JP2018100188A - Hydrogen generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent water from obstructing a flow of raw material gas and to keep stable hydrogen generation.SOLUTION: A hydrogen generator 30 comprises a water absorption component 8 installed on an intermediate part of an evaporator 3 in a way that the component 8 contacts a wall surface which forms a part of the evaporator 3 and an evaporator heating parts 6a, and 6b which heat the water absorption component 8 so as to evaporate water which is supplied from an upper part of the evaporator 3 and permeates the absorption component 8. The water absorption component 8 is provided with an air hole in it approximately in a vertical direction 9 and the air hole 9 is made to allow raw material gas to flow through from top to bottom, which makes hydrogen generation stable because such configuration prevents water from obstructing a flow of raw material gas.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen generator that produces hydrogen-containing gas (reformed gas) containing hydrogen using a hydrocarbon-based fuel such as city gas or LP gas as a raw material gas.

  As a method for generating hydrogen, a steam reforming method is widely used in which steam is added to a hydrocarbon-based source gas such as city gas or LP gas and heated. A hydrogen generator using a steam reforming system generally has a configuration including a reformer that generates hydrogen from a raw material gas and steam by a chemical reaction, and an evaporator that supplies the reformer with water vapor or raw material gas.

  A raw material gas and water are supplied to the evaporator, and these are heated by receiving ambient heat, and the water is changed into water vapor. Thereafter, the heated source gas and water vapor are mixed and supplied to the reformer.

  As a conventional hydrogen generator, an evaporator is constituted by a cylindrical container, and further, a cylindrical water-absorbing member in which a spiral air hole is formed in advance is inserted into the evaporator, and the water-absorbing member In some cases, water is allowed to permeate, and the surrounding heat is absorbed to evaporate the water (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a schematic configuration of an evaporator of a conventional hydrogen generator described in Patent Document 1.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the evaporator 103 of the conventional hydrogen generator is constituted by a cylindrical container. The evaporator 103 includes a water absorbing member 108, and the water absorbing member 108 is provided with a spiral air hole 109.

  A raw material gas and water are supplied to the evaporator 103. The source gas supplied to the evaporator 103 flows inside the spiral vent 109. Further, the water supplied to the evaporator 103 penetrates the water absorbing member 108 and proceeds vertically downward according to the action of gravity. The source gas flows in a direction along the shape of the spiral vent 109.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-189648

  However, in the conventional hydrogen generator described in Patent Document 1, the flow rate of the raw material gas becomes unstable because water enters the spiral vent 109 and the flow of the raw material gas is hindered, and the reformer The problem was that the amount of hydrogen produced in the reactor became unstable.

  That is, in the conventional hydrogen generator, the water supplied to the evaporator 103 permeates the water absorbing member 108 and proceeds vertically downward according to the action of gravity, and the source gas is spirally formed of the water absorbing member 108. Since it flows in the direction along the shape of the vent hole 109, water flows into the spiral vent hole 109 and obstructs the flow of the source gas.

The raw material gas in a general hydrogen generator is often controlled so that the flow rate becomes a predetermined amount by a flow control device using a pump, but when water flows into the spiral vent 109, the raw material gas It becomes difficult for the gas to flow, and the flow rate of the source gas temporarily decreases.

  Thereafter, the pressure inside the spiral ventilation hole 109 is increased by the action of the pump, and the raw material gas is increased to a predetermined flow rate by blowing off water by the pressure. However, when water enters the spiral vent 109 again, the flow rate of the source gas decreases again.

  As described above, when water flows into the spiral vent 109, the flow rate of the raw material gas repeatedly decreases and increases, the amount of raw material gas supplied to the reformer becomes unstable, and the amount of hydrogen generated in the reformer Had the problem of destabilizing.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent water from interfering with the flow of the raw material gas and to keep the hydrogen generation amount stable.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the hydrogen generator of the present invention includes a reformer that generates a hydrogen-containing gas by reforming a mixed gas of a raw material gas containing hydrocarbon components and water vapor, and the raw material gas and water vapor. An evaporator for supplying the mixed gas of the reactor to the reformer, a water absorbing member provided in the middle of the evaporator so as to be in contact with the wall surface constituting the evaporator, and a water feeder for supplying water from the upper part of the evaporator And an evaporator heating section that heats the water absorbent member so that water that has permeated the water absorbent member evaporates. The water absorbent member is formed with a substantially vertical vent hole, and the reformer is passed through. The raw material gas that has passed through the pores from above and the water vapor generated by the water absorbing member are supplied.

