JP2010235427A - Fuel reformer and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel reformer that has a simple configuration and can reduce the cost of the construction for heat insulation. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel reformer R comprises a plurality of reactors B for reforming a hydrocarbon raw fuel to generate a reformed gas essentially comprising hydrogen as a fuel of a fuel cell, and an exterior container C housing the apparatus M inside. The reactor B is configured as a planar module including a processing space inside to be used for the generation process of a reformed gas. The plurality of reactors B are housed inside the exterior container C in a tightly arranged in parallel to one another, and the plurality of reactors B are thermally insulated from the exterior container C by a granular heat insulator K filling the inside of the exterior container C. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes a plurality of reactors for reforming a hydrocarbon-based raw fuel to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component of a fuel cell, and the plurality of reactors accommodated therein. The present invention relates to a fuel reformer including an outer container and a manufacturing method thereof.

  The reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component as a fuel for a fuel cell is generally obtained by steam reforming a raw fuel containing a hydrocarbon such as natural gas. In a fuel reformer that generates reformed gas containing hydrogen as the main component by steam reforming of the raw fuel, the steam reforming reaction is an endothermic reaction, so the combustion heat obtained by burning the combustion gas is reduced. It is necessary to supply heat necessary for the steam reforming reaction. Patent Document 1 describes a multi-cylindrical tube type fuel reforming apparatus in which a cylindrical steam reforming section is provided so as to surround a combustion section. The multi-cylindrical tube type fuel reforming apparatus can efficiently transfer the combustion heat obtained in the combustion section to the steam reforming section, so that high thermal efficiency can be obtained. In addition, it has a simple cylindrical structure in appearance, and the high-temperature part (burning part) is not exposed on the outermost surface, so in addition to the need for high-performance heat-insulating materials, heat-insulating construction is required. There is a merit that it is easy. On the other hand, the multi-cylindrical tube type fuel reformer has a complicated internal structure of the reactor. In particular, in the case of a small multi-cylindrical tube type fuel reformer for home use, the manufacturing cost of the reactor is high. There is a demerit that

  Patent Document 2 describes a fuel reformer having a structure different from that of a multiple cylindrical tube type. The fuel reformer described in Patent Document 2 includes a plurality of reactors (combustion units, steam reforming units, and the like) configured as flat plate modules each having a processing space used in a reformed gas generation processing step. The plurality of reactors (flat module) are arranged in close contact in parallel. In this type of fuel reformer, a plurality of reactors need only be arranged in close contact with each other, so the internal structure of the reactor is simpler than that of a multi-cylinder tube type fuel reformer. There is a merit that you can.

JP 2003-252604 A JP 2000-178003 A

In the fuel reformer described in Patent Document 2, the shape of the pipe connecting each reactor is complicated. For example, the processing space of each reactor is connected to each other by piping outside the reactor, and the reactor itself has a plurality of dish-shaped container forming members with a plate-shaped partition member positioned between them. It is comprised so that it may be weld-connected in the state made to have two process space, and the welding part protrudes outside.
Therefore, in the fuel reformer described in Patent Document 2, complicated hole processing and grooving processing in accordance with the shape of the pipe connection and the position of the welded portion of the reactor, etc., for the heat insulating material formed into a plurality of plates. In addition, it was necessary to perform heat insulation work by combining these plate-like heat insulating materials. Therefore, the demerit that the processing cost of a heat insulating material and the assembly cost including a heat insulating material became high had arisen.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel reforming apparatus that has a simple structure and that can reduce the cost of heat insulation work, and a method for manufacturing the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the fuel reforming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by reforming a hydrocarbon-based raw fuel to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component of a fuel cell. A plurality of reactors, and an outer container containing the plurality of reactors inside,
The reactor is configured as a flat module with a processing space used in the reformed gas generation processing step inside,
The plurality of reactors are housed inside the outer container in a state of being closely arranged in parallel,
The plurality of reactors are insulated from the outer container by the granular heat insulating material filled in the outer container.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the heat insulation of the plurality of reactors housed in the outer container and arranged in close contact in parallel is reliably performed by the granular heat insulating material filled in the outer container. That is, by using the granular heat insulating material, the processing cost of the heat insulating material and the assembly cost including the heat insulating material become almost unnecessary. In addition, since a plurality of reactors (flat plate modules) may be arranged in close contact with each other when manufacturing a fuel reformer, the internal structure of the reactor becomes simpler than a multi-cylindrical tube type fuel reformer. In addition, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a fuel reforming apparatus that has a simple structure and can reduce the cost of heat insulation work.

