JP2002050381A - Fuel cell reformer and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reformer for a fuel cell in which installation work of a catalyst carrier and a carrying seal material into the metal shell is easy and binder combustion gas is not generated and its manufacturing method. SOLUTION: This is a manufacturing method of a fuel cell reformer 4 which comprises a catalyst carrier 3 carrying a reforming catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon compound into hydrogen, a metal shell 2 covering the outer side of the catalyst carrier 3, and a carrying seal material 1 arranged between these two. The manufacturing method comprises a step in which the catalyst carrier 3 covered by the carrying seal material 1 is inserted in a pipe-form metal shell 2 that has an initial inside diameter D larger than the product inner diameter 'd' of the metal shell 2, and a step in which a spinning processing is made at least on the installation portion where the above catalyst carrier 3 is located in the metal shell 2, and thereby the initial inside diameter D of the installation portion is reduced to the above product inner diameter 'd'.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reformer for a fuel cell mounted on an automobile, for example, and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a method of assembling a holding seal material between a catalyst holder and a metal shell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A fuel cell using hydrogen as an energy source is sometimes provided with a fuel cell reformer for supplying hydrogen thereto. This fuel cell reformer includes a catalyst holder for holding a catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon compound such as methanol, methane, and butane to hydrogen, a metal shell for covering the outside of the catalyst holder, and a catalyst holder. And a holding sealing material disposed between the metal shell and the metal shell (see FIG. 3 described later).
reference).

The holding sealing material is mainly made of an inorganic fiber mat such as a ceramic fiber. The holding sealing material is used to prevent the catalyst holding body from being damaged when the catalyst holding body comes into contact with the catalyst holding body due to vibration or the like, and to prevent the hydrocarbon compound from being provided between the catalyst holding body and the metal shell. Is arranged to prevent leakage.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned holding sealing material has a cushioning property and is bulky in order to fulfill the above-mentioned functions. Therefore, when the holding sealing material is mounted in the metal shell together with the catalyst holding body, it is difficult for the holding sealing material to be located at an appropriate position between the two, and there is a possibility that the mounting property may be reduced. Therefore, it is conceivable to impregnate the holding sealing material with a binder to suppress the bulkiness of the holding sealing material, and then press-fit the holding sealing material into the metal shell. However, in this case, when the fuel cell reformer is used, the binder burns to generate binder combustion gas, which may be mixed into the hydrogen gas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention makes it easy to mount a catalyst holder and a holding seal material in a metal shell, and does not generate a binder combustion gas. It is intended to provide.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a catalyst holder for holding a reforming catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon compound into hydrogen, a metal shell for covering the outside of the catalyst holder, and the catalyst holder. A method of manufacturing a reformer for a fuel cell having a holding seal material disposed between a metal shell and a metal shell; a step of coating the catalyst holding body with the holding seal material; Inserting the catalyst holder coated with a metal shell into a pipe-shaped metal shell having an initial inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the metal shell in the fuel cell reformer; and at least the catalyst in the metal shell. Spinning a portion where the holding body is located to reduce the initial inner diameter of the portion to the inside diameter of the product, a method for manufacturing a reformer for a fuel cell. A.

In the present invention, the catalyst holding body is covered with a holding sealing material, and is inserted into a pipe-shaped metal shell having an initial inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the product. Spinning is applied to the set part. Due to this spinning, the outer diameter of the pipe-shaped metal shell into which the catalyst holder was inserted was reduced,
Accordingly, the initial inner diameter of the metal shell also becomes smaller. That is, the initial inner diameter of the metal shell when the catalyst holder is inserted is reduced by the spinning process, and the inner diameter of the metal shell in the fuel cell reformer is smaller than the initial inner diameter.

[0008] Accordingly, the holding sealing material filled between the catalyst holding body and the metal shell is also compressed by the inner wall of the metal shell. Therefore, the catalyst holder is held by the holding seal material having an appropriate surface pressure. The spinning process is a kind of squeezing process, for example, a process of plastically deforming a metal shell by pressing a forming roller against the metal shell while rotating one of the metal shell and the forming roller.

As described above, in the present invention, in disposing the catalyst support covered with the holding sealing material in the metal shell, the catalyst support is held in the metal shell having an initial inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the product. After inserting the sealing material, the above spinning process is performed. Therefore, the insertion of the catalyst holder into the metal shell is facilitated, and the metal shell is held at an appropriate surface pressure of the holding sealing material by spinning.

