JP2021081357A - Hydrogen processing device and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

To secure the soundness of a reaction tube in which is accommodated a processing material that processes hydrogen by an oxidation reaction.SOLUTION: Provided is a hydrogen processing device 10 including a reaction vessel 11 in which are arranged multiple reaction tubes 16 that accommodate a processing material 17 composed of a metal oxide that can take a plurality of oxidation numbers and processing the hydrogen included in the gas G1 to be processed that is introduced into the reaction vessel from a hydrogen processing target facility by an oxidation reaction using the processing material in the reaction tube. A space M in the reaction vessel 11 on the outside of a reaction area 16A of the reaction tube 16 in which the processing material 17 is accommodated and hydrogen is oxidated, is filled with an oil or a gas N for cooling the reaction tube. A cooler 12 is connected to the reaction vessel using a supply piping 21 and a return piping 22 communicating with the space M, with the oil or gas N cooled by the cooler and circulated between the reaction vessel and the cooler.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a hydrogen treatment apparatus that treats hydrogen contained in a gas to be treated, and an operation method of the hydrogen treatment apparatus.

When a nuclear accident occurs, a large amount of hydrogen may be generated in the reactor containment vessel. In such a case, no effective measures can be taken, and when the hydrogen concentration rises to 4 vol% and the oxygen concentration rises to 5 vol% or more, that is, when the hydrogen concentration exceeds the flammable limit, hydrogen (gas) becomes flammable. If the hydrogen concentration rises further, a rapid reaction may occur.

As an effective countermeasure against such a situation, in Japan, the generated hydrogen is discharged to the outside of the reactor containment vessel through a filter, but a small amount of radioactive particles are discharged to the outside of the reactor containment vessel at the same time. There is a risk of being killed.

On the other hand, a hydrogen treatment device has been proposed in which hydrogen is oxidized using a metal oxide and converted into water without releasing the hydrogen leaked from the reactor pressure vessel into the reactor containment vessel into the atmosphere. There is.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-187553

By the way, in the above-mentioned hydrogen treatment apparatus, when the treatment gas containing hydrogen flows into the reaction tube in which the treatment material (metal oxide) constituting the hydrogen treatment apparatus is sealed, the hydrogen in the treatment gas and the oxygen of the treatment material Reacts with and generates heat of reaction. At this time, if the hydrogen concentration is high, it is assumed that the temperature of the treatment material rises above the maximum operating temperature of the reaction tube, and the soundness of the reaction tube may deteriorate.

Further, in the reaction tube constituting this hydrogen treatment apparatus, in order to react the hydrogen in the gas to be treated with the oxygen of the treatment material, it is necessary to preheat the temperature of the gas to be treated and the treatment material to the reaction start temperature. There is also.

An embodiment of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a hydrogen treatment apparatus capable of ensuring the soundness of a reaction tube containing a treatment material for treating hydrogen by an oxidation reaction, and an operation method thereof. The purpose is to do.

The hydrogen treatment apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has a reaction vessel in which a plurality of reaction tubes accommodating a treatment material composed of a metal oxide capable of having a plurality of oxidation numbers are arranged inside, and is a facility to be treated with hydrogen. In a hydrogen treatment apparatus that treats hydrogen contained in a gas to be treated introduced into the reaction vessel by an oxidation reaction using the treatment material in the reaction tube, the treatment material is housed in the reaction tube. An oil or gas for cooling the reaction tube is sealed in a space inside the reaction vessel outside the reaction area for oxidizing hydrogen, and the reaction vessel is provided with at least two pipes communicating with the space. It is characterized in that a cooler is connected using the oil or gas so that the oil or gas is cooled by the cooler and circulated between the reaction vessel and the cooler.

