JP2003126678A - Gas generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen generator from a mixed solution of a hydride and water or alcohol, keeping the size small. SOLUTION: The hydrogen generator 1 is provided with a raw material storage tank 3 for the mixed solution 2 of the hydride and water, an intermediate tank 4, a reaction tank 5, and a recovery tank 6. Honeycomb partition walls carrying a catalyst are installed in the reaction tank 5. The raw material storage tank 3 and the intermediate tank 4 are connected by a duct 7a, and the intermediate tank 4 and the reaction tank 5 are connected by a duct 7b. An electromagnetic valve 11 and a check valve 12 are installed in the duct 7a. When the pressure of the upper side of the reaction tank 5 increases to a prescribed pressure or higher, a part of the mixed solution 2 in the reaction tank 5 is returned to the intermediate tank 4. The upper parts of the reaction tank 5 and of the recovery tank 6 are connected by a pipe 8, and an electromagnetic valve 13 is mounted on a hydrogen discharge pipe 9 connected to the upper part of the recovery tank 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to reacting liquids which are mixed with each other or liquids which generate gas by reacting with each other by heating to a temperature higher than room temperature or acting with a catalyst in a mixed state. The present invention relates to a gas generator that guides a gas to a tank to react with it to generate a gas. Specifically, a hydride that reacts with water or alcohol to generate hydrogen is mixed with water or alcohol, and the mixed solution is sent to a reaction tank. The present invention relates to a gas generator suitable for reacting to generate hydrogen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a hydrogen source which is a fuel of a fuel cell for electrochemically reacting hydrogen and oxygen to directly convert chemical energy into electric energy, a fossil fuel such as methanol or natural gas is steam-reformed. A method of using hydrogen as a hydrogen fuel, a method of directly storing hydrogen in a hydrogen storage alloy, a high-pressure cylinder, or the like to use as a fuel have been considered. However, in the method of reforming fossil fuel or the like with steam to obtain hydrogen, the size of the apparatus becomes large. Further, the method of storing hydrogen in a hydrogen storage alloy or a high-pressure cylinder becomes heavy, and the method of using a hydrogen storage alloy requires a heating means to take out hydrogen.
Therefore, miniaturization is difficult.

As a device for generating hydrogen, which is a fuel for a fuel cell, which solves the above problems, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-64572 discloses a chamber containing at least water and a substance which reacts with water to generate hydrogen. A chamber containing the water and an isolation means for isolating the chamber containing the water from the chamber containing the substance that reacts with the water to generate hydrogen, and when operating the fuel cell, generates hydrogen by reacting with the water. A device has been proposed in which a hole is formed in the isolation means in order to generate hydrogen by causing a reaction by adding water to the substance. As a substance which reacts with water to generate hydrogen, a borohydride compound, lithium borohydride, aluminum borohydride and the like are disclosed.

Further, a Kipp gas generator is known as an apparatus used when a solid substance and a liquid substance are reacted to generate a gas. As shown in FIG. 9, this gas generator has a chamber 40 for storing a liquid, a reaction chamber 41 arranged below the chamber 40 for storing a solid and for causing a reaction by bringing the liquid and the solid into contact with each other, An intermediate chamber 42 is provided below the reaction chamber 41 and communicates with the bottom of the reaction chamber 41. A pipe 43 is integrally formed at the bottom of the chamber 40,
0 and the intermediate chamber 42 are communicated with each other via a pipe 43 penetrating the reaction chamber 41. A pipe 44 for taking out the generated gas is provided in the reaction chamber 41, and a valve 45 is provided in the pipe 44.
Is provided. In this apparatus, solid is put into the reaction chamber 41, and the liquid is put into the chamber 40 with the valve 45 opened. The liquid enters the intermediate chamber 42 through the pipe 43, fills the intermediate chamber 42, and then enters the reaction chamber 41 through the gap between the liquid 43 and the pipe 43. The liquid comes into contact with the solids to react with each other to generate gas. When the valve 45 is closed, the liquid is pushed by the pressure of the gas generated in the reaction chamber 41 and returns to the intermediate chamber 42, and further passes through the pipe 43 to the chamber 40.
Then, the contact between the liquid and the solid is cut off, and the gas generation is stopped.

[0005]

However, the hydrogen generator disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-64572 has the following problems.
A fuel cell used as a portable power source for OA equipment such as a laptop computer is mainly targeted to supply water to a chamber containing a substance that reacts with water to generate hydrogen. It has a structure that doubles as a reaction tank. As a result, the reaction cannot be interrupted or the amount of hydrogen generated cannot be adjusted.