In the present invention, since the above method is employed, there is no need for a step of impregnating the holding sealing material with a binder to suppress bulkiness and reduce the thickness. Therefore, the binder combustion gas does not mix in the reformed gas reformed by the catalyst holder, particularly in the hydrogen gas.

Next, it is preferable that the holding sealing material is an inorganic fiber mat not impregnated with a binder. Thereby, the binder combustion gas is not discharged from the holding sealing material, and the heat resistance is improved.

It is preferable that the inorganic fiber mat is made of inorganic fibers containing alumina or silica.
Thereby, the heat resistance of the inorganic fiber mat is further improved. In particular, the inorganic fiber mat preferably contains 70 to 100% by weight of alumina fibers. The alumina fiber has an alumina ratio of 60% by weight.
It is preferable that it is above. As a result, the elastic force at high temperatures is increased, the difference in thermal expansion between the metal shell and the catalyst holder can be absorbed, and the force for holding the catalyst holder increases.

The inorganic fiber mat is preferably subjected to a needle punching treatment. As a result, the fibers are entangled and the interlayer strength of the mat is improved.
Insertion into the metal shell becomes easy.

Next, as in the third aspect of the present invention, the inorganic fiber mat preferably contains less than 1% by weight of substances other than Al ₂ O ₃ and SiO ₂ , that is, impurities. In this case, the hydrogen generated in the fuel cell reformer can be maintained at a high purity, and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell can be increased. When the above-mentioned impurity is 1% by weight or more, during use of the reformer for a fuel cell, the impurity is gradually mixed into the reformed gas from the holding sealing material and contaminates the hydrogen gas used for the fuel cell. The power generation efficiency of the fuel cell may be reduced. Examples of the impurities include chlorine, sulfur, and phosphorus.

Next, as in the invention of claim 4, the inorganic fiber mat preferably has a total of less than 300 ppm of one or more of chlorine, sulfur and phosphorus therein. In this case, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell can be increased. The total of one or more of the above chlorine, sulfur and phosphorus is 300 ppm
If it is contained, as described above, during the use of the fuel cell reformer, the above-mentioned cell-harmful substances such as chlorine enter the hydrogen, hindering the electrochemical action of the fuel cell, Power generation efficiency may be reduced.

Next, as in the invention of claim 5, the thickness of the holding sealing material before spinning is preferably 4 to 12 mm. If it is less than 4 mm, the thickness of the metal shell that can reduce the inner diameter is small, and the catalyst holder may be damaged during spinning. On the other hand, if it exceeds 12 mm, the metal shell may be damaged before the inner diameter of the metal shell is reduced until the holding sealing material has a desired packing density.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the packing density of the holding sealing material after spinning is 0.20 to 0.6.
It is preferably 0 g / cm ³ . 0.20g / cm
^If it is less than ³ , the holding force of the holding member by the holding sealing material decreases. On the other hand, if it exceeds 0.60 g / cm ³ , the fibers in the holding sealing material may be broken, the repulsion may be reduced, and the performance of holding the catalyst holding body may be reduced.

Next, a seventh aspect of the present invention relates to a catalyst carrier for holding a reforming catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon compound into hydrogen, a metal shell for covering the outside of the catalyst carrier, and the catalyst carrier. A fuel cell reformer comprising a holding seal material disposed between the metal shell and the metal shell, wherein at least a portion of the metal shell where the catalyst holder is located is provided with a spinning process. This is a reformer for a fuel cell characterized by having been subjected to the following.

In the present invention, the portion of the metal shell where the catalyst holding member is disposed is subjected to spinning, and the inner diameter of the metal shell is reduced from the beginning, so that the catalyst holding is performed by an appropriate surface pressure of the holding sealing material. Can hold body.

Next, it is preferable that the holding sealing material is an inorganic fiber mat not impregnated with a binder. In this case, the binder combustion gas is not discharged from the holding sealing material, and the heat resistance is improved.

Next, as in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the inorganic fiber mat preferably contains less than 1% by weight of substances other than Al ₂ O ₃ and SiO ₂ , that is, impurities. In this case, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell can be increased, as in the third aspect of the invention.

Next, as in the tenth aspect of the present invention, the inorganic fiber mat preferably contains at least one of chlorine, sulfur and phosphorus in the inorganic fiber mat in a total of less than 300 ppm. In this case, similar to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since harmful substances acting on the cell such as chlorine are hardly mixed into the hydrogen, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell can be improved.

