Apparatus for reforming fuel with dual pipe structure

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a fuel reforming device having a double-pipe structure comprising: a housing; a burner that generates combustion gas using air and fuel gas supplied from below; a main flow path pipe located at the center of the housing that forms a flow path for the combustion gas generated from the burner to move upward; a reforming reaction unit that surrounds the main flow path pipe and has a reforming catalyst provided inside; a combustion gas outlet located above the burner and formed on one side of the lower part of the main flow path pipe for discharging the combustion gas; and an exhaust flow path pipe that forms a flow path for the combustion gas introduced through the main flow path pipe to move downward toward the combustion gas outlet.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel reforming device, and more specifically, to a fuel reforming device having a double-pipe structure in which the flow path of combustion gas is formed in a double manner. Background Technology

[0003] As one example of the application of the present invention, a reforming reaction device (hereinafter referred to as a reformer) that produces hydrogen through a natural gas-steam reforming reaction can be cited. The reformer is a reactor that produces hydrogen using natural gas, which is mainly composed of methane, as a raw material. The raw material gas and steam are converted into a reformed gas, which is a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, on a catalyst; since this causes a strongly endothermic reaction, a separate supply of reaction heat is required.

[0004] The entire process of a reformer is composed of a steam generator required for the reaction and a preheater that preheats the reactants. In this case, the heat for the steam generator and preheater can be supplied by recovering waste heat from combustion flue gas emitted after heating the catalyst bed or from the produced reformed gas. Accordingly, it is required to increase the heat exchange efficiency to enhance the efficiency of the entire process, including the steam reformer.

[0005] In conventional industrial reformers, heat exchange is primarily performed via radiation heat transfer. In this method, the heat flux from the reaction heat generated in the combustor to the reaction tubes is very high, which is advantageous for maximizing processing capacity; however, there is a risk of localized heating of the reaction tubes due to direct contact with the flame, which prevents uniform reactions and reduces reaction stability and conversion efficiency. Furthermore, significant reaction variations between reaction tubes make operation, maintenance, and management difficult, and the system presents the problem of requiring expensive heat-resistant materials within the device.

[0006] This poses an even greater obstacle given the increasing demand for device miniaturization. Therefore, there is a need for research and development on technologies that can minimize device volume—such as by reducing the diameter of the centerline where reaction tubes are arranged—while simultaneously increasing the heat exchange efficiency for reaction heat within the reformer. The problem to be solved

[0008] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a fuel reformer having a double-tube structure that improves the heat transfer performance required for the reforming reaction by arranging the combustion gas flow path in a double structure and induces a catalytic reaction by supplying uniform heat.

[0009] The technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0011] To achieve the above technical objective, one embodiment of the present invention is a fuel reforming device having a double-pipe structure, comprising: a housing; a burner that generates combustion gas using air and fuel gas supplied from below; a main flow path pipe located at the center of the housing that forms a flow path for the combustion gas generated from the burner to move upward; a reforming reaction unit surrounding the main flow path pipe and having a reforming catalyst provided inside; a combustion gas outlet located above the burner and formed on one side of the lower part of the main flow path pipe for discharging the combustion gas; a discharge flow path pipe that forms a flow path for the combustion gas introduced through the main flow path pipe to move downward toward the combustion gas outlet; an upper flow path pipe formed at the top of the main flow path pipe and the reforming reaction unit to connect the main flow path pipe and the discharge flow path pipe; an air inlet formed at the bottom side of the housing for supplying air; and a fuel gas inlet formed at the bottom side of the housing for supplying fuel gas, wherein the discharge flow path pipe comprises a plurality of discharge pipes spaced apart inside the reforming reaction unit The present invention provides a fuel reformer having a double-pipe structure, comprising flow paths, wherein the upper and lower ends of the main flow path and the discharge flow path are open, the upper end of the main flow path and the discharge flow path is connected to the upper flow path, the main flow path and the lower end of the discharge flow path are mutually blocked, the air inlet and the fuel gas inlet are located at the bottom of the burner, the fuel gas inlet and the air inlet are formed in a direction perpendicular to each other with respect to the housing, and the combustion gas outlet is formed at a position higher than the lower end of the main flow path and at a position lower than the lower end of the discharge flow path.

[0012] delete

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the housing and the modification reaction unit have the main flow path concentrically, and the discharge flow path may be formed inside the modification reaction unit.