On the other hand, in the Kipp gas generator, the reaction chamber 4
When the pressure in 1 rises, the liquid in the reaction chamber 41 becomes
2 and the chamber 40, the reaction chamber 41 runs out of liquid,
The reaction stops. However, in this device, it is premised that the solid substance and the liquid substance are brought into contact with each other to react, so that when the reaction is stopped, it is necessary to interrupt the contact between the solid substance and the liquid substance. Therefore, a solid and a liquid are mixed in advance, and at room temperature or in the absence of a catalyst, the reaction mixture is used as a raw material, and the mixture is introduced into the reaction chamber (reaction tank) to carry out the reaction in the reaction chamber. It cannot be applied to the method of making. This is because, even if the mixed solution introduced into the reaction chamber and starting the reaction is returned from the reaction chamber, the solution does not immediately stop the reaction. The liquid returned from the reaction chamber acts to heat another mixed liquid, and the mixed liquid may start a reaction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its first object is to generate a gas by reacting with each other by heating to a temperature higher than normal temperature in a mixed state or by acting with a catalyst. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas generator capable of generating an appropriate amount of gas from a mixed liquid of liquids that are mixed with each other or a mixture of a liquid and a solid, and not increasing the size of the device. A second object is to provide a gas generator capable of generating an appropriate amount of hydrogen from a mixed liquid of a hydride and water or alcohol, and not increasing the size of the device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the first object, the invention according to claim 1 initiates or promotes the reaction by heating in a mixed state to a temperature higher than normal temperature or by acting with a catalyst. A gas generator that generates a gas by introducing a liquid mixture of liquids that generate a gas or a mixture of a liquid and a solid into a reaction tank to cause a reaction,
A raw material storage tank for storing the mixed liquid, a reaction tank for promoting the reaction of the mixed liquid, a mixed liquid transfer path for transferring the mixed liquid in the raw material storage tank to the reaction tank, and the reaction tank A recovery tank for recovering a product after the reaction via a pipe, and a temporary storage unit provided in the middle of the mixed liquid transfer path and capable of returning at least a part of the solution in the reaction tank are provided. The mixed liquid in the raw material storage tank is transferred to the reaction tank, and when the pressure in the recovery tank becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, at least a part of the solution in the reaction tank is returned to the temporary storage unit to be gas. To suppress the occurrence of.

In the present invention, the mixed liquid stored in the raw material storage tank is transferred to the reaction tank through the mixed liquid transfer path, and the reaction of the mixed liquid proceeds in the reaction tank to generate gas. The reaction product containing the gas is recovered in the recovery tank via the conduit. When the pressure in the recovery tank becomes equal to or higher than the pressure in the temporary storage section due to the pressure of the generated gas, at least part of the mixed liquid transferred to the reaction tank is returned to the temporary storage section. As a result, the reaction is suppressed. That is, it is possible to generate an appropriate amount of gas.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the raw material storage tank is provided between the raw material storage tank and the temporary storage section in the mixed liquid transfer path from the temporary storage section side. A non-return valve is provided to prevent the movement of gas to the side. In the present invention, the check valve prevents the gas generated in the reaction tank from moving to the raw material storage tank through the mixed liquid transfer path. Therefore, the mixed liquid is not heated by the heated gas, and the reaction of the mixed liquid does not proceed in the raw material storage tank.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an adjusting means capable of adjusting a transfer amount of the mixed liquid from the raw material storage tank to the reaction tank is provided in the mixed liquid transfer passage. Is provided. In this invention, since the amount of the mixed solution transferred to the reaction tank can be adjusted, the amount of gas generated can be controlled more appropriately in combination with the action of returning the mixed solution in the reaction from the reaction tank to the temporary storage section. .

In the invention according to claim 4, in the invention according to claim 2 or 3, a part of the gas recovered in the recovery tank is transferred to the reaction tank as a mixed liquid in the raw material tank. In order to make it available as a means for transferring, a gas extraction pipe provided in the recovery tank and a check valve for blocking the movement of the gas from the raw material storage tank side to the recovery tank side are provided in the middle of the raw material storage tank. They are connected by a gas transfer pipe provided.

In the present invention, since a part of the gas in the recovery tank is transferred to the raw material storage tank via the gas transfer pipe, the pressure of the gas is used as means for sending the mixed liquid in the raw material storage tank to the reaction tank. Available. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a transfer pump, and the structure is simple.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, it is possible to prevent the pressure in the raw material storage tank from becoming excessively large. The raw material storage tank and the gas extraction pipe are connected by a pipe equipped with a flow rate adjusting valve. In this invention,
Since the raw material storage tank and the gas extraction pipe are connected by the pipe provided with the flow rate adjusting valve, it is possible to prevent the pressure in the raw material storage tank from becoming excessive.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the temporary storage section or the reaction tank and the temporary storage section of the mixed liquid transfer path are provided. In between, cooling means for cooling the solution returned from the reaction tank is provided. In this invention, since the mixed liquid returned from the reaction tank is cooled, the reaction of the mixed liquid is quickly suppressed, and the responsiveness is improved as compared with the structure in which the mixed liquid during the reaction is simply returned from the reaction tank to the temporary storage part. Will get better.

