US20090133259A1 - Method for manufacturing hydrogen generator - Google Patents

Method for manufacturing hydrogen generator Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20090133259A1
US20090133259A1 US12/296,381 US29638107A US2009133259A1 US 20090133259 A1 US20090133259 A1 US 20090133259A1 US 29638107 A US29638107 A US 29638107A US 2009133259 A1 US2009133259 A1 US 2009133259A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
tube
spacer
passage
outer peripheral
water
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/296,381
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Yutaka Yoshida
Juji Mukai
Takeshi Tomizawa
Kazutada Momoda
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Panasonic Corp
Original Assignee
Panasonic Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Panasonic Corp filed Critical Panasonic Corp
Assigned to PANASONIC CORPORATION reassignment PANASONIC CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TOMIZAWA, TAKESHI, MOMODA, KAZUTADA, MUKAI, YUJI, YOSHIDA, YUTAKA
Publication of US20090133259A1 publication Critical patent/US20090133259A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/32—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
    • C01B3/34—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
    • C01B3/38—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using catalysts
    • C01B3/384—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using catalysts the catalyst being continuously externally heated
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
    • B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
    • B01J8/0242—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid flow within the bed being predominantly vertical
    • B01J8/0257—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid flow within the bed being predominantly vertical in a cylindrical annular shaped bed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
    • B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
    • B01J8/0278—Feeding reactive fluids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
    • B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
    • B01J8/0285—Heating or cooling the reactor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
    • B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
    • B01J8/04—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid passing successively through two or more beds
    • B01J8/0446—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid passing successively through two or more beds the flow within the beds being predominantly vertical
    • B01J8/0461—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid passing successively through two or more beds the flow within the beds being predominantly vertical in two or more cylindrical annular shaped beds
    • B01J8/0465—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid passing successively through two or more beds the flow within the beds being predominantly vertical in two or more cylindrical annular shaped beds the beds being concentric
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
    • B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
    • B01J8/04—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid passing successively through two or more beds
    • B01J8/0492—Feeding reactive fluids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
    • B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
    • B01J8/04—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid passing successively through two or more beds
    • B01J8/0496—Heating or cooling the reactor
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/32—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/0612—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material
    • H01M8/0625—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material in a modular combined reactor/fuel cell structure
    • H01M8/0631—Reactor construction specially adapted for combination reactor/fuel cell
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
    • B01J2208/00008—Controlling the process
    • B01J2208/00017—Controlling the temperature
    • B01J2208/00106—Controlling the temperature by indirect heat exchange
    • B01J2208/00309—Controlling the temperature by indirect heat exchange with two or more reactions in heat exchange with each other, such as an endothermic reaction in heat exchange with an exothermic reaction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
    • B01J2208/00008—Controlling the process
    • B01J2208/00017—Controlling the temperature
    • B01J2208/00477—Controlling the temperature by thermal insulation means
    • B01J2208/00495—Controlling the temperature by thermal insulation means using insulating materials or refractories
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
    • B01J2208/00008—Controlling the process
    • B01J2208/00017—Controlling the temperature
    • B01J2208/00504—Controlling the temperature by means of a burner
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
    • B01J2208/00008—Controlling the process
    • B01J2208/00017—Controlling the temperature
    • B01J2208/0053—Controlling multiple zones along the direction of flow, e.g. pre-heating and after-cooling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
    • B01J2208/00796—Details of the reactor or of the particulate material
    • B01J2208/00823—Mixing elements
    • B01J2208/00831—Stationary elements
    • B01J2208/00849—Stationary elements outside the bed, e.g. baffles
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0205—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step
    • C01B2203/0227—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step containing a catalytic reforming step
    • C01B2203/0233—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step containing a catalytic reforming step the reforming step being a steam reforming step
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0283—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0435—Catalytic purification
    • C01B2203/044—Selective oxidation of carbon monoxide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
    • C01B2203/047—Composition of the impurity the impurity being carbon monoxide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/06—Integration with other chemical processes
    • C01B2203/066—Integration with other chemical processes with fuel cells
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/08—Methods of heating or cooling
    • C01B2203/0805—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0811—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas by combustion of fuel
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/12—Feeding the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1288—Evaporation of one or more of the different feed components
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/4935—Heat exchanger or boiler making
    • Y10T29/49361—Tube inside tube

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hydrogen generator, and particularly to a method for manufacturing a hydrogen generator including an inner tube, an outer tube, and a spacer disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube.
  • a hydrogen generator for a fuel cell electric power generator is a hydrogen generator which reforms a raw material, i.e., a hydrocarbon compound, such as a natural gas, LPG gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, or methanol, using steam to generate a reformed gas mainly containing hydrogen.
  • a raw material i.e., a hydrocarbon compound, such as a natural gas, LPG gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, or methanol
  • the hydrogen generator is configured to include: a water evaporator which evaporates water; and a reformer which causes water evaporation and the material gas to react with each other at a high temperature of about 600 to 800° C. to generate the reformed gas.
  • the hydrogen generator includes: a water evaporator which has an inner tube, an outer tube, and a spacer disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube and in which a passage defined by the spacer is supplied with the water and the raw material and heated to generate a material gas containing steam; and a reformer which has catalyst and in which the catalyst is heated to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen from the material gas containing the steam.
  • Embodiment 2 and FIG. 1 disclose a water evaporator in which a passage of water or steam is constituted by a spacer. A time for which the water remains in the water evaporator increases depending on the configuration of the passage. In a case where the passage is formed in a spiral shape, a circumferential distribution of the water remaining is uniformized. Therefore, since the amount of heat transferred from a combustion gas to the water increases, it is possible to increase the amount of steam subjected to a steam-reforming reaction. That is, it is possible to increase a conversion ratio of the raw material and the amount of hydrogen in the reformed gas.
