JP7525172B2 - Adsorbent regeneration device and removal system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an adsorbent regeneration device configured to regenerate the adsorbent in a removal system capable of performing an adsorption removal process in which the target substance contained in the gas is adsorbed to an adsorbent in an adsorption tower and removed, using an adsorbent regeneration process that uses a heating regeneration method, and to a removal system that is equipped with such an adsorbent regeneration device and is configured to perform the adsorption removal process and the adsorption capacity regeneration process.

For example, the following patent document discloses a refined gas production apparatus (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "production apparatus") configured to produce a refined gas by removing moisture and the like contained in a raw gas. This production apparatus includes a plurality of purification towers (for example, a first purification tower and a second purification tower) that contain an adsorbent (such as a desiccant) capable of adsorbing and removing moisture and the like contained in the raw gas. This production apparatus is also configured to be able to perform in parallel a process of adsorbing and removing moisture and the like in a portion of each purification tower (either the first purification tower or the second purification tower) (hereinafter, also referred to as "adsorption removal process") and a process of regenerating the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in another portion of each purification tower (the other of the first purification tower and the second purification tower) (hereinafter, also referred to as "adsorption capacity regeneration process").

Specifically, as an example, when the adsorption removal process in the first purification tower and the adsorption capacity regeneration process in the second purification tower are performed in parallel, a gas containing moisture, etc. is introduced into the first purification tower, and a regeneration gas (heated nitrogen, etc.) is introduced into the second purification tower. At this time, moisture, etc. contained in the raw gas introduced into the first purification tower is adsorbed by the adsorbent in the first purification tower and removed from the raw gas, and the raw gas with a reduced humidity (moisture concentration: moisture content) is discharged from the first purification tower as a purified gas. In addition, the regeneration gas introduced into the second purification tower raises the temperature of the adsorbent in the second purification tower, and the moisture adsorbed on the adsorbent is released and the adsorbent is regenerated (the adsorption capacity is restored).

In this case, this manufacturing device employs a configuration in which high-temperature regeneration gas, approximately 120°C to 220°C, heated by a heater is introduced into the purification tower that is the target of adsorption capacity regeneration treatment, thereby raising the temperature of the adsorbent and removing moisture. This allows the adsorbent in the purification tower that is the target of treatment to be regenerated in an optimal manner.

JP 2019-171231 A (pages 4-13, Figure 1)

However, the manufacturing device disclosed in the above patent document has the following problems to be solved:

Specifically, in the above manufacturing equipment, a configuration is adopted in which, during the adsorption capacity regeneration process, high-temperature regeneration gas is supplied for about 0.5 to 3 hours depending on the amount of moisture adsorbed to the adsorbent in the purification tower to be treated, thereby removing moisture from the adsorbent. In this case, when the amount of moisture contained in the raw gas introduced into the manufacturing equipment is large, the adsorbent in the purification tower where the adsorption capacity regeneration process is performed (the purification tower where the adsorption removal process was performed before the adsorption capacity regeneration process) is in a state where a large amount of moisture is adsorbed. For this reason, when the amount of moisture contained in the raw gas is large, the time required to regenerate the adsorbent tends to be long. In addition, when the amount of moisture contained in the raw gas is large, the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the purification tower where the adsorption removal process is performed decreases significantly in a short period of time.

For this reason, when the amount of moisture contained in the raw gas is large, it may become difficult to adequately remove moisture in the refining tower where the adsorption removal process is being performed (the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent is reduced) even if the regeneration of the adsorbent in the refining tower where the adsorption capacity regeneration process is being performed is not complete. However, if the adsorption removal process is continued in a refining tower where it is difficult to adequately adsorb and remove moisture, a refined gas containing a large amount of moisture will be produced. Therefore, when the adsorption capacity of the refining tower where the adsorption removal process is being performed is reduced, it is necessary to switch between the refining tower where the adsorption removal process is being performed and the refining tower where the adsorption capacity regeneration process is being performed, even if the adsorption capacity regeneration process is not complete.

As a result, the time until it becomes difficult to adequately adsorb and remove moisture in the purification tower that has started the adsorption removal process (the purification tower that could not complete the adsorption capacity regeneration process) becomes even shorter, and it becomes even more difficult to complete the adsorption capacity regeneration process for the other purification tower by the time the purification tower is next switched. Therefore, in the worst case scenario, it becomes necessary to stop the adsorption removal process in one purification tower until the adsorption capacity regeneration process for the other purification tower is completed, or to reduce the amount of raw material gas introduced per unit time to the purification tower performing the adsorption removal process. For this reason, in the manufacturing apparatus disclosed in the above patent document, even though it employs a configuration that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process in parallel with the adsorption removal process, it is currently difficult to improve the manufacturing efficiency of purified gas.

On the other hand, the applicant confirmed that a similar problem occurs when removing moisture from hydrogen gas as a raw material gas using a treatment device with the same configuration as the above manufacturing device. Therefore, the applicant prototyped a treatment device configured to reduce the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas to be treated before being introduced into the adsorption tower where the adsorption removal process is performed, by removing a portion of the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas to be treated, so that the adsorbent in the adsorption tower (the purification tower in the above manufacturing device) can be maintained in a state with suitable adsorption capacity for a long period of time.

Specifically, in the processing device prototyped by the applicant, a heat exchanger for cooling hydrogen gas is disposed upstream of the adsorption tower in the hydrogen gas flow path, and a cooling heat transfer liquid cooled in the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle is supplied to the heat exchanger. As a result, in this processing device, the hydrogen gas is cooled by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the heat exchanger, the relative humidity increases, and some of the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas is condensed (changed from gas phase to liquid phase) in the heat exchanger and removed from the hydrogen gas. Therefore, in this processing device, the hydrogen gas introduced into the adsorption tower contains a small amount of moisture (the absolute humidity of the hydrogen gas is lowered), making it possible to maintain a state in which the adsorbent in the adsorption tower has an appropriate adsorption capacity for a long period of time, and making it possible to solve the above-mentioned problems.

In this case, the processing device prototyped by the applicant performs the adsorption removal process and the adsorption capacity regeneration process in parallel, making it possible to complete the adsorption capacity regeneration process for the other adsorption towers while the adsorbent in the adsorption tower undergoing the adsorption removal process still has an appropriate adsorption capacity. However, this processing device requires the operation of a refrigeration cycle for cooling the above-mentioned heat transfer liquid for cooling, and a heater (e.g., an electric heater) for heating the regeneration gas introduced into the adsorption tower where the adsorption capacity regeneration process is performed. For this reason, compared to the above-mentioned manufacturing device, the cost of the process for removing moisture from hydrogen gas rises by the amount of power consumed by the refrigeration cycle. Therefore, it is preferable to improve this point.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems that need to be improved, and its main objective is to provide an adsorbent regeneration device and removal system that can reliably complete the adsorption and removal process in a short time while sufficiently reducing the amount of energy consumed.

In order to achieve the above object, the adsorbent regeneration device according to claim 1 is an adsorbent regeneration device configured to regenerate the adsorbent by a heating regeneration type adsorption capacity regeneration process in a removal system capable of performing an adsorption removal process in which a target substance contained in a gas is adsorbed to an adsorbent in an adsorption tower and removed from the gas, the adsorbent regeneration device being configured to regenerate the adsorbent in the removal system that is configured to be equipped with a plurality of adsorption towers and to be capable of performing the adsorption removal process targeting a portion of each of the adsorption towers and the adsorption capacity regeneration process targeting another portion of each of the adsorption towers in parallel, the adsorbent regeneration device being configured to regenerate the adsorbent in the removal system that is configured to be equipped with a plurality of adsorption towers and to be capable of performing the adsorption removal process targeting a portion of each of the adsorption towers in parallel, the adsorbent regeneration device having a first heat exchanger that heats the gas that is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that is subjected to the adsorption capacity regeneration process, a second heat exchanger that cools the gas that is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that is subjected to the adsorption removal process and the first heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger that cools the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower that is subjected to the adsorption capacity regeneration process, and a refrigeration cycle and a heat dissipation from a condenser in the refrigeration cycle. a temperature adjustment unit including a heating unit capable of heating a heating heat transfer liquid and a cooling unit capable of cooling a cooling heat transfer liquid by heat absorption by an evaporator in the refrigeration cycle; a first flow path switching unit that causes the gas that has been passed through the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption and removal treatment to flow into a discharge pipe into which the gas from which the removal target has been completed is to flow, and causes the gas heated by the first heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment; a second flow path switching unit that causes the gas that has been cooled by the second heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption and removal treatment, and causes the gas that has been passed through the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment to flow into the third heat exchanger; a control unit that executes a first process of controlling the supply of a heat transfer liquid and a second process of controlling the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit to switch the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal process and the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process, wherein the gas that has been passed through the third heat exchanger is merged with the gas that has been passed through the second heat exchanger and is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal process via the second flow path switching unit, the third heat exchanger includes a primary heat exchange unit and a secondary heat exchange unit, a gas flow path is formed such that the gas introduced from a gas inlet is caused to pass through the primary heat exchange unit, the secondary heat exchange unit and the primary heat exchange unit in this order and is discharged from a gas outlet, and the removal target contained in the gas is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange unit, and the gas cooled by the secondary heat exchange unit in the primary heat exchange unit is The third heat exchanger is configured so that the target to be removed contained in the gas introduced from the gas inlet is liquefied and removed by the heat exchange of the first and second heat exchangers, and a first bypass flow path is provided for discharging the gas passed through the secondary heat exchanger from the gas outlet without passing it through the primary heat exchanger again, and a first flow rate adjustment unit is disposed for adjusting the flow rate of the gas passing through the first bypass flow path, and the control unit specifies a first temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the third heat exchanger, a second temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchanger, and a third temperature of the gas passed through the secondary heat exchanger, and controls the first flow rate adjustment unit to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the first bypass flow path based on the ratio between a first temperature difference between the first temperature and the third temperature and a second temperature difference between the second temperature and the third temperature.

The adsorbent regeneration device according to claim 2 is an adsorbent regeneration device configured to regenerate the adsorbent by a heating regeneration type adsorption capacity regeneration process in a removal system capable of performing an adsorption removal process in which a target substance contained in a gas is adsorbed to an adsorbent in an adsorption tower and removed from the gas, and the adsorbent regeneration device is configured to regenerate the adsorbent in the removal system configured to be equipped with a plurality of adsorption towers and to be capable of performing the adsorption removal process targeting a part of each of the adsorption towers and the adsorption capacity regeneration process targeting another part of each of the adsorption towers in parallel, the adsorbent regeneration device has a first heat exchanger for heating the gas flowing into the adsorption tower for the adsorption capacity regeneration process, a second heat exchanger for cooling the gas flowing into the adsorption tower and the first heat exchanger for the adsorption removal process, a third heat exchanger for cooling the gas passed through the adsorption tower for the adsorption capacity regeneration process, and a refrigeration cycle and is capable of heating a heating medium liquid by heat radiation from a condenser in the refrigeration cycle. a temperature adjustment unit having a heating unit and a cooling unit capable of cooling a cooling heat transfer liquid by heat absorption by an evaporator in the refrigeration cycle; a first flow path switching unit that causes the gas passed through the adsorption tower where the adsorption and removal treatment is performed to flow into a discharge pipe into which the gas from which the removal target has been removed is to flow, and causes the gas heated by the first heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower where the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment is performed; a second flow path switching unit that causes the gas cooled by the second heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower where the adsorption and removal treatment is performed, and causes the gas passed through the adsorption tower where the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment is performed to flow into the third heat exchanger; and a first process that controls heating of the heating heat transfer liquid by the heating unit, supply of the heating heat transfer liquid to the first heat exchanger, cooling of the cooling heat transfer liquid by the cooling unit, supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the second heat exchanger, and supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the third heat exchanger. and a control unit that controls the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit to execute a second process of switching between the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal process and the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process, wherein the gas that has been passed through the third heat exchanger is merged with the gas that has been passed through the second heat exchanger and is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal process via the second flow path switching unit, the third heat exchanger includes a primary heat exchange unit and a secondary heat exchange unit, a gas flow path is formed such that the gas introduced from a gas inlet is caused to pass through the primary heat exchange unit, the secondary heat exchange unit and the primary heat exchange unit in this order and is discharged from a gas outlet, and the removal target contained in the gas is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange unit, and the gas that has been cooled by the secondary heat exchange unit is introduced from the gas inlet by heat exchange with the gas that has been cooled by the secondary heat exchange unit in the primary heat exchange unit. The gas is configured so that the target to be removed is liquefied and removed, and a bypass flow path A is provided to merge a portion of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchanger with the gas passed through the secondary heat exchanger and flowing into the primary heat exchanger without passing through the secondary heat exchanger, and a flow rate adjustment unit A is arranged to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path A, and the control unit specifies the temperature A of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the third heat exchanger, the temperature B of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchanger, and the temperature C of the gas discharged from the gas discharge port in the third heat exchanger, and executes a process A to control the flow rate adjustment unit A to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path A based on the ratio of the temperature difference A between the temperature A and the temperature B and the temperature difference B between the temperature A and the temperature C.

The adsorbent regeneration device according to claim 3 is an adsorbent regeneration device configured to regenerate the adsorbent by a heating regeneration type adsorption capacity regeneration process in a removal system capable of performing an adsorption removal process in which a target substance contained in a gas is adsorbed to an adsorbent in an adsorption tower and removed from the gas, and the adsorbent regeneration device is configured to regenerate the adsorbent in the removal system configured to be equipped with a plurality of adsorption towers and to be capable of performing the adsorption removal process targeting a part of each of the adsorption towers and the adsorption capacity regeneration process targeting another part of each of the adsorption towers in parallel, the adsorbent regeneration device has a first heat exchanger for heating the gas that is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that is subjected to the adsorption capacity regeneration process, a second heat exchanger for cooling the gas that is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that is subjected to the adsorption removal process and the first heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger for cooling the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower that is subjected to the adsorption capacity regeneration process, and a refrigeration cycle and a heating heat medium that is heated by heat released from a condenser in the refrigeration cycle. a temperature adjustment unit including a heating unit capable of heating a liquid and a cooling unit capable of cooling a cooling heat transfer liquid by heat absorption by an evaporator in the refrigeration cycle; a first flow path switching unit that causes the gas that has been passed through the adsorption tower where the adsorption and removal treatment is performed to flow into a discharge pipe into which the gas from which the removal target has been completed is to flow, and causes the gas heated by the first heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower where the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment is performed; a second flow path switching unit that causes the gas that has been cooled by the second heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower where the adsorption and removal treatment is performed, and causes the gas that has been passed through the adsorption tower where the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment is performed to flow into the third heat exchanger; and a control unit that executes a first process of controlling the supply of gas to the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal process and the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process by controlling the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit, the gas that has been passed through the third heat exchanger is merged with the gas that has been passed through the second heat exchanger and is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal process via the second flow path switching unit, the second heat exchanger includes a primary heat exchange unit and a secondary heat exchange unit, a gas flow path is formed such that the gas introduced from a gas inlet is caused to pass through the primary heat exchange unit, the secondary heat exchange unit and the primary heat exchange unit in this order and is discharged from a gas outlet, the removal target contained in the gas is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange unit, and the removal target is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the gas cooled by the secondary heat exchange unit in the primary heat exchange unit. The gas introduced from the gas inlet is configured to be liquefied and removed by the exchange, and a second bypass flow path is provided to discharge the gas passed through the secondary heat exchange unit from the gas outlet without passing it through the primary heat exchange unit again, and a second flow rate adjustment unit is disposed to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the second bypass flow path, and the control unit specifies a fourth temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the second heat exchanger, a fifth temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange unit, and a sixth temperature of the gas passed through the secondary heat exchange unit, and performs a fourth process of controlling the second flow rate adjustment unit to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the second bypass flow path based on a ratio between a third temperature difference between the fourth temperature and the sixth temperature and a fourth temperature difference between the fifth temperature and the sixth temperature.

The adsorbent regeneration device according to claim 4 is an adsorbent regeneration device configured to regenerate the adsorbent by a heating regeneration type adsorption capacity regeneration process in a removal system capable of performing an adsorption removal process in which a target substance contained in a gas is adsorbed to an adsorbent in an adsorption tower and removed from the gas, and the adsorbent regeneration device is configured to regenerate the adsorbent in the removal system that is configured to be equipped with a plurality of adsorption towers and to be capable of performing the adsorption removal process targeting a part of each of the adsorption towers and the adsorption capacity regeneration process targeting another part of each of the adsorption towers in parallel, and includes a first heat exchanger that heats the gas that is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal process and the first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger that cools the gas that is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal process and the first heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger that cools the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process, and a refrigeration cycle, and a heating heat transfer liquid that can be heated by heat radiation from a condenser in the refrigeration cycle. a temperature adjustment unit having a heating unit and a cooling unit capable of cooling a cooling heat transfer liquid by heat absorption by an evaporator in the refrigeration cycle; a first flow path switching unit that causes the gas passed through the adsorption tower where the adsorption and removal treatment is performed to flow into a discharge pipe into which the gas from which the removal target has been removed is to flow, and causes the gas heated by the first heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower where the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment is performed; a second flow path switching unit that causes the gas cooled by the second heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower where the adsorption and removal treatment is performed, and causes the gas passed through the adsorption tower where the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment is performed to flow into the third heat exchanger; and a first process that controls heating of the heating heat transfer liquid by the heating unit, supply of the heating heat transfer liquid to the first heat exchanger, cooling of the cooling heat transfer liquid by the cooling unit, supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the second heat exchanger, and supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the third heat exchanger. and a control unit that controls the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit to execute a second process of switching between the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal process and the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process, wherein the gas that has been passed through the third heat exchanger is merged with the gas that has been passed through the second heat exchanger and is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal process via the second flow path switching unit, the second heat exchanger includes a primary heat exchange unit and a secondary heat exchange unit, a gas flow path is formed such that the gas introduced from a gas inlet is caused to pass through the primary heat exchange unit, the secondary heat exchange unit and the primary heat exchange unit in this order and is discharged from a gas outlet, and the removal target contained in the gas is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange unit, and the gas that has been cooled by the secondary heat exchange unit is introduced from the gas inlet by heat exchange with the gas that has been cooled by the secondary heat exchange unit in the primary heat exchange unit. The gas is configured so that the target to be removed is liquefied and removed, and a bypass flow path B is provided to merge a portion of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchanger with the gas passed through the secondary heat exchanger and flowing into the primary heat exchanger without passing through the secondary heat exchanger, and a flow rate adjustment unit B is arranged to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path B. The control unit specifies the temperature D of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the second heat exchanger, the temperature E of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchanger, and the temperature F of the gas discharged from the gas discharge port in the second heat exchanger, and executes a process B to control the flow rate adjustment unit B to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path B based on the ratio of the temperature difference C between the temperature D and the temperature E and the temperature difference D between the temperature D and the temperature F.