To achieve the second object, in the invention described in claim 7, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 6, the mixed liquid reacts with water or alcohol. Is a mixed liquid of hydride that generates hydrogen and water or alcohol, and the mixed liquid in the raw material storage tank is transferred to the reaction tank by the pressure of the gas filled in the raw material storage tank. According to the present invention, hydrogen can be generated in appropriate amounts by the same action as that of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6. In the present invention, water is not limited to pure water, but includes a substance that promotes or suppresses the reaction between the hydride and water, or a substance that reacts with the hydride in the state of an aqueous solution to generate hydrogen. It also means an aqueous solution.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) A first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a simple hydrogen generator will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hydrogen generator 1 includes a raw material storage tank 3 for storing a mixed liquid 2 of hydride and water.
And an intermediate tank 4 as a temporary storage part, a reaction tank 5,
A recovery tank 6 is provided. In this embodiment, sodium borohydride (NaBH ₄ ) is used as the hydride. The amount of water in the mixed liquid 2 is set to be larger than the theoretical amount necessary for hydrolysis of the entire amount of hydride, because the product after the reaction is transferred by water in the reaction tank 5. The raw material storage tank 3 is provided with a filling port (not shown) for filling hydrogen from the outside. In order to accelerate the hydrogen generation reaction of the mixed liquid 2 in the reaction tank 5, honeycomb-shaped partition walls that penetrate vertically are provided, and the partition walls carry a catalyst that promotes the reaction.

The raw material storage tank 3 and the intermediate tank 4 are connected by a pipe line 7a, and the intermediate tank 4 and the reaction tank 5 are connected by a pipe line 7b. The pipe line 7 a is configured by a pipe whose first end is arranged at the bottom of the raw material storage tank 3 and whose second end is connected to the upper part of the intermediate tank 4. The first end of the conduit 7b is at the bottom of the intermediate tank 4,
The second end is constituted by a pipe connected to the bottom of the reaction tank 5, respectively. The mixed solution 2 is sent to the reaction tank 5 from the lower side of the reaction tank 5 via the intermediate tank 4. When the pressure on the upper side of the reaction tank 5 becomes equal to or higher than the pressure of the intermediate tank 4, a part of the mixed liquid 2 in the reaction tank 5 can be returned to the intermediate tank 4.
The pipelines 7a and 7b constitute a mixed solution transfer path for transferring the mixed solution 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 to the reaction tank 5, and the intermediate tank 4 is provided in the middle of the mixed solution transfer path.

The upper part of the reaction tank 5 and the upper part of the recovery tank 6 are connected by a pipe 8 as a conduit for transferring the reaction product generated in the reaction tank 5 to the recovery tank 6. A hydrogen extraction pipe 9 as a gas extraction pipe is connected to the upper part of the recovery tank 6, and the hydrogen extraction pipe 9 is provided with a manual valve 10.

Next, the operation of the apparatus configured as described above will be described. When the operation of the hydrogen generator 1 is started, the manual valve 10 is closed and the raw material storage tank 3 is filled with a predetermined amount of the mixed liquid 2 from an inlet (not shown). After that, hydrogen is filled from the hydrogen filling port so that the inside of the raw material storage tank 3 has a predetermined pressure.

Then, due to the pressure of hydrogen in the raw material storage tank 3, the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 is first transferred to the intermediate tank 4 via the pipeline 7a, and then from the intermediate tank 4 via the pipeline 7b. It is supplied to the reaction tank 5. Then, when passing through the reaction tank 5, the hydride is hydrolyzed by the following reaction formula to generate hydrogen.

Due to the presence of NaBH ₄ + 2H ₂ O → 4H ₂ + NaBO ₂ catalyst, the above reaction proceeds well. Since this reaction is an exothermic reaction, part of the water in the mixed liquid 2 becomes steam due to the heat of reaction. Then, the hydrogen generated by the hydrolysis and the reaction product are guided to the recovery tank 6 through the pipe 8 from the upper part of the reaction tank 5 in a mist state. Of the reaction products, liquid is collected at the bottom of the recovery tank 6 and hydrogen is collected at the top of the recovery tank 6. Then, when the manual valve 10 is opened, hydrogen in the recovery tank 6 is supplied from the hydrogen extraction pipe 9.

The supply of the mixed liquid 2 to the reaction tank 5 is continued with the manual valve 10 closed, and when the pressure in the recovery tank 6 becomes equal to or higher than the pressure in the reaction tank 5, the pressure rises above the reaction tank 5. When the pressure in the reaction tank 5 becomes equal to or higher than the pressure in the intermediate tank 4, a part of the mixed liquid 2 transferred into the reaction tank 5 is returned to the intermediate tank 4 via the pipe line 7b. As a result, the amount of the mixed liquid 2 in the reaction tank 5 decreases. The mixed solution 2 returned to the intermediate tank 4 reacts at a rate lower than the reaction rate in the reaction tank 5 to generate hydrogen. That is, the reaction of the mixed liquid 2 during the reaction is suppressed. Hydrogen generated from the mixed solution 2 returned to the intermediate tank 4 presses the mixed solution 2 in the intermediate tank 4 toward the reaction tank 5, so that the mixed solution 2 returned in the intermediate tank 4 is transferred to the raw material storage tank 3. Will never be returned. Then, when the manual valve 10 is opened to discharge the hydrogen in the recovery tank 6 and the pressure in the recovery tank 6 decreases, the mixed liquid 2 is transferred to the reaction tank 5 again, and the hydrogen generation reaction is performed in the reaction tank 5. proceed. Therefore, hydrogen can be generated in appropriate amounts.

