JPH0576773A - Fuel reformer for on-vehicle fuel cell generating equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a fuel reformer suitable for on-vehicle fuel cell generating equipment where the powering of a reformer catalyst filled into a reforming pipe by vibration, etc., applied from the outside is properly decreased. CONSTITUTION:In a fuel reformer for on-vehicle fuel cell generating equipment where a reformer pipe 3 packed with a reformer catalyst 4 is housed in the furnace of a furnace body 1 equipped with a burner 2 and feed fuel gas is introduced into the reformer pipe 3 to get hydrogen-rich reformed gas, the inside of the reformer pipe 3 is divided into plural sections along the gas passage and a cushion material 5 with gas permeability, such as steel wool is inserted between the reforming catalyst layers for each section. At the same time, compression springs 6 are incorporated into the pipe ends as a stopper means for pressurizing and holding the reforming catalyst 4 in the pipe and under the assembled conditions, vibration force applied from the outside to the reforming catalyst 4 is adsorbed by the cushion material to prevent the catalyst from powdering.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel reformer for an on-vehicle fuel cell power generator installed on an electric vehicle and applied to a driving power source thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, an electric vehicle having a fuel cell power generator installed in a vehicle has been under development by taking advantage of the low pollution and high power generation efficiency of the fuel cell, and in parallel with this development project. Practical application of fuel cell power generators for vehicles is under way. FIG. 2 is a process flow diagram of such a fuel cell power generation device, in which methanol is used as a raw fuel for reforming into a hydrogen-rich gas in a fuel reformer (steam reforming).
Then, this is supplied to the fuel cell to generate electricity. The operating principle of the fuel cell is well known, and the description thereof is omitted here.

Next, a conventional structure of the above-mentioned fuel reformer is shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is a furnace body of a reformer, 1a is a combustion gas exhaust port of the furnace body 1, 2 is a burner installed at the center of the top of the furnace body, and 3 is a reformer housed in the furnace surrounding the burner 2. The quality tubes 4 are reforming catalysts filled in the reforming tube 3.
Although the reforming pipe 3 is schematically illustrated in the drawing, a double cylindrical pipe is adopted as an actual reforming pipe. With this configuration, when the aqueous methanol solution that is the raw fuel is vaporized and introduced from the inlet 3a of the reforming pipe 3, the hydrogen is reformed by steam by a contact reaction (endothermic reaction) with the reforming catalyst 4 filled in the pipe. Converted to rich reformed gas. Then, the reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell in the subsequent stage through the outlet 3b of the reforming tube 3.

[0004]

By the way, if the above-described conventional fuel reformer is used by incorporating it into a vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generator as it is, the fuel reformer is used as the vehicle starts, runs, or stops. Is subject to repeated loads such as vibration and shaking, and impact loads. On the other hand, for the reforming catalyst filled in the reforming tube of the fuel reformer, a carrier (for example, alumina) having a particle size of about several millimeters is supported by binding a particulate copper-based catalyst with a binder. I am using. For this reason, when the reforming catalyst filled in the reforming tube in an unrestrained state is repeatedly subjected to a load and an impact load from the outside, the particles of the catalyst are individually swung by the exciting force, and the catalysts are rubbed against each other. The catalyst fine particles are separated from the carrier, or the catalyst particles are crushed to promote pulverization. Moreover, when powder of the catalyst is generated in the reforming pipe, the powder fills the voids between the catalyst particles and causes an increase in pressure loss of the gas flowing through the pipe. The amount of catalyst gradually decreases as it flows out of the reformer,
As a result, the capacity of the reformer gradually decreases. Furthermore, when the outflow amount of the catalyst powder from the reformer increases, the filters provided in the gas conduits between the reformer and the fuel cell become prematurely clogged and the filters need to be replaced in a short period. It also affects maintenance problems.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to additionally equip a simple member in the reforming pipe so that the reforming catalyst filled in the pipe is pulverized by vibration applied from the outside. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel reformer, which is particularly suitable for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation device, in which the fuel consumption can be reduced.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, in the fuel reformer of the present invention, the inside of the reforming pipe is divided into a plurality of sections along the gas passage, and each section is modified. A gas-permeable cushion material is interposed between the quality catalyst layers, and stopper means for pressurizing and holding the reforming catalyst in the pipe is provided. Further, in the above structure, the cushioning material is, for example, a braided body of thin metal wires such as steel wool, or the equivalent thereof, and
As the stopper means, a compression spring that pressurizes the reforming catalyst loaded in the reforming pipe from the end of the pipe can be adopted.

[0007]

In the above structure, the cushioning material interposed between the reforming catalyst layers in the reforming tube functions as a vibration isolator and absorbs vibrations applied from the outside to directly act on the reforming catalyst. Works to damp forces. Further, since the stopper means incorporated in the same reforming pipe holds the reforming catalyst under pressure, the particles of the reforming catalyst are not shaken in the pipe even when vibration is applied from the outside. Powdering is prevented.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which the same members corresponding to those in FIG. That is, in the configuration of FIG. 1, the inside of the reforming pipe 3 is divided into a plurality of sections along the gas passage, and for each section, a metal such as steel wool is provided at the boundary between the sections. A gas-permeable cushioning material 5 made of a thin wire braid is interposed between layers of the reforming catalyst 4. further,
A compression spring 6 is installed at the upper end of the reforming pipe 3 as a stopper means for holding the reforming catalyst 4 and the cushion material 5 together in the pipe under appropriate pressure.

With such a structure, even if a repeated load such as vibration or a shock load is applied to the fuel reformer mounted on the vehicle when the vehicle starts, runs, or stops, the reforming catalyst for each section in the reforming pipe. Since the cushion material 5 interposed between the layers of 4 functions as a vibration isolator, the vibration force directly acting on the reforming catalyst 4 is reduced accordingly. Further, since the reforming catalyst 4 is pressurized and held inside the reforming pipe 3 by the compression spring 6,
The catalyst is not shaken in the tube, which reduces the powdering of the reforming catalyst 4.

[0010]

Since the fuel reformer of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generator of the present invention is constructed as described above,
It is possible to reduce the pulverization of the reforming catalyst due to the vibration applied to the fuel reformer when the vehicle starts, runs, or stops, thereby extending the life of the reforming catalyst and maintaining the reformer capacity stable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system flow diagram of a fuel cell power generator.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of a conventional fuel reformer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 furnace body 2 burner 3 reforming pipe 4 reforming catalyst 5 cushion material 6 compression spring (stopper means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A fuel reformer for a fuel cell power generator to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein a reformer tube filled with a granular reforming catalyst is housed in a furnace equipped with a burner. In a fuel reformer that introduces raw fuel gas into a hydrogen-rich reformed gas, the inside of the reforming pipe is divided into multiple sections along the gas passage, and each section is between the reforming catalyst layers. A fuel reformer for a vehicle-mounted power generation device, characterized in that a gas-permeable cushioning material is interposed between the two and stopper means for holding the reforming catalyst under pressure inside the pipe. 2. The fuel reformer for a vehicle-mounted power generator according to claim 1, wherein the cushion material is a braid of fine metal wires or an equivalent thereof. 3. The fuel reformer according to claim 1, wherein the stopper means is a compression spring incorporated in the reforming pipe so as to pressurize the reforming catalyst loaded in the reforming pipe from the end of the pipe. A fuel reformer for a vehicle-mounted power generator.