JP7082942B2 - Hydrogen production equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hydrogen production apparatus, and more particularly to a hydrogen production apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon raw material to produce hydrogen.

Conventionally, as a hydrogen production device for obtaining hydrogen, a device in which a raw material hydrocarbon is reformed into a reformed gas by a steam reformer and then supplied to a PSA (Pressure Swing Attachment) device (hydrogen purifier) is known. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1 describes that the reformer is provided with a burner and the inside of the reformer is heated to a high temperature by burning the burner.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-335502

The hydrogen production apparatus is excellent in that it can promote steam reforming of the raw material gas by raising the temperature inside the reformer by burning the burner.

However, if the mixing ratio (air-fuel ratio) of the combustion gas supplied to the burner changes for some reason, the burner may have a flashback. Therefore, it is desired to provide a means for detecting the flashback of the burner.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen production apparatus capable of detecting a flashback of a burner of a reformer.

The hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1 is supplied with hydrogen as a raw material from a hydrogen supply source, reforms the hydrogen to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component, and internally burns the hydrogen. A reformer with a burner installed in the chamber, a hydrogen purifier connected to the reformer and separating the reforming gas into product hydrogen and off-gas, which is an impurity, to purify the product hydrogen, and flexibility. It is provided with a gas supply pipe communicated with the burner and a flashback detecting means for detecting the flashback of the burner based on the vibration of the gas supply pipe.

In this hydrogen production apparatus, a flashback may occur in the burner due to a change in the mixing ratio (air-fuel ratio) of the combustion gas supplied to the burner. In this case, the gas supply pipe that communicates with the burner and has flexibility vibrates.

By the way, the hydrogen production apparatus is provided with a flashback detecting means for detecting the vibration of the flexible gas supply pipe and detecting the flashback of the burner based on the vibration. Therefore, the hydrogen production device can detect the flashback of the burner based on the vibration of the gas supply pipe.

In this way, the hydrogen production device can detect the flashback of the burner with a simple configuration.

The hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 2 is the hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flashback detecting means includes an acceleration detecting means for detecting the acceleration of the gas supply pipe due to the vibration, and the acceleration and the threshold value. By comparison, when the acceleration is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the burner is provided with a flashback determining means for determining the flashback.

In this hydrogen production apparatus, the acceleration detecting means detects the acceleration of the gas supply pipe due to vibration, and determines whether or not the acceleration detected by the flashback determining means is equal to or higher than the threshold value. When the detected acceleration is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the flashback determining means determines that the burner is flashback (detects the burner flashback).

As described above, in the hydrogen production apparatus, the flashback determining means determines (detects) that the burner has a flashback only when the acceleration of the gas supply pipe detected by the acceleration detecting means is equal to or higher than the threshold value. Therefore, the possibility of erroneously detecting the flashback of the burner even in the case of weak vibration due to other causes is suppressed, and the flashback of the burner can be detected accurately with a simple configuration.

The hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 3 is an operation for stopping the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, when the flashback of the burner is detected by the flashback detecting means. It has a stopping means.

In this hydrogen production apparatus, when the flashback of the burner is detected by the flashback detection means, the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus is stopped by the operation stop means. This eliminates the flashback of the burner. That is, it is possible to prevent the burner from being damaged due to continuous flashback.

The hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 4 is the hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the flashback of the burner is detected by the notification means for notifying the operator of the shutdown of the hydrogen production apparatus and the flashback detecting means. Then, the driving means for driving the notification means is further provided.

In this hydrogen production apparatus, when the flashback of the burner is detected by the flashback detection means, the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus is stopped and the notification means is driven by the drive means. As a result, the notification means notifies the operator of the shutdown of the hydrogen production device due to flashback. Therefore, the operator can quickly recognize the shutdown of the hydrogen production device due to the flashback, and can quickly shift to the restart of the hydrogen production device.

