JP2014162664A - Hydrogen gas generator and submersible using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen gas generator capable of optimally adjusting the quantity of a generated hydrogen gas, even in a case where the pressure variation magnitude outside an enclosed space is great, despite being furnished with pressure equalizing vessels.SOLUTION: Pumps 23a and 25a and on/off valves 23b and 25b for adjusting the respective volumes of a raw ingredient slurry 1 and reaction water 2 fed into a reaction tank 22; a pump 27a and an on/off valve 27b for adjusting the discharge volume of an effluent 5 discharged from the reaction tank; a pressure gauge 22a for measuring the pressure within the reaction tank; a liquid surface detector 22b for detecting the liquid surface of a mixture 3 of the reaction water and the slurry within the reaction tank; a pressure gauge 31 for measuring the pressure outside an enclosed space; and a controller 30 for controlling the pumps and the on/off valves based on data measured respectively by the pressure gauges and the liquid surface detector are furnished. Tanks 24, 26, and 28 storing the raw ingredient slurry 1, the reaction water 2, and the effluent 5 are pressure equalizing vessels for pressure equalization with the pressure outside the enclosed space.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen gas generation device that generates hydrogen to be supplied to a fuel cell, and a diving machine using the same.

  The fuel cell generates electric power by supplying fuel and an oxidant to the negative electrode and the positive electrode, respectively. There is one using hydrogen gas as the fuel and oxygen gas as the oxidant, and the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas react electrochemically to produce water and to obtain electric power. Yes. The fuel cell is known as a power source suitable for long-term operation because the power generation time can be extended by enlarging the tank for storing the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas. The fuel cell is considered to be used as a power source for a device used in a closed space such as a submersible.

When the fuel cell is used in a submersible, it is necessary to make the fuel tank and the oxidant tank for storing the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas have a pressure-resistant structure, and these tanks are heavy and large-sized compared to ordinary containers. Met. A lighter version of these tanks has been invented. For example, the following Patent Document 1 stores a liquid H ₂ reservoir filling tank for storing a liquid metal hydride, and a waste liquid after separating hydrogen generated by contact between the liquid metal hydride and a hydrogen generation accelerator. A submersible equipped with a hydrogen generator comprising a drainage storage tank, wherein the liquid H ₂ storage body filling tank and the drainage storage tank are pressure equalizing vessels that approximately equalize the water pressure outside the machine is disclosed. .

JP 2002-187595 A (see, for example, paragraphs [0029] to [0036], [FIG. 1] to [FIG. 3], etc.)

The above-mentioned submersible is a body that navigates from the vicinity of the water surface to the depth of the water. Therefore, in the submersible equipped with the hydrogen generator described in Patent Document 1, hydrogen gas can be generated safely and easily, but when the change in the depth of navigation is large, that is, the change in the water pressure outside the machine. Is large, the supply amount of the liquid metal hydride from the liquid H ₂ storage body filling tank to the catalyst filling tank and the discharge amount of the waste liquid from the catalyst filling tank to the waste liquid storage tank cannot be controlled. There is a possibility that the amount of hydrogen gas produced cannot be adjusted appropriately.

  For this reason, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is a case where the amount of change in pressure outside the enclosed space is large despite the provision of a pressure equalizing vessel. Another object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen gas generating device capable of appropriately adjusting the amount of hydrogen gas generated and a diving machine using the hydrogen gas generating device.

  A hydrogen gas generation device according to a first invention that solves the above-described problem is a hydrogen gas generation device that is installed in a closed space and generates hydrogen gas to be supplied to a fuel cell, and includes a reaction tank and the reaction tank Reaction water feeding means for feeding reaction water, Reaction water feeding amount adjusting means for regulating the feeding amount of the reaction water to the reaction tank, and the reaction water fed by the reaction water feeding means A slurry tank for storing a raw material slurry obtained by mixing a hydrogenated metal with a solvent that is miscible with water and non-reactive with a metal hydride, The slurry feed means for feeding the raw material slurry to the reaction tank, the slurry feed amount adjusting means for adjusting the feed amount of the raw material slurry to the reaction tank, the raw material slurry and the reaction water react. The waste liquid generated from the reaction is discharged from the reaction tank. The waste liquid discharging means, the waste liquid tank for storing the waste liquid discharged by the waste liquid discharging means, the waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means for adjusting the discharge amount of the waste liquid to the waste liquid tank, and the pressure in the reaction tank are measured. Reaction tank pressure measuring means, a mixture liquid level detecting means for detecting the liquid level of the mixture of the reaction water and the raw material slurry in the reaction tank, and an external pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure outside the enclosed space; , Based on the data measured by the reaction tank pressure measuring means, the mixture liquid level detecting means, and the external pressure measuring means, the slurry supply amount adjusting means, the reaction water supply amount adjusting means, and the waste liquid discharge amount adjustment. Control means for controlling the means, wherein the reaction water tank, the slurry tank, and the waste liquid tank are pressure equalizing vessels that equalize the pressure outside the closed space.

