MEMBRANE SUPPORT MODULE FOR PERMEATE SEPARATION IN A FUEL CELL

摘要

A gas separation unit (102,200,300) for permeating a gas out from a pressurized feed mixture includes an input manifold (104,204), an exhaust manifold, (106,206) and a permeate assembly (108,208,303). The permeate assembly supports one or more permselective foils (130,132,218,232,318) over a hollow cavity (134,272,306) supported by a microscreen element (142,144,228,230,326). The microscreen element includes non-porous perimeter walls (190,192,278) supported on a frame surface and a porous central area (194,280) supported over the hollow cavity. A porous spacer (138,140,174,234) disposed inside the hollow cavity structurally supports the entire microscreen surface spanning the hollow cavity while also providing a void volume for receiving fluid passing through the porous central area and for conveying the fluid through the hollow cavity.