Multifunctional methanol hydrogen production reactor and methanol hydrogen production system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a multifunctional methanol hydrogen production reactor and methanol hydrogen production system, the methanol hydrogen production reactor includes the casing, and is located in the methanol water vaporization module, reforming reaction module and catalytic oxidation module of casing, the methanol water vaporization module with the reforming reaction module intercommunication, and it is located in the reforming reaction module and the catalytic oxidation module outside, so that the methanol water vaporization module, reforming reaction module and catalytic oxidation module can heat exchange between two. Through the technology can greatly reduce the volume of methanol hydrogen production system, also reduced the transportation length, reduced the heat loss, improved the thermal efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of methanol-to-hydrogen technology, specifically to a multifunctional methanol-to-hydrogen reactor and methanol-to-hydrogen system. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen energy, as a new type of efficient and clean energy source, can be produced through various methods such as electrolysis, natural gas production, and methanol cracking. Among these, methanol cracking technology is widely used due to its advantages such as easy storage and low cost. As a key piece of equipment in methanol-to-hydrogen technology, the reforming reactor is a major research focus in this field.

[0003] In the methanol-to-hydrogen process, a liquid methanol-water mixture needs to be vaporized at high temperature before being fed into a reforming reactor for cracking. Cracking reactions typically require high temperature and pressure. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the thermal energy utilization rate in the methanol-to-hydrogen reaction to reduce production costs.

[0004] Existing technologies CN220610304U and CN220425360U both disclose a methanol-to-hydrogen reactor. These reactors improve thermal efficiency by adding components such as dividing discs or baffles inside the reactor shell to extend the flow path of the heat medium, thereby increasing the heat exchange time between the heat medium and the reforming reactor tubes. Simultaneously, they utilize purified hydrogen or further combust the purified tail gas as a heat medium to further improve the thermal utilization rate of the methanol-to-hydrogen process. However, these technologies all use a gaseous heat source as the heat medium, resulting in relatively poor heat exchange efficiency and low heat utilization. Furthermore, these technologies require transporting the heat medium to the reforming reactor, during which heat loss also occurs. Utility Model Content

[0005] To improve the thermal energy utilization rate of reforming reactors, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0006] A multifunctional methanol-to-hydrogen reactor includes a shell, and a methanol-water vaporization module, a reforming reaction module, and a catalytic oxidation module disposed within the shell. The methanol-water vaporization module is connected to the reforming reaction module and is located outside the reforming reaction module and the catalytic oxidation module. The methanol-water vaporization module, the reforming reaction module, and the catalytic oxidation module are capable of heat exchange between each other.

[0007] Preferably, the catalytic oxidation module includes at least one catalytic reaction tube, the reforming reaction module includes at least one reforming reaction tube, and the methanol-water vaporization module includes at least one methanol-water preheating coil; the catalytic reaction tube and the reforming reaction tube are spaced apart, and the methanol-water preheating coil is wound around the outside of the catalytic reaction tube and the reforming reaction tube.

[0008] Preferably, the catalytic reaction module further includes a fuel inlet, a catalytic exhaust gas outlet, a fuel distribution chamber, and a catalytic exhaust gas confluence chamber; the fuel inlet is connected to the fuel distribution chamber, and the fuel distribution chamber is connected to the inlet end of the catalytic reaction tube; the catalytic exhaust gas outlet is connected to the catalytic exhaust gas confluence chamber, and the catalytic exhaust gas confluence chamber is connected to the outlet end of the catalytic reaction tube.

[0009] Preferably, the reforming reaction module further includes a vaporized methanol-water inlet and a reformed mixed gas outlet; the vaporized methanol-water inlet is connected to the inlet end of the reforming reaction tube; and the reformed mixed gas outlet is connected to the outlet end of the reforming reaction tube.

[0010] Preferably, the reforming reaction module further includes a splitter pipe and a manifold; one end of the splitter pipe has at least one splitter pipe outlet, and the other end has a splitter pipe inlet; the splitter pipe inlet is connected to the outlet end of the methanol-water preheating coil, and the splitter pipe outlet is connected to the vaporized methanol-water inlet; one end of the manifold has at least one inlet port, and the other end has a manifold outlet; the inlet port is connected to the reformed mixed gas outlet.

[0011] Preferably, the methanol-water vaporization module further includes a liquid methanol-water inlet pipe, a vaporized methanol-water outlet pipe, and a connecting pipe; the vaporized methanol-water outlet pipe is connected to the branch pipe through the connecting pipe; and the liquid methanol-water inlet pipe is connected to the inlet end of the methanol-water preheating coil.