[0014] delete

[0015] delete

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the length of the main flow path may be formed to be longer than the length of the discharge flow path.

[0017] delete Effects of the invention

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, by providing a combustion gas flow path with a double structure, the heat transfer performance required for the reforming reaction is improved, and uniform heat is supplied to effectively induce a catalytic reaction.

[0020] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the composition of the invention described in the description or claims of the present invention. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0022] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a fuel reformer having a double-pipe structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of a fuel reformer according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a fuel reformer according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0023] The present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is therefore not limited to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, in order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts unrelated to the explanation have been omitted, and similar parts throughout the specification have been given similar reference numerals.

[0024] Throughout the specification, when it is stated that a part is "connected (connected, in contact, combined)" with another part, this includes not only cases where they are "directly connected," but also cases where they are "indirectly connected" with other members interposed between them. Furthermore, when it is stated that a part "includes" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but rather allows for the inclusion of additional components.

[0025] The terms used herein are merely for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to indicate the presence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0026] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0027] The fuel reforming device (10) described below relates to a catalytic reactor for hydrocarbon steam reforming, and forms a combustion gas flow path in a double structure. In the fuel reforming device (10) according to the present invention, since a catalyst is filled between the combustion gas flow paths in the form of double pipes and the reforming reaction occurs, heat transfer for generating hydrogen from hydrocarbon-based raw materials and steam can be induced more effectively.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a fuel reforming device having a double-pipe structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section drawing illustrating the internal structure of a fuel reforming device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a cross section of a fuel reforming device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 1 (a) is a three-dimensional view of a fuel reformer, and (b) is a plan view of a fuel reformer.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the fuel reforming device (10) of the present invention may include a housing (110), a burner (120), a fuel gas inlet (130), an air inlet (140), a main flow path (150), an upper flow path (160), an exhaust flow path (170), a combustion gas outlet (180), a reforming reaction unit (190), a raw material gas inlet (200), a reformed gas outlet (210), a spark plug tube (220), a temperature sensor tube (230), and a catalyst exchange tube (240).

[0031] The housing (110) provides an internal space in which a burner (120), a main flow path (150), an upper flow path (160), a discharge flow path (170), and a reforming reaction unit (190) can be arranged. The discharge flow path (170) may be densely arranged and the shape may be formed in a cylindrical shape to miniaturize the device, but is not limited thereto. On the outer side of the housing (110), a fuel gas inlet (130), an air inlet (140), a combustion gas outlet (180), a raw material gas inlet (200), and a reforming gas outlet (210) may be formed in a shape protruding outward.

[0032] The burner (120) can generate reaction heat and combustion gas using air and fuel gas supplied from the bottom. The burner (120) supplies the reaction heat required for the reforming reaction and can perform a process of receiving air and fuel from the outside and burning them to generate reaction heat in the inner center of the housing (110). For example, the combustion gas generated from the burner (120) can spray heat in the form of a flame through combustion.

[0033] The burner (120) according to the present invention may be provided as a metal fiber burner. The metal fiber burner has the advantage of allowing the combustion gas to transfer heat more effectively to the main flow path (150) and the combustion gas outlet (180), thereby distributing a uniform temperature and causing the catalytic reaction more efficiently.

[0034] The fuel gas inlet (130) is a place where fuel gas is injected from the outside and can be formed at the bottom of the side of the housing (110).

[0035] The air inlet (140) is where air is injected from the outside and can be formed at the bottom of the side of the housing (110).

[0036] The fuel gas inlet (130) and the air inlet (140) are located at the bottom of the burner (120) so that the burner (120) can receive the fuel gas and air necessary for combustion.

[0037] The fuel gas inlet (130) and the air inlet (140) can be formed in directions perpendicular to each other with respect to the housing (110).

[0038] The main flow path (150) can form a main flow path through which combustion gas generated from the burner (120) can move upward. The main flow path (150) can be located at the inner center of the housing (110). Combustion gas generated from the burner (120) can move upward through the main flow path formed by the main flow path (150).

[0039] The top and bottom ends of the main flow path (150) and the discharge flow path (170) can both be formed in an open shape. Additionally, the top ends of the main flow path (150) and the discharge flow path (170) can be connected to the top flow path (160).