  Thereby, the traveling direction of water in the water absorbing member and the traveling direction of the source gas flowing through the vent holes are both substantially vertical.

  Therefore, the two do not cross each other and are substantially parallel to each other, so that it is difficult for water to flow into the vent hole, and the raw material gas can be prevented from being hindered by water. As a result, the supply amount of the raw material gas to the reformer becomes stable, so that the hydrogen generation amount can be kept stable.

  The hydrogen generator of the present invention can keep the hydrogen generation amount stable. Further, in the fuel cell system equipped with the hydrogen generator of the present invention, a stable amount of hydrogen can be supplied to the fuel cell, so that the power generation output can be kept stable.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a hydrogen generator in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Sectional perspective view which shows the internal structure of the evaporator and evaporator heating part in the hydrogen generator of Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional perspective view which shows the internal structure of the evaporator and evaporator heating part in the hydrogen generator of Embodiment 2 of this invention Sectional perspective view which shows the internal structure of the evaporator and evaporator heating part in the hydrogen generator of Embodiment 3 of this invention The principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows schematic structure of the evaporator of the conventional hydrogen generator described in patent document 1

A first invention is a reformer that reforms a mixed gas of a raw material gas containing a hydrocarbon component and steam to generate a hydrogen-containing gas, and an evaporator that supplies a mixed gas of the raw material gas and steam to the reformer And a water absorbing member provided in the middle of the evaporator so as to be in contact with the wall surface constituting the evaporator, a water supply device for supplying water from the upper part of the evaporator, and water penetrating the water absorbing member evaporates As described above, in the hydrogen generator including the evaporator heating unit that heats the water absorbing member, the water absorbing member is formed with a substantially vertical vent hole, and the reformer passes through the vent hole from top to bottom. The raw material gas and the water vapor generated in the water absorbing member are supplied.

  This makes it difficult for water flowing through the water-absorbing member in the evaporator to flow into the vent hole, so that the supply amount of the raw material gas can be prevented from becoming unstable, and the hydrogen generation amount can be kept stable.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, particularly in the hydrogen generator of the first aspect of the invention, there are at least two vent holes provided in the water absorbing member.

  As a result, even if water enters one vent hole, the source gas passes through another vent hole, so that the source gas supply amount can be kept stable and the hydrogen production amount can be kept stable. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the hydrogen generator of the first or second aspect of the invention, a waterproof wall that prevents water penetrating the water absorbent member from flowing out into the vent hole at least above the vent hole of the water absorbent member Is provided.

  Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the flow of the raw material gas from being obstructed by water in the upper part of the water absorbing member, and to keep the raw material gas supply amount and the hydrogen generation amount stable.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the hydrogen generator of the third aspect of the invention, the waterproof wall is not provided below the vent hole.

  As a result, the water vapor generated in the water absorbing member flows into the vent hole in the lower part of the evaporator, and flows into the reformer in a state where the raw material gas and the water vapor are well mixed together, so that the hydrogen generation amount can be kept high. .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the hydrogen generator of any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the water trap portion that receives the water dropped from the water absorbing member, and the source gas above the bottom portion of the water trap portion. The evaporator heating unit is arranged to be able to heat the water received in the water trap unit.

  As a result, water dripped from the water-absorbing member can be evaporated in the water trap part, so that a sufficient amount of water vapor can be secured, and a sufficient amount of water vapor can be secured in the reformer located downstream from the evaporator. it can.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a hydrogen generator in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The arrows in the figure represent the flow of gas and water. First, the components of the hydrogen generator will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hydrogen generator 30 of Embodiment 1 includes a raw material supplier 1, a water supplier 2, an evaporator 3, a reformer 4, a combustor 5, an evaporator heating unit 6a, and evaporator heating. The part 6b, the heat insulating material 7, the air supply port 24, the water supply port 28, and the source gas supply port 29 are provided. The evaporator 3, the reformer 4, the combustor 5, the evaporator heater 6a, the evaporator heater 6b, the air supply port 24, the water supply port 28, and the raw material gas supply port 29 are made of stainless steel so that they can withstand high temperatures. It is comprised by the member.

