JP2008189519A - Hydrogen production apparatus and fuel cell power generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen production apparatus capable of accurately measuring the temperature of a refining catalyst layer from the detection temperature of a refining gas, and also of accurately obtaining the catalyst layer temperature even when restarting an operation by re-combustion in a heating means after operation stop. <P>SOLUTION: The hydrogen production apparatus is provided with: a refining catalyst layer 3 for generating a hydrogen-rich refined gas from a raw material and moisture; a refined gas concentration part 5 which is provided at the downstream side of the refined gas flow from the refining catalyst layer 3 and concentrates such gas flow; and a temperature detection means 6 for detecting the temperature of the refined gas passing through the concentration part 5. The apparatus is further provided with: a data storage part 7 for storing the relation data of the observed temperature value of the refining catalyst layer 3 corresponding to the detection temperature value of the refined gas in the concentration part 5 which is detected by the temperature detection means 6 when the temperature of the catalyst layer 3 is at the observed value; and a calculation part 8 for calculating the temperature of the catalyst layer 3 from that detected by the temperature detection means 6 on the basis of the above corresponding relation data stored in the data storage part 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen production apparatus that generates a hydrogen-rich reformed gas by subjecting a raw material such as hydrocarbon to a steam reforming reaction, and a fuel cell power generation system that generates electric power using the reformed gas generated by the hydrogen production apparatus. Is.

  Hydrogen that produces a reformed gas mainly composed of hydrogen by using hydrocarbons such as natural gas and city gas as raw materials in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system and the like, and subjecting the raw materials to a steam reforming reaction Manufacturing equipment is in use.

  An example of such a hydrogen production apparatus A is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, 3 is a reforming catalyst layer, which is formed into a cylindrical shape by filling a granular or columnar reforming catalyst. An evaporation unit 2 is provided on the upstream side of the reforming catalyst layer 3, and the raw material and water are supplied from the raw material / water supply unit 1 to the evaporation unit 2. A reformed gas passage portion 15 through which the reformed gas passes is provided downstream of the reforming catalyst layer 3, and a reformed gas assembly portion 5 is provided at one location of the reformed gas passage portion 15. Heating means 4 is provided inside the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the evaporation unit 2. The heating means 4 is formed with a burner 16 that burns fuel, and heats the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the evaporation unit 2. A temperature detecting means 6 is provided in the reformed gas collecting section 5. The temperature detecting means 6 is connected to a control means 17, and air is supplied to the fuel supply section 18 for supplying fuel to the burner 16 and the burner 16. Is controlled by the control means 17 (see Patent Document 1).

  In this hydrogen production apparatus A, when the raw material and water are supplied from the raw material / water supply unit 1 to the evaporation unit 2, the water is converted into water vapor by the heating by the heating means 4, and the water vapor and the raw material are converted into the reforming catalyst layer. 3 is supplied. When the raw material and steam are supplied to the reforming catalyst layer 3 heated by the heating means 4, the raw material and steam undergo a steam reforming reaction to generate hydrogen-rich reformed gas. The generated reformed gas flows from the reforming catalyst layer 3 to the reformed gas passage 15 and is further collected in the reformed gas collecting unit 5 and then sent out from the hydrogen production apparatus A.

  At this time, the temperature of the reformed gas flowing through the reformed gas collecting unit 5 is detected by the temperature detecting means 6, and based on this detected temperature, the amount of fuel supplied from the fuel supply unit 18 to the burner 16 and the fan 19, the amount of air blown to the burner 16 is controlled by the control means 17, so that the heating temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 by the heating means 4 is controlled to a temperature around 700 ° C. suitable for the steam reforming reaction. It is.

  Here, the steam reforming reaction that occurs in the reforming catalyst layer 3 is an endothermic reaction, and the reforming catalyst layer 3 has a large volume, resulting in non-uniform endothermic reaction distribution and reformed gas flow. In addition, the temperature distribution in the reforming catalyst layer 3 tends to be uneven. Therefore, when the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is directly measured, thermocouples or the like are arranged at a plurality of locations of the reforming catalyst layer 3, and the temperatures of the reforming catalyst layers 3 are measured, It is necessary to take the average value, and the configuration of the apparatus becomes complicated and the maintenance becomes troublesome.