The adsorbent regeneration device according to claim 5 is an adsorbent regeneration device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a third flow rate adjustment unit that adjusts the flow rate of the gas passing through the third heat exchanger, and the control unit executes a fifth process that controls the third flow rate adjustment unit based on the temperature of the gas passed through the third heat exchanger to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the third heat exchanger.

The adsorbent regeneration device according to claim 6 is an adsorbent regeneration device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is configured to regenerate the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the removal system configured to be able to remove moisture as the removal target from hydrogen gas as the gas.

The removal system described in claim 7 is configured to remove the removal target from the gas by including the adsorbent regeneration device described in any one of claims 1 to 6 and each of the adsorption towers.

The adsorbent regeneration device according to claims 1 to 4 is configured to regenerate an adsorbent in a removal system that is equipped with a plurality of adsorption towers and is configured to be able to execute an adsorption removal process for a portion of each adsorption tower and an adsorption capacity regeneration process by a heating regeneration method for another portion of each adsorption tower in parallel, and includes a first heat exchanger that heats the gas that is to be flowed into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal process and the first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger that cools the gas that is to be flowed into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal process and the first heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger that cools the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process, a temperature adjustment unit that includes a heating unit that can heat a heating heat transfer liquid by heat radiation from a condenser in a refrigeration cycle and a cooling unit that can cool a cooling heat transfer liquid by heat absorption by an evaporator in the refrigeration cycle, and a temperature adjustment unit that causes the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal process to flow into a discharge pipe into which gas from which removal of the removal target has been completed should flow, and a temperature adjustment unit that adjusts the temperature of the first heat exchanger. the first flow path switching unit that causes the gas heated by the second heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment, a second flow path switching unit that causes the gas cooled by the second heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment, and causes the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment to flow into the third heat exchanger, and a control unit that executes a first process that controls heating of the heating heat transfer liquid by the heating unit, supply of the heating heat transfer liquid to the first heat exchanger, cooling of the cooling heat transfer liquid by the cooling unit, supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the second heat exchanger, and supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the third heat exchanger, and a second process that controls the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit to switch the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal treatment and the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment, and the gas that has passed through the third heat exchanger is merged with the gas that has passed through the second heat exchanger and is caused to flow via the second flow path switching unit into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal treatment. In addition, the adsorbent regeneration device described in claim 6 is configured to regenerate the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in a removal system configured to remove moisture as a removal target from hydrogen gas as a gas. Furthermore, the removal system described in claim 7 is configured to remove the removal target from the gas by including the above-mentioned adsorbent regeneration device and each adsorption tower.

Therefore, according to the adsorbent regeneration device described in claims 1 to 4 and 6, and the removal system described in claim 7, it is possible to cool the cooling heat transfer liquid for cooling the gas in the cooling section and heat the heating heat transfer liquid for heating the gas in the heating section, without separately operating a cold heat source (e.g., a refrigeration cycle that operates independently) for cooling the gas (hydrogen gas, etc.) to remove the target to be removed (moisture, etc.) from the gas, and to operate the heat transfer liquid for heating the gas in the heating section, simply by operating the temperature adjustment section. This makes it possible to sufficiently reduce the amount of energy consumed for removing the target to be removed from the gas and regenerating the adsorbent. In addition, since the second heat exchanger removes a portion of the target to be removed contained in the gas before the gas is introduced into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal process, the adsorption removal process of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal process can be suppressed from decreasing in adsorption capacity, and there is no need to reduce the amount of gas introduced into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal process or to temporarily stop the adsorption removal process, so that the adsorption removal process for the introduced gas can be completed reliably in a short time.

In the adsorbent regeneration device described in claims 1 and 3, the third heat exchanger is provided with a primary heat exchange section and a secondary heat exchange section, and a gas flow path is formed so that the gas introduced from the gas inlet is passed through the primary heat exchange section, the secondary heat exchange section and the primary heat exchange section in this order and discharged from the gas outlet, and the target to be removed contained in the gas is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange section, and the target to be removed contained in the gas introduced from the gas inlet is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the gas cooled by the secondary heat exchange section in the primary heat exchange section. Therefore, according to the adsorbent regeneration device of claims 1, 3, and 6 and the removal system of claim 7, the gas is cooled by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange section of the third heat exchanger, while the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the primary heat exchange section is cooled by heat exchange with the gas discharged from the gas outlet (i.e., the gas cooled in the secondary heat exchange section), thereby efficiently cooling the gas and removing the target. This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which gas containing a large amount of the target flows into the adsorption tower where the adsorption and removal process is performed, and further reduces the amount of energy consumed to remove the target from the gas, compared to using a heat exchanger configured without a primary heat exchange section and a secondary heat exchange section.

In the adsorbent regeneration device described in claims 2 and 4, the second heat exchanger is provided with a primary heat exchange section and a secondary heat exchange section, and a gas flow path is formed so that the gas introduced from the gas inlet is passed through the primary heat exchange section, the secondary heat exchange section and the primary heat exchange section in this order and discharged from the gas outlet, and the target to be removed contained in the gas is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange section, and the target to be removed contained in the gas introduced from the gas inlet is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the gas cooled by the secondary heat exchange section in the primary heat exchange section. Therefore, according to the adsorbent regeneration device described in claims 2, 4, and 6, and the removal system described in claim 7, the gas is cooled by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange section of the second heat exchanger, while the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the primary heat exchange section is cooled by heat exchange with the gas discharged from the gas outlet (i.e., the gas cooled in the secondary heat exchange section), thereby efficiently cooling the gas and removing the target. This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which gas containing a large amount of the target flows into the adsorption tower where the adsorption and removal process is performed, and further reduces the amount of energy consumed to remove the target from the gas, compared to using a heat exchanger configured without a primary heat exchange section and a secondary heat exchange section.

In the adsorbent regeneration device described in claim 1, a first bypass flow path is provided in the third heat exchanger, which discharges the gas that has passed through the secondary heat exchange section from a gas outlet without passing it through the primary heat exchange section again, and a first flow rate adjustment unit is provided that can adjust the flow rate of the gas that passes through the first bypass flow path. The control unit respectively identifies a first temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the third heat exchanger, a second temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange section, and a third temperature of the gas that has passed through the secondary heat exchange section, and controls the first flow rate adjustment unit to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the first bypass flow path based on the ratio between a first temperature difference between the first temperature and the third temperature and a second temperature difference between the second temperature and the third temperature. In addition, in the adsorbent regeneration device described in claim 2, a bypass flow path A is provided in the third heat exchanger, which merges a portion of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange section with the gas that is passed through the secondary heat exchange section and flows into the primary heat exchange section without passing through the secondary heat exchange section, and a flow rate adjustment unit A is provided that can adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path A. The control unit specifies the temperature A of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the third heat exchanger, the temperature B of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange section, and the temperature C of the gas discharged from the gas discharge port in the third heat exchanger, and performs a process A to control the flow rate adjustment unit A to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path A based on the ratio of the temperature difference A between the temperature A and the temperature B and the temperature difference B between the temperature A and the temperature C.

Therefore, according to the adsorbent regeneration device described in claims 1, 2, and 6, and the removal system described in claim 7, a situation in which excessively low-temperature gas is passed through an adsorption tower or the like that performs the adsorption removal process can be avoided, so that when switching between an adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal process and an adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process, a situation in which condensation occurs in the adsorption tower that was performing the adsorption removal process can be avoided.

In addition, in the adsorbent regeneration device described in claim 3, a second bypass flow path is provided in the second heat exchanger, which discharges the gas that has passed through the secondary heat exchange section from the gas outlet without passing it through the primary heat exchange section again, and a second flow rate adjustment unit is provided that can adjust the flow rate of the gas that passes through the second bypass flow path. The control unit identifies a fourth temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the second heat exchanger, a fifth temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange section, and a sixth temperature of the gas that has passed through the secondary heat exchange section, and performs a fourth process of controlling the second flow rate adjustment unit to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the second bypass flow path based on the ratio of a third temperature difference between the fourth temperature and the sixth temperature to a fourth temperature difference between the fifth temperature and the sixth temperature. In addition, in the adsorbent regeneration device described in claim 4, a bypass flow path B is provided in the second heat exchanger to merge a portion of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange section with the gas that is passed through the secondary heat exchange section and flows into the primary heat exchange section without passing through the secondary heat exchange section, and a flow rate adjustment unit B is provided that can adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path B. The control unit specifies the temperature D of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the second heat exchanger, the temperature E of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange section, and the temperature F of the gas discharged from the gas discharge port in the second heat exchanger, and executes a process B to control the flow rate adjustment unit B to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path B based on the ratio of the temperature difference C between the temperature D and the temperature E and the temperature difference D between the temperature D and the temperature F.

Therefore, according to the adsorbent regeneration device described in claims 3, 4, and 6, and the removal system described in claim 7, a situation in which excessively low-temperature gas is passed through an adsorption tower or the like that performs the adsorption removal process can be avoided, so that when switching between an adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal process and an adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process, a situation in which condensation occurs in the adsorption tower that was performing the adsorption removal process can be avoided.

The adsorbent regeneration device according to claim 5 is provided with a third flow rate adjustment unit that adjusts the flow rate of the gas passing through the third heat exchanger, and the control unit executes a fifth process in which the control unit controls the third flow rate adjustment unit based on the temperature of the gas passed through the third heat exchanger to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the third heat exchanger. Therefore, according to the adsorbent regeneration device according to claim 5 and the removal system equipped with such an adsorbent regeneration device, a situation in which excessively low-temperature gas is passed through an adsorption tower or the like that performs an adsorption removal process can be avoided, and therefore, when switching between the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process, condensation can be avoided in the adsorption tower that was performing the adsorption removal process.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a removal system 1. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a heat pump unit 3 in the removal system 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heat exchanger 4a in the removal system 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heat exchanger 4c in the removal system 1. FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heat exchanger 54a according to another embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heat exchanger 54c according to another embodiment.

Below, an embodiment of the adsorbent regeneration device and removal system will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

First, the configuration of the removal system 1 will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

The removal system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a "removal system" and is configured to be able to remove moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G to be treated (reduce the humidity of the hydrogen gas G) by an adsorption removal process described below. In addition, as described below, the removal system 1 of this example is configured to be able to regenerate (restore the adsorption capacity) the adsorbent in the adsorption towers 2a and 2b by an adsorption capacity regeneration process using a thermal regeneration method in parallel with the adsorption removal process (an example of a configuration in which "multiple adsorption towers are provided and an adsorption removal process targeting a portion of each adsorption tower and an adsorption capacity regeneration process targeting another portion of each adsorption tower can be performed in parallel").

In this case, the removal system 1 of this example is configured to remove moisture (an example of a "removal target") from hydrogen gas G (an example of a "gas") produced by electrolysis or reforming performed in an external device (not shown) or hydrogen gas G stored in a gas tank (not shown) when the hydrogen gas G (an example of a "gas") is compressed by a compressor shown by a dashed line in the figure. Specifically, the removal system 1 of this example includes adsorption towers 2a and 2b, a heat pump unit 3, heat exchangers 4a to 4c, flow path switching valves 5a and 5b, flow rate control valve 6, flow rate control valves 7a and 7b, water storage units 8a and 8b, a temperature sensor 9, and a humidity sensor 10. In the removal system 1 of this example, the components 3, 4a to 4c, 5a, 5b, 6, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9, and 10, excluding the adsorption towers 2a and 2b, form an "adsorbent regeneration device."

The adsorption towers 2a and 2b (hereinafter, referred to as "adsorption tower 2" when there is no need to distinguish between them) are an example of an "adsorption tower" and are composed of a pressure-resistant container with two inlets and outlets through which hydrogen gas G can be introduced/discharged, and a layer of adsorbent through which hydrogen gas G can pass is provided between the inlets and outlets. In this case, in the removal system 1 of this example, which adsorbs and removes moisture as a "removal target" from hydrogen gas G as a "gas," the adsorption tower 2 is composed of an adsorbent such as zeolite (synthetic zeolite) housed in a pressure-resistant container.

The heat pump unit 3 is a "simultaneous hot and cold temperature adjustment device" that is an example of a "temperature adjustment unit" and is configured to be capable of simultaneously supplying low-temperature heat transfer fluid Wc (an example of a "heat transfer fluid for cooling") to the heat exchangers 4a and 4c via the heat transfer fluid circulation paths LC1 and LC2 and supplying high-temperature heat transfer fluid Wh (an example of a "heat transfer fluid for heating") to the heat exchanger 4b via the heat transfer fluid circulation path LH. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat pump unit 3 includes a refrigeration cycle 11, pumps 12a and 12b, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a control unit 15, and a memory unit 16.

The refrigeration cycle 11 includes a compressor 21, a condenser 22, an expansion valve 23, and an evaporator 24, and heats the heat transfer liquid Wh and cools the heat transfer liquid Wc under the control of the control unit 15. In this case, in the heat pump unit 3 of this example, a heating unit 3h (a hot heat source that heats the heat transfer liquid Wh: an example of a "heating unit") is configured to be able to heat the heat transfer liquid Wh by heat release from the condenser 22 (heat exchange with the refrigerant in the condenser 22). In addition, in the heat pump unit 3 of this example, a cooling unit 3c (a cold heat source that cools the heat transfer liquid Wc: an example of a "cooling unit") is configured to be able to cool the heat transfer liquid Wc by heat absorption by the evaporator 24 (heat exchange with the refrigerant in the evaporator 24). Furthermore, although illustrations and detailed explanations are omitted, in the heat pump unit 3 of this example, an auxiliary hot heat source such as a heat exchanger that absorbs heat from the outside air to increase the temperature of the heat transfer liquid Wh is arranged in the heating section 3h, and an auxiliary cold heat source such as a heat exchanger that dissipates heat from the heat transfer liquid Wc to the outside air to lower the temperature of the heat transfer liquid Wc is arranged in the cooling section 3c.

The heating section 3h is connected to a heat transfer fluid circulation path LH for circulating the heat transfer fluid Wh between the heat exchanger 4b, and the cooling section 3c is connected to a heat transfer fluid circulation path LC1 for circulating the heat transfer fluid Wc between the heat exchanger 4a and the heat exchanger 4c, and a heat transfer fluid circulation path LC2 for circulating the heat transfer fluid Wc between the heat exchanger 4c and the heat exchanger 4c. As shown in FIG. 1, in the removal system 1 of this example, as an example, the piping for the heat transfer fluid circulation path LC1 and the piping for the heat transfer fluid circulation path LC2 are shared on the heat pump unit 3 (cooling section 3c) side. In other words, in the removal system 1 of this example, the heat transfer fluid Wc supplied from the heat pump unit 3 (cooling section 3c) is split outside the heat pump unit 3 and supplied to the heat exchangers 4a and 4c, and the heat transfer fluid Wc that has passed through the heat exchangers 4a and 4c is merged outside the heat pump unit 3 and flows into the cooling section 3c.

As an example, the pump 12a is disposed upstream of the cooling section 3c in the heat transfer liquid circulation paths LC1 and LC2 (the piping after the above-mentioned junction), and circulates the heat transfer liquid Wc in the heat transfer liquid circulation paths LC1 and LC2 by pumping the heat transfer liquid Wc to the cooling section 3c under the control of the control unit 15. As an example, the pump 12b is disposed upstream of the heating section 3h in the heat transfer liquid circulation path LH, and circulates the heat transfer liquid Wh in the heat transfer liquid circulation path LH by pumping the heat transfer liquid Wh to the heating section 3h under the control of the control unit 15. In addition, in the removal system 1 (heat pump unit 3) of this example, as an example, the pumps 12a and 12b (hereinafter, when not distinguished, they are also referred to as "pump 12") are each configured as a variable pressure-feed type liquid feed pump. The operation unit 13 has a plurality of operation switches for instructing the operating conditions of the removal system 1, and outputs an operation signal according to the switch operation to the control unit 15. The display unit 14 displays a display screen for setting the operating conditions of the removal system 1 under the control of the control unit 15, a display screen showing the operating status of the removal system 1, and the like.

The control unit 15 is an example of a "control unit" and controls the removal system 1 as a whole. Specifically, the control unit 15 controls the operation of each component of the heat pump unit 3, as well as the operation of the flow path switching valves 5a, 5b, the flow rate control valves 6, 7a, 7b, and the flow rate control valves 33a, 33b, 43a, 43b described below. More specifically, the control unit 15 controls the heating of the heat transfer liquid Wh by the heating unit 3h and the cooling of the heat transfer liquid Wc by the cooling unit 3c (the operation of the refrigeration cycle 11), the supply of the heat transfer liquid Wc to the heat exchangers 4a, 4c (the pump 12a pumps the heat transfer liquid Wc), and the supply of the heat transfer liquid Wh to the heat exchanger 4b (the pump 12b pumps the heat transfer liquid Wh) (an example of a "first process"). The control unit 15 also controls the flow path switching valves 5a and 5b to perform a process of switching between the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process (a process of changing which of the adsorption towers 2a and 2b performs the adsorption removal process and which performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process: an example of a "second process").

In this case, when the "first parameter" that changes depending on the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G passed through the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption and removal process falls outside the "predefined first range", the control unit 15 determines that the "first condition" that the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption and removal process falls below the "predefined first capacity" is satisfied, and executes the above-mentioned "second process". Also, when the "second parameter" that changes depending on the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G passed through the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption and removal process falls outside the "predefined second range", the control unit 15 determines that the "second condition" that the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption and removal process exceeds the "predefined second capacity" is satisfied, and executes the above-mentioned "second process".

Furthermore, the control unit 15 executes a "third process" for adjusting the flow of hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4c according to the temperature of hydrogen gas G in each part of the heat exchanger 4c, as described later, and a "fourth process" for adjusting the flow of hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4a according to the temperature of hydrogen gas G in each part of the heat exchanger 4a, as described later. The control unit 15 also executes a "fifth process" for controlling the flow rate control valve 6 based on the temperature of hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 4c to adjust the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passing through the heat exchanger 4c, so that the temperature of hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 4c is within a predetermined temperature range, as described later. The above processes executed by the control unit 15 will be described in detail later. The memory unit 16 stores the operation program of the control unit 15 and various data on the operating conditions of the removal system 1.