  Another characteristic configuration of the fuel reformer according to the present invention is that the processing spaces of the plurality of reactors are connected to each other by piping outside the reactor.

  According to the above characteristic configuration, even if the shape of the pipe is complicated, the heat insulation of the plurality of reactors and the pipe can be easily and reliably performed by the granular heat insulating material filled in the exterior container.

  Still another characteristic configuration of the fuel reformer according to the present invention is that the reactor is connected by welding a plurality of dish-shaped container forming members with a plate-shaped partition member positioned therebetween. Thus, there are two processing spaces.

  According to the above characteristic configuration, the number of reactors installed can be reduced by using a reactor having two processing spaces, and as a result, assembly work can be simplified. Furthermore, by using the reactor provided with these two processing spaces, two processing spaces that need to be heat-exchanged with each other are formed, so that heat can be efficiently exchanged and the thermal efficiency can be improved.

  Yet another characteristic configuration of the fuel reformer according to the present invention is that the outer container is made of any one of metal, resin, and ceramics.

  According to the above characteristic configuration, by using any one of metal, resin, and ceramics, it is possible to obtain the necessary strength and ease of processing as an outer container.

In order to achieve the above object, a characteristic configuration of a method for manufacturing a fuel reformer according to the present invention is a method for manufacturing a fuel reformer including any one of the above-described characteristic configurations,
An apparatus main body composed of the plurality of reactors arranged in close contact in parallel and connected to each other by piping outside the reactor, and a lower container constituting a part of the outer container Filling the lower container with the granular heat insulating material in a state installed in
A step of assembling a side surface member constituting a part of the exterior container to the lower container and filling the granular heat insulating material inside the side surface member in a state of surrounding the side surface of the apparatus main body;
A step of assembling an upper surface member constituting a part of the outer container to the side member and covering the outer container.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the heat insulation of the plurality of reactors housed in the outer container and arranged in close contact in parallel is reliably performed by the granular heat insulating material filled in the outer container. That is, by using the granular heat insulating material, the processing cost of the heat insulating material and the assembly cost including the heat insulating material are greatly reduced. In addition, since a plurality of reactors may be arranged in close contact with each other when manufacturing the fuel reformer, the structure of the reactor is simple and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with a multi-cylinder tube type fuel reformer.
In addition, the lower part of the apparatus main body that is difficult to be filled with the granular heat insulating material is filled with the granular heat insulating material in a state where the side surface member and the upper surface member are not assembled. As a result, the granular heat insulating material can be reliably filled into the lower portion of the apparatus main body. And after filling a granular heat insulating material with respect to the lower part of an apparatus main body reliably, the side member surrounding the side surface of an apparatus main body can be assembled | attached, and the whole apparatus main body can be covered with a granular heat insulating material.

  Another characteristic configuration of the fuel reformer manufacturing method according to the present invention is that vibration is applied to the outer container when the granular heat insulating material is filled.

  According to the above characteristic configuration, by applying vibration, the gap between the granular heat insulating materials can be reduced and the filling rate of the granular heat insulating materials can be increased. As a result, it is possible to further reliably insulate the apparatus main body.

It is a figure explaining the composition of a fuel reformer. It is a figure explaining the state by which the apparatus main body is accommodated in the exterior container. It is a perspective view of a fuel reformer provided with an apparatus main part and an exterior container. It is a figure explaining the method of connecting the container arrange | positioned closely in parallel toward the direction perpendicular | vertical to the up-down direction of an exterior container with piping. It is a figure which shows the state which installs an apparatus main body in the lower container which comprises some exterior containers. It is a figure explaining the process of filling a granular insulator with a lower container. It is a figure which shows the state which assembled | attached the side surface member which comprises some exterior containers to a lower container. It is a figure explaining the process of attaching the upper surface member which comprises a part of exterior container to a side member, and filling an exterior container after filling a granular heat insulating material inside a side member.