  • Patent Document 1 Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2003-252604
  • the spacer disposed between the outer tube and the inner tube functions more effectively by causing the spacer to be joined to both the inner tube and the outer tube.
  • a gap is formed between the spacer and the inner tube or between the spacer and the outer tube, the water leaks from the passage, and thereby the time for which the water remains in the water evaporator decreases.
  • a circumferential temperature distribution becomes nonuniform, and thereby the increase in the amount of steam is suppressed.
  • Another method may be such that one tube, to which the spacer is joined, is pressed into the other tube. However, it is difficult to completely close a gap between the outer tube and a passage defining member and a gap between the inner tube and the passage defining member.
  • the present invention was made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a hydrogen generator which excels in mass productivity.
  • a first method for manufacturing a hydrogen generator of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a hydrogen generator including: a water evaporator which has an inner tube, an outer tube, and a spacer disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube and in which a passage defined by the spacer is supplied with water and a raw material and heated to generate a material gas containing steam; and a reformer which has catalyst and in which the catalyst is heated to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen from the material gas containing the steam, and the method includes: a disposing step of disposing the spacer between the inner tube and the outer tube; and a tube expanding step of expanding the inner tube to form the passage defined by the spacer.
  • the spacer may be a rod member having a spiral shape, and the passage having a spiral shape may be formed between the inner tube and the outer tube.
  • the rod member may be a rod having a circular cross section or an oval cross section. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress damages of the outer tube and the inner tube.
  • a cross-sectional area of the passage, defined by the spacer may be larger on a downstream side than on an upstream side.
  • the disposing step may include: a first step of temporarily disposing the spacer on an inner peripheral surface of the outer tube; and a second step of disposing the inner tube on an inner peripheral side of the spacer after the first step.
  • the disposing step may include: a first step of temporarily disposing the spacer on an outer peripheral surface of the inner tube; and a second step of disposing the outer tube on an outer peripheral side of the spacer after the first step.
  • a material of the inner tube may have a higher stretching property than a material of the outer tube.
  • the method for manufacturing the hydrogen generator according to the present invention has an effect of being capable of improving mass productivity of the method for manufacturing the hydrogen generator.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a hydrogen generator of Embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a step of manufacturing a first evaporation chamber.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a first step.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a second step.
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a third step.
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing Modification Example 1 of the third step, and shows a state before tube expansion.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state after the tube expansion of FIG. 6 .
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the first step of Modification Example 2.
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the second step of Modification Example 2.
  • FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the third step of Modification Example 2.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a hydrogen generator of Embodiment of the present invention.
  • a hydrogen generator 100 of the present embodiment is configured to include: a reformer 1 which is columnar; a water evaporator 2 which is cylindrical and disposed on an outer peripheral side of the reformer 1 ; a heat insulating wall 13 which is cylindrical and disposed between the reformer 1 and the water evaporator 2 ; and a cover 4 which covers the reformer 1 and the water evaporator 2 from above.
  • the reformer 1 and the water evaporator 2 are configured to share a bottom wall 29 .
  • the reformer 1 is configured such that a burner 16 which generates a combustion gas is disposed at a center of the bottom wall 29 , and a lidded cylindrical reforming chamber 10 is disposed to cover the burner 16 .
  • the reforming chamber 10 is disposed coaxially with the burner 16 .
  • a combustion chamber 17 is formed to be defined by a lower surface of a lid portion of the reforming chamber 10 , an inner peripheral surface of the reforming chamber 10 , and a bottom surface having the burner 16 .
  • a radiating body 61 which is cylindrical and disposed coaxially with the burner 16 .
  • a first portion 12 A of a combustion gas passage 12 is formed in a tubular space formed between the radiating body 61 and an inner peripheral surface of the reforming chamber 10 .
  • the reforming chamber 10 stores a catalyst layer which is filled with a steam reforming catalyst.
  • a communication passage 26 extending from an upper portion of the water evaporator 2 is connected to a center of the lid portion of the reforming chamber 10 .
  • the material gas containing steam supplied from the water evaporator 2 via the communication passage 26 is guided to an upper portion in the reforming chamber 10 , and flows downward inside the reforming chamber 10 .
  • the material gas containing the steam causes the steam-reforming reaction in the reforming chamber 10 by the catalysis caused by the heat applied from the combustion chamber.
  • a reformed gas containing hydrogen is generated.
  • a reforming gas passage 11 is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the reforming chamber 10 .
  • the reforming gas passage 11 is formed to extend from a lower end of the reforming chamber 10 along the outer peripheral surface of the reforming chamber 10 up to an upper end of the reforming chamber 10 and further extend up to a reformed gas outlet port 27 .
  • the reformed gas generated in the reforming chamber 10 flows from the lower end of the reforming chamber 10 via the reforming gas passage 11 and is discharged from the reformed gas outlet port 27 to an outside of the hydrogen generator 100 .
  • a second portion 12 B of the combustion gas passage 12 is formed to extend from a region below the reforming chamber 10 to a region on an outer peripheral side of the reforming chamber 10 and a region above of the reforming chamber 10 .
  • the second portion 12 B of the combustion gas passage is formed to extend from a gap between the bottom wall 29 having the burner 16 and a bottom surface of the reforming chamber 10 , along an outer periphery of the reforming gas passage 11 up to the upper end of the reforming chamber 10 and further extend from a region above the heat insulating wall 13 to the water evaporator 2 disposed on an outer side of the heat insulating wall 13 .
  • the combustion gas suppresses temperature reduction of the reformed gas in the reforming gas passage 11 , and is utilized as a heat source of the water evaporator 2 .