The heat pump unit 3 is actually equipped with various sensors to detect the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle 11, the temperature of the heat transfer liquid Wc flowing into the cooling section 3c, the temperature of the heat transfer liquid Wc discharged from the cooling section 3c, the temperature of the heat transfer liquid Wh flowing into the heating section 3h, the temperature of the heat transfer liquid Wh discharged from the heating section 3h, and the outside air temperature, but illustrations and explanations of these sensors are omitted to facilitate understanding of the configuration and operation of the removal system 1.

The heat exchanger 4a is an example of a "second heat exchanger" and is configured to be able to cool the hydrogen gas G that is made to flow into the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process and the heat exchanger 4b by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc supplied from the heat pump unit 3 (cooling section 3c) via the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC1. The heat exchanger 4b is an example of a "first heat exchanger" and is configured to be able to heat the hydrogen gas G that is made to flow into the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wh supplied from the heat pump unit 3 (heating section 3h) via the heat transfer liquid circulation path LH. The heat exchanger 4c is an example of a "third heat exchanger" and is configured to be able to cool the hydrogen gas G that is made to pass through the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc supplied from the heat pump unit 3 (cooling section 3c) via the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC2.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, in the removal system 1 of this example, a heat exchanger 4a is disposed in the inlet pipe Pi that introduces the hydrogen gas G to be treated, and the flow path of the hydrogen gas G that has passed through the heat exchanger 4a is branched at a branch point P1 into a flow path that flows into either the adsorption tower 2a or 2b (the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process) via a flow path switching valve 5a, and a flow path that flows into the heat exchanger 4b. Note that a compressor is connected to the inlet pipe Pi as an external device that pressurizes the hydrogen gas G toward the removal system 1, as shown by the dashed line in the figure.

In addition, in the removal system 1 of this example, a flow path is formed in which hydrogen gas G, which is made to flow into either of the adsorption towers 2a, 2b (adsorption tower 2 performing adsorption removal processing) via the flow path switching valve 5a, flows into the discharge pipe Po via the flow path switching valve 5b. In addition, in the removal system 1 of this example, a flow path is formed in which hydrogen gas G, which has been passed through the heat exchanger 4b, is made to flow into either of the adsorption towers 2a, 2b (adsorption tower 2 performing adsorption capacity regeneration processing) via the flow path switching valve 5b, and then flows into the heat exchanger 4c via the flow path switching valve 5a.

In addition, in the removal system 1 of this example, a junction P2 is provided in the flow path of hydrogen gas G from the heat exchanger 4a to the flow path switching valve 5b, and a configuration is adopted in which hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 4c is merged at the junction P2 with hydrogen gas G flowing from the heat exchanger 4a to the flow path switching valve 5a. In addition, in the removal system 1 of this example, as shown in the same figure, as an example, the junction P2 is provided downstream of the branch point P1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heat exchanger 4a in the removal system 1 of this example includes a primary heat exchange section 31 and a secondary heat exchange section 32, and a gas flow path is formed so that hydrogen gas G introduced from an inlet 30i (an example of a "gas inlet") passes through the primary heat exchange section 31, the secondary heat exchange section 32, and the primary heat exchange section 31 in this order and is discharged from an outlet 30o (an example of a "gas outlet"). In addition, the heat exchanger 4a is configured so that moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc (main cooling) in the secondary heat exchange section 32, and moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G cooled by the secondary heat exchange section 32 in the primary heat exchange section 31 (pre-cooling of the hydrogen gas G prior to main cooling in the secondary heat exchange section 32).

In addition, the heat exchanger 4a is provided with a bypass flow path 33 (an example of a "second bypass flow path") that allows the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 and the secondary heat exchange section 32 in this order to be discharged from the outlet 30o without passing through the primary heat exchange section 31 again, and is provided with flow control valves 33a, 33b (an example of a "second flow control section") that can adjust the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 33. In this case, in the heat exchanger 4a of this example, both flow control valves 33a, 33b are each configured as an opening rate variable opening/closing valve, and the flow control valve 33a is provided in the flow path of the hydrogen gas G from the secondary heat exchange section 32 toward the primary heat exchange section 31, and the flow control valve 33b is provided in the bypass flow path 33. This makes it possible to increase the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 33 by decreasing the opening rate of the flow rate adjustment valve 33a while increasing the opening rate of the flow rate adjustment valve 33b, and to decrease the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 33 by increasing the opening rate of the flow rate adjustment valve 33a while decreasing the opening rate of the flow rate adjustment valve 33b.

The heat exchanger 4a is also provided with a temperature sensor 34a capable of detecting the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i (an example of the "fourth temperature"), a temperature sensor 34b capable of detecting the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 (an example of the "fifth temperature"), and a temperature sensor 34c capable of detecting the temperature of the hydrogen gas G passed through the secondary heat exchange section 32 (an example of the "sixth temperature").

As shown in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger 4c in the removal system 1 of this example includes a primary heat exchanger 41 and a secondary heat exchanger 42, and a gas flow path is formed so that hydrogen gas G introduced from an inlet 40i (an example of a "gas inlet") passes through the primary heat exchanger 41, the secondary heat exchanger 42, and the primary heat exchanger 41 in this order and is discharged from an outlet 40o (an example of a "gas outlet"). In addition, the heat exchanger 4c is configured so that moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc (main cooling) in the secondary heat exchanger 42, and moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G cooled by the secondary heat exchanger 42 in the primary heat exchanger 41 (pre-cooling of the hydrogen gas G prior to main cooling in the secondary heat exchanger 42).

In addition, the heat exchanger 4c is provided with a bypass flow path 43 (an example of a "first bypass flow path") that allows the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 and the secondary heat exchange section 42 in this order to be discharged from the outlet 40o without passing through the primary heat exchange section 41 again, and is provided with flow control valves 43a and 43b (an example of a "first flow control section") that can adjust the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 43. In this case, in the heat exchanger 4c of this example, both flow control valves 43a and 43b are each configured as an opening rate variable opening/closing valve, and the flow control valve 43a is provided in the flow path of the hydrogen gas G from the secondary heat exchange section 42 toward the primary heat exchange section 41, and the flow control valve 43b is provided in the bypass flow path 43. This makes it possible to increase the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 43 by decreasing the opening rate of the flow rate adjustment valve 43a while increasing the opening rate of the flow rate adjustment valve 43b, and to decrease the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 43 by increasing the opening rate of the flow rate adjustment valve 43a while decreasing the opening rate of the flow rate adjustment valve 43b.

The heat exchanger 4c is also provided with a temperature sensor 44a capable of detecting the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i (an example of a "first temperature"), a temperature sensor 44b capable of detecting the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 (an example of a "second temperature"), and a temperature sensor 44c capable of detecting the temperature of the hydrogen gas G passed through the secondary heat exchange section 42 (an example of a "third temperature").

The flow path switching valve 5a is an example of a "second flow path switching unit" and, under the control of the control unit 15, causes hydrogen gas G cooled in the heat exchanger 4a to flow into the adsorption tower 2 of the adsorption towers 2a and 2b that is undergoing adsorption removal processing, and causes hydrogen gas G that has passed through the adsorption tower 2 of the adsorption towers 2a and 2b that is undergoing adsorption capacity regeneration processing to flow into the heat exchanger 4c. The flow path switching valve 5b is an example of a "first flow path switching unit" and, under the control of the control unit 15, causes hydrogen gas G that has passed through the adsorption tower 2 of the adsorption towers 2a and 2b that is undergoing adsorption removal processing to flow into the exhaust pipe Po into which hydrogen gas G from which moisture removal has been completed should flow, and causes hydrogen gas G heated in the heat exchanger 4b to flow into the adsorption tower 2 of the adsorption towers 2a and 2b that is undergoing adsorption capacity regeneration processing.

The flow rate control valve 6 is an example of a "third flow rate control unit" and, as shown in FIG. 1, is disposed downstream of the heat exchanger 4c in the flow path of hydrogen gas G, and adjusts the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passing through the heat exchanger 4c under the control of the control unit 15. Note that the "third flow rate control unit" is not limited to the location of the flow rate control valve 6 in the removal system 1 of this example, and can be disposed at any position in the flow path of hydrogen gas G from the branch point P1 through the heat exchanger 4b, flow path switching valve 5b, adsorption tower 2, flow path switching valve 5a, and heat exchanger 4c to the junction point P2.

The flow rate adjustment valve 7a adjusts the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc passing through the heat exchanger 4a by changing the opening degree by the control unit 15 so that a part of the heat transfer liquid Wc cooled in the heat pump unit 3 (cooling unit 3c) and pressure-fed through the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC1 toward the heat exchanger 4a is recovered in the heat pump unit 3 (cooling unit 3c) without passing through the heat exchanger 4a (an example of a "flow rate adjustment unit that adjusts the flow rate of the cooling heat transfer liquid that is passed through the second heat exchanger"). The flow rate adjustment valve 7b adjusts the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc passing through the heat exchanger 4c by changing the opening degree by the control unit 15 so that a part of the heat transfer liquid Wc cooled in the heat pump unit 3 (cooling unit 3c) and pressure-fed through the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC2 toward the heat exchanger 4c is recovered in the heat pump unit 3 (cooling unit 3c) without passing through the heat exchanger 4c (an example of a "flow rate adjustment unit that adjusts the flow rate of the cooling heat transfer liquid that is passed through the third heat exchanger").

The water storage unit 8a is configured to store the moisture removed from the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4a and drained from the heat exchanger 4a. As an example, when the amount of stored moisture reaches a predetermined amount (hereinafter also referred to as the "first specified amount"), it discharges (drains) a part of the stored moisture (less than the "first specified amount": hereinafter also referred to as the "second specified amount") to the outside and outputs a signal to the control unit 15 to notify the control unit 15 that the moisture has been discharged. The water storage unit 8b is configured to store the moisture removed from the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4c and drained from the heat exchanger 4c. As an example, when the amount of stored moisture reaches a predetermined amount (hereinafter also referred to as the "third specified amount"), it discharges (drains) a part of the stored moisture (less than the "third specified amount": hereinafter also referred to as the "fourth specified amount") to the outside and outputs a signal to the control unit 15 to notify the control unit 15 that the moisture has been discharged.

The temperature sensor 9 is disposed upstream of the flow path switching valve 5a and detects the temperature of the hydrogen gas G that is passed through the heat exchanger 4a and the heat exchanger 4c and then flows into the adsorption tower 2 that is performing the adsorption removal process among the adsorption towers 2a and 2b. The humidity sensor 10 is disposed in the discharge pipe Po and detects the humidity of the hydrogen gas G that is passed through the adsorption tower 2 that is performing the adsorption removal process and flows into the discharge pipe Po.

Next, we will explain the basic operations of the adsorption removal process and adsorption capacity regeneration process performed by the removal system 1.

When the power switch of the operation unit 13 is turned on, the control unit 15 operates each component of the heat pump unit 3 to start the supply of heat transfer liquid Wc from the cooling unit 3c and the supply of heat transfer liquid Wh from the heating unit 3h. At this time, the heat transfer liquid Wc is cooled by the cooling unit 3c and the heat transfer liquid Wh is heated by the heating unit 3h, and the heat transfer liquid Wc is circulated in the heat transfer liquid circulation paths LC1 and LC2 by the pump 12a, and the heat transfer liquid Wh is circulated in the heat transfer liquid circulation path LH by the pump 12b.

Specifically, as the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle 11, the heat transfer liquid Wc is cooled by heat exchange between the refrigerant and the heat transfer liquid Wc in the evaporator 24 of the cooling unit 3c (heat absorption from the heat transfer liquid Wc to the refrigerant in the evaporator 24), and the low-temperature heat transfer liquid Wc is supplied to the heat exchanger 4a via the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC1 and to the heat exchanger 4c via the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC2. In addition, as the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle 11, the heat transfer liquid Wh is heated by heat exchange between the refrigerant and the heat transfer liquid Wh in the condenser 22 of the heating unit 3h (heat dissipation from the refrigerant to the heat transfer liquid Wh in the condenser 22), and the high-temperature heat transfer liquid Wh is supplied to the heat exchanger 4b via the heat transfer liquid circulation path LH.

At this time point immediately after the start of the process, the control unit 15, for example, controls the flow control valves 7a and 7b to the open state (fully closed state in the case of a valve structure that can be fully closed) with the minimum opening. As a result, most of the heat transfer liquid Wc that flows into the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC1 from the cooling unit 3c (when the flow control valve 7a is fully closed, all of the heat transfer liquid Wc that flows in) flows into the heat exchanger 4a from the inlet 30i, and most of the heat transfer liquid Wc that flows into the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC2 from the cooling unit 3c (when the flow control valve 7b is fully closed, all of the heat transfer liquid Wc that flows in) flows into the heat exchanger 4c from the inlet 40i. Therefore, when hydrogen gas G is introduced into the removal system 1 as described later, it is possible to quickly cool the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchangers 4a and 4c (to quickly absorb the heat of the hydrogen gas G into the heat transfer liquid Wc in the heat exchangers 4a and 4c). In addition, the heat transfer liquid Wh that flows from the heating section 3h into the heat transfer liquid circulation path LH is caused to flow into the heat exchanger 4b, so that when hydrogen gas G is introduced into the removal system 1 as described below, the hydrogen gas G can be quickly heated in the heat exchanger 4b to a sufficiently high temperature that allows for suitable adsorption capacity regeneration processing.

Next, the hydrogen gas G to be treated is introduced into the removal system 1. At this time, as described above, the removal system 1 of this example is configured to be able to perform the adsorption removal process in one of the adsorption towers 2a and 2b and the adsorption capacity regeneration process in the other of the adsorption towers 2a and 2b in parallel. In this case, as an example, if the adsorption removal process was performed in the adsorption tower 2b while the adsorption capacity regeneration process was performed in the adsorption tower 2a during the previous operation, a large amount of moisture is adsorbed by the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2b, resulting in a reduced adsorption removal capacity of the adsorption tower 2b, and moisture is removed from the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2a by the adsorption capacity regeneration process, resulting in an improved adsorption removal capacity of the adsorption tower 2a. Therefore, at this point in time when the process is started after such an operation state, as an example, the adsorption removal process is performed in the adsorption tower 2a, which has a high adsorption processing capacity due to the adsorption capacity regeneration process performed during the previous operation, while the adsorption capacity regeneration process is performed in the adsorption tower 2b, which has a reduced adsorption processing capacity due to the adsorption removal process performed during the previous operation.

Specifically, the control unit 15 controls the flow path switching valve 5a so that a portion of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet pipe Pi and passed through the heat exchanger 4a passes through the branch point P1 and flows into the adsorption tower 2a, and the hydrogen gas G passed through the adsorption tower 2b flows into the heat exchanger 4c. The control unit 15 also controls the flow path switching valve 5b so that the hydrogen gas G passed through the adsorption tower 2a flows into the exhaust pipe Po, and the hydrogen gas G passed through the branch point P1 and the heat exchanger 4b in this order flows into the adsorption tower 2b. As a result, a flow path (a flow path mainly intended for adsorption removal processing in the adsorption tower 2a) is formed in which a portion of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet pipe Pi and passed through the heat exchanger 4a passes through the branch point P1, the flow path switching valve 5a, the adsorption tower 2a, and the flow path switching valve 5b in this order and flows into the discharge pipe Po, and another portion of the hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 4a passes through the branch point P1, the heat exchanger 4b, the flow path switching valve 5b, the adsorption tower 2b, the flow path switching valve 5a, the heat exchanger 4c, the flow rate adjustment valve 6, and the junction point P2 in this order and flows into the adsorption tower 2a via the flow path switching valve 5a (a flow path mainly intended for adsorption capacity regeneration processing in the adsorption tower 2b).

At this time, in the secondary heat exchange section 32 of the heat exchanger 4a, the hydrogen gas G is cooled by heat exchange between the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 as described below, and the heat transfer liquid Wc supplied from the heat pump unit 3 (cooling section 3c). As a result, the relative humidity of the hydrogen gas G increases in the heat exchanger 4a, and some of the moisture in the gas phase contained in the hydrogen gas G changes to the liquid phase and is separated (removed) from the hydrogen gas G. As a result, the absolute humidity of the hydrogen gas G passed through the secondary heat exchange section 32 is sufficiently reduced (the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently reduced).

In this case, at this point immediately after the start of processing, the control unit 15 controls the flow rate control valve 33a in the heat exchanger 4a to an open state with a maximum opening degree (fully open state if the valve structure can be fully opened), and controls the flow rate control valve 33b to an open state with a minimum opening degree (fully closed state if the valve structure can be fully closed). As a result, most of the hydrogen gas G introduced into the heat exchanger 4a from the inlet 30i and passed through the primary heat exchange unit 31 and the secondary heat exchange unit 32 in this order (if the flow rate control valve 33b is fully closed, all of the hydrogen gas G passed through the secondary heat exchange unit 32) is made to pass through the primary heat exchange unit 31 again.

At this time, the newly introduced hydrogen gas G is cooled by heat exchange in the primary heat exchange section 31 between the hydrogen gas G (hydrogen gas G passing through the primary heat exchange section 31 toward the exhaust port 30o) cooled by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchange section 32 and the hydrogen gas G newly introduced into the primary heat exchange section 31 from the inlet 30i. As a result, the relative humidity of the newly introduced hydrogen gas G increases, and a part of the moisture in the gas phase contained in the hydrogen gas G changes to a liquid phase in the primary heat exchange section 31 and is separated (removed) from the hydrogen gas G. As a result, the absolute humidity of the hydrogen gas G flowing from the primary heat exchange section 31 to the secondary heat exchange section 32 is sufficiently reduced (the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently reduced), and thus, in combination with the removal of moisture in the secondary heat exchange section 32 described above, the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently removed in the heat exchanger 4a.

The hydrogen gas G passing through the primary heat exchange section 31 toward the exhaust port 30o is heated by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G newly introduced into the primary heat exchange section 31. In this case, the hydrogen gas G flowing from the secondary heat exchange section 32 into the primary heat exchange section 31 has a relative humidity of about 100% due to cooling (temperature reduction) in the secondary heat exchange section 32. Therefore, by raising the temperature of the hydrogen gas G and reducing the relative humidity before it is exhausted from the exhaust port 30o, it is possible to preferably avoid a situation in which the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G condenses in the flow path from the heat exchanger 4a toward the adsorption tower 2a or the heat exchanger 4b.

