Hydrogen generating device

Abstract

A hydrogen generation device (1) coats a solid hydrogen carrier on a surface (41a) of a conveyor belt (41) by means of a powder coating device (12), and discharges a water-containing liquid onto the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface (41a) by means of a liquid discharge device. Then, hydrogen generated by a reaction between the hydrogen carrier on the surface 41a and the liquid is collected by a hydrogen collection device. A byproduct generated by a reaction between the hydrogen carrier on the surface 41a and the liquid is collected by a byproduct collection device. The regulating member 51 regulates the thickness of the hydrogen carrier applied to the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41 by the powder coating device 12. As a result, it is possible to obtain a hydrogen generation device (1) that easily promotes a reaction between a hydrogen carrier and a water-containing liquid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydrogen generation device that generates hydrogen by using a hydrogen carrier as a raw material, and the hydrogen carrier has a property of generating hydrogen when an aqueous liquid is poured thereon. Background Art

[0002] As a hydrogen generation device, a device that supplies water and a solvent to sodium borohydride and generates hydrogen by hydrolysis of sodium borohydride has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). Citation List Patent Document

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-114708 Summary of the Invention Technical Problem

[0004] Here, as a configuration for generating hydrogen by supplying an aqueous liquid to a hydrogen carrier such as sodium borohydride, a configuration can be considered in which the hydrogen carrier is coated on the surface of a conveyor belt and the liquid is supplied to the hydrogen carrier. In the case of such a configuration, if the thickness of the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt surface is uneven, the progress of the reaction caused by the liquid supply also becomes uneven.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen generation device that easily promotes the reaction between a hydrogen carrier and an aqueous liquid. Solution to the Problem

[0006] The hydrogen generation device of the present invention includes: a conveyor belt; a coating device configured to coat a solid hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt; a discharging device configured to discharge an aqueous liquid onto the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface of the conveyor belt; a hydrogen collection device configured to collect hydrogen generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the liquid on the surface of the conveyor belt; a by-product collection device configured to collect by-products generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the liquid on the surface of the conveyor belt; and a control member for controlling the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface of the conveyor belt by the coating device.

[0007] In addition, the hydrogen generation device of the present invention includes: a conveyor belt; a coating device configured to coat a solid hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt; a discharging device configured to discharge an aqueous liquid onto the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface of the conveyor belt; a hydrogen collection device configured to collect hydrogen generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt and the liquid; and a by-product collection device configured to collect by-products generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt and the liquid, wherein the coating device includes a supply roller and a roller-side regulating member, the supply roller is configured to carry the hydrogen carrier and supply the hydrogen carrier onto the surface of the conveyor belt, and the roller-side regulating member is configured to regulate the thickness of the hydrogen carrier carried on the supply roller.

[0008] In addition, the hydrogen generation device of the present invention includes: a conveyor belt; a coating device configured to coat a solid hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt; a discharging device configured to discharge an aqueous liquid onto the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface of the conveyor belt; a hydrogen collection device configured to collect hydrogen generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt and the liquid; and a by-product collection device configured to collect by-products generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt and the liquid, wherein the coating device includes a supply roller configured to carry the hydrogen carrier and supply the hydrogen carrier onto the surface of the conveyor belt, and wherein the supply roller is arranged opposite to the surface of the conveyor belt with a predetermined gap therebetween or arranged in contact with the surface, and when supplying the hydrogen carrier onto the surface, regulates the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface. Advantageous effects of the invention

[0009] According to the present invention, a hydrogen generation device can be provided, which can easily promote the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the aqueous liquid. Description of the drawings

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of the hydrogen generation device according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a control block diagram of the hydrogen generation device according to the first embodiment. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an enlarged view of the powder coating device in the hydrogen generation device according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an enlarged view of the powder coating device in the hydrogen generation device according to the second embodiment. Figure 5It is a schematic structural cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of a powder coating device in a hydrogen generation device according to a third embodiment. Detailed Description <First Embodiment>

[0011] The following will refer to Figures 1 to 3 The first embodiment will be described. First, as an energy source alternative to fossil fuels, hydrogen is attracting attention. This is because, unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen does not produce, for example, carbon dioxide when burned, and carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that causes global warming. An example of a system that uses hydrogen as an energy source and is put into practical use is a fuel cell vehicle. A fuel cell vehicle is a vehicle that generates electricity by using hydrogen as a raw material and moves by driving an electric motor using the generated electricity. Most fuel cell vehicles store hydrogen serving as an energy source in a hydrogen tank, and generate electricity by charging hydrogen discharged from the hydrogen tank into a fuel cell. In the hydrogen tank, hydrogen is stored in a compressed state at a high pressure such as 70 MPa (700 times the atmospheric pressure).

[0012] The problem with hydrogen serving as an energy source is its low energy density. The volumetric energy density of hydrogen is about 1 / 3000 of gasoline, and even with a 70 MPa hydrogen tank, only about 1 / 5 of the energy of the same volume of gasoline can be obtained. Therefore, typically, fuel cell vehicles including hydrogen tanks need to be refueled more frequently than gasoline-powered cars.

[0013] Therefore, as materials that can carry hydrogen at a higher energy density than a hydrogen tank (i.e., hydrogen carriers), various materials have been considered. For example, ammonia, methylcyclohexane, etc. are known as hydrogen carriers, and during use, the hydrogen carrier is transported instead of hydrogen itself and hydrogen is extracted from the hydrogen carrier.