  Moreover, the container which comprises the evaporator 3, the reformer 4, the evaporator heating part 6a, and the evaporator heating part 6b is cylindrical shape. The evaporator 3 is composed of three regions: an evaporator upper header 25, a water absorbing member 8 installed at the lower part thereof, and an evaporator lower header 26 installed at the lower part thereof.

  A reformer 4 is installed below the evaporator 3, an evaporator heating unit 6 a is installed outside the evaporator 3, and an evaporator heating unit 6 b is installed inside the evaporator 3. A combustor 5 is installed inside 4. The heat insulating material 7 is attached so as to cover the reformer 4 and the evaporator heating unit 6a.

  The source gas supply port 29 has a pipe shape and is attached to the upper part of the evaporator upper header 25. The raw material supplier 1 is connected so that gas can be supplied to the raw material gas supply port 29. A plurality of water supply ports 28 are attached to the upper part of the evaporator upper header 25 in a pipe shape. The water supply device 2 is connected so that water can be supplied to the water supply port 28.

  The evaporator lower header 26 is connected to the reformer 4, the reformer 4 is connected to the evaporator heating unit 6a, and the combustor 5 is connected to the evaporator heating unit 6b so that the gas can flow. The water absorbing member 8 is a member capable of absorbing water, and specifically, metal wool, porous ceramic, or the like is used. The water absorbing member 8 is installed so as to be in contact with the wall surface constituting the evaporator 3.

  A reforming catalyst is enclosed in the reformer 4. As the reforming catalyst, a material obtained by attaching a metal to the surface of spherical particles obtained by solidifying alumina powder is used. As the metal, nickel, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, or the like is used. The diameter of the particles is about 1 to 5 mm, and thousands to tens of thousands of reforming catalysts are sealed in the reformer 4.

  The evaporator heating unit 6 a and the evaporator heating unit 6 b are adjacent to the evaporator 3. Inside the evaporator heating section 6a, a shift catalyst 15 and a selective oxidation catalyst 16 which are exothermic catalysts are enclosed. The shift catalyst 15 is installed below the evaporator heater 6a, the selective oxidation catalyst 16 is installed above the evaporator heater 6a, and an evaporator heater central header 27 is installed therebetween.

  The shift catalyst 15 and the selective oxidation catalyst 16 are arranged at positions where heat can be applied to the water absorbing member 8 in the evaporator 3.

  An air supply port 24 is attached to the evaporator heater central header 27 so that air can be supplied from the outside of the hydrogen generator 30. The air supply port 24 is configured by piping such as a pipe.

  As the shift catalyst 15, a catalyst in which a metal such as copper or zinc is attached to the surface of particles obtained by solidifying alumina powder is used. As the selective oxidation catalyst 16, a catalyst in which a metal such as ruthenium is attached to the surface of particles obtained by solidifying alumina powder is used. The diameter of the particles of the shift catalyst 15 and the selective oxidation catalyst 16 is about 1 to 5 mm, and thousands to tens of thousands of catalysts are sealed in the evaporator heating unit 6a. The combustor 5 is disposed at a position where the reformer 4 can be heated.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the internal configuration of the evaporator and the evaporator heating unit in the hydrogen generator 30 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the same components as those shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water absorbing member 8 is provided with a plurality of vent holes 9 provided in a substantially vertical direction. The vent hole 9 has a cylindrical shape and penetrates in the vertical vertical direction so that gas can flow. The ventilation hole 9 is arranged at the center with respect to the thickness width of the water absorbing member 8 in the radial direction. Further, the air holes 9 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the water absorbing member 8. The vent hole 9 may not be completely in the vertical direction, and may be inclined by several degrees with respect to the vertical direction.

  Further, the attachment position of the plurality of water supply ports 28 in the upper part of the evaporator upper header 25 is directly above the intermediate position of the adjacent vent holes 9. The source gas supply port 29 is installed at an arbitrary position above the evaporator upper header 25.

  The operation and action of the hydrogen generator 30 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hydrocarbon-based source gas is supplied from the source supply device 1 to the evaporator upper header 25 in the evaporator 3 through the source gas supply port 29. The source gas is, for example, methane, ethane, propane, butane or the like.

  The raw material supplier 1 is controlled so that the flow rate of the raw material gas necessary for hydrogen generation flows. In addition, water is distributed from the water supplier 2 and supplied to the evaporator upper header 25 through the plurality of water supply ports 28. The water supplier 2 is controlled so that a flow rate necessary for hydrogen generation flows.