The liquid phase moisture removed from the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchange section 31 and the secondary heat exchange section 32 is stored in the water storage section 8a, and is drained from the water storage section 8a to a predetermined drainage location each time a predetermined amount of moisture is stored in the water storage section 8a. At this time, as described above, a signal is output from the water storage section 8a (a sensor disposed in the water storage section 8a) to notify the control section 15 of the heat pump unit 3 of drainage. Therefore, based on the frequency of output of this signal, i.e., the frequency of drainage from the water storage section 8a, the amount of moisture removed from the hydrogen gas G per unit time in the heat exchanger 4a can be determined.

In addition, the amount of moisture (humidity) contained in the hydrogen gas G flowing into the heat exchanger 4a via the inlet pipe Pi and the amount of moisture (humidity) contained in the hydrogen gas G discharged from the heat exchanger 4a can be determined based on the rotation speed of the compressor that pumps hydrogen gas G to the removal system 1 (i.e., the amount of hydrogen gas G introduced per unit time), the temperature of the hydrogen gas G detected by each temperature sensor 34, the operating state of the heat pump unit 3 (cooling section 3c) and the opening degree of the flow control valve 7a (i.e., the amount of cold heat supplied to the heat exchanger 4a), and the amount of moisture removed from the hydrogen gas G per unit time in the heat exchanger 4a.

Meanwhile, a portion of the hydrogen gas G (hydrogen gas G from which some of the moisture has been removed by cooling) discharged from the heat exchanger 4a (exhaust port 30o) passes through branch point P1 and flow path switching valve 5a in this order and flows into the adsorption tower 2a. At this time, the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G that has flowed into the adsorption tower 2a is adsorbed by the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2a and removed from the hydrogen gas G (the adsorption and removal process is executed in the adsorption tower 2a). This sufficiently reduces the absolute humidity of the hydrogen gas G that has passed through the adsorption tower 2a (the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently reduced).

In this case, in the removal system 1 of this example, a part of the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi is removed in the heat exchanger 4a, so that the absolute humidity of the hydrogen gas G flowing into the adsorption tower 2a performing the adsorption removal process is lower than the absolute humidity of the hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi. Therefore, unlike a configuration in which the hydrogen gas G flows directly from the introduction pipe Pi into the adsorption tower 2a without passing through the heat exchanger 4a (a configuration in which the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi is removed only by the adsorption removal process by the adsorption tower 2a), a situation in which the adsorption removal ability of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2a performing the adsorption removal process is significantly reduced in a short period of time is avoided. After this, the hydrogen gas G from which the moisture has been sufficiently adsorbed and removed in the adsorption tower 2a flows into the discharge pipe Po via the flow path switching valve 5b and is discharged to the supply destination of the hydrogen gas G (not shown).

In addition, another portion of the hydrogen gas G (hydrogen gas G from which some of the moisture has been removed by cooling) discharged from the heat exchanger 4a (exhaust port 30o) passes through the branch point P1 and flows into the heat exchanger 4b. At this time, in the heat exchanger 4b, the hydrogen gas G that has flowed in is heated by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wh supplied from the heat pump unit 3 (heating section 3h), and its relative humidity is greatly reduced. In addition, the hydrogen gas G heated in the heat exchanger 4b flows into the adsorption tower 2b via the flow path switching valve 5b.

In this case, the higher the temperature of the hydrogen gas G flowing into the adsorption tower 2b, the more the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2b can be appropriately increased in temperature, and the moisture can be appropriately removed from the adsorbent. Therefore, in the removal system 1 of this example in which the hydrogen gas G whose temperature has been sufficiently increased in the heat exchanger 4b is flowed into the adsorption tower 2b, the temperature of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2b is sufficiently increased by the flowing hydrogen gas G, so that the moisture adsorbed in the adsorbent is appropriately removed from the adsorbent. In addition, the less moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G flowing into the adsorption tower 2b (the lower the relative humidity of the hydrogen gas G), the more moisture can be appropriately removed from the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2b into the hydrogen gas G (the moisture desorbed from the adsorbent can be taken into the hydrogen gas G). Therefore, in the removal system 1 of this example in which the hydrogen gas G whose relative humidity has been sufficiently reduced by being heated in the heat exchangers 4a and 4c is flowed into the adsorption tower 2b, the moisture adsorbed in the adsorbent is more appropriately removed by contacting such hydrogen gas G. This regenerates the adsorbent in adsorption tower 2b and restores the adsorption and removal capacity of adsorption tower 2b.

Hydrogen gas G containing moisture released from the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2b flows into the heat exchanger 4c through the flow path switching valve 5a. At this time, in the secondary heat exchange section 42 of the heat exchanger 4c, the hydrogen gas G is cooled by heat exchange between the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 as described below, and the heat transfer liquid Wc supplied from the heat pump unit 3 (cooling section 3c). As a result, the relative humidity of the hydrogen gas G increases in the heat exchanger 4c, and some of the moisture in the gas phase contained in the hydrogen gas G changes to a liquid phase and is released (removed) from the hydrogen gas G. As a result, the absolute humidity of the hydrogen gas G passed through the secondary heat exchange section 42 is sufficiently reduced (the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently reduced).

In this case, at this point immediately after the start of processing, the control unit 15 controls the flow rate control valve 43a in the heat exchanger 4c to the open state with the maximum opening degree (fully closed state in the case of a valve structure that can be fully opened), and controls the flow rate control valve 43b to the open state with the minimum opening degree (fully closed state in the case of a valve structure that can be fully closed). As a result, most of the hydrogen gas G introduced into the heat exchanger 4c from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchange unit 41 and the secondary heat exchange unit 42 (if the flow rate control valve 43b is fully closed, all of the hydrogen gas G passed through the secondary heat exchange unit 42) is made to pass through the primary heat exchange unit 41 again.

At this time, the newly introduced hydrogen gas G is cooled by heat exchange in the primary heat exchange section 41 between the hydrogen gas G (hydrogen gas G passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 toward the exhaust port 40o) cooled by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchange section 42 and the hydrogen gas G newly introduced into the primary heat exchange section 41 from the inlet 40i. As a result, the relative humidity of the newly introduced hydrogen gas G increases, and a part of the moisture in the gas phase contained in the hydrogen gas G changes to a liquid phase in the primary heat exchange section 41 and is separated (removed) from the hydrogen gas G. As a result, the absolute humidity of the hydrogen gas G flowing from the primary heat exchange section 41 to the secondary heat exchange section 42 is sufficiently reduced (the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently reduced), and thus, in combination with the removal of moisture in the secondary heat exchange section 42 described above, the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently removed in the heat exchanger 4c.

The hydrogen gas G passing through the primary heat exchange section 41 toward the exhaust port 40o is heated by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G newly introduced into the primary heat exchange section 41. In this case, the hydrogen gas G flowing from the secondary heat exchange section 42 into the primary heat exchange section 41 has a relative humidity of about 100% due to cooling (temperature reduction) in the secondary heat exchange section 42. Therefore, by raising the temperature of the hydrogen gas G and reducing the relative humidity before it is exhausted from the exhaust port 40o, it is possible to preferably avoid a situation in which the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G condenses in the flow path from the heat exchanger 4c toward the adsorption tower 2a, etc.

The liquid phase moisture removed from the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchange section 41 and the secondary heat exchange section 42 is stored in the water storage section 8b, and is drained from the water storage section 8b to a predetermined drainage location each time a predetermined amount of moisture is stored in the water storage section 8b. At this time, as described above, a signal is output from the water storage section 8b (a sensor disposed in the water storage section 8b) to notify the control section 15 of the heat pump unit 3 of drainage. Therefore, based on the frequency of output of this signal, i.e., the frequency of drainage from the water storage section 8b, the amount of moisture removed from the hydrogen gas G per unit time in the heat exchanger 4c can be determined.

In addition, based on the rotation speed of the compressor that pumps hydrogen gas G to the removal system 1 (i.e., the amount of hydrogen gas G introduced per unit time), the branch flow ratio of hydrogen gas G at branch point P1, the temperature of hydrogen gas G detected by each temperature sensor 44, the operating state of the heat pump unit 3 (cooling section 3c) and the opening degree of the flow control valve 7b (i.e., the amount of cold heat supplied to the heat exchanger 4c), and the amount of moisture removed from hydrogen gas G per unit time in the heat exchanger 4c, it is possible to determine the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G that passes through the adsorption tower 2b and flows into the heat exchanger 4c (i.e., the amount of moisture released from the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2b) and the amount of moisture (humidity) contained in the hydrogen gas G discharged from the heat exchanger 4c.

Meanwhile, the hydrogen gas G discharged from the heat exchanger 4c (exhaust port 40o) is merged with the hydrogen gas G flowing toward the adsorption tower 2a at the junction P2, passes through the flow path switching valve 5a, and flows into the adsorption tower 2a. At this time, as described above, the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G that flows into the adsorption tower 2a is adsorbed by the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2a and removed from the hydrogen gas G, so that the moisture that was not completely removed by the heat exchanger 4c is reliably removed from the hydrogen gas G. Therefore, even though the adsorption capacity of the adsorption tower 2b is regenerated using the hydrogen gas G from which moisture should be removed, a situation in which hydrogen gas G containing a large amount of moisture flows into the discharge pipe Po is preferably avoided.

In this way, in the removal system 1 of this example, the adsorption removal process in the adsorption tower 2a and the adsorption capacity regeneration process in the adsorption tower 2b are performed in parallel. Therefore, for example, when it becomes difficult for the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2a to adequately remove moisture, the control unit 15 controls the flow path switching valves 5a and 5b to perform the adsorption removal process in the adsorption tower 2b whose adsorption capacity has been regenerated, and to perform the adsorption capacity regeneration process in the adsorption tower 2a whose adsorption capacity has decreased, so that when the adsorption capacity of the adsorption tower 2b decreases again, the adsorption removal process in the adsorption tower 2a can be performed.

Next, we will explain an example of how the control unit 15 controls each part.

As described above, the removal system 1 of this example is configured to include a heating unit 3h as a hot heat source for heating the hydrogen gas G, and a cooling unit 3c as a cold heat source for cooling the hydrogen gas G. In this case, the heating unit 3h is configured to be able to heat the heat transfer liquid Wh by heat radiation from the refrigerant in the condenser 22 of the refrigeration cycle 11, and the cooling unit 3c is configured to be able to cool the heat transfer liquid Wc by heat absorption by the refrigerant in the evaporator 24 of the refrigeration cycle 11. Therefore, in the removal system 1 of this example, as described above, by operating the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11), it is possible to simultaneously cool the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchangers 4a and 4c and heat the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4b.

However, in the refrigeration cycle 11 constituting the heat pump unit 3, it is not possible to dissipate heat from the refrigerant in the condenser 22 without absorbing heat into the refrigerant in the evaporator 24, or to absorb heat into the refrigerant in the evaporator 24 without dissipating heat from the refrigerant in the condenser 22, and it is necessary to simultaneously dissipate heat from the refrigerant in the condenser 22 and absorb heat into the refrigerant in the evaporator 24. For this reason, in the removal system 1 of this example which uses the heat pump unit 3 as a hot heat source and a cold heat source, when the heat transfer liquid Wh is heated in the heating section 3h, the heat transfer liquid Wc is cooled in the cooling section 3c according to the degree of heating, and when the heat transfer liquid Wc is cooled in the cooling section 3c, the heat transfer liquid Wh is heated in the heating section 3h according to the degree of cooling. In other words, in the removal system 1 of this example, when it is necessary to heat the heat transfer liquid Wh in the heating section 3h, it is necessary to cool the heat transfer liquid Wc in the cooling section 3c according to the degree of heating, and when it is necessary to cool the heat transfer liquid Wc in the cooling section 3c, it is necessary to heat the heat transfer liquid Wh in the heating section 3h according to the degree of cooling.

In the removal system 1 of this example, as described above, the heating unit 3h is provided with an auxiliary hot heat source that heats the heat transfer liquid Wh by absorbing heat from the atmosphere, and the cooling unit 3c is provided with an auxiliary cold heat source that cools the heat transfer liquid Wc by dissipating heat to the atmosphere. However, even if the heat transfer liquid Wc is cooled only by the auxiliary cold heat source without absorbing heat into the refrigerant in the evaporator 24, the heat transfer liquid Wh cannot be heated by heat dissipation from the refrigerant in the condenser 22, and even if the heat transfer liquid Wh is heated only by the auxiliary hot heat source without dissipating heat from the refrigerant in the condenser 22, the heat transfer liquid Wc cannot be cooled by heat absorption into the refrigerant in the evaporator 24. Therefore, the above-mentioned auxiliary heat source is used only as a heat source that can compensate for the difference when the amount of heat dissipated from the refrigerant in the condenser 22 and the amount of heat absorbed by the refrigerant in the evaporator 24 are slightly different.

On the other hand, in the removal system 1 of this example, which performs the adsorption removal process in one of the adsorption towers 2a and 2b in parallel with the adsorption capacity regeneration process in the other of the adsorption towers 2a and 2b, in order to continuously perform the adsorption removal process without reducing the amount of hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi, when it becomes difficult to suitably adsorb and remove the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process, it is necessary to continue the adsorption removal process in the adsorption tower 2 whose adsorption capacity has been regenerated by the adsorption capacity regeneration process (switching between the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process: hereinafter, also simply referred to as "switching the adsorption tower 2"). For this reason, when a configuration such as that of the removal system 1 of this example is adopted, it is preferable to perform the adsorption capacity regeneration process so that the adsorption removal capacity of the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process is sufficiently regenerated (the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent is sufficiently restored) while the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process is in a state in which it is possible to suitably adsorb and remove the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G.

In this case, the temperature of the pressure vessel and adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process is lower than the temperature at which moisture can be suitably removed from the adsorbent because the removal system 1 is stopped or the adsorption removal process was performed until just before. Therefore, immediately after the adsorption removal process and the adsorption capacity regeneration process are started (immediately after the removal system 1 is started or immediately after switching between the two adsorption towers 2), it is necessary to sufficiently heat the heat transfer liquid Wh in a short time in the heating section 3h so that the hydrogen gas G heated in the heat exchanger 4b can efficiently heat the pressure vessel and adsorbent of the adsorption tower 2 that is the target of the adsorption capacity regeneration process and suitably remove moisture from the adsorbent.

In addition, when hydrogen gas G containing a large amount of moisture flows into the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption removal process, the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 drops significantly in a short period of time. Therefore, it may become difficult for the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption removal process to adequately adsorb and remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G before the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption capacity regeneration process is fully regenerated.

Here, immediately after the start of the adsorption capacity regeneration process, the adsorbent has adsorbed a large amount of moisture, and as a result, a large amount of moisture is released from the adsorbent in contact with the high-temperature hydrogen gas G heated by the heat exchanger 4b, and the hydrogen gas G that flows into the heat exchanger 4c contains a large amount of moisture. Therefore, if this moisture cannot be properly removed in the heat exchanger 4c, the hydrogen gas G containing a large amount of moisture will flow through the junction P2 into the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption removal process is being performed. Also, when the hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi contains a large amount of moisture, if this moisture cannot be properly removed in the heat exchanger 4a, the hydrogen gas G containing a large amount of moisture will flow into the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption removal process is being performed.

Therefore, in the removal system 1 of this example, immediately after starting the adsorption removal process and the adsorption capacity regeneration process, the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11) is operated at maximum processing capacity (specifically, the rotation speed of the compressor 21 is increased), so that a sufficiently high-temperature heat transfer liquid Wh is supplied from the heating section 3h to the heat exchanger 4b, and the temperature of the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently raised. This high-temperature hydrogen gas G is then supplied to the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process, and a large amount of heat is absorbed by the refrigerant in the evaporator 24 in response to the large amount of heat released from the refrigerant in the condenser 22, so that a sufficiently low-temperature heat transfer liquid Wc is supplied to the heat exchangers 4a and 4c.

At this time, in the removal system 1 of this example, as described above, the flow control valve 7a is controlled to an open state (or fully closed state) with a minimum opening, so that most (or all) of the heat transfer liquid Wc flowing from the cooling section 3c into the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC1 passes through the heat exchanger 4a (secondary heat exchange section 32). In addition, the flow control valve 33a in the heat exchanger 4a is controlled to an open state (or fully open state) with a maximum opening, and the flow control valve 33b is controlled to an open state (or fully closed state) with a minimum opening, so that most (or all) of the hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi passes through the secondary heat exchange section 32 and then passes through the primary heat exchange section 31 again. As a result, the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently cooled in the secondary heat exchange section 32 by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc (the heat of the hydrogen gas G is preferably absorbed by the heat transfer liquid Wc), and the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is preferably removed, and the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently cooled in the primary heat exchange section 31 by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G that has passed through the secondary heat exchange section 32 (the heat of the hydrogen gas G passing through the primary heat exchange section 31 is preferably absorbed by the hydrogen gas G discharged from the exhaust port 30o), and the moisture is preferably removed. As a result, a situation in which hydrogen gas G containing a large amount of moisture flows into the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption and removal process is being performed is preferably avoided.

Furthermore, in the removal system 1 of this example, as described above, the flow control valve 7b is controlled to an open state (or fully closed state) with a minimum opening, so that most (or all) of the heat transfer liquid Wc flowing from the cooling section 3c into the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC2 is passed through the heat exchanger 4c (secondary heat exchange section 42). In addition, the flow control valve 43a in the heat exchanger 4c is controlled to an open state (or fully open state) with a maximum opening, and the flow control valve 43b is controlled to an open state (or fully closed state) with a minimum opening, so that most (or all) of the hydrogen gas G passed through the adsorption tower 2 that is the target of the adsorption capacity regeneration process is passed through the secondary heat exchange section 42 and then passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 again. As a result, the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently cooled in the secondary heat exchange section 42 by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc (the heat of the hydrogen gas G is preferably absorbed by the heat transfer liquid Wc), and the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is preferably removed, and the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently cooled in the primary heat exchange section 41 by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G that has passed through the secondary heat exchange section 42 (the heat of the hydrogen gas G passing through the primary heat exchange section 41 is preferably absorbed by the hydrogen gas G discharged from the exhaust port 40o), and the moisture is preferably removed. As a result, a situation in which hydrogen gas G containing a large amount of moisture flows into the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption and removal process is being performed is preferably avoided.

