Energy-efficient hydrogen generation and purification is needed for many clean energy applications and industrial processes. Synkera is developing novel metal/ceramic hydrogen separation membranes that target breakthrough performance and reliability in a broad range of operating conditions and offer significant cost savings at the system level. These benefits, enabled by patent-pending nanoengineered membrane composition and architecture, provide significant competitive advantages for many point-of-use hydrogen separation and purification applications. Synkera is commercializing its hydrogen-related products, including hydrogen separation membranes and hydrogen sensors, via its subsidiary HyGenera LLC.

The key membrane features and related user benefits are

• Nanocomposite metal/ceramic active layer with permeance exceeding that of 10 µm thick Pd alloy foil membranes.
• Low defect density, high permselectivity.
• Mechanical reliability, resistance to abrasion.
• Excellent resistance to temperature and pressure cycling, immune to embrittlement.
• Planar membranes of flexible size and format.
• Al rim to support reliable and low-cost compression sealing.
• Significant reduction in the cost of membrane modules and separation systems in comparison with Pd foils or supported films.

Download Technology Profile for more information on hydrogen separation membranes.

Hydrogen flux vs. differential pressure for 1" laboratory prototype.

Status

To date, hydrogen permeance of up to 1.5 mmol/m²/s/Pa^0.5 at 400 °C and selectivity up to 3000 were demonstrated in laboratory prototypes. Membranes sustain repeated temperature (75 to 450°C) and pressure (0 to 100 psig) cycling in 100% hydrogen without loss of performance. With support from NSF SBIR program, Synkera is scaling Gen-1 membranes (~1 mmol/m²/s/Pa^0.5) to produce prototypes sized at 30 cm² and 725 cm². Concurrently, we are validating membrane performance and reliability in select process streams (reformate and WGS).

Temperature cycling performance of Synkera membrane (100% H₂, 60 psig).

Partnership Development

Customers and partners are being sought for evaluating these membranes in new membrane systems and applications. Areas of interest include fuel cells, point-of-use and distributed purification, as well as industrial processes. To request additional information and to discuss this further, please e-mail us at info@hygenera.com.