  In FIG. 2, the water supplied to the evaporator upper header 25 falls inside the evaporator upper header 25 and permeates the water absorbing member 8. Since the water supply port 28 is installed right above the intermediate position between the adjacent vent holes 9, the water does not fall to the position where the vent holes 9 are present, but reaches the intermediate position between the adjacent vent holes 9.

  The water that has permeated the water-absorbing member 8 travels vertically downward by the action of gravity. Further, the raw material gas supplied to the evaporator upper header 25 reaches the water absorbing member 8 and flows to the lower part of the water absorbing member 8 through the inside of the vent hole 9. The water absorbing member 8 is heated from the evaporator heating unit 6 a and the evaporator heating unit 6 b adjacent to the evaporator 3.

  When the water absorbing member 8 is heated, the water that has penetrated the water absorbing member 8 is heated and gradually changes into water vapor. A part of the generated water vapor flows into the vent hole 9 and mixes with the raw material gas to become a mixed gas. Another part of the generated water vapor flows inside the water absorbing member 8 and merges with the mixed gas in the evaporator lower header 26.

  The mixed gas receives heat from the water absorbing member 8 and the temperature rises to about 300 ° C to 400 ° C. In FIG. 1, the heated mixed gas is discharged from the evaporator 3 and supplied to the reformer 4. The reforming catalyst sealed in the reformer 4 has a function of generating hydrogen. The mixed gas passes through the particles of the reforming catalyst.

When the mixed gas comes into contact with the reforming catalyst, a chemical reaction is promoted, and hydrogen, CO, and CO ₂ are generated. In order to generate these chemical reactions, it is necessary to keep the reformer 4 at a high temperature of about 400 ° C to 700 ° C. Further, since these reactions are endothermic reactions, it is necessary to apply heat to the reformer 4.

  The hydrogen generator 30 is provided with a combustor 5 for the purpose of heating the reformer 4, and this will be described later. The mixed gas charged into the reformer 4 becomes a reformed gas containing hydrogen by a chemical reaction, is discharged from the reformer 4, and is supplied to the evaporator heating unit 6a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the evaporator heating unit 6 a is adjacent to the evaporator 3 and is configured to be able to apply heat to the water absorbing member 8. The reformed gas is supplied to the evaporator heating unit 6a at a temperature of about 200 ° C to 300 ° C.

The shift catalyst 15 and the selective oxidation catalyst 16 enclosed in the evaporator heating unit 6a have a function of reducing the concentration of CO contained in the reformed gas. The reformed gas passes through between the grains of the shift catalyst 15. CO and water vapor contained in the reformed gas cause a chemical reaction by touching the shift catalyst 15 to generate hydrogen and CO ₂ . Since this chemical reaction is an exothermic reaction, the water absorbing member 8 is heated.

  The reformed gas that has passed through the shift catalyst 15 is supplied to the evaporator heating unit central header 27. Air is supplied to the evaporator heater central header 27 from the outside of the hydrogen generator 30 through the air supply port 24. The reformed gas after passing through the shift catalyst 15 merges with air at the evaporator heating unit central header 27 and is supplied to the selective oxidation catalyst 16.

Hydrogen contained in the reformed gas, CO, oxygen causes a chemical reaction by touching the selective oxidation catalyst 16, thereby generating water and CO _2. Since this reaction is also an exothermic reaction, the water absorbing member 8 is heated.

The reformed gas supplied to the evaporator heating unit 6a is cooled to a temperature of about 60 ° C. to 120 ° C. by heat transfer to the evaporator 3 adjacent to the evaporator heating unit 6a, and It is discharged outside. The molar concentration of hydrogen contained in the reformed gas discharged to the outside of the hydrogen generator 30 is 40% to 60%. The reformed gas contains water vapor, CO, CO ₂ , methane and the like in addition to hydrogen.

  Next, the combustor 5 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, combustible gas and air are input to the combustor 5. As the combustible gas, a hydrocarbon-based gas such as methane, ethane, propane, or butane, or a gas containing hydrogen or the like is used. The combustor 5 mixes them and burns them.

  When the combustible gas and oxygen contained in the air react, a flame is generated, combustion exhaust gas is generated, and the reformer 4 is heated. The combustion exhaust gas heats the reformer 4 and then flows into the evaporator heating unit 6b. As shown in FIG. 2, the evaporator heating unit 6 b is adjacent to the inside of the evaporator 3 and is configured to be able to apply heat to the water absorbing member 8.