[0040] The upper flow path (160) is formed at the top of the main flow path (150) and can serve to connect the main flow path (150) and the discharge flow path (170). The upper flow path (160) can be provided as a gap space formed between the top of the main flow path (150) and the upper cap (111) of the housing (110).

[0041] The discharge pipe (170) can form a path through which combustion gas introduced through the main pipe (150) can pass through the upper path (160) and descend toward the combustion gas outlet (180) located at the bottom.

[0042] The discharge flow path (170) can be formed inside the reforming reaction section (190). The lower end of the discharge flow path (170) is connected to the combustion gas outlet (180), and the combustion gas that has moved downward through the discharge flow path (170) can be discharged to the combustion gas outlet (180).

[0043] Referring to FIG. 2, as the length of the main flow path (150) is formed to be longer than the length of the discharge flow path (170), the combustion gas passing through the discharge flow path (170) cannot be recirculated into the main flow path (150) by the outer wall of the main flow path (150). That is, the lower ends of the main flow path (150) and the discharge flow path (170) can be mutually blocked.

[0044] The combustion gas outlet (180) is located at a position higher than the burner (120) and is formed on one side of the lower part of the main flow path (150) so that the combustion gas passing through the discharge flow path (170) can be discharged to the outside.

[0045] More specifically, the combustion gas outlet (180) may be formed at a position higher than the bottom of the main flow path (150) and lower than the bottom of the exhaust flow path (170).

[0046] To explain the path of the combustion gas generated from the burner (120), the combustion gas moves upward through the main flow path (150) located at the top of the burner (120), moves vertically along the flow path of the upper flow path (160), and then moves vertically again to move to the discharge flow path (170) located at the bottom. The combustion gas that has moved vertically downward moves downward along the discharge flow path (170), and then moves vertically to be discharged through the combustion gas outlet (180) formed on the side of the housing (110).

[0047] The reforming reaction section (190) is formed in a shape that surrounds the main flow path (150), and may be filled with a reforming catalyst (250) inside. The reforming reaction section (190) may be arranged concentrically around the main flow path (150) through which combustion gas generated from the burner (120) passes in order to reform the raw gas.

[0048] The catalyst for reforming (250) is not limited to any specific type but may include one or more selected from the group consisting of one or more metals selected from gold, silver, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese, aluminum, zinc, titanium, hafnium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, iridium, palladium, zirconium, and lanthanide metals, or oxides thereof and composites thereof.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 2, a filling film (191) may be formed at the top and bottom of the interior of the reforming reaction unit (190), and the filling film (191) may be provided to confine a reforming catalyst (250) in a limited space inside the reforming reaction unit (190). For example, it is preferable that the filling film (191) be installed entirely at the top and bottom of the interior of the reforming reaction unit (190), excluding the area where the discharge channel (170) is formed.

[0050] In the reforming reaction section (190), a reforming reaction can occur in which the raw material gas of the carbon compound, which is the reaction raw material, and water vapor are converted into a reforming gas containing hydrogen. The reforming reaction section (190) is not limited in its shape, but can be implemented in a cylindrical shape corresponding to the shape of the housing (110).

[0051] The housing (110) and the modification reaction section (190) can be arranged concentrically around the main flow channel (150).

[0052] The discharge flow path (170) can be formed inside the reforming reaction section (190). More specifically, the discharge flow path (170) can be provided in multiple numbers, and the multiple discharge flow paths (170) can be spaced apart inside the reforming reaction section (190).

[0053] Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of discharge flow paths (170) may be spaced apart along the outer circumference of the reforming reaction unit (190). That is, a plurality of discharge flow paths (170) may be formed at a certain radius position centered on the main flow path (150). At this time, the number and arrangement structure of the discharge flow paths (170) are not significantly limited, but may be adjusted for the compactness of the fuel reforming device (10) and efficient heat exchange.

[0054] The outer surface at the center of the reforming reaction section (190) comes into contact with the main flow path (150) through which combustion gas generated from the burner (120) passes, thereby transferring heat to the raw material gas inside. Additionally, the reforming reaction section (190) can transfer heat from the combustion gas passing through the reforming reaction section (190) to the raw material gas by providing a plurality of spaced-apart discharge flow paths (170) inside. That is, the reforming reaction section (190) can achieve double heat transfer through the main flow path (150) and the discharge flow path (170). The heat transferred through the main flow path (150) and the discharge flow path (170) can be used for the reforming reaction, which is an endothermic reaction, that proceeds in the reforming reaction section (190).

