Gas-water separation device and hydrogen generation system

Abstract

To provide a gas-water separation device capable of highly separating gas and water and a hydrogen generation system.SOLUTION: A gas-water separation device 100 having a gas-water separation container 110, an elastic valve, and a floater 130 is provided. The inside of the gas-water separation container is partitioned into a gas-water separation region and a gas pre-discharge region having an internal opening communicating with the gas-water separation region. The gas-water separation container further includes an exhaust passage 116 communicating with the gas pre-discharge region, a gas-water entry passage 117, and a drain port provided at the bottom of the gas-water separation container. The elastic valve is provided in the gas pre-discharge region to temporarily close the internal opening. The floater is provided in the gas-water separation region and can move up and down the gas-water separation region. The floater temporarily closes the drain port and has a gap between the floater and the inside wall of the gas-water separation region. Also provided is a hydrogen generation system comprising the above gas-water separation device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention provides a gas-water separation device and a hydrogen generation system, and particularly relates to a device capable of highly separating gas and water.

Background Art

[0002] Hydrogen is currently widely used. In industry, currently, it is used in fuel cells, welding, heating, or vehicle driving. In daily life, currently, it is often used for combination with water. In industry, currently, petrochemical fuels are decreasing and tend to generate pollutants. Therefore, the industrial circle has been promoting the use of hydrogen gas, especially the development of fuel cells in recent years. In the future, it is desired to popularize the driving of vehicles by fuel cells so that the environmental pollution of petrochemical fuels can be significantly reduced. In daily life, currently, the human body is often affected by foreign substances and abnormal metabolism occurs frequently. Therefore, bad radicals (peracids or peroxidized substances) are constantly generated in the human body. Bad radicals always cause inflammation, colic, aging, cancer, or cardiovascular diseases in the human body. Since hydrogen has strong reducing power, it can reduce the damage to cells caused by bad radicals, enhance immunity, reduce the probability of invasion by chronic diseases, and promote health.

[0003] However, after the separation of hydrogen and oxygen, the hydrogen generation device cannot obtain pure hydrogen unless the moisture in the hydrogen is removed. If the separation of water and hydrogen water is incomplete, it will affect the quality of the collected hydrogen gas, which is disadvantageous for industrial and daily life applications. In the prior art, for example, a hydrogen generation device in which the moisture in the gas is not removed, such as the utility model patent No. M58332 in Taiwan, has been proposed, so the fields of use are limited.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The inventor has conducted intensive research and developed a gas-water separation device and a hydrogen generation system in order to further achieve the purpose of highly separating gas and water.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A first aspect of the present invention has a top and a bottom, and is partitioned into an internal gas-liquid separation region and a gas preliminary discharge region having an internal opening that is close to the top and communicates with the gas-liquid separation region. It further includes an exhaust passage communicating with the gas preliminary discharge region, a gas-liquid inlet passage communicating with the gas-liquid separation region, and a drain outlet provided at the bottom and communicating with the gas-liquid separation region. A gas-liquid separation container, an elastic valve provided in the gas preliminary discharge region for temporarily closing the internal opening, and a float provided in the gas-liquid separation region, which can move up and down in the gas-liquid separation region, and has a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall that is surrounded and connected between the top wall and the bottom wall and has a gap between the inner wall of the gas-liquid separation region. The top wall and the bottom wall are movably in contact with the inner wall, and there is a slit between the top wall and the inner wall, and the bottom wall closes the drain outlet. A gas-liquid separation device is provided.

[0006] A second aspect of the present invention provides a hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device having a hydrogen water outlet, an oxygen water outlet, and a pure water inlet, a main pure water tank communicating with the oxygen water outlet of the hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device and the pure water inlet, a gas-liquid separation device in which a gas-liquid inlet passage communicates with the hydrogen water outlet of the hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device, and at least one metal pipe member connected between the hydrogen water outlet and the gas-liquid separation device.