It is a schematic block diagram which showed the hydrogen production apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the multi-cylindrical reformer of the hydrogen production apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which showed the control part of the hydrogen production apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which showed the control part of the hydrogen production apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[First Embodiment]
An example of the hydrogen production apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hydrogen production apparatus 10 is a multi-cylinder reformer (hereinafter, may be referred to as a “reformer”) 12 that generates a reformed gas steam reformed from a hydrocarbon (city gas). A compressor 80 for compressing the reformed gas and a hydrogen purifier 90 for purifying the hydrogen gas by removing impurities from the compressed reformed gas are provided. Further, the hydrogen production apparatus 10 includes a pre-pressurized water separation unit 50 and a post-pressurized water separation unit 60 for separating and removing water from the reforming gas on the upstream side and the downstream side of the compressor 80, respectively, and reforming. It is provided with a combustion exhaust gas water separating unit 70 that separates and removes water from the combustion exhaust gas described later in the vessel 12.

The hydrogen production apparatus 10 produces hydrogen from a hydrocarbon raw material, and in the present embodiment, a case where a city gas containing methane as a main component is used as an example of the hydrocarbon raw material will be described.

(Multiple cylinder reformer)
As shown in FIG. 2, the multi-cylindrical reformer 12 has a plurality of cylindrical walls 21, 22, 23, 24 (hereinafter, may be referred to as “cylindrical walls 21 to 24”) arranged in a plurality of manners. Have. The plurality of tubular walls 21 to 24 are formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape or an elliptical tubular shape. A combustion chamber 25 is formed inside the first cylindrical wall 21 from the inside among the plurality of tubular walls 21 to 24, and a burner 26 is arranged downward in the upper part of the combustion chamber 25. There is. The burner 26 can be supplied with the off-gas of the hydrogen refiner 90 as fuel from the off-gas recirculation pipe 100. The multi-cylinder reformer 12 is an example of a reformer. Further, an air supply pipe 40 for supplying combustion air from the outside is connected to the upper end of the combustion chamber 25. The burner 26 is further connected to a raw material branch pipe 33A in which city gas is branched from the raw material supply pipe 33. An air branch pipe 40A branched from the air supply pipe 40 is connected to the raw material branch pipe 33A. A gas obtained by mixing air with city gas is supplied to the burner 26 separately from the off-gas. Off-gas for combustion and / or city gas can be supplied as needed. The off-gas return pipe 100, the raw material branch pipe 33A, the air supply pipe 40, and the air branch pipe 40A correspond to the "gas supply pipe".

A combustion exhaust gas flow path 27 is formed between the first cylindrical wall 21 and the second tubular wall 22. The lower end of the combustion exhaust gas flow path 27 is communicated with the combustion chamber 25, and the gas discharge pipe 28 for discharging gas is connected to the upper end portion of the combustion exhaust gas flow path 27. The combustion exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber 25 flows from the lower side to the upper side in the combustion exhaust gas flow path 27, and is sent to the combustion exhaust gas water separation unit 70 through the gas discharge pipe 28.

Further, a first flow path 31 is formed between the second tubular wall 22 and the third tubular wall 23. The upper portion of the first flow path 31 is formed as a preheating flow path 32, and a raw material supply pipe 33 for supplying city gas and reforming water are supplied to the upper end portion of the preheating flow path 32. It is connected to the reforming water supply pipe 34 for the purpose. Further, a spiral member 35 is provided between the second tubular wall 22 and the third tubular wall 23, and the spiral member 35 forms the preheating flow path 32 in a spiral shape. There is. The raw material supply pipe 33 is an example of a flow path pipe.

City gas can be supplied to the preheating flow path 32 from the raw material supply pipe 33, and reforming water can be supplied from the reforming water supply pipe 34. The city gas and the reforming water flow through the preheating flow path 32 from the upper side to the lower side, and are heat-exchanged with the combustion exhaust gas through the second cylindrical wall 22 to vaporize the water. In the preheating flow path 32, a mixed gas is generated by mixing the city gas and the water for reforming the gas phase (steam).