This makes it possible to efficiently regenerate the adsorption tower 2 that is the target of the adsorption capacity regeneration process in a short time while maintaining a balance between the hot heat (heat dissipated from the refrigerant in the condenser 22) and the cold heat (heat absorbed by the refrigerant in the evaporator 24) obtained by operating the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11) at maximum processing capacity, and to effectively avoid a situation in which the adsorption capacity of the adsorption tower 2 that is the target of the adsorption removal process drops significantly in a short time.

On the other hand, by continuing the adsorption capacity regeneration process, the moisture adsorbed in the adsorbent gradually decreases. In addition, the temperature of the pressure vessel and the adsorbent in contact with the high-temperature hydrogen gas G also becomes sufficiently high. Therefore, after a certain amount of time has passed since the start of the process, even if the temperature of the hydrogen gas G supplied to the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption capacity regeneration process is lowered to a certain extent, it becomes possible to sufficiently remove moisture from the adsorbent. For this reason, it becomes possible to lower the temperature of the heat transfer liquid Wh supplied from the heating section 3h to the heat exchanger 4b compared to immediately after the start of the process, or to reduce the amount of heat transfer liquid Wh supplied per unit time, and accordingly, it becomes possible to reduce the processing capacity of the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11) and the pumps 12a and 12b to reduce power consumption.

In this case, in the removal system 1 of this example, in which the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11) is used as a hot and cold heat source, as described above, the heat transfer liquid Wc is cooled in the cooling section 3c according to the degree to which the heat transfer liquid Wh is heated in the heating section 3h. In other words, when the amount of heat used to heat the heat transfer liquid Wh in the heating section 3h is reduced, it is necessary to reduce the amount of heat used to cool the heat transfer liquid Wc in the cooling section 3c, that is, the amount of heat absorbed from the hydrogen gas G to the heat transfer liquid Wc in the heat exchangers 4a and 4c. Therefore, in the removal system 1 of this example, the control section 15 executes control to increase the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 7a and control to increase the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 7b in conjunction with control to reduce the processing capacity of the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11) (specifically, to reduce the rotation speed of the compressor 21).

At this time, as the opening of the flow rate control valve 7a increases, a portion of the heat transfer liquid Wc that has flowed from the cooling section 3c into the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC1 returns to the cooling section 3c without passing through the heat exchanger 4a (secondary heat exchange section 32). Therefore, as the opening of the flow rate control valve 7a increases, the amount of heat absorbed from the hydrogen gas G to the heat transfer liquid Wc in the heat exchanger 4a decreases. Also, as the opening of the flow rate control valve 7b increases, a portion of the heat transfer liquid Wc that has flowed from the cooling section 3c into the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC2 returns to the cooling section 3c without passing through the heat exchanger 4c (secondary heat exchange section 42). Therefore, as the opening of the flow rate control valve 7b increases, the amount of heat absorbed from the hydrogen gas G to the heat transfer liquid Wc in the heat exchanger 4c decreases.

In this case, as described above, the moisture adsorbed by the adsorbent gradually decreases as the adsorption capacity regeneration process continues, so the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G flowing into the heat exchanger 4c, i.e., the moisture that can be removed from the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4c, gradually decreases. Therefore, the amount of cold heat required to cool the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4c gradually decreases. On the other hand, since the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi is unrelated to the progress of the adsorption capacity regeneration process, the amount of cold heat required to remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4a does not change significantly, but when the amount of moisture contained in the introduced hydrogen gas G is large, the amount of cold heat required in the heat exchanger 4a increases, and when the amount of moisture contained in the introduced hydrogen gas G is small, the amount of cold heat required in the heat exchanger 4a decreases.

Therefore, in this example of the removal system 1, the control unit 15 adjusts the opening degree of the flow control valves 7a and 7b according to the amount of cold heat required in the heat exchanger 4a (the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G flowing into the heat exchanger 4a) and the amount of cold heat required in the heat exchanger 4c (the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G flowing into the heat exchanger 4c).

In this case, as described above, in the heat exchanger 4a, moisture is removed from the hydrogen gas G by heat exchange (primary heat exchange: pre-cooling) in the primary heat exchange section 31 between the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i and the hydrogen gas G discharged from the outlet 30o, and moisture is further removed from the hydrogen gas G by heat exchange (secondary heat exchange: main cooling) in the secondary heat exchange section 32 between the hydrogen gas G passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 and the heat transfer liquid Wc.

At this time, when the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 33a is large and the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 33b is small (when the amount of hydrogen gas G that is passed through the primary heat exchanger 31 again after passing through the secondary heat exchanger 32 is large), the amount of pre-cooling heat exchange in the primary heat exchanger 31 increases, and moisture is suitably removed from the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchanger 31. However, since the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the exhaust port 30o is low, the hydrogen gas G is passed through the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process, and the temperature of the adsorption tower 2 (pressure-resistant container and adsorbent) and the flow path switching valve 5b decreases. As a result, when the adsorption tower 2 is switched, the high-temperature adsorption tower 2 comes into contact with the adsorption tower 2 and flow path switching valve 5b in a temperature-reduced state, and condensation may occur. In such a state, when the adsorption tower 2 is switched again, condensed water may flow into the discharge pipe Po. In addition, when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the outlet 30o is low, the amount of heat required to heat the hydrogen gas G to a suitable temperature in the heat exchanger 4b for the adsorption capacity regeneration process increases.

On the other hand, when the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 33a is small and the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 33b is large (when the amount of hydrogen gas G that is passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 again after passing through the secondary heat exchange section 32 is small), the amount of pre-cooling heat exchange in the primary heat exchange section 31 decreases, making it difficult to suitably remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchange section 31. Therefore, it is preferable to adjust the opening degrees of the flow rate control valves 33a and 33b (i.e., the degree of cooling of the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchange section 31) so that moisture can be suitably removed from the hydrogen gas G in both the primary heat exchange section 31 and the secondary heat exchange section 32 without causing a situation in which condensation water flows into the exhaust pipe Po or the amount of heat required for the warm heat in the heat exchanger 4b becomes excessively large.

In this case, the adjustment of the opening degree of the flow rate control valves 33a, 33b in the heat exchanger 4a (adjustment of the degree of cooling of the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchange section 31) is controlled based on the temperature change of the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4a. Specifically, the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34a: an example of the "fourth temperature"), the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34b: an example of the "fifth temperature"), and the temperature of the hydrogen gas G passed through the secondary heat exchange section 32 (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34c: an example of the "sixth temperature") are respectively specified.

Next, the temperature difference between the above-mentioned "fourth temperature" and "sixth temperature" (an example of the "third temperature difference") and the temperature difference between the "fifth temperature" and "sixth temperature" (an example of the "fourth temperature difference") are specified, and the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 33 is adjusted by controlling the flow control valves 33a and 33b so that the ratio of the "third temperature difference" to the "fourth temperature difference" is within a predetermined target range (an example of the "fourth process"). Note that the above-mentioned "target range" is specified prior to the start of each process by specifying in advance the "ratio between the third temperature difference and the fourth temperature difference" that allows moisture to be suitably removed from the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchange unit 31 without causing a situation in which condensation water flows into the discharge pipe Po or the amount of heat required in the heat exchanger 4b becomes excessively large, depending on the usage environment of the removal system 1.

In addition, in the removal system 1 of this example, the control unit 15 executes control to adjust the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 7a in parallel with control to adjust the opening degree of the flow rate control valves 33a and 33b. Specifically, the control unit 15 controls the flow rate control valve 7a based on the temperature (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 9) of the hydrogen gas G flowing into the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process, to increase the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc that is passed through the heat exchanger 4a when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G is high, and to decrease the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc that is passed through the heat exchanger 4a when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G is low. This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which hydrogen gas G with an excessively low temperature flows into the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process, and to preferably avoid a situation in which condensation water flows into the discharge pipe Po.

In addition, in the removal system 1 of this example, the control unit 15 executes control to adjust the opening of the flow rate control valves 43a and 43b according to the state of the temperature change of the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4c. In this case, when the opening of the flow rate control valve 43a is large and the opening of the flow rate control valve 43b is small (when the amount of hydrogen gas G that is passed through the primary heat exchanger 41 again after the secondary heat exchanger 42 is large), the amount of heat exchange in the primary heat exchanger 41 between the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and the hydrogen gas G cooled in the secondary heat exchanger 42 increases. Therefore, although it is possible to preferably remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchanger 41, the amount of heat required for cold heat in the heat exchanger 4c increases. In addition, when the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 43a is small and the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 43b is large (when the amount of hydrogen gas G that is passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 again after the secondary heat exchange section 42 is small), the amount of heat exchanged in the primary heat exchange section 41 between the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and the hydrogen gas G cooled in the secondary heat exchange section 42 decreases. Therefore, although the amount of cold heat required in the heat exchanger 4c decreases, it becomes difficult to suitably remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchange section 41.

Therefore, it is preferable to adjust the opening of the flow control valves 43, 43b (i.e., the degree of cooling in the primary heat exchange section 41 between the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and the hydrogen gas G cooled in the secondary heat exchange section 42) so that moisture can be suitably removed from the hydrogen gas G in both the primary heat exchange section 41 and the secondary heat exchange section 42 according to the amount of heat transfer liquid Wc supplied to the heat exchanger 4c in response to the adjustment of the opening of the flow control valve 7b (i.e., the amount of cold heat supplied to the heat exchanger 4c).

In this case, the opening of the flow rate control valves 43a and 43b in the heat exchanger 4c is adjusted based on the temperature change of the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4c. Specifically, the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44a: an example of the "first temperature"), the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44b: an example of the "second temperature"), and the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the secondary heat exchange section 42 (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44c: an example of the "third temperature") are respectively specified.

Next, the temperature difference between the above-mentioned "first temperature" and "third temperature" (an example of the "first temperature difference"), and the temperature difference between the "second temperature" and "third temperature" (an example of the "second temperature difference") are respectively specified, and the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 43 is adjusted by controlling the flow control valves 43a and 43b so that the ratio of the "first temperature difference" to the "second temperature difference" is within a predetermined target range (an example of the "third process"). Note that the above-mentioned "target range" is specified prior to the start of each process by specifying in advance the "ratio between the first temperature difference and the second temperature difference" that allows moisture to be suitably removed from the hydrogen gas G in both the primary heat exchange unit 41 and the secondary heat exchange unit 42 according to the amount of cold heat supplied to the heat exchanger 4c in accordance with the usage environment of the removal system 1.

In addition, in the removal system 1 of this example, the control unit 15 executes control to adjust the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 7b in parallel with the control to adjust the opening degree of the flow rate control valves 43a and 43b as described above. Specifically, the control unit 15 controls according to the temperature (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 9) of the hydrogen gas G to be flowed into the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption and removal process is performed. In this case, when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G cooled in the heat exchanger 4c is low, the hydrogen gas G is passed through the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption and removal process is performed after being merged at the junction P2, so that the temperature of the adsorption tower 2 (pressure-resistant container and adsorbent) and the flow path switching valve 5b decreases. As a result, when the adsorption tower 2 is switched, the high-temperature hydrogen gas G may come into contact with the adsorption tower 2 and the flow path switching valve 5b in a temperature-reduced state, causing condensation. In such a state, when the adsorption tower 2 is switched again, there is a risk that the condensed water will flow into the discharge pipe Po.

Therefore, when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G detected by the temperature sensor 9 is high, the control unit 15 reduces the opening of the flow rate control valve 7b to increase the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc passed through the heat exchanger 4c, and when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G is low, the control unit 15 increases the opening of the flow rate control valve 7b to decrease the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc passed through the heat exchanger 4c. This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which hydrogen gas G with an excessively low temperature flows into the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption and removal process, and to preferably avoid a situation in which condensation water flows into the discharge pipe Po.

On the other hand, when the adsorption capacity regeneration process is further continued, the amount of moisture adsorbed in the adsorbent becomes even smaller, and the amount of moisture released from the adsorbent by contact with the high-temperature hydrogen gas G becomes very small. In this state, when a high-temperature heat transfer liquid Wh is supplied from the heating section 3h in the same manner as when a large amount of moisture is adsorbed in the adsorbent, the amount of heat consumed to release moisture from the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process decreases, even though the hydrogen gas G is heated in the heat exchanger 4b in the same manner. As a result, the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the adsorption tower 2 becomes high. At this time, although the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the adsorption tower 2 decreases by the amount of cooling in the heat exchanger 4c, the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the heat exchanger 4c becomes high. For this reason, the temperature of the hydrogen gas G flowing into the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process becomes high, and the relative humidity becomes low, making it difficult to properly adsorb moisture to the adsorbent, and the temperature of the hydrogen gas G finally discharged to the discharge pipe Po becomes high.

Therefore, in the removal system 1 of this example, when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G detected by the temperature sensor 9 changes to a high temperature exceeding the allowable range, the control unit 15 executes control to reduce the opening of the flow control valve 6 disposed between the heat exchanger 4c and the junction P2 (control to reduce the amount of hydrogen gas G passing through: an example of the "fifth process of controlling the third flow control unit based on the temperature of the gas passed through the third heat exchanger to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the third heat exchanger"). This prevents the hydrogen gas G flowing into the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process from becoming excessively hot.

In addition, in the removal system 1 of this example, as described above, the operating state of the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11) and the opening degree of each flow control valve 7a, 7b, 33a, 33b, 43a, 43b are adjusted according to the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi and the progress of the adsorption capacity regeneration process. In this case, the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi can be determined based on, for example, the amount and temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi per unit time, the amount and temperature of the heat transfer liquid Wc supplied to the heat exchanger 4a per unit time, and the amount of moisture drained from the heat exchanger 4a per unit time.

The amount of hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi per unit time can be determined based on the rotation speed of the compressor. As described above, in the removal system 1 of this example, when the moisture removed from the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4a and drained from the heat exchanger 4a reaches the "first specified amount", the water storage section 8a discharges (drains) a part of the moisture, "a second specified amount", to the outside and outputs a signal to the control section 15 to notify the control section 15 of the discharge. Therefore, the amount of moisture discharged from the water storage section 8a per unit time (the second specified amount) can be determined based on the frequency of output of the signal from the water storage section 8a. The amount of the heat transfer liquid Wc supplied to the heat exchanger 4a per unit time can be determined based on the rotation speed of the pump 12a and the opening degree of the flow rate control valves 7a and 7b, and the temperature of the heat transfer liquid Wc can be detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) provided in the heat pump unit 3 (cooling section 3c).

The progress of the adsorption capacity regeneration process can be determined, for example, based on the amount of moisture that the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 can adsorb and the amount of moisture discharged from the heat exchanger 4c (i.e., the amount of moisture removed from the hydrogen gas G in the adsorption tower 2). Specifically, in the removal system 1 of this example, as described above, the water storage unit 8b is configured to discharge (drain) a portion of the moisture removed from the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 4c and drained from the heat exchanger 4c to the outside (drain) a "fourth specified amount" when the moisture reaches the "third specified amount," and to output a signal to the control unit 15 to notify the control unit 15 of the discharge.

Therefore, based on the signal output from the water storage section 8b, the amount of moisture discharged from the water storage section 8b (the cumulative amount of the fourth specified amount) can be determined, and based on the determined amount, the amount of moisture that has been removed from the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption capacity regeneration process is being performed can be estimated. In addition, since the amount of moisture that the adsorbent in each adsorption tower 2 can adsorb is known, the progress of the adsorption capacity regeneration process, that is, the amount of moisture that the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption capacity regeneration process is being performed has adsorbed (the amount of moisture that can be adsorbed) can be determined based on this known amount of moisture and the amount of moisture that is estimated to have been removed from the adsorbent.

As a result, in the removal system 1 of this example, the operating state of the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11) and the opening degree of each flow control valve 7a, 7b, 33a, 33b, 43a, 43b can be adjusted according to the amount of hot heat required for the adsorption capacity regeneration process (the amount of heat to heat the heat transfer liquid Wh in the heating section 3h) and the amount of cold heat required to cool the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchangers 4a, 4c (the amount of heat to cool the heat transfer liquid Wc in the cooling section 3c), making it possible to perform the adsorption removal process and the adsorption capacity regeneration process without operating the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11) and the pumps 12a, 12b at unnecessarily high processing capacity.

In addition, in the removal system 1 of this example, the control unit 15 can select any condition from the four switching conditions described below as a condition for executing the "second process" of switching between the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process, depending on the usage environment of the removal system 1.

Specifically, when the first switching condition (an example of the "first condition") is selected, the control unit 15 determines that the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption and removal process falls below a predetermined capacity (adsorption capacity capable of suitably adsorbing moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G: an example of the "first capacity") when a parameter (for example, the humidity of the hydrogen gas G detected by the humidity sensor 10: an example of the "first parameter") that changes depending on the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G passed through the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption and removal process reaches the upper limit of a predetermined allowable range (a range allowed for the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G discharged to the discharge pipe Po: an example of the "first range"), and switches the adsorption tower 2.

When the second switching condition (an example of the "second condition") is selected, the control unit 15 determines that the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process exceeds a predetermined capacity (adsorption capacity capable of suitably adsorbing moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G: an example of the "second capacity") when a parameter (for example, the amount of moisture removed from the hydrogen gas G in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process: the amount of moisture discharged from the water storage section 8b per unit time: an example of the "second parameter") that changes depending on the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G passed through the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process reaches the upper limit of a predetermined allowable range (a range allowed for the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G that is joined at the joining point P2: an example of the "second range"), and switches the adsorption tower 2.

When the third switching condition (an example of the "third condition") is selected, the control unit 15 switches the adsorption tower 2 when the time elapsed since the start of the adsorption removal process reaches a predetermined time (the time until the adsorption removal capacity of the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process becomes difficult to suitably adsorb moisture: an example of the "first time"). When the fourth switching condition (an example of the "fourth condition") is selected, the control unit 15 switches the adsorption tower 2 when the time elapsed since the start of the adsorption capacity regeneration process reaches a predetermined time (the time until the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process is regenerated to a state where it can suitably adsorb and remove moisture: an example of the "second time").

In this case, regardless of the extent to which the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption capacity regeneration process has been regenerated, when the process is to be continued until the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption removal process reaches its limit, switching condition 1 or switching condition 3 is selected. In addition, regardless of the extent to which the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption removal process has been fully regenerated, switching condition 2 or switching condition 4 is selected when the adsorption tower 2 is to be switched. In this case, in the removal system 1 of this example, it is possible to select not only each of the above switching conditions alone, but also two or three of them in any combination, or all four of them. In this case, when multiple switching conditions are selected, the control unit 15 switches the adsorption tower 2 when any of the selected conditions is satisfied.

