JP2008045021A - Method for purifying liquid fuel and system for purifying liquid fuel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for purifying a liquid fuel, with which a liquid fuel is purified into a liquid fuel suitable for a fuel cell and a system for purifying a liquid fuel. <P>SOLUTION: Metal removal parts 108-1 to 108-4 remove a metal component from methanol as a liquid fuel stock solution, an ultrapure water supply part 113 adjusts a methanol concentration, purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2 store methanol as an intermediate fuel liquid. Metal removal parts 118-1 and 118-2 remove a metal component from methanol as an intermediate fuel liquid stored in the purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2 to give methanol as a liquid fuel suitable for a fuel cell. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid fuel purification method and a liquid fuel purification system for purifying a liquid fuel such as methanol used in a fuel cell.

In recent years, fuel cells have been put into practical use as power sources for mobile phones and automobiles. In such a fuel cell, methanol as a liquid fuel is used. Meanwhile, when impurities, particularly metals, are contained in methanol, problems such as an influence on the catalyst in the fuel cell and a decrease in electromotive force occur. For this reason, for example, Patent Document 1 describes purifying methanol.
JP 2006-127851 A

  However, in Patent Document 1 described above, a specific method is not clear as to how to purify methanol as a liquid fuel suitable for a fuel cell.

  The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid fuel purification method and a liquid fuel purification system capable of purifying a liquid fuel suitable for a fuel cell.

  The liquid fuel refining method of the present invention includes a first step of generating an intermediate fuel liquid having a fuel concentration adjusted by removing metal components from a liquid fuel stock solution, and storing the intermediate fuel liquid in a tank; And a second step of refining the liquid fuel by further removing the metal component from the intermediate fuel liquid delivered from the vehicle.

  According to this configuration, in the first step, the intermediate fuel liquid from which the metal component has been removed and the concentration adjusted is obtained and stored in the liquid fuel stock solution, and further, in the second step, the metal is removed from the intermediate fuel liquid. The liquid fuel suitable for the fuel cell is obtained by removing the components. Further, since the first step for obtaining the intermediate fuel liquid and the second step for obtaining the final liquid fuel are separated, for example, the intermediate fuel liquid is generated and stored in advance in the first step. Then, when manufacturing the fuel cartridge for supplying the liquid fuel to the fuel cell, the liquid cartridge suitable for the fuel cell can be filled into the fuel cartridge by performing only the second step. .

  Further, in the liquid fuel refining method of the present invention, the first step includes a metal component removing step of removing a metal component from the liquid fuel stock solution, and diluting the liquid fuel stock solution from which the metal component has been removed. You may make it have an intermediate fuel liquid production | generation process which produces | generates a fuel liquid.

  In the liquid fuel refining method of the present invention, the metal removal step may remove a metal component present in a particle state and a metal component present in an ion state in the liquid fuel stock solution.

  Further, in the liquid fuel refining method of the present invention, when the metal component concentration of the liquid fuel stock solution after the metal component removal is equal to or higher than a predetermined value in the first step, the metal contained in the liquid fuel stock solution You may make it remove a component.

  According to this configuration, after the metal component is removed from the liquid fuel stock solution, if the metal concentration is still high, the metal component is removed again in the first step so that the concentration becomes a predetermined value. It becomes possible.

  The liquid fuel refining system of the present invention includes a first facility for generating an intermediate fuel liquid having a fuel concentration adjusted by removing a metal component from a liquid fuel stock solution, and storing the intermediate fuel liquid in a tank, and the tank And a second facility for refining the liquid fuel by further removing the metal component from the intermediate fuel liquid delivered from the vehicle.

  In the liquid fuel refining system of the present invention, when the first equipment has a metal component concentration of the liquid fuel stock solution after the metal component removal is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, a metal component is further extracted from the liquid fuel stock solution. You may make it remove.

  In the liquid fuel refining system of the present invention, the first equipment is connected in parallel, and a plurality of first metal removal units that remove metal components from the liquid fuel stock solution, and the plurality of first metals. Of the removal units, a first switching means for switching one used for removing the metal component, a plurality of tanks connected in parallel and storing the intermediate fuel liquid, and the middle of the plurality of tanks You may make it have a 2nd switching means which switches what is used for storage of a fuel liquid.

  According to this configuration, even when one of the plurality of first metal removal units or tanks becomes unusable due to replacement or the like, the refining process can be continued by the other first metal removal unit or storage unit. It becomes.