[0055] A fuel reforming device (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention is exemplified as having eight discharge passages (170), but is not limited thereto, and the number can be changed depending on the size of the fuel reforming device or the size of the discharge passages.

[0056] In the reforming reaction section (190), the reforming reaction can proceed as the raw gas supplied from the raw gas inlet (200) located at the bottom passes through the reforming catalyst (250) filled inside. The reformed gas, reformed while passing through the reforming catalyst (250), can be discharged through the reformed gas outlet (210) formed on one side of the upper part of the reforming reaction section (190).

[0057] For example, the raw gas inlet (200) and the reformed gas outlet (210) can be formed in a direction perpendicular to each other with respect to the housing (110).

[0058] The main flow path (150) formed at the center of the reforming reaction section (190) and the discharge flow path (170) spaced apart in the circumferential direction inside the reforming reaction section (190) can supply uniform heat to the reforming reaction section (190) and prevent localized heating from occurring.

[0059] In addition, by providing a plurality of discharge channels (170) that induce a secondary endothermic reaction inside the reforming reaction section (190), the effect of significantly increasing the compactness of the device is achieved. That is, while achieving miniaturization of the fuel reforming device (10), local heating of the reforming reaction section (190) can be suppressed, thereby enabling a uniform reaction and high thermal efficiency.

[0060] The spark plug tube (220) is a tube in which a spark plug can be installed.

[0061] The temperature sensor tube (230) is a tube in which a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a catalyst is installed. In the present invention, three temperature sensor tubes (230) may be formed protruding in parallel along the longitudinal direction on the outer surface of the housing (110). The plurality of temperature sensor tubes (230) can each measure the temperature of the catalyst in different regions.

[0062] The catalyst exchange tube (240) can serve as a passage for replacing the catalyst filled inside the reforming reaction section (190).

[0063] The foregoing description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and those skilled in the art will understand that other specific forms can be easily modified without altering the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. For example, each component described as a single unit may be implemented in a distributed manner, and components described as distributed may likewise be implemented in a combined form.

[0064] The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims set forth below, and all modifications or variations derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts thereof should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0066] 10: Fuel reformer 110: Housing 120: Burner 130: Fuel gas inlet 140: Air inlet 150: Main Euro Pavilion 160: Connect Euro 170: Discharge Euro pipe 180: Combustion gas exhaust port 190: Reforming reaction unit 200: Raw gas inlet 210: Reformed gas outlet

Claims

Claim 1 A fuel reforming device having a double-pipe structure, comprising: a housing; a burner that generates combustion gas using air and fuel gas supplied from the bottom; a main flow path located at the center of the housing that forms a flow path for the combustion gas generated from the burner to move upward; a reforming reaction unit surrounding the main flow path and having a reforming catalyst provided inside; a combustion gas outlet located above the burner and formed on one side of the lower part of the main flow path for discharging the combustion gas; a discharge flow path that forms a flow path for the combustion gas introduced through the main flow path to move downward toward the combustion gas outlet; an upper flow path formed at the top of the main flow path and the reforming reaction unit to connect the main flow path and the discharge flow path; an air inlet formed at the bottom side of the housing for supplying air; and a fuel gas inlet formed at the bottom side of the housing for supplying fuel gas, wherein the discharge flow path comprises a plurality of discharge flow paths spaced apart inside the reforming reaction unit, and the main flow path and the A fuel reformer having a double-pipe structure, characterized in that the upper and lower ends of the discharge pipe are open, the upper end of the main pipe and the discharge pipe are connected to the upper pipe, the lower end of the main pipe and the discharge pipe are mutually blocked, the air inlet and the fuel gas inlet are located at the lower end of the burner, the fuel gas inlet and the air inlet are formed in a direction perpendicular to each other with respect to the housing, and the combustion gas outlet is formed at a position higher than the lower end of the main pipe and at a position lower than the lower end of the discharge pipe. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 A fuel reforming device having a double-pipe structure, characterized in that, in claim 1, the housing and the reforming reaction unit have the main flow path concentrically, and the discharge flow path is formed inside the reforming reaction unit. Claim 4 delete Claim 5 delete Claim 6 A fuel reformer having a double-pipe structure, characterized in that, in paragraph 3, the length of the main flow path is formed to be longer than the length of the discharge flow path. Claim 7 delete

Images