[0012] Preferably, the housing includes multiple outer baffles for the tubes and aluminum material; the outer baffles are disposed around the methanol-water preheating coil, the catalytic reaction tube, and the reforming reaction tube; the aluminum material fills the gaps between the methanol-water preheating coil, the catalytic reaction tube, the reforming reaction tube, and the outer baffles.

[0013] Preferably, the housing further includes a tube support plate for supporting the catalytic reaction tubes and the reforming reaction tubes.

[0014] Preferably, the housing further includes a reactor inlet end cap for installing the fuel inlet and a reactor outlet end cap for installing the catalytic exhaust gas outlet; the reactor inlet end cap is disposed on the fuel distribution chamber; and the reactor outlet end cap is disposed on the catalytic exhaust gas confluence chamber.

[0015] A methanol-to-hydrogen system is also provided, including the methanol-to-hydrogen reactor described above, a preheater, and a heat exchanger; the preheater includes a first heat inlet, a first heat outlet, a second heat inlet, and a second heat outlet; the first heat inlet is connected to the reforming reaction module, the second heat inlet is connected to the catalytic oxidation module, and the second heat outlet is connected to the heat inlet of the heat exchanger.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] (1) This utility model integrates the methanol water vaporization module, the reforming reaction module and the catalytic oxidation module in the same space. On the one hand, it can greatly reduce the volume of the methanol to hydrogen system, and on the other hand, it can reduce the transportation length, greatly reduce the heat loss during the transportation of the heat medium, and improve the heat utilization rate.

[0018] (2) The alternating arrangement of the reforming reaction tubes and the catalytic oxidation tubes allows for more efficient heat exchange between the reforming reaction module and the catalytic oxidation module. At the same time, the methanol-water vaporization coil is placed outside the reforming reaction tubes and the catalytic oxidation tubes, so that the excess heat energy from the reforming reaction and the catalytic oxidation reaction can be used to heat and vaporize the methanol-water simultaneously, resulting in a higher thermal energy utilization rate for the methanol-to-hydrogen reactor. Furthermore, there is no need for long pipelines to transport the heat medium, thus avoiding heat loss.

[0019] (3) Aluminum is used to fill the space between the reforming reaction tube, the catalytic reaction tube and the methanol-water vaporization coil, which improves the heat transfer efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1a This is a right perspective view of the multifunctional methanol-to-hydrogen reactor described in this application;

[0021] Figure 1b This is a left perspective view of the multifunctional methanol-to-hydrogen reactor described in this application;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a side view of the multifunctional methanol-to-hydrogen reactor described in this application;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a top view of the multifunctional methanol-to-hydrogen reactor described in this application;

[0024] Figure 4 The outer shell of the multifunctional methanol-to-hydrogen reactor described in this application;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a process flow diagram of the methanol-to-hydrogen system described in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0027] Example 1:

[0028] A multifunctional methanol-to-hydrogen reactor, such as Figure 5 As shown, it includes a housing 400, and a methanol-water vaporization module 100, a reforming reaction module 200, and a catalytic oxidation module 300 disposed in the housing 400; the reforming reaction module 200, the methanol-water vaporization module 100, and the catalytic oxidation module 300 can exchange heat between each other.

[0029] Specifically, such as Figure 1a , 1b As shown, and Figures 2-4 As shown, the catalytic oxidation module 300 is used for catalytic combustion of combustible gas to provide thermal energy for the reforming reaction module 200 and the methanol-water vaporization module 100. The catalytic oxidation module 300 includes at least one catalytic reaction tube 16 for carrying out catalytic oxidation reactions within the catalytic reaction tube 16.

[0030] The reforming reaction module 200 is used for methanol cracking to produce hydrogen, and it can provide thermal energy for the methanol-water vaporization module 100. The reforming reaction module 200 includes at least one reforming reaction tube 17 for carrying out the reforming reaction; the reforming reaction tube 17 and the catalytic reaction tube 16 are arranged alternately to ensure that each reforming reaction tube 17 can fully exchange heat with each catalytic reaction tube 16.

[0031] The methanol-water vaporization module 100 is used to vaporize methanol-water. It includes at least one methanol-water preheating coil 15. The outlet end of the methanol-water preheating coil 15 is connected to the reforming reaction module 200 so that methanol-water flows into the reforming reaction tube 17. The methanol-water preheating coil 15 is coiled around the outside of the reforming reaction module 200 and the catalytic oxidation module 300 so that the methanol-water preheating coil 15 can exchange heat with the reforming reaction tube 17 and the catalytic reaction tube 16, thereby vaporizing the methanol-water therein.