Further, a reforming catalyst layer 36 is provided below the preheating flow path 32 in the first flow path 31, and the mixed gas generated in the preheating flow path 32 is supplied to the reforming catalyst layer 36. It is a configuration. The reforming catalyst layer 36 receives heat from the combustion exhaust gas flowing through the combustion exhaust gas flow path 27, and the mixed gas undergoes a steam reforming reaction to generate a reforming gas containing hydrogen as a main component.

Further, a second flow path 42 is formed between the third tubular wall 23 and the fourth tubular wall 24. The lower end of the second flow path 42 communicates with the lower end of the first flow path 31. The lower part of the second flow path 42 is formed as a reforming gas flow path 43, and the reforming gas discharge pipe 44 is connected to the upper end portion of the second flow path 42.

Further, a CO modification catalyst layer 45 is provided above the reformed gas flow path 43 in the second flow path 42, and the reformed gas generated in the reformed catalyst layer 36 is a reformed gas flow. After passing through the passage 43, it is supplied to the CO reforming catalyst layer 45. In the CO modification catalyst layer 45, carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas reacts with water vapor and is converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, so that carbon monoxide can be reduced.

Further, an oxidant gas supply pipe 46 is connected to the upper side of the CO transformation catalyst layer 45, and a CO selective oxidation catalyst layer 47 is provided above the CO transformation catalyst layer 45 in the second flow path 42. ing. The oxidant gas taken in through the oxidant gas supply pipe 46 and the reformed gas that has passed through the CO modification catalyst layer 45 are supplied to the CO selective oxidation catalyst layer 47. In the CO selective oxidation catalyst layer 47, carbon monoxide is converted into carbon dioxide by reacting with oxygen on a noble metal catalyst such as platinum or ruthenium, and carbon monoxide can be removed. The reformed gas G1 in which carbon monoxide is reduced in the CO modified catalyst layer 45 and the CO selective oxidation catalyst layer 47 is configured to be discharged through the reformed gas discharge pipe 44. The CO selective oxidation catalyst layer 47 is not essential and may be configured not to be provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reforming gas generated in the multi-cylindrical reformer 12 includes the pre-boost water separator 50, the compressor 80, the post-boost water separator 60, and the hydrogen purifier 90 in this order. It flows. That is, in the gas flow direction, from the upstream side to the downstream side, the multi-cylindrical reformer 12, the pre-pressurized water separator 50, the compressor 80, the post-pressurized water separator 60, and the hydrogen purifier 90 are in this order. Have been placed.

(Water separation part before boosting)
The downstream end of the reforming gas discharge pipe 44 into which the reforming gas G1 flows in from the multi-cylindrical reformer 12 is connected to the pre-boost water separation unit 50. A water recovery pipe 59 is connected to the bottom of the pre-boost water separation unit 50, and a connecting flow path pipe 56 is connected to the top of the pre-boost water separation unit 50. The reforming gas G1 is separated by condensing water by cooling by heat exchange with the cooling water in the heat exchanger HE1 arranged in the reforming gas discharge pipe 44 upstream of the pre-pressurization water separation unit 50, and before the pressurization. Water (liquid phase) can be stored in the lower part of the water separation unit 50. The water (liquid phase) is configured to be sent to the water recovery pipe 59. The reforming gas G2 after the water is condensed is configured to be sent to the connecting flow path pipe 56.

(Compressor)
The compressor 80 has a communication flow path pipe 56 through which the reforming gas G2 from the pre-boost water separation unit 50 flows and a communication flow path pipe 66 through which the reforming gas G2 supplied to the post-boostation water separation unit 60 flows. It is connected. The compressor 80 is capable of compressing the reformed gas at atmospheric pressure supplied from the pre-boost water separation unit 50 and supplying it to the post-pressurization water separation unit 60.

