KR20210000641A - Fuel processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A fuel processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a steam reaction module surrounded by a first casing and having a steam reactor placed therein; and a conversion reaction module surrounded by a second casing and having a conversion reactor placed therein, and thus control and repair are possible for each module.

Description

Fuel processing apparatus

The present invention relates to a fuel treatment apparatus for treating hydrocarbons to provide hydrogen.

Fuel treatment units are units that extract hydrogen from hydrocarbons, such as methane or butane. As a prior art of this device, Patent Registration No. 10-1771303, a fuel processing device, is known.

The prior art has the following problems.

Since the high-temperature conversion reactor must be separately installed, there is a problem in that the configuration is complicated and the cost is increased.

Since the steam reactor and the conversion reactor are provided in a consistent pipeline, reduction of the catalyst takes a long time, and the catalyst is damaged, thereby reducing catalyst performance and life.

Since each component of the fuel treatment device is integrally manufactured, there is a problem that the catalyst cannot be separated and replaced individually.

Since the injections of air, reformed fuel, combustion fuel, and water are each provided through a single injection port, there is a problem that it is difficult to cope with the operation at the start and stop. In particular, there is a problem in that the device is damaged or the catalyst is damaged during sudden stop and sudden start. In addition, since it is impossible to control the system for each part due to a single injection port, there is a problem in that fuel treatment efficiency is deteriorated. In addition, since the control of each fluid is set to the normal state of the fuel processing device, there is a problem in that the amount of hydrogen generated by the fuel processing device is fixed and its output cannot be adjusted.

Since the catalytic reaction of the steam reactor is concentrated only on the top of the burner, there is a problem in that the fuel treatment efficiency is lowered because the entire stored catalyst cannot be used.

Patent registration number 10-1771303, fuel processing system

In order to improve the above-described problems, the present invention proposes a fuel processing apparatus that can be manufactured inexpensively with a simple configuration by unifying a conversion reactor.

The present invention proposes a fuel treatment apparatus in which a steam reactor and a conversion reactor are individually controlled to prevent damage to the catalyst.

The present invention proposes a fuel processing apparatus that enables a catalyst to be exchanged and thus can be used for a long time by replacing the catalyst.

The present invention proposes a fuel processing device capable of controlling output and heat quantity by providing a fuel processing device that is modularized so that the supply fluid of each component constituting the fuel processing device is individually controlled.

The present invention proposes a fuel processing apparatus in which a catalytic reaction of a steam reactor is efficiently performed.

A fuel processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a steam reaction module surrounded by a first casing and in which a steam reactor is placed; And a conversion reaction module surrounded by the second casing and in which the conversion reactor is placed, and control and repair are possible for each module.

The steam reaction module includes: a second heat exchanger placed at the bottom and storing reformed fuel and reformed water; A burner placed in the center of the second heat exchanger and injecting a flame upward; And a steam reactor placed outside the flame, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency.

The conversion reaction module includes: a conversion reactor for removing harmful gases from the reformed gas reformed in the steam reactor; A fourth heat exchanger for accommodating at least a portion of the conversion reactor inside and exchanging heat with the first reformed water supplied from the outside and the reformed gas may be included.

According to the present invention, the configuration is modularized and simplified, so that a fuel processing device can be manufactured inexpensively and simply. For example, there is an advantage that the welding operation becomes easy.

In the present invention, since the steam reactor and the conversion reactor are provided as a structure separated from each other, individual control of each module is possible, thereby preventing damage to parts, particularly, damage to the catalyst.

According to the present invention, since the catalyst can be exchanged, there is an advantage in that the use time of the fuel treatment device is lengthened.

The present invention has an advantage in that the output control of the fuel processing device and the heat quantity control can be controlled by enabling individual operation control for each module.

In the present invention, since the catalyst region of the steam reactor can react as a whole, there is an advantage in that the fuel treatment efficiency is increased.