  Further, in the liquid fuel purification system of the present invention, the second equipment is connected in parallel, and further removes a metal component from the intermediate fuel liquid sent from the tank to purify the liquid fuel. You may make it have a 3rd switching means which switches what is used for the removal of the said metal component among the said 2nd metal removal part and a said 2nd metal removal part.

  According to this configuration, even when one of the plurality of second metal removal units becomes unusable due to replacement or the like, the purification process can be continued by the other second metal removal unit.

  According to the present invention, in the first step, an intermediate fuel liquid from which the metal component has been removed and the concentration adjusted is obtained and stored, and in the second step, the metal component is removed and suitable for a fuel cell. Liquid fuel can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, a liquid fuel refining method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of a fuel cartridge used for supplying methanol as a liquid fuel to a fuel cell. As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing process of the fuel cartridge includes the container foreign matter removal process 10, the container assembly process 20, the methanol purification process 30, the filling and sealing process 40, the filling amount inspection process 50, the sealing inspection process 60, and the tightening process. 70 and a packaging process 80.

  In the foreign matter removing step 10 in the container, the foreign matter is removed from the bottle by sucking the foreign matter in the bottle. In the container assembly process 20, a container in which the bottle that has undergone the foreign substance removal process 10 in the container is housed in a hard case is assembled.

  In the methanol purification step 30, methanol as the liquid fuel stock solution is received, the metal is removed, the concentration is adjusted with water, and methanol as the liquid fuel is purified. The liquid fuel purification method according to the embodiment of the present invention corresponds to the methanol purification step 30.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the liquid fuel refining system. The liquid fuel refining system shown in FIG. 2 includes a receiving box 102, a filter 104, an underground storage tank 106, metal removal units 108-1 to 108-4, a refining tank 110 corresponding to the first facility in charge of the first process. -1 and 110-2, the ultrapure water supply unit 112, the metal concentration detection unit 113, the reflux path 114, the valves 151 to 173, the pumps 181, 182, 183-1 and 183-2, and is in charge of the second process. The metal removal units 118-1 and 118-2 corresponding to the second facility, the head tank 120, and valves 174 to 177 are configured. Among these, the metal removal units 108-1 to 108-4 correspond to the first metal removal unit, the valves 155 to 162 correspond to the first switching means, and the purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2 store. The valves 163, 166, 169, and 171 correspond to the second switching means. Further, the metal removing units 118-1 and 118-2 correspond to the second metal removing unit, and the valves 174 to 177 correspond to the third switching unit.

  Methanol as the liquid fuel stock solution is introduced into the receiving box 102 via the valve 151. Here, the concentration of the metal contained in methanol as the liquid fuel stock solution is as high as about 80 to 150 [ppb] and cannot be used as the liquid fuel of the fuel cell.

  The filter 104 is connected to the subsequent stage of the receiving box 102 via the pump 181 and the valve 152. When the pump 181 sends out the methanol in the receiving box 102, the filter 104 removes foreign matters contained in the methanol by filtering the supplied methanol. The methanol from which the foreign matter has been removed is stored in an underground storage tank 106 connected to the subsequent stage of the filter 104 via the valve 153. In this underground storage tank 106, the inner wall surface is subjected to electrolytic polishing, and the members on the inner wall surface are prevented from being eluted into methanol. For example, the capacity of the underground storage tank 106 is 20 [t].

  A valve 155, a metal removal unit 108-1 and a valve 157, and a valve 156, a metal removal unit 108-2 and a valve 158 are connected in parallel to the subsequent stage of the underground storage tank 106 through a valve 154 and a pump 182. Further, the valve 159, the metal removing unit 108-3 and the valve 161, and the valve 160, the metal removing unit 108-4 and the valve 152 are connected in parallel.

  The metal removal units 108-1 to 108-4 are configured by a tank (not shown), a filter, and an ion exchange resin layer formed on the inner wall surface of the tank. When the pump 182 sends out the methanol in the underground storage tank 106, the metal removal units 108-1 and 108-2 remove the metal components present in the form of particles in the methanol by filtering the supplied methanol. To do. Further, the metal removing units 108-3 and 108-4 remove the metal component existing in the ion state by adsorbing the metal component existing in the ion state in the methanol to the ion exchange resin.