[0007] In one embodiment, the gas-liquid separation container includes a cylindrical body having the gas-liquid separation region, and a lid body that seals the cylindrical body and has the gas preliminary discharge region.

[0008] In one embodiment, both the exhaust passage and the gas-liquid inlet passage are provided in the lid body.

[0009] In one embodiment, the lid body and the cylindrical body are screwed to each other, and an elastic leak-proof ring is interposed between the lid body and the cylindrical body.

[0010] In one embodiment, the elastic valve includes a valve member that temporarily closes the internal opening, a stopper installed in the gas preliminary discharge region, and an elastic member having both ends connected to the valve member and abutting against the stopper.

[0011] In one embodiment, the stopper is screwed to the inner peripheral wall of the gas preliminary discharge region.

[0012] In one embodiment, the elastic valve further includes a leak-proof ring having elasticity and interposed between the outer periphery of the stopper and the inner peripheral wall of the gas preliminary discharge region.

[0013] In one embodiment, the inner side wall of the gas-water separation container is annular, the side wall of the float has an annular structure, and the top wall and the bottom wall of the float each have a polygonal structure.

[0014] In one embodiment, the float is hollow and includes a main body and a lid assembled to the main body.

[0015] In one embodiment, the hydrogen generation system further includes a fan for cooling the at least one metal pipe member.

[0016] In one embodiment, the hydrogen generation system further includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the gas entering the gas-water separation device.

[0017] In one embodiment, the hydrogen generation system further includes a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the gas discharged from the gas-water separation device.

[0018] Thereby, the gas-water separation device and the hydrogen generation system of the present invention can efficiently perform gas-water separation in order to obtain high-purity gas.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] To fully understand the object, features, and effects of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail as follows with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of the following specific embodiments.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a first aspect of the present invention provides a gas-water separation device 100 applicable to a hydrogen generation process for the separation of hydrogen water, or a gas-water separation device 100 applicable to a generation process of other gases for gas-water separation. The gas-water separation device 100 includes a gas-water separation container 110, an elastic valve 120, and a float 130.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the gas-liquid separation device 100 has a gas-liquid separation container 110 having a top portion 111 and a bottom portion 112, and its interior is partitioned into a gas-liquid separation region 113 and a gas preliminary discharge region 114. The gas preliminary discharge region 114 is close to the top portion 111 and has an internal opening 115 communicating with the gas-liquid separation region 113. The gas-liquid separation container 110 further has an exhaust passage 116, a gas-liquid inlet passage 117, and a drain port 118. The exhaust passage 116 communicates with the gas preliminary discharge passage 114, the gas-liquid inlet passage 117 supplies a gas hydrate (a mixture of gas and water) to the gas-liquid separation region 113, the drain port 118 is provided in the bottom portion 112 and communicates with the gas-liquid separation region 113. The elastic valve 120 is provided in the gas preliminary discharge region 114 and temporarily closes the internal opening 115. The float 130 is provided in the gas-liquid separation region 113 and is movable up and down in the gas-liquid separation region 113. The float 130 has a top wall 131, a bottom wall 132, and a side wall 133 surrounded and connected between the top wall 131 and the bottom wall 132. There is a gap G1 between the side wall 133 and the inner wall 113a of the gas-liquid separation region 113, the top wall 131 and the bottom wall 132 are movably in contact with the inner wall 113a, and there is a slit G2 for closing the drain port 118 between the top wall 131 and the bottom wall 132 and the inner wall 113a.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 1, a second aspect of the present invention is a hydrogen generation system 10 including a hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device 200, a main pure water tank 300, and the gas-liquid separation device 100, which can further include at least one metal pipe member 400, a fan 500, a temperature sensor 610, and a humidity sensor 620. The hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device 200 has a hydrogen-rich water outlet 210, an oxygen-rich water outlet 220, and a pure water inlet 230. The main pure water tank 300 communicates with the oxygen-rich water outlet 220 and the pure water inlet 230 of the hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device 200. The gas-liquid inlet passage 117 of the gas-liquid separation device 100 communicates with the hydrogen-rich water outlet 210 of the hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device 200. The hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device 200 may have a proton exchange membrane (not shown) for separating hydrogen and oxygen from water. Further, the hydrogen generation system 10 can further include an electric control unit (not shown), an electric switch (not shown), and a power supply unit (not shown). The electric control unit can electrically connect and control the proton exchange membrane, and the electric switch and the power supply unit can be electrically connected to the electric control unit, respectively.