  • the combustion gas flows through the water evaporator 2 , it enters into the cover 4 disposed above the reformer 1 and the water evaporator 2 , and is discharged from a combustion gas outlet port 15 , formed on the cover 4 , to an outside of the hydrogen generator 100 .
  • the water evaporator 2 is configured such that a raw material inlet port 19 and a water inlet port 20 is formed at an upper portion of an outer circumference thereof, and the second portion 12 B of the combustion gas passage is connected to an upper portion of an inner circumference thereof.
  • the water evaporator 2 has a multiple tube structure including a first separating tube 51 , a second separating tube 52 , and a third separating tube 53 between an outer peripheral tube 54 and an inner peripheral tube 50 .
  • the outer peripheral tube 54 forms an outer peripheral surface of the hydrogen generator 100 .
  • the bottom wall 29 constituting a bottom portion of the hydrogen generator 100 is formed at a lower end of the outer peripheral tube 54 .
  • the cover 4 constituting a lid portion of the hydrogen generator 100 is formed at an upper end of the outer peripheral tube 54 .
  • the raw material inlet port 19 and the water inlet port 20 are formed at an upper portion of the outer peripheral tube 54 .
  • the inner peripheral tube 50 is formed along an outer periphery of the heat insulating wall 13 . An entire periphery of a lower end of the inner peripheral tube 50 is jointed to an edge portion of the bottom plate 29 , and an upper end of the inner peripheral tube 50 extends up to a vicinity of an upper end of the heat insulating wall 13 .
  • the inner peripheral tube 50 may be omitted in a case where the heat insulating wall 13 is made of a material having airtightness.
  • the first separating tube 51 is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the inner peripheral tube 50 , and a third portion 12 C of the combustion gas passage is formed between the inner peripheral tube 50 and the first separating tube 51 .
  • An upper end of the first separating tube 51 extends to an inner peripheral side, and its entire periphery is joined to an upper end of the reforming chamber 10 .
  • At least a part of a lower end of the first separating tube 51 is spaced apart from the bottom wall 29 .
  • the second portion 12 B of the combustion gas passage 12 extending up to an upper end of the reforming chamber 10 is connected to the third portion 12 C of the combustion gas passage at a location above the heat insulating wall 13 .
  • the combustion gas flows from an upper side to a lower side inside the third portion 12 C of the combustion gas passage, and flows out from the lower end of the first separating tube 51 to an outer peripheral side of the first separating tube 51 .
  • the second separating tube 52 is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the first separating tube 51 , and a fourth portion 12 D of the combustion gas passage is formed between the first separating tube 51 and the second separating tube 52 .
  • An upper end of the fourth portion 12 D of the combustion gas passage is open.
  • An upper end of the second separating tube 52 extends to an outer peripheral side, and its entire periphery is joined to the outer peripheral tube 54 .
  • An entire periphery of a lower end of the second separating tube 52 is joined to the bottom wall 29 .
  • the combustion gas flowing out from the lower end of the first separating tube 51 flows from a lower side to an upper side inside a second combustion gas chamber 61 , and flows out from the upper end of the second separating tube 52 to a space in the cover 4 .
  • the third separating tube 53 is disposed between the outer peripheral tube 54 and the second separating tube 52 .
  • a first evaporation chamber 18 is formed between the third separating tube 53 and the outer peripheral tube 54 .
  • a second evaporation chamber 22 is formed between the second separating tube 52 and the third separating tube 53 .
  • Upper ends of the first water evaporation chamber 18 and the second water evaporation chamber 22 are sealed.
  • the upper end of the second separating tube 52 extends to an outer peripheral side, and its entire periphery is joined to the outer peripheral tube 54 .
  • the entire periphery of a lower end of the second separating tube 52 is joined to the bottom wall 29 .
  • an entire upper end of the third separating tube 53 extends to an outer peripheral side, and is joined to the outer peripheral tube 54 . At least a part of a lower end of the third separating tube 53 is spaced apart from the bottom wall 29 .
  • the communication passage 26 is formed on an upper portion of the second evaporation chamber 22 so as to extend and be joined to the center of the lid portion of the reforming chamber 10 .
  • the communication passage 26 is constituted by a duct-like member or a tubular member. With this configuration, the material gas flows upward from the lower end of the second evaporation chamber 22 , and flows from the communication passage 26 to an upper portion of the reforming chamber 10 .
  • the second separating tube 52 serves as a separating wall between the second evaporation chamber 22 and the fourth portion 12 D of the combustion gas passage, and excess heat of the combustion gas is transferred to the first evaporation chamber 18 and the second evaporation chamber 22 .
  • a rod member (spacer) 31 is disposed in the first evaporation chamber 18 so as to be joined to both the outer peripheral tube 54 and the third separating tube 53 .
  • a passage 30 of the raw material and the water is formed inside the first evaporation chamber 18 .
  • the rod member 31 is a rod member having a spiral shape. Therefore, the passage 30 of the raw material and water in the first evaporation chamber 18 is configured in a spiral shape. With this configuration, nonuniformity of a circumferential distribution of the remaining raw material and water is suppressed.
  • a cross-sectional area of the passage 30 is larger on a downstream side than on an upstream side.
  • the water is converted into the steam, and its volume expands, thereby increasing the pressure loss of the passage.
  • an output of a water supplying unit which supplies water is affected, and the supply amount of water becomes unstable, thereby varying the amount of hydrogen generated in the reformer.
  • the steam reforming cannot be adequately carried out in the reformer, so that carbon in the raw material is deposited to cause clogging of the passage. As a result, the operation cannot be continued.
  • a cross section of the rod member 31 may be of a shape of any one of a circle, an oval, and a polygon.
  • a rod member having a spiral shape may be disposed inside the second evaporation chamber 22 .
