JP2007145664A - Hydrogen generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen generator where a reaction liquid can be fed to a reaction vessel by a simple and compact driving mechanism, and further, the starting operation of the feed and the control of the feed quantity can be easily performed. <P>SOLUTION: The hydrogen generator is equipped with: a pressure vessel 2 for pressurizing a reaction liquid 1 and exhausting the same; a movable partition part 3 arranged so as to partition the pressure vessel 2; energizing means 7 for energizing the movable partition part 3 and pressurizing the reaction liquid 1; an external force transfer part 8 for displacing the movable partition part 3 by external force; a reaction vessel 11 for storing a hydrogen generation agent 12; a first feed path 5 for feeding the reaction liquid 1 exhausted from the pressure vessel 2 to the reaction vessel 11; an exhaust suppression part 6 provided at the first feed path 5; a storage vessel 20 for storing the reaction liquid 1; a second feed path 10 for connecting the first feed path 5 on the upper stream side than the exhaust suppression part 6 or the pressure vessel 2 with the storage vessel 20; and a first check valve V1 provided thereon and checking the flow from the first feed path side 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen generator that generates hydrogen by supplying a reaction liquid to a reaction vessel using a biasing means such as a spring, and is particularly useful as a technique for generating hydrogen gas to be supplied to a fuel cell. .

  A fuel cell is an energy source that is attracting attention because it has higher power generation efficiency than other power generation systems and does not generate substances that pollute the atmosphere. In a hydrogen supply type fuel cell, air (oxygen) is supplied to the cathode and hydrogen is supplied to the anode in order to generate power. Hydrogen becomes hydrogen ions and electrons by the catalytic reaction at the anode, and the hydrogen ions move through the electrolyte and react with oxygen by the catalytic reaction at the cathode to become water. On the other hand, the electrons travel through the external circuit and move to the cathode. Electric energy is generated by the movement of the electrons.

  As described above, it is necessary to supply fuel such as hydrogen to the fuel cell. Accordingly, various apparatuses for generating hydrogen are known and disclosed in, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below. These all generate hydrogen by decomposing hydrocarbons. The hydrogen generators in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are constituted by a cylindrical reactor as well as a cylindrical heat supply device.

  In addition, a hydrogen gas generation unit disclosed in Patent Document 3 below includes a tank for containing water, a reaction vessel containing a metal that generates hydrogen by a chemical reaction with water, and a proximity to the reaction vessel. Heating means, an introduction pipe for introducing water contained in the tank into the reaction container, a return pipe for introducing hydrogen generated in the reaction container and unreacted water into the tank, hydrogen in the tank and And a discharge pipe for discharging water. A pump is used to introduce the tank water into the reaction vessel, thereby controlling the amount of water supplied to the reaction vessel. The reaction container is accommodated in the apparatus main body, and is closely held by the heating means. Thereby, the water introduced into the reaction vessel is heated to become water vapor, and the reaction for generating hydrogen gas in the reaction vessel can be promoted.

  In the hydrogen generator as described above, it may be desirable to control the amount of water fed into the reaction vessel to be constant. For example, when a large amount of water is fed, there is a problem that more hydrogen gas than necessary is generated. In order to control (limit) the feed amount of water, it is preferable to use a pump. However, a space for housing the pump and a mechanism for driving the pump are required, which increases costs and enlarges the apparatus. In particular, when a hydrogen generating cell is incorporated in a portable device such as a notebook personal computer or a PDA, a configuration capable of realizing as small a size as possible is required. That is, a hydrogen generator equipped with a small liquid supply device that can supply water without using a pump is desired.

JP 2004-63127 A JP 2004-59340 A JP 2004-149394 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen generator capable of supplying a reaction solution to a reaction vessel with a simple and small drive mechanism, and that can easily perform a supply start operation and a supply amount adjustment. .

The above object can be achieved by the present invention as described below.
That is, the hydrogen generation apparatus of the present invention includes a pressurized container that pressurizes and discharges the reaction liquid, a movable partition wall disposed so as to partition the pressurized container, and urges the movable partition wall to An urging means for pressurizing the reaction liquid, an external force transmission part for displacing the movable partition wall part by an external force, a reaction container containing a hydrogen generating agent, and a reaction liquid discharged from the pressure container A first supply path that supplies the liquid, a discharge suppression part provided in the first supply path, a storage container that stores the reaction liquid, a first supply path or a pressurized container upstream of the discharge suppression part, and the A second supply path that connects the storage container, and a first check valve that is provided in the second supply path and suppresses flow from the first supply path side.