[0014] Among these hydrogen carrier materials, metal hydrides such as sodium borohydride are well-known, and hydrogen can be easily extracted from them by pouring water thereon. As a method of obtaining hydrogen by hydrolysis of sodium borohydride, a method of dissolving sodium borohydride in water and using it as an aqueous solution is known. However, in the case of this method, there is a problem that: the amount of water required is more than the amount required in the theory represented by the reaction formula, thereby reducing the substantial volumetric energy density.

[0015] Therefore, in the present embodiment, hydrogen is generated by pouring an aqueous liquid onto a solid hydrogen carrier by a hydrogen generation device configured as described below. In addition, by-products generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the liquid are collected. The by-products can be restored to the hydrogen carrier. [Hydrogen Generation Device]

[0016] By using Figure 1To describe the schematic structure of the hydrogen generation device 1. The hydrogen generation device 1 of the present embodiment is a device that places a solid hydrogen carrier (powder in the present embodiment) on a conveyor belt 41, discharges an aqueous liquid onto it, reacts the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41 with the aqueous liquid, and thus generates hydrogen. The hydrogen generation device 1 mainly includes a conveyor belt 41, a powder coating device 12 serving as a coating device, a liquid discharge device 22 serving as a discharge device, a hydrogen collection device 31, and a by-product collection device 61.

[0017] The conveyor belt 41 rotates along Figure 1 the direction of the arrow in. The powder coating device 12 receives the supply of the hydrogen carrier from the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 storing the hydrogen carrier in powder form and coats the hydrogen carrier on the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41. In the rotation direction of the conveyor belt 41, the liquid discharge device 22 is arranged downstream of the powder coating device 12, receives the supply of the liquid from the liquid storage tank 21 storing the aqueous liquid, and discharges the liquid onto the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41.

[0018] In the rotation direction of the conveyor belt 41, the hydrogen collection device 31 is arranged downstream of the liquid discharge device 22 and collects the hydrogen generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the liquid on the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41. The by-product collection device 61 collects the by-products generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the liquid on the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41. The by-products mentioned here refer to the products other than hydrogen generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the liquid.

[0019] The hydrogen generation device 1 can perform a series of steps on the conveyor belt 41, such as generating hydrogen through the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the aqueous liquid, and collecting the by-products after the reaction. Therefore, the advantages of being able to continuously, stably, and long-term generate hydrogen are achieved in a compact device structure.

[0020] The operation of the hydrogen generation device 1 is as follows. First, the conveyor belt 41 starts to operate, and when the conveying speed of the conveyor belt 41 stabilizes at a predetermined speed and the surface temperature of the conveyor belt 41 reaches the set temperature, the powder coating device 12 starts to operate to coat the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41. When the hydrogen carrier reaches below the liquid discharge device 22, the liquid is discharged from the liquid discharge device 22, thereby starting the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the liquid, and the generated hydrogen is collected by the hydrogen collection device 31.

[0021] Then, the by-products generated after the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the aqueous liquid are conveyed to the by-product collection device 61, and the by-product collection device 61 collects and sends the by-products to the by-product collection box 62. Next, each component will be described in detail. [Hydrogen carrier]

[0022] The "hydrogen carrier" mentioned in this embodiment is not particularly limited as long as it is a solid hydrogen carrier that generates hydrogen when an aqueous liquid is poured thereon. For example, the following substances can be used alone or in combination: solid metal hydrides such as sodium borohydride, potassium borohydride, lithium borohydride, zinc borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium aluminum hydride, magnesium aluminum hydride, calcium aluminum hydride, magnesium hydride, lithium hydride, sodium hydride, and calcium hydride, and metal powders such as aluminum, zinc, calcium, and magnesium. In addition, additives such as reaction promoters or desiccants can be included.

[0023] In addition, the hydrogen carrier of this embodiment is preferably a solid such as powder or granules, but sheets, pellets, and pastes can also be used. As the powder, powders with a particle size of about 10 μm or more and 10 mm or less, powders with a particle size of 10 μm or more and 3 mm or less, and powders with a particle size of 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less are more preferred. In addition, in the case of using in the form of a sheet or pellet, from the viewpoint of improving the reactivity with the aqueous liquid, surface roughening, pore-forming treatment, etc. are preferably performed to increase the surface area and increase the contact area with the aqueous liquid.

[0024] In this embodiment, sodium borohydride powder with an average particle size of 50 μm is used as the solid hydrogen carrier. It should be noted that the average particle size of the solid hydrogen carrier is not limited to this. The sodium borohydride powder reacts with water to generate hydrogen. The sodium borohydride after the reaction is converted into sodium metaborate powder, which is a by-product. This reaction is represented by the following chemical formula. NaBH4 (sodium borohydride) + 2H2O (water) → NaBO2 (sodium metaborate) + 4H2 (hydrogen)... (1)

[0025] It is known that this reaction (chemical formula (1)) is promoted by a Raney catalyst, which is formed from a metal such as nickel, cobalt, or copper and an acidic solution such as citric acid or acetic acid. [aqueous liquid]

[0026] The "aqueous liquid" mentioned in this embodiment is not particularly limited as long as the liquid reacts with the hydrogen carrier and generates hydrogen when poured. That is to say, the aqueous liquid can be simple water. In addition, two or more aqueous liquids can be prepared. By preparing two or more aqueous liquids, the hydrogen generation rate can be adjusted.

[0027] The aqueous liquid can include water-soluble organic solvents. Examples thereof can include alcohols, polyalkylene glycols, glycol ethers, nitrogen-containing compounds, and sulfur-containing compounds. Two or more selected from these can also be used in combination. By containing water-soluble organic solvents, the surface tension, boiling point, and melting point of the aqueous liquid can be adjusted to optimize the reaction with the hydrogen carrier.