1 is a view showing a fuel processing apparatus according to an embodiment with a mechanical configuration as the center
2 is a view showing a fuel treatment apparatus according to an embodiment with a heat exchange action as the center.
3 is a view showing a fuel processing apparatus according to an embodiment with a focus on flow and control.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention can easily add, change, delete, and add components to other embodiments included within the scope of the same idea. It will be possible to suggest that, but it will be said that this is also included within the scope of the inventive concept.

1 and 3 are views showing the configuration of a fuel processing apparatus according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1 is a view showing a mechanical configuration, FIG. 2 is a view showing a heat exchange action, and FIG. 3 is a fluid flow And a view showing the control. Each drawing may have a configuration not shown in any one drawing, but the overall interaction is the same. In some cases, a simple configuration such as a check valve may not be shown within an operable range.

Hereinafter, the operation of the fuel processing apparatus will be described with reference to each drawing sequentially. In the following description, reference numerals indicate that a corresponding pipe or a valve or a fluid in the pipe can be indicated together to facilitate understanding. For example, the first material water inlet is indicated by 11, and a valve that controls the first reformed water pipe through which the first reformed water flows, the first reformed water passing through the first reformed water inlet, and the first material water inlet It may be referred to as FIG. 11. The same is true for other members. The valve may control the flow rate, or may control the flow on and off.

1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the mechanical configuration of a fuel processing apparatus according to an embodiment. This drawing is a cross-sectional view, and a member displayed on one side of the center may not be displayed on the other side. The member of this drawing may be configured as a hollow cylinder based on the center of the cross-sectional view, and may be configured in a cylindrical shape by winding a pipe in a coil shape. In addition, it is possible to implement a cylindrical shape by arranging several pipes in an annular shape.

In the fuel processing apparatus according to the embodiment, the steam reaction module 1 and the conversion reaction module 2 may be separated from each other by separate casings and may be connected to each other by a plurality of pipes. At least a steam reactor 4 is included in the steam reaction module 1 to perform an action of reforming hydrocarbons into hydrogen. The conversion reaction module 2 includes at least a conversion reactor 5 to perform a reaction of harmlessly converting harmful gases.

The steam reaction module 1 may be provided in a configuration stacked up and down as shown in the drawing, but may be configured in a different arrangement method, such as two modules spaced left and right from each other by extending or bending the configuration of the pipe. . The conduit connecting each component is shown to be concentrated in the lower portion of the fuel processing device for convenience, but is not limited thereto, and may be arranged in other places, such as the side, as long as it does not interfere with the operation of the fuel processing device.

As described above, when the two modules are separated and spaced apart from each other using a separate casing, the steam reactor 4 and the conversion reactor 5 are each external when the locking device is released by applying a locking fitting structure. It can be revealed. Accordingly, when the life of the catalyst is over, the catalyst in the steam reactor 4 and the conversion reactor 5 may be exchanged.

Since the two modules are separated from each other, reduction of each module can be performed separately from each other. In this case, since the reduction process of each module does not affect other modules, the reduction process of each module can be properly performed, and the reduction process time is shortened, so that start/stop and sudden stop/quick start are performed faster. Can be. In addition, the efficiency of the catalyst can be increased by a reduction treatment suitable for each module. As a result, the damage to the catalyst is reduced, and of course, the life of the catalyst can be extended.

The configuration and operation of the steam reaction module 1 will be described.

The steam reaction module (1) includes a second heat exchanger (7) placed at the bottom and storing reformed fuel and reformed water, and a burner (7) placed in the middle of the second heat exchanger (7) and spraying a flame upward ( 3), a steam reactor 4 disposed outside the flame of the burner 3, and a first heat exchanger 6 disposed extending vertically from the outside of the stamp reactor 4.

The explanation will focus on the movement of reformed fuel and reformed water, which are raw materials for reforming.

