A hydrogen purifier

Abstract

This application relates to a hydrogen purifier, belonging to the field of gas purification technology. The hydrogen purifier includes a purification cylinder and multiple purification plates; the purification cylinder has an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends along its length; multiple purification plates are disposed inside the purification cylinder; the multiple purification plates are arranged along the length of the purification cylinder; the purification plates are attached to the inner wall of the purification cylinder; the purification plates are used to remove impurities from hydrogen to purify it; the material constituting the purification plates is zirconium vanadium iron, wherein zirconium accounts for 65% to 75% of the weight of the purification plates. The hydrogen purifier provided in this application can improve purification accuracy while ensuring purification rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of gas purification technology, and more specifically, to a hydrogen purifier. Background Technology

[0002] High-purity hydrogen is a core raw material for key processes such as semiconductor manufacturing, fuel cells, and metal heat treatment. Its purity directly affects product quality and equipment lifespan.

[0003] Existing hydrogen purification equipment mainly removes impurities (such as oxygen, water vapor, and hydrocarbons) through physical adsorption, chemical absorption, or metal alloy diffusion. Among these, zirconium-based alloys have become widely used purification materials in recent years due to their excellent selective permeation ability for hydrogen and lower cost than traditional palladium-based alloys.

[0004] To improve hydrogen purification efficiency, existing hydrogen purification processes use zirconium-based alloys with a zirconium weight ratio exceeding 80%. When the zirconium weight ratio is too high, a large number of orthorhombic brittle phases precipitate in the alloy's microstructure. The presence of these brittle phases makes the zirconium-based alloy, when in block or plate form, prone to intergranular fracture under gas flow impact. To avoid the risk of structural failure, most existing processes process high-zirconium alloys into powder form, loosely stacking them to form a purification bed. While this morphology avoids overall structural damage, it introduces a new problem of inefficiency.

[0005] When powdered materials are piled up, they form a large number of irregular pores. However, these pores are divided into countless tiny dead ends by the contact points between the powder particles. Hydrogen gas in the powder bed must constantly bypass the particles and pass through narrow gaps. The flow path is maze-like and tortuous, which leads to a significant increase in local resistance and a slow speed at which hydrogen gas passes through the purification material.

[0006] Furthermore, the composition of the zirconium-based alloy materials currently used results in limited hydrogen purification efficiency, making it difficult to meet the increasingly demanding requirements for hydrogen purification precision in the manufacturing industry.

[0007] In summary, existing hydrogen purification technologies are limited by the composition of zirconium-based alloys and their strong correlation with morphology, making it difficult to simultaneously improve the precision, efficiency, and stability of hydrogen purification, and also unable to meet the increasing demand for hydrogen purity from the processing industry. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this application is to provide a hydrogen purifier that can improve purification accuracy while maintaining purification rate, thereby alleviating the aforementioned problems.

[0009] This application is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0010] This application provides a hydrogen purifier, which includes a purification cylinder and multiple purification plates. The purification cylinder has an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends along its length. Multiple purification plates are disposed inside the purification cylinder and arranged along the length of the purification cylinder. The purification plates are attached to the inner wall of the purification cylinder. The purification plates are used to remove impurities from hydrogen to purify it. The material constituting the purification plates is zirconium vanadium iron, wherein zirconium accounts for 65% to 75% of the weight of the purification plates.

[0011] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, the industrial hydrogen gas to be purified enters through the inlet of the purification cylinder. The hydrogen gas passes sequentially through multiple zirconium vanadium iron alloy purification plates arranged along the length of the cylinder. Impurities in the hydrogen gas are selectively blocked or adsorbed by the zirconium vanadium iron lattice due to differences in molecular size or chemical affinity, and finally, high-purity hydrogen gas is output from the outlet. Zirconium accounts for 65% to 75% of the weight of the purification plates. While ensuring the absorption effect of impurities in the hydrogen gas, it suppresses the formation of orthorhombic brittle phases, allowing the material to be processed into a sheet-like structure with acceptable mechanical strength, avoiding the labyrinthine resistance of powder beds. A parallel straight-through flow channel is formed inside the purification plates, resulting in low resistance to hydrogen gas and allowing it to pass through the purification cylinder relatively quickly, thus improving the purification rate of hydrogen gas. Vanadium in zirconium vanadium iron can form a solid solution within a zirconium-dominated body-centered cubic structure. Vanadium's affinity for iron is much lower than that for zirconium, preventing the large-scale precipitation of the brittle Zr₂Fe phase, lowering the activation temperature, and improving hydrogen purification efficiency. Iron in zirconium vanadium iron enhances the diffusion of hydrogen at grain boundaries. The synergistic effect of zirconium, vanadium, and iron enables multiple purification plates to achieve a hydrogen purification accuracy of up to 99.99999% (7N grade), significantly higher than the existing 99.9999% (6N grade) hydrogen purification process, thus meeting current industrial requirements.