(Water separation part after boosting)
The downstream end of the connecting flow path pipe 66 into which the reforming gas G2 flows from the compressor 80 is connected to the boosted water separation unit 60. A water recovery pipe 69 is connected to the bottom of the boosted water separation section 60, and a connecting flow path pipe 68 is connected to the top of the boosted water separation section 60. The reforming gas G2 is separated by condensing water by cooling by heat exchange with cooling water in the heat exchanger HE2 arranged in the connecting flow path tube 66 upstream of the boosted water separation unit 60, and the boosted water is separated. Water (liquid phase) can be stored in the lower part of the separation unit 60. The water (liquid phase) is configured to be sent to the water recovery pipe 69. The reforming gas G3 after the water is condensed is configured to be sent to the connecting flow path pipe 68.

(Hydrogen purifier)
In the hydrogen refiner 90, the downstream end of the connecting flow path pipe 68 through which the reformed gas G3 from the pressurized water separation unit 60 flows and the off gas of the hydrogen refiner 90 supplied to the multi-cylindrical reformer 12 flow. It is connected to the upstream end of the off-gas return pipe 100.

As an example, the hydrogen purifier 90 uses a PSA device. The hydrogen purifier 90 is provided with a pair of adsorption tanks, and a adsorption step of adsorbing impurities on the adsorbent in one adsorption tank is performed, and a desorption step of desorbing impurities adsorbed on the adsorbent is performed in the other adsorption tank. Next, a desorption step is performed on one adsorption layer, and an adsorption step is performed on the other adsorption layer. By repeating this periodically, the reformed gas G3 is continuously separated into hydrogen and impurities containing combustible gas, and hydrogen is purified. The purified hydrogen is sent to the hydrogen supply pipe 92, stored in a tank (not shown), or can be sent to a hydrogen supply line.

The off-gas of the hydrogen refiner 90 can be supplied as fuel to the burner 26 (see FIG. 2) provided in the combustion chamber 25 of the multi-cylindrical reformer 12 via the off-gas reflux pipe 100.

(Combustion exhaust gas separation part)
The downstream end of the gas discharge pipe 28 that guides the combustion exhaust gas from the combustion exhaust gas flow path 27 is connected to the combustion exhaust gas water separation unit 70. A water recovery pipe 78 is connected to the bottom of the combustion exhaust gas water separation unit 70, and a gas discharge pipe 76 is connected to the upper part of the combustion exhaust gas water separation unit 70. The combustion exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber 25 is separated by condensing water by cooling by heat exchange with the cooling water in the heat exchanger HE3 arranged in the gas discharge pipe 28 upstream of the combustion exhaust gas water separation unit 70. It is said that water (liquid phase) can be stored in the lower part of the combustion exhaust gas water separation unit 70. The water (liquid phase) is configured to be sent to the water recovery pipe 78. The combustion exhaust gas after the water is condensed is discharged from the gas discharge pipe 76 to the outside.

The downstream ends of each of the water recovery pipe 59, the water recovery pipe 69, and the water recovery pipe 78 are connected to the reforming water supply pipe 34. The reforming water supply pipe 34 is provided with a water treatment device (ion exchange resin) 34A for removing the dissolved ion component. Further, an external water supply unit 17 is connected to the reforming water supply pipe 34. For example, pure water or city water is supplied from the external water supply unit 17.

Further, the pump P1 is provided in the reforming water supply pipe 34. The water separated by the pre-boost water separation unit 50, the post-boost water separation unit 60, the combustion exhaust gas water separation unit 70, or the water supplied from the external water supply unit 17 is sent to the multiple cylinder reformer 12 by the pump P1. It is a configuration to be supplied.

(Off gas tank)
An off-gas tank 102 is provided in the middle of the off-gas recirculation pipe 100 that communicates from the hydrogen refiner 90 to the burner 26 in the combustion chamber 25 of the reformer 12. The off-gas sent from the hydrogen purifier 90 is temporarily stored in the off-gas tank 102, and the composition and flow rate are leveled and supplied to the burner 26.

As shown in FIG. 2, at least the portion of the off-gas return pipe 100 on the reformer 12 (burner 26) side is formed of a flexible member, and the vibration detector 104 is arranged in that portion. It is installed. The portion formed of the flexible member is referred to as a flexible portion 100A.

