Methods for purifying a hydrogen gas stream are provided that can include: introducing the hydrogen gas stream into the hydrogen pumping cell, and collecting a purified hydrogen gas from the hydrogen pumping cell. The hydrogen gas stream can include hydrogen sulfide in an amount of about 10 ppm to about 1,000 ppm, and can have a relative humidity of about 0.1% or more at the operational temperature and pressure of the hydrogen pumping cell.

A method for adjusting a gas stream separation unit having N adsorbers, where N≥2, each following a PSA, VSA or VPSA adsorption cycle, with a time lag of a phase time, said adjustment method including continuously measuring a physical parameter associated with the gas stream entering and/or leaving the adsorber; for at least one step of the adsorption cycle, determining at least one characteristic value of the step chosen in step a) which is selected from the values of the physical parameter measured in step a) or a function of those values; comparing this characteristic value with a target value; and modifying the flow of the gas stream in order to obtain the target value, in the event of a variation between the value of this (these) difference(s) and the target values.

A separation and purification coupled process with a high helium yield and diversified products is provided The process is as follows. Firstly, a low-concentration helium-containing gas after being pressurized and pre-treated enters a two-stage and two-section membrane separation unit to produce a helium product with a medium concentration by concentrating stage by stage through the membrane separation unit. A part of the helium with medium concentration enters an adsorption unit for further concentration to produce a helium product above grade A.

Hydrogen purification devices and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to first and second end frames. The at least one foil-microscreen assembly may include at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages. The planar sheet may include generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side. The plurality of fluid passages may extend between the opposed surfaces. The at least one hydrogen-selective membrane may be metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure. In some embodiments, the devices may include a permeate frame having at least one membrane support structure that spans at least a substantial portion of an open region and that is configured to support at least one foil-microscreen assembly.

An adsorption apparatus and associated method for capturing an target gaseous adsorbate from an atmospheric air based gaseous feed stream. The adsorption apparatus comprises: a housing enclosing at least one adsorption element for adsorbing the target gaseous adsorbate, the at least one adsorption element comprising at least one substrate coated with an adsorptive composite coating that comprises at least 50 wt % metal organic framework and at least one binder, the housing having an inlet through which the gaseous feed stream can flow to the adsorption element and an outlet through which gas can flow out from the housing; and a desorption arrangement in contact with and/or surrounding the at least one adsorption element, the desorption arrangement being selectively operable between (i) a deactivated state, and (ii) an activated state in which the arrangement is configured to heat, apply a reduced pressure or a combination thereof to the adsorptive composite coating to desorb at least a portion of the adsorbed target gaseous adsorbate from the adsorptive composite coating.

In a helium purification process, a stream containing at least 10% of helium, at least 10% of nitrogen in addition to hydrogen and methane is separated to form a helium-enriched stream containing hydrogen, a first stream enriched in nitrogen and in methane and a second stream enriched in nitrogen and in methane, the helium-enriched stream is treated to produce a helium-rich product and a residual gas containing water, the residual gas is treated by adsorption (TSA) to remove the water and the regeneration gas from the adsorption is sent to a combustion unit (O).

A method for extending useful life of a sorbent for purifying a gas by sorption of an impurity is provided. The method generating a electrical discharge within the gas to obtain a spectral emission representative of a concentration of the impurity. The method also includes monitoring the concentration of the impurity according to the spectral emission. The method also includes lowering the concentration of the impurity by conversion of at least a portion of the impurity into a secondary impurity having a greater affinity to the sorbent than the impurity. The method also includes comparing the concentration of the impurity to a polluting concentration and managing the sorption of the gas onto the sorbent according to the comparison.

A process is provided for increasing the recovery of high-purity hydrogen from a steam cracking process in situations where byproduct methane yield is high relative to hydrogen. After a hydrocarbon gas stream is sent through a cold box and demethanizer, a small proportion of methane is sent through a pressure swing adsorption unit separately from a gas stream that contains hydrogen to increase high-purity hydrogen recovery by about 6%.

Pressure swing adsorption process for reducing fluctuations in the flow rate of tail gas from the adsorption unit. The flow rate of the stream of blowdown gas is regulated responsive signals from a sensor measuring the pressure and/or flow rate of the tail gas comprising the blowdown gas and purge gas effluent before the tail gas is introduced into a surge vessel.

The integration of plasma processes with combined cycle power plant, simple cycle power plant, and steam reforming processes. A method of producing purified hydrogen gas and fuel is described including compressing a feed stream of hydrogen, adding tail gas from a plasma process to the feed stream, passing the tail gas modified feed stream into a pressure swing adsorption system generating a purified hydrogen product and a pressure swing adsorption tail gas, separating and compressing the purified hydrogen product, and separating and compressing the pressure swing adsorption tail gas for use as fuel. A method of generating and recapturing electricity from a single or combined cycle power plant is also described including flowing natural gas into a plasma process and hydrogen generating plant, flowing the hydrogen produced into the power plant, flowing natural gas into the power plant, resulting in the production of electricity. The electricity is flowed back into the plasma process plant, and in the case of the combined cycle power plant the electricity is partially flowed into a power grid as well. A method of generating and recapturing electricity from a steam power plant is also described, including inputting electricity and natural gas into a plasma process air and hydrogen generating plant, flowing the air and hydrogen produced into a steam generating boiler, flowing the steam generated into a steam power plant, resulting in the production of electricity which is flowed back into the plasma process plant.