[0028] A surfactant can be added to the aqueous liquid. By using the surfactant, the surface tension of the aqueous liquid can be reduced, and the contact area with the hydrogen carrier can be increased, so that an effective reaction can be carried out.

[0029] The aqueous liquid can contain a water-soluble acidic substance. This acidic substance acts as a positive catalyst in the reaction between the aqueous liquid and the hydrogen carrier. By adjusting the amount of the liquid containing the acidic substance, the hydrogen generation rate can be adjusted. In particular, by setting the pH value obtained from the aqueous liquid and the hydrogen carrier to be lower than 9.0, the hydrogen generation rate can be increased. Examples thereof include various acids such as chloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, boric acid, and organic acids, but are not limited thereto.

[0030] The aqueous liquid can include a water-soluble basic substance. The basic substance acts as a negative catalyst in the reaction between the aqueous liquid and the hydrogen carrier. By adjusting the amount of the liquid containing the basic substance, the hydrogen generation rate can be adjusted. In particular, by setting the pH value obtained from the aqueous liquid and the hydrogen carrier to be equal to or higher than 9.0, the hydrogen generation rate can be reduced. Examples thereof include alkalis such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and ammonia water, but are not limited thereto.

[0031] The aqueous liquid can include a buffer solution. The role of the buffer solution is to inhibit the pH fluctuation in the reaction between the aqueous liquid and the hydrogen carrier. By adjusting the amount of the liquid containing the buffer solution, the hydrogen generation rate can be adjusted. Examples thereof include various buffer solutions such as phosphate buffer solution, glycine buffer solution, Good’s buffer liquid, Tris buffer solution, and ammonia buffer solution, but are not limited thereto.

[0032] In addition to the above components, if necessary, the aqueous liquid can also contain various additives such as defoamers, pH regulators, viscosity regulators, rust inhibitors, preservatives, antifungal agents, antioxidants, and anti-reducing agents. [Conveyor belt]

[0033] The conveyor belt 41 serving as a conveying member is an endless belt and can convey the solid hydrogen carrier. The conveyor belt 41 is stretched by a driving roller 42 and a driven roller 43. The driving roller 42 is fixed, and the driven roller 43 is subjected to a force that pushes the driven roller 43 toward the front surface side of the conveyor belt, which is the applied force of a biasing spring (not shown), and due to this force, a certain tension is applied to the conveyor belt 41. In addition, the driving roller 42 is connected to a driving unit 41b (see Figure 2 ) such as an electric motor. Therefore, since the driving roller 42 is rotationally driven by the driving unit 41b, the conveyor belt 41 circulates (i.e., rotates) in the Figure 1 clockwise direction (arrow direction). Although the conveyor belt 41 is supported by two rollers in this embodiment, there is no problem even if the conveyor belt 41 is supported by multiple rollers such as three rollers, for example.

[0034] In any case, the conveyor belt 41 is arranged such that the stretched surface stretched by two rollers (the driving roller 42 and the driven roller 43 in the present embodiment), that is, the above-mentioned surface 41a is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction. Further, the surface 41a is an upward-facing surface, and the powder coating device 12, the liquid discharging device 22, and the hydrogen collecting device 31 provided above the conveyor belt 41 face the surface 41a.

[0035] The conveyor belt 41 configured in this way includes a mechanism for conveying the hydrogen carrier coated on the conveyor belt 41 by the powder coating device 12 in the order of the liquid discharging device 22 and the hydrogen collecting device 31 toward the downstream side in the rotation direction. Thereafter, the reaction by-products are further conveyed downstream to the by-product collecting device 61.

[0036] From the viewpoint of not generating static electricity, the conveyor belt 41 is preferably made conductive and can be formed of metal or resin. In the case of metal, aluminum, iron, copper, Ni, stainless steel (SUS), etc. can be used. Further, in the case of resin, from the viewpoint of heat resistance, a resin with a high glass transition temperature is preferred. For example, engineering plastics with high heat resistance and high durability are preferred, such as polyimide, polyamideimide, and polyetheretherketone. Further, in the case where the resin is not conductive, it is preferred that the resin contains an antistatic agent such as carbon black to impart conductivity. Further, from the viewpoint of thermal conductivity, the thickness of the conveyor belt 41 is preferably about 30 μm or more and 200 μm or less. In the present embodiment, an endless belt formed of a conductive resin (which is a carbon-containing polyimide) is used as the conveyor belt 41.

[0037] The conveying speed (rotation speed) of the conveyor belt 41 is a predetermined speed set for each hydrogen carrier and aqueous liquid used. Further, it is preferred that the conveying speed can be appropriately adjusted according to the required amount of hydrogen. Thus, for example, in the case where the amount of hydrogen collected by the hydrogen collecting device 31 does not reach the planned amount, the hydrogen generation amount can be adjusted by, for example, appropriately adjusting the conveying speed according to the amount of hydrogen measured by a flow sensor 32 (see Figure 2 ) etc., which measures the flow rate of hydrogen collected by the hydrogen collecting device 31. [Powder Coating Device]

[0038] The powder coating device 12 is a device that receives the supply of the hydrogen carrier from the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 and coats the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41. If the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the conveyor belt 41 is about 50 μm or more and 3 mm or less, there is no problem, but it is preferred to set the thickness to 50 μm or more and 500 μm or less in order to improve the reactivity with the aqueous liquid.

[0039] In addition, a hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 serving as a hydrogen carrier supply container stores a hydrogen carrier (hydrogen carrier for supply) for supplying the storage unit of the powder coating device 12. The hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 can be attached to and detached from the powder coating device 12. That is, the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 is replaceable.

