Reformer and solid oxide fuel cell system

Abstract

The present invention discloses a reformer and a solid oxide fuel cell system, the reformer comprising: a main housing, two ends of which are respectively connected to a main gas inlet pipe and a gas outlet pipe; the drawing structure comprises a catalytic inner core and a baffle plate, and the catalytic inner core is connected with the baffle plate; an embedding opening is formed in the side wall of the main shell, the catalytic inner core is embedded into an inner cavity of the main shell through the embedding opening, and the baffle is in sealed connection with the embedding opening; the mixer comprises an auxiliary air inlet pipe and a rotational flow part, the auxiliary air inlet pipe is communicated with the rotational flow part, the rotational flow part is located on the flow guide path of the main air inlet pipe, the rotational flow part is provided with a plurality of fan blades, the fan blades are evenly distributed along the center circumference of the rotational flow part, and each fan blade is provided with a plurality of air outlet holes. When the catalyst particles are replaced, the catalyst particles are exposed by drawing out the drawing structure, the baffle and the embedding opening are matched to seal the inner cavity of the main shell, and flexible drawing-out and embedding installation is achieved; and moreover, the arrangement of the mixer can realize full mixing of the fuel gas and the water vapor, so that full proceeding of the reforming reaction is facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of fuel cells, and particularly to reformers and solid oxide fuel cell systems. Background Technology

[0002] Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are power generation devices that convert the chemical energy in fuel and oxidant into electrical energy through electrochemical reactions at high temperatures above 600°C. They offer numerous advantages, including high power generation efficiency, environmental friendliness, and wide fuel adaptability. Therefore, due to their energy-saving and environmentally friendly properties, SOFCs are considered one of the important methods for utilizing new energy sources in the future.

[0003] The reformer is a crucial component of a solid oxide fuel cell system. It typically contains specific catalyst particles that, under certain operating temperatures, induce a reforming reaction in the flowing fuel-gas mixture. However, existing reformers are usually designed as a tank filled with catalyst particles, then installed into the system via welding or flanges. Over time, the performance of the catalyst within the reformer gradually degrades. When catalyst replacement is necessary, the entire reformer must be disassembled, all catalyst particles emptied, replaced with new ones, and then reinstalled into the system – a cumbersome and inconvenient process.

[0004] In addition, in existing reformers, fuel gas and water vapor enter the reformer together through the inlet. The fuel gas and water vapor are mixed in the reformer, but due to the limited volume of the reformer, the fuel gas and water vapor cannot be fully mixed in the reformer, which is not conducive to the reforming reaction. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a reformer to solve one or more technical problems existing in the prior art, and at least provide a beneficial option or create conditions.

[0006] A reformer according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: The main housing has a main air inlet pipe and an air outlet pipe connected to its two ends, respectively. A pull-out structure is connected to the main housing. The pull-out structure includes a catalytic core and a baffle. The catalytic core is connected to the baffle. An insertion port is provided on the side wall of the main housing. The catalytic core is inserted into the inner cavity of the main housing through the insertion port. The baffle is sealed to the insertion port. A mixer includes a secondary intake pipe and a swirl section. The secondary intake pipe is connected to the swirl section but is not connected to the main intake pipe. The swirl section is located on the guide path of the main intake pipe. One of the main intake pipe and the secondary intake pipe is used to introduce water vapor, and the other is used to introduce fuel gas. The swirl section is provided with multiple fan blades, which are evenly distributed along the central circumference of the swirl section. Each fan blade is provided with multiple air outlets.