[0032] Furthermore, the catalytic reaction module 300 also includes a fuel inlet 1 and a catalytic tail gas outlet 7. The fuel inlet 1 is connected to the inlet end of the catalytic reaction tube 16, and the catalytic tail gas outlet 7 is connected to the outlet end of the catalytic reaction tube 16. Preferably, the reforming reaction module 200 also includes a fuel distribution chamber 3 and a catalytic tail gas collection chamber 6. The fuel distribution chamber 3 is connected to the catalytic reaction tube 16 and is located between the fuel inlet 1 and the inlet end of the catalytic reaction tube 16, so that external fuel is distributed in the fuel distribution chamber 3 and flows into each catalytic reaction tube 16. The catalytic tail gas collection chamber 6 is also connected to the catalytic reaction tube 16 and is located between the catalytic tail gas outlet 7 and the outlet end of the catalytic reaction tube 16, so that the catalytic tail gas generated after combustion in each catalytic reaction tube 16 is collected here and finally flows out of the reactor through the catalytic tail gas outlet 7. During startup, vaporized methanol and external air can be used as fuel to provide start-up heat energy for the methanol-to-hydrogen reactor. Once the heat exchange is stable, purified tail gas (i.e., the tail gas remaining after hydrogen purification of the reformed mixture) can be used as fuel.

[0033] The reforming reaction module 200 further includes a vaporized methanol-water inlet 10 and a reformed mixed gas outlet 8; the vaporized methanol-water inlet 10 is connected to the inlet end of the reforming reaction tube 17, and the reformed mixed gas outlet 8 is connected to the outlet end of the reforming reaction tube 17. Further, the reforming reaction module also includes a branch pipe 18 and a tube manifold 81; one end of the branch pipe 18 has at least one branch pipe outlet, and the other end has one branch pipe inlet; the branch pipe inlet is connected to the outlet end of the methanol-water preheating coil 15, and the branch pipe outlet is connected to the vaporized methanol-water inlet 10. One end of the tube manifold 81 has at least one inlet port, and the other end has one manifold outlet; the inlet port is connected to the outlet end of the reforming reaction tube 17, and the manifold outlet is connected to the reformed mixed gas outlet 8. The number of vaporized methanol-water inlet 10, reformed mixed gas outlet 8, diverter outlet and merging pipe inlet are all consistent with the number of reforming reaction tubes 17 in the reactor.

[0034] The methanol-water vaporization module 100 further includes a liquid methanol-water inlet pipe 9, a vaporized methanol-water outlet pipe 21, and a connecting pipe 91. The vaporized methanol-water outlet pipe 21 is connected to the reforming reaction module 200, specifically through the connecting pipe 91 and the distribution pipe 18. The liquid methanol-water inlet pipe 9 is connected to the inlet end of the methanol-water preheating coil 15; and when there are multiple methanol-water preheating coils 15, the liquid methanol-water is distributed by the methanol-water inlet pipe 9, so that each methanol-water preheating coil 15 contains methanol-water; the vaporized methanol-water outlet pipe 21 is connected to the outlet end of the methanol-water preheating coil 15, and when there are multiple methanol-water preheating coils 15, the vaporized methanol-water is collected by the vaporized methanol-water outlet pipe 21.

[0035] At startup, fuel, a mixture of methanol and air, is introduced through fuel inlet 1. The fuel flows into fuel distribution chamber 3 and then into catalytic converter tube 16. The fuel burns in catalytic converter tube 16, generating heat. The resulting catalytic tail gas flows out from the outlet of catalytic converter tube 16 and into catalytic tail gas mixing chamber 6. After collection in catalytic tail gas mixing chamber 6, the catalytic tail gas flows out from catalytic tail gas outlet 7 of the methanol-to-hydrogen reactor. Simultaneously with fuel combustion, the methanol-water preheating coil 15 and reforming converter tube 17 exchange heat with catalytic converter tube 16. Once the temperature in the methanol-water preheating coil 15 and reforming converter tube 17 reaches the required reaction temperature, methanol-water is introduced through methanol-water inlet pipe 9. Methanol-water is then distributed to each methanol-water preheating coil 15. The methanol-water is heated and vaporized in the methanol-water preheating coil 15. The vaporized methanol-water then flows out from the outlet of the methanol-water preheating coil 15. The vaporized methanol water is collected at the outlet pipe 21, then split by the diverter pipe 18, and then flows sequentially through the vaporized methanol water outlet 10 and the reforming reaction tube 17. The vaporized methanol water undergoes a reforming reaction in the reforming reaction tube 17 to obtain a reformed mixed gas. At this time, the methanol water preheating coil 15 can further exchange heat with the reformed mixed gas to improve the thermal efficiency of the reactor. The generated reformed mixed gas flows out through the outlet ends of each reforming reaction tube 17 and is collected at the tube manifold 81 before flowing into the next process. In addition, after the methanol-to-hydrogen reactor is operating stably, purified tail gas can be used as fuel to improve the thermal efficiency of the entire methanol-to-hydrogen system.