[0024] At least one metal pipe member 400 in this embodiment is connected between the gas-water inlet passage 117 and the hydrogen water outlet 210. To cool the metal pipe member 400, air is blown onto the metal pipe member 400 by a fan 500. On the other hand, in order to achieve a better cooling effect, a plurality of metal pipe members 400 may be installed. Preferably, the material of the metal pipe member 400 is stainless steel, titanium alloy, or the like. Also, since the temperature sensor 610 is used to detect the temperature of the gas flowing into the gas-liquid separator 100, the temperature sensor 610 may be connected to the end of the metal pipe member 400 closest to the gas-liquid separator 100, or may be installed in the gas-water inlet passage 117. The temperature sensor 610 may be a thermal resistance thermometer, a thermocouple thermometer, or the like, but is not limited thereto, as long as it can measure the temperature and transmit the numerical value to the electric control unit. Since the humidity sensor 620 is used to detect the humidity of the gas discharged from the gas-liquid separator 100, the humidity sensor 620 can be arranged in the exhaust passage 116. The temperature sensor may be a capacitance type hygrometer, a resistance type hygrometer, or the like, but is not limited thereto, as long as it can measure the humidity and transmit the numerical value to the electric control unit.

[0025] When the gas hydrate continuously enters the gas-liquid separation region 113 from the gas-water inlet passage 117, the air pressure in the gas-liquid separation region 113 rises and the elastic valve 120 is pushed out. The gas in the gas hydrate enters the gas reserve discharge region 114 and is discharged from the exhaust passage 116. Since the saturated vapor pressure of water is constant, in the process of the air pressure rising, the partial pressure of water vapor cannot exceed the saturated vapor pressure even if it increases. When the partial pressure of water vapor reaches the saturated vapor pressure, more water vapor enters the gas-liquid separation region 113, does not increase the partial pressure of water vapor, and condenses into liquid water. Next, the liquid water is stored in the gas-liquid separation region 113 through the gap G1 and the slit G2 of the float 130 by gravity, causing the float 130 to float and opening the drain port 118 to drain water. Thereby, the gas-liquid separator 100 and the hydrogen generation system 10 of the present invention can efficiently and highly separate water and gas, such as hydrogen, according to the principle of automatic drainage based on the pressure dew point and physical properties.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, in one embodiment, the gas-liquid separation container 110 includes a cylindrical body 110a and a lid 110b that seals the cylindrical body 110a. The cylindrical body 110a has the gas-liquid separation region 113, and the lid 110b has the gas preliminary discharge region 114. The lid 110b and the cylindrical body 110a are screwed together, and an elastic leak-proof ring 140, such as an O-ring, is interposed between the lid 110b and the cylindrical body 110a. There may be a fitting step structure between the lid 110b and the cylindrical body 110a for arranging the leak-proof ring 140. The exhaust passage 116 and the gas-water inlet passage 117 may both be provided in the lid 110b. Specifically, the gas-liquid separation container 110 can be an assembly for facilitating removal and inspection, but is not limited thereto.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, in one embodiment, the elastic valve 120 can include a valve member 121, a stopper 122, and an elastic member 123. The valve member 121 temporarily closes the internal opening 115. The stopper 122 is provided in the gas preliminary discharge region 114. Both ends of the elastic member 123 are connected to the valve member 121 and abut against the stopper 122 so that the valve member 121 temporarily closes the internal opening 115. When the air pressure in the gas-liquid separation region 113 continues to rise above the elastic force of the elastic member 123, the valve member 121 is pushed up away from the internal opening 115. The elastic member 123 may be a coil spring, but is not limited thereto.