In the following, referring to the drawings, in a household fuel cell system with a power generation output of 700 W, reforming a hydrocarbon-based raw fuel to produce a reformed gas mainly composed of hydrogen as fuel for the fuel cell The structure of the fuel reforming apparatus will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a fuel reformer. As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body M included in the fuel reformer R includes a plurality of reactors (desulfurization processing unit 1, steam generation unit 2, combustion unit 4, steam reforming unit) for generating reformed gas. 3. It has a modification treatment unit 5 and a selective oxidation unit 6). In FIG. 1, the apparatus main body M is shown in a sectional view. As will be described below, the apparatus main body M is accommodated in an outer container C. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the apparatus main body M is accommodated in the outer container C, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fuel reformer R including the apparatus main body M and the outer container C. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus main body M having a plurality of reactors is thermally insulated from the outer container C by the granular heat insulating material K filled in the outer container C.

First, the gas flow path from the desulfurization processing unit 1 to the selective oxidation unit 6 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, a raw fuel gas supply path 21 is connected to the raw fuel gas flow passage 16 of the raw fuel gas heat exchanger Ea, and the raw fuel gas is supplied therefrom. The raw fuel gas flow section 16, the desulfurization processing section 1, the reformed gas flow section 13 of the reformed gas heat exchanger Ep, the steam reforming section 3, the heat retaining flow section 7, the reformed target It flows in order of the upstream reforming process gas flow part 12 of the gas heat exchanger Ep, the downstream reforming process gas flow part 15 of the raw fuel gas heat exchanger Ea, the shift treatment part 5 and the selective oxidation part 6. They are connected by a gas processing flow path 22 so as to form a gas processing path.

  The desulfurization processing unit 1 desulfurizes a hydrocarbon-based raw fuel gas (hydrocarbon-based raw fuel) such as city gas to be supplied. The steam generation unit 2 is a steam generation heating flow-through unit 11 that allows the combustion gas discharged from the combustion unit 4 to flow, and an evaporation that evaporates the supplied raw water by heating by the steam generation heating flow-through unit 11. Part V. The combustion unit 4 burns combustion gas and generates combustion heat. As the combustion gas, exhaust fuel gas (a gas containing hydrogen that has not been used in the power generation reaction) discharged from a fuel cell (not shown) can be used, and the raw fuel gas can also be used as the combustion gas. it can. The steam reforming unit 3 uses the combustion heat generated in the combustion unit 4 to steam reform the raw fuel gas to generate the reformed gas. Specifically, the steam reforming unit 3 is filled with a large number of ceramic porous particles holding a reforming catalyst such as ruthenium, nickel, or platinum in a state in which it can be vented. The steam reforming unit 3 is provided with a temperature sensor 38 for detecting the reforming treatment temperature (that is, the temperature of the reactor). Then, the gas to be reformed (a mixed gas of desulfurized raw fuel gas and water vapor, which will be described later) is passed through the steam reforming section 3, and the raw fuel gas is reformed gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. To reform. When the raw fuel gas is a natural gas mainly composed of methane, in the steam reforming unit 3, methane and steam are heated by the combustion unit 4, for example, about 650 ° C. to 750 ° C. according to the following reaction formula. The reforming reaction is performed to reform the gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

[Chemical formula 1]
CH ₄ + H ₂ O → CO + 3H ₂
[Chemical 2]
CH ₄ + 2H ₂ O → CO ₂ + 4H ₂

  The modification processing unit 5 performs processing so as to reduce carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas generated in the steam reforming unit 3. Specifically, in the shift treatment unit 5, carbon monoxide and water vapor in the reformed gas undergo a shift reaction according to the following reaction formula at a reaction temperature of, for example, about 200 ° C. to 300 ° C. Carbon is transformed into carbon dioxide.

[Chemical formula 3]
CO + H ₂ O → CO ₂ + H ₂

The selective oxidation unit 6 removes carbon monoxide remaining in the shift treatment gas discharged from the shift treatment unit 5. Specifically, in the selective oxidation unit 6, carbon monoxide remaining in the shift gas at a reaction temperature of about 100 ° C. to 200 ° C. is added by a catalytic action of ruthenium, platinum, palladium, rhodium or the like. Oxidized by oxygen in the air. As a result, a hydrogen-rich fuel gas having a low carbon monoxide concentration (for example, 10 ppm or less) is generated.
The generated fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell through the fuel gas passage 23. In this embodiment, the temperature of the selective oxidation treatment gas (fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell) discharged from the selective oxidation unit 6 is about 100 ° C. to 200 ° C., for example, the operating temperature of a solid polymer fuel cell Is about 70 ° C. to 80 ° C. Therefore, in the fuel gas passage 23, a fuel gas cooling heat exchanger (cooling gas) that cools the selective oxidation treatment gas discharged from the selective oxidation unit 6 to near the operating temperature of the fuel cell ( (Not shown) is provided.
Further, as described above, the exhaust fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell (a gas containing hydrogen that has not been used in the power generation reaction) is supplied as a combustion gas to the pair of pipe burners 44 through the exhaust fuel gas passage 24. .

[Supply water supply path to the steam generator]
Next, the supply path of the raw material water to the evaporation part V of the water vapor generation part 2 will be described.
In the gas processing flow path 22 that connects the shift treatment section 5 and the selective oxidation section 6, a raw material water preheating heat exchanger 17 that preheats the raw water flowing in the raw water supply path 25 with the shift treatment gas, and further Another water-cooled heat exchanger (not shown) and a drain trap 34 for removing condensed water from the shift treatment gas are provided in this order.
Further, a meandering flow portion 18 for flowing the raw water in a meandering manner is provided at a location downstream of the raw material water preheating heat exchanger 17 in the raw water supply path 25. The meandering flow portion 18 is provided so as to be capable of conducting heat to a portion of the outer wall portion of the apparatus main body M that covers the combustion portion 4. As a result, the raw water flowing through the serpentine flow passage 18 is preheated by the conduction heat and radiant heat from the outer wall portion of the apparatus main body M.
As described above, the raw water supplied to the evaporation section V of the water vapor generating section 2 is preheated using the raw water preheating heat exchanger 17 and the meandering flow section 18.

[Device configuration such as combustion section]
The combustion unit 4 combusts the combustion gas (exhaust fuel gas) in a state of forming a flame, and the flame formation unit 4F is downstream in the flame formation direction with respect to the flame combustion unit 4F. The catalyst combustion part 4C which is arrange | positioned at the side and burns the combustion gas which was not burned in the flammable combustion part 4F by the combustion catalyst 4c is provided. A pair of pipe burners 44 as a heating burner for the reformer is provided in the flammable combustion section 4F. The pipe burner 44 is ignited using an igniter 4i. The maximum temperature of the outer surface of the combustion unit 4 is, for example, 600 ° C to 700 ° C.

As indicated by a one-dot chain line arrow in FIG. 1, combustion air is supplied from the combustion blower 28 through the combustion air passage 29 to the pair of pipe burners 44.
Further, an oxidizing air supply path 31 connected to the combustion blower 28 is connected to a gas processing flow path 22 that connects the shift treatment section 5 and the selective oxidation section 6. Thereby, the air from the combustion blower 28 is supplied to the selective oxidation unit 6 as oxidizing air. However, the on-off valve 35 is provided in the oxidation air supply path 31, and the supply of air to the selective oxidation unit 6 can be shut off by closing the on-off valve 35.

[Heat exchange of gas flowing through the device body M]
Next, heat exchange of gas flowing through the apparatus main body M will be described.
A high temperature reforming treatment gas discharged from the steam reforming unit 3 is passed through the apparatus body M of the fuel reformer, and a heat retaining flow unit 7 that keeps the steam reforming unit 3 warm, A heat exchanger Ep for the gas to be reformed that heats the gas to be reformed that is supplied to the steam reforming unit 3 by the reforming process gas, and a raw fuel gas that is supplied to the desulfurization processing unit 1 by the high-temperature reforming process gas The raw fuel gas heat exchanger Ea that heats the gas, the metamorphic part cooling flow part 8 that allows the cooling fluid to flow in order to cool the metamorphic part 5, and the metamorphic treatment part 5 and the selective oxidation part 6 are cooled. And a cooling fan 10 is provided.

In the to-be-reformed gas heat exchanger Ep, the reforming gas to be supplied to the upstream reforming process gas flow section 12 and the steam reforming section 3 through which the reforming process gas discharged from the heat retaining flow section 7 flows. Heat exchange is performed with the reformed gas flow section 13 through which the reformed gas flows.
In the raw fuel gas heat exchanger Ea, the downstream reforming process gas flow section 15 for flowing the reforming process gas discharged from the upstream reforming process gas flow section 12 and the desulfurization processing section 1 are supplied. Heat exchange is performed with the raw fuel gas flow section 16 through which the raw fuel gas flows.

[Mixing of steam and raw fuel gas]
The raw fuel gas supplied from the raw fuel gas supply path 21 is desulfurized in the desulfurization processing unit 1, and the desulfurized raw fuel gas and the water vapor from the water vapor path 26 are mixed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, in the apparatus main body M, a raw material water supply path 25 for supplying raw water for steam generation is connected to the evaporation section V of the steam generation section 2 and is generated by the evaporation section V. The steam passage 26 for delivering the steam is connected to a gas processing flow path 22 that connects the desulfurization processing section 1 and the reformed gas flow section 13. As a result, the reforming steam is mixed with the desulfurized raw fuel gas flowing through the gas processing flow path 22.

[Usage form of combustion gas discharged from the combustion section]
In FIG. 1, as indicated by broken line arrows, the combustion gas discharged from the combustion part 4 flows through the steam generation heating heating part 11 and the metamorphic part cooling communication part 8 in this order. The steam generating heating flow passage 11 and the metamorphic portion cooling flow passage 8 are connected by a combustion gas passage 27. In the steam generation heating flow-through portion 11, the evaporation portion V is heated by the combustion gas, and in the shift-flow cooling flow portion 8, a shift treatment portion in which a shift reaction that is an exothermic reaction is performed by the combustion gas. 5 is cooled.

[Configuration of fuel reformer main unit]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of reactors (desulfurization treatment unit 1, steam generation unit 2, combustion unit 4, steam reforming unit 3, shift treatment unit 5, selective oxidation unit) provided in the fuel reformer R are provided. 6) is formed by using a container B as a flat plate module provided with a processing space used in the reformed gas generation processing step. The plurality of containers B (a plurality of reactors: flat plate type modules) constitute the apparatus main body M in a state of being in close contact with each other in parallel. When arranging the plurality of containers B, the above-mentioned items that need to be heat-transferred are arranged in close contact with each other, and the heat-transfer amount adjustment is between those that need to adjust the heat-transfer amount. It arranges in the state which interposed the heat insulating material 19. In FIG. The container B is configured to have two processing spaces by welding and connecting a dish-shaped container forming member b1 with a plate-shaped partition member b2 positioned therebetween. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the heat insulating material 19 provided so as to directly cover the combustion part 4 is covered with a dish-like container member b1, and the dish-like container member b1 is welded to the plate-like member b2. Connected. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the heat insulating material 19 surrounding the combustion part 4 cannot be seen from the outside of the apparatus main body M.
Furthermore, although not shown in figure, the some container B of the state arrange | positioned closely in parallel is pinched | interposed and fixed by the metal panels etc. from both along the arrangement direction. Thereby, a plurality of containers B (apparatus body M) can be handled as one.

  FIG. 4 shows a pipe P (for example, a gas processing flow path 22, a fuel gas path 23, and an exhaust fuel gas path 24) arranged in parallel in close contact with the outer casing C in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of connecting by a raw water supply path 25, a water vapor path 26, a combustion gas path 27, and a combustion air path 29). FIG. 4 is drawn for the purpose of illustrating a method of connecting the container B with the pipe P, and is different from the actual size, position, and shape of the pipe P. Similarly, the piping P shown in FIG. 2 is also drawn for illustrative purposes.

As shown in FIG.2 and FIG.4, the connection part 47 which comprises some piping P is weld-connected to the container B toward the up-down direction. The connecting portions 47 are connected to each other by a U-shaped pipe P (gas processing flow path 22, fuel gas path 23, exhaust fuel gas path 24, raw water supply path 25, water vapor path 26, combustion gas path 27, combustion gas. Connected by air passage 29). As a result, the processing spaces inside the plurality of reactors described above are connected by the pipe P.
As described above, at least a pair or all of the processing spaces of the plurality of containers B (reactors) constituting the apparatus main body M are connected by the pipes P drawn from the containers B in the vertical direction.
Although not shown, the side fuel C2 of the outer container C is formed with the raw fuel gas supply passage 21, the fuel gas passage 23, the exhaust fuel gas passage 24, the raw water supply passage 25, the combustion air passage 29, and the like. Holes that are almost the same as the diameter of the pipes to be formed are opened, through which the pipes project outside the fuel reformer R, and the raw fuel supply equipment and raw water outside the fuel reformer R are provided. It is connected to a supply facility, a combustion blower 28, a fuel cell, and the like. Furthermore, a hole through which cables such as a plurality of temperature sensors (for example, a thermocouple, thermistor, etc.) such as a temperature sensor 38 attached to the apparatus main body M and an electric heater are formed in the side member C2 of the outer container C. It has been.

[Manufacturing method of fuel reformer]
Below, with reference to FIGS. 2-8, the manufacturing method of a fuel reformer is demonstrated.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the apparatus main body M is installed in the lower container C1 constituting a part of the outer container C, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process of filling the lower container with the granular heat insulating material. . As shown in the drawing, the lower container C1 is formed in a shallow vessel shape in which a side plate member C1b is mounted on a rectangular flat plate member C1a. In this step, the granular heat insulating material K is filled in the lower container C1 in a state where the apparatus main body M is installed in the lower container C1 constituting a part of the outer container C.

In order to stably install the apparatus main body M in the lower container C1, in this embodiment, a plate-like heat insulating material T is interposed between the lower part of the apparatus main body M and the lower container C1. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the plate-like heat insulating material T used in the present embodiment has a three-layer structure. In the first-layer plate-shaped heat insulating material T <b> 1 in contact with the container B, a hole through which the connection portion 47 can penetrate is formed. In the second-layer plate-shaped heat insulating material T2, a hole through which a U-shaped pipe P drawn in the horizontal direction outside the container B passes is formed. No holes are formed in the third-layer plate-like heat insulating material T3.
Moreover, as shown in FIG.5 and FIG.6, a part of side member C1b of the lower container C1 demonstrated by this embodiment is notched. However, since the apparatus main body M and the plate-like heat insulating material T are in close contact with the portion from the inside of the outer container C, the granular heat insulating material K does not flow out from the cutout portion of the lower container C1.

  When the plate-like heat insulating material T is attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body M, first, a plurality of containers B in a state where the connection portion 47 is welded in the vertical direction are arranged in close contact in parallel. In that state, since only the connecting portion 47 is connected to the container B, the plate-like heat insulating material T1 is attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body M so that the connecting portion 47 penetrates the hole formed in the plate-like heat insulating material T1. it can. Next, a U-shaped pipe P is welded to the connection portion 47, and the plate-like heat insulating material T2 is overlaid on the plate-like heat insulating material T1 so that the pipe P fits into the hole of the plate-like heat insulating material T2. Thereafter, the plate-like heat insulating material T3 is superposed on the plate-like heat insulating material T2, so that the plate-like heat insulating material T (T1, T2, T3) is attached to the lower part of the apparatus body M as shown in FIGS. Is completed. And as shown in FIG.5 and FIG.6, the apparatus main body M by which the plate-shaped heat insulating material T was mounted | worn by the lower part is installed in the lower container C1.

In this embodiment, the exterior container C is comprised with either a metal, resin, and ceramics. When using resin and ceramics, what has heat insulation rather than a metal is preferable. As the granular heat insulating material K and the plate-shaped heat insulating material T filled in the outer container C, a microtherm manufactured by Nippon Microtherm Co., Ltd. can be used. Since such a heat insulating material exhibits good heat insulating performance at a temperature of, for example, 600 ° C. to 700 ° C., which is the maximum temperature of the outer surface of the combustion section 4, the amount of heat insulating material to be used can be reduced, and fuel reforming can be performed. The device can be made compact. As the granular heat insulating material K, for example, one having a particle size in the range of about 0.3 to 2.5 mm and a bulk density of 150 to 350 kg / m ³ can be used.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which a side member constituting a part of the exterior container is assembled to the lower container. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a process of attaching a top surface member constituting a part of the outer container to the side member and covering the outer container after the granular heat insulating material is filled inside the side member.
As shown in FIG. 7, a side member C <b> 2 constituting a part of the outer container C is assembled to the lower container C <b> 1 in which the apparatus main body M is installed to surround the side surface of the apparatus main body M. And in the state which surrounded the side surface of the apparatus main body M with the side member C2, as shown in FIG. 8, the granular heat insulating material K is filled inside the side member C2. In the present embodiment, a part of the side member C2 attached to the lower container C1 is notched, and the notched part of the lower container C1 corresponds to the notched part of the side member C2. As described above, since the apparatus main body M is in close contact with the cutout portion from the inside of the outer container C, the granular heat insulating material K does not flow out of the cutout portion of the side member C2. A cooling fan 10 is mounted on the apparatus main body M corresponding to the notch.
Then, the fuel reformer R shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is obtained by assembling the upper surface member C3 constituting a part of the outer container C to the side member C2 and covering the outer container C. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower container C1 and the side member C2 are notched and the portion where the apparatus main body M is exposed to the outside is covered with a ceramic heat insulating material CT.

  In the present embodiment, when the granular heat insulating material K is filled, vibration is applied to the exterior container C (lower container C1, side member C2). By applying vibration, the gap between the granular heat insulating materials K can be reduced and the filling rate of the granular heat insulating material K can be increased. As a result, the heat insulation of the apparatus main body M can be performed more reliably.

  As described above, the heat insulation of the plurality of reactors stored in the outer container C and arranged in close contact in parallel is reliably performed by the granular heat insulating material K filled in the outer container C. That is, by using the granular heat insulating material K, the processing cost of the heat insulating material and the assembly cost including the heat insulating material become almost unnecessary. Further, since a plurality of reactors may be arranged in close contact with each other when manufacturing the fuel reformer R, the structure is simpler and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the fuel reformer of the multi-cylindrical tube type.

<Another embodiment>
<1>
In the above embodiment, the fuel reformer used in the household fuel cell system with a power generation output of 700 W has been described. However, the size of the system is not limited to the power generation output of 700 W, and other types of household fuel with a power generation output are used. It can also be used in a fuel reformer for battery systems. The present invention is particularly suitable for a small-sized fuel reformer for home use where it is difficult to secure such a heat insulating work space, but can also be applied to a large-sized fuel reformer.

<2>
In the above-described embodiment, the pipe diameter that forms the raw fuel gas supply path 21, the fuel gas path 23, the exhaust fuel gas path 24, the raw water supply path 25, the combustion air path 29, and the like on the side member C2 of the outer container C A substantially similar hole is formed, and through these holes, the piping projects outside the fuel reformer R. The raw fuel supply facility, the raw water supply facility, and the combustion blower outside the fuel reformer R are formed. 28. When connected to a fuel cell or the like, or when a plurality of temperature sensors (for example, thermocouples, thermistors, etc.) attached to the apparatus main body M and holes for passing cables such as electric heaters are opened. Explained. In the case where the granular heat insulating material K flows out from the gap between the hole formed in the side member C2 and the pipe or the gap formed between the hole formed in the side member C2 and the cables, it may be blocked with a resin or the like.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used to manufacture a fuel reformer that has a simple structure and can reduce the cost of heat insulation work.

3 Steam reforming section 4 Combustion section B Container (reactor, flat module)
b1 container forming member b2 partition member C outer container C1 lower container C2 side member C3 upper surface member K granular heat insulating material M apparatus main body P pipe R fuel reformer

Claims (6)

A plurality of reactors for reforming a hydrocarbon-based raw fuel to generate reformed gas mainly composed of hydrogen to be used as fuel for a fuel cell, and an outer container containing the plurality of reactors inside With
The reactor is configured as a flat module with a processing space used in the reformed gas generation processing step inside,
The plurality of reactors are housed inside the outer container in a state of being closely arranged in parallel,
A fuel reformer in which the plurality of reactors are thermally insulated from the outer container by a granular heat insulating material filled in the outer container.   The fuel reformer according to claim 1, wherein the processing spaces of the plurality of reactors are connected to each other by piping outside the reactor.   The reactor is configured to have two processing spaces by welding and connecting two dish-shaped container forming members with a plate-shaped partition member positioned therebetween. 3. The fuel reformer according to 1 or 2.   The fuel reformer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer container is made of any one of metal, resin, and ceramics. It is a manufacturing method of the fuel reformer according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An apparatus main body composed of the plurality of reactors arranged in close contact in parallel and connected to each other by piping outside the reactor, and a lower container constituting a part of the outer container Filling the lower container with the granular heat insulating material in a state installed in
A step of assembling a side surface member constituting a part of the outer container to the lower container and surrounding the side surface of the apparatus main body with the granular heat insulating material inside the side surface member;
Assembling an upper surface member constituting a part of the outer container to the side member and covering the outer container.   The method for manufacturing a fuel reformer according to claim 5, wherein vibration is applied to the outer container when the granular heat insulating material is filled.

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