[0012] In some embodiments, vanadium accounts for 22% to 27% of the weight of the purified tablet.

[0013] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, when the weight ratio of vanadium in the purification tablet is 22%~27%, vanadium expands the zirconium lattice interstices, reduces the hydrogen permeation activation energy, and increases the hydrogen diffusion rate; vanadium is dissolved in the zirconium lattice, blocking the formation path of the orthorhombic brittle phase and inhibiting the formation of the brittle phase; vanadium and iron synergistically form fine-grained strengthening phases (such as V2Zr, FeZr2), improving the mechanical strength of the purification tablet.

[0014] In some embodiments, the iron content in the purified tablets is 3% to 7% by weight.

[0015] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, when the weight ratio of iron in the purification tablet is 3% to 7%, iron forms a continuous network FeZr3 phase, which improves the structural strength of the purification tablet and also improves the hydrogen diffusion rate; Fe is completely dissolved in the Zr lattice, avoiding the formation of brittle phase.

[0016] In some embodiments, the inner wall of the purification cylinder extends in a spiral shape along its length; a plurality of purification plates located inside the purification cylinder are arranged in a spiral shape along the inner wall of the purification cylinder.

[0017] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, after hydrogen enters the purification cylinder, it moves in a spiral shape along the inner wall of the purification cylinder. The spiral flow channel forces the airflow to generate a radial velocity component, so that the gas uniformly adheres to the surface of the purification plate under the action of centrifugal force, so that the gas is not concentrated in the center of the purification plate, eliminating the problem of low edge utilization of the purification plate and improving the overall surface utilization of the purification plate. The actual flow path length of the spiral flow gas in the purification cylinder is increased compared with the conventional straight inner wall. Through the swirling self-pressurization effect, the pressure required for the traction gas to flow from the inlet to the outlet is reduced, reducing the energy consumption required for the purifier to maintain the pressure. The path of hydrogen passing through the purification plate changes from a straight line parallel to the thickness direction of the purification plate to an oblique line or arc extending radially towards the purification plate, increasing the contact time between hydrogen and the purification plate, thereby improving the purification accuracy.

[0018] In some embodiments, the inner wall of the purification cylinder is further provided with a plurality of partitions; the partitions are located between any two adjacent purification plates; the center of the partition is provided with an opening for hydrogen gas to pass through; the plurality of partitions are arranged along the length direction of the purification cylinder.

[0019] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, the adhesion between the purification plate and the inner wall of the purification cylinder is not stable, and gaps may exist. Hydrogen gas may pass through these gaps, resulting in the gas not being fully purified by the purification plate. The separator guides the gas at these edges to the center, forcing the airflow to redistribute, making it easier for hydrogen gas to contact the center of the next purification plate, thereby improving the purification effect of hydrogen gas; the central opening of the separator guides hydrogen gas to form a high-speed main airflow at the center of the purification cylinder, while the separator plate inhibits the airflow at the edges from forming a reverse flow that impacts the purification plate and generates a vortex, which carries the adsorbed impurities back into the airflow, thereby improving the purity of the purified hydrogen gas.

[0020] In some embodiments, along the length of the purification tube, the distance between two adjacent partitions gradually decreases from the air inlet to the air outlet.

[0021] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, the space between two adjacent partitions is a separate compartment, and multiple partitions divide the purification cylinder into multiple compartments. This application makes the distance between two partitions gradually decrease from the inlet to the outlet, that is, the size of the compartments gradually decreases from the inlet to the outlet. The partitions near the inlet are spaced far apart, forming large compartments where the hydrogen flow rate is slower, allowing sufficient time for contact with the purification plate. The partitions in the middle are spaced closer together, increasing the flow rate and causing the gas to swirl (forming turbulence), throwing remaining impurities (such as small water vapor molecules and small amounts of oxygen) onto the purification plate, making it easier for impurities in the hydrogen to be adsorbed and improving the purification effect. The partitions near the outlet are spaced far apart, with the fastest flow rate, forming micro-turbulence, which enhances the Brownian diffusion of low-concentration impurities, making them easier for the purification plate to capture and collect. Simultaneously, the micro-turbulence can disperse hydrogen molecules accumulated on the surface of the purification plate, preventing the formation of a hydrogen molecule "isolation layer" on the edge of the purification plate. This application controls the flow rate of hydrogen within the purification chamber by adjusting the size of each compartment. It also takes advantage of the characteristic that the impurity content of the hydrogen in the purification chamber is higher at the beginning and lower at the end (when hydrogen first enters, there are more impurities, and the spacing between the multiple compartments near the inlet is large, allowing the hydrogen to flow slowly and make full contact with the purification plates, and also preventing a single purification plate from adsorbing impurities to a saturated state; when hydrogen is near the outlet, there are fewer impurities, and the spacing between the multiple compartments near the inlet is small, allowing the hydrogen to flow slowly and causing the Brownian motion of impurities to diffuse, making them easier to be adsorbed by the purification plates), thus improving the purification effect of hydrogen.