The vibration detector 104 is configured to detect the acceleration of the flexible portion 100A when the flexible portion 100A of the off-gas return pipe 100 vibrates and output the acceleration to the control unit 106 described later. The vibration detector 104 corresponds to the "acceleration detection means".

(Control unit)
As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 106 of the hydrogen production apparatus 10 detects the occurrence of flashback in the burner 26 based on the acceleration detected by the vibration detector 104.

That is, the control unit 106 compares the acceleration detected by the vibration detector 104 with the stored threshold value, and determines that the burner 26 is causing a flashback when the acceleration is equal to or higher than the threshold value (reverse of the burner 26). It detects a fire). In addition, in "determining that a flashback has occurred in the burner 26 when the acceleration is equal to or higher than the threshold value", it is determined that the burner 26 has caused a flashback when the acceleration exceeding the threshold value continues for a predetermined time. Is included.

Further, when the control unit 106 detects a flashback of the burner 26, the operation stop unit 108 outputs a control (drive stop) signal to each of the reformer 12, the compressor 80, the hydrogen purifier 90, and the pump P1. Has. By outputting a drive stop signal from the operation stop unit 108 of the control unit 106 to the reformer 12, the compressor 80, the hydrogen purifier 90, and the pump P1, the operation of the hydrogen production device 10 can be stopped. Here, "stopping the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus 10" means that each of the reformer 12, the compressor 80, the hydrogen purifier 90, and the pump P1 stops the operation. The control unit 106 corresponds to the "backfire determination means". Further, the vibration detector 104 and the control unit 106 correspond to the "backfire detection means". Further, the operation stop unit 108 corresponds to the "operation stop means".

(Action)
Next, the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus 10 will be described.

The city gas is supplied from the raw material supply pipe 33 to the multiple cylinder reformer 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the city gas supplied to the multiple cylinder reformer 12 is heated while being mixed with the reforming water in the preheating flow path 32 of the multiple cylinder reformer 12, and the reforming catalyst layer 36 is used. Is supplied to. In the reforming catalyst layer 36, a reforming gas containing hydrogen as a main component is generated by a steam reforming reaction of the mixed gas by receiving heat from the combustion exhaust gas flowing through the combustion exhaust gas flow path 27. This reformed gas is supplied to the CO transformation catalyst layer 45 through the reformed gas flow path 43. In the CO modification catalyst layer 45, carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas reacts with water vapor to be converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide is reduced.

Further, the reforming gas that has passed through the CO modification catalyst layer 45 is supplied to the CO selective oxidation catalyst layer 47 together with the oxidizing agent gas (air) supplied from the oxidizing agent gas supply pipe 46, and carbon monoxide is generated on the noble metal catalyst. It reacts with oxygen and is converted to carbon dioxide, removing carbon monoxide. The reformed gas G1 in which carbon monoxide is reduced in the CO selective oxidation catalyst layer 47 is sent to the reformed gas discharge pipe 44.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reforming gas G1 is supplied to the pre-boost water separation unit 50 via the reforming gas discharge pipe 44. In the pre-boost water separation unit 50, condensed water is stored by cooling by heat exchange in the heat exchanger HE1 and sent to the water recovery pipe 59. The reforming gas G2 from which water has been separated is supplied to the compressor 80 from the connecting flow path pipe 56, and is compressed by the compressor 80.

The compressed reforming gas G2 is supplied from the connecting flow path pipe 66 to the water separation unit 60 after boosting. After boosting the pressure, the water separation unit 60 stores the condensed water by cooling by heat exchange in the heat exchanger HE2 and sends it to the water recovery pipe 69. The reformed gas G3 from which water is separated is supplied to the hydrogen purifier 90 from the connecting flow path pipe 68.

The water sent from the pre-boost water separation unit 50, the post-pressurization water separation unit 60, and the combustion exhaust gas water separation unit 70 to the water recovery pipes 59, 69, and 78, respectively, is returned to the reforming water supply pipe 34. By driving the pump P1, the reforming water supply pipe 34 supplies the reforming water to the multi-cylindrical reformer 12.

