JPH07103090A - Burner for fuel reforming apparatus and fuel reforming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a burner for fuel reforming apparatus and a fuel reforming method using the said burner which can easily control the quantity of heat supplied to the vaporizing section and reforming section of a fuel reforming apparatus, and prevent the excessive heating of the reforming section and the occurrence of difference in temperature distribution in a reforming catalyst, and moreover enlarge the selection range of composing material of the fuel reforming apparatus. CONSTITUTION:A burner for a fuel reforming apparatus has a heat source generating section 1 and a heat source gas converting section 2 to control the quantity of heat generated in the heat source generating section 1 for converting it into heat source gas having a fixed quantity of heating value, and exists independently in space to the fuel reforming apparatus. The heat source gas converting section 2 is formed of fireproof regenerative material so as to enclose the heat generating section 1, and its inside is provided with an exhaust through port 18 to pass the exhaust generated in the heat source generating section 1 and heat transfer medium flow paths 16, 17 to pass a heat transfer medium for its heatexchanging, and moreover a heat source gas exhausting port 15 where the exhaust through port 18 and the heat transfer medium flow paths 16, 17 join for exhausting the heat source gas composed of the exhaust and the heat transfer medium.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combustor for producing a heat source gas used for heating a fuel reformer and a fuel reforming method using the combustor for the fuel reformer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to reform a hydrocarbon raw material such as methanol, natural gas or naphtha into a reformed fuel mainly containing hydrogen, these raw materials are heated by a heat medium from a burner and modified. There is known a fuel reformer in which a burner is disposed inside the fuel reformer so as to improve quality and a reforming catalyst for promoting a reforming reaction is disposed.

[0003]

An example of such a conventional fuel reformer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-265147. The fuel reformer has a structure in which the reforming section and the combustion section are adjacently integrated with each other. In the fuel reformer, the reforming catalyst is directly heated by the radiant heat of the burner at about 1000 ° C. Therefore, there is a problem that the temperature (250 to 300 ° C.) required for a normal reforming reaction tends to be too high.

Further, since the burner flame has a temperature gradient, when one burner is used as a heat source, a temperature gradient also occurs in the reforming catalyst according to the temperature gradient of the flame, so that the reforming reaction is efficiently performed. It was difficult to control the temperature of the heating source in order to proceed.

Further, since the fuel reformer itself is exposed to high temperatures, the constituent material thereof is limited to expensive materials such as refractory ceramics.

In view of the above, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, the amount of heat supplied to the vaporizing section and the reforming section of the fuel reformer can be easily controlled, the overheating of the reforming section is prevented, and the reforming catalyst is provided. And a fuel reformer using the combustor for a fuel reformer, which can prevent a difference in temperature distribution in the interior of the fuel reformer and can expand the selection range of constituent materials of the fuel reformer. The purpose is to provide a method.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a heat source generating portion and a heat source for controlling the amount of heat generated from the heat source generating portion to convert it into a heat source gas having a certain amount of heat. A fuel reformer combustor having a gas conversion section, and the fuel reformer combustor is spatially independent of the fuel reformer. It is used as a combustor for a quality device.

In the present invention, "existing spatially independently" means not being integrally configured.

Further, the heat source gas conversion section in the present invention is formed of a refractory heat storage material so as to surround the heat source generation section, and passes through the exhaust gas outlet and the heat medium through which the exhaust gas generated from the heat source generation section passes. And a heat source gas outlet for discharging the heat source gas composed of the exhaust gas and the heat medium by joining the exhaust gas outlet and the heat medium passage. It is a feature.

Further, the heat source generating portion in the present invention is characterized by being constituted by a plurality of torches.

The torch according to the present invention may have a triple tube structure in which a liquid fuel flow path, a gas fuel flow path, and an oxidant gas flow path are formed.

The fuel reformer, which introduces the heat source gas generated from the combustor for fuel reformer of the present invention, makes a vaporizing part for vaporizing a hydrocarbon fuel and a vaporized hydrocarbon fuel contact with a catalyst. And a reforming section for reforming the hydrogen-based reformed gas. Further, the present invention provides the flow rate of the heat medium flowing in the refractory heat storage material and the heat source generation portion depending on the space temperature between the refractory heat storage material and the heat source generation portion in the fuel reformer combustor. Of the combustion air is controlled to produce a heat source gas, and the obtained heat source gas having a controlled heat quantity is used to vaporize the hydrocarbon-based fuel and reform the vaporized hydrocarbon-based fuel. A fuel reforming method characterized by performing vaporization and reforming of a hydrocarbon-based fuel by introducing into each of the vaporization section and the reforming section of a fuel reformer having a reforming section to perform. Is.