  • the combustion gas generated in the burner 16 sequentially heats the reforming chamber 10 , the reforming gas passage 11 , and the combustion gas passage 12 , and then it flows out to the cover 4 and is discharged from the combustion gas outlet port 15 to an outside of the hydrogen generator 100 .
  • Water Y is supplied from the water inlet port 20 , and a raw material X is supplied from the raw material inlet port 19 .
  • the raw material X and the water Y flow inside the first evaporation chamber 18 and the second evaporation chamber, and the water evaporates by the heat transferred from the third and fourth portions 12 C and 12 D of the combustion gas passage.
  • the material gas containing the steam is generated.
  • the raw material also evaporates if the raw material is liquid.
  • the water inlet port 20 be disposed at as a high portion of the first evaporation chamber 18 , i.e., the outer peripheral tube 54 as possible.
  • the temperature of the outer peripheral surface of the hydrogen generator 100 that is, the temperature of the outer peripheral tube 54 can be reduced to about 100° C. or lower. Since the amount of heat radiated to the circumference of the hydrogen generator 100 can be made small, the heat efficiency of the hydrogen generator 100 improves.
  • the material gas containing the steam generated in the water evaporator 2 is supplied from the second evaporation chamber 22 via the communication passage 26 to the reforming chamber 10 .
  • the material gas is reformed into the reformed gas containing hydrogen by the steam-reforming reaction caused by the catalysis of the steam reforming catalyst.
  • the steam-reforming reaction is an endothermic reaction occurred at a high temperature of about 700° C., and is carried out by utilizing the heat radiated from the radiating tube 61 and the heat transferred from the combustion gas.
  • the reformed gas generated as above flows through the reforming gas passage 11 and is discharged from the reformed gas outlet port 27 to an outside.
  • the concentration of carbon monoxide in the reformed gas discharged from the hydrogen generator 100 is further reduced, and then the reformed gas is supplied to a fuel cell 101 as an anode gas.
  • a shift reaction or a carbon monoxide selective oxidation reaction is utilized to reduce carbon monoxide.
  • the outer peripheral tube 54 corresponds to an outer tube
  • the third separating tube 53 corresponds to an inner tube
  • FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a step of manufacturing the first evaporation chamber.
  • a rod member 31 is temporarily disposed at a predetermined position.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the first step.
  • the cross-sectional area of the passage 30 is uniform for convenience sake.
  • the present manufacturing method can be carried out in a state in which the cross-sectional area of the passage 30 on the downstream side is made larger than that of the passage 30 on the upstream end by adjusting intervals of the spiral of the rod member 31 .
  • the rod member 31 is prepared in advance, which bends in a spiral shape having an outer diameter substantially identical with an inner diameter of the outer peripheral tube 54 .
  • the rod member 31 is inserted into the outer peripheral tube (outer tube) 54 , and is temporarily disposed in a spiral shape on an inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral tube 54 .
  • the rod member 31 is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral tube 54 by spot welding or point welding at several portions of the entire rod member 31 . It is rational that this joining is carried out at one portion for each loop of the rod member 31 having a spiral shape in order to achieve compatibility of the reliability of the joining and the ease of the processing. This is ideal since stress distribution after the tube expansion becomes uniform.
  • a reference number 201 denotes a central axis of the outer peripheral tube 54 .
  • a second step S 2 the third separating tube (inner tube) 53 and the outer peripheral tube (outer tube) 54 are coaxially disposed to form a double tube.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the second step.
  • the third separating tube 53 is disposed on an inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral tube 54 including the rod member 31 .
  • the third separating tube 53 and the outer peripheral tube 54 are disposed to be supported by a base 103 .
  • the third separating tube 53 and the outer peripheral tube 54 are disposed coaxially with each other (coaxially with the central axis 201 ).
  • the rod member 31 is disposed between the third separating tube 53 and the outer peripheral tube 54 . That is, the first step S 1 and the second step S 2 constitute a disposing step.
  • the third step (tube expanding step) S 3 the third separating tube (inner tube) 53 is expanded.
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the third step.
  • the third separating tube 53 is expanded by pressing of a tube expanding tool E from an inner side thereof.
  • the tube expanding tool E has a tip end of a truncated cone shape.
  • the tip end of the tube expanding tool E moves along the central axis 201 of the third separating tube 53 in a state in which a peak of the truncated cone is located on a front side. Then, the tube expanding tool E enters into the third separating tube 53 .
  • the third separating tube 53 is expanded.
  • a diameter of a bottom surface of the truncated cone of the tube expanding tool E substantially conforms to an inner diameter of the third separating tube 53 in a state in which the rod member 31 is joined to both the outer peripheral tube 54 and the third separating tube 53 .
  • a preferable diameter can be found by a trial of the third step.
  • a preferable size of the tube expanding tool E is such a size that the rod member 31 is joined to both the outer peripheral tube 54 and the third separating tube 53 so as to fill the gap between the outer peripheral tube 54 and the third separating tube 53 .
  • the spiral-shape passage is formed in the first evaporation chamber 18 .
  • the tube expanding tool E substantially uniformly expands the diameter of the third separating tube 53 while maintaining the circular cross section of the third separating tube 53 . Therefore, the rod member 31 can be surely joined to the outer peripheral tube 54 and the third separating tube 53 in the entire circumferential direction. That is, the leakage of the fluid from the spiral-shape passage is suppressed.
  • the rod member 31 is disposed on an inner side of the outer tube 54 in advance.
  • the third step S 3 i.e., the operation of expanding the inner tube 53 .
  • the amount of deformation of the inner tube 53 can be reduced as compared to a case where the rod member 31 is disposed on the inner tube (see Modification Example 2), it is possible to reduce the consumption energy in the third step S 3 , and to avoid the occurrence of the damage (crack) of the rod member 31 due to the deformation.