[0036] The above technical solution modifies the traditional methanol-to-hydrogen reactor, concentrating the vaporization module, reforming hydrogen production module, and catalytic reaction module in the same space. This increases the contact area between the modules, reduces the use of transport pipelines, improves the heat exchange efficiency of the reactor, and also reduces heat loss, thereby increasing thermal efficiency.

[0037] Example 2:

[0038] The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that the housing 400 further includes multiple tube outer baffles 19, aluminum material, and multiple tube support plates 5.

[0039] like Figure 4As shown, the outer baffle 19 of the tube array is used to seal and wrap the periphery of the methanol-water preheating coil 15, the catalytic reaction tube array 16, and the reforming reaction tube array 17; the aluminum material fills the gaps between the outer baffle 19, the methanol-water preheating coil 15, the catalytic reaction tube array 16, and the reforming reaction tube array 17 to further improve the heat exchange efficiency between the vaporization module, the reforming hydrogen production module, and the catalytic reaction module. Specifically, a baffle hole 191 is opened in one of the outer baffle 19, and high-temperature molten aluminum is poured into the baffle hole 19 to fill the gaps between the methanol-water preheating coil 15, the catalytic reaction tube array 16, the reforming reaction tube array 17, and the outer baffle 9.

[0040] like Figure 1a and Figure 4 As shown, the tube support plate 5 is disposed inside the housing 400 to support the catalytic reaction tube 16 and the reforming reaction tube 17.

[0041] In addition, the shell 400 also includes a reactor inlet end cap 2 and a reactor outlet end cap 71; the reactor inlet end cap 2 is used to install the fuel inlet 1, which is located on the fuel distribution chamber 3 to ensure the sealing of the reactor; the reactor outlet end cap 71 is used to install the catalytic tail gas outlet 7, which is located on the catalytic tail gas confluence chamber 6 to ensure the sealing of the reactor.

[0042] The fuel distribution chamber 3 is filled with ceramic balls so that the mixed fuel can enter the catalytic reaction tube 16 evenly.

[0043] Example 3:

[0044] The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 or 2 is that, Figure 3 As shown, the methanol-to-hydrogen reactor is also equipped with temperature and pressure detection points for monitoring the temperature and pressure of the methanol-to-hydrogen reaction. The temperature detection points include a pre-reaction temperature detection point 11 and a post-reaction temperature detection point 12; the pressure detection points include a pre-reaction pressure detection point 13 and a post-reaction pressure detection point 14. The pre-reaction temperature detection point 11 and pre-reaction pressure detection point 13 are located at the vaporized methanol-water inlet 10; the post-reaction temperature detection point 12 and post-reaction pressure detection point 14 are located at the reformed mixed gas outlet 8.

[0045] Example 4:

[0046] A methanol-to-hydrogen system, such as Figure 5 As shown, it includes the multifunctional methanol-to-hydrogen reactor described in any of the technical solutions in Examples 1 to 3, as well as a preheater 500, a heat exchanger 600, a booster pump 700, and a heater 800.

[0047] The preheater 500 includes a material inlet, a material outlet, a first heat inlet, a first heat outlet, a second heat inlet, and a second heat outlet. By using the preheater 500 with multiple heat exchange ports, the residual heat energy in the reformed gas mixture and catalytic tail gas can be further recovered, thereby improving the thermal efficiency of the methanol-to-hydrogen system.

[0048] The booster pump 700 is connected to the material inlet of the preheater 500, and the material outlet of the preheater 500 is connected to the liquid methanol-water inlet pipe 9 of the methanol-water vaporization module 100. The first heat inlet of the preheater 500 is connected to the manifold outlet of the tube manifold 81 in the reforming reaction module 200. This configuration allows for further recovery of heat energy from the reformed gas mixture. The second heat inlet of the preheater 500 is connected to the catalytic tail gas outlet 7 of the catalytic oxidation module 300, and the second heat outlet of the preheater 500 is connected to the heat inlet of the heat exchanger 200.