[0013]

Since the combustor for fuel reformer of the present invention exists spatially independent of the fuel reformer, the fuel reformer is radiant heat transmitted directly from the heat source generating portion of the combustor for fuel reformer. Without being exposed to the heat source, it is not affected by the non-uniformity of the temperature distribution of the heat generated from the heat source generating portion.

The heat source gas conversion portion of the combustor for fuel reformer of the present invention is formed so as to surround the heat source generation portion, and has a heat medium passage for passing the heat medium therein. Since the heat medium gas passing through the flow passage and the exhaust gas heated to a high temperature generated from the heat source generating part are mixed to be the heat source gas used for heating the fuel reformer, the heat medium gas and the exhaust gas are controlled. As a result, the heat quantity of the heat source gas supplied to the fuel reformer can be controlled.

In the present invention, the flow rate of the heat medium flowing in the refractory heat storage material and the flow rate of the combustion air to the heat source generation section according to the space temperature between the refractory heat storage material and the heat source generation section. It is possible to produce a heat source gas with a controlled amount of heat by controlling, and it is possible to supply this heat source gas to the fuel reformer.

The torch according to the present invention comprises a liquid fuel flow path,
Since the gas fuel flow path and the oxidant gas flow path are each formed of a triple-tube torch, by adjusting the flow rates of liquid fuel, gas fuel, and oxidant gas supplied to each flow path, the exhaust gas The amount of heat of the heat source gas can be controlled, and therefore, the amount of heat of the heat source gas can be controlled.

Since the heat source generator in the present invention is a burner composed of a plurality of torches, the heat quantity of the exhaust gas can be controlled by selecting and using a specific torch. The heat quantity of the heat source gas can be controlled.

[0018]

【Example】

Combustor for fuel reformer: FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a combustor for fuel reformer of the present invention. Heat source generating section 1 and heat source gas conversion for controlling heat generated from this heat source generating section 1 as heat source gas It is composed of part 2. In this heat source generation unit 1, a plurality of torches 3 are connected to each other, and liquid fuel (for example, methanol), gas fuel (for example, hydrogen) and oxidant gas (for example, air) are blown from its tip,
Ignite to form a flame. Liquid fuel is supplied to the torch 3 from the liquid fuel supply port 4, gas fuel is supplied from the gas fuel supply port 5, and oxidant gas is supplied from the oxidant gas supply port 6.

The torch 3 is enlarged, and a cross section of a part thereof is shown in FIG. The torch 3 is a triple tube, and a liquid fuel supply passage 7, a liquid fuel supply passage 7 surrounding the gas fuel supply passage 8, and a gas fuel supply passage 8 surrounding the liquid fuel supply passage 7 at the center thereof, and an oxidant gas in the outermost layer The supply passage 9 is formed. Liquid and gas can be applied to the passages of the triple pipe. Each torch 3 is a torch stand 2 on the circumference
A plurality of torches 3 are installed so that the tip of the torch 3 is inclined to the center of the circle.

Further, in FIG. 1, the heat source gas conversion unit 2
Is a combustion case 10 formed by molding a refractory brick member formed so as to surround the heat source generating portion 1, a support 11 made of refractory bricks that supports the combustion case 10, and a heat medium is supplied into the combustion case 10. For supplying a heat medium, a heat medium supply port 12, a combustion case surrounding member 14 that surrounds the combustion case 10 and is arranged so that a heat medium passage 13 for passing the heat medium between the combustion case 10 and the heat medium is formed, and a heat source gas. It is composed of a heat source gas discharge port 15 for discharging.

A heat medium passage 13 is provided in the combustion case 10.
Is provided with a large number of heat medium flow passages 16 and 17 for guiding the heat medium supplied from the heat source gas exhaust port 15 and exchanging heat between the heated combustion case 10 and the heat medium. There is. Further, in the combustion case 10, a large number of exhaust gas outlets 1 for discharging the combustion exhaust gas generated by the flame from the torch 3 from the combustion chamber 19 to the heat source gas exhaust port 15.
8 are provided so as to communicate with each other.

Reformed Gas Generation System: The reformed gas generation system will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 3 shows a reformed gas production system incorporating the fuel reformer combustor 30 of the present invention. A liquid fuel tank 31 communicates with a liquid fuel supply port 4 of the fuel reformer combustor 30 through a liquid fuel transfer pump 32 by a liquid fuel transfer line 33, and the liquid fuel transfer line 33 is in the middle. It branches to and leads to the fuel reformer 37.