When the pressure of hydrogen in the raw material storage tank 3 decreases and the mixed solution 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 cannot be transferred to the reaction tank 5, hydrogen is additionally filled. After all the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 is used and the generated hydrogen is used, the reaction product recovered in the recovery tank 6 is taken out from the recovery tank 6. Then, the raw material storage tank 3 is filled with the mixed liquid 2 and hydrogen again, and the hydrogen generator 1 is reused.

This embodiment has the following effects. (1) The mixed liquid 2 stored in the raw material storage tank 3 is transferred to the reaction tank 5 to cause a gas (hydrogen) generation reaction, and the pressure in the recovery tank 6 for recovering the reaction product is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure. Then, by returning a part of the solution in the reaction tank 5 to the intermediate tank 4, generation of gas (hydrogen) was suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to generate an appropriate amount of gas from the liquid mixture 2 in which liquids that react with each other to generate gas by heating to a temperature higher than normal temperature or react with each other to generate gas, or a mixed liquid 2 in which liquid and solid are mixed, and further, the apparatus Does not grow in size.

(2) As a method for transferring the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 to the reaction tank 5, the pressure of the gas filled in the raw material storage tank 3 is used, so that it is compared with the case where a transfer pump is provided. And the structure becomes simple.

(3) Since the mixed solution 2 is transferred to the reaction tank 5 by filling the raw material storage tank 3 with hydrogen, even if the gas for pressurization is mixed with the hydrogen generated in the mixed solution 2, hydrogen is externally supplied. It is not necessary to separate the gas for pressurization when supplying to.

(4) Since the intermediate tank 4 and the reaction tank 5 are connected to each other by being connected to the pipeline 7b at the bottom, even if the amount of the mixed liquid 2 returned from the reaction tank 5 to the intermediate tank 4 is small, The end of the conduit 7 b is covered with the mixed liquid 2. Therefore, the pressure of the hydrogen generated in the intermediate tank 4 is in a state of pressing the mixed solution 2 in the intermediate tank 4 toward the reaction tank 5, and contributes to the transfer of the mixed solution 2 to the reaction tank 5 again.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, even if the raw material storage tank 3 is filled with a predetermined amount of the mixed liquid 2 and hydrogen in advance, the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 is transferred to the reaction tank 5 until hydrogen is needed. The difference is that it is not carried out. The same parts as those in the above-mentioned embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

A solenoid valve 11 is provided in a pipe line 7a connecting the raw material storage tank 3 and the intermediate tank 4, and a check valve 1 for preventing gas from moving from the intermediate tank 4 side to the raw material storage tank 3 side.
2 and are provided. Further, the hydrogen extraction pipe 9 is provided with a solenoid valve 13 instead of the manual valve 10 and a variable throttle valve 14.

In this apparatus, when starting the operation of the hydrogen generator 1, the raw material storage tank 3 is not filled with a predetermined amount of the mixed liquid 2 and hydrogen, but the raw material storage tank is previously closed with the solenoid valve 11 closed. A predetermined amount of the mixed liquid 2 and hydrogen is filled in the liquid 3. Even if the inside of the raw material storage tank 3 is under pressure, since the electromagnetic valve 11 is closed, the mixed liquid 2 is not transferred to the reaction tank 5 and waits until hydrogen is needed.

When generating hydrogen, the solenoid valve 11 is opened. Then, the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 is transferred to the reaction tank 5 via the pipe 7a, the intermediate tank 4 and the pipe 7b, hydrogen is generated in the same manner as in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the generated hydrogen is generated. It is stored in the recovery tank 6. Then, by opening the solenoid valve 13, hydrogen in the recovery tank 6 is supplied from the hydrogen extraction pipe 9. The supply amount of hydrogen can be adjusted by changing the opening degree of the variable throttle valve 14.

This embodiment has the following effects in addition to the effects (1) to (4) of the above embodiment. (5) A check valve 12 that blocks the movement of gas from the intermediate tank 4 side to the raw material storage tank 3 side is provided in the pipeline 7a that connects the raw material storage tank 3 and the intermediate tank 4. Therefore, when the mixed liquid 2 is returned from the reaction tank 5 to the intermediate tank 4, the heated hydrogen generated in the intermediate tank 4 moves to the raw material storage tank 3 through the pipeline 7a. It is blocked by the action of 12. as a result,
The heated liquid (hydrogen) does not heat the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3, and the reaction of the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 is not promoted.