  • the inner tube 53 and the outer tube 54 are made of different materials having different stiffness.
  • the inner tube 53 may be made of a material having a higher stretching property than a material of the outer tube 54 .
  • the inner tube 53 and the outer tube 54 is made of stainless steel
  • the inner tube 53 may be made of austenitic stainless steel having the high stretching property
  • the outer tube 54 may be made of ferritic stainless steel which is higher in stiffness than the inner tube 53 and cheaper than the austenitic stainless steel.
  • the third step excels in mass productivity since it is easier than the welding operation and the brazing operation.
  • the cross section of the rod member 31 be of a shape of circular or oval.
  • the rod member 31 does not have any corners on a pressure-contact surface between the rod member 31 and the outer peripheral tube 54 and a pressure-contact surface between the rod member 31 and the third separating tube 53 . Therefore, stress concentration with respect to walls of the outer peripheral tube 54 and the third separating tube 53 is suppressed, and thereby damages of the outer peripheral tube 54 and the third separating tube 53 are suppressed.
  • the base 103 is removed in the process of the third step S 3 . With this, interference between the tube expanding tool E and the base 103 can be prevented, and the tube expanding tool E can penetrate through the third separating tube 53 .
  • a step of joining the upper end side of the third separating tube 53 and the upper end side of the outer peripheral tube 54 over the entire periphery, a step of joining the lower end side of the outer peripheral tube 54 to the bottom wall 29 over the entire periphery, and a step of forming the raw material inlet port 19 and the water inlet port 20 on the upper portion of the outer peripheral tube 54 are carried out in random order.
  • the first evaporation chamber 18 is formed.
  • a splitter die K is disposed between the tube expanding tool E and the third separating tube 53 in the third step.
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing Modification Example 1 of the third step, and shows a state before the tube expansion.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state after the tube expansion of FIG. 6 .
  • the splitter die (hereinafter simply referred to as a die) K is constituted by a predetermined number of split pieces (splitters).
  • a die In a state in which these split pieces are disposed on a predetermined circumference of a circle at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction, its entire shape (enveloping surface) forms a cylindrical shape.
  • An outer diameter of the cylindrical shape is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the third separating tube 53 , and an inner surface of the cylindrical shape has an inverted conic shape having the same taper shape as a conic surface of the tube expanding tool E.
  • the predetermined number of split pieces of the die K are disposed on the base 103 together with the outer peripheral tube 54 and the third separating tube 53 (see FIG. 6 ). Moreover, the die K is disposed to contact an inner peripheral surface of the third separating tube 53 and such that the split pieces are disposed at the predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction.
  • the tube expanding tool E enters into the die K (predetermined number of split pieces) in the third step S 3 .
  • the conic surface of the tube expanding tool E contacts inner surfaces of respective split pieces of the die K.
  • the tube expanding tool E proceeds while the conic surface presses the inner surfaces of the split pieces to press the die K in an outer circumferential direction.
  • the separating tube 53 is expanded.
  • the die K presses the third separating tube 53 by a larger surface, it is possible to more quickly expand the third separating tube 53 .
  • the rod member 31 may be disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the third separating tube 53 .
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the first step of Modification Example 2.
  • the rod member 31 is prepared in advance, which bends in a spiral shape having an outer diameter substantially identical with an outer diameter of the third separating tube 53 .
  • the rod member 31 is temporarily disposed in a spiral shape on the outer peripheral surface of the separating tube 53 .
  • the rod member 31 is joined to the outer peripheral surface of the third separating tube 53 by spot welding or point welding at several portions over the entire length of the rod member 31 . With this, since the rod member 31 is easily accessible in the first step S 1 , it is possible to easily carry out the first step S 1 .
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the second step of Modification Example 2.
  • the outer peripheral tube 54 is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the third separating tube 53 including the rod member 31 .
  • the third separating tube 53 and the outer peripheral tube 54 are disposed to be supported by the base 103 .
  • the third separating tube 53 and the outer peripheral tube 54 are disposed coaxially with each other (coaxially with the central axis 201 ).
  • FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the third step of Modification Example 2.
  • the third separating tube 53 is expanded by pressing of the tube expanding tool E from the inner side thereof, and the rod member 31 is also deformed such that a spiral diameter thereof increases in size. Then, the rod member 31 is joined to the outer peripheral tube 54 and the third separating tube 53 .
  • the rod member 31 is joined to and supported by the outer peripheral tube 54 and the third separating tube 53 , there is no problem if the spot welding or the point welding for temporarily disposition comes off at the time of tube expansion.
  • This method is especially effective in the case of using a material having a high stretching property (high stretch rate) as a material of the rod member 31 .
  • a spiral-shape passage may be formed in the second evaporation chamber 22 in the hydrogen generator of the present invention.
  • the third separating tube 53 corresponds to the outer tube
  • the second separating tube 52 corresponds to the inner tube
  • a rod member having a spiral shape is temporarily disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the third separating tube 53 or on an outer peripheral surface of the second separating tube 52 as the first step S 1 .
  • the second separating tube 52 is disposed on an inner peripheral side of the third separating tube 53 .
  • the second separating tube 52 is expanded, and thereby the spiral-shape passage is formed in the second evaporation chamber 22 .
  • the first evaporation chamber 18 that is the water evaporator 2 is supplied with the raw material and the water, and the raw material and water flow to the reformer 1 . That is, in the water evaporator, the water and the raw material evaporate to generate the material gas containing steam. In contrast, the raw material may not flow through the water evaporator 2 but flow through the other passage to reach the reformer 1 . In this case, only the water is supplied to the first evaporation chamber 18 . That is, in the water evaporator, the water evaporates to generate the steam.
