JP5066414B2 - Reformer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reforming apparatus for steam reforming a raw material for hydrogen production such as kerosene to produce a hydrogen-rich reformed gas.

As a conventional reformer, a burner that ejects flame upward, an inner radiation cylinder that guides the exhaust gas generated from the burner upward, and an exhaust gas that blows out from the upper end opening of the inner radiation cylinder that is the free end An exhaust gas channel that guides and a reforming vessel that reforms the reformed gas fuel into a hydrogen-rich reformed gas using the heat of the exhaust gas that passes through the exhaust gas channel, and is provided radially outward from the center. A cylindrical reformer is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2007-31249 A

  Here, in the above reformer, when the burner is burned, the inner radiation cylinder becomes extremely high, and the temperature difference from the non-operating time becomes large. Therefore, in particular, there is a possibility that the shape of the upper end opening which is a free end is deformed due to a temperature change. In such a case, stable reforming cannot be performed, and There was also a problem with durability.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a reformer that can suppress deformation of a combustion cylinder due to a temperature change and realize stable reforming and improved durability of the apparatus. The purpose is to provide.

  According to the reforming apparatus of the present invention, a combustion cylinder as a heat source having a combustion section and a cylinder for guiding flame and exhaust gas from the combustion section, and a hydrogen production raw material disposed so as to surround the combustion cylinder A reformer that generates a reformed gas containing hydrogen by steam reforming, and an exhaust gas passage formed between the combustion cylinder and the reformer, through which the exhaust gas from the combustion cylinder passes. The front end of the cylinder of the combustion cylinder is a free end, and a deformation suppression ring that suppresses deformation due to heating of the front end is disposed at the front end.

  According to this reformer, since the deformation suppression ring for suppressing deformation due to heating of the tip end portion is disposed at the tip end portion of the cylinder, which is a portion that is particularly prone to deformation in the combustion cylinder, the temperature change It is possible to suppress the deformation of the combustion cylinder due to the above and improve the durability of the apparatus.

  In the reforming apparatus according to the present invention, the deformation suppression ring has a first deformation suppression ring arranged on the outer peripheral surface side at the tip of the cylindrical body, and the first deformation suppression ring is an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body. It is preferable that they are integrated with each other. According to this reformer, since the first deformation suppression ring is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, the distal end portion of the cylindrical body is reinforced, thereby suppressing deformation to the outside of the distal end portion of the cylindrical body. can do. Moreover, since it arrange | positions at the outer peripheral surface of a cylinder, the deformation | transformation to the outer side of the front-end | tip part of a cylinder can also be suppressed.

  In the reforming apparatus according to the present invention, the deformation suppression ring has a second deformation suppression ring disposed on the inner peripheral surface side at the tip portion of the cylindrical body, and the second deformation suppression ring is the inner side of the cylindrical body. It is preferable that a gap is provided between the peripheral surface and the peripheral surface. According to this reformer, since the second deformation suppression ring is disposed with a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, when the tip of the cylindrical body is deformed to the inner peripheral side. By receiving on the outer peripheral surface of the second deformation suppression ring, the deformation can be suppressed. In addition, if the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder and the second deformation suppression ring are fixed without a gap, unexpected deformation occurs in the other part of the combustion cylinder instead of the tip of the cylinder, which is rather durable. There is also a possibility of damaging the sex. However, according to this reformer, since a gap is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder and the second deformation suppression ring, unexpected deformation can be prevented.

  In the reformer according to the present invention, a cylinder side communication hole that communicates the inside and the outside is provided at the tip of the cylinder of the combustion cylinder, and the second deformation suppression ring corresponds to at least the cylinder side communication hole. It is preferable that a ring side communication hole that communicates the inside and the outside is provided at the height position. If the flow path for supplying the exhaust gas from the fuel cylinder to the exhaust gas flow path is blocked by arranging the first and second deformation suppressing rings, the exhaust gas flow path is sufficiently provided. There is a possibility that the pressure loss may be increased while it cannot be ensured. However, according to this reformer, the exhaust gas from the combustion cylinder passes through the cylinder side communication hole provided at the tip of the cylinder and the ring side communication hole provided in the second deformation suppression ring. By this, it can supply to an exhaust gas flow path. As a result, even when the first and second deformation suppression rings are arranged, it is possible to secure a sufficient exhaust gas flow path and to prevent an increase in pressure loss.