Reference numeral 34 is a blower that sucks in and discharges air that is an oxidant gas, and communicates with a heat medium supply port 12 of the combustor 30 for the fuel reformer through a valve 35 through an oxidant gas transportation line 36. Also, the oxidant gas transportation line 3
The middle of 6 is branched and communicates with the oxidant gas supply port 6 of the fuel reformer combustor 30 via a valve 38.

Reference numeral 37 denotes a fuel reformer, which is a heat source gas produced from the fuel reformer combustor 30 and a liquid fuel tank 31.
It has a function of receiving the liquid fuel from the tank and the water from the water tank 39 and producing a reformed gas mainly containing hydrogen. The water tank 39 is connected to the water transport line 4 via the water transport pump 41.
0 leads to the fuel reformer 37.

The fuel reformer 37 is provided with a reformed gas transport line 42 for discharging a reformed gas mainly containing hydrogen, and a surplus formed by branching in the middle of the reformed gas transport line 42. The reformed gas line 43 communicates with the gas fuel supply port 5 of the fuel reformer combustor 30. Further, an exhaust gas line 44 for discharging exhaust gas other than the reformed gas from the fuel reformer 37 is provided.

Reference numeral 45 denotes a controller. By inputting a value obtained from a temperature sensor 46 installed in the fuel reformer combustor 30 to the controller 45, outputs of the liquid fuel transport pump 32, the blower 34, etc. The open / close degrees of the valves 35 and 38 are adjusted so that the flow rate of methanol in the liquid fuel transport line 33 and the flow rate of air in the oxidant gas transport line 36 are controlled appropriately.

Method of Producing Reformed Gas: Next, a method of producing reformed gas using a reformed gas generation system incorporating the above-described combustor for fuel reformer will be described.

Methanol stored in the liquid fuel tank 31 is pumped into the liquid fuel transportation line 33 by the liquid fuel transportation pump 32 and introduced into the liquid fuel supply port 4 of the heat source generator 1. In addition, air is introduced into the oxidant gas supply port 6 of the heat source generation unit 1 by the blower 34 through the oxidant gas transportation line 36. Further, a part of the reformed gas passes through the surplus reformed gas line 43, and the combustor 3 for the fuel reformer 3
No. 0 is introduced into the gas fuel supply port 5 of the heat source generator 1.

From the tip of the torch 3 of the heat source generator 1, methanol is blown out through the liquid fuel supply passage 7, reformed gas is blown out through the gas fuel supply passage 8, and air is blown out through the oxidant gas supply passage 9, so that The mixture is ignited to form a flame in the combustion chamber 19. The combustion exhaust gas generated by the combustion in the burner including the plurality of torches 3 is discharged to the heat source gas discharge port 15 through the exhaust gas discharge port 18.

At the same time, the radiant heat (about 1000 ° C.) of the flame of the burner heats the combustion case 10 of the refractory brick material around it, and its temperature rises. Is supplied to the heat medium supply port 12 of the heat source gas conversion unit 2 and guided to the heat medium flow passages 16 and 17 through the heat medium passage 13 to exchange heat with the combustion case 10 and the heat source gas discharge port 15
To discharge. The combustion exhaust gas discharged to the heat source gas discharge port 15 and the heat-exchanged air are mixed to adjust the temperature and the flow rate thereof, and become the heat source gas for the fuel reformer.

The heat source gas (heat-exchanged air + combustion exhaust gas) whose heat quantity is controlled is used as the fuel reformer 37.
Is introduced to the vaporization section of. On the other hand, to the vaporization section of the fuel reformer 37, the methanol pumped from the liquid fuel tank 31 by the liquid fuel pump 32 and the water pumped from the water tank 39 by the water transport pump 41 are introduced to heat the heat source gas. Vaporizes methanol and water. continue,
In the reforming section of the fuel reformer 37, the action of the reforming catalyst converts the methanol gas into a reformed fuel gas mainly containing hydrogen. A heat source gas whose heat quantity is controlled from the heat source gas discharge port 15 is also introduced into this reforming section and is heated to a temperature necessary for reforming, and the action of the reforming catalyst existing in this reforming section. Thereby, the vaporized methanol is reformed into a fuel gas mainly containing hydrogen. The optimum reaction temperature range in this reforming section is about 250 to 300 ° C.

Gas (H ₂ , C generated in the reforming section
O ₂ and CO) are separated into reformed gas (H ₂ ) and other reformed exhaust gas by passing through the hydrogen permeable membrane, and the reformed gas is used as fuel gas in fuel cells and the like. The surplus reformed gas is circulated in the surplus reformed gas line 43, introduced into the gas fuel supply port 5 of the heat source generating section 1, and used as the fuel gas for the burner. On the other hand, the other gases discharged from the fuel reformer 37 are discharged.