  The combustion exhaust gas is supplied to the evaporator heating unit 6b at a temperature of about 300 ° C. to 500 ° C., and is cooled to about 60 ° C. to 100 ° C. by heat transfer to the evaporator 3 adjacent to the evaporator heating unit 6b. Then, it is discharged to the outside of the hydrogen generator 30.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the heat insulating material 7 covering the reformer 4 and the evaporator heating unit 6 a suppresses heat radiation from the hydrogen generator 30. By suppressing the heat dissipation, the reformer 4 is efficiently heated, and a high hydrogen production amount can be ensured.

  Hereinafter, the operation and action of the evaporator 3 will be described in more detail.

  In the evaporator 3, since the traveling direction of water and the traveling direction of the raw material gas are both substantially vertically downward as shown in FIG. 2, they are substantially parallel to each other and do not intersect with each other. Therefore, the evaporator 3 of the present invention has a configuration in which water does not easily flow into the vent hole 9. Therefore, since it can suppress that water blocks the flow of source gas, the flow rate of source gas becomes stable and the amount of hydrogen generation becomes stable.

Further, by providing two or more vent holes 9, the effect of stabilizing the flow rate of the source gas is further increased. The reason will be described in detail below.

  Although the water absorbing member 8 in the present embodiment is configured such that water does not easily flow into the vent hole 9, the possibility of water flowing in cannot be completely excluded.

  The reason is that if the flow rate of water supplied from the upper part of the evaporator 3 is not uniform with respect to the upper surface of the water-absorbing member 8 and increases in some areas, the action of water diffusing in the horizontal direction works. This is because there is a possibility that water proceeds toward the vent hole 9. However, if two or more vent holes 9 are provided, even if water enters one vent hole 9, the source gas passes through another vent hole 9, so that the flow rate of the source gas can be kept stable. it can.

  As described above, the hydrogen generator 30 of the present embodiment includes the reformer 4 that generates a hydrogen-containing gas by reforming a mixed gas of a raw material gas containing a hydrocarbon component and water vapor, and reforms the mixed gas. An evaporator 3 to be supplied to the evaporator 4, a water absorbing member 8 provided in the middle of the evaporator 3 so as to be in contact with a wall surface constituting the evaporator 3, and a water supplier to supply water from the upper part of the evaporator 3 2 and evaporator heating portions 6a and 6b that heat the water absorbing member 8 so that water that has permeated the water absorbing member 8 evaporates. The water absorbing member 8 has a substantially vertical air hole 9 therein. The reformer 4 is formed and supplied with the raw material gas that has passed through the vent 9 from the top to the bottom and the water vapor generated by the water absorbing member 8, so that the flow rate of the raw material gas can be kept stable. , Hydrogen production can be kept stable.

  Further, by providing at least two or more air holes 9 in the water absorbing member 8, the effect of stabilizing the flow rate of the source gas can be further enhanced, and the amount of hydrogen generation can be kept stable.

  In FIG. 1, the cylindrical hydrogen generator 30 and the cylindrical evaporator 3 are described, but the same effect can be obtained even if they have a flat plate structure. Moreover, although the heating method by heat_generation | fever of the conversion catalyst 15 or the selective oxidation catalyst 16 was described as a specific example of the evaporator heating part 6a, this invention is not limited by this.

  Although what utilized the heat | fever of combustion exhaust gas was described as a specific example of the evaporator heating part 6b, this invention is not limited also about this. For example, an electric heater or the like may be used for the evaporator heating unit 6a and the evaporator heating unit 6b.

(Embodiment 2)
The hydrogen generator in Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described particularly with respect to the evaporator. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the overlapping description is appropriately omitted, and the overlapping description of the operation and the action is also appropriately omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the internal configuration of the evaporator and the evaporator heating unit in the hydrogen generator of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the same constituent elements as those of the hydrogen generator 30 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The difference from the hydrogen generator 30 of Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 2 is that one water supply port 28 is configured so that water is supplied to the upper side surface of the evaporator 3, so A waterproof wall 21 is provided above the pores 9.