  • the present invention is useful as a method for manufacturing a hydrogen generator capable of improving mass productivity.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Hydrogen, Water And Hydrids (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
US12/296,381 2006-04-26 2007-04-23 Method for manufacturing hydrogen generator Abandoned US20090133259A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2006-121449 2006-04-26
JP2006121449 2006-04-26
PCT/JP2007/058747 WO2007125870A1 (ja) 2006-04-26 2007-04-23 水素生成装置の製造方法

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20090133259A1 true US20090133259A1 (en) 2009-05-28

Family

ID=38655395

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/296,381 Abandoned US20090133259A1 (en) 2006-04-26 2007-04-23 Method for manufacturing hydrogen generator

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20090133259A1 (zh)
JP (1) JP4060349B2 (zh)
CN (1) CN101432225B (zh)
WO (1) WO2007125870A1 (zh)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013177707A1 (en) * 2012-05-31 2013-12-05 Dana Canada Corporation Fuel processor with a floating catalyst
WO2014002468A1 (en) * 2012-06-25 2014-01-03 Panasonic Corporation Fuel processor
US10960372B2 (en) * 2012-03-08 2021-03-30 Helbio S.A. Catalytically heated fuel processor with replaceable structured supports bearing catalyst for fuel cell

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4880086B2 (ja) * 2009-03-09 2012-02-22 パナソニック株式会社 水素生成装置とその製造方法およびそれを用いた燃料電池システム

Citations (48)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1059354A (en) * 1912-10-01 1913-04-22 Heinrich Ehrhardt Method of producing tubes.
US2535470A (en) * 1943-11-11 1950-12-26 Grinnell Corp Method of flaring tubing
US2693026A (en) * 1950-02-17 1954-11-02 Modine Mfg Co Method of making concentric tubes with radial fins
US2703921A (en) * 1949-04-14 1955-03-15 Brown Fintube Co Method of making internally finned tubes
US2966373A (en) * 1959-02-02 1960-12-27 Ici Ltd Tubular inserts
US3339631A (en) * 1966-07-13 1967-09-05 James A Mcgurty Heat exchanger utilizing vortex flow
US3636607A (en) * 1969-12-30 1972-01-25 United Aircraft Prod Method of making a heat exchange tube
US3730229A (en) * 1971-03-11 1973-05-01 Turbotec Inc Tubing unit with helically corrugated tube and method for making same
US3785363A (en) * 1972-04-07 1974-01-15 J Machado Cleaning apparatus for automobiles with indirect heat exchange for heating the cleaning fluid
US3977068A (en) * 1975-07-14 1976-08-31 Balcke-Durr Aktiengesellschaft Device and method for expansion-swaging tubes into the bores of a tube plate
US3982910A (en) * 1974-07-10 1976-09-28 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Hydrogen-rich gas generator
US4069573A (en) * 1976-03-26 1978-01-24 Combustion Engineering, Inc. Method of securing a sleeve within a tube
US4096616A (en) * 1976-10-28 1978-06-27 General Electric Company Method of manufacturing a concentric tube heat exchanger
US4123220A (en) * 1976-03-31 1978-10-31 Ford, Bacon & Davis Texas, Inc. Gas mixer and reactor
US4232735A (en) * 1978-05-05 1980-11-11 Kim Sung C Double-walled finned heat transfer tube
US4286653A (en) * 1980-07-21 1981-09-01 Edwards Engineering Corporation Coaxial tube in tube heat exchanger with inner tube support
US4332080A (en) * 1980-01-08 1982-06-01 Ingo Bleckmann Method of producing a heater or heat exchange element
US4419802A (en) * 1980-09-11 1983-12-13 Riese W A Method of forming a heat exchanger tube
US4467511A (en) * 1979-07-26 1984-08-28 Collgon Pierre C Method for the conformation of a metallic tube, particularly for a heat exchanger, and a heat exchanger provided with tubes thus conformed
US4498220A (en) * 1982-08-23 1985-02-12 The Trane Company Method for pre-expanding heat exchanger tube
US4504714A (en) * 1981-11-02 1985-03-12 Jack Katzenstein System and method for impact welding by magnetic propulsion
US4532396A (en) * 1982-06-10 1985-07-30 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Flexible induction brazing wand for hollow tubes
US4531577A (en) * 1981-07-02 1985-07-30 Sueddeutsche Kuehlerfabrik Julius Fr. Behr Gmbh & Co. Kg Heat exchanger with a plurality of individual tubular parts and process for the manufacture thereof
US4538337A (en) * 1982-08-31 1985-09-03 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Method of mechanically prestressing a tubular apparatus
US4646548A (en) * 1982-09-29 1987-03-03 Carrier Corporation Tube expanding and grooving tool and method
US4649493A (en) * 1983-12-30 1987-03-10 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Tube expansion apparatus
US4650110A (en) * 1985-10-22 1987-03-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Continuous movement brazing process
US4761982A (en) * 1986-10-01 1988-08-09 General Motors Corporation Method and apparatus for forming a heat exchanger turbulator and tube
US4847051A (en) * 1988-03-21 1989-07-11 International Fuel Cells Corporation Reformer tube heat transfer device
US4899810A (en) * 1987-10-22 1990-02-13 General Electric Company Low pressure drop condenser/heat pipe heat exchanger