In the hydrogen purifier 90, the reforming gas G3 is separated into hydrogen and off-gas which is an impurity, and hydrogen is sent to the hydrogen supply pipe 92. The delivered hydrogen is stored in a tank (not shown) or sent to a hydrogen supply line.

The off-gas sent from the hydrogen refiner 90 to the off-gas recirculation pipe 100 is temporarily stored in the off-gas tank 102, and after the composition and flow rate of the off-gas are leveled, it is supplied to the burner 26 of the reformer 12 as fuel.

In the combustion chamber 25 of the multi-cylinder reformer 12, the off-gas supplied from the off-gas tank 102 by the burner 26 is burned. The combustion exhaust gas is supplied from the combustion chamber 25 to the combustion exhaust gas water separation unit 70 via the gas discharge pipe 28. The water contained in the combustion exhaust gas is cooled and condensed by heat exchange in the heat exchanger HE3, stored in the combustion exhaust gas water separation unit 70, and sent to the water recovery pipe 78. The combustion exhaust gas from which water is separated is discharged to the outside from the gas discharge pipe 76.

By the way, in the burner 26 provided in the combustion chamber 25 of the reformer 12, a flashback occurs due to a change in the mixing ratio (air-fuel ratio) of the combustion gas (city gas or off gas) supplied to the burner 26. May occur.

In this case, the flexible portion 100A of the off-gas return pipe 100 communicated with the burner 26 vibrates. At this time, the vibration detector 104 provided in the flexible portion 100A of the off-gas return pipe 100 detects the acceleration due to the vibration of the flexible portion 100A and outputs it to the control unit 106.

The control unit 106 compares the acceleration detected by the vibration detector 104 with the stored threshold value, and detects (determines) that a flashback has occurred in the burner 26 when the acceleration is equal to or higher than the threshold value.

When the control unit 106 detects the flashback of the burner 26, the control unit 106 outputs a drive stop signal from the operation stop unit 108 to each of the reformer 12, the compressor 80, the hydrogen purifier 90, and the pump P1, thereby producing a hydrogen production device. The operation of 10 is stopped. As a result, the supply of combustion gas (city gas, off gas) to the burner 26 is stopped, and the flashback of the burner 26 is also eliminated (flame extinguished).

As described above, in the hydrogen production apparatus 10, since the vibration detector 104 is provided in the flexible portion 100A of the off-gas return pipe 100, when the burner 26 causes a flashback, the acceleration due to the vibration of the flexible portion 100A vibrates. It is detected by the detector 104. The control unit 106 can detect the occurrence of flashback of the burner 26 by comparing the acceleration detected by the vibration detector 104 with the threshold value.

That is, the hydrogen production apparatus 10 has a simple configuration in which the flexible portion 100A of the off-gas return pipe 100 is provided and the vibration detector 104 is arranged in the flexible portion 100A, and the flashback of the burner 26 can be easily detected. ..

Further, in the hydrogen production apparatus 10, the control unit 106 determines whether or not the vibration is due to the backfire of the burner 26 based on whether or not the acceleration detected by the vibration detector 104 is equal to or greater than the threshold value. Therefore, by appropriately setting the threshold value in the control unit 106, it is possible to suppress false detection of vibration due to a reason other than flashback as a flashback of the burner 26, and to accurately detect flashback of the burner 26. Can be done.

Further, when the control unit 106 detects the flashback of the burner 26, the operation stop unit 108 outputs a drive stop signal from the vibration detector 104 to the reformer 12, the compressor 80, the hydrogen purifier 90, and the pump P1. Then, the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus 10 is stopped, so that the flashback of the burner 26 is quickly eliminated. This prevents or suppresses damage to the burner 26 due to continued flashback.

[Second Embodiment]
The hydrogen production apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Since the hydrogen production apparatus 200 only has a warning lamp, an alarm generation unit, and a mail transmission unit added to the hydrogen production apparatus 10, the corresponding portions will be described using only the control block diagram. The detailed description of the portion having the same action and effect as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

(Constitution)
As shown in FIG. 4, the hydrogen production device 200 is a hydrogen production device 10 to which a warning lamp 202, an alarm generation unit 204, and a mail transmission unit 206 are added.