(6) Raw material storage tank 3 and intermediate tank 4
An electromagnetic valve 11 is provided in a pipe line 7a connecting between and. Therefore, the raw material storage tank 3 is provided immediately before the generation of hydrogen.
Instead of filling the mixed liquid 2 and hydrogen in the above, the mixed liquid 2 and hydrogen are previously filled in the raw material storage tank 3 with the electromagnetic valve 11 closed, and when the hydrogen is desired to be generated, the electromagnetic valve 11 is used.
By opening the, hydrogen can be generated in a short time.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the structure of the temporary storage part for temporarily storing a part of the mixed liquid 2 returned from the reaction tank 5 and the structure for storing hydrogen generated in the reaction tank 5 are significantly different from those of the above-described embodiment. ing. The same parts as those in the above-mentioned embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reaction tank 5 and the reaction tank 5
The temporary storage part 15 for temporarily storing a part of the mixed liquid 2 returned from the inside and the surge tank 16 for storing hydrogen generated in the reaction tank 5 are configured as one tank unit 17. The tank unit 17 has a temporary storage unit 1 from the bottom.
5, the reaction tank 5 and the surge tank 16 are arranged in this order.

The temporary storage section 15 is constructed by partitioning the space below the reaction tank 5 with a bellows 18 whose upper end is sealed. The outside of the bellows 18 serves as the temporary storage section 15, and an air chamber 19 is formed inside. Has been done. The air chamber 19 is configured to be able to inject air from the air injecting portion 19a. The pressure of the air pre-injected into the air chamber 19 is set to a predetermined value that is determined depending on when the pressure in the surge tank 16 returns the mixed liquid 2 in the reaction tank 5. Between the upper surface of the bellows 18 and the lower surface of the reaction tank 5, the mixed liquid 2 supplied to the temporary storage section 15 is inserted.
A space is provided so that, after ascending through the peripheral surface of No. 8, it uniformly flows into the reaction tank 5.

A pump 20 is provided in the middle of a pipe line 7a connecting the temporary storage section 15 and the raw material storage tank 3. That is, in the hydrogen generator 1, the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 is not transferred to the reaction tank 5 by the pressure of hydrogen, but is transferred by the pump 20.

A gas-liquid separator 21 is arranged between the reaction tank 5 and the surge tank 16. 4 (a), (b)
As shown in FIG. 2, the gas-liquid separation device 21 includes a spiral passage 22 provided between the lower wall 21a and the upper wall 21b, an inlet 22a is provided at the center of the lower wall 21a, and a spiral passage of the upper wall 21b is provided. The outlet 22b is provided at a position corresponding to the outer end portion. The lower wall 21a of the gas-liquid separation device 21 is formed in a tapered shape that descends and inclines outward from the center portion, and the upper wall 21b is formed horizontally. Then, the separated liquid is stored in the lower portion of the passage 22.

The recovery pipe 23 for transferring the recovered liquid separated by the gas-liquid separator 21 to the recovery tank 6 is connected to the gas-liquid separator 21 with its first end communicating with the passage 22 in the vicinity of the outlet 22b. It is connected. An electromagnetic valve 23a is provided in the recovery pipe 23. A hydrogen take-out section 24 is provided above the surge tank 16, and a pressure sensor 25 is provided at the hydrogen take-out section 24. One end of a pipe 27 is connected to the hydrogen take-out portion 24 via a pressure relief valve 26, and the other end of the pipe 27 is connected to the recovery tank 6. In addition, the hydrogen extraction unit 24 has a filter 2
A hydrogen extraction pipe 9 is connected via 8. The hydrogen extraction pipe 9 is provided with a solenoid valve 13 and a pressure reducing valve 29.

In this apparatus, the raw material storage tank 3 holds a predetermined amount of the mixed liquid 2 and waits until hydrogen is needed. When generating hydrogen, the pump 20 is driven and the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 is transferred to the reaction tank 5 via the pipeline 7 a and the temporary storage part 15. Bellows 1
8 is the upper part of the reaction tank 5, that is, until the pressure in the surge tank 16 reaches a predetermined pressure, the volume of the temporary storage section 15 is kept at the minimum state as shown in FIG. And reaction tank 5
The mixed liquid 2 transferred to the reactor reacts in the reaction tank 5, and hydrogen is generated in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

The reaction product is atomized into a gas-liquid separator 2
While flowing into the inlet 22a of No. 1 and moving along the passage 22, droplets adhere to the wall of the passage 22 and the gas (hydrogen) and the liquid are separated. Then, hydrogen is stored in the surge tank 16. The droplets adhering to the wall of the passage 22 travel along the wall to the lower wall, then move toward the outlet 22b along the lower wall, and are collected as a recovery liquid below the outlet 22b at the end of the passage 22. To be Then, the electromagnetic valve 23a is intermittently opened, and the recovery liquid in the passage 22 is transferred to the recovery tank 6.