  Since these metal removal units 108-1 and 108-2 are connected in parallel, even if one becomes unusable due to replacement work or the like, removal of the metal component can be continued by the other. For example, when the metal removal unit 108-1 is replaced, the metal removal unit 108-2 removes the metal component by closing the valves 155 and 157 and opening the valves 156 and 158.

  Similarly, the metal removal units 108-3 and 108-4 filter the methanol supplied from at least one of the metal removal units 108-1 and 108-2, so that the metal present in the state of particles in the methanol is removed. Remove ingredients. Further, the metal removing units 108-3 and 108-4 remove the metal component existing in the ion state by adsorbing the metal component existing in the ion state in the methanol to the ion exchange resin. Since these metal removal units 108-3 and 108-4 are connected in parallel, even if one becomes unusable due to replacement work or the like, metal removal can be continued by the other. For example, when replacing the metal removal unit 108-3, the metal components are removed by the metal removal unit 108-4 by closing the valves 159 and 161 and opening the valves 160 and 162.

  By removing the metal component by the metal removing units 108-1 to 108-4, for example, the concentration of the metal contained in methanol is reduced to about 20 [ppb].

  A valve 163, a purification tank 110-1 and a valve 169, and a valve 166, a purification tank 110-2 and a valve 171 are connected in parallel to the subsequent stage of the valves 161 and 162. In addition, an ultrapure water supply unit 112 is connected to these purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2 via valves 164 and 165, respectively, and a concentration detection unit 113 is connected thereto. Furthermore, valves 168 and 170 for extracting the liquid inside are connected to the purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2.

  The purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2 store the methanol from which the metal components have been removed by the metal removal units 108-1 to 108-4. Electrolytic polishing is applied to the inner wall surfaces of the purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2, and the members on the inner wall surfaces are prevented from being eluted into methanol. For example, the capacities of the purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2 are 3 [t].

  The concentration detector 113 detects the concentration of the metal component (metal component concentration) contained in the methanol in the purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2. The detected metal component concentration is displayed on, for example, a monitor of a personal computer to which the concentration detection unit 113 is connected, and can be recognized by the operator. If the detected metal component concentration is higher than the desired value, it means that the metal component has not been sufficiently removed by the preceding metal removal units 108-1 to 108-4. In this case, the valves 168 and 170 are closed and the valves 169 and 171 are opened, and the inside of the purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2 by the pump 183-1 connected to the rear stage of the valves 169 and 171. The methanol in the refining tanks 110-1 and 110-2 is converted to metal via the reflux path 114 by opening the valve 172 connected to the rear stage of the pump 183-1. The components are refluxed to the removing units 108-1 and 108-2, and the metal components are removed again by the metal removing units 108-1 to 108-4.

  On the other hand, when the detected metal component concentration is less than or equal to the desired value, the ultrapure water supply unit 112 supplies ultrapure water to the purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2 via the valves 164 and 165. To do. Here, ultrapure water is used in which the metal concentration is reduced to a predetermined value. By supplying ultrapure water, the methanol in the purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2 is diluted and adjusted to a predetermined concentration, for example, a concentration that is not regarded as a deleterious substance by law, as an intermediate fuel liquid. Is obtained and stored.

  Thereafter, the valves 169 and 171 are closed and the valves 168 and 170 are opened, and the inside of the purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2 by the pump 183-2 connected to the subsequent stage of the valves 168 and 170 is provided. The methanol as the intermediate fuel liquid is sent out, and the valve 173 connected to the rear stage of the pump 183-2 is opened, so that the methanol as the intermediate fuel liquid is sent out to the rear stage of the valve 173. A valve 174, a metal removal unit 118-1 and a valve 176, and a valve 175, a metal removal unit 118-2 and a valve 177 are connected to the subsequent stage of the valve 173. The metal removal units 118-1 to 118-2 are configured by a tank and a filter (not shown), and filter methanol as an intermediate fuel liquid supplied from at least one of the purification tanks 110-1 and 110-2. The metal component present in the state of particles in the methanol is removed. Since these metal removal units 118-1 and 118-2 are connected in parallel, even if one becomes unusable due to replacement work or the like, metal removal can be continued by the other. For example, when exchanging the metal removing unit 118-1, for example, the metal components are removed by the metal removing unit 118-2 by closing the valves 174 and 176 and opening the valves 175 and 177. By performing metal removal by the metal removal units 118-1 to 118-2, for example, the concentration of metal contained in methanol is reduced to about 1 [ppb] or less.