[0022] In some embodiments, a heating mechanism is also included; the heating mechanism includes a heating wire and a heat-conducting element; the heating wire is embedded inside the heat-conducting element; the heat-conducting element covers the outer peripheral surface of the purification cylinder; the heat-conducting element is made of a thermally conductive material; the heating wire is used to heat the purification plate inside the purification cylinder.

[0023] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, the heating wire rapidly heats up, and the heat is uniformly conducted to the purification plate through the heat-conducting component, activating the grain boundary diffusion channels of the zirconium vanadium iron alloy. The heat-conducting component covers the outer peripheral surface of the purification cylinder, rapidly transferring the heat from the heating wire to the purification plate, allowing the purification plate to heat up quickly and improving its start-up speed; the heat-conducting component is in close contact with the outer wall of the purification cylinder, ensuring uniform temperature in the circumferential direction of the purification cylinder, and avoiding local hot or cold spots that may affect the purification effect of the corresponding area of ​​the purification plate on hydrogen.

[0024] In some embodiments, the device further includes a housing and an insulation layer; the insulation layer is disposed inside the housing; and a heat-conducting element is disposed inside the insulation layer.

[0025] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, the shell provides structural support for its internal components; the insulation layer wraps around the heat-conducting component to reduce heat loss; the heat-conducting component is in close contact with the purification cylinder, working in conjunction with the insulation layer to achieve efficient heating and low-consumption heat preservation in a closed-loop temperature control system. During the purification process, the insulation layer controls the surface temperature of the shell at a relatively low temperature (below 60°C), preventing burns to operators and reducing the risk of alloy embrittlement due to overheating at high temperatures. Furthermore, when the heating wire temperature drops suddenly, the insulation layer's heat-locking ability maintains the internal high temperature, preventing the purification plate from cracking due to sudden cooling. During the purification process, the shell bears the thermal expansion stress generated by temperature changes in the purification cylinder; the insulation layer's buffering effect helps prevent the purification plate from cracking due to stress concentration against the cylinder wall.

[0026] In some embodiments, the insulation layer is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the heat-conducting element; the heat-conducting element is rotatably disposed inside the insulation layer.

[0027] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, the purification cylinder can rotate synchronously with the heat-conducting component. The rotation of the heat-conducting component causes the gas entering the inlet to form a spiral flow, thereby allowing the higher-temperature gas near the inner wall of the purification cylinder to mix with the lower-temperature gas at the center. This ensures that the temperature of the gas entering the inlet rises uniformly, preventing the lower-temperature gas at the center from directly contacting the purification plate and causing its temperature to drop, thus affecting the purification effect. The insulation layer is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the heat-conducting component, limiting the amplitude of the heat-conducting component and absorbing the vibration energy generated by the rotation of the heat-conducting component, preventing the rotation of the heat-conducting component from causing vibration of the entire purifier.

[0028] In some embodiments, the insulation layer includes a skeleton and a filler portion; the skeleton is in contact with the heat-conducting component; the side of the skeleton near the shell has a honeycomb-shaped frame structure; the inner side of the insulation layer near the shell is filled with a filler portion; the filler portion has the property of softening after absorbing heat and hardening after releasing heat.

[0029] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, the skeleton and the heat-conducting component form a heat conduction path, while simultaneously providing support for the filling part, ensuring structural stability when the phase change material changes state. The filling part utilizes the latent heat absorption characteristics of the phase change material to quickly capture excess heat in the initial heating stage, preventing a sudden temperature rise in the purification plate and providing a heat buffer for the purification plate. After absorbing heat, the filling part softens and can be compressed to compensate for the volume change caused by thermal expansion, reducing the volume change rate of the insulation layer to avoid excessive compression of the shell and purification cylinder. When the ambient temperature drops sharply, the filling part gradually hardens, releasing the stored latent heat and directionally supplementing heat to the purification cylinder through the heat conduction path of the skeleton, reducing temperature fluctuations of the purification plate. Furthermore, when the internal temperature of the purifier drops rapidly, the filling part quickly hardens to form a rigid support, preventing stress concentration and cracking of the purification plate grain boundaries due to sudden cooling. The hardened filling part and the skeleton jointly bear the thermal contraction stress of the purification cylinder, reducing stress concentration and ensuring the structural integrity of the equipment under extreme temperature changes.