[0040] The powder coating device 12 coats the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41 only by gravity or by gravity and an external force that comes from the rotation of paddles, rollers, brush rollers, spiral fins, etc. therein. When the powder coating device 12 becomes empty, the supply of the hydrogen generation substance to the conveyor belt 41 stagnates. Therefore, preferably, a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of the hydrogen carrier is provided in the powder coating device 12. As such a sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, an optical sensor, a capacitance sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, etc. can be considered. The detailed structure of the powder coating device 12 will be described later. [Liquid discharging device]

[0041] The liquid discharging device 22 is a liquid coating device that receives the supply of the aqueous liquid from a liquid storage tank 21 storing the aqueous liquid and coats the aqueous liquid on the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41. The liquid discharging device 22 can adjust the amount of the aqueous liquid relative to the amount of the hydrogen carrier. The liquid discharging device 22 can discharge the liquid onto the conveyor belt 41 in a non-contact manner or can discharge the liquid in a contact manner.

[0042] For the non-contact type liquid discharging device 22, there is no particular problem as long as the liquid discharging device 22 is a device capable of coating the aqueous liquid on the hydrogen carrier, such as a spraying system, a shower system, or a dispenser system. Any of these systems can adjust the discharge amount of the liquid. In addition, as the contact type liquid discharging device 22, an intaglio offset roller, a rod coater, a die coater, a doctor blade coater, a blade coater, etc. can be mentioned. Any of these systems can adjust the discharge amount of the liquid.

[0043] In addition, a liquid storage tank 21 serving as a liquid supply container stores the aqueous liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharging device 22. The liquid storage tank 21 can be attached to and detached from the liquid discharging device 22. That is, the liquid storage tank 21 is replaceable. [Hydrogen collection device]

[0044] A hydrogen collection device 31 is provided to collect hydrogen generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the aqueous liquid. As Figure 1As shown, in the sense of an exhaust device, it can be a canopy structure, or it can be a structure in which the upper outer wall of the hydrogen generation device 1 has an inclined shape and a discharge port is provided at the highest position. As long as the structure collects the hydrogen generated inside the hydrogen generation device 1, there is no particular problem. The hydrogen collection device 31 of the present embodiment is provided above the conveyor belt 41 and includes a collection portion 31a that collects the hydrogen generated on the conveyor belt 41 and a suction fan 31b that sucks the hydrogen collected by the collection portion 31a. The hydrogen sucked by the suction fan 31b is supplied to a supply destination such as a fuel cell through a pipe 31c.

[0045] In a fuel cell that serves as one of the supply destinations of hydrogen, dry hydrogen is desired. However, not only hydrogen but also water vapor or vapor of an alkaline substance generated by the reaction may be mixed into the collected gas. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a mechanism for removing substances other than hydrogen in the hydrogen flow path (such as the pipe 31c), such as a filter containing water, a filter containing silica gel, a steam trap incorporating a cooling device, etc. [By-product collection device]

[0046] The function of the by-product collection device 61 is to remove the by-products on the conveyor belt 41 from the conveyor belt 41 and send the by-products to the by-product collection box 62. In the case where the hydrogen carrier is sodium borohydride, the by-product is, for example, sodium metaborate. The by-product collection device 61 includes a collection blade 61a that contacts the conveyor belt 41 and a blade holding member (not shown in the figure) that holds the collection blade 61a.

[0047] The collection blade 61a preferably adjoins the outer peripheral surface of the conveyor belt 41 stretched by the roller of the stretched conveyor belt 41. In the present embodiment, the roller is the drive roller 42. In addition, the collection blade 61a preferably adjoins surfaces other than the surface 41a, such as the lower surface in the vertical direction or the side surface in the horizontal direction of the conveyor belt 41. In addition, the by-product collection box 62 is preferably provided below the collection blade 61a in the vertical direction. Thus, the by-products collected by the collection blade 61a can fall by gravity and be collected by the by-product collection box 62.

[0048] The material of the collection blade 61a is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a rubber blade formed of rubber and used for cleaning an intermediate transfer belt in a copying machine or the like. It is formed of rubber such as silicone rubber or polyurethane rubber and is molded into a plate shape and connected so that its corners contact in the opposite direction to the moving direction of the conveyor belt 41, thereby removing the by-products on the conveyor belt 41. In addition, there is no problem in using a blade formed of metal or glass in a spatula shape (i.e., a so-called spatula) as the collection blade 61a.

[0049] The blade holding member has the function of supporting the collection blade 61a and applying a certain pressure to the collection blade 61a by the warping of the blade holding member. Although its material is not particularly limited, metal is preferred because pressure needs to be applied.

[0050] In addition, the by-product collection box 62 that serves as a collection container is a box for collecting the by-products collected by the collection blade 61a from the conveyor belt 41. The by-product collection box 62 can be attached to the by-product collection device 61 and separated from it. That is, the by-product collection box 62 is replaceable. [Central control device]

[0051] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the system of the hydrogen generation device 1 of the present embodiment. The central control device 101 includes: a controller 112, a random access memory (RAM) 111, a storage 113 for storing programs, a communication interface, a signal transmission unit 114, and a signal reception unit 115. The controller 112 is composed of a central processing unit (CPU) or a CPU and a read-only memory (ROM), and issues control commands for the entire hydrogen generation device 1 by executing the programs stored in the storage 113.

[0052] The RAM 111 is the main memory for the operation of the controller 112. The storage 113 is a storage area for storing control programs and the like, and the controller 112 processes by reading control programs, temporarily stored timing data, log information, etc. from the RAM 111 and the storage 113.