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in one embodiment, the stopper 122 is screwed onto the inner peripheral wall of the gas preliminary discharge region 114, and the screwing depth between the stopper 122 and the gas preliminary discharge region 114 is for adjusting the elastic force exerted on the valve member 121 by the elastic member 123. Specifically, the stopper 122 may have a concave groove 124 for accommodating the elastic member 123. A part of the elastic member 123 is inside the concave groove 124, and the rest protrudes from the concave groove 124. An elastic leak-proof ring 127, such as an O-ring, may be interposed between the outer periphery of the stopper 122 and the inner peripheral wall of the gas preliminary discharge region 114. The stopper 122 may have a fitting groove 1221 so that the leak-proof ring 127 can be fitted therein.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, in one embodiment, the gas-water separator 100 can further include a protective cover 150. The protective cover 150 can be assembled to the lid body 110b so as to cover the elastic valve 120 and the gas preliminary discharge region 114. The protective cover 150 is screwed or engaged with the lid body 110b, for example, to facilitate the installation or inspection of the elastic valve 120.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, in one embodiment, the gas-liquid separation region 113 of the gas-liquid separation container 100 has an annular inner wall 113a, and the side wall 133 of the float 130 has an annular structure. The diameter of the side wall 133 of the float 130 is smaller than the diameter of the inner wall 113a of the gas-liquid separation region 133, forming a gap G1. The top wall 131 and the bottom wall 132 of the float 130 may each have a polygonal structure so that the float 130 moves only in the vertical direction without tilting due to floating on the water surface. The top wall 131 and the bottom wall 132 abut against the inner wall 113a of the gas-liquid separation region 113 by a plurality of rotational movements of the polygon, maintaining the balance of the float 130 in the gas-liquid separation region 113. However, water can collect downward from the slit G2 between the plurality of sides of the polygon and the inner wall 113a of the gas-liquid separation region 113 and the gap G1 between the float 130 and the inner wall 113a of the gas-liquid separation region 113. The float 130 is generally a hollow cylinder, and an object (not shown), such as water or a metal block, may be filled inside thereof. The float 130 includes a main body 134 and a lid 135 assembled to the main body 134. The lid 135 may be screwed or engaged with the main body 134, for example. The main body 134 and the lid 135 assembled to each other are convenient for adjusting the overall weight of the float 130 by increasing or decreasing the weight of the object filled inside the float 130 as needed, and determining the point at which the float 130 floats in accordance with the elastic force of the elastic valve 120.

[0031] The operating principle of the present invention is related to the saturated vapor pressure of water. As the temperature decreases, the saturated vapor pressure also decreases. Therefore, the metal pipe member 400 and the fan 500 cool the gas that has entered the gas-liquid separation device 100 so that more moisture is discharged in the gas-liquid separation container 100. Specifically, after the gas flows out from the hydrogen water outlet 210, it enters the metal pipe member 400. Since the metal pipe member 400 is cooled by the fan 500, the gas that has passed through the metal pipe member 400 is also cooled accordingly. Then, after the cooled gas continues to enter the gas-liquid separation device 100, even if the pressure in the gas-liquid separation region 113 of the gas-liquid separation container 100 causes it to rise, if the partial pressure of water cannot exceed the saturated vapor pressure, more condensed water can be generated. On the other hand, although the gas in the metal pipe member 400 may also condense due to the temperature decrease and accumulate in the metal pipe member 400, by continuously supplying gas with the hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device 200, the liquid water accumulated in the metal pipe member 400 can be pushed out into the gas-liquid separation region 113.

[0032] The present invention can also manage the operating conditions of the gas-liquid separation container 100 and the fan 500 by means of the temperature sensor 610 and the humidity sensor 620. When the temperature sensor 610 detects that the temperature of the gas entering the gas-liquid separation container 100 is high, or when the humidity sensor 620 detects that the humidity of the gas discharged from the gas-liquid separation container 100 is high, the rotation speed of the fan 500 can be increased to stabilize the quality of the supplied gas.