[0030] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application.

[0031] The beneficial effects of this invention include:

[0032] 1. This invention discloses a formulation for purification tablets to improve the purification accuracy of hydrogen; and while ensuring purification accuracy, the tablet-shaped purification material replaces conventional powdered purification material, thereby improving the purification rate;

[0033] 2. The purification tablets are arranged in a spiral shape, thereby converting the straight airflow into a swirling flow, eliminating boundary dead zones, and improving the surface utilization rate of the purification tablets;

[0034] 3. The separator forces the gas at the edge to be redistributed to the center, making it easier for the airflow to penetrate from the center of the purification plate and preventing the airflow from passing through the gap between the edge of the purification plate and the inner wall of the purification cylinder;

[0035] 4. The spacing between two adjacent partitions gradually decreases from the inlet to the outlet to match the characteristic that the impurities in the hydrogen entering the purification cylinder are initially more and then less, so that the gas flow rate in the purification cylinder is initially fast and then slows down. The contact time between the impurities is longer and the flow rate is faster, which enhances the Brownian motion of the impurities and makes them easier to be captured by the purification plate.

[0036] 5. A filling part with endothermic softening and exothermic hardening properties is provided so that it can be squeezed and reduced at high temperatures to compensate for the volume increase caused by the thermal expansion of the purification cylinder and purification sheet. Attached Figure Description

[0037] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a hydrogen purifier provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0039] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of a hydrogen purifier provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0040] Figure 3 A side view of a hydrogen purifier provided for some embodiments of this application;

[0041] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Sectional view at point AA;

[0042] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a plurality of purification tablets arranged in a spiral shape, provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0043] Icons: 1-Purification cylinder; 10-Air inlet; 11-Air outlet; 12-Separator; 2-Purification plate; 3-Heating mechanism; 30-Heating wire; 31-Heat conductor; 4-Insulation layer; 40-Frame; 41-Filling part; 5-Shell. Detailed Implementation

[0044] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0045] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used in the description of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the description, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the description, claims, or accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order or hierarchy.

[0046] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a mutually exclusive, independent, or alternative embodiment. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application can be combined with other embodiments.

[0047] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "attachment" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0048] In this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, in this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0049] In this application, "multiple" refers to two or more (including two), similarly, "multiple sets" refers to two or more (including two sets), and "multiple pieces" refers to two or more (including two pieces).

[0050] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, such as Figure 4 As shown, this application provides a hydrogen purifier, which includes a purification cylinder 1 and multiple purification plates 2. The purification cylinder 1 has an inlet 10 and an outlet 11 at opposite ends along its length. The multiple purification plates 2 are disposed inside the purification cylinder 1. The multiple purification plates 2 are arranged along the length of the purification cylinder 1. The purification plates 2 are attached to the inner wall of the purification cylinder 1. The purification plates 2 are used to remove impurities from hydrogen to purify hydrogen. The material constituting the purification plates 2 is zirconium vanadium iron, wherein zirconium accounts for 65% to 75% of the weight of the purification plates 2.

[0051] After the raw gas (i.e., the hydrogen to be purified) enters the purification cylinder 1, the hydrogen molecules in the raw gas dissociate into hydrogen atoms on the surface of the purification plate 2, diffuse through the lattice gaps to the other side and recombine into hydrogen molecules, while impurities such as nitrogen and oxygen are blocked because they cannot dissociate or have a large radius, thus obtaining high-purity hydrogen.

[0052] The hydrogen purifier provided in this application is mainly used to remove impurities such as H2O, methane, O2, N2, CO2, CO, H2S, HCHO, HCOOH, and NH3 from hydrogen.

[0053] The surface of the purification tablet 2 can be patterned to increase the effective contact area between the purification tablet 2 and hydrogen, thereby improving the capture efficiency of impurities in the hydrogen.

[0054] From the air inlet 10 to the air outlet 11, the weight percentage of zirconium in the purification tablet 2 gradually decreases from 75% to 65%. The front section efficiently adsorbs large molecular impurities (such as CH4), while the rear section precisely removes trace amounts of O2 / H2O, thus achieving staged purification.

[0055] When the purification tablet 2 in the purification cylinder 1 becomes saturated with impurities, an inert gas can be injected into the purification cylinder 1 to reverse the desorption of impurities, allowing the purification tablet 2 to be reused.