  The water supply port 28 is constituted by a pipe or the like, and the position where water is supplied is the upper part of the water absorbing member 8. The waterproof wall 21 has a structure in which a pipe-shaped stainless steel member is inserted into the vent hole 9. Further, the waterproof wall 21 is not provided below the water absorbing member 8. The horizontal cross section of the waterproof wall 21 is the same as the horizontal cross section of the vent hole 9 and is circular.

  About the evaporator 3 of the hydrogen generator 30 of this Embodiment comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  In FIG. 3, water is supplied from the upper side surface of the evaporator 3 through the water supply port 28. At the position where water is supplied to the evaporator 3, the traveling direction of the water is horizontal and intersects with the traveling direction of the raw material gas, but the waterproof wall 21 prevents water from flowing into the vent hole 9. doing. Therefore, in the upper part of the water absorbing member 8, it can prevent reliably that water prevents the flow of source gas.

  The traveling direction of water is the horizontal direction at the position where it is supplied to the evaporator 3, but the traveling direction gradually becomes the vertical direction as it penetrates into the water absorbing member 8 by the action of gravity. Therefore, in the lower part of the water absorbing member 8, the water traveling direction and the gas traveling direction are substantially parallel, and it is difficult for water to flow into the vent hole 9, so the waterproof wall 21 is not necessarily required.

  In the lower part of the water-absorbing member 8, it is desirable that water vapor generated in the water-absorbing member 8 flows into the vent hole 9 and is mixed with the raw material gas.

  In the present embodiment, by not providing the waterproof wall 21 at the lower part of the water absorbing member 8, the mixing property of the source gas and water vapor is ensured. As a result, a well-mixed mixed gas is supplied to the reformer 4, and a high hydrogen production amount can be ensured.

  As described above, the hydrogen generator 30 of the present embodiment includes the reformer 4 that generates a hydrogen-containing gas by reforming a mixed gas of a raw material gas containing a hydrocarbon component and water vapor, and reforms the mixed gas. An evaporator 3 to be supplied to the evaporator 4, a water absorbing member 8 provided in the middle of the evaporator 3 so as to be in contact with a wall surface constituting the evaporator 3, and a water supplier to supply water from the upper part of the evaporator 3 2 and evaporator heating portions 6a and 6b that heat the water absorbing member 8 so that water that has permeated the water absorbing member 8 evaporates. The water absorbing member 8 has a substantially vertical air hole 9 therein. The reformer 4 is formed and supplied with the raw material gas that has passed through the vent 9 from the top to the bottom and the water vapor generated by the water absorbing member 8, so that the flow rate of the raw material gas can be kept stable. , Hydrogen production can be kept stable.

  Further, by providing at least two or more air holes 9 in the water absorbing member 8, the effect of stabilizing the flow rate of the source gas can be further enhanced, and the amount of hydrogen generation can be kept stable.

  In addition, a waterproof wall 21 that prevents water that has permeated into the water absorbent member 8 from flowing out into the air vent 9 is provided at least at the upper part of the air vent 9. It is possible to reliably prevent the gas flow from being obstructed by water, and to keep the feed gas supply amount and the hydrogen generation amount stable.

  Further, since the waterproof wall 21 is not provided below the water absorbing member 8, the mixing property of the raw material gas and water vapor is ensured at the lower part of the water absorbing member 8, and a high hydrogen generation amount can be maintained.

(Embodiment 3)
In the hydrogen generation apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, description will be made particularly regarding the evaporator and the evaporator heating unit. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the overlapping description is appropriately omitted, and the overlapping description of the operation and the action is also appropriately omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the internal configuration of the evaporator and the evaporator heating unit in the hydrogen generator of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the same constituent elements as those of the hydrogen generator 30 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The difference from the hydrogen generator 30 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is that the evaporator lower header 26 is provided with a water trap part 22 for receiving water, and moreover than the bottom part of the water trap part 22. An outlet 23 for discharging the mixed gas is provided at the top. The water trap part 22 is arrange | positioned in the position adjacent to the evaporator heating part 6b so that the evaporator heating part 6b can heat the water trap part 22. FIG.

  The operation and action of the hydrogen generator 30 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

  In the hydrogen generator 30 in the present embodiment, when the supply amount of the raw material and water is increased for the purpose of increasing the hydrogen generation amount, the water penetrating the water absorbent member 8 cannot be completely evaporated and the water absorbent member 8 When it penetrates to the lower part and is dropped from the lower part of the water absorbing member 8, the dropped water can be received by the water trap part 22.

  Since the water trap part 22 is adjacent to the evaporator heating part 6b, the water received by the water trap part 22 is heated and evaporated by heat transfer from the combustion exhaust gas flowing through the evaporator heating part 6b. The water vapor generated by the evaporation rises inside the evaporator lower header 26, mixes with the raw material gas discharged from the vent 9, becomes a mixed gas, passes through the outlet 23, and is discharged from the evaporator lower header 26. The

  As described above, the hydrogen generator 30 of the third embodiment includes the reformer 4 that reforms the mixed gas of the raw material gas containing the hydrocarbon component and the water vapor to generate the hydrogen-containing gas, and reforms the mixed gas. An evaporator 3 to be supplied to the evaporator 4, a water absorbing member 8 provided in the middle of the evaporator 3 so as to be in contact with a wall surface constituting the evaporator 3, and a water supplier to supply water from the upper part of the evaporator 3 2 and evaporator heating portions 6a and 6b that heat the water absorbing member 8 so that water that has permeated the water absorbing member 8 evaporates. The water absorbing member 8 has a substantially vertical air hole 9 therein. The reformer 4 is formed and supplied with the raw material gas that has passed through the vent 9 from the top to the bottom and the water vapor generated by the water absorbing member 8, so that the flow rate of the raw material gas can be kept stable. , Hydrogen production can be kept stable.

  Further, by providing at least two or more air holes 9 in the water absorbing member 8, the effect of stabilizing the flow rate of the source gas can be further enhanced, and the amount of hydrogen generation can be kept stable.

  Further, a water trap part 22 that receives water dripped from the water absorbing member 8 and an outlet 23 that causes a mixed gas of a raw material gas and water vapor to flow out to the reformer 4 above the bottom part of the water trap part 22. The evaporator heating unit 6b is disposed so as to be able to heat the water received by the water trap unit 22, so that water dropped from the water absorbing member 8 is received by the water trap unit 22 and the evaporator heating unit 6b. It can be evaporated by heat transfer from.

  As a result, a sufficient amount of water vapor can be secured, so that a sufficient amount of water vapor can be secured in the reformer located downstream from the evaporator. In FIG. 4, the waterproof wall 21 shown in the second embodiment is not provided, but the same effect can be obtained even if the waterproof wall 21 is provided.

  As described above, the hydrogen generator according to the present invention can keep the supply amount of raw material gas and the hydrogen generation amount stable. Therefore, it can be applied to the use of a domestic fuel cell cogeneration system that requires a stable hydrogen supply.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Raw material supply device 2 Water supply device 3 Evaporator 4 Reformer 5 Combustor 6a Evaporator heating part 6b Evaporator heating part 7 Heat insulating material 8 Water absorbing member 9 Vent hole 15 Transformation catalyst 16 Selective oxidation catalyst 21 Waterproof wall 22 Water Trap unit 23 Outlet 24 Air supply port 25 Evaporator upper header 26 Evaporator lower header 27 Evaporator heating unit central header 28 Water supply port 29 Raw material gas supply port 30 Hydrogen generator

Claims (5)

A reformer that reforms a mixed gas of a raw material gas containing a hydrocarbon component and water vapor to generate a hydrogen-containing gas, an evaporator that supplies the mixed gas to the reformer, and a wall surface that constitutes the evaporator A water-absorbing member provided in the middle of the evaporator so as to be in contact with the water, a water supply device for supplying water from an upper part of the evaporator, and the water-absorbing member so that water penetrating the water-absorbing member evaporates. An evaporator heating section for heating the member,
The water absorbing member is formed with a substantially vertical ventilation hole,
The reformer is supplied with the raw material gas that has passed from the top to the bottom of the vent and water vapor generated by the water absorbing member,
Hydrogen generator. At least two vent holes are formed,
The hydrogen generator according to claim 1. At least an upper part of the vent hole is provided with a waterproof wall that prevents water penetrating the water absorbing member from flowing out into the vent hole.
The hydrogen generator according to claim 1 or 2. The waterproof wall is not provided at a lower portion of the vent hole,
The hydrogen generator according to claim 3. A water trap part that receives water dripped from the water absorbing member, and an outlet for allowing the mixed gas of the raw material gas and the water vapor to flow out to the reformer above the bottom part of the water trap part,
The hydrogen generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the evaporator heating unit is arranged to be able to heat water received by the water trap unit.

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