  A hydrogen gas generation apparatus according to a second invention for solving the above-described problem is the hydrogen gas generation apparatus according to the first invention described above, wherein the control means has a predetermined pressure measured by the external pressure measurement means. When the change amount ΔP is more than ΔP, the slurry supply amount adjusting means, the reaction water supply amount adjusting means, and the waste liquid are adjusted so that the pressure in the reaction tank becomes the same as the pressure outside the closed space. The discharge amount adjusting means is controlled.

  A hydrogen gas generation device according to a third aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is the hydrogen gas generation device according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the control means is configured such that the predetermined change amount ΔP is positive. And controlling the slurry feed amount adjusting means and the reaction water feed amount adjusting means so that the feed amount of the raw material slurry and the reaction water into the reaction vessel is increased, or in the reaction vessel The waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means is controlled so that the discharge amount of the waste liquid from the reactor is reduced, or the slurry feed is performed so that the feed amount of the raw material slurry and the reaction water into the reaction tank is increased. While controlling the amount adjusting means and the reaction water feed amount adjusting means, the waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means is controlled so that the amount of waste liquid discharged from the reaction tank is reduced.

  A hydrogen gas generation device according to a fourth invention that solves the above-described problem is the hydrogen gas generation device according to the second invention described above, wherein the control means is configured such that the predetermined change amount ΔP is negative. And controlling the slurry feed amount adjusting means and the reaction water feed amount adjusting means so that the feed amount of the raw material slurry and the reaction water into the reaction vessel is reduced, or in the reaction vessel The waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means is controlled so as to increase the discharge amount of the waste liquid from the reactor, or the slurry supply so as to reduce the supply amount of the raw material slurry and the reaction water into the reaction tank. While controlling the amount adjusting means and the reaction water feed amount adjusting means, the waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means is controlled so as to increase the discharge amount of the waste liquid from the reaction tank.

  A diving machine according to a fifth invention for solving the above-described problem is characterized by including the hydrogen gas generation device according to any one of the first to fourth inventions described above.

  According to the hydrogen gas generator according to the first invention, the reaction water tank, the slurry tank, and the waste liquid tank are pressure equalization containers that equalize the pressure outside the enclosed space, but the change in pressure outside the enclosed space. Even when the amount is large, it is possible to adjust the feed amount of raw material slurry and reaction water to the reaction tank, and to adjust the discharge amount of the waste liquid from the reaction tank. The amount of hydrogen gas produced in the tank can be adjusted appropriately.

  According to the hydrogen gas generation device according to the second aspect of the invention, even if the amount of change in pressure outside the enclosed space is large, the amount of hydrogen gas generated in the reaction tank can be appropriately controlled.

  According to the hydrogen gas generation device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the amount of hydrogen gas generated in the reaction vessel can be appropriately adjusted even when the pressure outside the closed space increases rapidly.

  According to the hydrogen gas generation device according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the amount of hydrogen gas generated in the reaction vessel can be appropriately adjusted even when the pressure outside the closed space is rapidly reduced.

  According to the submarine according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the hydrogen gas generation device according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention is provided, the pressure outside the closed space changes suddenly due to the infiltration operation or the levitation operation. However, the amount of hydrogen gas produced in the reaction vessel can be adjusted appropriately.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a schematic block diagram of one Embodiment of the hydrogen gas production | generation apparatus which concerns on this invention, and a diving machine using the same. It is a flowchart of the hydrogen gas production | generation apparatus which concerns on this invention, and a diving machine using the same.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a hydrogen gas generating device and a diving machine using the hydrogen gas generating device according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It is not something.

  One embodiment of a hydrogen gas generator according to the present invention and a diving machine using the same will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a diving machine 100 according to the present embodiment includes a fuel cell 10 and generates a hydrogen gas 4 that is a fuel to be supplied to a negative electrode (not shown) of the fuel cell 10. 20. The fuel cell 10 includes an oxygen gas supply source (not shown), and the positive electrode (not shown) of the fuel cell 10 is supplied with oxygen gas from the oxygen gas supply source.

  The hydrogen gas generator 20 includes a hydrogen gas supply pipe 21 that supplies the hydrogen gas 4 to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell 10. The hydrogen gas supply pipe 21 is provided with a flow rate adjusting valve 21a.

  The base end side of the hydrogen gas supply pipe 21 is connected to the ceiling portion of the reaction tank 22. Connected to the reaction tank 22 is a tip end side of a slurry feed pipe 23 that feeds the raw material slurry 1 into the reaction tank 22. A pressure equalizing slurry tank 24 for storing the raw material slurry 1 is connected to the base end side of the slurry feed pipe 23. In the middle of the slurry feed pipe 23, a slurry feed pump 23a and an open / close valve 23b are provided.