[0007] The reformer according to embodiments of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: the catalyst particles are placed in the catalytic core, and the fuel-gas mixture entering from the inlet undergoes a reforming reaction when passing through the catalytic core, and is broken down into lighter fuel gas, which is discharged from the outlet pipe; when the catalyst particles need to be replaced, the catalyst particles are exposed by pulling out the pull-out structure, making the process of replacing the catalyst particles simple and convenient; the baffle and the insertion port cooperate to seal the inner cavity of the main shell, realizing flexible extraction and insertion installation; in addition, if the main inlet pipe is used to introduce water vapor and the auxiliary inlet pipe is used to introduce fuel gas, then the fuel gas can be uniformly sprayed out from the outlet of the swirl section, which is conducive to the full mixing of fuel gas and water vapor, and the fan blades have a swirling effect on the water vapor, which further enhances the mixing of the fluid by increasing the turbulence intensity, which is conducive to the full progress of the reforming reaction.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the pull-out structure further includes a circumferential frame, a first filter screen disposed on the side near the main air intake pipe, and a second filter screen disposed on the side near the air outlet pipe. The baffle, the circumferential frame, the first filter screen, and the second filter screen together constitute a catalytic core for accommodating catalyst particles.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the pore size of both the first filter screen and the second filter screen is smaller than the size of the catalyst particles.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the edge of the circumferential frame is provided with a first slot and a second slot, the first filter screen is embedded along the first slot, and the second filter screen is embedded along the second slot.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the main housing has a plurality of first bolt holes in its insertion port, and the baffle has a second bolt hole corresponding to the first bolt holes. The main housing and the baffle are detachably connected by bolts.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a flow-guiding and diffusion section is provided at the connection between the main housing and the main intake pipe and at the connection between the main housing and the exhaust pipe, and the mixer extends to the flow-guiding and diffusion section near the side of the main intake pipe.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, there are two pull-out structures, and two embedding ports are provided on the side wall of the main housing. The catalytic core of each pull-out structure is embedded into the inner cavity of the main housing through the corresponding embedding port, and the baffle of each pull-out structure is sealed to the corresponding embedding port.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, each of the fan blades is provided with the air outlet in two directions.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the swirl section is rotatably connected to the auxiliary air intake pipe.

[0016] A solid oxide fuel cell system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the reformer described above.

[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention 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 the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the reformer provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows the three-dimensional structure of the reformer after the pull-out structure is removed. Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the pull-out structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention after the second filter is hidden; Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the pull-out structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention from another angular direction; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the slot structure of the pull-out structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the mixer provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the mixer provided in an embodiment of the present invention after the secondary intake pipe is hidden. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0021] In the description of this invention, "several" means one or more, "more than" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0022] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0023] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a reformer 100, which includes a main intake pipe 110, a secondary intake pipe 210, an outlet pipe 120, a main housing 130, and at least one pull-out structure 140. The main housing 130 is connected to the main intake pipe 110 and the outlet pipe 120 at its two ends, respectively. The secondary intake pipe 210 extends into the main intake pipe 110 as a branch pipe. The main intake pipe 110 and the secondary intake pipe 210 are used to introduce different gases. The pull-out structure 140 includes a catalytic core 141 and a baffle 142, with the catalytic core 141 connected to the baffle 142. An insertion port is provided on the side wall of the main housing 130, through which the catalytic core 141 is inserted into the inner cavity of the main housing 130, and the baffle 142 cooperates with the insertion port to seal the inner cavity of the main housing 130.

[0024] It should be noted that the main housing 130, as the main structure of the reformer 100, forms an internal cavity to provide a reaction environment for the reforming reaction. Gas is introduced and discharged through the main intake pipe 110 and the exhaust pipe 120. In this embodiment, the main intake pipe 110 is used to introduce water vapor, while the auxiliary intake pipe 210 is used to introduce fuel gas. The fuel gas and water vapor mix in the main intake pipe 110 to form a fuel-water mixture. Within the cavity of the main housing 130, the fuel gas and water vapor undergo a reforming reaction, and the reformed gas is discharged through the exhaust pipe 120. The reformer 100 is also provided with a pull-out structure 140, which can be pulled out of the main housing 130 or pushed into the main housing 130. The catalyst core 141 is used to place catalyst particles, which are used to accelerate the reaction efficiency of the reforming reaction. When the pull-out structure 140 is pushed into the main housing 130, the catalyst core 141 is inserted into the inner cavity of the main housing 130 through the insertion port on the side wall of the main housing 130, which accelerates the reaction efficiency of the reforming reaction. At the same time, the baffle 142 cooperates with the insertion port to seal the catalyst core 141 in the inner cavity of the main housing 130.