As explained above, the removal system 1 of this example is equipped with two adsorption towers 2, and performs the adsorption removal process and the adsorption capacity regeneration process in parallel. By switching between the adsorption towers 2 when the selected switching conditions are met, it is possible to continuously remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G that is introduced sequentially.

In this way, this "adsorbent regeneration device (a device consisting of components other than the adsorption towers 2a and 2b in the removal system 1)" is configured to be able to regenerate the adsorbent in the removal system 1, which is configured to be able to execute in parallel an adsorption removal process for a part of each adsorption tower 2 and an adsorption capacity regeneration process by a heating regeneration method for another part of each adsorption tower 2, by using a heat exchanger 4b that heats the hydrogen gas G that is to be flowed into the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process and a heat exchanger 4a that cools the hydrogen gas G that is to be flowed into the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process and the heat exchanger 4b, and a heat exchanger 4b that cools the hydrogen gas G that has passed through the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process. a heat pump unit 3 including a heating section 3h capable of heating a heat transfer liquid Wh by heat radiation from a condenser 22 in the refrigeration cycle 11, and a cooling section 3c capable of cooling a heat transfer liquid Wc by heat absorption by an evaporator 24 in the refrigeration cycle 11; a flow path switching valve 5b for allowing the hydrogen gas G passed through an adsorption tower 2 performing an adsorption and removal treatment to flow into a discharge pipe Po into which hydrogen gas G from which moisture has been removed is to flow, and allowing the hydrogen gas G heated by a heat exchanger 4b to flow into the adsorption tower 2 performing an adsorption capacity regeneration treatment; The system further includes a flow path switching valve 5a for causing the heat transfer liquid Wh to flow into the heat exchanger 4c, a control unit 15 for executing a "first process" for controlling the heating of the heat transfer liquid Wh by the heating unit 3h, the supply of the heat transfer liquid Wh to the heat exchanger 4b, the cooling of the heat transfer liquid Wc by the cooling unit 3c, the supply of the heat transfer liquid Wc to the heat exchanger 4a, and the supply of the heat transfer liquid Wc to the heat exchanger 4c, and a "second process" for controlling the flow path switching valves 5a and 5b to switch between the adsorption tower 2 for performing the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower 2 for performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process. The hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 4c is merged with the hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 4a and is caused to flow into the adsorption tower 2 for performing the adsorption removal process via the flow path switching valve 5a, and the heat exchangers 4a and 4c are connected to the adsorption tower 2 for performing the adsorption removal process. The hydrogen gas G is provided with a primary heat exchanger 31, 41 and a secondary heat exchanger 32, 42, and a flow path of the hydrogen gas G is formed so that the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i, 40i is passed through the primary heat exchanger 31, 41, the secondary heat exchanger 32, 42, and the primary heat exchanger 31, 41 in this order and discharged from the outlet 30o, 40o, and the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is liquidized and removed by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchanger 32, 42, and the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i, 40i is liquidized and removed by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G cooled by the secondary heat exchanger 32, 42 in the primary heat exchanger 31, 41. In addition, this "adsorbent regeneration device" is configured to be able to regenerate the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the removal system 1 configured to be able to remove moisture as a "removal target" from hydrogen gas as a "gas". Furthermore, this removal system 1 is equipped with the above-mentioned "adsorbent regeneration device" and each adsorption tower 2, and is configured to be able to remove moisture from hydrogen gas G.

Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and removal system 1, even if a cold heat source (e.g., a refrigeration cycle that operates independently) for cooling hydrogen gas G to remove moisture from hydrogen gas G and a hot heat source (e.g., an electric heater) for heating hydrogen gas G for the adsorption capacity regeneration process of the heating regeneration method are not operated separately, the heat transfer liquid Wc for cooling hydrogen gas G can be cooled in the cooling section 3c and the heat transfer liquid Wh for heating hydrogen gas G can be heated in the heating section 3h at the same time by operating the heat pump unit 3. This makes it possible to sufficiently reduce the amount of energy consumed for removing moisture from hydrogen gas G and regenerating the adsorbent. In addition, since a part of the moisture contained in hydrogen gas G is removed in the heat exchanger 4a before hydrogen gas G is flowed into the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process, the decrease in the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process can be suppressed by the amount of the moisture contained in hydrogen gas G removed in the heat exchanger 4a before the hydrogen gas G is flowed into the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process. Therefore, it is not necessary to reduce the amount of hydrogen gas G flowing into the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process or to temporarily stop the adsorption removal process, and the adsorption removal process for the introduced hydrogen gas G can be reliably completed in a short time. In addition, the primary heat exchange section 31, 41 and the secondary heat exchange section 32, 42 are provided in the heat exchanger 4a, 4c, and the hydrogen gas G is cooled by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchange section 32, 42, while the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i, 40i in the primary heat exchange section 31, 41 is cooled by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G discharged from the outlet 30o, 40o (i.e., the hydrogen gas G cooled in the secondary heat exchange section 32, 42), thereby efficiently cooling the hydrogen gas G and removing moisture. This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which hydrogen gas G containing a large amount of moisture flows into the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption and removal process is performed, and further reduces the amount of energy consumed to remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G compared to using a heat exchanger configured without the primary heat exchange section 31, 41 and the secondary heat exchange section 32, 42.

In addition, in this "adsorbent regeneration device", a bypass flow path 43 is provided in the heat exchanger 4c, which allows the hydrogen gas G that has been passed through the secondary heat exchange section 42 to be discharged from the exhaust port 40o without passing through the primary heat exchange section 41 again, and flow rate control valves 43a, 43b are provided that can adjust the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 43. The control unit 15 controls the "first temperature (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44a)" of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i, the "temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44a)" of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 41, and the "temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44a" of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i. The "second temperature (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44b)" of the hydrogen gas G passed through the secondary heat exchanger 42 and the "third temperature (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44c)" of the hydrogen gas G passed through the secondary heat exchanger 42 are identified, and the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 43 is adjusted by controlling the flow rate control valves 43a and 43b based on the ratio of the "first temperature difference" between the "first temperature" and the "third temperature" to the "second temperature difference" between the "second temperature" and the "third temperature". Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and removal system 1, a situation in which excessively low-temperature hydrogen gas G is passed through the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process, etc., can be avoided, so that when the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process are switched, condensation can be avoided in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process.

In addition, in this "adsorbent regeneration device", a bypass flow path 33 is provided in the heat exchanger 4a, which allows the hydrogen gas G that has been passed through the secondary heat exchange section 32 to be discharged from the exhaust port 30o without passing it through the primary heat exchange section 31 again, and flow rate control valves 33a, 33b are provided that can adjust the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G that passes through the bypass flow path 33. The control unit 15 controls the "fourth temperature (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34a)" of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i in the heat exchanger 4a, the "fourth temperature (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34a)" of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i The "fifth temperature (temperature detected by temperature sensor 34b)" of the hydrogen gas G passed through the secondary heat exchanger 31 and the "sixth temperature (temperature detected by temperature sensor 34c)" of the hydrogen gas G passed through the secondary heat exchanger 32 are identified, and a "fourth process" is performed in which the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow passage 33 is adjusted by controlling the flow rate control valves 33a and 33b based on the ratio of the "third temperature difference" between the "fourth temperature" and the "sixth temperature" and the "fourth temperature difference" between the "fifth temperature" and the "sixth temperature". Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and removal system 1, a situation in which hydrogen gas G at an excessively low temperature is passed through the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process, etc., can be avoided, so that when the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process are switched, condensation can be avoided in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process.

In addition, this "adsorbent regeneration device" is provided with a flow rate adjustment valve 7b that adjusts the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 4c, and the control unit 15 executes a "fifth process" in which the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 4c is adjusted by controlling the flow rate adjustment valve 7b so that the temperature of the hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 4c (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 9) is within a predetermined temperature range. Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and removal system 1, a situation in which excessively low-temperature hydrogen gas G is passed through the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process can be avoided, and therefore, when switching between the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process, condensation can be avoided in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process.

In addition, in this "adsorbent regeneration device", when the "first parameter" that changes depending on the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G passed through the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process falls outside the predetermined "first range", the control unit 15 determines that the "first condition (first switching condition)" in which the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process falls below the predetermined "first capacity" is satisfied, and executes the "second process". Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and the removal system 1, the adsorption removal process can be performed in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process before the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process becomes difficult to adsorb moisture from the hydrogen gas G, that is, in the adsorption tower 2 that contains the adsorbent that is in a state where it is capable of adsorbing moisture from the hydrogen gas G, so that the hydrogen gas G from which moisture has been sufficiently removed can be continuously discharged to the discharge pipe Po.

In addition, in this "adsorbent regeneration device", when the "second parameter" that changes depending on the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G passed through the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process falls outside the predefined "second range", the control unit 15 determines that the "second condition (second switching condition)" is satisfied, whereby the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process exceeds the predefined "second capacity", and executes the "second process". Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and removal system 1, it is not necessary to continue unnecessary adsorption capacity regeneration processes for the adsorption tower 2 in which the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent has been sufficiently improved by performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process, and power consumption can be further reduced.

In addition, in this "adsorbent regeneration device", the control unit 15 executes the "second process" when one of the "third condition (third switching condition)" where the time elapsed since the start of the adsorption and removal process reaches a predefined "first time" and the "fourth condition (fourth switching condition)" where the time elapsed since the start of the adsorption and removal process reaches a predefined "second time" is met. Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and the removal system 1, by predefining the "first time" or the "second time" according to the usage environment, even without a complex configuration for grasping the state of the hydrogen gas G, if the "second process" is executed when the "third condition" is satisfied, the adsorption and removal process can be performed in the adsorption tower 2 containing the adsorbent that is in a state capable of adsorbing suitable moisture from the hydrogen gas G, and the hydrogen gas G from which moisture has been sufficiently removed can be continuously discharged to the discharge pipe Po, and if the "second process" is executed when the "fourth condition" is satisfied, unnecessary adsorption and removal processes do not need to be continued, which makes it possible to further reduce power consumption.

In addition, this "adsorbent regeneration device" is equipped with a flow rate adjustment valve 7b that adjusts the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc that is passed through the heat exchanger 4c, and the control unit 15 controls the flow rate adjustment valve 7b based on the temperature of the hydrogen gas G that is flowed into the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 9), to increase the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc that is passed through the heat exchanger 4c when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G is high, and to decrease the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc that is passed through the heat exchanger 4c when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G is low. Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and removal system 1, a situation in which excessively low-temperature hydrogen gas G is passed through the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process, etc., can be avoided, so that a situation in which condensation occurs in the adsorption tower 2 that was performing the adsorption removal process when switching between the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process can be avoided.

The configuration of the "adsorbent regeneration device and removal system" is not limited to the example of the configuration of the removal system 1 described above. For example, the removal system 1 can be configured by adopting the heat exchanger 54a shown in FIG. 5 instead of the heat exchanger 4a in the removal system 1 described above, or the removal system 1 can be configured by adopting the heat exchanger 54c shown in FIG. 6 instead of the heat exchanger 4c.

The heat exchanger 54a is another example of the "second heat exchanger" and is configured to be able to cool the hydrogen gas G flowing into the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process or the heat exchanger 4b by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc supplied from the heat pump unit 3 (cooling section 3c) via the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC1, in the same manner as the heat exchanger 4a described above. The heat exchanger 54c is another example of the "third heat exchanger" and is configured to be able to cool the hydrogen gas G passed through the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc supplied from the heat pump unit 3 (cooling section 3c) via the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC2, in the same manner as the heat exchanger 4c described above. In these heat exchangers 54a and 54c, the components having the same functions as the heat exchangers 4a and 4c are assigned the same reference numerals and redundant explanations are omitted.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the heat exchanger 54a is provided with a bypass flow path 35 (an example of a "bypass flow path B") that merges a part of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 with the hydrogen gas G that is passed through the secondary heat exchange section 32 and flows into the primary heat exchange section 31 without passing through the secondary heat exchange section 32, and is provided with a flow rate adjustment valve 35a (an example of a "flow rate adjustment section B") that can adjust the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 35. In addition, the heat exchanger 54a is provided with a temperature sensor 34a that can detect the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i (an example of a "temperature D"), a temperature sensor 34b that can detect the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 (an example of a "temperature E"), and a temperature sensor 34d that can detect the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the discharge port 30o (an example of a "temperature F").

6, the heat exchanger 54c is provided with a bypass flow path 45 (an example of a "bypass flow path A") that merges a part of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 with the hydrogen gas G that is passed through the secondary heat exchange section 42 and flows into the primary heat exchange section 41 without passing through the secondary heat exchange section 42, and is provided with a flow rate adjustment valve 45a (an example of a "flow rate adjustment section A") that can adjust the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 45. The heat exchanger 54c is also provided with a temperature sensor 44a that can detect the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i (an example of "temperature A"), a temperature sensor 44b that can detect the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 (an example of "temperature B"), and a temperature sensor 44d that can detect the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the discharge port 40o (an example of "temperature C").

In this case, in the removal system 1 employing the heat exchanger 54a instead of the heat exchanger 4a, when the hydrogen gas G to be treated is introduced (when each treatment by the removal system 1 is started), the control unit 15 first controls the flow rate control valve 35a in the heat exchanger 54a to an open state with the minimum opening (fully closed state in the case of a valve structure that can be fully closed). As a result, most of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i into the heat exchanger 54a and passed through the primary heat exchange unit 31 (when the flow rate control valve 35a is fully closed, all of the hydrogen gas G passed through the primary heat exchange unit 31) is passed through the secondary heat exchange unit 32.

In addition, the newly introduced hydrogen gas G is cooled by heat exchange in the primary heat exchange section 31 between the hydrogen gas G (hydrogen gas G passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 toward the exhaust port 30o) cooled by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchange section 32 and the hydrogen gas G newly introduced into the primary heat exchange section 31 from the inlet 30i. As a result, the relative humidity of the newly introduced hydrogen gas G increases, and a part of the moisture in the gas phase contained in the hydrogen gas G changes to a liquid phase in the primary heat exchange section 31 and is separated (removed) from the hydrogen gas G. As a result, similar to the case where the above-mentioned heat exchanger 4a is adopted, the absolute humidity of the hydrogen gas G flowing from the primary heat exchange section 31 to the secondary heat exchange section 32 is sufficiently reduced (the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently reduced), and thus, in combination with the removal of moisture in the above-mentioned secondary heat exchange section 32, the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently removed in the heat exchanger 54a.

The hydrogen gas G passing through the primary heat exchange section 31 toward the exhaust port 30o is heated by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G newly introduced into the primary heat exchange section 31. In this case, the hydrogen gas G flowing from the secondary heat exchange section 32 into the primary heat exchange section 31 has a relative humidity of about 100% due to cooling (temperature reduction) in the secondary heat exchange section 32. Therefore, by raising the temperature of the hydrogen gas G and reducing the relative humidity before it is exhausted from the exhaust port 30o, it is possible to preferably avoid a situation in which the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G condenses in the flow path from the heat exchanger 54a toward the adsorption tower 2a or the heat exchanger 4b.

When hydrogen gas G to be treated is introduced into the removal system 1 employing the heat exchanger 54c instead of the heat exchanger 4c (when each treatment by the removal system 1 is started), the control unit 15 first controls the flow rate control valve 45a in the heat exchanger 54c to the open state with the minimum opening (fully closed state in the case of a valve structure that can be fully closed). As a result, most of the hydrogen gas G introduced into the heat exchanger 54c from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 (when the flow rate control valve 45a is fully closed, all of the hydrogen gas G passed through the primary heat exchange section 41) is passed through the secondary heat exchange section 42.

In addition, the newly introduced hydrogen gas G is cooled by heat exchange in the primary heat exchange section 41 between the hydrogen gas G (hydrogen gas G passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 toward the exhaust port 40o) cooled by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchange section 42 and the hydrogen gas G newly introduced into the primary heat exchange section 41 from the inlet 40i. As a result, the relative humidity of the newly introduced hydrogen gas G increases, and a part of the moisture in the gas phase contained in the hydrogen gas G changes to a liquid phase in the primary heat exchange section 41 and is separated (removed) from the hydrogen gas G. As a result, the absolute humidity of the hydrogen gas G flowing from the primary heat exchange section 41 to the secondary heat exchange section 42 is sufficiently reduced (the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently reduced), and thus, in combination with the removal of moisture in the secondary heat exchange section 42 described above, the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is sufficiently removed in the heat exchanger 54c.

The hydrogen gas G passing through the primary heat exchange section 41 toward the exhaust port 40o is heated by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G newly introduced into the primary heat exchange section 41. In this case, the hydrogen gas G flowing from the secondary heat exchange section 42 into the primary heat exchange section 41 has a relative humidity of about 100% due to cooling (temperature reduction) in the secondary heat exchange section 42. Therefore, by raising the temperature of the hydrogen gas G and reducing the relative humidity before it is exhausted from the exhaust port 40o, it is possible to preferably avoid a situation in which the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G condenses in the flow path from the heat exchanger 54c toward the adsorption tower 2a, etc.

On the other hand, when the moisture adsorbed in the adsorbent is gradually reduced by continuing the adsorption capacity regeneration process, and the temperature of the pressure vessel and the adsorbent in contact with the high-temperature hydrogen gas G becomes sufficiently high (a certain amount of time has passed since the start of the process), it becomes possible to sufficiently remove the moisture from the adsorbent even if the temperature of the hydrogen gas G supplied to the adsorption tower 2 undergoing the adsorption capacity regeneration process is lowered to a certain extent. Therefore, as described above, by lowering the temperature of the heat transfer liquid Wh supplied from the heating section 3h to the heat exchanger 4b to a temperature lower than immediately after the start of the process, it becomes possible to reduce the processing capacity of the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11) and reduce power consumption.

In this case, it is necessary to reduce the amount of heat used to heat the heat transfer liquid Wh in the heating section 3h and to reduce the amount of heat used to cool the heat transfer liquid Wc in the cooling section 3c, i.e., the amount of heat absorbed from the hydrogen gas G to the heat transfer liquid Wc in the heat exchangers 54a and 54c. Therefore, in conjunction with the control to reduce the processing capacity of the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11), the control section 15 executes control to increase the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 7a, control to increase the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 35a, control to increase the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 7b, and control to increase the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 45a.