The raw material slurry 1 generates hydrogen by reaction with water. For example, metal hydride (for example, magnesium hydride (MgH ₂ ), aluminum hydride (AlH ₃ ), calcium hydride (CaH ₂ ), a powder having lithium hydride (LiH), potassium hydride (KH), sodium hydride (NaH), etc.) and non-reactive with the metal hydride and miscible with water Can be used. Examples of the solvent include acetone, 1-butanol, alcohols having 5 or more carbon atoms (eg, pentanol, hexanol, cyclohexanol, etc.), glycols (eg, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol, etc.), Organic bases (eg, ethylenediamine, pyridine, etc.), organic acids (eg, acetic acid, propionic acid, methanesulfonic acid, etc.), cationic surfactants (eg, monoalkylammonium chloride (quaternary ammonium salt), dialkylammonium Chloride, polyalkyleneoxylated alkylmethylammonium chloride, etc.), nonionic surfactants (eg, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether, fatty acid methyl) Ester ethoxylates, fatty acid diester, and alkyl glucosides) can be used.
Further, as the raw material slurry 1, for example, an active aluminum fine particle slurry or an aluminum fine particle slurry in which active aluminum fine particles or aluminum fine particles and a Freon liquid, an acetic acid liquid, or a glycol liquid are mixed can be used.

  The slurry feed pipe 23 communicates with the tip side of the reaction water feed pipe 25 that feeds the reaction water 2 into the slurry feed pipe 23. A pressure equalization reaction water tank 26 for storing the reaction water 2 is connected to the base end side of the reaction water supply pipe 25. In the middle of the reaction water supply pipe 25, a reaction water supply pump 25a and an open / close valve 25b are provided.

  A base end side of a waste liquid discharge pipe 27 for discharging the waste liquid 5 generated in the reaction tank 22 is connected to the bottom of the reaction tank 22. A pressure equalizing waste liquid tank 28 for storing the waste liquid 5 is connected to the distal end side of the waste liquid discharge pipe 27. In the middle of the waste liquid discharge pipe 27, a waste liquid discharge pump 27a and an open / close valve 27b are provided.

  The reaction tank 22 is provided with a stirring device 29 for stirring the mixture 3 of the internal raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2. The stirring device 29 includes a motor 29a and a paddle 29c provided in the vicinity of the tip of the shaft body 29b of the motor 29a. The motor 29 a is provided outside the ceiling portion of the reaction tank 22. The shaft body 29b extends in the height direction of the reaction tank 22 and is disposed.

  The pressure equalizing slurry tank 24, the pressure equalizing reaction water tank 26, and the pressure equalizing waste liquid tank 28 are containers that receive the water pressure outside the machine (outside the closed space) and substantially equalize the water pressure outside the machine. As these tanks 24, 26, and 28, for example, a tube made of a flexible material, a bellows, a pressure receiving piston, a bladder, and the like can be used.

  The hydrogen gas supply pipe 21, the reaction tank 22, the pressure equalizing slurry tank 24, the pressure equalizing reaction water tank 26, and the pressure equalizing waste liquid tank 28 are provided with pressure gauges 21b, 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a, respectively. The reaction tank 22 described above is provided with a liquid level detector (liquid level sensor) 22 b so that the height of the upper surface of the mixture 3 of the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 can be detected. The diving machine 100 includes a pressure gauge (water pressure sensor) 31 that measures a water pressure (pressure) outside the machine (outside the closed space).

  The hydrogen gas generation device 20 includes a control device 30 whose input side is connected to the output side of the pressure gauges 21b, 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a, 31 and to the output side of the liquid level detector 22b. The input side of the control device 30 is also connected to the output side of the fuel cell 10. The output side of the control device 30 is connected to the input side of the pumps 23a, 25a, 27a, is connected to the input side of the flow rate adjusting valve 21a, is connected to the input side of the open / close valves 23b, 25b, 27b, and It is connected to the input side of the motor 29a. That is, the control device 30 controls the devices 21a, 23a, 23b, 25a, 25b, 27a, 27b, 29a and the like based on various data measured by the various measuring instruments 21b, 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a, 31 and 22b. It is controllable.

  The reaction tank 22, the hydrogen gas supply pipe 21, the flow rate adjusting valve 21a, and the like can withstand a pressure of about 60 MPa corresponding to the depth pressure if the maximum submersible depth of the diving machine 100 is 6000 m, for example. It is possible to withstand pressure.