Control of reformed gas generation system: A temperature sensor 4 installed at the heat source gas outlet 15 of the fuel reformer combustor 30 for detecting the temperature of the mixed heat source gas.
By inputting the value obtained from No. 6 to the controller 45, 1) the valve 35 on the oxidant gas transportation line 36, which is sent from the blower 34 as a heat source gas, and 2) the burner combustion from the blower 34 Valve 38 on the oxidant gas transportation line 36 sent as an auxiliary agent, 3) Output of the blower 34 itself (for example, the rotation speed of the blower 34), 4) Liquid fuel transportation sent as a liquid fuel from the liquid fuel tank 31 to the burner. By controlling the discharge amount of the liquid fuel transport pump 32 on the line 33, the flow rate and the temperature of the heat source gas sent to the fuel reformer 37 are controlled, and the temperature of the heat source gas sent to the fuel reformer 37 is controlled. The temperature is controlled to be within an appropriate temperature range (for example, 400 to 500 ° C). The heat source gas to be sent to the fuel reformer 37 can be roughly adjusted by the air flow rate control of 1) and 2) above, and 3) and 4) above.
The heat source gas sent to the fuel reformer 37 can be finely adjusted by adjusting

[0035]

Since the fuel reformer combustor of the present invention is spatially independent of the fuel reformer, it is not exposed to the radiant heat directly transmitted from the heat source generating portion thereof, which is a conventional problem. It is possible to avoid the influence of uneven temperature (uneven heating of the reforming catalyst, excessive heating, etc.) from the heating source.

Further, the radiant heat generated from the heat source generating section is heat-exchanged with the heat medium to indirectly utilize the radiant heat, so that the radiant heat can be converted into the heat source gas having a controlled constant amount of heat, and is always constant. Can be supplied to the fuel reformer.

It was quite difficult to control the heat quantity of the heat source gas to be supplied to the fuel reformer by adjusting the flow rate of the heat source gas only by controlling the fuel gas quantity of the burner in the conventional method.
In the present invention, the control of the amount of heat largely depends on the control of the flow rate of the heat medium, so that the control of the flow rate of the heat source gas and the control of the amount of heat become much easier.

In the present invention, since the heat source gas flow rate and its heat quantity are controlled on the fuel reformer combustor side, the reforming section of the fuel reformer is kept in the optimum temperature range. For this reason, inexpensive materials other than ceramics can be used as the constituent material of the fuel reformer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a combustor for a fuel reformer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an enlarged portion of the torch.

FIG. 3 is a reformed gas generation system incorporating a combustor for a fuel reformer of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Heat Source Generation Section 2 Heat Source Gas Conversion Section 3 Torch 4 Liquid Fuel Supply Port 5 Gas Fuel Supply Port 6 Oxidant Gas Supply Port 7 Liquid Fuel Supply Channel 8 Gas Fuel Supply Channel 9 Oxidant Gas Supply Channel 10 Combustion Case 11 Support 12 Heat medium supply port 13 Heat medium passage 14 Combustion case surrounding material 15 Heat source gas exhaust port 16, 17 Heat medium flow passage 18 Exhaust gas outlet 19 Combustion chamber 20 Torch stand 30 Combustor for fuel reformer 31 Liquid fuel tank 32 Liquid fuel transportation Pump 33 Liquid fuel transportation line 34 Blower 35 Valve 36 Oxidant gas transportation line 37 Fuel reformer 38 Valve 39 Water tank 40 Water transportation line 41 Water transportation pump 42 Reformed gas transportation line 43 Excess reformed gas line 44 Exhaust gas line 45 controller 46 temperature sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A combustor for a fuel reformer, comprising: a heat source generating part; and a heat source gas converting part for controlling a heat amount generated from the heat source generating part to convert the heat source gas into a heat source gas having a constant heat amount,
The heat source gas conversion unit is formed of (1) a refractory heat storage material so as to surround the heat source generation unit, and (2) an exhaust gas outlet through which exhaust gas generated from the heat source generation unit passes and a heat medium. And a heat medium passage for allowing heat to pass therethrough, and (3) and a heat source gas discharge port for discharging a heat source gas formed by joining the exhaust gas and the heat medium. Combustor for pawns. 2. A flow rate of a heat medium flowing in the refractory heat storage material according to a space temperature between the refractory heat storage material and the heat source generating portion in the fuel reformer combustor according to claim 1. And controlling the flow rate of combustion air to the heat source generation part,
(2) A fuel having a vaporization section for vaporizing a hydrocarbon-based fuel and a reforming section for reforming the vaporized hydrocarbon-based fuel. A fuel reforming method, characterized in that the hydrocarbon-based fuel is vaporized and reformed by introducing it into each of the vaporization section and the reforming section of a reformer.