Cryogenic Testing of Molecular Sieve Materials for use in Hydrogen Liquefaction

Abstract

As hydrogen continues to gain momentum as a clean fuel and energy carrier in industrial sectors, hydrogen liquefaction has emerged as an essential part of the supply chain to reduce transportation and storage costs. Hydrogen is typically produced from either electrolysis, steam-methane-reforming, or as a biproduct from chemical processing, which leads to a broad range of potential impurities in the hydrogen feed gas. Molecular sieve materials have traditionally been used to remove impurities in the hydrogen feed to prevent impurities from freezing out during liquefaction, creating blockages which disrupt operations. This work presents a new experimental system that has been developed to study cryogenic purification materials over a broad range of cryogenic temperatures and impurity levels. Results of common molecular sieve materials are presented.