When the control unit 106 detects a flashback based on the acceleration detected by the vibration detector 104, the control unit 106 controls the warning lamp 202, the alarm generation unit 204, and the mail transmission unit 206 provided in the hydrogen production apparatus 200. It has a drive unit 110 that outputs a (drive) signal. By outputting a drive signal from the drive unit 110 to the warning lamp 202, the alarm generation unit 204, and the mail transmission unit 206, the warning lamp is turned on, an alarm, an email is transmitted, and the like. The warning lamp 202, the alarm generation unit 204, and the mail transmission unit 206 correspond to the "notification means". Further, the drive unit 110 corresponds to the "drive means".

The warning lamp 202 is provided on the control panel or the like of the hydrogen production apparatus 200, and is configured to be turned on when a control signal is input from the drive unit 110 of the control unit 106.

The alarm generation unit 204 is provided in the hydrogen production device 200, and is configured to sound an alarm to the outside of the hydrogen production device 200 when a control signal is input from the drive unit 110 of the control unit 106.

The mail transmission unit 206 is provided in the hydrogen production apparatus 200, and when a control signal is input from the drive unit 110 of the control unit 106, the burner 26 is connected to the operator's mobile phone or the like registered in advance. It is configured to send an e-mail (hereinafter referred to as "operation stop e-mail") notifying that the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus 200 is stopped due to a flashback.

(Action)
When the flashback of the burner 26 is detected, the control unit 106 of the hydrogen production apparatus 200 outputs a drive stop signal from the operation stop unit 108 to each of the reformer 12, the compressor 80, the hydrogen purifier 90, and the pump P1. do. As a result, the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus 200 is stopped, the supply of combustion gas (city gas, off gas) to the burner 26 is stopped, and the flashback of the burner 26 is eliminated.

Further, the control unit 106 outputs a control (drive) signal from the drive unit 110 to each of the warning lamp 202, the alarm generation unit 204, and the mail transmission unit 206.

As a result, the warning lamp 202 provided on the control panel of the hydrogen production apparatus 200 is turned on. In addition, the alarm of the hydrogen production apparatus 200 is sounded. In addition, a shutdown email is sent to the operator's mobile phone.

As a result, the operator can quickly recognize the shutdown of the hydrogen production apparatus 200 due to the flashback, and the time until the hydrogen production apparatus 200 (reformer 12) is restarted can be shortened.

As described above, in the hydrogen production apparatus 200, when the control unit 106 detects the flashback of the burner 26, the warning lamp 202, the alarm generation unit 204, and the mail transmission unit 206 are driven. As a result, the operator can quickly recognize the shutdown of the hydrogen production apparatus 200 due to the flashback of the burner 26, and can quickly start the work for restarting the hydrogen production apparatus 200. As a result, the time until the hydrogen production apparatus 200 is restarted is shortened.

In particular, in the hydrogen production apparatus 200, when the control unit 106 detects a flashback of the burner 26, the operator is notified by three types of means: lighting of the warning lamp 202, an alarm, and transmission of an operation stop mail. Therefore, the operator can quickly grasp the shutdown of the hydrogen production apparatus 200 due to the flashback regardless of the location and the work content, and can shorten the time until the hydrogen production apparatus 200 is restarted.

(others)
In the hydrogen production devices 10 and 200, the control unit 106 vibrates due to the backfire of the burner 26 depending on whether or not the acceleration due to the vibration of the flexible portion 100A of the off-gas return tube 100 detected by the vibration detector 104 is equal to or higher than the threshold value. It was determined whether or not it was, but it is not limited to this. That is, the vibration detector 104 may detect the vibration of the flexible portion 100A, and the detection signal may be simply input to the control unit 106 to detect the flashback of the burner 26. In this case, the configuration is further simplified.

