Hydrogen sulfide conversion to hydrogen

Abstract

A process and system for substantially eliminating contaminants from a gas and a gas produced therefrom.

1 . A process for producing hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide, the process comprising:
 introducing a stream of hydrogen sulfide into a reactor chamber, the reactor including   an outer wall having an interior surface and defining an interior chamber of the reactor;   an inlet for introducing the stream of hydrogen sulfide into the interior chamber;   a membrane disposed in the interior chamber, the membrane being permeable to hydrogen gas, but impermeable to hydrogen sulfide and sulfur vapor, the membrane defining a flow passageway that is in communication with a first outlet through which hydrogen gas passing through the membrane exits the chamber;   
       a second outlet in communication with the interior chamber through 
       which sulfur exits the chamber;
 and a resistance wire disposed adjacent to the membrane; 
 applying an electrical current to the resistance wire to energize the resistance wire; 
 contacting the hydrogen sulfide with the energized resistance wire to thereby cause the hydrogen sulfide to decompose into hydrogen gas and sulfur vapor; 
 passing the thus produced hydrogen gas through the membrane and into said flow passageway from which the hydrogen gas is discharged from the chamber through the first outlet; and 
 condensing the sulfur vapor into liquid sulfur. 
 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of discharging the liquid sulfur through said second outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance wire comprises nickel and chromium. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a ceramic. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying electrical current to the resistance wire heats the membrane to a temperature that is from about 150 to 700° C. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the stream of hydrogen sulfide also includes natural gas, and wherein the natural gas remains substantially unreacted in the process. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein hydrogen is continually removed following decomposition of the hydrogen sulfide. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein the stream of hydrogen sulfide further includes methane gas, and wherein the methane is continually removed from the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A process for producing hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide, the process comprising:
 introducing a stream of hydrogen sulfide into a reactor chamber;   energizing a resistance wire disposed in the reactor chamber by passing an electrical current through the resistance wire;   contacting the stream of hydrogen sulfide with the energized resistance wire to produce hydrogen gas and elemental sulfur; and   removing the hydrogen gas from the reactor chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the elemental sulfur is in the form of a vapor, and wherein the process further comprises the step of condensing the sulfur vapor into liquid sulfur in the reactor chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the hydrogen gas is removed from the reactor chamber by passing it through a membrane that is permeable to hydrogen gas, but impermeable to hydrogen sulfide and sulfur vapor. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the membrane is disposed adjacent to the resistance wire. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the step of energizing the resistance wire heats a region of the reactor chamber adjacent to the resistance wire to a temperature that is from about 115 to 700° C. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the hydrogen gas is removed immediately from the reaction chamber following decomposition of the hydrogen sulfide. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the membrane is coated with a catalyst selected from the group consisting of malachite and azurite, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A system for producing hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide, the system comprising:
 a stream of hydrogen sulfide;   a reactor chamber, the reactor including
 an outer wall having an interior surface and defining an interior chamber of the reactor; 
 an inlet for introducing the stream of hydrogen sulfide into the interior chamber; 
 a membrane disposed in the interior chamber, the membrane being permeable to hydrogen gas, but impermeable to hydrogen sulfide and sulfur vapor, the membrane defining a flow passageway that is in communication with a first outlet through which hydrogen gas passing through the membrane exits the chamber; 
 a second outlet in communication with the interior chamber through which sulfur exits the chamber; 
 and a resistance wire disposed adjacent to the membrane and being in communication with a source of electric current, the resistance wire being configured to be energized by passing electrical current through the resistance, wherein contact of the stream of hydrogen sulfide with the energized resistance wire causes the hydrogen sulfide to decompose into hydrogen gas and sulfur vapor to produce a stream of hydrogen gas that then passes through the membrane and into said flow passageway from which the stream of hydrogen gas is discharged from the chamber through the first outlet. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the membrane is coated with a catalyst selected from the group consisting of malachite and azurite, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the reactor has a tubular or column configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the stream of hydrogen sulfide further comprise natural gas. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a condenser for condensing the sulfur vapor into liquid sulfur.