The operation method of the hydrogen treatment apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has a reaction vessel in which a plurality of reaction tubes accommodating a treatment material composed of a metal oxide having a plurality of oxidation numbers are arranged inside, and hydrogen. In the operation method of the hydrogen treatment apparatus that treats hydrogen contained in the gas to be treated introduced into the reaction vessel from the equipment to be treated by an oxidation reaction using the treatment material in the reaction tube, the said in the reaction tube. A gas for cooling the reaction tube is sealed in the space inside the reaction vessel outside the reaction area in which the treatment material is housed and the hydrogen is oxidized, and the reaction vessel is filled with at least 2 communicating with the space. A book pipe is connected, a gas supply source for supplying the gas to the space is connected to at least one of the pipes via a valve, and the gas is discharged from the other at least one pipe. Then, when any one of the detection values of the temperature sensors installed at any one or a plurality of positions of the reaction vessel rises to the vicinity of the maximum operating temperature of the reaction tube, the valve is opened to operate the valve. It is characterized in that the valve is closed when the temperature drops to the vicinity of the reaction start temperature of the treatment material.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the soundness of the reaction tube containing the treatment material for treating hydrogen by the oxidation reaction can be ensured.

The side view which shows the structure of the hydrogen processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment by cutting out a part. The side view which shows the structure of the hydrogen processing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment by cutting out a part. The side view which shows the structure of the hydrogen processing apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment by cutting out a part. The side view which shows the structure of the hydrogen processing apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment by cutting out a part.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[A] First Embodiment (Fig. 1)
FIG. 1 is a side view showing the configuration of the hydrogen processing apparatus according to the first embodiment by cutting out a part. For example, when a nuclear power plant accident occurs and a large amount of hydrogen is generated in the reactor containment vessel, the hydrogen in the reactor containment vessel as the equipment to be treated with hydrogen is treated with hydrogen as shown in FIG. Removed by device 10. The hydrogen treatment apparatus 10 includes a reaction vessel 11 for removing hydrogen and a cooler 12 for cooling oil or gas N, which will be described later.

The reaction vessel 11 is configured by using the upper support plate 14 and the lower support plate 15 in the housing 13 and arranging a plurality of reaction tubes 16 in parallel in an upright state. A treatment material 17 for treating (removing) hydrogen by an oxidation reaction is enclosed and housed in the reaction tube 16. Further, the gas introduction pipe 18 provided at the bottom of the housing 13 and the gas return pipe 19 provided at the top of the housing 13 allow the inside of the housing 13 to be treated with hydrogen (for example, a reactor containment vessel). It is communicated within. The gas introduction pipe 18 introduces the gas to be treated G1 containing hydrogen in the equipment subject to hydrogen treatment into the housing 13 of the reaction vessel 11. The gas return pipe 19 returns the treated gas G2 from which hydrogen has been removed or reduced in the reaction vessel 11 to the equipment to be treated with hydrogen.

The upper support plate 14 and the lower support plate 15 are in contact with and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the side wall of the housing 13, and are provided with a plurality of through holes. By inserting the reaction tube 16 through each through hole, the reaction tube 16 is supported in an upright posture. Further, a sealing material (not shown) is provided between the through hole of the lower support plate 15 and the reaction tube 16, and the gas G1 to be treated introduced into the housing 13 by the gas introduction pipe 18 does not leak. It is guided into the reaction tube 16. Further, the through hole of the upper support plate 14 is formed to have a diameter larger than that of the reaction tube 16 so that the thermal expansion of the reaction tube 16 can be released when the reaction tube 16 is heated. A sealing material may be provided between the through hole of the upper support plate 14 and the reaction tube 16.

Treatment material 17 is a metal oxide capable of forming a plurality of oxidation numbers, for example, copper oxide (CuO), peroxide manganese _{(Mn n O} m), constituted by cobalt oxide _(Co n _{O m),} or the like. In this treated material 17, oxygen (O) contained in the metal oxide and hydrogen (H ₂ ) in the gas to be treated G1 oxidize to generate water (H ₂ O), thereby producing water (H 2 O) from the outside. It is possible to treat (remove) hydrogen contained in the gas to be treated G1 without requiring oxygen. For example, the oxidation reaction formula when the treated material 17 is composed of copper oxide (CuO) is as follows.
CuO + H ₂ → Cu + H ₂ O

Further, in the housing 13, the treatment material 17 is sealed in the reaction tube 16 and the reaction area 16A for oxidizing hydrogen (that is, the upper support plate 14 and the lower support plate 15 in the reaction tube 16). Oil or gas N is sealed as a refrigerant in the space M outside the space (between the regions). The temperature of the treated material 17 rises when hydrogen is oxidized, and may exceed the maximum operating temperature of the reaction tube 16 when the amount of hydrogen to be treated is large and does not have a special cooling structure. The oil or gas N sealed in the space M in the housing 13 suppresses the temperature rise of the reaction tube 16 due to the temperature rise of the treatment material 17 by cooling.