As raw materials for reforming, which is catalytically reacted in the steam reactor 4, reformed fuel and reformed water are supplied from the second heat exchanger 7. Here, the reformed water may include the first reformed water and the second reformed water. The second reformed water may be reformed water supplied directly to the second heat exchanger 7 from the outside. The first reformed water may be reformed water heated by receiving heat from the third heat exchanger 8 and the fourth heat exchanger 9 provided to the conversion reaction module 9. Here, the reformed fuel may be a fuel supplied from the outside. The reformed fuel may be a hydrocarbon, and natural gas may be used. The reformed fuel may be supplied together with the second reformed water.

The steam reactor 4 may be a hollow cylinder, but at least two or more pipes may be annularly spaced apart from each other to be long vertically.

Nickel may be used as a catalyst for the steam reactor 4.

The reformed fuel and the reformed water are heated through the first heat exchanger 6 placed outside the steam reactor 4 and then transferred to an empty space in the center of the steam reaction module 1 spaced apart from the steam reactor 4 do. The reformed fuel and the reformed water may be supplemented by the third reformed water injected through the third reformed water inlet 13.

The reformed water flowing through each of the reformed water inlets 11, 12 and 13 is abbreviated as reformed water. For example, the reformed water injected through the third reformed water inlet 13 is called third reformed water.

The reformed fuel and the reformed water may move downward and are heated by heat from the burner 3, and then may be supplied to the steam reactor 4. In this way, since the reformed fuel and the reformed water are directly heated by the flame of the burner 3, the reformed fuel and the reformed water can be sufficiently heated. The flame of the burner 3 is closed, and a pot for storing the reformed fuel and the reformed water may be additionally provided.

The reformed fuel and reformed water are reformed in the steam reactor 4 and then transferred to the second heat exchanger 7. After the reformed reformed gas is heat-exchanged in the second heat exchanger (7), it moves to the conversion reaction module (2).

Combustion fuel and air provided to the burner 3 may be directly supplied from the outside to the burner 3 provided in the central portion of the second heat exchanger 7. The combustion fuel may be supplied to the burner through the combustion fuel inlet 31 and the air inlet 32.

As the burner 3 injects the flame upward, the problem of heating the burner due to the reverse flow of the flame can be improved. In addition, by making the flame close directly to the top of the steam reactor 4, insufficient heat is supplemented in the top of the steam reactor 4, where endothermic reaction occurs mainly, and the catalytic reaction is evenly performed in the entire area of the steam reactor 4. You can make it happen. Of course, the temperature difference between the top and bottom of the steam reactor 4 is reduced.

As described above, since the reformer inlet is provided with three, it is possible to optimally control the amount of heat exchange between each fluid by controlling the amount of water input and the position of the injection, according to the position of the fuel treatment device.

In addition, since the temperatures of the steam reaction module 1 and the conversion reaction module 2 can be controlled separately from each other, when adjusting the load of each module, it is possible to appropriately respond to different thermal equilibrium of each process of the two modules. .

In the fuel processing apparatus of the embodiment, a reducing gas intake and discharge port 41 is provided to form a flow path through which the reformed gas, which is the exhaust gas of the steam reactor 4, is discharged to the outside so as not to flow into the conversion reactor 5. Through this, in response to the catalyst of the steam reactor and the catalyst of the conversion reactor, flows of different reducing gases can be separated and controlled in the reduction process. For example, the reducing gas of the steam reactor may be a mixture of H2 and H2O, and the reducing gas of the conversion reactor may be H2 or CH4. The reduction process will be described in more detail later.

The configuration and operation of the conversion reaction module 2 will be described.

The conversion reaction module 2 includes a fourth heat exchanger 9 and a third heat exchanger 8 for heating the first reformed water supplied through the first reformed water inlet 11. The fourth heat exchanger 9 mainly performs heat exchange between the first reformed water and the reformed gas. The third heat exchanger 8 performs heat exchange between the combustion gas, the reformed gas and the first reformed water. Accordingly, the third heat exchanger 8 may be further heated by the first reformed water heated by the fourth heat exchanger 9.