[0053] Information from an external application 102 is input to the controller 112, and the external application is a fuel cell application such as a hydrogen application of a fuel cell supplied by the hydrogen generation device 1 or a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) using a fuel cell. In addition, the controller 112 receives information from the engine unit 103 of the hydrogen generation device 1 through the signal reception unit 115. As information of the engine unit 103, mention can be made of: the amount of hydrogen detected by the flow sensor 32 provided in the hydrogen collection device 31, information of the remaining amount detection sensors 11a, 12a, and 22a provided in the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11, the powder coating device 12, and the liquid discharge device 22, etc.

[0054] The remaining amount detection sensor 11a is a sensor provided in the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 and detects the remaining amount of the hydrogen carrier in the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11. The remaining amount detection sensor 12a is a sensor provided in the powder coating device 12 and detects the remaining amount of the hydrogen carrier in the powder coating device 12. The remaining amount detection sensor 22a is a sensor provided in the liquid discharge device 22 and detects the remaining amount of the water-containing liquid in the liquid discharge device 22.

[0055] In addition, the controller 112 transmits the following signals as signals generated according to preset control information via the signal transmission unit 114: a replenishment signal to the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11, a drive signal to the powder coating device 12 and the liquid discharge device 22, a drive signal to the conveyor belt 41, and the like.

[0056] The hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 includes a drive unit 11b for replenishing the powder coating device 12 with the hydrogen carrier. The powder coating device 12 includes a drive unit 12b for coating the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41. The liquid discharge device 22 includes a drive unit 22b for discharging the liquid onto the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41. In addition, the conveyor belt 41 is driven by the drive unit 41b as described above. The controller 112 controls the driving of the drive units 11b, 12b, 22b, and 41b.

[0057] Specifically, the drive unit 11b of the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 is, for example, an electric motor or a solenoid, and the electric motor or the solenoid drives a shutter provided at a connection portion between the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 and the powder coating device 12. The controller 112 performs, for example, the replenishment operation of the hydrogen carrier from the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 to the powder coating device 12 or stops the replenishment operation by driving the drive unit 11b to open and close the shutter.

[0058] The drive unit 12b of the powder coating device 12 is, for example, an electric motor that drives a roller to coat the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41. The controller 112 drives the drive unit 12b to control the driving of the roller, thereby performing and stopping the coating operation of coating the hydrogen carrier from the powder coating device 12 onto the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41.

[0059] The drive unit 22b of the liquid discharge device 22 is, for example, arranged to discharge the liquid onto the conveyor belt 41, and its drive structure varies according to its system. The controller 112 controls the driving of the drive unit 22b and thus performs and stops the liquid discharge operation from the liquid discharge device 22 to the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41.

[0060] The drive unit 41b of the conveyor belt 41 is, for example, the above-mentioned electric motor. The controller 112 controls the driving of the drive unit 41b to drive and stop the conveyor belt 41 and further controls its driving speed. [Regulation of Hydrogen Carrier Thickness]

[0061] Next, by using Figure 3To describe the regulation of the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the conveyor belt 41 by the powder coating device 12 of the present embodiment. In the case where the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the conveyor belt 41 by the powder coating device 12 as described above is uneven, the reaction rate with the aqueous liquid on the belt becomes uneven. Although the hydrolysis reaction is not sufficiently carried out, there is a possibility of transporting the hydrogen carrier downstream. At this time, there is a possibility that the unreacted hydrogen carrier mixes into the by-product collection device 61. As the disadvantages of insufficient reaction progress, it can be mentioned that the amount of hydrogen that can be collected decreases, thereby reducing the energy efficiency, and the unreacted hydrogen carrier mixes into the by-product collection device 61, thereby filling the by-product collection device 61 with hydrogen, and so on.

[0062] In view of this problem, the hydrogen generation device 1 of the present embodiment includes a regulating member 51 that equalizes the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the conveyor belt 41. In the present embodiment, the regulating member 51 regulates the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41 by the powder coating device 12. First, the detailed structure of the powder coating device 12 of the present embodiment will be described. [Detailed Structure of Powder Coating Device]

[0063] As Figure 3 shown, the powder coating device 12 is disposed above the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41 in the gravitational direction, and includes a storage portion 121, an opening portion 122, a gate 123, and a brush roll 124. The storage portion 121 stores the hydrogen carrier. The opening portion 122 is formed so that the hydrogen carrier in the storage portion can be supplied to the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41 by gravity, and is formed at the lower end portion of the storage portion 121 in the present embodiment. The gate 123 can open and close the opening portion 122. The gate 123 is driven by a drive portion (such as a motor or a solenoid) not shown, and opens and closes the opening portion 122 in response to the drive portion controlled by an instruction from the controller 112 (see Figure 2 ).

[0064] The brush roll 124 serving as an auxiliary member is an auxiliary roll that assists in supplying the hydrogen carrier from the opening portion 122 to the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41. The brush roll 124 is disposed at a position near the opening portion 122 in the storage portion 121. The brush roll 124 is driven by a drive portion such as a motor not shown, and rotates and stops in response to the drive portion controlled by an instruction from the controller 112 (see Figure 2 ). It should be noted that the auxiliary member for assisting the supply of the hydrogen carrier may be an auxiliary member capable of assisting the supply of the hydrogen carrier, such as a blade or a spiral fin instead of a roll.

[0065] The storage section 121 of the powder coating device 12 configured in this way is filled with a certain amount of hydrogen carrier, and when hydrogen is generated, by opening the gate 123 provided at its lower part, the hydrogen carrier falls in the direction of gravity. At this time, the brush roller 124 is rotationally driven so as to assist in supplying the hydrogen carrier in the storage section 121 toward the opening 122 when the gate 123 is opened. The hydrogen carrier that has fallen from the opening 122 onto the conveyor belt 41 reaches the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41. The conveyor belt 41 is driven by the above-described drive roller 42 like a belt conveyor.