The cooler 12 is installed outside the reaction vessel 11 to cool the oil or gas N in the housing 13 of the reaction vessel 11. The cooler 12 has at least two pipes communicating with the space M between the upper support plate 14 and the lower support plate 15 in the housing 13 of the reaction vessel 11 (in this embodiment, one supply pipe 21 and each). It is connected to the reaction vessel 11 using the return pipe 22). The supply pipe 21 and the return pipe 22 extend in the horizontal direction and are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction, and the supply pipe 21 is arranged below and the return pipe 22 is arranged above.

The oil or gas N cooled by the cooler 12 and cooled to a low temperature is supplied into the housing 13 via the supply pipe 21, and the oil or gas N cooled in the housing 13 is supplied to the return pipe 22. By returning to the cooler 12 through the above, natural circulation of oil or gas N is realized between the housing 13 of the reaction vessel 11 and the cooler 12.

In the above-mentioned hydrogen treatment apparatus 10, the gas to be treated G1 containing hydrogen in the reactor storage vessel as the equipment to be hydrogenated is introduced into the housing 13 of the reaction vessel 11 via the gas introduction pipe 18, and the reaction vessel 11 is introduced. While flowing in one direction from the inflow port (not shown) toward the outflow port 24, the inside of the reaction tube 16 comes into contact with the processing material 17 in the reaction tube 16. As a result, hydrogen in the gas to be treated G1 undergoes an oxidation reaction with oxygen in the treatment material 17 (metal oxide) to change into water vapor and is removed. The treated gas G2 from which hydrogen has been removed or reduced by the water tank treatment device 10 is returned to the hydrogen treatment target equipment (reactor containment vessel) via the gas return pipe 19.

In the above-mentioned oxidation reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, the temperature of the reaction tube 16 may exceed the maximum operating temperature of the reaction tube 16 when the amount of hydrogen processed by the treatment material 17 is large and the treatment material 17 does not have a special cooling structure. is there. However, the temperature of the reaction tube 16 is suppressed to a low level by the oil or gas N sealed in the space M in the housing 13 and circulating between the reaction vessel 11 and the cooler 12 functioning as a cooling medium. Therefore, the occurrence of problems such as buckling is avoided.

The reaction vessel 11 and the cooler 12 of the hydrogen processing apparatus 10 configured as described above are configured to be mountable on a moving means that can be moved to an arbitrary location, for example, a large truck 20. Further, the reaction vessel 11 may be divided into a plurality of reaction vessels having a small capacity. Correspondingly, the cooler 12 may be divided into a plurality of coolers having a small capacity. These reaction vessels and coolers having a small capacity are connected by a supply pipe 21 and a return pipe 22 to form a hydrogen processing device having a capacity smaller than that of the hydrogen processing device 10. This hydrogen processing apparatus having a small capacity is configured to be mountable on a small truck or a medium truck smaller than the case of the hydrogen processing apparatus 10.

Since it is configured as described above, according to the first embodiment, the following effects (1) to (3) are obtained.
(1) The oil or gas N sealed in the reaction vessel 11 absorbs the heat of reaction due to the oxidation reaction between the treatment material 17 and hydrogen contained in each reaction tube 16 in the reaction vessel 11. Moreover, the oil or gas N in the reaction vessel 11 is cooled by the cooler 12 and circulates between the reaction vessel 11 and the cooler 12, thereby efficiently cooling the reaction tube 16. For example, even if the scale of the equipment to be treated with hydrogen (for example, the reactor containment vessel) is large and the amount of gas G1 to be treated containing hydrogen becomes large and the heat of reaction due to the oxidation reaction between the treatment material 17 and hydrogen becomes excessive. The reaction tube 16 can be operated at a sound temperature equal to or lower than the maximum operating temperature of the reaction tube 16 by the oil or gas N circulating between the reaction vessel 11 and the cooler 12. As a result, the soundness of the reaction tube 16 accommodating the treatment material 17 can be ensured.