  According to the hydrogen generator of the present invention, the external force is applied to the external force transmission unit, and the movable partition wall is displaced against the urging means, whereby the pressure vessel is depressurized, and the reaction liquid in the storage vessel Can be introduced into the pressurized container through the second supply path (in some cases, the first supply path). After the external force is applied, the movable partition wall is energized by the energizing means, and the reaction liquid in the pressurized container is pressurized, so that the reaction liquid according to the generated pressure passes through the first supply path. Then, it is gradually supplied into the reaction vessel. The supplied reaction solution reacts with the hydrogen generating agent to generate hydrogen gas. By applying the external force again, the reaction liquid supply operation can be repeated. At this time, the presence / absence and the strength of the urging force can be adjusted by the external force transmission unit, so that the reaction liquid supply start operation and the supply speed can be easily adjusted. As a result, it is possible to provide a hydrogen generator that can supply the reaction liquid with a simple and small drive mechanism and that can easily perform the start operation of supply and the adjustment of the supply speed.

  In the above, it is preferable that the movable partition wall is constituted by a piston, and the urging means is constituted by a spring for urging the piston. According to this configuration, the urging force of the piston by the spring can be easily adjusted by the external force transmission portion, and a simpler and smaller drive mechanism can be realized.

  A hydrogen discharge path that connects the reaction container and the reservoir of the reaction liquid in the storage container; a second check valve that is provided in the hydrogen discharge path and suppresses flow from the storage container side; And a hydrogen supply path connected to the space of the storage container. According to this configuration, the reaction liquid component contained in the hydrogen gas generated in the reaction container can be recovered by contact with the reaction liquid in the storage container, and conversely when the hydrogen gas is dry, The concentration of the component can be increased (eg, humidified). When there is a temperature difference between the reaction liquid and hydrogen gas in the storage container, the temperature of the hydrogen gas can be made closer to the temperature of the reaction liquid (usually around room temperature) by heat exchange between the two.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of the hydrogen generator of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hydrogen generator of the present invention includes a pressurized container 2 that pressurizes and discharges a reaction liquid 1, a reaction container 11 that stores a hydrogen generating agent 12, and a storage container that stores the reaction liquid 1. 20 mainly. In the present embodiment, an example in which the hydrogen gas discharged from the reaction vessel 11 is led to the storage vessel 20 is shown.

  The pressurization vessel 2 includes a movable partition wall disposed so as to partition the pressurization vessel 2, an urging means for urging the movable partition wall to pressurize the reaction liquid 1, and the movable partition wall by an external force. An external force transmission unit 8 for displacement is provided. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the movable partition wall portion is constituted by a piston 3 and the urging means is constituted by a spring 7 that urges the piston 3.

  The reaction liquid 1 used is a reaction liquid 1 that reacts with the hydrogen generator 12 to generate hydrogen. Examples of the reaction liquid 1 include water, an acid or alkali aqueous solution, and the like.

  The pressurized container 2 temporarily accommodates the reaction liquid 1 in a state of being partitioned by a movable partition wall such as the piston 3. When the piston 3 is used as the movable partition wall, the pressurized container 2 has an inner wall 2a on which the piston 3 can slide. The piston 3 has a sealing material 3a on a sliding contact surface with the inner wall 2a, and is configured to be slidable with respect to the inner wall 2a while maintaining sealing performance.

  The spring 7 constituting the urging means may be a leaf spring or the like, but a coil spring is preferable for uniformly urging (pressing) the movable partition wall such as the piston 3. One end of the spring 7 is held by the inner peripheral surface of the sealing material holding portion 3 c of the piston 3, and the other end of the spring 7 is held by the upper surface inner wall of the pressurized container 2.

  A rod-shaped external force transmission portion 8 is connected to the piston 3 which is a movable partition portion, and the piston 3 is lifted against the urging force of the urging means by pulling the external force transmission portion 8 upward. Can do.

  A first supply path 5 for supplying the reaction liquid 1 discharged from the pressurized container 2 to the reaction container 11 is provided between the pressurized container 2 and the reaction container 11. For the first supply path 5, piping such as a resin tube is used. The same can be used for the second supply path 10 and other paths.