[0066] In this way, the hydrogen carrier is supplied to the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41 by the powder coating device 12. In the hydrogen generation device 1, the storage section 121 is equipped with a remaining amount detection sensor 12a (see Figure 2 ), and based on information such as the detection signal of the remaining amount detection sensor 12a, it operates while supplying the hydrogen carrier from the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 (see Figure 1 ) to the powder coating device 12. [Regulation component]

[0067] The hydrogen generation device 1 of the present embodiment is equipped with a regulation component 51 so as to make the layer thickness of the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41 uniform in the in-plane direction as described above. The regulation component 51 is arranged to face the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41 with a predetermined gap therebetween or in contact with the surface 41a, and regulates the thickness of the hydrogen carrier applied to the surface 41a from the powder application device 12.

[0068] Specifically, the regulation component 51 is arranged to face the conveyor belt 41 at a downstream position of the powder coating device 12 in the rotation direction of the conveyor belt 41 (the conveying direction of the hydrogen carrier). The regulation component 51 is, for example, a scraper component formed in a plate shape, and is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is substantially parallel to the width direction of the conveyor belt 41, and this width direction intersects (is orthogonal in the present embodiment) the rotation direction of the conveyor belt 41.

[0069] As materials for the regulation component 51, mention may be made of: elastic materials such as silicone rubber and polyurethane rubber, metal materials such as stainless steel (SUS), and so on. In the case where a predetermined gap is provided between the regulation component 51 and the conveyor belt 41, the regulation component 51 is preferably a component formed of metal so as to strictly define the amount of the gap, and in the case of contact with the conveyor belt 41, it is preferably a component formed of rubber.

[0070] In the present embodiment, the regulating member 51 is formed of stainless steel (SUS), and a constant gap is provided between the regulating member 51 and the conveyor belt 41 in the width direction of the conveyor belt 41. In addition, on the back side (inner peripheral surface) 41c of the conveyor belt 41, a support roller 52 serving as a support roller is provided at a position opposite to the regulating member 51 across the conveyor belt 41. The support roller 52 is adjacent to the back side 41c, and supports the back side 41c of the conveyor belt 41 at a position where the surface 41a is opposite to the regulating member 51. The support roller 52 can reduce the influence of the warping of the conveyor belt 41, and thus ensure the width of the gap between the regulating member 51 and the conveyor belt 41.

[0071] In this embodiment, the width of the gap between the regulating member 51 and the conveyor belt 41 is set to 300 μm. By setting the width of the gap to be several times larger than the particle size of the hydrogen carriers, the hydrogen carriers on the conveyor belt 41 can be uniformly spread into, for example, about three layers, and the reaction can proceed uniformly.

[0072] As described above, in the case of the present embodiment, the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the conveyor belt 41 is regulated by the regulating member 51, so the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the conveyor belt 41 can be uniformed, and the non-uniformity of the reaction progress caused by supplying the liquid to the hydrogen carrier can be suppressed. Thus, the reaction between the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41 and the aqueous liquid can be easily promoted. <Second Implementation Method>

[0073] Will be used by Figure 4 The second embodiment will be described. The hydrogen generating device 1A of this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration for regulating the thickness of the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41. Other elements and functions are similar to those of the first embodiment described above, so similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description and illustration are omitted or simplified, and the parts different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0074] In the case of the present embodiment, a regulating member 51A for regulating the thickness of the hydrogen carrier is provided in the powder coating device 12A. That is, the powder coating device 12A of the present embodiment includes a storage portion 121A, an opening portion 122A, a supply roller 125, a regulating member 51A serving as a roller-side regulating member, and a paddle 126 serving as an agitating conveying member. The storage portion 121A stores the hydrogen carrier. The opening portion 122A is formed so that the hydrogen carrier in the storage portion can be supplied to the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41 through the supply roller 125, and is formed on the lower end side of the storage portion 121 in the present embodiment.

[0075] The supply roller 125 is a roller that carries the hydrogen carrier and supplies the hydrogen carrier onto the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41, and in the present embodiment, it is arranged such that a part thereof is exposed through the opening 122A. The supply roller 125 is arranged such that the direction of its rotation axis is substantially parallel to the width direction of the conveyor belt 41, and the surface thereof facing the conveyor belt 41 rotates in the same direction as the rotation direction of the conveyor belt 41, that is, in the forward direction.

[0076] The regulating member 51A regulates the thickness of the hydrogen carrier carried on the supply roller 125. That is, the regulating member 51A is arranged to face the surface of the supply roller 125 with a predetermined gap therebetween or in contact with the surface of the supply roller 125, and regulates the thickness of the hydrogen carrier carried on the supply roller 125. The paddle 126 conveys the hydrogen carrier in the storage section toward the supply roller 125 while agitating the hydrogen carrier.

[0077] In the storage section 121A of the present embodiment, as Figure 4 shown, the supply port 127 for supplying the hydrogen carrier from the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 (see Figure 1 ) and the opening 122A are arranged at positions separated from each other. Therefore, a plurality (two in the present embodiment) of paddles 126 are provided so as to be able to convey the hydrogen carrier supplied from the hydrogen carrier storage tank 11 to the supply port 127 to the supply roller 125.

[0078] The supply roller 125 and the paddle 126 are driven by a drive section (not shown) such as a motor, and rotate and stop in response to the drive section controlled by an instruction from the controller 112 (see Figure 2 ). The regulating member 51A has a certain gap from the supply roller 125 in the longitudinal direction (rotation axis direction) of the supply roller 125.

