SILICA TRAPPING SYSTEM AND HYDROGEN PRODUCTION SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH A SYSTEM

Abstract

SILICA TRAPPING SYSTEM AND HYDROGEN PRODUCTION SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH A SYSTEM This silica trapping system, used in a reforming gas circulating in a hydrogen production system, is characterized in that it comprises a closed enclosure (2) in which a filter cartridge (3) is disposed and which has an inlet (4) for unfiltered gas into the filter cartridge and an outlet (5) for filtered gas at the periphery of this cartridge. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: SILICA TRAPPING SYSTEM AND HYDROGEN PRODUCTION SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH A SYSTEM

[0001] The present invention relates to a silica trapping system.

[0002] More particularly the invention relates to a system for trapping silica contained in a gas from reforming and circulating in a hydrogen production system.

[0003] The invention also relates to a hydrogen production system comprising such a trapping system.

[0004] It is known that in these hydrogen production systems by reforming, the temperature can reach practically 1000°C.

[0005] At these temperatures, certain materials used for the production of certain parts release silica in gaseous form.

[0006] In low temperature areas, this gaseous silica can revert to a solid form.

[0007] Certain parts of the system in particular have contact surfaces which promote the deposition of silica, which can lead to the progressive clogging, for example, of the reverse water gas shift reactor (for "Water Gas Shift" in English) and consequently the degradation of its performance.

[0008] It is then necessary to carry out relatively heavy maintenance on the reactor by dismantling and replacing, for example, certain parts.

[0009] It is understood that all this presents a number of disadvantages, particularly in terms of the time required and the cost of this type of operation, not to mention problems, for example, related to performance degradation or even unavailability of the system, for example, of energy in an operational context.

[0010] The aim of the invention is therefore to solve these problems.

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a system for trapping silica contained in a gas from reforming and circulating in a hydrogen production system, characterized in that it comprises a closed enclosure in which a filter cartridge is disposed and provided with an inlet of unfiltered gas in the filter cartridge and an outlet of filtered gas at the periphery of this cartridge.

[0012] According to other features of the system according to the invention, taken alone or in combination:

[0013] - the filter cartridge is a cylindrical cartridge placed opposite the gas inlet; - the gas inlet is located at the bottom of the enclosure; - the gas inlet is located in the center of the enclosure; - the gas outlet is provided in a side wall of the enclosure; - The enclosure has a removable lid to facilitate changing the cartridge; - the lid is fixed by bolting onto the rest of the enclosure; - the cartridge contains a basket in which pellets of ceramic trapping; - the pellets are made of a material chosen from the group including cerina, alumina or zirconia.

[0014] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a hydrogen production system comprising a silica trapping system as described above.

[0015] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

[0016] - [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] represents a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an embodiment of a silica trapping system according to the invention.

[0017] We have indeed illustrated on this [Fig.1], a silica trapping system designated by the general reference 1.

[0018] This trapping system makes it possible to block the gaseous silica contained in a gas from reforming and circulating in a hydrogen production system such as in a fuel cell for example.

[0019] This trapping system then comprises a closed enclosure designated by general reference 2, in which is disposed a filter cartridge designated by general reference 3.

[0020] This enclosure is provided with an unfiltered gas inlet designated by general reference 4 and a filtered gas outlet at the periphery of this cartridge, designated by general reference 5.

[0021] In fact, and as illustrated, the filter cartridge is a cylindrical cartridge which is placed opposite in the gas inlet 4.

[0022] More particularly, the cartridge 3 is placed around this gas inlet 4 so as to cause the gas to pass through it and trap the silica in the cartridge.

[0023] In the embodiment illustrated in this figure, the gas inlet 4 is provided in the bottom of the enclosure, for example in the center of it.

[0024] The gas outlet 5 is provided for example in a side wall of this enclosure 2.

[0025] As illustrated, the enclosure may also include a removable cover to facilitate system maintenance and in particular cartridge replacement, this cover being designated by general reference 6.

[0026] In fact, the cover 6 can be fixed for example by bolting onto the rest of the enclosure, one of the corresponding bolts being designated by the general reference 7 in this figure.

[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in this figure also, the filter cartridge 3 may include a basket, for example a welded one, designated by the general reference 8 in this figure, in which trapping pellets, for example ceramic ones, designated by the general reference 9, are placed.

[0028] These pellets can for example be made of a material chosen from the group comprising cerium, alumina or zirconia.

[0029] Of course, other materials can be used.

[0030] These pellets may, for example, have a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 1mm and an average length of 10mm, for example.

[0031] They may also have a porosity of 0.4 for example.

[0032] Of course, other embodiments can be envisaged.

Claims

Demands

1. A silica trapping system contained in a reforming gas circulating in a hydrogen production system, characterized in that it comprises a closed enclosure (2) in which a filter cartridge (3) is disposed and provided with an inlet (4) of unfiltered gas into the filter cartridge and an outlet (5) of filtered gas at the periphery of this cartridge and in that the cartridge (3) comprises a basket (8) in which ceramic trapping pellets (9) made of a material selected from the group comprising cerium, alumina or zirconia are placed.

2. Trapping system according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter cartridge (3) is a cylindrical cartridge placed opposite the gas inlet (4).

3. Trapping system according to claim 2, characterized in that the gas inlet (4) is provided in the bottom of the enclosure (2).

4. Trapping system according to claim 3, characterized in that the gas inlet (4) is provided in the center of the enclosure (2).

5. Trapping system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas outlet (5) is provided in a side wall of the enclosure (2).

6. Trapping system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the enclosure (2) has a removable cover (6) to facilitate cartridge change.

7. Trapping system according to claim 6, characterized in that the cover (6) is fixed by bolting (7) to the rest of the enclosure (2).

8. Hydrogen production system comprising a silica trapping system according to any one of the preceding claims.

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