  The first supply path 5 is provided with a discharge suppression unit 6 for suppressing the discharge speed of the reaction liquid 1. Any one can be used as the discharge suppression unit 6 as long as it has a flow resistance with respect to the reaction solution 1. For example, various microvalves, a flow passage restricting unit, a porous body, and the like can be used. However, in the present invention, valves capable of adjusting the flow resistance are preferable.

  A second supply path 10 that connects the first supply path 5 and the storage container 20 is provided on the upstream side of the discharge suppression unit 6 of the first supply path 5. Further, the second supply path 10 is provided with a first check valve V1 that suppresses the flow from the first supply path 5 side.

  Any valve can be used as the first check valve V1 as long as it functions with respect to the liquid. However, in order to reduce the size of the entire apparatus, a check valve including a beak-shaped elastic member that opens when the primary side is larger than the pressure on the secondary side and closes when the pressure is small is preferable. This check valve is called a duckbill, and various types are commercially available.

  A hydrogen generating agent 12 is accommodated in the reaction vessel 11. Examples of the hydrogen generating agent 12 include metal particles that react with a reaction solution such as water to generate hydrogen, for example, one or more metal particles selected from Fe, Al, Mg, Zn, Si, and the like. Examples include oxidized metal particles. The hydrogen generator may contain a catalyst component, alkaline earth metal oxide, carbon black, and the like. The hydrogen generator may be in the form of powder, granulated, or tableted.

  In the present embodiment, a hydrogen discharge path 21 that connects the reaction vessel 11 and the storage portion 24 of the reaction solution 1 of the storage container 20, and a hydrogen discharge path 21 that is provided in the hydrogen discharge path 21 and suppresses the flow from the storage container 20 side. 2 check valve V <b> 2 and a hydrogen supply path 22 connected to the space 25 of the storage container 20.

  The second check valve V2 only needs to prevent the inflow of the reaction solution, and the same one as the first check valve V1 can be used. When hydrogen gas from the reaction vessel 11 is introduced into the reservoir 24 of the reaction liquid 1 in the storage container 20 via the hydrogen discharge path 21, the hydrogen gas is bubbled in the storage container 20, and then the system is supplied by the hydrogen supply path 22. Supplied outside (for example, a fuel cell).

  The storage container 20 is provided with an introduction path 26 for the reaction solution 1, and the introduction path 26 is provided with a third check valve V <b> 3 that suppresses the flow from the storage container 20 side. The reaction liquid 1 is supplied from the introduction path 26 via the third check valve V3. The lower end of the introduction path 26 is disposed at a position lower than the liquid level of the reaction liquid 1 (that is, the storage part 24 for the reaction liquid 1 in the storage container 20) in order to prevent leakage of hydrogen gas.

  Next, the operation of the hydrogen generator of the present invention will be described. Before the start of the supply of the reaction solution 1, the spring 7 is fully extended and the reaction solution 1 is not pressurized. When the supply of the reaction liquid 1 is started, the external force transmitting portion 8 is pulled up by an external force, and the piston 3 (movable partition wall portion) is raised against the spring 7 (biasing means), whereby the pressurized container 2 The inside is depressurized, and the reaction liquid 1 in the storage container 20 can be introduced into the pressurized container 2 through the second supply path 10 and the first supply path 5.

  After the external force is applied, the piston 3 is urged by the spring 7 and the reaction liquid 1 in the pressurized container 2 is pressurized, so that the reaction liquid 1 corresponding to the generated pressure is supplied to the first supply path. 5 is gradually supplied into the reaction vessel 11. The supply of the reaction liquid 1 is continued until the pressurized container 2 is no longer pressurized. The supplied reaction solution 1 reacts with the hydrogen generating agent 12 to generate hydrogen gas. When this hydrogen gas is introduced into the reservoir 24 of the reaction liquid 1 in the storage container 20 through the hydrogen discharge path 21, the hydrogen gas is supplied outside the system through the hydrogen supply path 22 through bubbling in the storage container 20. The

  By applying an external force to the external force transmission unit 8 again, the operation of supplying the reaction liquid 1 can be repeated. When the reaction liquid 1 is insufficient, the reaction liquid 1 is supplied from the introduction path 26.

  In this case, since the presence / absence and strength of the urging force can be adjusted by the external force transmission unit 8, the starting operation of the reaction liquid supply and the adjustment of the supply speed can be easily performed.