Therefore, in the hydrogen production apparatus A of FIG. 4, the temperature detection means 6 is not provided in the reforming catalyst layer 3, but the temperature is detected in the reformed gas assembly portion 5 through which the reformed gas exiting the reforming catalyst layer 3 flows. Means 6 are provided. Since the reformed gas that has passed through the reforming catalyst layer 3 gathers and flows in the reformed gas collecting section 5, the temperature of the reformed gas in the reformed gas collecting section 5 is improved by passing through the reforming catalyst layer 3. This is an average value of the temperature of the quality gas, and by simply providing the temperature detecting means 6 at one location of the reformed gas collecting portion 5, the endothermic reaction distribution of the reformed catalyst layer 3 is uneven or improved. The temperature can be detected without being affected by the non-uniform flow of the quality gas.
JP 2002-201003 A

  However, since the reformed gas in the reformed gas collecting section 5 is after flowing out of the reformed catalyst layer 3, the temperature of the reformed gas detected by the temperature detecting means 6 is generally the reformed catalyst layer 3 The temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 is not an accurate temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3. Therefore, when the heating unit 4 is controlled by the control unit 17 based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 6, it is difficult to accurately control the reforming catalyst layer 3 to a temperature suitable for the steam reforming reaction. There was a problem.

  Particularly problematic is that the combustion of the burner 16 of the heating means 4 is stopped while the hydrogen production apparatus A is in operation and the reforming catalyst layer 3 is generating the reformed gas, and the reformed gas is generated. When stopping the combustion of the burner 16 of the heating unit 4 again and restarting the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus in a state where the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 6 is a medium temperature of about 200 to 500 ° C. Since the actual temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is unclear, the timing for starting the supply of the raw material and water from the raw material / water supply unit 1 is likely to be erroneous. That is, if the combustion of the burner 16 of the heating means 4 is started again and the supply of raw material and water is started earlier, the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is still low, and the reforming catalyst layer 3 is activated by the action of water vapor. If the timing of starting the supply of the raw material and water is too late after the combustion of the burner 16 of the heating means 4 is started again, the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 becomes too high. Further, carbon may be precipitated from the raw material hydrocarbon on the surface of the catalyst, and the catalytic action may be hindered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and can accurately determine the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer from the detected temperature of the reformed gas, and restart the operation by burning the heating means again after stopping the operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydrogen production apparatus and a fuel cell that can accurately determine the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer.

  A hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with a raw material / water supply unit 1 for supplying raw material and water, and a raw material and water are supplied from the raw material / water supply unit 1, and water is evaporated to generate water vapor. The evaporation unit 2, the raw material and water vapor are supplied from the evaporation unit 2, the reforming catalyst layer 3 that generates hydrogen-rich reformed gas from the raw material and water vapor, and the evaporation unit 2 and the reforming catalyst layer by burning fuel A heating means 4 for heating 3, a reformed gas collecting portion 5 provided downstream of the reforming catalyst layer 3 in the flow of the reformed gas and collecting the reformed gas flow, and a reformed gas collecting portion 5 The temperature detection means 6 for detecting the temperature of the reformed gas passing through, the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3, and the reformed gas assembly detected by the temperature detection means 6 when the reforming catalyst layer 3 is at this temperature A data storage unit 7 for storing data of correspondence relationship with the detected temperature value of the reformed gas in the unit 5; And a calculation unit 8 for calculating and estimating the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 from the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 6 based on the correspondence data stored in the data storage unit 7. Features.

  According to the present invention, the actually measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the detected temperature value of the reformed gas of the reformed gas collecting unit 5 detected by the temperature detecting means 6 obtained in advance by a test apparatus or the like. The actual temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 can be accurately obtained by calculating and estimating the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 from the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 based on the correspondence data of It can be done.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the correspondence data stored in the data storage unit 7 between the actually measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the temperature value detected by the temperature detecting means 6 is the heating means. 4, when the fuel starts to burn at 4, a plurality of different measured temperature values of the reforming catalyst layer 3 and a plurality of correspondence data starting from detected temperature values by the temperature detecting means 6 corresponding to the measured temperature values. The calculation unit 8 includes correspondence data starting from a detected temperature value corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 when the heating means 4 starts to burn the fuel. And the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is calculated and estimated from the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 based on the correspondence data.

  According to the present invention, when the heating means 4 is burned again after the operation is stopped and the operation is resumed, the correspondence data starting from the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 at the time of resuming the operation is selected from the data group. Thus, the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 can be calculated and estimated, and the actual temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 can be accurately obtained.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the raw material / water supply unit according to claim 1 or 2 based on the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 estimated by the calculation unit 8 based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 6. It is characterized by comprising a control unit 9 for controlling the start timing of the supply of the raw material and water from 1.

  According to the present invention, when the heating means 4 is combusted again after the operation is stopped and the operation is resumed, the reforming catalyst layer 3 accurately obtained based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 6 at the time of the operation restart. Depending on the temperature, the supply of the raw material and water can be started from the raw material / water supply unit 1, and it is possible to prevent the reforming catalyst layer 3 from deteriorating or carbon from being deposited on the reforming catalyst layer 3. It can be done.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel cell power generation system comprising: the hydrogen production apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects; and a fuel cell that generates electric power using a reformed gas supplied from the hydrogen production apparatus. It is characterized by comprising.

  According to the present invention, efficient power generation can be performed using the reformed gas of the hydrogen production apparatus A generated efficiently by accurately controlling the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3.

  According to the present invention, based on the data of the correspondence relationship between the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the detected temperature value of the reformed gas of the reformed gas assembly 5 detected by the temperature detecting means 6, The temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 can be calculated and estimated from the temperature detected by the detection means 6, and the reforming gas can be estimated from the temperature of the reformed gas in the reformed gas assembly 5 detected by the temperature detection means 6. The actual temperature of the catalyst layer 3 can be obtained accurately.

  Further, when the heating means 4 is burned again after the operation is stopped and the operation is restarted, correspondence data starting from the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 6 at the time of restarting operation is selected from the data group, and the reforming catalyst is selected. The temperature of the layer 3 can be calculated and estimated, and the actual temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 can be accurately obtained.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell power generation system according to the present invention provided with a hydrogen production apparatus A and a fuel cell B.

  The hydrogen production apparatus A is formed with a concentric cylindrical inner cylinder 22 and an outer cylinder 23, and the outer periphery of the outer cylinder 23 is covered with a heat insulating material 24 for reducing heat loss. A middle stage portion between the inner cylinder 22 and the outer cylinder 23 is filled with a granular or columnar reforming catalyst to form a cylindrical reforming catalyst layer 3. The evaporator 2 is a cylindrical space between the cylinder 22 and the outer cylinder 23, and the reformed gas passage 15 is a cylindrical space between the inner cylinder 22 and the outer cylinder 23 below the reforming catalyst layer 3. Each is formed. The evaporation unit 2 is connected to a raw material / water supply unit 1 that supplies a raw material such as hydrocarbon gas such as butane gas and water to the evaporation unit 2.

  Further, the reformed gas collecting portion 5 protrudes from the outer periphery of the reformed gas passage portion 15, and one portion of the reformed gas passage portion 15 communicates with the inside of the reformed gas gathering portion 5. A reformed gas supply path 25 is connected to the reformed gas collecting section 5, and the reformed gas supply path 25 is connected to the fuel cell B. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the reformed gas collecting unit 5 is directly connected to the fuel cell B through the reformed gas supply path 25, but carbon monoxide removal such as a CO shift reaction unit and a CO selective oxidation reaction unit is performed. Needless to say, the reformed gas collecting part 5 may be connected to the fuel cell B via the part.

  The inner circumference of the inner cylinder 22 is formed as a combustion gas flow path 27, and the heating means 4 is provided at the lower end portion of the inner cylinder 22. The heating means 4 is formed with a burner 16, and the burner 16 is connected with a fuel supply unit 18 for supplying fuel, and provided with a fan 19 for blowing combustion air. As the fuel supplied from the fuel supply unit 18 to the burner 16, raw materials such as the above-described hydrocarbon gas can be used, and the reformed gas containing hydrogen that has not been consumed in the fuel cell B is returned and used. You can also.

  A temperature detection means 6 formed of a thermocouple or the like is provided in the reformed gas collecting unit 5. This temperature detecting means 6 detects the temperature in the reformed gas collecting section 5 and is electrically connected to the control means 17. The control unit 17 is electrically connected to the fuel supply unit 18 and the fan 19 of the heating unit 4, and supplies fuel from the fuel supply unit 18 to the burner 16 and combustion air from the fan 19 to the burner 16. The supply can be controlled by the control means 17. The control means 17 is further electrically connected to the raw material / water supply unit 1 so that the supply of the raw material and water from the raw material / water supply unit 1 can be controlled.

  In the hydrogen production apparatus A formed as described above, when the combustion air is blown from the fan 19 and the fuel is supplied from the fuel supply unit 18 and ignited by an ignition source such as a spark, the burner 16 is burned. The combustion gas generated by the combustion of the burner 16 passes through the combustion gas passage 27 and is then exhausted from the exhaust port 28 at the upper end of the combustion gas passage 27. As described above, when the combustion gas passes through the combustion gas flow path 27, the evaporator 2 and the reforming catalyst layer 3 are heated by heat exchange. When the raw material and water are supplied from the raw material / water supply unit 1 to the evaporation unit 2, the water is heated in the evaporation unit 2 to become water vapor, and a mixed gas in which the raw material gas and the water vapor are mixed is generated. This mixed gas flows from the evaporation unit 2 to the reforming catalyst layer 3, and when the mixed gas passes through the reforming catalyst layer 3, the raw material of the mixed gas and water vapor are separated by the catalytic action of the reforming catalyst layer 3. Steam reforming reaction is performed, and hydrogen-rich reformed gas is generated.

  The reformed gas generated in the reforming catalyst layer 3 flows from the reforming catalyst layer 3 to the reformed gas passage 15, and the reformed gas flowing through the reformed gas passage 15 is generated in the reformed gas assembly 5. After the assembly, the fuel is supplied from the reformed gas collecting unit 5 to the fuel cell B through the reformed gas supply path 25. By supplying the hydrogen-rich reformed gas thus generated in the hydrogen production apparatus A to the fuel cell B and causing the fuel cell B to electrochemically react hydrogen in the reformed gas and oxygen in the air. It can generate electricity.

  As described above, when the reformed gas generated in the reforming catalyst layer 3 flows in the reformed gas assembly 5, the temperature detection means 6 provided in the reformed gas assembly 5 detects the reformed gas. The temperature is to be detected. Based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector 6, the controller 17 controls the supply of fuel from the fuel supply unit 18 to the burner 16 and the supply of combustion air from the fan 19 to the burner 16. Thus, the combustion amount and combustion temperature of the burner 16 are controlled to keep the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 at a temperature suitable for the steam reforming reaction. Since the reformed gas flowing in the reformed gas assembly 5 is a mixture of reformed gases flowing out from the reformed catalyst layer 3, the temperature of the reformed gas passing through the reformed catalyst layer 3 is reduced. The average value is obtained, and by simply providing the temperature detecting means 6 at one location of the reformed gas collecting section 5, the endothermic reaction distribution of the reformed catalyst layer 3 is uneven and the flow of the reformed gas is reduced. The temperature can be detected without being affected unevenly.

  Here, as described above, the reformed gas passing through the reformed gas assembly 5 is after flowing out of the reforming catalyst layer 3, so the temperature of the reformed gas detected by the temperature detecting means 6 is Generally, the temperature is lower than the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3, and the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 is not an accurate temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3. Therefore, in the present invention, the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the reformed gas of the reformed gas collecting unit 5 detected by the temperature detecting means 6 when the reforming catalyst layer 3 is at this temperature in advance by a test apparatus. Data of the corresponding relationship with the detected temperature value of the gas, and based on this correspondence data, from the reformed gas temperature of the reformed gas assembly 5 detected by the temperature detecting means 6 in the actual hydrogen production apparatus A, The actual and accurate temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is obtained by calculating and estimating the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3.

  2 shows the test apparatus C, and the entire structure is the same as the actual hydrogen production apparatus A shown in FIG. 1, but the test apparatus C includes a modified thermocouple in the reforming catalyst layer 3. A quality catalyst temperature detecting means 30 is provided so that the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 can be measured. The reforming catalyst temperature detecting means 30 may be provided at a plurality of locations on the reforming catalyst layer 3 to measure the average temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3. Then, in the test apparatus C, the burner 16 of the heating means 4 is combusted in the same manner as described above, the raw material and water are supplied from the raw material / water supply unit 1, and the reforming catalyst layer 3 performs the steam reforming reaction to reform. An operation to generate gas is performed.

  As described above, when the test apparatus C is operated to generate the reformed gas, the temperature in the reforming catalyst layer 3 is measured by the reforming catalyst temperature detecting means 30, and the reformed gas assembly at this measured time is measured. The temperature in the unit 5 is detected by the temperature detection means 6. Thus, the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 by the reforming catalyst temperature detecting means 30 and the detected temperature value in the reformed gas assembly 5 by the temperature detecting means 6 are plotted on the horizontal axis as shown in FIG. By plotting the detected temperature value in the reformed gas collecting section 5 by the temperature detecting means 6 and plotting the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 by the reforming catalyst temperature detecting means 30 on the vertical axis, it is plotted. Corresponding relationship data is obtained as a curve of the relationship between the actually measured temperature value of the layer 3 and the detected temperature value of the reformed gas assembly 5 detected by the temperature detecting means 6 when the reforming catalyst layer 3 is at this temperature. can get.

  A curve a in FIG. 3 shows correspondence data when the test apparatus C is started and the operation is started when the outside air temperature is around room temperature. At the start of the operation, the heating means 4 is not heated. Therefore, the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the detected temperature value by the temperature detecting means 6 at the starting point of the curve a are each about 30 ° C. near normal temperature. When the burner 16 is burned and heating is started by the heating means 4, since the mixed gas is not supplied to the reforming catalyst layer 3 in the initial stage, it is heated by heat transfer from the heating means 4 and the reforming catalyst layer 3 is heated. Although the actually measured temperature value is greatly increased, since the reformed gas is not supplied to the reformed gas collecting section 5, the increase in the detected temperature value by the temperature detecting means 6 is small. Next, when the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is in the range of 300 to 400 ° C., the feed of raw material and water is started from the raw material / water supply unit 1, and reformed gas is generated in the reforming catalyst layer 3. When the reformed gas is supplied to the reformed gas collecting section 5, the actually measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the rising speed of the detected temperature value by the temperature detecting means 6 become substantially equal, and as a result, the curve a It is possible to obtain correspondence data of behaviors such as

  3, curves b, c, and d indicate the operation of stopping the combustion of the burner 16 of the heating means 4 and generating the reformed gas while the test apparatus C is generating the reformed gas. The correspondence data when the combustion of the burner 16 of the heating means 4 is restarted and the operation is restarted after stopping is shown. When the operation of the test apparatus C is stopped and the combustion of the burner 16 of the heating means 4 is stopped, the reforming catalyst layer 3 becomes in a state where no heat is applied from the heating means 4, and the reforming catalyst is blown by blowing from the fan 19. The layer 3 is cooled, and the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 tends to decrease. On the other hand, since the reformed gas stays in the reformed gas collecting portion 5, the temperature is hardly lowered. Further, due to the heat conduction between the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the reformed gas collecting portion 5, the actually measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the detected temperature value by the temperature detecting means 6 become substantially the same value. For example, the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 at the starting point of the curve b and the detected temperature value by the temperature detecting means 6 are about 170 ° C., the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 at the starting point of the curve c, and The detected temperature value by the temperature detecting means 6 is about 300 ° C., the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 at the starting point of the curve d, and the detected temperature value by the temperature detecting means 6 are about 400 ° C., respectively. When the combustion of the burner 16 is resumed and the heating by the heating means 4 is resumed, the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is greatly increased initially and detected by the temperature detection means 6 as in the case of the curve a. The rise in temperature value is small, and when reformed gas is supplied from the reforming catalyst layer 3 to the reformed gas assembly 5, the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the temperature value detected by the temperature detecting means 6 are detected. Ascending speeds are substantially equal to each other, and behavioral correspondence data such as curves b, c, and d can be obtained.

  As described above, at the starting point where the combustion of the burner 16 of the heating unit 4 is started and the operation is started or restarted, the actually measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the detected temperature value by the temperature detecting unit 6 are substantially equal. 3 has a starting point on a line L in which the actually measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 and the detected temperature value by the temperature detecting means 6 are proportional to 1: 1, and the behavior of the correspondence relationship of the temperature rise is different in the initial stage. A data group of correspondence data such as curves a to d that coincide with a high temperature region exceeding 600 ° C. can be obtained.

  A data group of correspondence data obtained in this way by the test apparatus C is stored in the data storage unit 7 of the control means 17 of the actual hydrogen production apparatus A in FIG. The control means 17 shown in FIG. 1 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like, and includes the data storage unit 7, the calculation unit 8, and the control unit 9.

  Next, in the actual hydrogen production apparatus A of FIG. 1, using the correspondence data between the measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer 3 stored in the data storage unit 7 and the detected temperature value by the temperature detecting means 6, A method for estimating the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 will be described.

  The temperature data of the reformed gas collecting unit 5 detected by the temperature detecting unit 6 is input to the calculating unit 8, and thus the temperature data detected by the temperature detecting unit 6 is input to the calculating unit 8. Then, based on the correspondence data stored in the data storage unit 7, the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 corresponding to the temperature data detected by the temperature detection means 6 can be calculated and obtained. For example, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 at the time of starting the combustion of the burner 16 of the heating means 4 is 170 ° C., the correspondence data of the curve b in FIG. The temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 can be estimated by calculating the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 from the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 based on the correspondence relationship data of the curve b. Since the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 estimated by the calculation unit 8 is based on the actually measured temperature value, it is an accurate temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3. For example, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 reaches 200 ° C., it can be estimated that the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is 260 ° C.

  Then, by starting the supply of the raw material and water from the raw material / water supply unit 1 in the range of the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 of 300 to 400 ° C., it is possible to prevent catalyst deterioration and carbon deposition of the reforming catalyst layer 3. Therefore, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 exceeds 230 ° C. where the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is estimated to exceed 300 ° C., the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is 400 ° C. or less. When the detected temperature estimated to be 290 ° C. or less reaches, for example, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 reaches 260 ° C., the control section 9 of the control means 17 controls the raw material / water supply section 1. Then, the supply of raw materials and water is started. Further, when the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 estimated by calculation based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 reaches around 700 ° C. suitable for the steam reforming reaction, the controller 9 of the control means 17 The fuel supply unit 18 and the fan 19 of the means 4 are controlled to control the supply of fuel from the fuel supply unit 18 to the burner 16 and the supply of combustion air from the fan 19 to the burner 16. The reforming catalyst layer 3 can be kept at this temperature by controlling the temperature.