  In this embodiment, the hydrogen gas supply pipe 21 and the flow rate adjusting valve 21a constitute a hydrogen gas supply means, and the pressure equalizing slurry tank 24, the slurry supply pipe 23, and the slurry supply pump. 23a, the opening / closing valve 23b and the like constitute a slurry feeding means, the slurry feeding pump 23a and the opening / closing valve 23b and the like constitute a slurry feeding amount adjusting means, and the pressure equalizing slurry tank 24 and the like constitute a slurry tank. The pressure equalization reaction water tank 26, the reaction water supply pipe 25, the reaction water supply pump 25a, the open / close valve 25b, the slurry supply pipe 23, and the like constitute the reaction water supply means. The reaction water feed pump 25a and the opening / closing valve 25b constitute a reaction water feed amount adjusting means, and the pressure equalization reaction water tank 26 and the like are reaction water tanks. The waste liquid discharge pipe 27, the waste liquid discharge pump 27a, the open / close valve 27b, the pressure equalizing waste liquid tank 28, etc. constitute waste liquid discharge means, and the waste liquid discharge pump 27a, the open / close valve 27b, etc. Constitutes a waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means, the pressure equalizing waste liquid tank 28 and the like constitute a waste liquid tank, the pressure gauge 22a and the like constitute a reaction tank pressure measuring means, and the pressure gauge 24a and the like constitute a slurry tank pressure measuring means. The pressure gauge 26a and the like constitute reaction water tank pressure measuring means, the pressure gauge 28a and the like constitute waste liquid tank pressure measuring means, the pressure gauge 31 and the like constitute external pressure measuring means, The liquid level detector 22b or the like constitutes a mixture liquid level detecting means, and includes the hydrogen gas supply pipe 21, the flow rate adjusting valve 21a, the reaction tank 22, and the slurry feed. Pipe 23, slurry feed pump 23a, open / close valve 23b, pressure equalization slurry tank 24, reaction water supply pipe 25, reaction water supply pump 25a, open / close valve 25b, pressure equalization reaction water tank 26 The waste liquid discharge pipe 27, the waste liquid discharge pump 27a, the open / close valve 27b, the pressure equalizing waste liquid tank 28, the stirring device 29, the pressure gauges 21b, 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a, 31 and the liquid level detector. 22b, the control device 30 and the like constitute the hydrogen gas generation device 20, and the fuel cell 10, the hydrogen gas generation device 20, the control device 30 and the like constitute the diving machine 100.

  Next, the operation of the above-described hydrogen gas generation device 20 and the diving machine 100 using the same will be described.

<Basic operation>
The control device 30 pumps 23a and 25a so as to feed the raw material slurry 1 stored in the pressure equalizing slurry tank 24 and the reaction water 2 stored in the pressure equalizing reaction water tank 26 to the reaction tank 22 at a constant ratio. The on-off valves 23b and 25b are controlled. Thereby, in the reaction tank 22, it becomes the mixture 3 which the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 mixed. The control device 30 controls the stirring device 39 so as to stir the mixture 3 in the reaction tank 22 as necessary. As a result, the hydrogen gas 4 is generated, and the waste liquid 5 that is the residue after the mixture 3 generates the hydrogen gas 4 is generated. Subsequently, the control device 30 controls the pump 27a and the open / close valve 27b so as to discharge the waste liquid 5 in the reaction tank 22 to the pressure equalization waste liquid tank 28, while the hydrogen gas 4 in the reaction tank 22 is supplied to the fuel cell. The flow rate adjusting valve 21 a is controlled so as to be supplied to 10.

The feed amounts of the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 to the reaction tank 22 are controlled according to the required amount of hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10. That is, the control device 30 outputs the output of the fuel cell 10, the pressure in the reaction tank 22 measured by the pressure gauge 22a, the height (liquid level) of the mixture 3 in the reaction tank 22 detected by the liquid level detector 22b, and the pressure. Based on a part or combination of various data such as ambient water pressure measured by the total 31, the feed amount of the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 to the reaction tank 22 is calculated.
Note that the gas phase and liquid phase in the reaction tank 22, that is, the liquid level of the mixture 3, is the amount of hydrogen generation, the hydrogen supply pressure to the fuel cell 10, the depth change (seawater pressure change), and the pressure resistance of the reaction tank 22. It is set to a predetermined value depending on the structure.

  For example, when the power generation amount of the fuel cell 10 is 1 kW, the necessary amount of hydrogen needs to be supplied about twice as much as 2 kW on a heat amount basis when the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell 10 is 50% (560 Nl / hr). ). When the hydrogen supply pressure to the fuel cell 10 is 0.6 MPa and the depth change is 0 to 6000 m, the seawater pressure change is 0 to 60 MPa. At this time, the pressure in the reaction tank 22 in operation changes between 0.6 MPa and 60 MPa.

<Normal operation: Near the sea surface>
The operation when the submersible 100 is navigating near the sea surface will be described below.
Since the pressure equalizing slurry tank 24 and the pressure equalizing reaction water tank 26 are substantially at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) and the operating pressure of the hydrogen gas 4 in the fuel cell 10 is 0.3 MPa, the control device 30 The pumps 23a and 25a and the open / close valves 23b and 25b are controlled so that the pressure of the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 is increased to 0.6 MPa or more and fed into the reaction tank 22 at a predetermined ratio. That is, the control device 30 controls the feed amount of the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 into the reaction tank 22 so that the necessary amount of hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10 is generated in the reaction tank 22. I have control.

  In the reaction tank 22, the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 react to generate hydrogen gas 4 equal to the pressure in the reaction tank 22. The hydrogen gas 4 is supplied to the fuel cell 10 through a hydrogen gas supply pipe 21 with the flow rate adjusted by a flow rate adjusting valve 21a.

  Moreover, in the reaction tank 22, the waste liquid 5 which is the residue after producing | generating hydrogen gas 4 is also produced | generated. The waste liquid 5 is discharged from the reaction tank 22 through the waste liquid discharge pipe 27 and stored in the pressure equalization waste liquid tank 28. At this time, since the pressure in the reaction tank 22 is 0.6 MPa and the pressure in the pressure equalizing waste liquid tank 28 is almost atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa), the transfer force by the waste liquid discharge pump 27a is almost unnecessary. become. The discharge amount of the waste liquid 5 is controlled so as to balance the hydrogen gas 4 and the waste liquid 5 which are products generated by the reaction between the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 fed into the reaction tank 22. For example, the control device 30 controls each device so that the liquid level of the mixture 3 in the reaction tank 22 detected by the liquid level detector 22b is kept constant.

<Normal operation: depth>
The operation when the submersible 100 is navigating deep in the sea will be described below.
When the diving depth of the diving machine 100 is 1000 m, for example, the pressure equalizing slurry tank 24 and the pressure equalizing reaction water tank 26 are 10 MPa, so the control device 30 increases the pressure of the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2. Instead, the pumps 23a and 25a and the open / close valves 23b and 25b are controlled so as to be fed into the reaction tank 22 at a predetermined ratio. That is, the control device 30 controls the feed amount of the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 into the reaction tank 22 so that the necessary amount of hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10 is generated in the reaction tank 22. I have control.

  In the reaction tank 22, the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 react to generate hydrogen gas 4 equal to the pressure in the reaction tank 22. The hydrogen gas 4 is supplied to the fuel cell 10 through a hydrogen gas supply pipe 21 with the flow rate adjusted by a flow rate adjusting valve 21a.

  The waste liquid 5 generated in the reaction tank 22 is discharged from the reaction tank 22 through the waste liquid discharge pipe 27 and stored in the pressure equalization waste liquid tank 28. At this time, since the pressure in the reaction tank 22 and the pressure in the equalized waste liquid tank 28 are both 10 MPa, the waste liquid 5 in the reaction tank 22 is discharged by the pump 27a. The discharge amount of the waste liquid 5 is controlled so as to be balanced with the hydrogen gas 4 and the waste liquid 5 which are products generated by the reaction between the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 fed into the reaction tank 22. For example, the control device 30 controls each device so that the liquid level of the mixture 3 in the reaction tank 22 detected by the liquid level detector 22b is kept constant.

<Infiltration operation: Depth increase>
The operation when the submersible device 100 infiltrates and the depth of the submersible device 100 increases will be described below.
When the diving machine 100 is infiltrating, the control device 30 controls various devices so that the pressure in the reaction tank 22 increases in response to an increase in the depth of the diving machine 100.

  The control device 30 supplies the pumps 23a and 25a and the open / close valves 23b and 25b so that the amount of the hydrogen gas 4 generated in the reaction tank 22 is larger than the required amount of the hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10. To control. As a result, the space volume occupied by the mixture 3 (liquid phase) is increased in the reaction vessel 22, while the space volume occupied by the gas phase is reduced (compressed), and the pressure of the gas phase is increased.

  Alternatively, the control device 30 controls the waste liquid discharge pump 27a and the open / close valve 27b so that the discharge of the waste liquid 5 from the reaction tank 22 is stopped. As a result, the space volume occupied by the mixture 3 (liquid phase) is increased in the reaction vessel 22, while the space volume occupied by the gas phase is reduced (compressed), and the pressure of the gas phase is increased.

  Alternatively, the control device 30 may increase the generation amount of the hydrogen gas 4 generated in the reaction tank 22 beyond the required amount of the hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10, and the pumps 23a, 25a and the opening / closing valve 23b. , 25b, and the waste liquid discharge pump 27a and the open / close valve 27b are controlled so that the discharge of the waste liquid 5 from the reaction tank 22 is stopped. As a result, the space volume occupied by the mixture 3 (liquid phase) is increased in the reaction vessel 22, while the space volume occupied by the gas phase is reduced (compressed), and the pressure of the gas phase is increased.

  And control of the above-mentioned various apparatuses is implemented until the pressure in the reaction tank 22 becomes the same as the seawater pressure rising by submergence.

<From infiltration operation to cruise operation>
The operation when the diving machine 100 changes from the infiltration operation to the cruise operation will be described below.
When the above-described infiltration operation, which is an operation in which the submersible 100 changes the submersion depth, is completed and enters a cruising state, the seawater pressure does not change. The control device 30 controls the waste liquid discharge pump 27a and the open / close valve 27b so as to discharge the waste liquid 5 in the reaction tank 22 when the pressure in the reaction tank 22 becomes substantially equal to the seawater pressure. The pumps 23a, 25a and the open / close valves 23b, 25b are controlled so that the amount of hydrogen gas 4 produced therein is the same as the amount of hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10. The discharge amount of the waste liquid 5 is controlled so as to balance the hydrogen gas 4 and the waste liquid 5 which are products generated by the reaction between the raw material slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 fed into the reaction tank 22. Thereby, in the reaction tank 22, the space volume which the mixture 3 (liquid phase) occupies and the space volume which a gaseous phase occupies will balance.

<Floating motion: depth reduction>
The operation when the diving machine 100 ascends and the depth of the diving machine 100 decreases will be described below. For example, when the cruiser is cruising at a depth of 1000 m before the diving machine 100 ascends, the pressure equalizing slurry tank 24, the pressure equalizing reaction water tank 26, and the pressure equalizing waste liquid tank 28 are 10 MPa, and the reaction tank 22 The pressure is also 10 MPa. As the diving machine 100 floats, the pressure in the pressure equalizing slurry tank 24, the pressure in the pressure equalizing reaction water tank 26, and the pressure in the pressure equalizing waste liquid tank 28 are lowered.
Therefore, when the diving machine 100 is floating, the control device 30 controls various devices so that the pressure in the reaction tank 22 is reduced in response to a decrease in the depth of the diving machine 100. .

  The control device 30 reduces the production amount of the hydrogen gas 4 produced in the reaction vessel 22 to be less than the necessary amount of the hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10 or the raw material slurry 1 to the reaction vessel 22. In addition, the pumps 23a and 25a and the open / close valves 23b and 25b are controlled so that the supply of the reaction water 2 is stopped. Thereby, in the reaction tank 22, while the space volume which the mixture 3 (liquid phase) occupies decreases, the space volume which a gas phase occupies increases and the pressure of the said gas phase decreases.

  Alternatively, the control device 30 controls the waste liquid discharge pump 27 a and the open / close valve 27 b so that the discharge amount of the waste liquid 5 discharged from the reaction tank 22 is increased more than the generation amount of the waste liquid 5 generated in the reaction tank 22. . Thereby, in the reaction tank 22, while the space volume which the mixture 3 (liquid phase) occupies decreases, the space volume which a gas phase occupies increases and the pressure of the said gas phase decreases.

  Alternatively, the control device 30 may reduce the production amount of the hydrogen gas 4 produced in the reaction vessel 22 to be less than the necessary amount of the hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10 or the raw material to the reaction vessel 22 The pumps 23a and 25a and the open / close valves 23b and 25b are controlled so that the supply of the slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 is stopped, while the discharge amount of the waste liquid 5 discharged from the reaction tank 22 is generated in the reaction tank 22 The waste liquid discharge pump 27a and the open / close valve 27b are controlled so as to increase the amount of waste liquid 5 to be generated. Thereby, in the reaction tank 22, while the space volume which the mixture 3 (liquid phase) occupies decreases, the space volume which a gas phase occupies increases and the pressure of the said gas phase decreases.

  And control of the above-mentioned various apparatuses is implemented until the pressure in the reaction tank 22 becomes the same as the seawater pressure which falls by floating.

<From ascent operation to cruise operation>
The operation when the diving machine 100 changes from the ascent operation to the cruising operation will be described below.
When the above-described ascending operation, which is an operation of changing the submersible depth, is completed and the cruising state is entered, the seawater pressure does not change. When the pressure in the reaction tank 22 becomes substantially equal to the seawater pressure, the control device 30 determines that the discharge amount of the waste liquid 5 discharged from the reaction tank 22 is the same as the raw material slurry 1 fed into the reaction tank 22. The waste liquid discharge pump 27a and the open / close valve 27b are controlled so as to balance the hydrogen gas 4 and the waste liquid 5 which are products produced by the reaction with the reaction water 2, and the amount of the hydrogen gas 4 generated in the reaction tank 22 is controlled. The pumps 23a, 25a and the open / close valves 23b, 25b are controlled so as to be equal to the required amount of the hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10. Thereby, in the reaction tank 22, the space volume which the mixture 3 (liquid phase) occupies and the space volume which a gaseous phase occupies will balance.

  That is, in the hydrogen gas generation device 20 and the diving machine 100 using the hydrogen gas generation device 20 described above, the control device 30 controls various devices based on the control flow shown in FIG. become.

  First, the control device 30 determines whether or not the pressure measured by the pressure gauge 31 has changed by a predetermined change amount ΔP (for example, 0.1 MPa) (step S1).

  When the pressure changes by the predetermined change amount ΔP or more, the process proceeds to step S2, and control according to the infiltration operation or the floating operation is performed. When the pressure does not change up to the predetermined change amount ΔP, it is determined that it is not necessary to perform control according to the infiltration operation or the floating operation, and the control by the flow shown in FIG. 2 is ended.

  In step S2, it is determined whether or not the predetermined change amount ΔP is a positive value. When the predetermined change amount ΔP is a positive value, the process proceeds to step S3, and control according to the infiltration operation is performed. On the other hand, when the predetermined change amount ΔP is not a positive value, that is, when the predetermined change amount ΔP is a negative value, the process proceeds to step S5, and control according to the flying operation is performed.

  In step S <b> 3, the control device 30 increases the space volume occupied by the liquid phase in the reaction tank 22 by controlling various devices. That is, the control device 30 causes the pumps 23a and 25a and the valve 23b, so that the production amount of the hydrogen gas 4 produced in the reaction tank 22 is larger than the necessary amount of the hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10. 25b is controlled. Alternatively, the control device 30 controls the waste liquid discharge pump 27a and the open / close valve 27b so that the discharge of the waste liquid 5 from the reaction tank 22 is stopped. Alternatively, the control device 30 may increase the generation amount of the hydrogen gas 4 generated in the reaction tank 22 beyond the required amount of the hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10, and the pumps 23a, 25a and the opening / closing valve 23b. , 25b, and the waste liquid discharge pump 27a and the open / close valve 27b are controlled so that the discharge of the waste liquid 5 from the reaction tank 22 is stopped. As a result, the space volume occupied by the mixture 3 (liquid phase) is increased in the reaction vessel 22, while the space volume occupied by the gas phase is reduced (compressed), and the pressure of the gas phase is increased.

  Then, it progresses to step S4 and in this step S4, the control apparatus 30 determines whether the pressure in the reaction tank 22 is the same as the pressure outside a machine. If the pressure in the reaction tank 22 is not the same as the pressure outside the apparatus, the process returns to step S3. If the pressure in the reaction tank 22 is the same as the pressure outside the apparatus, the control by the flow shown in FIG. Will end.

  In step S <b> 5, the control device 30 reduces the space volume occupied by the liquid phase in the reaction tank 22 by controlling various devices. That is, the control device 30 reduces the production amount of the hydrogen gas 4 produced in the reaction vessel 22 to be less than the necessary amount of the hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10, or the raw material to the reaction vessel 22 The pumps 23a and 25a and the open / close valves 23b and 25b are controlled so that the supply of the slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 is stopped. Alternatively, the control device 30 controls the waste liquid discharge pump 27 a and the open / close valve 27 b so that the discharge amount of the waste liquid 5 discharged from the reaction tank 22 is increased more than the generation amount of the waste liquid 5 generated in the reaction tank 22. . Alternatively, the control device 30 may reduce the production amount of the hydrogen gas 4 produced in the reaction vessel 22 to be less than the necessary amount of the hydrogen gas 4 required for the operation of the fuel cell 10 or the raw material to the reaction vessel 22. The pumps 23a and 25a and the open / close valves 23b and 25b are controlled so that the supply of the slurry 1 and the reaction water 2 is stopped, while the discharge amount of the waste liquid 5 discharged from the reaction tank 22 is generated in the reaction tank 22 The waste liquid discharge pump 27a and the open / close valve 27b are controlled so as to increase the amount of waste liquid 5 to be generated. Thereby, in the reaction tank 22, while the space volume which the mixture 3 (liquid phase) occupies decreases, the space volume which a gas phase occupies increases and the pressure of the said gas phase decreases.

  Then, it progresses to step S6 and in this step S6, the control apparatus 30 determines whether the pressure in the reaction tank 22 is the same as the pressure outside a machine. If the pressure in the reaction tank 22 is not the same as the pressure outside the apparatus, the process returns to step S5. If the pressure in the reaction tank 22 is the same as the pressure outside the apparatus, the control according to the flow shown in FIG. Will end.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the water pressure outside the aircraft changes suddenly due to the diving operation and the ascending operation, and acts on the pressure equalizing slurry tank 24, the pressure equalizing reaction water tank 26, and the pressure equalizing waste liquid tank 28. Even if 24, 26, and 28 become equal to the water pressure outside the machine, when the pressure outside the machine measured by the pressure gauge 31 changes by a predetermined change amount ΔP or more, the control device 30 causes the various measuring instruments. Based on various data measured by 21b, 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a, 22b, various devices 21a, 23a, 23b, 25a, 25b, 27a, 27b, 29 are controlled, and the raw material slurry 1 and reaction water to the reaction tank 22 are controlled. 2 and the discharge amount of the waste liquid 5 from the reaction tank 22 can be controlled, so that the generation amount of the hydrogen gas 4 generated in the reaction tank 22 can be appropriately controlled. Les, it is possible to properly control the supply amount of supplying the hydrogen gas 4 to the fuel cell 10.