(2) The hydrogen processing apparatus 10 provided with the reaction vessel 11 and the cooler 12 is configured to be mountable on a moving means that can be moved to an arbitrary location, for example, a large truck 20. Therefore, when the hydrogen processing apparatus 10 needs maintenance due to long-term operation, the hydrogen processing apparatus 10 can be easily moved to the manufacturing plant or the maintenance plant of the hydrogen processing apparatus 10 by, for example, a large truck 20. Can be done.

(3) When the respective capacities of the reaction vessel 11 and the cooler 12 constituting the hydrogen treatment apparatus 10 are divided into a plurality of reaction vessels and coolers having a small capacity, the reaction vessel and the cooling having a small capacity are obtained. The hydrogen processing apparatus composed of the containers is mounted on a light truck or a medium truck instead of the heavy truck 20 and can be transported. In this case, not only the transportation cost of the hydrogen processing apparatus can be reduced, but also the maintenance of the transportation route can be reduced.

[B] Second embodiment (FIG. 2)
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the hydrogen processing apparatus according to the second embodiment by cutting out a part. In this second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment to simplify or omit the description.

The difference between the hydrogen processing apparatus 25 of the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that among at least two pipes (for example, the supply pipe 21 and the return pipe 22) connecting the reaction vessel 11 and the cooler 12. At least one pipe (for example, the supply pipe 21) is provided with a driving means 26 such as a pump or a compressor for forcibly circulating oil or gas N.

Since it is configured as described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the same effects as the effects (1) to (3) of the first embodiment, the following effects (4) are obtained.

(4) Since the drive means 26 is arranged in the supply pipe 21, for example, the oil or gas N cooled to a low temperature by the cooler 12 can be forcibly supplied to the reaction vessel 11. Therefore, the oil or gas N can be circulated between the reaction vessel 11 and the cooler 12 at a larger flow rate than in the case of the natural circulation of the first embodiment. As a result, even if the scale of the equipment subject to hydrogen treatment (for example, the reactor containment vessel) is large and the amount of gas G1 to be treated by the hydrogen treatment apparatus 25 is large, the temperature of the reaction tube 16 is kept below the maximum operating temperature. It can be operated reliably at a healthy temperature.

[C] Third Embodiment (Fig. 3)
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the hydrogen processing apparatus according to the third embodiment by cutting out a part. In this third embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment to simplify or omit the description.

The difference between the hydrogen treatment apparatus 30 of the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that the heating means 31 is installed around the reaction vessel 11, and the heating means 31 is arranged in the reaction vessel 11. It is a point configured to cover at least the reaction area 16A of the above.

The heating means 31 is a heater, or, for example, a conduit for flowing high-temperature steam in the reactor containment vessel. Further, the heating means 31 may be installed around the reaction vessel 11 in the hydrogen treatment apparatus 25 of the second embodiment.

Since it is configured as described above, according to the third embodiment, in addition to producing the same effects as the effects (1) to (4) of the first and second embodiments, the following effect (5) is obtained. Play.

(5) Since the heating means 31 is arranged around the reaction vessel 11 so as to cover at least the reaction area 16A of the reaction tube 16 in the reaction vessel 11, the heating means 31 reacts before the hydrogen treatment apparatus 30 is started. The treated material 17 in the tube 16 can be preheated to the reaction start temperature. For example, when it is determined that hydrogen treatment is necessary in a facility subject to hydrogen treatment (for example, a reactor containment vessel) due to a natural disaster such as an earthquake or a typhoon, the heating means 31 immediately causes the reaction tube 16 in the reaction vessel 11 to undergo hydrogen treatment. The treated material 17 can be preheated to the reaction start temperature. Therefore, the hydrogen treatment apparatus 30 can be started at an arbitrary timing (for example, immediately) after the nuclear accident, and the hydrogen treatment can be carried out quickly.

[D] Fourth Embodiment (Fig. 4)
FIG. 4 is a side view showing the configuration of the hydrogen processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment by cutting out a part. In this fourth embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment to simplify or omit the description.

