US 12,145,847 B2
Methods and apparatuses for hydrogen production
Rodney John Allam, Wiltshire (GB)
Assigned to 8 Rivers Capital, LLC, Durham, NC (US)
Filed by 8 Rivers Capital, LLC, Durham, NC (US)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/381,434.
Application 18/381,434 is a continuation of application No. 17/990,452, filed on Nov. 18, 2022, granted, now 11,814,288.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/423,301, filed on Nov. 7, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/280,793, filed on Nov. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/280,761, filed on Nov. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/280,786, filed on Nov. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/280,774, filed on Nov. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0043272 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. C01B 3/38 (2006.01); C01B 3/50 (2006.01)
CPC C01B 3/388 (2013.01) [C01B 3/382 (2013.01); C01B 3/508 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0233 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0425 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0475 (2013.01); C01B 2203/068 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0811 (2013.01); C01B 2203/1235 (2013.01); C01B 2203/1638 (2013.01); C01B 2210/001 (2013.01); C01B 2210/0051 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for hydrogen production, the method comprising:
providing a reactor vessel including therein at least one tube assembly comprising an outer tube and an inner tube concentrically arranged with a catalyst positioned within a space defined between an inside surface of the outer tube and an outside surface of the inner tube, wherein the reactor vessel comprises an upper tube sheet arranged to functionally align with the outer tube and a lower tube sheet arranged to functionally align with the inner tube;
injecting into the reactor vessel a stream comprising a hydrocarbon and water such that the hydrocarbon and water pass upwardly through the at least one tube assembly while contacting the catalyst and are at least partially converted into a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and such that the synthesis gas passes downwardly through a central bore of the at least one tube assembly;
injecting into the reactor vessel a heating fluid stream comprising predominately carbon dioxide such that the heating fluid stream passes downwardly around an outer surface of the at least one tube assembly;
withdrawing the synthesis gas from the reactor vessel;
withdrawing the heating fluid stream from the reactor vessel; and
isolating at least a portion of the hydrogen from the synthesis gas stream.
 
8. A method for hydrogen production, the method comprising:
providing a multicomponent gas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and at least one additional gas;
processing the multicomponent gas stream through at least one hydrogen isolation unit effective to provide a hydrogen product stream and a waste gas stream comprising the carbon dioxide, remaining hydrogen, and the at least one additional gas;
compressing the waste gas stream to form a compressed waste gas stream;
passing the compressed waste gas stream through at least one membrane separation unit effective to separate the compressed waste gas stream into a permeate stream comprising at least a portion of the remaining hydrogen and a retentate stream comprising at least a portion of the carbon dioxide and at least a portion of the at least one additional gas;
processing a stream of substantially pure carbon dioxide through a permeate side of a membrane in the at least one membrane separation unit counter-current to the compressed waste gas stream; and
returning the permeate stream to the at least one hydrogen isolation unit.