[0025] Understandably, the pull-out design allows the catalyst core 141 to be easily extracted from the main housing 130 of the reformer 100, which facilitates routine maintenance, repair, or replacement. The baffle 142 and the insert seal together to ensure the airtightness of the gas reaction chamber inside the reformer 100, prevent gas leakage and efficiency reduction, maintain long-term stable operation of the equipment, and reduce downtime.

[0026] like Figures 3 to 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the pull-out structure 140 further includes a circumferential frame 149, a first filter 143 disposed on the side near the main intake pipe 110, and a second filter 144 disposed on the side near the exhaust pipe 120. The baffle 142, the circumferential frame 149, the first filter 143 and the second filter 144 together constitute a catalytic core 141 for accommodating catalyst particles.

[0027] It should be noted that the circumferential frame 149, as the supporting frame of the pull-out structure 140, provides the basic shape and supporting structure of the catalyst core 141, ensuring the stability and safety of the catalyst particles. The first filter 143 is located on the side near the main intake pipe 110, filtering the gas entering the catalyst core 141, removing possible impurities and particulate matter, and protecting the catalyst particles from contamination. The second filter 144 is located on the side near the exhaust pipe 120, further filtering the gas to ensure that the discharged gas is clean and uncontaminated. The baffle 142, together with the circumferential frame 149, the first filter 143, and the second filter 144, forms the catalyst core 141, serving to separate and fix the catalyst particles, ensuring that the catalyst particles are stably distributed inside the cavity.

[0028] In some embodiments, the pore size of the first filter screen 143 and the second filter screen 144 is smaller than the size of the catalyst particles.

[0029] It should be noted that the filter pore size is smaller than the catalyst particle size to prevent the catalyst particles from leaking out of the first filter 143 and the second filter 144. At the same time, the filter pores allow the fuel mixture to pass through, ensuring the normal flow of the reforming reaction gas in the first filter 143 and the second filter 144.

[0030] In some embodiments, the edge of the circumferential frame 149 is provided with a first slot 145 and a second slot 146, the first filter 143 is embedded along the first slot 145, and the second filter 144 is embedded along the second slot 146.

[0031] It should be noted that the first filter 143 is tightly embedded in the first slot 145 of the circumferential frame 149, and the second filter 144 is tightly embedded in the second slot 146 of the circumferential frame 149, thus fixing them in their positions and forming an effective filtration barrier inside the catalytic core 141. When the catalytic core 141 is embedded, the first slot 145 is positioned near the main intake pipe 110, and the second slot 146 is positioned near the exhaust pipe 120, ensuring the high efficiency and stability of the system during operation.

[0032] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the main housing 130 has a plurality of first bolt holes 131 in the insertion port, and the baffle 142 has a second bolt hole 147 corresponding to the first bolt holes 131. The main housing 130 and the baffle 142 are detachably connected by bolts.

[0033] It should be noted that the main housing 130 and the baffle 142 are connected by bolts. The bolts pass through the first bolt hole 131 of the main housing 130 and the second bolt hole 147 of the baffle 142. Tightening the bolts ensures a tight connection between the two, thereby assembling the pull-out structure 140 onto the main housing 130. This ensures the structural stability of the reformer 100 during operation and reduces loosening or displacement caused by vibration or changes in operating conditions. The connection between the main housing 130 and the baffle 142 is relatively easy to disassemble and reinstall, facilitating routine maintenance and component replacement.