[0056] Zirconium is the core active ingredient of purified tablet 2, forming a body-centered cubic solid solution matrix with zirconium as the main component, providing the main active sites.

[0057] When the weight percentage of zirconium in purification tablet 2 is less than 65%, the zirconium matrix is ​​discontinuous, with fewer active sites, resulting in poor adsorption of impurities.

[0058] When zirconium accounts for more than 75% of the weight of purified tablet 2, the excess zirconium will form brittle metal compounds such as Zr2Fe, which will reduce toughness and prevent hydrogen diffusion.

[0059] The optimal weight percentage of zirconium in purification tablet 2 is 70%.

[0060] The industrial hydrogen to be purified enters through the inlet 10 of the purification cylinder 1. The hydrogen passes sequentially through multiple zirconium-vanadium-iron alloy purification plates 2 arranged along the length of the cylinder. Impurities in the hydrogen are selectively blocked or adsorbed by the zirconium-vanadium-iron lattice due to differences in molecular size or chemical affinity, ultimately resulting in high-purity hydrogen being output from the outlet 11. Zirconium accounts for 65%~75% of the weight of the purification plates 2. While ensuring effective absorption of impurities in the hydrogen, it suppresses the formation of orthorhombic brittle phases, allowing the material to be processed into a sheet-like structure with adequate mechanical strength, avoiding the labyrinthine resistance of powder beds. The purification plates 2 form parallel, straight-through flow channels, resulting in low resistance to hydrogen and allowing it to pass through the purification cylinder 1 relatively quickly, thus increasing the hydrogen purification rate. Vanadium in zirconium vanadium iron can form a solid solution within a zirconium-dominated body-centered cubic structure. Vanadium's affinity for iron is much lower than that for zirconium, preventing the large-scale precipitation of the brittle Zr₂Fe phase, lowering the activation temperature, and improving hydrogen purification efficiency. Iron in zirconium vanadium iron enhances the diffusion capacity of hydrogen at grain boundaries. The synergistic effect of zirconium, vanadium, and iron enables multiple purification plates to achieve a hydrogen purification accuracy of up to 99.99999% (7N grade), significantly higher than the existing hydrogen purification process's 99.9999% (6N grade), meeting current industrial requirements.

[0061] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, the weight percentage of vanadium in the purified tablet 2 is 22% to 27%.

[0062] When the weight percentage of vanadium in purification tablet 2 is less than 22%, the activation temperature increases, and the adsorption effect on impurities in hydrogen is weakened under the premise of constant temperature.

[0063] When the weight percentage of vanadium in purification sheet 2 is higher than 27%, vanadium-rich phases such as V2Zr are easily formed, reducing the proportion of zirconium active surface. Microcracks are more likely to appear on purification sheet 2, allowing hydrogen to pass through directly.

[0064] The optimal weight percentage of vanadium in purified tablet 2 is 24.6%.

[0065] When the weight percentage of vanadium in purified tablet 2 is 22%~27%, vanadium expands the interstitial space of zirconium lattice, reduces the activation energy of hydrogen permeation, and increases the hydrogen diffusion rate; vanadium is dissolved in zirconium lattice, blocking the formation path of orthorhombic brittle phase and inhibiting the formation of brittle phase; vanadium and iron synergistically form fine-grained strengthening phases (such as V2Zr, FeZr2), which improves the mechanical strength of purified tablet 2.

[0066] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, the weight percentage of iron in the purified tablet 2 is 3% to 7%.

[0067] When the weight percentage of iron in purified tablet 2 is less than 3%, the grain boundary iron network is discontinuous, and the hydrogen diffusion rate is low.

[0068] When the weight percentage of iron in purification tablet 2 is higher than 7%, the excess iron forms a brittle Zr2Fe phase, which leads to rapid pulverization and failure during hydrogen absorption and expansion.

[0069] The optimal weight percentage of iron in purified tablet 2 is 5.4%.

[0070] When the weight percentage of iron in purification tablet 2 is 3% to 7%, iron forms a continuous network FeZr3 phase, which improves the structural strength of purification tablet 2 and also increases the hydrogen diffusion rate; Fe is completely dissolved in the Zr lattice, avoiding the formation of brittle phases.

[0071] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, such as Figure 5 As shown, the inner wall of the purification cylinder 1 extends in a spiral shape along its length; multiple purification plates 2 located inside the purification cylinder 1 are arranged in a spiral shape along the inner wall of the purification cylinder 1.