The hydrogen stored in the surge tank 16 is supplied from the hydrogen extraction pipe 9 at a predetermined pressure via the pressure reducing valve 29 by opening the solenoid valve 13. The supply amount of hydrogen is adjusted to a constant amount by the pressure reducing valve 29.

When the supply of the mixed liquid 2 to the reaction tank 5 is continued with the electromagnetic valve 13 closed and the pressure in the surge tank 16 exceeds a predetermined pressure, a control device for controlling the drive of the pump 20 (not shown). (D) stops the pump 20 based on the detection result of the pressure sensor 25. In addition, the surge tank 16
The internal pressure reaches the upper part of the reaction tank 5, and a part of the mixed liquid 2 in the reaction tank 5 pushes down the bellows 18 and is returned to the temporary storage section 15. Then, as in both of the above-described embodiments, the reaction of the mixed liquid 2 during the reaction is suppressed. After that, when the solenoid valve 13 is opened to discharge hydrogen in the surge tank 16 and the pressure in the surge tank 16 decreases, the bellows 18 returns the mixed liquid 2 to the reaction tank 5, and when the pressure further decreases, the pump 20 is pumped again. Is driven to transfer the mixed liquid 2 to the reaction tank 5,
The hydrogen generation reaction proceeds in the reaction tank 5.

When the pressure in the surge tank 16 becomes higher than the set pressure of the pressure relief valve 26, a part of the hydrogen gas in the surge tank 16 is discharged to the recovery tank 6 through the pipe 27 and then the outside air is discharged. Is released to.

This embodiment has the following effect in addition to the effect (1) of the above embodiment. (7) Since the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 is transferred to the reaction tank 5 by using the pump 20, it is not necessary to fill the raw material storage tank 3 with hydrogen, and the raw material storage tank 3 has a closed structure. No need. Therefore, the structure of the raw material storage tank 3 is simplified. Further, since the mixed liquid 2 is not transferred to the reaction tank unless the pump 20 is driven, the raw material storage tank 3 is filled with the mixed liquid 2 in advance, and the pump 20 can be driven to start the hydrogen generation reaction when necessary. .

(8) Since the temporary storage section 15, the reaction tank 5 and the surge tank 16 are constructed as one tank unit 17, the size can be easily reduced. (9) Since the reaction product discharged in a mist form from the reaction tank 5 is separated into hydrogen and liquid droplets by the gas-liquid separator 21, it is possible to suppress the liquid droplets from being supplied together with hydrogen from the hydrogen extraction pipe 9. it can.

(10) By adjusting the pressure of the air filled in the air chamber 19, the pressure in the surge tank 16 when the mixed solution 2 in the reaction tank 5 is returned to the temporary storage section 15 can be set.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the hydrogen extraction pipe 9 provided in the recovery tank 6 and the raw material storage tank 3 are connected by the gas transfer pipe 30, and the flow rate adjusting valve is provided. A big difference is that a pipe 32 provided with 31 is provided in parallel with the gas transfer pipe 30. Gas transfer pipe 30
A check valve 33 for preventing the movement of hydrogen from the raw material storage tank 3 side to the recovery tank 6 side is provided midway.

In this hydrogen generator 1, a part of the gas (hydrogen) in the recovery tank 6 is transferred to the raw material storage tank 3 through the gas transfer pipe 30, so that the pressure of the gas is adjusted in the raw material storage tank 3. It can be used as a means for sending the mixed solution 2 of 1 to the reaction tank 5. Therefore, the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3
Since it is sent to the reaction tank 5, the amount of gas to be filled in the raw material storage tank 3 in advance can be reduced, and it is not necessary to additionally fill the gas during the process.

Further, since the pipe 32 having the flow rate adjusting valve 31 is provided in parallel with the gas transfer pipe 30, it is possible to prevent the pressure in the raw material storage tank 3 from becoming excessive. The embodiment is not limited to the above, and may be configured as follows, for example.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the pipe 32 provided with the flow rate adjusting valve 31 may be omitted. That is, the hydrogen extraction pipe 9 provided in the recovery tank 6 and the raw material storage tank 3 are connected in the middle of the raw material storage tank 3
The gas transfer pipe 30 having the check valve 33 for blocking the movement of hydrogen from the side to the side of the recovery tank 6 may be simply connected. Also in this configuration, part of the gas (hydrogen) in the recovery tank 6 is transferred to the raw material storage tank 3 via the gas transfer pipe 30, so the pressure of the gas is adjusted to the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3. Can be used as a means for sending to the reaction tank 5.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the gas transfer pipe 3 provided with a check valve 33 that blocks the movement of hydrogen from the raw material storage tank 3 side to the recovery tank 6 side.
0 may be omitted. That is, the hydrogen extraction pipe 9 provided in the recovery tank 6 and the raw material storage tank 3 may be simply connected by the pipe 32 provided with the flow rate adjusting valve 31 in the middle thereof. Also in the case of this configuration, it is possible to prevent the pressure in the raw material storage tank 3 from becoming excessive.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cooling means 34 may be provided in the middle of the pipeline 7b connecting the intermediate tank 4 and the reaction tank 5. As the structure of the cooling means 34, there is a structure in which the middle of the conduit 7b is bent in a zigzag shape, or fins are provided on the outer surface of the conduit 7b. When the cooling means 34 is provided,
When part of the mixed liquid 2 in the reaction tank 5 is returned to the intermediate tank 4, it is cooled by the cooling means 34. Therefore, the intermediate tank 4
Even if the hydrogen in the raw material storage tank 3 is returned to the raw material storage tank 3 via the pipe 7a, the heated hydrogen does not return, and the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 is not heated. Therefore, the check valve 12 is omitted. can do.