  In the reforming apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the second deformation suppression ring has a thick portion and a thin portion thinner than the thick portion, and the ring side communication hole is provided in the thin portion. . According to this reformer, the thin portion provided with the ring side communication hole can be reinforced by the thick portion.

  The reformer according to the present invention includes a wall portion that is provided so as to be opposed to the tip opening of the cylinder of the combustion cylinder and on which the second deformation suppression ring is detachably mounted. It is preferable that the height of the ring is adjusted so that the other end reaches the cylinder when it is mounted on the wall via the one end. According to this reformer, since the second deformation suppression ring is detachably mounted on the wall portion, replacement of the second deformation suppression ring and periodic maintenance of the apparatus are possible. Moreover, since the height is adjusted so that the other end side of the second deformation suppression ring reaches the cylinder, deformation of the combustion cylinder can also be reliably suppressed.

  According to the reforming apparatus according to the present invention, the deformation of the combustion cylinder due to a temperature change can be suppressed, and the durability of the apparatus can be improved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a fuel cell system to which a reforming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the reforming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The fuel cell system generates power using a raw material for hydrogen production, and is employed as a household power supply source, for example. Here, as the raw material for hydrogen production, any substance that can obtain a reformed gas containing hydrogen by a steam reforming reaction can be used. For example, compounds having carbon and hydrogen in the molecule, such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, and ethers, can be used. Preferable examples of raw materials for hydrogen production that can be obtained for industrial use or consumer use include methanol, ethanol, dimethyl ether, methane, city gas, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), and gasoline, naphtha, kerosene obtained from petroleum. And hydrocarbon oils such as light oil. Among these, liquid fuel is preferable, and kerosene is particularly preferable because it is easily available for industrial use and for consumer use and is easy to handle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel cell system 1 includes a desulfurizer 2, a fuel processing system (FPS) 3, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) stack 4, an inverter 5, and a housing 6 that accommodates these. ing.

  The desulfurizer 2 desulfurizes a raw material for hydrogen production introduced from the outside. The desulfurizer 2 is provided with a heater (not shown), whereby the desulfurizer 2 heats, for example, a raw material for hydrogen production to 130 ° C. to 140 ° C.

  The FPS 3 is for reforming a raw material for hydrogen production to generate a reformed gas, and includes a reformer 30, a CO converter 10, and a selective oxidizer 15. The reformer 30 steam reforms the raw material for hydrogen production to produce a hydrogen-rich reformed gas, and includes a reformer 8 and a burner 9.

  The reformer 8 of the reformer 30 is supplied with the raw material for hydrogen production desulfurized from the desulfurizer 2 and is also supplied with steam (water) from the outside. Then, the desulfurized hydrogen production raw material and steam (water) are subjected to a steam reforming reaction with a reforming catalyst to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen. Further, the burner 9 of the reformer 30 heats the reforming catalyst of the reformer 8 to supply a heat amount necessary for the steam reforming reaction. In addition, it is preferable to use the raw material for hydrogen production from the desulfurizer 2 as the fuel for the burner 9 and the off-gas from the PEFC stack 4 during operation.

  The CO converter 10 reacts carbon monoxide with water in order to reduce the carbon monoxide concentration (CO) contained in the reformed gas generated by the reformer 8, and converts it into hydrogen and carbon dioxide by a hydrogen shift reaction. It is for conversion. In addition, the selective oxidizer 15 selectively converts the carbon monoxide in the reformed gas into carbon dioxide by further reducing the carbon monoxide concentration of the reformed gas processed by the CO converter 10. Is.

  The PEFC stack 4 is configured by stacking a plurality of battery cells (not shown). The PEFC stack 4 generates electric power using the reformed gas obtained by the FPS 3 and outputs a direct current (DC) current. The battery cell has an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte that is a solid polymer disposed between the anode and the cathode. By introducing the reformed gas into the anode and introducing air into the cathode, An electrochemical power generation reaction is performed in each battery cell.