[0072] The inner wall of the purification cylinder 1 can be provided with grooves so that the edge of the purification tablet 2 can be inserted, thereby avoiding the occurrence of gaps caused by the inability of the inclined part of the spirally extended inner wall to fully fit the outer peripheral surface of the purification tablet 2.

[0073] After entering the purification cylinder 1, the hydrogen gas moves in a spiral shape along the inner wall of the purification cylinder 1. The spiral flow channel forces the airflow to generate a radial velocity component, so that the gas adheres evenly to the surface of the purification plate 2 under the action of centrifugal force. This prevents the gas from being concentrated in the center of the purification plate 2, eliminating the problem of low edge utilization of the purification plate 2 and improving the overall surface utilization of the purification plate 2. The actual flow path length of the spiral-flowing gas in the purification cylinder 1 is increased compared to the conventional straight inner wall. Through the swirling self-pressurization effect, the pressure required for the traction gas to flow from the inlet 10 to the outlet 11 is reduced, thus reducing the energy consumption required for the purifier to maintain the pressure. The path of the hydrogen gas through the purification plate 2 changes from a straight line parallel to the thickness direction of the purification plate 2 to an oblique line or arc extending radially towards the purification plate 2, increasing the contact time between the hydrogen gas and the purification plate 2, thereby improving the purification accuracy.

[0074] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, such as Figure 4 As shown, the inner wall of the purification cylinder 1 is also provided with a plurality of partitions 12; the partitions 12 are located between any two adjacent purification plates 2; the center of the partitions 12 is provided with an opening for hydrogen gas to pass through; the plurality of partitions 12 are arranged along the length of the purification cylinder 1.

[0075] The connection between the separator 12 and the inner wall of the purification cylinder 1 can be a gradually narrowing arc transition, which guides the gas near the inner wall of the purification cylinder 1 to move toward the center of the separator 12 to pass through the opening, reducing eddy current loss at the edge and eliminating flow dead zones.

[0076] The adhesion between the purification plate 2 and the inner wall of the purification cylinder 1 is not stable, and gaps may exist. Hydrogen gas may pass through these gaps, resulting in insufficient purification by the purification plate 2. The separator 12 guides the gas from these edges to the center, forcing a redistribution of the airflow, making it easier for the hydrogen gas to contact the center of the next purification plate 2, thereby improving the purification effect of the hydrogen gas. The central opening of the separator 12 guides the hydrogen gas to form a high-speed main airflow at the center of the purification cylinder 1. At the same time, the separator plate inhibits the airflow at the edges from forming a reverse flow that impacts the purification plate 2 and generates a vortex, which carries the adsorbed impurities back into the airflow, thereby improving the purity of the purified hydrogen gas.

[0077] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, such as Figure 4 As shown, along the length of the purification cylinder 1, the distance between two adjacent partitions 12 gradually decreases from the air inlet 10 to the air outlet 11.

[0078] The size of the openings on the multiple partitions 12 can be gradually reduced from the inlet 10 to the outlet 11 to enhance the control effect on the flow rate of hydrogen.

[0079] Guide vanes can be installed at the edge of the partition 12 to prevent the gas from running around and to ensure a faster and more stable airflow.

[0080] The space between two adjacent partitions 12 is a separate compartment, and multiple partitions 12 divide the purification cylinder 1 into multiple compartments. In this application, the distance between two partitions 12 gradually decreases from the air inlet 10 to the air outlet 11, that is, the size of the compartment gradually decreases from the air inlet 10 to the air outlet 11. The multiple partitions 12 near the air inlet 10 are widely spaced, forming a large-space compartment where the hydrogen flow rate is relatively slow, allowing sufficient time for contact with the purification plate 2. The spacing between the multiple partitions 12 in the middle is reduced, increasing the flow rate and causing the gas to swirl (forming turbulence). This throws the remaining impurities in the gas (such as small water vapor molecules and a small amount of oxygen) onto the purification plate 2, making it easier for impurities in the hydrogen to be adsorbed and improving the purification effect of the hydrogen. The multiple partitions 12 near the air outlet 11 are closely spaced, resulting in the fastest flow rate and forming micro-turbulence. This enhances the Brownian motion diffusion of low-concentration impurities, making them easier for the purification plate 2 to capture and collect. At the same time, the micro-turbulence can also disperse the hydrogen molecules accumulated on the surface of the purification plate 2, preventing the formation of a hydrogen molecule "isolation layer" on the purification plate 2. This application controls the flow rate of hydrogen in the purification cylinder 1 by controlling the size of each compartment. It also takes advantage of the characteristic that the impurity content of the hydrogen in the purification cylinder 1 is higher at the beginning and lower at the end (when the hydrogen first enters, there are more impurities, and the spacing between the multiple partitions 12 near the inlet 10 is large, allowing the hydrogen to flow slowly and make full contact with the purification plate 2, and also preventing a single purification plate 2 from adsorbing impurities to a saturated state; when the hydrogen is near the outlet 11, there are fewer impurities, and the spacing between the multiple partitions 12 near the inlet 10 is small, allowing the hydrogen to flow slowly and the Brownian motion of the impurities to diffuse, making them easier to be adsorbed by the purification plate 2), thus improving the purification effect of hydrogen.

