; adsorbing the secondary product in the gas mixture; discharging at least a portion of the primary product from the pressure adsorption unit; depressurizing the pressure adsorption unit; discharging at least a portion of the secondary product from the pressure adsorption unit during the depressurization; recycling at least a part of the discharged portion of the secondary product to a hydrocarbon source of the gas mixture; and discharging the secondary product remaining in the pressure adsorption unit. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the hydrocarbon source to generate the primary product and the secondary product. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the hydrocarbon source comprises introducing the hydrocarbon source into a steam reforming unit. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein processing the hydrocarbon source further comprises introducing the hydrocarbon source into a gas-shift reactor. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising repressurizing the pressure adsorption unit. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein discharging the second product at least partially occurs during the depressurization. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising purging the pressure adsorption unit. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein discharging a portion of the secondary product occurs during the purging. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein a composition of the portion of the secondary product discharged during the depressurization step is different from a composition of the secondary product remaining in the pressure adsorption unit. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary product is discharged from an upper portion of the pressure adsorption unit. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary product comprises hydrogen. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the secondary product comprises a residue gas. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the residue gas comprises at least one of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the portion of the secondary product discharged during the depressurization step has a higher hydrocarbon content than the secondary product remaining in the pressure adsorption unit. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure adsorption unit comprises one or more reaction chambers containing one or more adsorbents. 16. The method of clam 15, further comprising operating two or more reaction chambers out of phase. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising using a primary product from one reaction chamber to purge another reaction chamber. 18. A method of operating a hydrogen production plant, comprising: introducing a feed source and steam to a hydrogen production unit; reacting a feed source with steam to produce a gas mixture containing hydrogen and a residue gas; introducing the gas mixture into a gas separation unit; separating the hydrogen and the residue gas; directing a first portion of the residue gas in the separation unit to the feed source to reduce a quantity of the residue gas for use as fuel; and directing a second portion of residue gas remaining in the gas separation unit to a fuel source for use in a heat generator. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein first portion has a higher hydrocarbon content than a second portion. 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising depressurizing the gas separation unit. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising discharging the first portion of the residue gas during the depressurization. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first portion of the residue gas is discharged from an upper portion of the gas separation unit. 23. The method of claim 20, further comprising purging the gas separation unit. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising repressurizing the gas separation unit. 25. The method of claim 18, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the residue gas are simultaneously discharged from the gas separation unit. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising discharging at least a portion of the hydrogen while discharging the first portion and the second portion of the residue gas.