[0079] In addition, as the material of the regulating member 51A, the following can be mentioned: elastic materials such as silicone rubber and polyurethane rubber, metal materials such as stainless steel (SUS), and so on. In the case where a predetermined gap is provided between the regulating member 51A and the supply roller 125, the regulating member 51A is preferably a member formed of metal so as to strictly define the amount of the gap, and in the case of contact with the supply roller 125, it is preferably a member formed of rubber.

[0080] In the case of the present embodiment, due to the rotation of the supply roller 125 provided at the opening 122A of the powder coating device 12A, the hydrogen carrier is conveyed onto the conveyor belt 41. A constant gap of 300 μm is provided between the surface of the supply roller 125 and the regulating member 51A, and the hydrogen carrier that has passed through the gap is supplied onto the conveyor belt 41 in a constant amount in the longitudinal direction of the supply roller 125.

[0081] In the present embodiment, in order to prevent the hydrogen carriers from accumulating near the regulating member 51A, the hydrogen carrier powder is continuously agitated when being sent to the vicinity of the regulating member 51A by the paddle 126 installed inside the powder coating device 12A, instead of adopting the structure in which the hydrogen carriers fall along the direction of gravity as in the first embodiment.

[0082] In the case of the present embodiment configured in this way, since the coating on the conveyor belt 41 is performed after the thickness of the hydrogen carriers carried on the supply roller 125 is regulated by the regulating member 51A, the hydrogen carriers are coated on the conveyor belt 41 in a state where their thickness is regulated. Thus, the thickness of the hydrogen carriers coated on the conveyor belt 41 can be made uniform, and the occurrence of uneven reaction due to the supply of liquid to the hydrogen carriers can be suppressed. Thereby, the reaction between the hydrogen carriers on the conveyor belt 41 and the aqueous liquid can be easily promoted. <Third Embodiment>

[0083] The third embodiment will be described by using Figure 5 The hydrogen generation device 1B of the present embodiment is different from that of the second embodiment in the structure for regulating the thickness of the hydrogen carriers on the conveyor belt 41. Other elements and functions are similar to those of the above-described second embodiment. Therefore, similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions and illustrations are omitted or simplified, and the parts different from the second embodiment will be mainly described.

[0084] In the present embodiment, the supply regulating roller 128 of the powder coating device 12B serves to supply the hydrogen carriers to the conveyor belt 41 and regulate the supply amount of the hydrogen carriers. That is, the powder coating device 12B includes a supply regulating roller 128 that serves as a supply roller for carrying the hydrogen carriers and supplying the hydrogen carriers to the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41. The supply regulating roller 128 is arranged to face the surface 41a of the conveyor belt 41 with a predetermined gap therebetween or in contact with the surface 41a, and regulates the thickness of the hydrogen carriers coated on the surface 41a while supplying the hydrogen carriers to the surface 41a. Other elements related to the powder coating device 12B are similar to those of the second embodiment.

[0085] The supply regulating roller 128 is arranged such that a part of it is exposed through the opening 122A. In addition, the supply regulating roller 128 is arranged such that the direction of its rotation axis is substantially parallel to the width direction of the conveyor belt 41, and the surface facing the conveyor belt 41 rotates in the same direction as the rotation direction of the conveyor belt 41, that is, in the forward direction.

[0086] The supply regulating roller 128 and the paddle 126 are driven by a driving part such as a motor (not shown), and in response to receiving from the controller 112 (see Figure 2) is rotated and stopped by an instruction-controlled drive unit. The supply control roller 128 has a constant gap from the conveyor belt 41 in the longitudinal direction (rotation axis direction) of the supply control roller 128.

[0087] As materials for the supply control roller 128, the following can be mentioned: elastic materials such as silicone rubber and polyurethane rubber, metallic materials such as stainless steel (SUS), and so on. In the case where a predetermined gap is provided between the supply control roller 128 and the conveyor belt 41, the supply control roller 128 is preferably a member formed of metal in order to strictly define the amount of the gap, and is preferably a member formed of rubber in the case of contact with the conveyor belt 41.

[0088] In addition, a support roller 52A serving as a support roller is provided on the back surface (inner circumferential surface) 41c of the conveyor belt 41 at a position opposite to the supply control roller 128 with the conveyor belt 41 interposed therebetween. The support roller 52A is adjacent to the back surface 41c and supports the back surface 41c of the conveyor belt 41 at a position where the surface 41a is opposite to the supply control roller 128. The support roller 52 can reduce the influence of the warping of the conveyor belt 41, and thus ensure the width of the gap between the supply control roller 128 and the conveyor belt 41.

[0089] In the case of the present embodiment, the supply control roller 128 provided at the opening 122A of the powder coating device 12B rotates to convey the hydrogen carrier onto the conveyor belt 41. The width of the gap between the surface of the supply control roller 128 and the conveyor belt 41 is set to 300 μm.