[0081] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, such as Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, it also includes a heating mechanism 3; the heating mechanism 3 includes a heating wire 30 and a heat-conducting element 31; the heating wire 30 is embedded inside the heat-conducting element 31; the heat-conducting element 31 covers the outer peripheral surface of the purification cylinder 1; the heat-conducting element 31 is made of a thermally conductive material; the heating wire 30 is used to heat the purification plate 2 inside the purification cylinder 1.

[0082] Thermally conductive adhesive can also be filled between the heat-conducting component 31 and the purification cylinder 1 to avoid separation caused by differences in thermal expansion rates between the two components.

[0083] The heat-conducting component 31 can be boron nitride / carbon nanotube reinforced PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) composite material, ceramic-filled silicone, etc.

[0084] When the adsorbed impurities include methane, the purification temperature is as high as 400℃; if the raw gas does not contain carbon-containing organic matter such as methane, the purification temperature is above 200℃.

[0085] The heating wire 30 heats up rapidly, and the heat is evenly conducted to the purification plate 2 through the heat conductor 31, activating the grain boundary diffusion channels of the zirconium vanadium iron alloy. The heat conductor 31 covers the outer circumferential surface of the purification cylinder 1, rapidly transferring the heat from the heating wire to the purification plate 2, allowing the purification plate 2 to heat up quickly and improving its start-up speed; the heat conductor 31 is in close contact with the outer wall of the purification cylinder 1, ensuring uniform temperature in the circumferential direction of the purification cylinder 1, and avoiding local hot or cold spots that may affect the purification effect of the purification plate 2 on hydrogen in the corresponding area.

[0086] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, such as Figures 1-4 As shown, it also includes a shell 5 and an insulation layer 4; the insulation layer 4 is disposed inside the shell 5; the heat-conducting component 31 is disposed inside the insulation layer 4.

[0087] The shell 5 can have multiple micro-ventilation holes to release the small amount of heat accumulation between the shell 5 and the insulation layer 4 without affecting the insulation effect, thus avoiding local overheating.

[0088] The inner side of the insulation layer 4 can be coated with a reflective coating (e.g., an aluminum-based coating with a reflectivity > 95%) to improve the radiative heat efficiency of the heat-conducting component 31 to the cylinder.

[0089] The shell 5 provides structural support for its internal components; the insulation layer 4 wraps around the heat-conducting component 31 to reduce heat loss; the heat-conducting component 31 is in close contact with the purification cylinder 1, working in conjunction with the insulation layer 4 to achieve efficient heating and low-consumption heat preservation in a closed-loop temperature control system. During the purification process, the insulation layer 4 controls the surface temperature of the shell 5 at a relatively low temperature (below 60℃), preventing burns to operators and reducing the risk of alloy embrittlement due to overheating at high temperatures. In addition, when the temperature of the heating wire 30 drops suddenly, the insulation layer 4's heat-locking ability can maintain the internal high temperature, preventing the purification plate 2 from cracking due to sudden cooling. During the purification process, the shell 5 will bear the thermal expansion stress generated by temperature changes in the purification cylinder 1; the insulation layer 4's buffering effect prevents the purification plate 2 from cracking due to stress concentration against the cylinder wall.

[0090] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, such as Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the insulation layer 4 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the heat-conducting component 31; the heat-conducting component 31 is rotatably disposed on the inner side of the insulation layer 4.

[0091] The shell 5 is square, and the insulation layer 4 is attached to the inner wall of the shell 5. The shell 5 can restrict the insulation layer 4 from rotating under the action of the heat-conducting component 31.

[0092] A sealing ring can be provided between the heat-conducting component 31 and the insulation layer 4 to prevent heat leakage and gas penetration.

[0093] The purification cylinder 1 can rotate synchronously with the heat-conducting component 31. The rotation of the heat-conducting component 31 causes the gas entering the inlet to form a spiral flow, allowing the higher-temperature gas near the inner wall of the purification cylinder 1 to mix with the lower-temperature gas at the center. This ensures that the temperature of the gas entering the inlet rises evenly, preventing the lower-temperature gas at the center from directly contacting the purification plate 2 and causing its temperature to drop, thus affecting the purification effect. The insulation layer 4 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the heat-conducting component 31, limiting the amplitude of the heat-conducting component 31 and absorbing the vibration energy generated by the rotation of the heat-conducting component 31, preventing the rotation of the heat-conducting component 31 from causing vibration of the entire purifier.