  If the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 at the time when the burner 16 of the heating means 4 starts to burn does not coincide with the temperature at the starting point of the curves a to d in FIG. Two curves having starting temperatures close to the temperature detected by the means 6 are selected, and between these two curves, a curve starting from the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 and having a correlation with these curves is set. The temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is estimated in the same manner as described above based on the correspondence relationship data of the set curve.

  That is, on the line L, it is divided into areas of curves a to b, areas of curves b to c, and areas of curves c to d, and the temperature detection means 6 at the time when the burner 16 of the heating means 4 starts to burn. Two curves in the area where the detected temperature exists are selected. Then, the difference between the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 and the temperature at each starting point of the two curves is obtained, and a curve having a relationship corresponding to this temperature difference is set between the two curves. For example, assuming that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 is 200 ° C., the curve b and the curve c are selected. The temperature at the starting point of the curve b is 170 ° C., the temperature at the starting point of the curve c is 300 ° C., and the temperature difference from the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 is 30 ° C. for the curve b and 100 ° C. for the curve c. A curve having a starting point of 200 ° C. and a correlation corresponding to the temperature difference with respect to the curves b and c is set. The temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 can be estimated based on the correspondence data of the curves set in this way.

  As described above, the temperature of the reformed gas flowing through the reformed gas assembly 5 is detected by the temperature detecting means 6, and the accurate temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 is calculated and estimated based on this detected temperature. The start of the supply of the raw material and water from the raw material / water supply unit 1 can be controlled in accordance with the accurately estimated temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3, and the heating means can be controlled. The heating temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 3 by 4 can be controlled, and the reforming catalyst layer 3 can be efficiently generated without causing deterioration or the like.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example of embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the hydrogen production apparatus of a test apparatus. It is a graph which shows the correspondence data of the actual temperature value of a reforming catalyst layer, and the detected temperature value by a temperature detection means. It is a schematic sectional drawing of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Raw material / water supply part 2 Evaporation part 3 Reforming catalyst layer 4 Heating means 5 Reformed gas collection part 6 Temperature detection means 7 Data storage part 8 Calculation part 9 Control part A Hydrogen production apparatus B Fuel cell

Claims (4)

  A raw material / water supply unit that supplies raw material and water, a raw material and water are supplied from the raw material / water supply unit, an evaporation unit that evaporates water to generate water vapor, and a raw material and water vapor are supplied from the evaporation unit, A reforming catalyst layer that generates hydrogen-rich reformed gas from water and steam, heating means for heating the evaporation section and the reforming catalyst layer by burning fuel, and downstream of the reformed gas flow from the reforming catalyst layer A reformed gas collecting portion that collects the flow of the reformed gas, temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the reformed gas passing through the reformed gas collecting portion, and an actual measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer, , A data storage unit for storing correspondence data with the detected temperature value of the reformed gas in the reformed gas collecting unit detected by the temperature detection means when the reforming catalyst layer is at this temperature, and stored in the data storage unit Based on the correspondence data thus detected, the temperature detection means Hydrogen producing device comprising a calculation section for estimating and calculating the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer from the temperature, in that it comprises an.   Correspondence data between the actually measured temperature value of the reforming catalyst layer and the temperature value detected by the temperature detection means stored in the data storage unit is a plurality of different reforming catalyst layers when the heating means starts to burn the fuel. And a data group of a plurality of correspondence data starting from the temperature values detected by the temperature detecting means corresponding to each of the actually measured temperature values. The arithmetic unit burns fuel by the heating means. Correspondence data starting from the detected temperature value corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means when starting the operation is selected from the data group, and based on the correspondence data, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means is used. 2. The hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer is calculated and estimated.   A control unit is provided for controlling the start timing of the supply of the raw material and water from the raw material / water supply unit based on the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer estimated by the calculation unit based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means. The hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen production apparatus is configured.   A fuel cell power generation system comprising: the hydrogen production apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3; and a fuel cell that generates electric power using the reformed gas supplied from the hydrogen production apparatus.

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