[0034] It is understandable that the distribution of the first bolt opening 131 around the insertion opening is the same as the distribution of the second bolt opening 147 around the baffle 142. By making the first bolt opening 131 and the second bolt opening 147 have the same distribution, the symmetry and consistency of the main housing 130 and the baffle 142 during the installation process can be ensured. Moreover, the consistent bolt opening distribution helps to ensure the stable and reliable connection between the main housing 130 and the baffle 142.

[0035] In some embodiments, a handle 148 is provided on the outer side of the baffle 142.

[0036] It should be noted that the handle 148 on the outside of the baffle 142 facilitates the pulling out and inserting of the pull-out structure 140.

[0037] In some embodiments, flow guiding and diffusion sections 132 are provided at the connection points between the two ends of the main housing 130 and the main air inlet pipe 110 and the air outlet pipe 120.

[0038] It should be noted that the flow-guiding and diffusion section 132 can guide the gas in the main intake pipe 110 and the exhaust pipe 120, so that it enters or leaves the main housing 130 in a more stable and uniform manner. The flow-guiding and diffusion section 132 can also form an effective isolation barrier between the main intake pipe 110 and the exhaust pipe 120 to prevent fluid backflow or leakage, and ensure the stability and safety of system operation.

[0039] In some embodiments, the reformer 100 has two pull-out structures 140, which are at least structurally identical but may differ in size. Correspondingly, the sidewall of the main housing 130 has two insertion ports, which are spaced apart along the airflow direction. After the two pull-out structures 140 are inserted into the inner cavity of the main housing 130, gas is introduced and discharged through the main intake pipe 110 and the exhaust pipe 120. The gas is introduced into the inner cavity of the main housing 130 through the main intake pipe 110, passes sequentially through the two catalytic cores 141, and is finally discharged from the inner cavity of the main housing 130 through the exhaust pipe 120.

[0040] It should be noted that by setting up two pull-out structures 140, partial replacement of catalyst particles can be achieved. As the reformer 100 operates for an extended period, the performance of the catalyst particles within it will gradually decline. The performance of upstream catalyst particles generally degrades faster than that of downstream catalyst particles. When upstream catalyst particles need replacement, downstream catalyst particles may still be usable. Therefore, the reformer 100 is equipped with two pull-out structures 140, allowing for the individual replacement of either upstream or downstream catalyst particles. By setting up two pull-out structures 140, multi-stage catalyst particle replacement can be achieved, making the catalyst particle replacement method more flexible.

[0041] It should be further noted that the number of pull-out structures 140 can also be three, four, etc., and is not limited to the above embodiment. However, since setting too many pull-out structures 140 would obviously increase the cost, considering the service life of the catalyst particles, setting two pull-out structures 140 is generally sufficient to meet daily production needs.

[0042] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the reformer 100 further includes a mixer 200, which includes a secondary intake pipe 210 and a swirl section 220. The secondary intake pipe 210 is not directly connected to the main intake pipe 110. The secondary intake pipe 210 can serve as an inner pipe of the main intake pipe 110, or it can extend laterally through the main intake pipe 110. Regardless of how the secondary intake pipe 210 is configured, it is connected to the swirl section 220, which is located on the guide path of the main intake pipe 110 and extends to a guide diffuser section 132 near the side of the main intake pipe 110. One of the main intake pipe 110 and the secondary intake pipe 210 is used to introduce water vapor, and the other is used to introduce fuel gas. If the main intake pipe 110 is used to introduce water vapor, then the auxiliary intake pipe 210 is used to introduce fuel gas; conversely, if the main intake pipe 110 is used to introduce fuel gas, then the auxiliary intake pipe 210 is used to introduce water vapor. In this embodiment, the main intake pipe 110 is used to introduce water vapor, while the auxiliary intake pipe 210 is used to introduce fuel gas.