  The inverter 5 converts the output DC current into an alternating current (AC) current. The housing 6 accommodates the desulfurizer 2, FPS 3, SOFC stack 4 and inverter 5 in a modular manner.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a specific configuration of the reformer 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the reformer 30 includes a reformer 8, a combustion cylinder 11, an exhaust gas passage 12, a water vapor passage 13, a reformed gas passage 14, and a convex portion 19. ing. In this reformer 30, the outer shape is arranged in a substantially cylindrical shape in the order of the exhaust gas flow channel 12, the reformer 8, and the steam flow channel 13 from the inner periphery side so as to surround the combustion cylinder 11 coaxially. The passage 12 is filled with alumina beads 17 (details will be described later) as a heat transfer medium (see FIG. 3).

  The combustion cylinder 11 is configured by attaching a burner (combustion section) 9 to the upper end of a cylindrical cylinder 11a. This combustion cylinder 11 generates exhaust gas E by injecting flame F downward from the burner 9, and guides the flame F and exhaust gas E from the burner 9 downward by the cylinder 11a. Further, the lower end portion 11b of the cylindrical body 11a has a front end opening 11c and is a free end portion. An outer ring (first deformation suppression ring) 16 is attached to the outer peripheral surface side of the distal end portion 11b of the cylindrical body 11a, and an inner ring (second deformation suppression ring) 18 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface side ( Details will be described later). In addition, since the burner 9 is attached to the upper end part of the cylinder 11a, and is arrange | positioned downward, entry of liquid dripping etc. can be prevented.

  The reformer 8 has a reforming catalyst 8 a for performing a reforming reaction therein, and is disposed so as to surround the combustion cylinder 11 so that a gap is provided between the reformer 8 and the combustion cylinder 11. The reformer 8 takes in kerosene and steam, which are raw materials for hydrogen production, from the upper end side, and outputs reformed gas from the lower end side. Between the reformer 8 and the combustion cylinder 11, an exhaust gas passage 12 for allowing the exhaust gas E to pass therethrough is provided, and the reformed gas is supplied to the CO converter (10 in FIG. 1) on the lower end side of the reformer 8. ) And the like, and a steam channel 13 for guiding steam to be supplied to the reformer 8 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the reformer 8.

  The convex portion 19 is for positioning the inner ring 18, and is provided on the bottom wall (wall portion) 30 a of the reformer 30 so as to be opposed to the tip opening 11 c of the cylindrical body 11 a.

  In the reformer 30 configured as described above, after the kerosene from the outside and the steam passing through the steam channel 13 are supplied to the reformer 8 and subjected to the steam reforming reaction by the reforming catalyst 8a, The reformed gas is supplied from the lower end side of the reformer 8 to the reformed gas passage 14. At this time, the exhaust gas E generated by the combustion of the burner 9 is supplied to the exhaust gas flow channel 12 from the tip end portion 11b side of the cylinder 11a, passes through the exhaust gas flow channel 12 while heating the reformer 8, and goes to the outside. Exhausted. At this time, the upper end side of the reformer 8 is heated to about 400 ° C., and the lower end side is heated to about 700 ° C.

  4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of A shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the exhaust gas passage 12 is filled with alumina beads 17 having a heat transfer property and a heat storage property that are at least higher than air and a particle size of about 0.5 to 3 mm. The alumina beads 17 may be stainless steel such as SUS304, 310s, Inconel (registered trademark), Hastelloy (registered trademark), Nichrome, Kanthal (registered trademark), or the like. Note that a net-like ejection prevention lid (not shown) is provided on the upper end side of the exhaust gas passage 12 to prevent the alumina beads from being ejected when the exhaust gas E flows.

  The outer ring 16 has a larger diameter than the cylindrical body 11a, and the inner peripheral surface thereof is integrated with the cylindrical body 11a by welding or the like to the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion 11b of the cylindrical body 11a. The outer ring 16 narrows the width of the lower end of the exhaust gas passage 12 and supports the alumina beads 17 filled in the exhaust gas passage 12. A gap 20 smaller than the diameter of the alumina beads 17 is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring 16 and the outer peripheral wall surface 12 a of the exhaust gas flow channel 12. Also, a cylinder side communication hole 11d that communicates the inside and the outside is provided above the position where the outer ring 16 is attached at the distal end portion 11b of the cylinder 11a. The material of the outer ring 16 is preferably SUS310.

