The production of hydrogen from the water gas shift reaction through the use of a palladium-silver membrane reactor

Abstract

The Water Gas Shift (WGS) reaction describes the reaction between carbon monoxide and water vapour to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This work describes the application of a Palladium-Silver (Pd-Ag)-based membrane film reactor, wherein the Pd-Ag film was supported by porous stainless steel (PSS), for the potential replacement of the current multi-stage WGS reaction. The objective of this work was to develop a better understanding of impediments which are relevant to the application of Pd-Ag membrane reactor for the WGSR. The long term behaviour (hydrogen permeability and selectivity) of Pd-Ag membrane under hydrogen exposure was studied, and the use of the Pd-Ag membrane reactor to produce hydrogen through the WGSR was also performed. A detailed literature review was conducted, based on the information gathered from literature. A Permeability and WGS reaction testing stations was designed and built. A thin (20μm) 77%wtPd-23%wtAg film was purchased from Takanaka Company in Japan. The membrane film was enclosed between two stainless steel plates to form a membrane reactor. The membrane reactor was fitted at the two different testing stations.