At this time, as the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 7a increases, a portion of the heat transfer liquid Wc that has flowed from the cooling section 3c into the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC1 returns to the cooling section 3c without passing through the heat exchanger 54a (secondary heat exchange section 32). Also, as the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 35a increases, a portion of the hydrogen gas G that has flowed into the heat exchanger 54a from the inlet 30i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 passes through the bypass flow path 35 without passing through the secondary heat exchange section 32, flows into the primary heat exchange section 31, and is discharged from the outlet 30o. Therefore, as the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 7a and the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 35a increase, the amount of heat absorbed from the hydrogen gas G to the heat transfer liquid Wc in the heat exchanger 54a decreases.

In addition, by increasing the opening of the flow rate control valve 7b, a portion of the heat transfer liquid Wc that flows from the cooling section 3c into the heat transfer liquid circulation path LC2 returns to the cooling section 3c without passing through the heat exchanger 54c (secondary heat exchange section 42). In addition, by increasing the opening of the flow rate control valve 45a, a portion of the hydrogen gas G that flows into the heat exchanger 54c from the inlet 40i and passes through the primary heat exchange section 41 passes through the bypass flow path 45 without passing through the secondary heat exchange section 42, flows into the primary heat exchange section 41, and is discharged from the outlet 40o. Therefore, by increasing the opening of the flow rate control valve 7b and the opening of the flow rate control valve 45a, the amount of heat absorbed from the hydrogen gas G to the heat transfer liquid Wc in the heat exchanger 54c decreases.

This allows the heating of the heat transfer liquid Wh in the heating section 3h and the cooling of the heat transfer liquid Wc in the cooling section 3c to be balanced when the processing capacity of the heat pump unit 3 (refrigeration cycle 11) is reduced. In this case, as described above, the moisture adsorbed in the adsorbent gradually decreases by continuing the adsorption capacity regeneration process, so the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G flowing into the heat exchanger 54c, i.e., the moisture that can be removed from the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 54c, gradually decreases. Therefore, the amount of cold heat required to cool the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 54c gradually decreases. On the other hand, the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G introduced into the introduction pipe Pi is unrelated to the progress of the adsorption capacity regeneration process, so the amount of cold heat required to remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 54a does not change significantly. However, when the amount of moisture contained in the introduced hydrogen gas G is large, the amount of cold heat required in the heat exchanger 54a increases, and when the amount of moisture contained in the introduced hydrogen gas G is small, the amount of cold heat required in the heat exchanger 54a decreases.

Therefore, the control unit 15 adjusts the opening degree of the flow control valves 7a and 35a and the opening degree of the flow control valves 7b and 45a according to the amount of cold heat required in the heat exchanger 54a (the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G flowing into the heat exchanger 54a) and the amount of cold heat required in the heat exchanger 54c (the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G flowing into the heat exchanger 54c).

In this case, in the heat exchanger 54a, moisture is removed from the hydrogen gas G by heat exchange (primary heat exchange: pre-cooling) in the primary heat exchange section 31 between the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i and the hydrogen gas G discharged from the outlet 30o, and moisture is further removed from the hydrogen gas G by heat exchange (secondary heat exchange: main cooling) in the secondary heat exchange section 32 between the hydrogen gas G passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 and the heat transfer liquid Wc.

At this time, when the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 35a is small (when the amount of hydrogen gas G passing through the secondary heat exchange section 32 is large), the amount of heat exchange between the introduced hydrogen gas G and the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchange section 32 is large, so that moisture is suitably removed from the hydrogen gas G in the secondary heat exchange section 32, and the amount of pre-cooling heat exchange in the primary heat exchange section 31 also increases, so that moisture is suitably removed from the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchange section 31. However, since the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the exhaust port 30o is low, the hydrogen gas G is passed through the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption and removal process is performed, and as a result, the temperature of the adsorption tower 2 (pressure-resistant container and adsorbent) and the flow path switching valve 5b decreases. As a result, when the adsorption tower 2 is switched, the high-temperature adsorption tower 2 comes into contact with the adsorption tower 2 and flow path switching valve 5b in a temperature-reduced state, and condensation may occur. In such a state, when the adsorption tower 2 is switched again, condensed water may flow into the discharge pipe Po. In addition, when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the outlet 30o is low, the amount of heat required to heat the hydrogen gas G to a suitable temperature in the heat exchanger 4b for the adsorption capacity regeneration process increases.

On the other hand, when the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 35a is large (when the amount of hydrogen gas G passing through the secondary heat exchange section 32 is small), the amount of heat exchange between the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i and the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchange section 32 is small, making it difficult to suitably remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G in the secondary heat exchange section 32, and the amount of heat exchange for pre-cooling in the primary heat exchange section 31 is also reduced, making it difficult to suitably remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchange section 31. Therefore, it is preferable to adjust the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 35a (i.e., the degree of cooling of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i in the secondary heat exchange section 32) so that moisture can be suitably removed from the hydrogen gas G in both the primary heat exchange section 31 and the secondary heat exchange section 32 without causing a situation in which condensation water flows into the exhaust pipe Po or the amount of heat required for the warm heat in the heat exchanger 4b becomes excessively large.

In this case, the adjustment of the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 35a in the heat exchanger 54a (adjustment of the degree of cooling of the hydrogen gas G in the secondary heat exchange section 32) is controlled based on the temperature change of the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 54a. First, the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34a: an example of "temperature D"), the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34b: an example of "temperature E"), and the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the outlet 30o (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34d: an example of "temperature F") are each identified.

Next, the temperature difference between the above-mentioned "temperature D" and "temperature E" (an example of "temperature difference C") and the temperature difference between "temperature D" and "temperature F", "temperature difference D", are specified, and the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 35 is adjusted by controlling the flow control valve 35a so that the ratio of "temperature difference C" to "temperature difference D" is within a predetermined target range (an example of "process B"). Note that the above-mentioned "target range" is specified prior to the start of each process by specifying in advance the "ratio of temperature difference C to temperature difference D" that allows moisture to be suitably removed from hydrogen gas G in both the primary heat exchange section 31 and the secondary heat exchange section 32, depending on the usage environment of the removal system 1, without causing a situation in which condensation water flows into the discharge pipe Po or the amount of heat required in the heat exchanger 4b becomes excessively large.

In addition, in the removal system 1 of this example, the control unit 15 executes control to adjust the opening degree of the flow control valve 7a in parallel with the control to adjust the opening degree of the flow control valve 35a as described above. This adjustment of the opening degree of the flow control valve 7a is similar to the adjustment of the opening degree of the flow control valve 7a performed in parallel with the adjustment of the opening degree of the flow control valves 33a and 33b in the previous example, so a duplicated explanation will be omitted.

On the other hand, when the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 45a is small (when the amount of hydrogen gas G passing through the secondary heat exchanger 42 is large), the amount of heat exchange between the introduced hydrogen gas G and the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchanger 42 is large, so that moisture is preferably removed from the hydrogen gas G in the secondary heat exchanger 42, and the amount of pre-cooling heat exchange in the primary heat exchanger 41 also increases, so that moisture is preferably removed from the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchanger 41. However, since the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the exhaust port 40o is low, the hydrogen gas G is passed through the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption and removal process is performed, and as a result, the temperature of the adsorption tower 2 (pressure-resistant container and adsorbent) and the flow path switching valve 5b decreases. As a result, when the adsorption tower 2 is switched, the high-temperature adsorption tower 2 comes into contact with the adsorption tower 2 and flow path switching valve 5b in a temperature-reduced state, and condensation may occur. In such a state, when the adsorption tower 2 is switched again, condensed water may flow into the discharge pipe Po.

In addition, when the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 45a is large (when the amount of hydrogen gas G passing through the secondary heat exchanger 42 is small), the amount of heat exchange between the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchanger 42 is small, making it difficult to suitably remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G in the secondary heat exchanger 42, and the amount of pre-cooling heat exchange in the primary heat exchanger 41 is also reduced, making it difficult to suitably remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G in the primary heat exchanger 41. Therefore, it is preferable to adjust the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 45a (i.e., the degree of cooling of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i in the secondary heat exchanger 42) so that moisture can be suitably removed from the hydrogen gas G in both the primary heat exchanger 41 and the secondary heat exchanger 42 without causing a situation in which condensed water flows into the exhaust pipe Po.

In this case, the adjustment of the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 45a in the heat exchanger 54c (adjustment of the degree of cooling of the hydrogen gas G in the secondary heat exchange section 42) is controlled based on the temperature change of the hydrogen gas G in the heat exchanger 54c. First, the temperature difference (an example of "temperature difference A") between the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44a: an example of "temperature A") and the temperature of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44b: an example of "temperature B") is identified. In addition, the temperature difference (an example of "temperature difference B") between the above "temperature A" and the temperature of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the outlet 40o (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44d: an example of "temperature C") is identified.

Next, the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 45 is adjusted by controlling the flow rate control valve 45a so that the ratio of the above "temperature difference A" to "temperature difference B" falls within a predetermined target range (an example of "process A"). Note that this "target range" is determined prior to the start of each process by specifying in advance the "ratio of temperature difference A to temperature difference B" that allows moisture to be suitably removed from the hydrogen gas G in both the primary heat exchange section 41 and the secondary heat exchange section 42 without causing condensation water to flow into the discharge pipe Po, depending on the usage environment of the removal system 1.

In addition, in the removal system 1 of this example, in parallel with the control of adjusting the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 45a as described above, the control unit 15 executes control of adjusting the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 7b. Specifically, the control unit 15 controls the flow rate control valve 7b based on the temperature (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 9) of the hydrogen gas G flowing into the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process, to increase the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc passed through the heat exchanger 54c when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G is high, and to decrease the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc passed through the heat exchanger 54c when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G is low. This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which hydrogen gas G with an excessively low temperature flows into the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process, and to preferably avoid a situation in which condensation water flows into the discharge pipe Po.

As explained above, in the removal system 1 configured with heat exchangers 54a and 54c instead of heat exchangers 4a and 4c, it is possible to preferably perform the adsorption removal process and the adsorption capacity regeneration process in parallel, similar to the above-mentioned removal system 1 configured with heat exchangers 4a and 4c.

In this way, this "adsorbent regeneration device (a device consisting of components other than the adsorption towers 2a and 2b in the removal system 1 configured with the heat exchangers 54a and 54c)" is configured to be able to regenerate the adsorbent in the removal system 1 that is configured to be able to execute in parallel an adsorption removal process for a part of each adsorption tower 2 and an adsorption capacity regeneration process by a heating regeneration method for another part of each adsorption tower 2, and is configured to be able to regenerate the adsorbent in the removal system 1 that is configured with a plurality of adsorption towers 2 (two adsorption towers 2a and 2b in this example), and is configured to be able to execute an adsorption removal process for a part of each adsorption tower 2 and an adsorption capacity regeneration process by a heating regeneration method for another part of each adsorption tower 2, and is configured to be able to regenerate the adsorbent in the removal system 1 that is configured with the heat exchanger 4b that heats the hydrogen gas G that is to be flowed into the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process and the heat exchanger 54a that cools the hydrogen gas G that is to be flowed into the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process and the heat exchanger 4b, and is configured to be able to regenerate the water that has passed through the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process. a heat pump unit 3 including a heat exchanger 54c for cooling the raw gas G, a heating section 3h capable of heating a heat transfer liquid Wh by heat radiation from a condenser 22 in the refrigeration cycle 11, and a cooling section 3c capable of cooling the heat transfer liquid Wc by heat absorption by an evaporator 24 in the refrigeration cycle 11; a flow path switching valve 5b for allowing the hydrogen gas G passed through an adsorption tower 2 performing an adsorption and removal treatment to flow into a discharge pipe Po into which hydrogen gas G from which moisture has been removed is to flow, and allowing the hydrogen gas G heated by the heat exchanger 4b to flow into the adsorption tower 2 performing an adsorption capacity regeneration treatment; The flow path switching valve 5a causes the hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 54c to flow into the heat exchanger 54c, and a control unit 15 executes a "first process" for controlling the heating of the heat transfer liquid Wh by the heating unit 3h, the supply of the heat transfer liquid Wh to the heat exchanger 4b, the cooling of the heat transfer liquid Wc by the cooling unit 3c, the supply of the heat transfer liquid Wc to the heat exchanger 54a, and the supply of the heat transfer liquid Wc to the heat exchanger 54c, and a "second process" for controlling the flow path switching valves 5a and 5b to switch the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption and removal process and the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process. The hydrogen gas G that has passed through the heat exchanger 54c is merged with the hydrogen gas G that has passed through the heat exchanger 54a and is caused to flow into the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption and removal process via the flow path switching valve 5a, and 4c includes a primary heat exchanger 31, 41 and a secondary heat exchanger 32, 42, and the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i, 40i is passed through the primary heat exchanger 31, 41, the secondary heat exchanger 32, 42, and the primary heat exchanger 31, 41 in this order, and is discharged from the outlet 30o, 40o, so that a flow path of the hydrogen gas G is formed, and the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is liquidized and removed by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchanger 32, 42, and the moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i, 40i is liquidized and removed by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G cooled by the secondary heat exchanger 32, 42 in the primary heat exchanger 31, 41. In addition, in this "adsorbent regeneration device", the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the removal system 1 configured to be able to remove moisture as a "removal target" from hydrogen gas as a "gas" is regenerated. Furthermore, this removal system 1 is equipped with the above-mentioned "adsorbent regeneration device" and each adsorption tower 2, and is configured to be able to remove moisture from hydrogen gas G.

Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and removal system 1, even without separately operating a cold heat source (e.g., a refrigeration cycle that operates independently) for removing moisture from hydrogen gas G by cooling the hydrogen gas G and a hot heat source (e.g., an electric heater) for heating hydrogen gas G for the adsorption capacity regeneration process of the thermal regeneration method, the heat pump unit 3 can be simply operated to cool the heat transfer liquid Wc for cooling the hydrogen gas G in the cooling section 3c and simultaneously heat the heat transfer liquid Wh for heating the hydrogen gas G in the heating section 3h. This makes it possible to sufficiently reduce the amount of energy consumed for removing moisture from hydrogen gas G and regenerating the adsorbent. In addition, since the amount of moisture contained in the hydrogen gas G is partially removed in the heat exchanger 54a before the hydrogen gas G is introduced into the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption and removal process is performed can be reduced by suppressing the decrease in the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption and removal process is performed, it is not necessary to reduce the amount of hydrogen gas G introduced into the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption and removal process is performed or to temporarily stop the adsorption and removal process, so that the adsorption and removal process for the introduced hydrogen gas G can be completed reliably in a short time. In addition, the primary heat exchange sections 31, 41 and the secondary heat exchange sections 32, 42 are provided in the heat exchangers 54a, 54c, and the hydrogen gas G is cooled by heat exchange with the heat transfer liquid Wc in the secondary heat exchange sections 32, 42, while the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlets 30i, 40i in the primary heat exchange sections 31, 41 is cooled by heat exchange with the hydrogen gas G discharged from the outlets 30o, 40o (i.e., the hydrogen gas G cooled in the secondary heat exchange sections 32, 42), so that the hydrogen gas G can be efficiently cooled and moisture can be removed. This makes it possible to prevent hydrogen gas G containing a large amount of moisture from flowing into the adsorption tower 2 where the adsorption and removal process is performed, and also makes it possible to further reduce the amount of energy consumed to remove moisture from the hydrogen gas G compared to using a heat exchanger that does not have the primary heat exchanger 31, 41 and the secondary heat exchanger 32, 42.

In addition, in this "adsorbent regeneration device", a bypass flow path 45 is provided in the heat exchanger 54c, which merges a portion of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 41 with the hydrogen gas G that is passed through the secondary heat exchange section 42 and flows into the primary heat exchange section 41 without passing through the secondary heat exchange section 42, and a flow rate adjustment valve 45a is provided that can adjust the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 45. The control unit 15 controls the "temperature A (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44a)" of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i. The "temperature A" of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 40i and passed through the primary heat exchanger 41 (temperature B (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44b)) and the "temperature C" of the hydrogen gas G discharged from the outlet 40o in the heat exchanger 54c (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44d) are respectively specified, and the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 45 is adjusted by controlling the flow rate control valve 45a based on the ratio of the "temperature difference A" between the "temperature A" and the "temperature B" and the "temperature difference B" between the "temperature A" and the "temperature C". Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and the removal system 1, a situation in which excessively low-temperature hydrogen gas G is passed through the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process, etc., can be avoided, so that a situation in which condensation occurs in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process when switching between the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process can be avoided.

In addition, in this "adsorbent regeneration device", a bypass flow path 35 is provided in the heat exchanger 54a, which merges a portion of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i and passed through the primary heat exchange section 31 with the hydrogen gas G that is passed through the secondary heat exchange section 32 and flows into the primary heat exchange section 31 without passing through the secondary heat exchange section 32, and a flow rate adjustment valve 35a is provided that can adjust the flow rate of the hydrogen gas G passing through the bypass flow path 35. The control unit 15 controls the "temperature D (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34a)" of the hydrogen gas G introduced from the inlet 30i. The "temperature E (temperature detected by temperature sensor 34b)" of hydrogen gas G introduced from inlet 30i and passed through primary heat exchanger 31, and the "temperature F (temperature detected by temperature sensor 34d)" of hydrogen gas G discharged from outlet 30o in heat exchanger 54a are respectively specified, and "process B" is performed in which flow control valve 35a is controlled to adjust the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passing through bypass flow path 35 based on the ratio of "temperature difference C" between "temperature D" and "temperature E" and "temperature difference D" between "temperature D" and "temperature F". Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and removal system 1, a situation in which hydrogen gas G at an excessively low temperature is passed through adsorption tower 2 performing adsorption removal processing, etc., can be avoided, so that when switching between adsorption tower 2 performing adsorption removal processing and adsorption tower 2 performing adsorption capacity regeneration processing, condensation can be avoided in adsorption tower 2 performing adsorption removal processing.

In addition, this "adsorbent regeneration device" includes a flow rate control valve 7b that adjusts the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 54c, and the control unit 15 executes a "fifth process" in which the flow rate of hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 54c is adjusted by controlling the flow rate control valve 7b so that the temperature of the hydrogen gas G passed through the heat exchanger 54c (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 9) is within a predetermined temperature range. Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and the removal system 1, a situation in which hydrogen gas G at an excessively low temperature is passed through the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process, etc., can be avoided, so that when the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process are switched, condensation can be avoided in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process.