  After methanol is purified in this way and methanol suitable as a liquid fuel is obtained, the process proceeds to the filling and sealing step 40 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the head tank 120 is connected to the subsequent stage of the valves 176 and 177. The head tank 120 stores methanol supplied from the metal removing units 118-1 to 118-2. The inner wall surface of the head tank 120 is passivated, and the inner wall member is prevented from being eluted into methanol. Further, a quantitative cylinder 122 is connected to the rear stage of the head tank 120. The metering cylinder 122 receives methanol for one container 200 from the head tank 120 and fills the bottle via the Teflon (registered trademark) tube 124. The inner wall surface of the metering cylinder 122 is made of PEEK (poly ether ether ketone) resin, and the inner wall member is prevented from being eluted into methanol.

  Further, in the filling and sealing step 40, a coupler is disposed at the mouth of the container 200 and inserted into the mouth. Thereafter, the presence or absence of a coupler is inspected. When the coupler is attached to the container 200, a container nozzle is put on the coupler. Thereafter, the container nozzle and the hard case of the container 200 are temporarily tightened and further tightened. Thereby, the fuel cartridge main body which consists of the container 200, a coupler, and a container nozzle is completed.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fuel cartridge body. The container 210 is configured by accommodating the bottle 210 in the hard case 215, and a valve 220 is disposed at the front end of the mouth of the bottle 210. The valve holder 230 is an annular member and supports the lower end of the spring 250 into which the lower part of the valve 220 is inserted. The cartridge base 240 is an annular member, and fits and supports the valve holder 230 and accommodates the valve 220 so that a slight gap is formed between the upper part of the valve 220. The spring 250 inserts the lower part of the valve 220 and the lower end thereof is supported by the valve holder 230 to urge the valve 220 upward.

  The O-ring 260 is an annular member made of rubber, and is inserted between the convex portion 234 formed on the side surface of the valve holder 230 and the upper end of the bottle 210 to fix the valve holder 230. Similarly, the O-ring 270 is an annular member made of rubber. The lower part abuts on the convex part 222 formed on the side surface of the valve 220 urged upward by the spring 250, and the upper part contacts the cartridge base 240. The valve 220 is fixed by contact.

  The coupler includes the valve 220, the valve holder 230, the cartridge base 240, the spring 250, the O-ring 260, and the O-ring 270 described above. The container nozzle 202 fixes the coupler by being wound around the hard case 215.

  In the fuel cartridge body, since the valve 220 is normally urged toward the tip of the mouth by the spring 250, there is no gap between the O-ring 270 and the convex portion 222 of the valve 220, and the bottle 210 The inside is sealed. On the other hand, when methanol is supplied to the fuel cell, the valve 220 is pressed to the side opposite to the tip (downward in FIG. 3) by the convex portion provided on the fuel cell side, and the bottom 232 of the valve holder 230. Move until it touches. At this time, a gap is generated between the O-ring 270 and the convex portion 222 of the valve 220. As a result, the inside and the outside of the bottle 210 are vented, and the methanol filled in the bottle 210 flows into the fuel cell.

  Again, returning to FIG. In the filling amount inspection step 50, the weight of the fuel cartridge body filled with methanol is measured. A fuel cartridge body whose weight is not within a predetermined range is regarded as having an excess or deficiency in filled methanol, and is discharged as a defective product.

  When the weight of the fuel cartridge body is within a predetermined range, the process proceeds to the sealing inspection process 60. In this sealing inspection step 60, the fuel cartridge main body is accommodated in a sealed space (sealed space) in the chamber, the air in the sealed space is sucked, and the atmospheric pressure in the sealed space is detected by a predetermined device. The At this time, if the inside of the bottle 210 constituting the fuel cartridge main body is sealed, the pressure in the sealed space is maintained at a predetermined value. On the other hand, when a leak occurs in the bottle 210 due to a gap between the bottle 210 and the coupler or a hole in the bottle 210, the inside of the bottle 210 and the sealed space are ventilated. The air pressure in the sealed space increases due to gas leakage inside the bottle 210. Therefore, if the air pressure in the sealed space is maintained, it is determined that the fuel cartridge body is a non-defective product, and if the air pressure increases, it is determined that the fuel cartridge body is a defective product.