  The inner ring 18 is detachably mounted so as to be fitted to the edge 19a of the convex portion 19, and an upper end (the other end of the second deformation suppressing ring) 18d is a cylinder side communication hole provided in the cylinder 11a. The height is adjusted to be higher than the position 11d. The inner ring 18 has a smaller diameter than the cylindrical body 11a, and is arranged so that a minute gap 21 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 18 and the inner peripheral surface of the distal end portion 11b of the cylindrical body 11a. The inner ring 18 has a thick portion 18a formed on the upper end 18d side and a thin portion 18b thinner than the thick portion 18a, and the thin portion 18b has a ring side communication hole 18c communicating between the inside and the outside. (See FIG. 5). A part of the ring side communication hole 18c on the upper side of the thin portion 18b is provided at a height corresponding to the cylinder side communication hole 11d so as not to block the cylinder side communication hole 11d. As a result, the exhaust gas E passes through the ring side communication hole 18 c and the cylinder side communication hole 11 d and is supplied from the combustion cylinder 11 to the exhaust gas flow path 12. The material of the inner ring 18 is preferably SUS310.

  As described above, the inner ring 18 and the outer ring 16 for suppressing deformation due to heating of the distal end portion 11b of the cylindrical body 11a are formed in the distal end portion 11b of the cylindrical body 11a, which is a portion that is particularly easily deformed in the combustion cylinder 11. Since they are arranged, deformation of the combustion cylinder 11 due to temperature changes can be suppressed, and the durability of the reformer 30 can be improved.

  Further, since the outer ring 16 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 11a, the distal end portion 11b of the cylindrical body 11a is reinforced, thereby suppressing deformation of the cylindrical body 11a toward the inner side and the outer side. be able to. Moreover, since it arrange | positions at the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 11a, the deformation | transformation to the outer side of the front-end | tip part 11b of the cylinder 11a can also be suppressed.

  Moreover, since the inner ring 18 is disposed with a gap 21 between the inner ring 18 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 11a, when the distal end portion 11b of the cylinder 11a is deformed to the inner peripheral side, the inner ring 18 By receiving at the outer peripheral surface, the deformation can be suppressed. Further, if the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 11a and the inner ring 18 are fixed without a gap, unexpected deformation occurs in other parts of the combustion cylinder 11 instead of the tip 11b of the cylinder 11a. There is also a possibility of impairing durability. However, according to this reformer 30, since the gap 21 is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 11a and the inner ring 18, unexpected deformation can be prevented. In addition, since the clearance 20 is provided also on the outer ring 16 side, unexpected deformation can be prevented.

  Further, if the outer ring 16 and the inner ring 18 are arranged, the flow path for supplying the exhaust gas E from the fuel cylinder 11 to the exhaust gas flow path 12 is blocked. It may not be possible to secure a sufficient path, and pressure loss may increase. However, according to this reformer 30, the exhaust gas E from the combustion cylinder 11 flows into the cylinder side communication hole 11d provided at the tip 11b of the cylinder 11a and the ring side communication hole 18c provided in the inner ring 18. Can be supplied to the exhaust gas flow path 12. As a result, even when the outer ring 16 and the inner ring 18 are arranged, the exhaust gas flow channel 12 can be sufficiently secured and the pressure loss can be prevented from increasing.

  Moreover, since the inner ring 18 has the thick part 18d, the thin part 18b provided with the ring side communication hole 18c can be reinforced by the thick part 18d.

  Further, since the inner ring 18 is detachably mounted on the convex portion 19, the inner ring 18 can be replaced and the apparatus can be periodically maintained. Moreover, since the height is adjusted so that the upper end d side of the inner ring 18 reaches the inside of the cylinder 11a, the deformation of the combustion cylinder 11 can be reliably suppressed.

  In addition, since the highly heat-conductive alumina beads 17 are disposed in the exhaust gas passage 12, heat from the exhaust gas E passing through the exhaust gas passage 12 can be sufficiently transmitted to the reformer 8. Thereby, the raw material for hydrogen production can be efficiently reformed without increasing the size of the apparatus.

  Further, for example, even when the combustion state in the combustion cylinder 11 or the flow rate of the reformed gas suddenly changes, the heat stored in the alumina beads 17 is supplied to the reformer 8 to improve the state. A rapid temperature change in the mass device 8 can be prevented, and this enables stable reforming of the raw material for hydrogen production.