The combustion gas is branched into the second combustion gas 34 passing through the third heat exchanger 8 and the first combustion gas 33 not passing through the third heat exchanger 8, so that the amount of heat exchange may be adjusted. Although not shown, each flow rate of the branch passage may be controlled using a member such as a valve. The first reformed water heated by the heat exchangers 8 and 9 may be supplied to the second heat exchanger 7.

For heat exchange between the heat exchangers 8 and 9, the high-temperature reformed gas supplied from the steam reaction module 1 gradually flows up and down the third and fourth heat exchangers 8 and 9, After moving from the side to the inside, it is discharged through the reformed gas outlet (21). A conversion reactor 5 is placed on the path of the reformed gas to remove harmful gases. The conversion reactor 5 may be a hollow cylinder, but at least two or more pipes may be annularly spaced apart from each other to be long vertically.

The reformed gas outlet 21 is configured a little more complicated, and will be described in more detail in FIG. 3.

A heater 51 is provided at an inlet through which the reformed gas is sucked from the conversion reactor 5, that is, at a lower portion of the conversion reactor 5. The heater may be a sheath heater. The heater 51 may directly heat the sucked reformed gas. It goes without saying that the reformed gas and the heater can heat the catalyst of the conversion reactor 5. For this reason, it is possible to heat the catalyst more quickly than a method of heating the outer surface of the conventional conversion reactor 5, and it is possible to reduce the temperature deviation inside and outside the catalyst or above and below the catalyst. Accordingly, in the end, sudden start of the conversion reactor 5 may be possible.

Copper may be used as a catalyst for the conversion reactor 5.

In addition, by arranging the inlet of the conversion reactor 5, which is provided long vertically, at the bottom, the heat of the conversion reactor 5, which is an exothermic reaction, naturally moves upward, so that the temperature difference between the top and bottom of the conversion reactor 5 catalyst. Can be reduced. For this reason, the entire region of the conversion reactor can act as a catalyst.

The first reformed water may rise while filling the internal volume of the conversion reaction module 2. The water surface of the first reformed water may reach the second heat exchanger 7. This state may be a normal operating state of the fuel processing device.

According to the fuel processing apparatus of the embodiment, the steam reaction module and the conversion reaction module are separated from each other, so that heating and cooling can be performed independently of each other. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a decrease in efficiency due to different heat loads of each module.

For example, according to the prior art, the temperature control of the steam reactor and the conversion reactor are interlocked with each other. That is, since the remaining heat of the steam reaction process heats the conversion reactor, the response performance is poor. In order to cool the conversion reactor, an excessive amount of water is injected, which reduces the efficiency. Therefore, in case of sudden overheating of the conversion reactor, virtually all of the process must be stopped and stop operation must be entered. However, even at this time, there is a problem that the temperature of the conversion reactor partially rises as latent heat of the steam reaction process remains. In this way, the problem of moving the steam reactor and the conversion reactor in association with each other can be solved with the fuel treatment apparatus of the embodiment.

2 is a diagram illustrating a fuel treatment apparatus according to an embodiment, focusing on a heat exchange action.

Referring to FIG. 2, the heat exchange action of the steam reaction module 1 will be described.

First, the reformed fuel and the reformed water are heated by the first and second heat exchangers 6 and 7, and further heated by the burner 3. Meanwhile, the third reformed water may be supplied to a pot adjacent to the burner without heating to cool the reformed fuel and the reformed water. According to the third process, sudden stop and sudden start can be performed quickly.

The steam reactor 4 may absorb combustion heat of the burner 3 and heat conducted from the side to perform a reforming action by a catalyst through an endothermic reaction.

The first heat exchanger 6 may perform heat exchange with combustion gas and reforming raw materials (reformed fuel and reformed water).