[Other Embodiments]
Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the movable partition wall portion is constituted by a piston has been shown. However, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the movable partition wall portion may be configured by using a diaphragm 4 or the like. Good. The diaphragm 4 is preferably a flexible rubber or elastomer. At that time, the diaphragm 4 may also serve as the urging means. In this case, the diaphragm 4 corresponds to the movable partition wall and the urging means (this is also included in the technical scope of the present invention).

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the urging means is constituted by a spring has been shown. However, in the present invention, the urging means is made of a porous elastic body such as sponge or an elastic body such as rubber or elastomer. It may be configured. Such an urging means can be arrange | positioned, for example in the upper space of the pressurized container 2 shown in FIG.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the external force transmission portion is configured by the rod-shaped portion connected to the piston has been described. However, for example, a member that can transmit only the tensile force, such as the wire 8 illustrated in FIG. There may be. In this example, one end of the wire 8 is connected to the wire support portion 4a, and the other end is connected to the knob member 8b.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the hydrogen gas discharged from the reaction vessel is led to the storage vessel has been shown. However, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the hydrogen gas discharged from the reaction vessel 11 May be discharged directly out of the system. In that case, the storage container 20 has only the storage function of the reaction solution 1.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the storage unit 24 of the storage container 20 is disposed at a position lower than the pressurized container 2, the reaction liquid 1 flows out of the storage container 20 even when the pressurized container 2 is not in a pressurized state. Can be effectively prevented. The storage container 20 is provided with an introduction path 26 for the reaction liquid 1, and the reaction liquid 1 is supplied from the introduction path 26.

  (5) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a stopper for the piston is not provided is shown. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom surface of the pressurized container 2 is configured to be a stopper of the movable partition wall, Even when the movable partition wall moves to the lower end, it is preferable that the urging force of the urging means remains. Similarly, a stopper may be provided for the external force transmission unit.

  If the extension of the spring 7 is made free, almost no urging force is generated when the spring 7 extends from the compressed state, so the supply speed of the reaction liquid 1 is extremely slow at the end. Since the spring 7 is in a compressed state just before the end, the reaction liquid can be supplied to the end at a sufficient speed. It is also easy to adjust the total supply amount of the reaction solution 1.

  (6) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the second supply path connects the first supply path and the storage container has been shown. However, as shown in FIG. The bottom surface) and the storage container 20 may be connected. Thus, by separating the first supply path 5 and the second supply path 10, it is possible to prevent the reaction liquid 1 in the storage container 20 from flowing into the reaction container 11 in the non-pressurized state.

  (7) When a porous membrane is used as the discharge suppression unit 6, the pressure that allows the reaction solution 1 to permeate is determined mainly by the average pore diameter of the porous membrane. Therefore, in the present invention, the average pore diameter of the porous membrane is preferably 0.1 to 5 μm. The thickness of the polymer porous membrane is preferably 10 to 100 μm. Examples of the material for the porous film include fluororesins such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, polyurethane, and silicone resins.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of the hydrogen generator of this invention The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the other example of the pressurized container of the hydrogen generator of this invention The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the other example of the hydrogen generator of this invention

Explanation of symbols

1 Reaction liquid 2 Pressurized container 3 Piston (movable partition)
4 Diaphragm 5 1st supply path 6 Ejection suppression part 7 Spring (biasing means)
8 External force transmission unit 10 Second supply path 11 Reaction container 12 Hydrogen generating agent 20 Storage container 21 Hydrogen discharge path 22 Hydrogen supply path V1 First check valve V2 Second check valve

Claims (3)

A pressurized container for pressurizing and discharging the reaction solution;
A movable partition wall arranged to partition the pressurized container;
Biasing means for biasing the movable partition wall and pressurizing the reaction liquid;
An external force transmission part for displacing the movable partition part by an external force;
A reaction vessel containing a hydrogen generating agent;
A first supply path for supplying the reaction liquid discharged from the pressurized container to the reaction container;
An emission suppression unit provided in the first supply path;
A storage container for storing the reaction solution;
A first supply path upstream of the discharge suppression unit or a second supply path connecting the pressurized container and the storage container;
A first check valve provided in the second supply path to inhibit flow from the first supply path;
A hydrogen generator comprising:   The hydrogen generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable partition wall is constituted by a piston, and the urging means is constituted by a spring that urges the piston.   A hydrogen discharge path that connects the reaction container and the reservoir of the reaction liquid in the storage container, a second check valve that is provided in the hydrogen discharge path and prevents flow from the storage container side, and the storage container And a hydrogen supply path connected to the space of the hydrogen generator.

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