Hydrogen generation assemblies

Abstract

Hydrogen generation assemblies and methods of generating hydrogen are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may include receiving a feed stream in a fuel processing assembly of the hydrogen generation assembly; and generating a product hydrogen stream in the fuel processing assembly from the received feed stream. Generating a product hydrogen stream may, in some embodiments, include generating an output stream in a hydrogen generating region from the received feed stream, and generating the product hydrogen stream in a purification region from the output stream. The method may additionally include receiving the generated product hydrogen stream in a buffer tank of the hydrogen generation assembly; and detecting pressure in the buffer tank via a tank sensor assembly. The method may further include stopping generation of the product hydrogen stream in the fuel processing assembly when the detected pressure in the buffer tank is above a predetermined maximum pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hydrogen generation assembly, comprising:
 a fuel processing assembly configured to receive a feed stream and produce a product hydrogen stream from the feed stream;   a pressurized gas assembly configured to receive at least one container of pressurized gas that is configured to purge the fuel processing assembly;   a purge conduit configured to fluidly connect the pressurized gas assembly and the fuel processing assembly; and   a purge valve assembly configured to allow the at least one pressurized gas to flow through the purge conduit from the pressurized gas assembly to the fuel processing assembly when power to the fuel processing assembly is interrupted.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the purge valve assembly includes a purge valve that moves between a closed position in which the at least one pressurized gas does not flow through the purge conduit from the pressurized gas assembly, and an open position in which the at least one pressurized gas is allowed to flow through the purge conduit from the pressurized gas assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the purge valve is in the closed position when there is power to the fuel processing assembly, and wherein the purge valve automatically moves to the open position when power to the fuel processing assembly is interrupted. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the purge valve assembly further includes a purge solenoid configured to move the purge valve between the open and closed positions, the fuel processing assembly including a control system configured to send a control signal to the purge solenoid, and wherein the purge solenoid is configured to move the purge valve to the closed position when the purge solenoid receives the control signal, and to automatically move the purge valve to the open position when the purge solenoid does not receive the control signal. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the fuel processing assembly and at least a portion of the purge assembly are contained within an enclosure.