[0090] In the case of the present embodiment configured in this way, since the thickness of the hydrogen carrier is regulated while the hydrogen carrier is supplied onto the conveyor belt 41 by the supply control roller 128, it is possible to make the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the conveyor belt 41 uniform, and unevenness in the progress of the reaction caused by supplying a liquid to the hydrogen carrier can be suppressed. As a result, the reaction between the hydrogen carrier on the conveyor belt 41 and the aqueous liquid can be easily promoted. <Other Embodiments>

[0091] In the first to third embodiments described above, a configuration has been described in which the regulating member 51 or 51A or the supply control roller 128 faces the conveyor belt 41 or the supply roller 125 with a predetermined gap therebetween. However, a configuration can be adopted in which the regulating member 51 or 51A or the supply control roller 128 is configured as a blade or a roller formed of an elastic member such as rubber and is configured to contact the conveyor belt 41 or the supply roller 125. In this case, the throughput of the hydrogen carrier powder changes according to the contact pressure between the elastic member and the conveyor belt 41 or the supply roller 125. Therefore, by controlling the contact pressure in the longitudinal direction to be constant, the thickness of the hydrogen carrier can be made uniform. Industrial Applicability

[0092] The hydrogen generation device according to the present invention can preferably be applied to a hydrogen generation device that generates hydrogen by using a hydrogen carrier having the property of generating hydrogen in response to an aqueous liquid poured thereon as a raw material. List of reference numerals

[0093] 1, 1A, 1B: Hydrogen generation device 11: Hydrogen carrier storage tank (refilling container) 12, 12A, 12B: Powder coating device (coating device) 22: Liquid discharge device (discharge device) 31: Hydrogen collection device 41: Conveyor belt 41a: Surface 51: Regulation component 51A: Regulation component (roller-side regulation component) 52, 52A: Support roller (supporting roller) 61: By-product collection device 121, 121A: Storage part 122, 122A: Opening part 123: Gate 124: Brush roller (auxiliary component) 125: Supply roller 126: Paddle (agitating and conveying component) 128: Supply regulation roller (supply roller)

Claims

1. A hydrogen generation device, comprising: A conveyor belt; A coating device configured to coat a solid hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt; A discharging device configured to discharge an aqueous liquid onto the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface of the conveyor belt; A hydrogen collection device configured to collect hydrogen generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the liquid on the surface of the conveyor belt; A by-product collection device configured to collect by-products generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the liquid on the surface of the conveyor belt; and A regulating component for regulating the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface of the conveyor belt by the coating device.

2. The hydrogen generation device according to claim 1, wherein The regulating component is arranged opposite to the surface of the conveyor belt with a predetermined gap therebetween or in contact with the surface, and regulates the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface by the coating device.

3. The hydrogen generation device according to claim 2, further comprising a support roller, the support roller being arranged adjacent to the back surface of the conveyor belt at a position opposite to the regulating component with the conveyor belt therebetween, and the support roller being configured to support the back surface of the conveyor belt.

4. The hydrogen generation device according to claim 1, wherein, The coating device is arranged above the surface of the conveyor belt in the direction of gravity, and includes: a storage part configured to store the hydrogen carrier, an opening part capable of supplying the hydrogen carrier in the storage part to the surface of the conveyor belt by gravity, a gate capable of opening and closing the opening part, and an auxiliary component configured to assist in supplying the hydrogen carrier from the opening part to the surface of the conveyor belt.

5. A hydrogen generation device, comprising: A conveyor belt; A coating device configured to coat a solid hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt; A discharging device configured to discharge an aqueous liquid onto the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface of the conveyor belt; A hydrogen collection device configured to collect hydrogen generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the liquid on the surface of the conveyor belt; and A by-product collection device configured to collect by-products generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier and the liquid on the surface of the conveyor belt, wherein the coating device includes a supply roller and a roller-side regulating component, the supply roller being configured to carry the hydrogen carrier and supply the hydrogen carrier to the surface of the conveyor belt, and the roller-side regulating component being configured to regulate the thickness of the hydrogen carrier carried on the supply roller.

6. The hydrogen generation device according to claim 5, wherein, The roller-side regulating component is arranged opposite to the surface of the supply roller with a predetermined gap therebetween or in contact with the surface of the supply roller, and regulates the thickness of the hydrogen carrier carried on the supply roller.

7. The hydrogen generation device according to claim 6, wherein, The coating device includes: a storage part configured to store the hydrogen carrier, an opening part capable of supplying the hydrogen carrier in the storage part to the surface of the conveyor belt through the supply roller, and a stirring and conveying component configured to convey the hydrogen carrier in the storage part towards the supply roller while stirring the hydrogen carrier.

8. A hydrogen generation device, comprising: A conveyor belt; A coating device configured to coat a solid hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt; A discharging device configured to discharge an aqueous liquid onto the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface of the conveyor belt; A hydrogen collection device configured to collect hydrogen generated by a reaction between the hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt and the liquid; and A by-product collection device configured to collect by-products generated by the reaction between the hydrogen carrier on the surface of the conveyor belt and the liquid, wherein the coating device includes a supply roller configured to carry the hydrogen carrier and supply the hydrogen carrier onto the surface of the conveyor belt, and wherein the supply roller is arranged to face the surface of the conveyor belt with a predetermined gap therebetween or arranged to contact the surface, and regulates the thickness of the hydrogen carrier coated on the surface when supplying the hydrogen carrier onto the surface.

9. The hydrogen generation device according to claim 8, further comprising a support roller arranged adjacent to the back surface of the conveyor belt at a position opposite to the supply roller with the conveyor belt therebetween, and the support roller is configured to support the back surface of the conveyor belt.

10. The hydrogen generation device according to claim 8, wherein, The coating device includes: a storage part configured to store the hydrogen carrier, an opening part capable of supplying the hydrogen carrier in the storage part onto the surface of the conveyor belt through the supply roller, and an agitation transfer member configured to transfer the hydrogen carrier in the storage part toward the supply roller while agitating the hydrogen carrier.

11. The hydrogen generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising: A hydrogen carrier supply container configured to store the hydrogen carrier for supplying the coating device with the hydrogen carrier, wherein the hydrogen carrier supply container is replaceable.

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