In addition, this "adsorbent regeneration device" is provided with a flow rate adjustment valve 7b that adjusts the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc that is passed through the heat exchanger 54c, and the control unit 15 controls the flow rate adjustment valve 7b based on the temperature of the hydrogen gas G that is flowed into the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 9), to increase the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc that is passed through the heat exchanger 54c when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G is high, and to decrease the flow rate of the heat transfer liquid Wc that is passed through the heat exchanger 54c when the temperature of the hydrogen gas G is low. Therefore, according to this "adsorbent regeneration device" and removal system 1, a situation in which excessively low-temperature hydrogen gas G is passed through the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process, etc., can be avoided, so that a situation in which condensation occurs in the adsorption tower 2 that was performing the adsorption removal process when switching between the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption removal process and the adsorption tower 2 that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration process can be avoided.

In addition, instead of the above example configuration, the removal system 1 can be configured with heat exchanger 4a and heat exchanger 54c, or the removal system 1 can be configured with heat exchanger 54a and heat exchanger 4c. Furthermore, the "second heat exchanger" can be configured with a normal heat exchanger (not shown) that does not have a primary heat exchange section 31 for pre-cooling or a secondary heat exchange section 32 for main cooling, and the "third heat exchanger" can be configured with a normal heat exchanger (not shown) that does not have a primary heat exchange section 41 for pre-cooling or a secondary heat exchange section 42 for main cooling.

In addition, although the configuration with two adsorption towers 2 has been described as an example, the "removal system" and its "adsorbent regeneration device" can also be configured with three or more adsorption towers 2. Specifically, when the time required to desorb moisture from the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process is longer than the time required for the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process to desorb moisture, as an example, three adsorption towers 2 are provided, and the adsorption removal process is performed in one of them while the adsorption capacity regeneration process is performed in the other two, making it possible to perform the adsorption removal process continuously. In addition, when the time required for the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption removal process to desorb moisture is longer than the time required for the adsorbent in the adsorption tower 2 performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process to desorb moisture, as an example, three adsorption towers 2 are provided, and the adsorption capacity regeneration process is performed in one of them while the adsorption removal process is performed in the other two, making it possible to efficiently perform the adsorption removal process and the adsorption capacity removal process.

In addition, the configuration has been described with the heat exchanger 4a provided with the flow rate adjustment valves 33a and 33b as the "second flow rate adjustment unit" as the "second heat exchanger", and the configuration has the heat exchanger 4c provided with the flow rate adjustment valves 43a and 43b as the "first flow rate adjustment unit" as the "third heat exchanger". A "second heat exchanger" can be configured with a three-way valve as a "second flow rate adjustment unit" that directs the hydrogen gas G that has passed through the secondary heat exchange unit 42 into either the flow rate that directs the hydrogen gas G to flow again into the primary heat exchange unit 41, or a "third heat exchanger" can be configured with a three-way valve as a "first flow rate adjustment unit" that directs the hydrogen gas G that has passed through the secondary heat exchange unit 42 into either the flow rate that directs the hydrogen gas G to flow again into the bypass flow rate 43 or the flow rate that directs the hydrogen gas G to flow again into the primary heat exchange unit 41, instead of the flow rate adjustment valves 43a and 43b.

The "temperature adjustment unit" is not limited to a configuration with "one refrigeration cycle 11" like the heat pump unit 3 in the removal system 1 described above, and as an example, the "temperature adjustment unit" can be configured with a "multi-stage refrigeration cycle" connected via a cascade condenser. In this case, as an example, when the "temperature adjustment unit" is configured with a "two-stage refrigeration cycle" in which the elements corresponding to the condenser in the low-temperature side refrigeration cycle and the evaporator in the high-temperature side refrigeration cycle are configured with a cascade condenser, the "cooling unit" is configured with the evaporator in the low-temperature side refrigeration cycle, and the "heating unit" is configured with the condenser in the high-temperature side refrigeration cycle, so that the amount of cold heat that can be supplied from the "cooling unit" and the amount of hot heat that can be supplied from the "heating unit" can be sufficiently increased (the heat transfer liquid Wc can be sufficiently cooled and the heat transfer liquid Wh can be sufficiently heated).

In addition, the configuration has been described as being capable of removing moisture, which is an example of a "removal target", from hydrogen gas G, which is an example of a "gas", using zeolite (synthetic zeolite) or the like as an "adsorbent", but the "gas", "adsorbent", and "removal target" are not limited to this example. For example, the configuration of the present invention can be adopted in a "removal system" and its "adsorbent regeneration device" that adsorbs and removes moisture, etc., as a "removal target", from oxygen, which is a "gas", using zeolite (synthetic zeolite) or the like as an "adsorbent". In addition, the configuration of the present invention can be adopted in a "removal system" and its "adsorbent regeneration device" that adsorbs and removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs), etc., as a "removal target", from exhaust gas (gas emitted by combustion in an internal combustion engine, etc.), which is a "gas", using activated carbon, etc. as an "adsorbent". Furthermore, the configuration of the present invention can be adopted in a "removal system" that uses zeolite (synthetic zeolite) as an "adsorbent" to adsorb and remove "moisture" and other substances as "subjects to be removed" from the "atmosphere (outside air)" as a "gas" and in its "adsorbent regeneration device."

1 Removal system 2a, 2b Adsorption tower 3 Heat pump unit 3c Cooling section 3h Heating section 4a to 4c, 54a, 54c Heat exchanger 5a, 5b Flow path switching valve 6, 7a, 7b Flow rate control valve 8a, 8b Water storage section 9 Temperature sensor 10 Humidity sensor 11 Refrigeration cycle 12a, 12b Pump 13 Operation section 14 Display section 15 Control section 16 Memory section 21 Compressor 22 Condenser 23 Expansion valve 24 Evaporator 30i, 40i Inlet 30o, 40o Outlet 31, 41 Primary heat exchange section 32, 42 Secondary heat exchange section 33, 35, 43, 45 Bypass flow path 33a, 33b, 35a, 43a, 43b, 45a Flow rate control valve 34a to 34d, 44a to 44d Temperature sensor G Hydrogen gas LC1, LC2, LH Heat transfer liquid circulation path P1 Branch point P2 Junction point Pi Inlet pipe Po Discharge pipe Wc, Wh Heat transfer liquid

Claims (7)

An adsorbent regeneration device for a removal system capable of performing an adsorption removal process in which a target substance contained in a gas is adsorbed by an adsorbent in an adsorption tower and removed from the gas, the adsorbent being configured to be regenerated by an adsorption capacity regeneration process using a thermal regeneration method,
The removal system is configured to be capable of regenerating the adsorbent in the removal system, which is provided with a plurality of the adsorption towers and is configured to be capable of executing the adsorption removal process targeting a portion of each of the adsorption towers and the adsorption capacity regeneration process targeting another portion of each of the adsorption towers in parallel,
a first heat exchanger for heating the gas to be introduced into the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment;
a second heat exchanger that cools the gas that is caused to flow into the adsorption tower and the first heat exchanger that perform the adsorption and removal process;
a third heat exchanger for cooling the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment;
a temperature adjustment unit having a refrigeration cycle and including a heating unit capable of heating a heat transfer liquid by heat radiation from a condenser in the refrigeration cycle, and a cooling unit capable of cooling a heat transfer liquid by heat absorption by an evaporator in the refrigeration cycle;
a first flow path switching unit that causes the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower performing the adsorption and removal process to flow into a discharge pipe into which the gas from which the removal target has been completely removed should flow, and causes the gas that has been heated by the first heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process;
a second flow path switching unit that causes the gas cooled by the second heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal treatment, and causes the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment to flow into the third heat exchanger;
a control unit that executes a first process of controlling heating of the heating heat transfer liquid by the heating unit, supply of the heating heat transfer liquid to the first heat exchanger, cooling of the cooling heat transfer liquid by the cooling unit, supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the second heat exchanger, and supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the third heat exchanger, and a second process of controlling the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit to switch between the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal treatment and the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment,
The gas that has been passed through the third heat exchanger is merged with the gas that has been passed through the second heat exchanger and is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal treatment via the second flow path switching unit,
The third heat exchanger includes a primary heat exchange section and a secondary heat exchange section, and a gas flow path is formed so that the gas introduced from a gas inlet is passed through the primary heat exchange section, the secondary heat exchange section, and the primary heat exchange section in this order and discharged from a gas outlet, and the object to be removed contained in the gas is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange section, and the object to be removed contained in the gas introduced from the gas inlet is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the gas cooled by the secondary heat exchange section in the primary heat exchange section, and a first bypass flow path is provided for discharging the gas passed through the secondary heat exchange section from the gas outlet without passing it through the primary heat exchange section again, and a first flow rate adjustment section is disposed for adjusting the flow rate of the gas passing through the first bypass flow path,
The control unit identifies a first temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the third heat exchanger, a second temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange unit, and a third temperature of the gas passed through the secondary heat exchange unit, and performs a third process of controlling the first flow rate adjustment unit to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the first bypass flow path based on a ratio of a first temperature difference between the first temperature and the third temperature and a second temperature difference between the second temperature and the third temperature. An adsorbent regeneration device for a removal system capable of performing an adsorption removal process in which a target substance contained in a gas is adsorbed to an adsorbent in an adsorption tower and removed from the gas, the adsorbent being configured to be regenerated by an adsorption capacity regeneration process using a thermal regeneration method,
The removal system is configured to be capable of regenerating the adsorbent in the removal system, which is provided with a plurality of the adsorption towers and is configured to be capable of executing the adsorption removal process targeting a portion of each of the adsorption towers and the adsorption capacity regeneration process targeting another portion of each of the adsorption towers in parallel,
a first heat exchanger for heating the gas to be introduced into the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment;
a second heat exchanger that cools the gas that is caused to flow into the adsorption tower and the first heat exchanger that perform the adsorption and removal process;
a third heat exchanger for cooling the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment;
a temperature adjustment unit having a refrigeration cycle and including a heating unit capable of heating a heat transfer liquid by heat radiation from a condenser in the refrigeration cycle, and a cooling unit capable of cooling a heat transfer liquid by heat absorption by an evaporator in the refrigeration cycle;
a first flow path switching unit that causes the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower performing the adsorption and removal process to flow into a discharge pipe into which the gas from which the removal target has been completely removed should flow, and causes the gas that has been heated by the first heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process;
a second flow path switching unit that causes the gas cooled by the second heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal treatment, and causes the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment to flow into the third heat exchanger;
a control unit that executes a first process of controlling heating of the heating heat transfer liquid by the heating unit, supply of the heating heat transfer liquid to the first heat exchanger, cooling of the cooling heat transfer liquid by the cooling unit, supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the second heat exchanger, and supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the third heat exchanger, and a second process of controlling the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit to switch between the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal treatment and the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment,
The gas that has been passed through the third heat exchanger is merged with the gas that has been passed through the second heat exchanger and is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal treatment via the second flow path switching unit,
The third heat exchanger includes a primary heat exchange section and a secondary heat exchange section, and a gas flow path is formed so that the gas introduced from a gas inlet is passed through the primary heat exchange section, the secondary heat exchange section, and the primary heat exchange section in this order and discharged from a gas outlet, and the removal target contained in the gas is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange section, and the removal target contained in the gas introduced from the gas inlet is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the gas cooled by the secondary heat exchange section in the primary heat exchange section, and a bypass flow path A is provided to merge a part of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange section with the gas passed through the secondary heat exchange section and flowing into the primary heat exchange section without passing through the secondary heat exchange section, and a flow rate adjustment section A is provided to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path A,
The control unit identifies a temperature A of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the third heat exchanger, a temperature B of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange unit, and a temperature C of the gas discharged from the gas outlet in the third heat exchanger, and performs a process A of controlling the flow rate adjustment unit A to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path A based on a ratio of a temperature difference A between the temperature A and the temperature B and a temperature difference B between the temperature A and the temperature C. An adsorbent regeneration device for a removal system capable of performing an adsorption removal process in which a target substance contained in a gas is adsorbed to an adsorbent in an adsorption tower and removed from the gas, the adsorbent being configured to be regenerated by an adsorption capacity regeneration process using a thermal regeneration method,
The removal system is configured to be capable of regenerating the adsorbent in the removal system, which is provided with a plurality of the adsorption towers and is configured to be capable of executing the adsorption removal treatment on a part of each of the adsorption towers and the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment on another part of each of the adsorption towers in parallel,
a first heat exchanger for heating the gas to be introduced into the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment;
a second heat exchanger that cools the gas that is caused to flow into the adsorption tower and the first heat exchanger that perform the adsorption and removal process;
a third heat exchanger for cooling the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment;
a temperature adjustment unit having a refrigeration cycle and including a heating unit capable of heating a heat transfer liquid by heat radiation from a condenser in the refrigeration cycle, and a cooling unit capable of cooling a heat transfer liquid by heat absorption by an evaporator in the refrigeration cycle;
a first flow path switching unit that causes the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower performing the adsorption and removal process to flow into a discharge pipe into which the gas from which the removal target has been completely removed should flow, and causes the gas that has been heated by the first heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process;
a second flow path switching unit that causes the gas cooled by the second heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal treatment, and causes the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment to flow into the third heat exchanger;
a control unit that executes a first process of controlling heating of the heating heat transfer liquid by the heating unit, supply of the heating heat transfer liquid to the first heat exchanger, cooling of the cooling heat transfer liquid by the cooling unit, supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the second heat exchanger, and supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the third heat exchanger, and a second process of controlling the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit to switch between the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal treatment and the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment,
The gas that has been passed through the third heat exchanger is merged with the gas that has been passed through the second heat exchanger and is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal treatment via the second flow path switching unit,
The second heat exchanger includes a primary heat exchange section and a secondary heat exchange section, and a gas flow path is formed so that the gas introduced from a gas inlet is passed through the primary heat exchange section, the secondary heat exchange section, and the primary heat exchange section in this order and discharged from a gas outlet, and the object to be removed contained in the gas is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange section, and the object to be removed contained in the gas introduced from the gas inlet is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the gas cooled by the secondary heat exchange section in the primary heat exchange section, and a second bypass flow path is provided for discharging the gas passed through the secondary heat exchange section from the gas outlet without passing it through the primary heat exchange section again, and a second flow rate adjustment section is disposed to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the second bypass flow path,
The control unit identifies a fourth temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the second heat exchanger, a fifth temperature of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange unit, and a sixth temperature of the gas passed through the secondary heat exchange unit, and performs a fourth process of controlling the second flow rate adjustment unit to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the second bypass flow path based on a ratio of a third temperature difference between the fourth temperature and the sixth temperature to a fourth temperature difference between the fifth temperature and the sixth temperature. An adsorbent regeneration device for a removal system capable of performing an adsorption removal process in which a target substance contained in a gas is adsorbed to an adsorbent in an adsorption tower and removed from the gas, the adsorbent being configured to be regenerated by an adsorption capacity regeneration process using a thermal regeneration method,
The removal system is configured to be capable of regenerating the adsorbent in the removal system, which is provided with a plurality of the adsorption towers and is configured to be capable of executing the adsorption removal treatment on a part of each of the adsorption towers and the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment on another part of each of the adsorption towers in parallel,
a first heat exchanger for heating the gas to be introduced into the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment;
a second heat exchanger that cools the gas that is caused to flow into the adsorption tower and the first heat exchanger that perform the adsorption and removal process;
a third heat exchanger for cooling the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower for performing the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment;
a temperature adjustment unit having a refrigeration cycle and including a heating unit capable of heating a heat transfer liquid by heat radiation from a condenser in the refrigeration cycle, and a cooling unit capable of cooling a heat transfer liquid by heat absorption by an evaporator in the refrigeration cycle;
a first flow path switching unit that causes the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower performing the adsorption and removal process to flow into a discharge pipe into which the gas from which the removal target has been completely removed should flow, and causes the gas that has been heated by the first heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower performing the adsorption capacity regeneration process;
a second flow path switching unit that causes the gas cooled by the second heat exchanger to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal treatment, and causes the gas that has passed through the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment to flow into the third heat exchanger;
a control unit that executes a first process of controlling heating of the heating heat transfer liquid by the heating unit, supply of the heating heat transfer liquid to the first heat exchanger, cooling of the cooling heat transfer liquid by the cooling unit, supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the second heat exchanger, and supply of the cooling heat transfer liquid to the third heat exchanger, and a second process of controlling the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit to switch between the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption removal treatment and the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption capacity regeneration treatment,
The gas that has been passed through the third heat exchanger is merged with the gas that has been passed through the second heat exchanger and is caused to flow into the adsorption tower that performs the adsorption and removal treatment via the second flow path switching unit,
The second heat exchanger includes a primary heat exchange section and a secondary heat exchange section, and a gas flow path is formed so that the gas introduced from a gas inlet is passed through the primary heat exchange section, the secondary heat exchange section, and the primary heat exchange section in this order and discharged from a gas outlet, and the removal target contained in the gas is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the cooling heat transfer liquid in the secondary heat exchange section, and the removal target contained in the gas introduced from the gas inlet is liquefied and removed by heat exchange with the gas cooled by the secondary heat exchange section in the primary heat exchange section, and a bypass flow path B is provided to merge a part of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange section with the gas passed through the secondary heat exchange section and flowing into the primary heat exchange section without passing through the secondary heat exchange section, and a flow rate adjustment section B is provided to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path B,
The control unit identifies a temperature D of the gas introduced from the gas inlet in the second heat exchanger, a temperature E of the gas introduced from the gas inlet and passed through the primary heat exchange unit, and a temperature F of the gas discharged from the gas outlet in the second heat exchanger, and performs a process B of controlling the flow rate adjustment unit B to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the bypass flow path B based on the ratio of a temperature difference C between the temperatures D and E and a temperature difference D between the temperatures D and F. a third flow rate adjusting unit that adjusts a flow rate of the gas that is caused to pass through the third heat exchanger;
An adsorbent regeneration device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit executes a fifth process of controlling the third flow rate adjustment unit based on the temperature of the gas passed through the third heat exchanger to adjust the flow rate of the gas passing through the third heat exchanger. The adsorbent regeneration device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is configured to be capable of regenerating the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the removal system configured to be capable of removing moisture as the removal target from hydrogen gas as the gas. A removal system that is configured to remove the target to be removed from the gas by comprising the adsorbent regeneration device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and each of the adsorption towers.

Images