In the above, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, methane, ethane, propane, butane and the like are used as the hydrocarbon compound. Further, as the catalyst holder, a gas-permeable porous body of a monolith such as a honeycomb made of ceramics such as cordierite, alumina, carbon silicon, and silicon nitride is used.
The metal shell was made of metal such as stainless steel.
Use circular or elliptical pipes. As the catalyst supported on the catalyst holder, a catalyst corresponding to the reforming of the hydrocarbon compound used is used. For example, when methanol is used as the hydrocarbon compound, a copper compound or the like is used as the catalyst.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 A method for manufacturing a fuel cell reformer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell reformer 4 of the present embodiment includes a catalyst holder 3 for holding a reforming catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon compound into hydrogen, and a metal covering the outside of the catalyst holder 3. It comprises a shell 2 and a holding sealing material 1 disposed between the catalyst holding body 3 and the metal shell 2.

In manufacturing the reformer, first, as shown in FIGS.
A step of covering with the holding sealing material 1 (FIGS. 2a and 2b);
The catalyst holding body 3 (FIG. 2b) covered with the holding sealing material 1 is connected to the metal shell 2 in the fuel cell reformer.
(FIGS. 2C, 2D, and 3A) of inserting into a pipe-shaped metal shell 2 having an initial inner diameter D larger than the product inner diameter d. Next, an arrangement portion L of the metal shell 2 where at least the catalyst holder 3 is located (FIG.
In step b), a step of performing spinning to reduce the initial inner diameter D of the disposition portion L to the product inner diameter d is performed.

In this embodiment, the catalyst holder 3 is made of cordierite which is a kind of ceramic. As shown in FIG. 1, the catalyst holder 3 is a monolith honeycomb structure composed of an aggregate of many cells 31. Cell 3 above
Reference numeral 1 denotes a passage having a hexagonal cross section, which is formed between the honeycomb walls 33. Then, a gaseous hydrocarbon compound is passed between the cells 31. During this time, the hydrocarbon compound is reformed into a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component by a catalytic action.

A raw material tank 9 storing methanol as a hydrocarbon compound is connected to the fuel cell reformer 4 via an inlet pipe 91 at the inlet side. On the other hand, an outlet pipe 92 for leading a reformed gas containing hydrogen to the fuel cell 5 is connected to the outlet side of the fuel cell reformer 4.
The fuel cell 5 has a device for purifying hydrogen in the reformed gas (not shown).

Further, oxygen gas is supplied to the fuel cell 5 so as to react with the above-mentioned hydrogen to cause a cell action.
The electric energy obtained in the fuel cell 5 is supplied to a motor 51 used for, for example, driving an automobile or driving electric components of a vehicle. In the fuel cell 5, generated water is recycled and drained. The fuel cell reformer 4
In the above, the metal shell 2 has a flange portion 28 connected to the inlet pine 91 and a flange portion 29 connected to the outlet pipe 92. Further, platinum as a catalyst is supported on the catalyst holder.

Next, a method for manufacturing the fuel cell reformer of this embodiment will be specifically described. First, a web is formed by mixing 70% by weight of alumina fiber and 30% by weight of silica fiber. Needle punching is applied to the web. Thereby, the entanglement is formed between the fibers in the web, and the holding sealing material 1 made of the inorganic fiber mat is formed. At this time, the thickness of the holding sealing material 1 is 12 mm.
And the bulk density is 0.1 g / cm ³ .

Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the holding sealing material 1 is cut into a long body, and when the outer periphery of the catalyst holding body 3 is wound around both ends thereof, The engaging concave portion 11 and the convex portion 12 are formed. Also, FIG.
(B), as shown in (c), outer diameter 130 mm, length 1
00mm catalyst holder 3, and initial inner diameter D is 155m
A pipe-shaped metal shell 2 having a length of m, a thickness of 1.5 mm and a length of 300 mm is prepared.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the outer periphery of the catalyst holder 3 is wound and covered with the holding sealing material 1 so that the concave portion 11 and the convex portion 12 are engaged. And in this state,
As shown in FIG. 2 (d), it is inserted into the metal shell 2. That is, the holding sealing material 1 is placed on the outer periphery of the catalyst holding body 3 in the axial direction.
Are inserted into the metal shell 2 in a state where they are covered (FIG. 2B), and the holding sealing material 1 is positioned between the catalyst holding body 3 and the metal shell 2 (FIGS. 2D and 3A).

