Systems and methods for initiating operation of pressure swing adsorption systems and hydrogen-producing fuel processing systems incorporating the same
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
C01B-003/02
C10J-003/00
출원번호
US-0963530
(2010-12-08)
등록번호
US-8790618
(2014-07-29)
발명자
/ 주소
Adams, Patton M.
Givens, James A.
LaVen, Arne
LaVen, Sudha Rani
Renn, Curtiss
출원인 / 주소
DCNS SA
대리인 / 주소
Dascenzo Intellectual Property Law, P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
20
초록▼
Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) assemblies with optimized startup times, as well as to hydrogen-generation assemblies and/or fuel cell systems containing the same, and methods of operating the same. Startup and shutdown methods for a PSA assembly, and optionally an associated fuel processing system,
Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) assemblies with optimized startup times, as well as to hydrogen-generation assemblies and/or fuel cell systems containing the same, and methods of operating the same. Startup and shutdown methods for a PSA assembly, and optionally an associated fuel processing system, are disclosed to provide for shortened startup times. The PSA assemblies may be in fluid communication with a hydrogen source that may be used or otherwise configured or controlled to purge the PSA adsorbent columns of adsorbents during startup and/or shutdown procedures, the hydrogen source additionally or alternatively may be used or otherwise configured or controlled to charge the columns with hydrogen for idling in a pressurized state. The use of this hydrogen source, together with specific startup and shutdown methodologies, provides for reducing the startup time of the PSA assembly.
대표청구항▼
1. A method for starting up a hydrogen-generation assembly that includes a hydrogen-producing region (HPR) and a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) assembly, the hydrogen-producing region having HPR hydrogen-producing, HPR shutdown, HPR dormant, and HPR startup states, the PSA assembly having PSA hydro
1. A method for starting up a hydrogen-generation assembly that includes a hydrogen-producing region (HPR) and a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) assembly, the hydrogen-producing region having HPR hydrogen-producing, HPR shutdown, HPR dormant, and HPR startup states, the PSA assembly having PSA hydrogen-purifying, PSA shutdown, PSA dormant, and PSA startup states, and the PSA assembly further having an internal pressure, the method comprising: supplying a feedstock supply stream to the hydrogen-generation assembly while in the HPR hydrogen-producing state to produce a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas as a majority component and further containing other gases;supplying the mixed gas stream to the PSA assembly while in the PSA hydrogen-purifying state to produce a product hydrogen stream having a greater concentration of hydrogen gas and/or a lower concentration of the other gases than the mixed gas stream;utilizing a HPR shutdown sequence to transition the HPR from the HPR hydrogen-producing state to the HPR dormant state and utilizing a PSA shutdown sequence to transition the PSA assembly from the PSA hydrogen-purifying state to the PSA dormant state; andutilizing a HPR startup sequence to transition the HPR from the HPR dormant state to the HPR hydrogen-producing state and utilizing a PSA startup sequence to transition the PSA assembly from the PSA dormant state to the PSA hydrogen-purifying state, wherein at least the PSA startup sequence includes supplying hydrogen gas to the PSA assembly from a hydrogen source, wherein the utilizing the PSA startup sequence includes utilizing the PSA startup sequence at least partially concurrently with the HPR startup sequence and further wherein the utilizing the PSA startup sequence begins after initiating and before completing the HPR startup sequence to transition the HPR from the HPR dormant state to the HPR hydrogen-producing state. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method includes starting the PSA startup sequence at the same time as the HPR startup sequence. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method includes starting the PSA startup sequence so that it completes at, or at substantially at, the same time as the HPR startup sequence. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen source includes a hydrogen storage device that includes a volume of hydrogen gas, and further wherein the method includes charging the hydrogen storage device with hydrogen gas by delivering at least a portion of the product hydrogen stream produced when the PSA assembly is in the PSA hydrogen-purifying state. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen source includes a hydrogen storage device that includes a volume of hydrogen gas, and further wherein the method includes charging the hydrogen storage device with hydrogen gas by delivering at least a portion of the mixed gas stream produced by the HPR when the HPR is in the hydrogen-producing state. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen source includes a hydrogen storage device that includes a volume of hydrogen gas, and further wherein the hydrogen storage device includes at least one hydride bed containing a hydrogen storage media, and further wherein the method includes sorbing at least a portion of the product hydrogen stream produced when the PSA assembly is in the PSA hydrogen-purifying state into the hydrogen storage media to charge the hydrogen source with hydrogen. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes producing hydrogen gas at the hydrogen source via a chemical reaction, and further wherein the chemical reaction is selected from the group comprising reacting water with aluminum/gallium, reacting water with magnesium, reacting methanol-water with hydrogen peroxide over a suitable catalyst, decomposing a chemical hydride, and decomposing sodium borohydride. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen source includes the HPR when the HPR is not in its hydrogen-producing state. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen source includes the HPR when the HPR is in its HPR startup state. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the PSA shutdown sequence includes performing at least one purge cycle that involves supplying a purge gas stream to the PSA assembly to increase the internal pressure of the PSA assembly to a first pressure, maintaining the internal pressure at the first pressure for a first time period, decreasing the internal pressure of the PSA assembly to a second pressure by discharging gas within the PSA assembly to a byproduct stream, and maintaining the internal pressure at the second pressure for a second time period; wherein the PSA shutdown sequence further includes repeating the purge cycle; and further wherein at least one of the first time period and the second time period is less than the corresponding time periods associated with the PSA hydrogen-purifying state. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the dormant state, the internal pressure within the PSA assembly is greater than atmospheric pressure. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method includes pressurizing the PSA assembly by charging the PSA assembly with hydrogen gas at least one of during and after the PSA shutdown sequence. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises periodically supplying hydrogen gas to the PSA assembly when the PSA assembly is in the dormant state. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the periodically supplying includes supplying hydrogen gas to periodically purge the PSA assembly while maintaining the internal pressure at, or at least substantially at, atmospheric pressure. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the periodically supplying includes supplying hydrogen gas to maintain the internal pressure within the PSA assembly above a threshold pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the PSA startup sequence includes performing at least one purge cycle that involves supplying the product hydrogen stream to the PSA assembly to increase the internal pressure of the PSA assembly, maintaining the internal pressure for a time period, decreasing the internal pressure of the PSA assembly by discharging gas within the PSA assembly to a byproduct stream, maintaining the internal pressure for a further time period; repeating the purge cycle at least once; andsupplying the product hydrogen stream to the PSA assembly to increase the internal pressure of the PSA assembly. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the utilizing a HPR startup sequence, the utilizing the PSA startup sequence, and the supplying hydrogen gas occurs prior to the supplying the feedstock supply stream, the supplying the mixed gas stream, the utilizing the HPR shutdown sequence, and the utilizing the PSA shutdown sequence.
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