  Moreover, since the surface area of the heat transfer medium can be increased by using the particulate alumina beads 17 as the heat transfer medium, heat can be sufficiently received from the exhaust gas E passing through the exhaust gas flow path 12. Thus, heat can be efficiently transferred to the reformer 8. Moreover, since an appropriate gap can be provided, an unnecessary increase in pressure loss in the exhaust gas flow channel 12 can be suppressed.

  Further, in order to prevent dripping of the burner 9 and the like, the exhaust gas E is generated downward from the burner 9 as in the present embodiment, and the exhaust gas E is supplied to the exhaust gas flow path 12 from the end portion 11b side of the cylindrical body 11a. In this configuration, the outer ring 16 for suppressing deformation disposed on the outer surface side of the cylindrical body 11a can be used as a support member for supporting the granular alumina beads 17, thereby reducing the number of parts. it can. At this time, by providing the cylindrical body side communication hole 11d at the tip end portion 11b of the cylindrical body 11a, a flow path for supplying the exhaust gas E can be sufficiently secured.

  Moreover, since alumina is used as the heat transfer medium, the cost can be reduced and both the heat transfer property and the heat storage property as the heat transfer medium can be secured in a well-balanced manner.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

  For example, although the granular alumina beads 17 are used as the heat transfer medium disposed in the exhaust gas flow channel 12, a plurality of fins 25 extending in the vertical direction in the exhaust gas flow channel 12 are provided as shown in FIG. Also good. Such fins 25 also have the same actions and effects as the alumina beads 17.

  Further, only one of the inner ring 18 and the outer ring 16 may be attached. When the outer ring 16 is not attached, a member for supporting the alumina beads 17 is separately provided.

  Furthermore, the stack is not limited to the PEFC stack, but may be another type of stack such as an alkaline electrolyte form, a phosphoric acid form, a molten carbonate form, or a solid oxide form.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a fuel cell system to which a reformer according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is the composition schematic showing the reformer concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view of the reformer shown in FIG. It is a partial expanded sectional view of A in FIG. It is a perspective view of an inner ring. It is a cross-sectional view of the reformer according to another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 ... Reformer, 9 ... Burner (combustion part), 11 ... Combustion cylinder, 11a ... Cylindrical body, 11b ... Tip part, 11c ... Tip opening, 11d ... Cylindrical body side communication hole, 12 ... Exhaust gas flow path, 16 ... Outside Ring (first deformation suppression ring), 18 ... inner ring (second deformation suppression ring), 18a ... thick wall portion, 18b ... thin wall portion, 18c ... ring side communication hole, 18d ... upper end (second deformation suppression ring) The other end of the ring), 21 ... the gap, 30 ... the reformer, 30a ... the bottom wall (wall part).

Claims (4)

A combustion cylinder as a heat source having a combustion section and a cylinder for guiding the flame and exhaust gas from the combustion section;
A reformer disposed so as to surround the combustion cylinder and generating a reformed gas containing hydrogen by steam reforming a raw material for hydrogen production;
An exhaust gas passage formed between the combustion cylinder and the reformer, through which the exhaust gas from the combustion cylinder passes,
The tip of the cylinder of the combustion cylinder is a free end,
A deformation suppression ring that suppresses deformation due to heating of the tip is disposed at the tip .
The deformation suppression ring has a second deformation suppression ring disposed on the inner peripheral surface side at the tip of the cylindrical body,
The second deformation suppression ring is disposed with a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body,
A cylinder side communication hole that communicates the inside and the outside is provided at the tip of the cylinder of the combustion cylinder,
The reformer characterized in that the second deformation suppression ring is provided with a ring side communication hole that communicates the inside and the outside at least at a height position corresponding to the cylinder side communication hole . The deformation suppression ring has a first deformation suppression ring disposed on the outer peripheral surface side at the tip of the cylindrical body,
The reformer according to claim 1, wherein the first deformation suppression ring is integrated with an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body. The said 2nd deformation | transformation suppression ring has a thick part and a thin part thinner than this thick part, and the said ring side communicating hole is provided in the said thin part, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The reformer according to 2 . A wall portion that is provided so as to be opposed to the front end opening of the cylindrical body of the combustion cylinder and that detachably mounts the second deformation suppression ring;
The second deformation suppressing ring, any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is adjusted height as the other end reaches the cylinder body when mounted on the wall through the one end A reformer according to claim 1.

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