[0094] According to some embodiments of this application, optionally, such as Figure 4 As shown, the insulation layer 4 includes a skeleton 40 and a filling part 41; the skeleton 40 is in contact with the heat-conducting component 31; the side of the skeleton 40 near the shell 5 has a honeycomb frame structure; the inner side of the insulation layer 4 near the shell 5 is filled with the filling part 41; the filling part 41 has the characteristics of softening after absorbing heat and hardening after releasing heat.

[0095] The framework 40 can be a material with high thermal conductivity, such as graphene.

[0096] The filler 41 can be a composite material of paraffin, silicone rubber and metal salt, or a shape memory alloy (such as nickel-titanium alloy).

[0097] The skeleton 40 forms a heat conduction path in contact with the heat-conducting component 31, while also providing support for the filling part 41, ensuring structural stability during phase change material state changes. The filling part 41 utilizes the latent heat absorption characteristics of the phase change material to quickly capture excess heat in the initial heating stage, preventing a sudden temperature rise in the purification sheet 2 and providing a heat buffer for it. After absorbing heat, the filling part 41 softens and can be compressed to compensate for the volume change caused by thermal expansion, reducing the volume change rate of the insulation layer 4 to avoid excessive compression of the shell 5 and purification cylinder 1. When the ambient temperature drops sharply, the filling part 41 gradually hardens, releasing the stored latent heat and directionally supplementing heat to the purification cylinder 1 through the heat conduction path of the skeleton 40, reducing temperature fluctuations in the purification sheet 2. Furthermore, when the internal temperature of the purifier drops sharply, the filling part 41 quickly hardens to form a rigid support, preventing stress concentration and cracking at the grain boundaries of the purification sheet 2 due to sudden cooling. The hardened filling part 41 and the skeleton 40 jointly bear the thermal shrinkage stress of the purification cylinder 1, reducing stress concentration and ensuring the structural integrity of the equipment under extreme temperature changes.

[0098] Although this application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications can be made thereto and components can be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of this application. In particular, the technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any manner, provided there is no structural conflict. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A hydrogen purifier, characterized in that, include: The purification cylinder has an air inlet and an air outlet at opposite ends along its length. Multiple purification tablets are disposed inside the purification cartridge; The plurality of the purification tablets are arranged along the length of the purification tube; The purification tablet is attached to the inner wall of the purification cylinder; The inner wall of the purification cylinder is also provided with multiple partitions; The separator is located between any two adjacent purification tablets; The partition has an opening at its center for hydrogen gas to pass through; The plurality of the partitions are arranged along the length of the purification tube; Along the length of the purification cylinder, the distance between two adjacent partitions gradually decreases from the air inlet to the air outlet. The purification tablet is used to remove impurities from hydrogen to purify it. The purification tablet is made of zirconium vanadium iron, wherein zirconium accounts for 65% to 75% of the weight of the purification tablet.

2. The hydrogen purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, Vanadium accounts for 22% to 27% of the weight of the purified tablets.

3. A hydrogen purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The iron content in the purified tablets is 3% to 7% by weight.

4. A hydrogen purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the purification cylinder extends in a spiral shape along its length. The plurality of purification plates located inside the purification cylinder are arranged in a spiral shape along the inner wall of the purification cylinder.

5. A hydrogen purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a heating mechanism; The heating mechanism includes a heating wire and a heat-conducting component; The heating wire is embedded inside the heat-conducting component; The heat-conducting component covers the outer peripheral surface of the purification cylinder; The heat-conducting component is made of a thermally conductive material; The heating wire is used to heat the purification tablet inside the purification cylinder.

6. A hydrogen purifier according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes the shell and insulation layer; The thermal insulation layer is disposed on the inner side of the shell; The heat-conducting component is disposed on the inner side of the insulation layer.

7. A hydrogen purifier according to claim 6, characterized in that, The insulation layer is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the heat-conducting component; The heat-conducting component is rotatably disposed inside the insulation layer.

8. A hydrogen purifier according to claim 6, characterized in that, The insulation layer includes a skeleton and a filling part; The frame is in contact with the heat-conducting component; The skeleton has a honeycomb-shaped frame structure on the side closest to the shell; The inner side of the insulation layer near the shell is filled with the filling portion; The filling part has the property of softening after absorbing heat and hardening after releasing heat.

Images