US4902476A (en) * 1983-01-14 1990-02-20 Baxter International Inc. Heat exchanger and blood oxygenator apparatus
US4915121A (en) * 1987-11-12 1990-04-10 Rains Robert L Coaxial piping system
US5027507A (en) * 1989-03-01 1991-07-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Method for controlling leakage through degraded heat exchanger tubes in the tubesheet region of a nuclear generator
US5101561A (en) * 1989-03-14 1992-04-07 Autokuhler Gmbh & Co. Kg Heat exchanger and a method for a liquid-tight mounting of an end plate to an array heat exchanging elements of the heat exchanger
US5127441A (en) * 1985-12-16 1992-07-07 Rains Robert L Coaxial piping system
US5167275A (en) * 1989-12-06 1992-12-01 Stokes Bennie J Heat exchanger tube with turbulator
US5271376A (en) * 1991-08-12 1993-12-21 Rheem Manufacturing Company Serpentined tubular heat exchanger apparatus for a fuel-fired forced air heating furnace
US5275152A (en) * 1992-07-27 1994-01-04 Welch Allyn, Inc. Insertion tube terminator
US5509942A (en) * 1992-08-21 1996-04-23 Dodge; Cleveland E. Manufacture of tubular fuel cells with structural current collectors
US5564184A (en) * 1994-02-02 1996-10-15 Heat Pipe Technology, Inc. Method for making heat pipes
US5806173A (en) * 1995-07-28 1998-09-15 Hidaka Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Tube expander
US5924743A (en) * 1995-07-19 1999-07-20 Gec Alsthom Stein Industrie Device adapted to be fixed and sealed to at least one cylindrical member
US6334351B1 (en) * 1999-11-08 2002-01-01 Daido Tokushuko Kabushiki Kaisha Metal pipe expander
US20040043262A1 (en) * 2001-12-25 2004-03-04 Tomonori Asou Hydrogen generation system and fuel cell system having the same
US20040216506A1 (en) * 2003-03-25 2004-11-04 Simpson Neil Andrew Abercrombie Tubing expansion
US20050005668A1 (en) * 2002-07-11 2005-01-13 Duggan Andrew Michael Tubing expansion
US6926069B1 (en) * 1999-07-22 2005-08-09 Spiro Research B.V. Method for manufacturing a double-walled heat exchanging tube with leak detection
US7066973B1 (en) * 1996-08-26 2006-06-27 Nuvera Fuel Cells Integrated reformer and shift reactor

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH06211501A (ja) * 1991-06-04 1994-08-02 Toshiba Corp 改質装置
US6972119B2 (en) * 1999-12-28 2005-12-06 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Apparatus for forming hydrogen
JP2001342002A (ja) * 2000-05-30 2001-12-11 Kansai Electric Power Co Inc:The 燃料改質器
JP4189212B2 (ja) * 2001-12-25 2008-12-03 パナソニック株式会社 水素生成装置とそれを備える燃料電池システム

Patent Citations (48)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1059354A (en) * 1912-10-01 1913-04-22 Heinrich Ehrhardt Method of producing tubes.
US2535470A (en) * 1943-11-11 1950-12-26 Grinnell Corp Method of flaring tubing
US2703921A (en) * 1949-04-14 1955-03-15 Brown Fintube Co Method of making internally finned tubes
US2693026A (en) * 1950-02-17 1954-11-02 Modine Mfg Co Method of making concentric tubes with radial fins
US2966373A (en) * 1959-02-02 1960-12-27 Ici Ltd Tubular inserts
US3339631A (en) * 1966-07-13 1967-09-05 James A Mcgurty Heat exchanger utilizing vortex flow
US3636607A (en) * 1969-12-30 1972-01-25 United Aircraft Prod Method of making a heat exchange tube
US3730229A (en) * 1971-03-11 1973-05-01 Turbotec Inc Tubing unit with helically corrugated tube and method for making same
US3785363A (en) * 1972-04-07 1974-01-15 J Machado Cleaning apparatus for automobiles with indirect heat exchange for heating the cleaning fluid
US3982910A (en) * 1974-07-10 1976-09-28 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Hydrogen-rich gas generator
US3977068A (en) * 1975-07-14 1976-08-31 Balcke-Durr Aktiengesellschaft Device and method for expansion-swaging tubes into the bores of a tube plate
US4069573A (en) * 1976-03-26 1978-01-24 Combustion Engineering, Inc. Method of securing a sleeve within a tube
US4123220A (en) * 1976-03-31 1978-10-31 Ford, Bacon & Davis Texas, Inc. Gas mixer and reactor
US4096616A (en) * 1976-10-28 1978-06-27 General Electric Company Method of manufacturing a concentric tube heat exchanger
US4232735A (en) * 1978-05-05 1980-11-11 Kim Sung C Double-walled finned heat transfer tube
US4467511A (en) * 1979-07-26 1984-08-28 Collgon Pierre C Method for the conformation of a metallic tube, particularly for a heat exchanger, and a heat exchanger provided with tubes thus conformed
US4332080A (en) * 1980-01-08 1982-06-01 Ingo Bleckmann Method of producing a heater or heat exchange element
US4286653A (en) * 1980-07-21 1981-09-01 Edwards Engineering Corporation Coaxial tube in tube heat exchanger with inner tube support
US4419802A (en) * 1980-09-11 1983-12-13 Riese W A Method of forming a heat exchanger tube
US4531577A (en) * 1981-07-02 1985-07-30 Sueddeutsche Kuehlerfabrik Julius Fr. Behr Gmbh & Co. Kg Heat exchanger with a plurality of individual tubular parts and process for the manufacture thereof
US4504714A (en) * 1981-11-02 1985-03-12 Jack Katzenstein System and method for impact welding by magnetic propulsion
US4532396A (en) * 1982-06-10 1985-07-30 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Flexible induction brazing wand for hollow tubes