The difference between the hydrogen treatment apparatus 40 of the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment is that the refrigerant sealed in the space M in the reaction vessel 11 is gas J, which is connected to the reaction vessel 11 and communicates with the space M. A valve 44 is arranged in at least one pipe (for example, supply pipe 41) of at least two pipes (for example, supply pipe 41 and discharge pipe 42), and a gas supply source 43 is connected to the end of the pipe. The point is that the gas J can be discharged from at least one other pipe (for example, the discharge pipe 42). Further, the reaction vessel 11 is provided with a temperature sensor 45 capable of detecting the temperature inside the reaction vessel 11, particularly the surface temperature of the reaction tube 16, at an arbitrary one or a plurality of positions, and the opening and closing of the valve 44 is controlled. It is controlled by the vessel 46.

The gas J supplied and sealed from the gas supply source 43 to the space M in the housing 13 of the reaction vessel 11 via the supply pipe 41 is generated by the heat of reaction due to the oxidation reaction between the processing material 17 in the reaction tube 16 and hydrogen. The reaction tube 16 that raises the temperature is cooled. Since the cooled gas J is discharged into the atmosphere through the discharge pipe 42, a low environmental load gas is preferable. For example, as the gas J, any one of air gas, nitrogen gas, helium gas, argon gas, and carbon dioxide gas is used. Further, the gas supply source 43 is preferably a high-pressure gas cylinder filled with these low environmental load gases.

The controller 46 controls the opening and closing of the valve 44 based on the detected value of the temperature sensor 45. That is, the controller 46 opens the valve 44 when any one of the detected values of the temperature sensor 45 rises to the vicinity of the maximum operating temperature of the reaction tube 16 to react the gas J from the gas supply source 43. It is guided to the space M in the housing 13 of the container 11, and the reaction tube 16 is cooled by this gas J. Further, the controller 46 closes the valve 44 when any one of the detected values of the temperature sensor 45 drops to the vicinity of the reaction start temperature of the processing material 17 in the reaction tube 16 from the gas supply source 43. The gas J introduced into the space M in the housing 13 of the reaction vessel 11 is blocked, the cooling of the reaction tube 16 by the gas J is prevented, and the treatment material 17 is kept above the reaction start temperature.

Since it is configured as described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the following effects (6) to (8) are obtained.
(6) The gas J sealed in the space M in the housing 13 of the reaction vessel 11 absorbs the heat of reaction due to the oxidation reaction between the treatment material 17 and hydrogen contained in each reaction tube 16 in the reaction vessel 11. .. Moreover, the gas J in the space M in the housing 13 is supplied from the gas supply source 43 such as a high-pressure gas cylinder, so that a flow rate larger than the natural circulation flow rate of the first embodiment can be secured, and the reaction tube 16 can be secured. The cooling capacity for the above can be improved as compared with the case of the first embodiment. Therefore, even when the scale of the equipment to be treated with hydrogen (for example, the reactor storage container) is large and the amount of gas G1 to be treated containing hydrogen becomes large and the heat of reaction due to the oxidation reaction between the treatment material 17 and hydrogen becomes excessive. The reaction tube 16 can be operated at a sound temperature equal to or lower than the maximum operating temperature of the reaction tube 16 by the gas J supplied from the gas supply source 43 to the space M in the housing 13 of the reaction vessel 11. As a result, the soundness of the reaction tube 16 accommodating the treatment material 17 can be ensured.

(7) Since the gas J supplied from the gas supply source 43 to the space M in the housing 13 of the reaction vessel 11 is a low environmental load gas, the gas J after cooling the reaction tube 16 in the reaction vessel 11 Can be discharged into the atmosphere via the discharge pipe 42.

(8) The controller 46 controls the opening and closing of the valve 44 for supplying the gas J from the gas supply source 43 into the reaction vessel 11 based on the detection value from the temperature sensor 45 that detects the temperature in the reaction vessel 11. doing. Therefore, in order to open and close the valve 44, it is not necessary for the worker to approach the vicinity of the dangerous area where the valve 44 exists, for example, and the operator has an accident such as a pressure increase due to an erroneous operation of the valve 44. Can be prevented in advance.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention, and their replacements and changes can be made. Is included in the scope and gist of the invention, and is also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

10 ... Hydrogen processing device, 11 ... Reaction vessel, 12 ... Cooler, 16 ... Reaction tube, 16A ... Reaction area, 17 ... Processing material, 20 ... Large truck (transportation means), 21 ... Supply piping, 22 ... Return piping, 25 ... Hydrogen processing device, 26 ... Driving means, 30 ... Hydrogen processing device, 31 ... Heating means, 40 ... Hydrogen processing device, 41 ... Supply pipe, 42 ... Discharge pipe, 43 ... Gas supply source, 44 ... Valve, 45 ... Temperature sensor, 46 ... Controller, G1 ... Processed gas, G2 ... Treated gas, M ... Space, N ... Oil or gas, J ... Gas

Claims (7)

It has a reaction vessel in which a plurality of reaction tubes accommodating a treatment material composed of a metal oxide capable of having a plurality of oxidation numbers are arranged inside, and the gas to be treated introduced into the reaction vessel from the equipment to be hydrogenated. In a hydrogen treatment apparatus that treats hydrogen contained in the above by an oxidation reaction using the treatment material in the reaction tube.
An oil or gas for cooling the reaction tube is sealed in the space inside the reaction vessel outside the reaction area in which the treatment material is housed and the hydrogen is oxidized.
A cooler is connected to the reaction vessel using at least two pipes communicating with the space, and the oil or gas is cooled by the cooler and between the reaction vessel and the cooler. A hydrogen processing apparatus characterized in that it is configured to circulate in. Claim 1 is characterized in that, of at least two pipes connecting the reaction vessel and the cooler, at least one of the pipes is provided with a driving means for forcibly circulating oil or gas. The hydrogen treatment apparatus according to. The hydrogen treatment apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reaction vessel and the cooler are configured to be mounted on a moving means that can be moved to an arbitrary place. Any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a heating means is installed in the reaction vessel, and the heating means is configured to cover at least the reaction area of the reaction tube arranged in the reaction vessel. The hydrogen treatment apparatus according to item 1. It has a reaction vessel in which a plurality of reaction tubes accommodating a treatment material composed of a metal oxide capable of having a plurality of oxidation numbers are arranged inside, and the gas to be treated introduced into the reaction vessel from the equipment to be hydrogenated. In a hydrogen treatment apparatus that treats hydrogen contained in the above by an oxidation reaction using the treatment material in the reaction tube.
A gas for cooling the reaction tube is sealed in the space inside the reaction vessel outside the reaction area in which the treatment material is housed and the hydrogen is oxidized.
At least two pipes communicating with the space are connected to the reaction vessel, and at least one of the pipes is connected to a gas supply source for supplying the gas to the space, and at least one of the other pipes is connected. A hydrogen processing apparatus characterized in that the gas can be discharged from the pipe of a book. A valve is provided in the pipe connected to the gas supply source, and a temperature sensor is installed in any one or more positions in the reaction vessel.
In the controller that controls the opening and closing of the valve based on the detection value of the temperature sensor, any one of the detection values of the temperature sensor rises to near the maximum operating temperature of the reaction tube arranged in the reaction vessel. The fifth aspect of claim 5, wherein the valve is sometimes opened and closed when the temperature of the treatment material contained in the reaction tube drops to the vicinity of the reaction start temperature. Hydrogen processing equipment. It has a reaction vessel in which a plurality of reaction tubes accommodating a treatment material composed of a metal oxide capable of having a plurality of oxidation numbers are arranged inside, and the gas to be treated introduced into the reaction vessel from the equipment to be hydrogenated. In the method of operating a hydrogen treatment apparatus that treats hydrogen contained in the hydrogen by an oxidation reaction using the treatment material in the reaction tube.
A gas for cooling the reaction tube is sealed in the space inside the reaction vessel outside the reaction area in which the treatment material is housed and the hydrogen is oxidized.
At least two pipes communicating with the space are connected to the reaction vessel, and a gas supply source for supplying the gas to the space is connected to at least one of the pipes via a valve. The gas is discharged from at least one other pipe,
When any one of the detection values of the temperature sensors installed at any one or a plurality of positions of the reaction vessel rises to the vicinity of the maximum operating temperature of the reaction tube, the valve is opened to open the processing material. A method of operating a hydrogen processing apparatus, which comprises closing the valve when the temperature drops to the vicinity of the reaction start temperature of the above.

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