○ As shown in FIG. 7, the raw material storage tank 3
It is also possible to provide two parallel paths in the middle of the pipeline 7a that connects the intermediate tank 4 with the electromagnetic tanks 11 and 35 and the variable throttle valves 36a and 36b. In this case, the openings of the variable throttle valves 36a and 36b are set to different predetermined values in advance, and the mixed liquid 2 in the raw material storage tank 3 is transferred to the reaction tank 5 by selecting the solenoid valves 11 and 35 to be opened. It is possible to change the responsiveness at the time of performing, or when returning the mixed solution 2 in the reaction tank 5 to the intermediate tank 4.

In a configuration in which the surge tank 16 is not provided separately from the recovery tank 6, the reaction tank 5 and the intermediate tank 4 may be one unit. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a tank unit 37 in which the intermediate tank 4 is arranged is provided below the reaction tank 5. The pipeline 7a is connected to the upper part of the intermediate tank 4, and the pipeline 7b is connected to the bottom of the reaction tank 5 at one end.
Extends to near the bottom surface of the intermediate tank 4. A large number of fins 38 as cooling means are provided around the intermediate tank 4. In this case, it can be made compact as compared with a configuration in which the intermediate tank 4 and the reaction tank 5 are provided independently. Further, since the fins 38 are present around the intermediate tank 4,
The mixed liquid 2 returned from the reaction tank 5 to the intermediate tank 4 is efficiently cooled and the reaction is suppressed.

○ As a cooling means for cooling the mixed liquid 2 returned from the reaction tank 5 provided in the intermediate tank 4 or the conduit 7b between the reaction tank 5 and the intermediate tank 4, the circumference or the middle of the conduit 7b is used. You may employ | adopt the structure which flows a cooling medium around the tank 4 and cools it. In this case, the cooling effect becomes high. The cooling means may be provided in the devices of the first to third embodiments and devices of other configurations.

The gas filled in the raw material storage tank 3 for feeding the mixed solution 2 stored in the raw material storage tank 3 into the reaction tank 5 is not limited to hydrogen, but nitrogen, helium,
An inert gas such as argon or neon or air may be used. However, when hydrogen is used as a hydrogen source for a fuel cell, it is preferable to use hydrogen or an inert gas because hydrogen in the air reacts with hydrogen and there is a risk of problems such as explosion. Is the best to use.

In place of the configuration in which one raw material storage tank 3, one intermediate tank 4, one reaction tank 5 and one recovery tank 6 are provided, the reaction tank 5 is shared by a plurality of raw material storage tanks 3 and recovery tanks 6. Good.

A pipe 8 is used instead of the structure in which the reaction product in the reaction tank 5 is directly transferred from the pipe 8 into the recovery tank 6.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which it is transferred to the recovery tank 6 via the gas-liquid separation device. In this case, it is possible to prevent the droplet containing the reaction product NaBO ₂ from being sent to the fuel cell or the like together with hydrogen.

The reaction tank 5 is not necessarily configured to support the catalyst, and may be configured to start or accelerate the reaction by heating without using the catalyst. Since the hydrogen generation reaction is an exothermic reaction, the inside of the reaction tank 5 is heated by the heat generation as the reaction progresses, so that it is not necessary to apply a large amount of heat unlike when hydrogen is taken out from the hydrogen storage alloy.

The mixed solution 2 in the reaction tank 5 may be entirely returned to the intermediate tank 4 or the temporary storage section 15 instead of being partly returned. -As a reaction inhibitor, an alkaline substance such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide may be added to water to be reacted with a hydride. In this case, it is possible to suppress the progress of the hydrogen generation reaction before the mixed liquid 2 in which the hydride and water are mixed is sent to the reaction tank 5.

Alcohol or an aqueous solution containing hydrogen peroxide may be used as the liquid that reacts with a hydride to generate hydrogen. As the hydride, a substance other than sodium borohydride, for example, lithium aluminum hydride or calcium hydride may be used.

It may be applied to an apparatus for generating a gas other than hydrogen. The invention (technical idea) understood from the above embodiment will be described below.