The second heat exchanger 7 may be provided as a triple heat exchanger. In other words, the heat of the combustion gas and the reformed gas can be transferred to the reformed fuel and the reformed water. Thereby, the reforming material can be heated.

The heat exchange action of the conversion reaction module 2 will be described.

The flow rate can be adjusted by bypassing the combustion gas input to the conversion reaction module 2. Through this, the process temperature of the conversion reaction module 2, in particular, the conversion reactor 5 can be controlled.

The third heat exchanger 8 performs a triple heat exchange action of the combustion gas, the reformed gas, and the first reformed water. Thereby, it is possible to sufficiently cool the reformed gas and recover the exhaust heat of the combustion gas.

When the flow pipe of the reformed fuel and the second reformed water is disposed adjacent to the conversion reactor, the reformed fuel and the second reformed water in gaseous state can be heated to control the process speed.

Since the conversion reactor 5 is an exothermic process, the reformed fuel, combustion gas, and heat of the conversion reactor 5 can all be cooled using the first reformed water. The third and fourth heat exchangers 8 and 9 can perform this function.

3 is a view for explaining a fuel processing apparatus according to an embodiment, focusing on a control action.

Referring to FIG. 3, a process in which the reforming operation is performed in the fuel processing apparatus according to the embodiment will be described. First, the reformed fuel and the reformed water are supplied through the respective injection ports 11, 12, and 13. In this case, the first combustion gas 33, the first reformed gas 411, the second reformed gas 412, and the reducing gas 41 are all blocked from their flow. Through this, raw materials for reforming can be introduced.

The reformed gas may be discharged through the reformed gas outlet 21 or supplied to the burner 3 together with the reformed fuel by controlling the second reformed gas valve 412 to be burned.

Describe the operation when heating is required. The steam reactor 4 may be heated by combustion gas, air, reforming gas, and burner. The conversion reactor 5 may be heated by a heater 51 and exhaust gas.

Describe the operation when cooling is required. The steam reactor 4 may be cooled by the third reformed water 13 and air. The conversion reactor 5 may be performed by adjusting the flow rate and ratio of the first and second reformed water.

With reference to FIG. 3, reduction of the catalyst of the steam reactor 4 will be described.

First, when the reduced fuel is sucked, the reformed fuel reformed water inlet valve 12 is opened so that the mixed gas of H2 and H2O is sucked into the steam reactor 4. Of course, the reformed fuel and the reformed water may be supplied through separate pipes.

The reducing gas is discharged by opening the reducing gas valve 41 to discharge the reformed gas so that the reformed gas containing H2O does not enter the conversion reactor 5. And the main reformed gas valve and the second reformed gas valve 412 are shut off. To reuse the exhausted reformed gas as combustion fuel, the reducing gas valve 41 may be closed and the first reformed gas valve 411 may be opened to burn the reformed gas.

Steam reactor heating. It can be done by supplying air and raw materials for combustion and by the heat of combustion in the burner.

Cooling of the steam reactor may be performed by supplying the second reformed water and the third reformed water by adjusting the flow rate and ratio. In addition, it can be cooled by controlling the flow rate of air.

Referring to Fig. 3, the reduction of the catalyst in the conversion reactor 5 will be described.

First, inhaling the reducing gas, the process of the steam reactor is stopped and only H2 or CH4 is injected into the reducing gas valve 41. At this time, the first reformed gas valve 411, the combustion fuel valve 31, the first 1, 2, and the reformed water injection ports 11, 12, 13 are closed, and the reducing gas flows into the conversion reactor 5 I can go. H2O should not be present in the reducing gas.

The reducing gas discharge may be performed by opening the reformed gas bell 21.

The heating of the conversion reactor may be performed by heating the reduced fuel with the heat of combustion of the combustion fuel and the heater 51 of the reduced fuel suction unit.

Cooling of the conversion reactor can be performed by circulating air through the combustion line. If necessary, the first reformed water 11 may be injected as cooling water and discharged through the second reformed water inlet 12 in the form of steam.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a reformer capable of quick operation and stop.

1: Steam reaction module
2: conversion reaction module

Claims (15)

A steam reaction module surrounded by a first casing and in which a steam reactor is placed; And
A conversion reaction module surrounded by a second casing and in which a conversion reactor is placed is included,
In the steam reaction module,
A second heat exchanger placed below and storing reformed fuel and reformed water;
A burner placed in the center of the second heat exchanger and injecting flame upward; And
A steam reactor placed on the outside of the flame,
In the conversion reaction module,
A conversion reactor for removing harmful gases from the reformed gas reformed in the steam reactor;
A fuel processing apparatus including a fourth heat exchanger that accommodates at least a portion of the conversion reactor therein and heat-exchanges the first reformed water supplied from the outside and the reformed gas. The method of claim 1,
A fuel processing device in which an amount of the combustion gas generated from the burner flowing into the fourth heat exchanger is adjusted. The method of claim 1,
Extending above and below the conversion reactor,
The inlet through which the reformed gas is introduced into the conversion reactor is a lower side of the conversion reactor. The method of claim 3,
A fuel processing apparatus comprising a heater for heating the reformed gas at an inlet of the conversion reactor. The method of claim 1,
A fuel processing apparatus including a reformed fuel supplied from the second heat exchanger to the steam reactor and a third reformed water inlet for adding reformed water to the reformed water. The method of claim 1,
The fuel treatment device is connected to the second heat exchanger and the fourth heat exchanger so that the first reformed water is supplied to the second heat exchanger. The method of claim 6,
And a reformed fuel reformed water injection port connected to the second heat exchanger to supply the second reformed water and the reformed fuel from the outside. The method of claim 1,
The first reformed water is a fuel treatment device that fills the inside of the casing of the conversion reaction module from the outside of the conversion reactor. The method of claim 1,
A fuel processing device provided directly above the burner and including a pot for receiving reformed fuel and reformed water supplied to the steam reactor. The method of claim 1,
A fuel processing device that connects the steam reaction module and the conversion reaction module, and a reducing gas pipe is connected to a pipe through which the reformed gas flows. The method of claim 10,
A fuel processing apparatus including a first reformed gas pipe through which a part of the reformed gas discharged from the steam reaction module can be bypassed to the burner in the reducing gas pipe. The method of claim 11,
A fuel processing apparatus comprising a second reformed gas pipeline through which some of the reformed gas discharged from the fourth heat exchanger can be bypassed to the burner. A steam reaction module surrounded by a first casing and in which a steam reactor is placed; And
A conversion reaction module surrounded by a second casing and in which a conversion reactor is placed is included,
In the steam reaction module,
A second heat exchanger for exchanging the reformed fuel and the reformed water and the reformed gas;
A burner that injects a flame upward;
A first heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the reformed fuel and the reformed water and the combustion gas of the burner; And
A steam reactor placed on the outside of the flame and extending vertically is included,
In the conversion reaction module,
A conversion reactor having an inlet at a lower side extending up and down to remove harmful gases from the reformed gas reformed in the steam reactor; And
A fuel processing apparatus including a fourth heat exchanger that accommodates at least a portion of the conversion reactor therein and heat-exchanges the first reformed water supplied from the outside and the reformed gas. The method of claim 13,
In the fourth heat exchanger, a space in which the first reformed water is accommodated is provided in a space between the inside of the second casing and the outside of the conversion reactor. The method of claim 15,
In order to supply the reformed water from the outside in addition to the first reformed water to the fuel processing device,
A second material water injection port for supplying reformed water from the lower portion of the steam reaction module, and
A fuel processing apparatus comprising a third reformed water inlet for supplying reformed water from an upper portion of the steam reaction module.

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