Design of metallic nickel hollow fiber membrane modules for pure hydrogen separation

Cost‐effective and robust nickel (Ni) membrane for H 2 separation is a promising technology to upgrade the conventional H 2 industries with improved economics and environmental benignity. In this work, Ni hollow fibers (HFs) with one closed end were fabricated and assembled into a membrane module for pure H 2 separation by applying vacuum to the permeate side. The separation behavior of the HF module was investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Results indicate that H 2 recovery can be improved significantly by changing the operation conditions (temperature or feed pressure). Ni HF is a promising membrane geometry, but the negative effect of pressure drop when H 2 passes through the lumen cannot be ignored. Under the vacuum operation mode, there is little difference in term of H 2 recovery efficiency whether the feed gas flow is controlled in countercurrent or recurrent operation. This work provides important insight to the development of superior membrane H 2 separation system. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 64: 3662–3670, 2018