  The hydrogen gas generation device according to the present invention and a diving machine using the hydrogen gas generation device appropriately provide a hydrogen gas generation amount even when the pressure variation outside the enclosed space is large even though the pressure equalization vessel is provided. Therefore, it can be used extremely beneficially in the industry.

1 Raw material slurry 2 Reaction water (water)
3 Mixture 4 Hydrogen gas (fuel)
5 Waste liquid 10 Fuel cell 20 Hydrogen gas generator 21 Hydrogen gas supply pipe 21a Flow rate adjusting valve 21b Pressure gauge 22 Reaction tank 22a Pressure gauge 22b Liquid level detector (liquid level sensor)
23 Slurry feed pipe 23a Slurry feed pump 23b Open / close valve 24 Pressure equalizing slurry tank 24a Pressure gauge 25 Reaction water feed pipe 25a Reaction water feed pump 25b Open / close valve 26 Pressure equalization reaction water tank 26a Pressure gauge 27 Waste liquid discharge pipe 27a Waste liquid discharge pump 27b On-off valve 28 Pressure equalizing waste liquid tank 28a Pressure gauge 29 Stirrer 29a Motor 29b Shaft body 29c Paddle 30 Controller 31 Pressure gauge 100 Submersible

Claims (5)

A hydrogen gas generation device that is installed in a closed space and generates hydrogen gas to be supplied to a fuel cell,
A reaction vessel;
Reaction water feeding means for feeding reaction water to the reaction vessel;
A reaction water feed amount adjusting means for adjusting a feed amount of the reaction water to the reaction tank;
A reaction water tank for storing the reaction water fed by the reaction water feeding means;
A slurry tank for storing a raw material slurry obtained by mixing the metal hydride with a solvent that is miscible with water and non-reactive with the metal hydride;
Slurry feeding means for feeding the raw material slurry in the slurry tank to the reaction tank;
Slurry feed amount adjusting means for adjusting the feed amount of the raw material slurry to the reaction vessel;
Waste liquid discharging means for discharging the waste liquid generated by the reaction of the raw material slurry and the reaction water from the reaction tank;
A waste liquid tank for storing the waste liquid discharged by the waste liquid discharging means;
Waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means for adjusting the discharge amount of the waste liquid to the waste liquid tank;
Reaction vessel pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure in the reaction vessel;
A mixture liquid level detecting means for detecting a liquid level of the mixture of the reaction water and the raw material slurry in the reaction tank;
External pressure measuring means for measuring pressure outside the enclosed space;
Based on the data measured by the reaction tank pressure measuring means, the mixture liquid level detecting means, and the external pressure measuring means, the slurry supply amount adjusting means, the reaction water supply amount adjusting means, and the waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means. Control means for controlling
2. The hydrogen gas generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction water tank, the slurry tank, and the waste liquid tank are pressure equalization vessels that equalize pressure outside the closed space. The hydrogen gas generator according to claim 1,
When the pressure measured by the external pressure measuring means changes by a predetermined change amount ΔP or more, the control means sends the slurry so that the pressure in the reaction tank becomes the same as the pressure outside the closed space. A hydrogen gas generation apparatus, characterized by controlling a supply amount adjusting means, the reaction water supply amount adjusting means, and the waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means. The hydrogen gas generation device according to claim 2,
The control means, when the predetermined change amount ΔP is positive,
Controlling the slurry feed amount adjusting means and the reaction water feed amount adjusting means so that the feed amount of the raw material slurry and the reaction water into the reaction tank is increased;
Or
Controlling the waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means so as to reduce the discharge amount of the waste liquid from the reaction tank;
Or
While controlling the slurry feed amount adjusting means and the reaction water feed amount adjusting means so that the feed amount of the raw material slurry and the reaction water into the reaction vessel is increased, the inside of the reaction vessel The hydrogen gas generation apparatus, wherein the waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means is controlled so that the discharge amount of the waste liquid is reduced. The hydrogen gas generation device according to claim 2,
The control means, when the predetermined change amount ΔP is negative,
Controlling the slurry feed amount adjusting means and the reaction water feed amount adjusting means so as to reduce the feed amount of the raw material slurry and the reaction water into the reaction tank;
Or
Controlling the waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means so as to increase the discharge amount of the waste liquid from the reaction tank;
Or
While controlling the slurry feed amount adjusting means and the reaction water feed amount adjusting means so that the feed amount of the raw material slurry and the reaction water into the reaction tank is reduced, the inside of the reaction tank A hydrogen gas generating apparatus, wherein the waste liquid discharge amount adjusting means is controlled so as to increase a waste liquid discharge amount. A diving machine comprising the hydrogen gas generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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