US4498220A (en) * 1982-08-23 1985-02-12 The Trane Company Method for pre-expanding heat exchanger tube
US4538337A (en) * 1982-08-31 1985-09-03 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Method of mechanically prestressing a tubular apparatus
US4646548A (en) * 1982-09-29 1987-03-03 Carrier Corporation Tube expanding and grooving tool and method
US4902476A (en) * 1983-01-14 1990-02-20 Baxter International Inc. Heat exchanger and blood oxygenator apparatus
US4649493A (en) * 1983-12-30 1987-03-10 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Tube expansion apparatus
US4650110A (en) * 1985-10-22 1987-03-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Continuous movement brazing process
US5127441A (en) * 1985-12-16 1992-07-07 Rains Robert L Coaxial piping system
US4761982A (en) * 1986-10-01 1988-08-09 General Motors Corporation Method and apparatus for forming a heat exchanger turbulator and tube
US4899810A (en) * 1987-10-22 1990-02-13 General Electric Company Low pressure drop condenser/heat pipe heat exchanger
US4915121A (en) * 1987-11-12 1990-04-10 Rains Robert L Coaxial piping system
US4847051A (en) * 1988-03-21 1989-07-11 International Fuel Cells Corporation Reformer tube heat transfer device
US5027507A (en) * 1989-03-01 1991-07-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Method for controlling leakage through degraded heat exchanger tubes in the tubesheet region of a nuclear generator
US5101561A (en) * 1989-03-14 1992-04-07 Autokuhler Gmbh & Co. Kg Heat exchanger and a method for a liquid-tight mounting of an end plate to an array heat exchanging elements of the heat exchanger
US5167275A (en) * 1989-12-06 1992-12-01 Stokes Bennie J Heat exchanger tube with turbulator
US5271376A (en) * 1991-08-12 1993-12-21 Rheem Manufacturing Company Serpentined tubular heat exchanger apparatus for a fuel-fired forced air heating furnace
US5275152A (en) * 1992-07-27 1994-01-04 Welch Allyn, Inc. Insertion tube terminator
US5509942A (en) * 1992-08-21 1996-04-23 Dodge; Cleveland E. Manufacture of tubular fuel cells with structural current collectors
US5564184A (en) * 1994-02-02 1996-10-15 Heat Pipe Technology, Inc. Method for making heat pipes
US5924743A (en) * 1995-07-19 1999-07-20 Gec Alsthom Stein Industrie Device adapted to be fixed and sealed to at least one cylindrical member
US5806173A (en) * 1995-07-28 1998-09-15 Hidaka Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Tube expander
US7066973B1 (en) * 1996-08-26 2006-06-27 Nuvera Fuel Cells Integrated reformer and shift reactor
US6926069B1 (en) * 1999-07-22 2005-08-09 Spiro Research B.V. Method for manufacturing a double-walled heat exchanging tube with leak detection
US6334351B1 (en) * 1999-11-08 2002-01-01 Daido Tokushuko Kabushiki Kaisha Metal pipe expander
US20040043262A1 (en) * 2001-12-25 2004-03-04 Tomonori Asou Hydrogen generation system and fuel cell system having the same
US20050005668A1 (en) * 2002-07-11 2005-01-13 Duggan Andrew Michael Tubing expansion
US20040216506A1 (en) * 2003-03-25 2004-11-04 Simpson Neil Andrew Abercrombie Tubing expansion

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10960372B2 (en) * 2012-03-08 2021-03-30 Helbio S.A. Catalytically heated fuel processor with replaceable structured supports bearing catalyst for fuel cell
WO2013177707A1 (en) * 2012-05-31 2013-12-05 Dana Canada Corporation Fuel processor with a floating catalyst
CN104350006A (zh) * 2012-05-31 2015-02-11 达纳加拿大公司 具有浮动催化剂的燃料处理器
US8992850B2 (en) 2012-05-31 2015-03-31 Dana Canada Corporation Floating catalyst/regenerator
WO2014002468A1 (en) * 2012-06-25 2014-01-03 Panasonic Corporation Fuel processor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101432225B (zh) 2012-04-04
JP4060349B2 (ja) 2008-03-12
WO2007125870A1 (ja) 2007-11-08
JPWO2007125870A1 (ja) 2009-09-10
CN101432225A (zh) 2009-05-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP5044048B2 (ja) 水素生成装置
US20090133259A1 (en) Method for manufacturing hydrogen generator
JP4880086B2 (ja) 水素生成装置とその製造方法およびそれを用いた燃料電池システム
JP2008063193A (ja) 水素生成装置及び燃料電池システム
US20090258259A1 (en) Catalytic heat exchangers and methods of operation
EP2407224B1 (en) Catalytic Combustor for a Reformer for a Fuel Cell
JP2008535766A (ja) 熱交換器用の一体型かつ円筒状の水蒸気改質装置
JP4918629B2 (ja) 燃料処理装置
JP3920516B2 (ja) 改質器
US20140087276A1 (en) Hydrodesulfurization device, hydrogen generator and fuel cell system
EP2707326B1 (en) Fuel processor
JP5336696B2 (ja) 流体処理装置及びその製造方法
JP4990045B2 (ja) 水素製造装置及び燃料電池システム
JP4852295B2 (ja) 改質器及び燃料電池システム
JP4664767B2 (ja) 改質器
JP2022117539A (ja) 水素生成装置の製造方法
JPH05186201A (ja) 燃料改質器
JP2010235403A (ja) 改質装置
JP2024136834A (ja) 水素生成装置及びその製造方法
JP2014005171A (ja) 燃料処理装置およびその製造方法
JP2006273686A (ja) ミクロ空洞共振を利用した水蒸気改質反応方法及びそのための水蒸気改質反応装置
JP2016130197A (ja) 螺旋波形筒とそれを備える水素生成装置、及びその製造方法
JP2002220203A (ja) 改質ガス生成システム
KR20100101900A (ko) 수성가스 전이반응용 촉매 반응기

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: PANASONIC CORPORATION, JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:YOSHIDA, YUTAKA;MUKAI, YUJI;TOMIZAWA, TAKESHI;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:022060/0906;SIGNING DATES FROM 20080912 TO 20080916

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION