JPH0278868A - Method and apparatus for energy conversion utilizing hydrogen occluding metal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve heat exchanging efficiency and reacting efficiency by a method wherein hydrogen gas is made to flow through a filling layer, filled with a multitude of small blocks of hydrogen occluding metal, and heat medium is poured from the upper part of said filling layer. CONSTITUTION:A vessel 1 is provided with a filling layer 3, in which a multitude of small blocks S of hydrogen occluding metal is filled between upper and lower perforated plates 2, 2, at the middle part thereof, the connecting port 4a of a hydrogen pipeline 4 at the top thereof, the outflow port 5 of liquid heat medium at the lower part thereof, and a discharging port for pouring the heat medium onto the filling layer 3 or a shower head 6 positioned at the upper part of said filling layer 3. The occluding reaction or releasing reaction of said hydrogen gas of the small blocks S of the hydrogen occluding metal is effected by making the hydrogen gas to flow from the connecting port 4a through the filling layer 3 while the heat medium is poured from the shower head 6 onto the filling layer 3 to effect heat exchange by contacting the heat medium directly with the small blocks S.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention produces metal hydrides from hydrogen and hydrogen storage metals that are mainly used in hydrogen storage and transportation systems and energy recovery and power conversion systems. The present invention relates to an energy conversion method and an energy conversion device using reactions and their inverse reactions.

(Prior Art) As a conventional energy conversion method that utilizes the exothermic hydrogen storage reaction and the converse endothermic hydrogen release reaction when producing a metal hydride from a hydrogen storage metal and hydrogen, for example, , a container is provided with a packed bed filled with hydrogen-absorbing metal particles and a plurality of heat transfer tubes arranged at intervals within the packed bed, and cold water or a heat medium is placed in the heat transfer tubes. By flowing hot water, the metal particles are cooled or heated through the heat transfer tube, and at the same time, hydrogen gas is caused to flow through the packed bed to cause the metal particles to perform a hydrogen storage or release reaction, or the hydrogen gas is pressurized. Alternatively, the pressure is reduced to cause the metal particles to undergo occlusion and desorption reactions, and the resulting reaction heat is used to heat or cool a heat medium through a heat transfer tube to convert energy (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1983-1999). 101398),
In addition, using a container with a coiled heat transfer tube inside,
The container is filled with a suspension of hydrogen-absorbing metal particles suspended in oil, and the suspension is cooled or heated via a heat medium flowing through the heat transfer tube, and at the same time hydrogen gas is introduced into the suspension. Hydrogen gas is injected to cause hydrogen absorption and desorption reactions, or hydrogen gas is pressurized or depressurized as described above, and the heat medium is heated or cooled through a heat transfer tube to convert energy (
JP-A-58-217401) is known.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In the former invention, heat exchange is performed by bringing the metal particles of the packed bed into contact with the heat exchanger tube, or the metal particles that are in direct contact with the heat exchanger tube are filled with metal particles. Since it is only a part of the particles, there was a problem that the heat exchange efficiency deteriorated.

On the other hand, in the latter invention, the heat exchange efficiency is somewhat improved because the suspension in which metal particles are suspended comes into contact with the heat transfer tube, but the hydrogen gas blown into the suspension becomes bubbles. There was a problem in that the hydrogen rose up in the suspension, resulting in insufficient contact between the metal particles and hydrogen, resulting in deterioration of reaction efficiency.

An object of the present invention is to provide an energy conversion method and an energy conversion device using a hydrogen storage metal that improve the heat exchange efficiency, which is the problem mentioned above, and also improve the reaction efficiency.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an energy conversion device that utilizes a reaction for producing a metal hydride from a hydrogen storage metal and hydrogen, and the reverse reaction. A packed bed filled with a large number of small pieces of hydrogen-absorbing metal is provided in the container, and a connection port for hydrogen piping is provided in the upper part of the container, and a heat medium outlet is provided in the lower part, and the inside of the container is provided above the packed bed. The present invention is characterized in that a discharge port is provided at which the heating medium is poured onto the packed bed.

(Function) Hydrogen gas is passed through the connection port of the hydrogen piping to the packed bed, and the cooled heat medium is poured into the packed bed from the discharge port, absorbing reaction heat from the small pieces of hydrogen storage metal that make up the packed bed. to cause a hydrogen occlusion reaction, or to cause high-pressure hydrogen gas to flow through the connection port to the packed bed to cause the small pieces to generate heat due to the hydrogen occlusion reaction, and at the same time pouring a heating medium onto the packed bed; The heating medium is heated as a heat source. On the other hand, for the metal hydride produced by this reaction, a heated heating medium is poured into the packed bed to supply reaction heat to the small pieces of the metal hydride to cause a hydrogen release reaction, or from the connection port. Hydrogen gas is sucked to cause the small pieces to have an endothermic effect due to a hydrogen release reaction, and a heating medium is poured onto the packed bed to cool the heating medium as a cold heat source.

In this way, by pouring a liquid heat medium into a packed bed filled with a large number of small pieces of hydrogen-absorbing metal and flowing hydrogen gas, the heat medium passes through the gaps between the six small pieces and spreads over the surface of the six small pieces. At the same time, hydrogen gas is accompanied by the heating medium or freely flows through the gaps between the small pieces. Therefore, the heating medium can directly contact each small piece of the hydrogen storage metal, and heat exchange can be performed using the entire surface area of the six small pieces as a heat transfer area. The absorption/desorption reaction can be carried out using the total surface area of the reaction area.

(Example) Referring to FIG. 1, 1 indicates a container, and the container 1 is filled with a large number of hydrogen-absorbing metal small pieces S in the upper and lower perforated plates 2.2 in the middle thereof. layer 3 is provided, the container 1
A connection port 4a for the hydrogen pipe 4 is provided at the top of the container 1, and an outlet 5 for the liquid heat medium is provided at the bottom of the container 1. A shower head 6 is provided as a discharge port to flow hydrogen gas from the connection port 4a to the packed bed 3 to cause the hydrogen gas to be absorbed or released into the small pieces S of the hydrogen storage metal. At the same time, the heating medium is poured from the shower head 6 onto the packed bed 3, so that the heating medium and the small pieces S are brought into direct contact with each other to perform heat exchange, and further,
A circulation circuit 7 is provided outside the container 1 to communicate the shower head 6 and the outlet 5, and a circulation pump 8 and a heat exchanger IO connected to an external pipe 9 are interposed in the circulation circuit 7. , the heat medium that has fallen onto the packed bed 3 is guided from the lower part of the container to the circulation circuit 7, passed through the heat exchanger IO from the circulation pump 8, and guided to the shower head 6, and the heat exchanger 1
At 0, hot water, cold water, or intermediate water is introduced into the external pipe 9 to exchange heat with the heat medium.

In this case, a stable solution such as an organic solvent or silicon should be used as the heating medium, and the hydrogen storage metal small pieces S should be spherical, about 10 to 50 mm in size, or Raschig ring, etc.
Slotted rings, interlock saddles, terrarets, pole rings, lessing rings, magmahon backings, etc. shall be used.

With the above configuration, when the hydrogen storage metal is caused to perform a storage reaction or a desorption reaction, hydrogen gas is passed through the packed bed 3, and cold water is introduced into the external piping 9 to cool the heat medium. is poured into the packed bed 3 and absorbs the reaction heat from the small pieces S to absorb hydrogen, and conversely, hot water is introduced into the external piping 9 to heat the heat medium and transfer the reaction heat to the small pieces S. is supplied to release hydrogen.

In addition, when recovering heat from the hydrogen storage alloy, the hydrogen gas in the packed bed 3 is pressurized to cause the small pieces S to perform a hydrogen storage reaction to generate heat, and the heat medium is transferred to the packed bed 3. 3 to heat the heat medium and heat the intermediate water introduced into the external piping 9 as a heat source, and conversely reduce the pressure of hydrogen gas to cause the small pieces S to have an endothermic effect due to a release reaction, The intermediate water cooled by cooling the heat medium and introduced into the external pipe 9 is used as a cold heat source.

In this case, if the small pieces S of the hydrogen storage metal are formed into a Raschig ring shape or a slotted ring shape as described above, there will be resistance to the flow of hydrogen gas or the flow of the heat medium into the packed bed 3. In addition, it is possible to form a sufficient gap between the small pieces S and to increase the surface area of the small pieces S, thereby increasing the heat exchange area with the heat medium and the reaction area with hydrogen gas.

Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, a hot water/cold water supply device using the above device will be described based on FIG.

This device includes a pair of devices used in the first embodiment, and communicates a first container 1a and a second container 1b through a hydrogen pipe 4 with a gate valve 11, and connects both external pipes 9 to each other. It is composed of a hot heat source pipe 9a and a cold heat source pipe 9b, and intermediate heat source pipes 12a,
12b is connected, and a plurality of switching valves 13 provided thereon are used to appropriately switch between the hot heat source pipe 9a and the intermediate heat source pipe 12a, or between the cold heat source pipe 9b and the intermediate heat source pipe 12b.

When this device is used, for example, in a heating and cooling system that uses late-night electricity, hot water that has been heated using late-night electricity is guided to the heat source piping 9a, and a hydrogen release reaction is caused in the first container la side. , the released hydrogen gas is guided to the second container tb side via the hydrogen pipe 4, and the second container 1b is
to cause a hydrogen storage reaction to occur on the second container lb side, and at the same time, the reaction heat generated by this storage reaction is discarded by exchanging heat with room temperature intermediate water led to the intermediate heat source piping 12b on the second container lb side. When the release reaction and storage reaction are finished and both containers 1a and 1b are in an equilibrium state,
The gate valve 11 of the hydrogen pipe 4 is closed to complete the preparation stage for heating and cooling.

When entering the daytime cooling/heating stage, first, the gate valve 11 is opened to supply air from the second container 1b, which is in a high pressure state, to the first container, which is in a low pressure state.
Hydrogen gas is caused to flow into the container 1a, an occlusion reaction is caused on the first container 1a side to heat the heat medium, and a release reaction is caused on the second container 1b side to cool the heat medium, In the summer, the reaction heat from the first container Ya side is discarded as hot water from the intermediate heat source piping 12a, and cold water for cooling is obtained from the cold heat source piping 9b on the second container lb side. The reaction heat on the lb side is discarded as cold water from the intermediate heat source piping L2b, and hot water is supplied for heating from the heat source piping 9a on the first container la side.

However, hot water in the summer may be used for hot water supply, or may be stored in a heat storage tank (not shown) and used as hot water for late-night power generation. ' FIG. 3 shows a modification of the hot water/cold water supply device as a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, four devices used in the first embodiment are installed and operated continuously, and a first container 1a dedicated to the release reaction is used.
and a third container IC, and a second container ib and a fourth container 1d dedicated to the occlusion reaction, each container 1a, lb, lc,
Inside the ld, small pieces S of hydrogen storage metal are stacked without using the perforated plate 2.2 to form a packed layer 3, and the first container 1a, the fourth container 1d, and the second container 1b and the third container IC are communicated by hydrogen pipes 4, 4, and a separator 14 is provided on the outlet 5 side of each container 1a, lb, 1c, 1d to separate the heat medium and the small pieces S, The separator 14 includes a first container 1a, a second container 1b, and a third container 1C, respectively.
A conveying pipe 15 is connected between the fourth container 1d and the outflow port 5 side and the upper part thereof, and a conveying device 16 interposed in each direction conveying pipe 15 is used to transfer the flow from one container to the other container. Furthermore, the heat source piping 12a is connected to the heat exchanger 10a of the first container 1a, the heat source piping 9b is connected to the heat exchanger 10b of the second container 1b, and the heat source piping 9b is connected to the heat exchanger 10b of the second container 1b. A cold heat source pipe 9C is connected to the heat exchanger IOC of the IC, and an intermediate heat source pipe +2d is connected to the heat exchanger 10d of the fourth container 1d.

According to this supply device, the first container 1a and the fourth container 1d are mainly used for the preparation process, and the second container 1b and the third container 1
c is intended to be used in the cooling and heating process, that is, hot water heated using exhaust heat is supplied to the heat source pipe 12 on the side of the first container 1a.
a, a hydrogen release reaction is caused in the first container 1a, and the released hydrogen gas is passed through the hydrogen pipe 4 to the fourth container 1d.
to cause the fourth container 1d to perform a hydrogen storage reaction, and at the same time, the reaction heat from this storage reaction is discarded from the intermediate heat source piping 12d on the fourth container ld side, and this inner container 1a
, ld performs a release reaction and an occlusion reaction as $ storage steps.

On the other hand, in the heating and cooling process, hydrogen gas is caused to flow from the third container 1c to the second container 1b, so that a release reaction is performed in the third container 1c and an occlusion reaction is performed in the second container 1b,
During the summer, the reaction heat from the second container 1b is transferred to the heat source piping 9b.
At the same time, cold water for cooling is obtained from the cold source pipe 9C on the third container 1c side, and in winter, the reaction heat from the third container 1c side is discarded as cold water from the cold heat source pipe 9c. , heat source piping 9 on the second container lb side
To obtain hot water for heating from b.

Immediately before the above reaction cycle is completed, the small pieces S are exchanged between the first container 1a and the second container 1b, and between the third container IC and the fourth container 1d by each transport device 16. Then, repeat this series of operations to continuously obtain hot and cold water.

In this way, the container can be configured for storage and release, and the piping can be configured for a heat source, a cold source, a hot source, and an intermediate heat source, without having to change valves. , and the container and piping can each be constructed of thermally suitable materials.

In this embodiment, the hot water from the intermediate heat source pipe 12d on the fourth container Ld side may be used for heating without being discarded, or the hot water may be used for heating from the cold heat source pipe 9C on the third container Ic side in the winter. If the discarded cold water can be used for air conditioning, it is especially useful for buildings with computer rooms that require air conditioning even in the winter.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, hydrogen gas is circulated through a packed bed filled with a large number of small pieces of hydrogen-absorbing metal, and a heat medium is poured from above the packed bed to generate heat. It is possible to improve exchange efficiency and reduce costs, and also has the effect of improving reaction efficiency and shortening reaction time, which can be applied to many other uses.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a system diagram of an energy conversion device implementing the present invention, Fig. 2 is a system diagram of a hot water/cold water supply device using the above energy conversion device which is a second embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 3 is a system diagram of an energy conversion device according to the present invention. It is a system diagram of a modification of the above-mentioned hot water/cold water supply device which is a second embodiment of the present invention. 1... Container 3... Filling layer 4... Hydrogen piping 5... Outlet 6... Shower head S... Small piece 1, Incident display 1988 Patent Application No. 228330 and its device 3, Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. 4 Agent 5 Date of order for amendment (voluntary) 6. Invention of the specification subject to amendment Detailed explanation column, drawing 7, amendment content 1, page 4, line 12 of the specification, “improve” was changed to “improve”.
It will improve,” he corrected. 2. Add the following document between the 16th line on page 4 of the same book box and the 17th line of the same page box. ``The present invention proposes a conversion method that achieves the above object, and is an energy conversion method that utilizes the reaction of producing metal hydride from a hydrogen storage metal and hydrogen, and the reverse reaction. A packed bed filled with a large number of small pieces of storage metal is provided, hydrogen gas is passed through the packed bed to store or release the hydrogen gas, and a heating medium is poured into the packed bed from above. 3.
On page 4, line 17 of the same book, ``The present invention aims to achieve the above object'' is corrected to ``Furthermore, the present invention proposes a conversion device for carrying out the above conversion method.'' 4. In the 20th line of page 7 of the same book, "the heat medium" is corrected to "the heat medium is water." 5. Figure 2 of the drawings is corrected as shown in the attached appendix.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An energy conversion method that utilizes the reaction of producing a metal hydride from a hydrogen-absorbing metal and hydrogen, and its reverse reaction, wherein a large number of small pieces of a hydrogen-absorbing metal are filled in a container. A hydrogen storage metal is used, characterized in that a packed bed is provided, hydrogen gas is passed through the packed bed to store or release the hydrogen gas, and a heating medium is poured into the packed bed from above. Energy conversion method. 2. An energy conversion device that utilizes the reaction of producing a metal hydride from a hydrogen-absorbing metal and hydrogen, and its reverse reaction, in which a packed bed filled with a large number of small pieces of a hydrogen-absorbing metal is provided in a container, A connection port for hydrogen piping is provided in the upper part of the container, and an outlet for the heating medium is provided in the lower part, and a discharge port is provided inside the container, which is located above the packed bed and pours the heating medium onto the packed bed. An energy conversion device using a hydrogen storage metal characterized by the following.