[0049] The heat inlet of the heat exchanger 600 is connected to the second heat outlet of the preheater 500. The material inlet of the heat exchanger 600 is supplied with fuel such as methanol or purified tail gas. The material outlet of the heat exchanger 600 is connected to the fuel inlet 1 of the catalytic oxidation module 300 to further utilize the heat energy in the catalytic tail gas to vaporize methanol.

[0050] The booster pump 700 is located at the material inlet of the preheater 500 and is used to pressurize the methanol-water mixture. The heater 800 is located at the material inlet of the heat exchanger 600 to preheat the methanol.

[0051] It should be noted that the technical features in embodiments 1 to 4 above can be combined arbitrarily, and the resulting technical solutions all fall within the protection scope of this application. Furthermore, in this document, terms such as "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0052] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A multifunctional methanol-to-hydrogen reactor, comprising a shell, and a methanol-water vaporization module, a reforming reaction module, and a catalytic oxidation module disposed within the shell, characterized in that, The methanol-water vaporization module is connected to the reforming reaction module. The methanol-water vaporization module is located outside the reforming reaction module and the catalytic oxidation module. The methanol-water vaporization module, the reforming reaction module, and the catalytic oxidation module can exchange heat with each other.

2. The reactor as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The catalytic oxidation module includes at least one catalytic reaction tube, the reforming reaction module includes at least one reforming reaction tube, and the methanol-water vaporization module includes at least one methanol-water preheating coil; the catalytic reaction tube and the reforming reaction tube are spaced apart, and the methanol-water preheating coil is wound around the outside of the catalytic reaction tube and the reforming reaction tube.

3. The reactor as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The catalytic oxidation module further includes a fuel inlet, a catalytic exhaust gas outlet, a fuel distribution chamber, and a catalytic exhaust gas confluence chamber; the fuel inlet is connected to the fuel distribution chamber, and the fuel distribution chamber is connected to the inlet end of the catalytic reaction tube; the catalytic exhaust gas outlet is connected to the catalytic exhaust gas confluence chamber, and the catalytic exhaust gas confluence chamber is connected to the outlet end of the catalytic reaction tube.

4. The reactor as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The reforming reaction module further includes a vaporized methanol-water inlet and a reformed mixed gas outlet; the vaporized methanol-water inlet is connected to the inlet end of the reforming reaction tube; and the reformed mixed gas outlet is connected to the outlet end of the reforming reaction tube.

5. The reactor as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The reforming reaction module further includes a splitter pipe and a manifold; one end of the splitter pipe has at least one splitter pipe outlet, and the other end has a splitter pipe inlet; the splitter pipe inlet is connected to the outlet end of the methanol-water preheating coil, and the splitter pipe outlet is connected to the vaporized methanol-water inlet; one end of the manifold has at least one inlet port, and the other end has a manifold outlet; the inlet port is connected to the reformed mixed gas outlet.

6. The reactor as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The methanol-water vaporization module further includes a liquid methanol-water inlet pipe, a vaporized methanol-water outlet pipe, and a connecting pipe; the vaporized methanol-water outlet pipe is connected to the branch pipe through the connecting pipe; the liquid methanol-water inlet pipe is connected to the inlet end of the methanol-water preheating coil.

7. The reactor as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The housing includes multiple tube outer baffles and aluminum material; the tube outer baffles are disposed around the methanol-water preheating coil, the catalytic reaction tube, and the reforming reaction tube; the aluminum material fills the gaps between the methanol-water preheating coil, the catalytic reaction tube, the reforming reaction tube, and the outer baffles.

8. The reactor as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The housing also includes a tube support plate for supporting the catalytic reaction tubes and the reforming reaction tubes.

9. The reactor as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The housing also includes a reactor inlet end cap for installing the fuel inlet and a reactor outlet end cap for installing the catalytic exhaust gas outlet; the reactor inlet end cap is located on the fuel distribution chamber; the reactor outlet end cap is located on the catalytic exhaust gas confluence chamber.

10. A methanol-to-hydrogen system, characterized in that, The reactor includes any one of claims 1 to 9, a preheater, and a heat exchanger; the preheater includes a first heat inlet, a first heat outlet, a second heat inlet, and a second heat outlet; the first heat inlet is connected to the reforming reaction module, the second heat inlet is connected to the catalytic oxidation module, and the second heat outlet is connected to the heat inlet of the heat exchanger.

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