[0033] Although the present invention has been disclosed as a preferred embodiment above, those skilled in the art should understand that this embodiment is only used to explain the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that any changes and substitutions equivalent to this embodiment must be included in the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be in accordance with that determined by the scope of the patent application.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0034] 10: Hydrogen generation system 100: Gas-liquid separation device 110: Gas-liquid separation container 110a: Cylindrical body 110b: Cover 111: Top 112: Bottom 113: Gas-liquid separation region 113a: Inner wall 114: Gas preliminary discharge region 115: Internal opening 116: Exhaust passage 117: Gas-liquid inlet passage 118: Drain outlet 120: Elastic valve 121: Valve member 122: Stopper 1221: Fitting groove 123: Elastic member 124: Concave groove 127: Sealing ring 130: Float 131: Top wall 132: Bottom wall 133: Side wall 134: Body 135: Cover 140: Sealing ring 150: Protective cover 200: Hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device 210: Hydrogen water outlet 220: Oxygen water outlet 230: Pure water inlet 300: Main pure water tank 400: Metal pipe member 500: Fan 610: Temperature sensor 620: Humidity sensor AA, BB: Section lines G1: Gap G2: Slit

Claims

1. A gas-liquid separation container having a top and a bottom, partitioned inside into a gas-liquid separation region and a gas preliminary discharge region having an internal opening that is close to the top and communicates with the gas-liquid separation region, further comprising an exhaust passage communicating with the gas preliminary discharge region, a gas-liquid inlet passage communicating with the gas-liquid separation region, and a drain port provided at the bottom and communicating with the gas-liquid separation region. An elastic valve provided in the gas preliminary discharge region for temporarily closing the internal opening. A float provided in the gas-liquid separation region, capable of moving up and down in the gas-liquid separation region, having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall that surrounds and connects between the top wall and the bottom wall and has a gap with the inner side wall of the gas-liquid separation region. The top wall and the bottom wall are movably in contact with the inner side wall, and there is a slit between the top wall and the inner side wall, and the bottom wall closes the drain port. Comprising The float is hollow, and a gas-liquid separation device comprising a main body and a lid assembled to the main body.

2. The gas-liquid separation device according to claim 1, The gas-liquid separation container comprises a cylindrical body having the gas-liquid separation region and a lid body that seals the cylindrical body and has the gas preliminary discharge region, and both the exhaust passage and the gas-liquid inlet passage are provided in the lid body.

3. The gas-liquid separation device according to claim 1, The elastic valve A valve member for temporarily closing the internal opening. A stopper installed in the gas preliminary discharge region. An elastic member having both ends connected to the valve member respectively and abutting against the stopper. Comprising

4. In the gas-liquid separation device according to claim 3, The elastic valve has elasticity and further comprises a leak-proof ring interposed between the outer circumference of the stopper and the inner circumferential wall of the gas preliminary discharge region.

5. The gas-liquid separation device according to claim 1, The inner side wall of the gas-liquid separation container is annular, the side wall of the float has an annular structure, and the top wall and the bottom wall of the float each have a polygonal structure.

6. A hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device having a hydrogen water outlet, an oxygen water outlet, and a pure water inlet. A main pure water tank communicating with the oxygen water outlet of the hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device and the pure water inlet. The gas-liquid separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the gas-liquid inlet passage communicates with the hydrogen water outlet of the hydrogen-oxygen gas supply device. At least one metal pipe member connected between the hydrogen water outlet and the gas-liquid separation device and A hydrogen generation system comprising the same. **Claim 7** In the hydrogen generation system according to claim 6, A hydrogen generation system further comprising a fan for cooling the at least one metal pipe member. **Claim 8** In the hydrogen generation system according to claim 6, A hydrogen generation system further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the gas entering the gas-liquid separation device. **Claim 9** In the hydrogen generation system according to claim 6, A hydrogen generation system further comprising a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the gas discharged from the gas-liquid separation device.

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