(1) In the invention described in claim 6,
The gas filled in the raw material storage tank is hydrogen. (2) In the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the temporary storage part and the reaction tank are in one tank unit, the reaction tank is on the upper side, and the temporary storage part is on the lower side. It is arranged as follows.

(3) In the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the temporary storage section divides a tank provided below the reaction tank through a bellows,
The space is located outside the bellows, and the inside of the bellows is filled with gas.

(4) A mixture of a hydride that reacts with water or alcohol to generate hydrogen and water or alcohol is sent to a reaction tank, and heated in the reaction tank to a temperature higher than room temperature or to act with a catalyst. In the hydrogen generator that starts or accelerates the hydrogen generation reaction by the above, and transfers the reaction product from the reaction tank to the recovery tank, when the amount of hydrogen generated in the reaction tank becomes more than necessary, A reaction control method in a hydrogen generator for temporarily returning a mixed solution to a temporary storage section on the upstream side by pressure on the downstream side of a reaction tank to suppress the reaction.

[0069]

As described in detail above, the first to sixth aspects of the invention are described.
According to the invention described in (1), an appropriate amount of gas is mixed from liquids which are mixed with each other or liquids which react with each other to generate gas by being heated to a temperature higher than room temperature in a mixed state or by acting with a catalyst. Can be generated one by one, and the device does not become large. Further, according to the invention described in claim 7, it is possible to generate an appropriate amount of hydrogen from the mixed liquid of the hydride and water or alcohol, and the apparatus does not become large.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen generator according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen generator according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen generator according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a schematic sectional view of a gas-liquid separator,
(B) is a BB line sectional view of (a).

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen generator according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen generator according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen generator according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen generator according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a Kipp apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Hydrogen generator as gas generator, 2 ... Mixed liquid,
3 ... Raw material storage tank, 4 ... Intermediate tank as a temporary storage part, 5 ... Reaction tank, 6 ... Recovery tank, 7a, 7b ... Pipes forming a mixed liquid transfer route, 8 ... Pipes as pipes, 9
… Hydrogen extraction pipe as gas extraction pipe, 12,
33 ... Non-return valve, 15 ... Temporary storage part, 30 ... Gas transfer pipe, 31 ... Flow rate adjusting valve, 32 ... Pipe, 34 ... Cooling means, 36a, 36b ... Variable throttle valve as adjusting means, 3
8 ... Fins as cooling means.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shinichi Matsumoto             1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Auto             Car Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Osamu Nakanishi             1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Auto             Car Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4G068 DA01 DB11 DB17 DB26 DC04                       DD12 DD15

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A reaction vessel is a liquid mixture in which liquids or liquids and solids in which a reaction is started or promoted to generate gas by being heated to a temperature higher than room temperature in a mixed state to react with a catalyst are mixed in a reaction tank. A gas generator that guides and reacts to generate a gas, a raw material storage tank that stores the mixed liquid, a reaction tank that promotes the reaction of the mixed liquid, and the mixed liquid in the raw material storage tank. A mixed liquid transfer path for transferring to the reaction tank, a recovery tank for recovering a product after the reaction in the reaction tank through a pipe, and a solution in the reaction tank provided in the middle of the mixed liquid transfer path. And a temporary storage part capable of returning at least a part of the raw material storage tank, the mixed solution is transferred to the reaction tank, when the pressure in the recovery tank is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure,
A gas generation device, wherein at least a part of the solution in the reaction tank is returned to the temporary storage section to suppress the generation of gas. 2. A check valve is provided between the raw material storage tank and the temporary storage section in the mixed liquid transfer path, the check valve being configured to prevent gas from moving from the temporary storage section side to the raw material storage tank side. The gas generator according to claim 1. 3. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the mixed liquid transfer passage is provided with an adjusting unit capable of adjusting the transfer amount of the mixed liquid from the raw material storage tank to the reaction tank. 4. A gas extraction pipe provided in the recovery tank so that a part of the gas recovered in the recovery tank can be used as a means for transferring the mixed liquid in the raw material tank to the reaction tank. And the raw material storage tank are connected by a gas transfer pipe equipped with a check valve for preventing gas from moving from the raw material storage tank side to the recovery tank side on the way. Gas generator. 5. The raw material storage tank and the gas extraction pipe are connected by a pipe having a flow rate adjusting valve to prevent the pressure in the raw material storage tank from becoming excessive. The gas generator according to claim 4. 6. The cooling means for cooling the solution returned from the reaction tank is provided between the reaction tank in the temporary storage section or the mixed liquid transfer path and the temporary storage section. ~ The gas generator according to claim 5. 7. The mixed liquid is a mixed liquid of a hydride that reacts with water or alcohol to generate hydrogen, and water or alcohol, and the mixed liquid in the raw material storage tank is stored in the raw material storage tank. The gas generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is transferred to the reaction tank by the pressure of the filled gas.