  In the sealing inspection step 60, methanol leaked into the sealed space by a predetermined device may be detected. In this case, when methanol is detected, it is determined that the methanol is defective because the methanol leaks from the inside of the bottle 210.

  If the inside of the bottle 210 is not sealed, that is, if the fuel cartridge body is defective, the fuel cartridge is discharged. On the other hand, when the inside of the bottle 210 is sealed, that is, when the fuel cartridge main body is a non-defective product, the process proceeds to the cap winding process 70. In the cap winding process 70, the cap is put on the mouth of the container 200. Thereafter, the presence or absence of the cap is inspected. When the cap is put on the mouth, the cap and the container nozzle 290 are temporarily tightened and further tightened. Thereafter, in the packaging step 80, printing on the bottom of the fuel cartridge main body 300, sticking of a sticker on the side surface, etc. are performed, and the fuel cartridge is completed, and further, the fuel cartridge is boxed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the first equipment in charge of the first step performs the removal of the metal component and the concentration adjustment on the methanol as the liquid fuel stock solution as the intermediate fuel liquid. A second facility for storing methanol and in charge of the second step removes a metal component from methanol as an intermediate fuel liquid to obtain methanol suitable as a liquid fuel. Further, since the first step of obtaining methanol as the intermediate fuel liquid and the second step of obtaining methanol as the final liquid fuel are separated, for example, the intermediate fuel in the first step in advance. If methanol as a liquid is stored, when a fuel cartridge filled with liquid fuel is manufactured, methanol as a suitable liquid fuel can be filled by performing only the second step.

  As described above, according to the liquid fuel purification method and the liquid fuel purification system according to the present invention, it is possible to purify a liquid fuel suitable for a fuel cell, which is useful as a liquid fuel purification method.

It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the bottle with which methanol was filled. It is a figure which shows a structure in a liquid fuel refinement | purification system. It is an expanded sectional view of a fuel cartridge body.

Explanation of symbols

102 receiving box 104 filter 106 underground storage tank 108-1 to 108-4, 118-1 and 118-2 metal removal unit 110-1, 110-2 purification tank 112 ultrapure water supply unit 113 metal concentration detection unit 114 reflux path 120 Head tank 151 to 177 Valve 181, 182, 183-1, 183-2 Pump

Claims (8)

A first step of generating an intermediate fuel liquid having an adjusted fuel concentration by removing a metal component from the liquid fuel stock solution and storing the intermediate fuel liquid in a tank;
And a second step of refining the liquid fuel by further removing metal components from the intermediate fuel liquid delivered from the tank. The first step includes
A metal component removal step of removing a metal component from the liquid fuel stock solution;
The liquid fuel refining method according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate fuel liquid generating step of generating the intermediate fuel liquid by diluting the liquid fuel stock solution from which the metal component has been removed.   3. The liquid fuel refining method according to claim 2, wherein the metal removing step removes a metal component present in a particle state and a metal component present in an ion state in the liquid fuel stock solution.   The first step further comprises removing the metal component from the liquid fuel stock solution when the metal component concentration of the liquid fuel stock solution after removal of the metal component is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. 4. The liquid fuel refining method according to any one of 3 above. A first facility for generating an intermediate fuel liquid having an adjusted fuel concentration by removing metal components from the liquid fuel stock solution, and storing the intermediate fuel liquid in a tank;
And a second facility for refining liquid fuel by further removing metal components from the intermediate fuel liquid delivered from the tank.   The said 1st installation further removes a metal component from the said liquid fuel stock solution, when the metal component density | concentration contained in the said liquid fuel stock solution after metal component removal is more than predetermined value. 5. The liquid fuel refining system according to 5. The first facility includes:
A plurality of first metal removal units connected in parallel to remove a metal component from the liquid fuel stock solution;
A first switching means for switching one of the plurality of first metal removal units to be used for removing the metal component;
A plurality of the tanks connected in parallel and storing the intermediate fuel liquid;
7. The liquid fuel refining system according to claim 5, further comprising: a second switching unit that switches a tank used for storing the intermediate fuel liquid among the plurality of tanks. The second facility includes:
A plurality of second metal removing units connected in parallel and further purifying the liquid fuel by further removing metal components from the intermediate fuel liquid delivered from the tank;
The liquid fuel refining according to any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising third switching means for switching a plurality of second metal removal units to be used for removing the metal component. system.

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