Next, as shown in FIG. 3A, the outer periphery of the metal shell 2 in which the catalyst holder 3 and the holding sealing material 1 are inserted and arranged is subjected to spinning. The spinning process is performed by moving the forming roller 6 in the axial direction of the rotating metal shell 2 and gradually applying pressure in the radial direction of the metal shell 2. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4B, the initial initial inner diameter D (155 mm) of the disposition portion L where the catalyst holder 3 is located in the metal shell 2 is reduced to the product inner diameter d (138 mm).

As shown in FIG. 1, both end portions where the catalyst holder 3 is not located are gradually narrowed toward the opening, and flange portions 28 and 29 are provided at both ends. The thickness of the holding sealing material 1 after spinning is about 4 mm, and the packing density is 0.3 g / cm ³ . As described above, the fuel cell reformer of this example is obtained.

In the present embodiment, the catalyst holding body 3 wound by the holding seal material 1 is inserted into the metal shell 2 having an initial inner diameter D larger than the product inner diameter d. Can be easily arranged. After the insertion, the initial inner diameter D of the metal shell 2 is reduced to a predetermined product inner diameter d by spinning. Therefore, the holding sealing material 1 inserted into the metal shell 2 is compressed by the inner wall surface of the catalyst holding body 3.
As a result, the holding sealing material 1 can apply a certain surface pressure to the catalyst holding body 3 and stably hold the catalyst holding body 3 in the metal shell 2. Further, in the fuel cell reformer of the present embodiment, since the binder is not impregnated in the holding seal material 1, the binder combustion gas is not discharged from the holding seal material during use.

[0035]

According to the present invention, there is provided a reformer for a fuel cell and a method for manufacturing the same, in which the work of mounting the catalyst holding body and the holding sealing material in the metal shell is easy and no binder combustion gas is generated. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a fuel cell reformer and its peripheral devices in a first embodiment.

FIGS. 2A to 2D are diagrams illustrating a method for manufacturing a fuel cell reformer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view (a)-(b) showing a method of manufacturing a reformer for a fuel cell, following FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. . . 1. holding sealing material, . . 2. metal shell; . . 3. catalyst holder, . . 4. reformer for fuel cell, . . . Fuel cell, 6. . . Forming roller,

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A catalyst holder for holding a reforming catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon compound into hydrogen, a metal shell covering the outside of the catalyst holder, and a metal shell disposed between the catalyst holder and the metal shell. A method for manufacturing a fuel cell reformer having a holding seal material, wherein the step of coating the catalyst holding body with the holding seal material, and the step of: A step of inserting the metal shell into a pipe-shaped metal shell having an initial inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the product in the fuel cell reformer; and a step of disposing at least the catalyst holder in the metal shell. Performing a spinning process to reduce the initial inner diameter of the disposition portion to the inner diameter of the product. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the holding sealing material is an inorganic fiber mat not impregnated with a binder. 3. The inorganic fiber mat according to claim 2, wherein
The Al in it _TwoO_Three, SiO_Two1 weight of other substances
% Of a reformer for a fuel cell, characterized by being less than 0.1%
Method. 4. The inorganic fiber mat according to claim 2, wherein at least one of chlorine, sulfur and phosphorus in said inorganic fiber mat has a total of 3 or more.
A method for producing a reformer for a fuel cell, wherein the amount is less than 00 ppm. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
The thickness of the holding sealing material before spinning is 4 to 12
mm, the method for producing a reformer for a fuel cell. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
The filling density of the above holding sealing material after spinning is
0.20~0.60g / cm ³ A method of manufacturing a reformer for a fuel cell, characterized in that. 7. A catalyst carrier for holding a reforming catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon compound into hydrogen, a metal shell for covering the outside of the catalyst holder, and a metal shell between the catalyst holder and the metal shell. A fuel cell reformer comprising: a holding sealing material to be disposed; wherein a spinning process is applied to at least a portion of the metal shell where the catalyst holding body is located. For a fuel cell. 8. The reformer for a fuel cell according to claim 7, wherein the holding sealing material is an inorganic fiber mat not impregnated with a binder. 9. The inorganic fiber mat according to claim 8, wherein
The Al in it _TwoO_Three, SiO_Two1 weight of other substances
% Of the fuel cell. 10. The reformer for a fuel cell according to claim 8, wherein the inorganic fiber mat has a total of less than 300 ppm of at least one of chlorine, sulfur and phosphorus therein. .