[0043] It should be noted that the swirl section 220 is provided with multiple fan blades 230, which are evenly distributed along the central circumference of the swirl section 220. A guide channel 231 is formed between two adjacent fan blades 230. Each fan blade 230 is provided with a guide slope 232 arranged in the direction of air intake to air outlet, and each fan blade 230 is provided with multiple air outlets 233. At this time, the fuel gas flowing through the auxiliary intake pipe 210 flows out from the air outlets 233. When water vapor flows through the multiple guide channels 231, the water vapor will rotate due to the arrangement of the guide slopes 232 to generate turbulent pulsations to further enhance the mixing of the fluid, which is beneficial to the full progress of the reforming reaction.

[0044] It should be further explained that each fan blade 230 has air outlets 233 in two directions, and the air outlets 233 are not located on the guide slope 232. Since the fan blade 230 has a three-dimensional structure, in addition to having two guide slopes 232, it also has a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer surface. The bottom surface and the outer surface of the fan blade 230 belong to different directions, and their surfaces are provided with multiple air outlets 233 to meet the requirements for the placement of the air outlets 233.

[0045] It should be further explained that the swirl section 220 is rotatably connected to the auxiliary air intake pipe 210 via a bearing, allowing the swirl section 220 to rotate freely. When water vapor flows through the swirl section 220, under the aerodynamic force of the water vapor, the swirl section 220 can rotate around the auxiliary air intake pipe 210 to further enhance the swirl of water vapor and generate stronger turbulent pulsations to enhance fluid mixing.

[0046] This invention also provides a solid oxide fuel cell system, including the reformer 100 as described above.

[0047] Since the solid oxide fuel cell system adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0048] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A reformer, characterized in that, include: The main housing has a main air inlet pipe and an air outlet pipe connected to its two ends, respectively. A pull-out structure is connected to the main housing. The pull-out structure includes a catalytic core and a baffle. The catalytic core is connected to the baffle. An insertion port is provided on the side wall of the main housing. The catalytic core is inserted into the inner cavity of the main housing through the insertion port. The baffle is sealed to the insertion port. A mixer includes a secondary intake pipe and a swirl section. The secondary intake pipe is connected to the swirl section but is not connected to the main intake pipe. The swirl section is located on the guide path of the main intake pipe. One of the main intake pipe and the secondary intake pipe is used to introduce water vapor, and the other is used to introduce fuel gas. The swirl section is provided with multiple fan blades, which are evenly distributed along the central circumference of the swirl section. Each fan blade is provided with multiple air outlets.

2. The reformer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pull-out structure also includes a circumferential frame, a first filter screen disposed on the side near the main air intake pipe, and a second filter screen disposed on the side near the air outlet pipe. The baffle, the circumferential frame, the first filter screen, and the second filter screen together constitute a catalytic core for accommodating catalyst particles.

3. The reformer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The pore size of both the first and second filter screens is smaller than the size of the catalyst particles.

4. The reformer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The edge of the circumferential frame is provided with a first slot and a second slot, the first filter is embedded along the first slot, and the second filter is embedded along the second slot.

5. The reformer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main housing has a plurality of first bolt holes at its insertion opening, and the baffle has a second bolt hole corresponding to the first bolt holes. The main housing and the baffle are detachably connected by bolts.

6. The reformer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A flow-guiding and diffusion section is provided at the connection between the main housing and the main intake pipe and at the connection between the main housing and the exhaust pipe, and the mixer extends to the flow-guiding and diffusion section near the side of the main intake pipe.

7. The reformer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of pull-out structures is two, and the side wall of the main housing has two insertion ports. The catalytic core of each pull-out structure is inserted into the inner cavity of the main housing through the corresponding insertion port, and the baffle of each pull-out structure is sealed to the corresponding insertion port.

8. The reformer according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the fan blades has an air outlet in two directions.

9. The reformer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The swirl section is rotatably connected to the auxiliary air intake pipe.

10. A solid oxide fuel cell system, characterized in that, Includes the reformer as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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