Further, in the hydrogen production devices 10 and 200, when the control unit 106 detects a flashback of the burner 26, the operation stop unit 108 drives the reformer 12, the compressor 80, the hydrogen purifier 90, and the pump P1 respectively. The hydrogen production apparatus 10 and 200 are configured to be stopped by outputting a stop signal, but the operator may manually stop the operation.

Further, in the hydrogen production apparatus 10, when the control unit 106 detects the flashback of the burner 26, the operation stop unit 108 sends a drive stop signal to each of the reformer 12, the compressor 80, the hydrogen purifier 90, and the pump P1. Was configured to stop the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus 10 (the flashback of the burner 26 is eliminated (flame extinguishing)) by outputting , The hydrogen production apparatus 10 may be restarted by outputting a drive signal to each of the compressor 80, the hydrogen purifier 90, and the pump P1.

Further, in the hydrogen production apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment, a warning lamp, an alarm, and an email are used as means for notifying the shutdown of the hydrogen production apparatus 200 due to the flashback of the burner 26, but any one of them may be used. It's good, or two. Further, the operator may be notified by other means that the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus 200 is stopped due to the flashback of the burner 26.

Further, in the hydrogen production devices 10 and 200, the flexible portion 100A is provided in the off-gas recirculation pipe 100, and the vibration detector 104 is arranged in the flexible portion 100A. It may be.

Further, in the hydrogen production devices 10 and 200, the vibration detector 104 is provided in the off-gas return pipe 100, but any one of the raw material branch pipe 33A, the air branch pipe 40A, and the air supply pipe 40 communicating with the burner 26 can be used. It may be formed in a flexible tube, and the vibration detector 104 may be arranged therein.

Further, in the hydrogen production devices 10 and 200, the vibration detector 104 for detecting the acceleration of the off-gas return pipe 100 (flexible portion 100A) due to vibration is arranged in the flexible portion 100A of the off-gas return pipe 100. The vibration detector 104 is not limited to the one arranged in the flexible portion 100A as long as it can detect the vibration of the flexible portion 100A. For example, the vibration detector may be arranged at a position separated from the flexible portion 100A, and may optically detect the vibration of the flexible portion 100A.

10,200 Hydrogen production equipment 12 Multi-cylinder reformer (reformer)
25 Combustion chamber 26 Burner 33A Raw material branch pipe (gas supply pipe)
40 Air supply pipe (gas supply pipe)
40A air branch pipe (gas supply pipe)
90 Hydrogen Purifier 100 Off-gas reflux pipe (gas supply pipe)
104 Vibration detector (backfire detection means, acceleration detection means)
106 Control unit (backfire detection means, backfire determination means)
108 Operation stop section (operation stop main stage)
110 Drive unit (drive means)
202 Warning lamp (notification means)
204 Alarm generator (notification means)
206 Mail transmitter (notification means)

Claims (4)

A reformer in which a hydrocarbon is supplied as a raw material from a hydrocarbon supply source, the hydrocarbon is reformed to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component, and a burner is installed in an internal combustion chamber. When,
A hydrogen purifier that is connected to the reformer and separates the reformed gas into product hydrogen and off-gas, which is an impurity, to purify the product hydrogen.
A gas supply pipe that has flexibility and communicates with the burner,
A flashback detecting means for detecting a flashback of the burner based on the vibration of the gas supply pipe, and a flashback detecting means.
A hydrogen production device equipped with. The flashback detecting means includes an acceleration detecting means for detecting the acceleration of the gas supply pipe due to the vibration, and the acceleration detecting means.
A flashback determining means for comparing the acceleration with the threshold value and determining that the burner is flashback when the acceleration is equal to or higher than the threshold value.
The hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1. The hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an operation stop means for stopping the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus when the flashback of the burner is detected by the flashback detecting means. A notification means for notifying the operator of the shutdown of the hydrogen production apparatus, a drive means for driving the notification means when the flashback of the burner is detected by the flashback detecting means, and a driving means for driving the notification means.
3. The hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 3.

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