Hydrogen production method

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen production technique which can use acidified water in a lake bottom, on a surface of the ground, in the ground, or undersea to produce hydrogen in a clean state, and can contribute to improvement in quality of the acidified water in an enclosed water area such as a lake.SOLUTION: A hydrogen production method includes the steps of: erecting a cylindrical body 12 in acidified water; introducing a plurality of iron connection balls 16 containing therein iron powder 34, which reacts with acid to produce hydrogen, into the cylindrical body 12 and allowing the iron connection balls to sink with its own weight; producing the hydrogen on a lower end of the cylindrical body 12 by reaction between the acid in the water and the iron powder 34 in the iron connection balls 16; collecting the hydrogen rising through the inside of the cylindrical body 12 near an upper end of the cylindrical body 12 and storing the hydrogen in a storage container; and collecting the iron connection balls 16 which are made lighter by the reaction and thus float up in the cylindrical body 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing hydrogen, and more particularly to a technology for generating hydrogen by adding a metal such as iron to acidified lake water or seawater and utilizing a chemical reaction between the acid and the metal. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been growing expectation for the active use of hydrogen as an energy resource with a low environmental impact. However, at present, "grey hydrogen," which requires fossil fuels for production, accounts for 95% of the total. Therefore, in the future, there is a need to increase the proportion of "green hydrogen," which is produced without using fossil fuels. [Non-Patent Document 1] New Energy Foundation / New Energy / "Recent Topics and Keywords" Commentary Section / Gray Hydrogen, Blue Hydrogen, Green Hydrogen Internet URL: https: / / www.nef.or.jp / keyword / ka / articles_ku_04.html Retrieved: February 8, 2024

[0003] On the other hand, acidification of lakes and ponds due to the effects of acid rain and other factors has been recognized as a major environmental problem, particularly in Europe, and neutralization projects have been attempted to restore ecosystems. However, the problem is that most of the products produced by the limestone used as a means of neutralization are left to sink to the bottom of the lakes. In Japan, a neutralization project has been underway since 1989 to neutralize Lake Tazawa, which became a "dead lake" where almost no fish could live after highly acidic water flowed into it due to power generation development during the war. As a result, neutralization has been achieved in the relatively shallow parts of the water, and the habitat of Japanese dace, which is resistant to acidity, has been confirmed, but in order to bring back the Kunimasu, a species unique to Lake Tazawa, it is necessary to carry out neutralization in the deeper parts of the water. However, until now, there has been no technology that can effectively introduce large amounts of reactants to the deep lake bottom. [Non-patent document 2] Asahi Shimbun Digital / Lake Tazawa neutralization project 8 years on: Dead lake to be regenerated. Internet URL: https: / / www.asahi.com / eco / kunimasu / TKY201101260365.html#Contents. Retrieved on February 8, 2024. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] This invention was devised in light of the current situation, and aims to provide a hydrogen production technology that can produce clean hydrogen using acidified water from the bottom of a lake or sea, and that can also contribute to improving the acidic water quality in closed water areas such as lakes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the hydrogen production method of the present invention is characterized by comprising the steps of: erecting a relatively long cylindrical body in acidified water; introducing a plurality of transport containers containing a metal that reacts with the acid to generate hydrogen into the cylindrical body and allowing them to sink under their own weight; generating hydrogen at the lower end of the cylindrical body by a reaction between the acid in the water and the metal in the transport container; collecting the hydrogen that has risen up inside the cylindrical body near the upper end of the cylindrical body and storing it in a specified storage container; and recovering the transport containers that have become lighter due to the above reaction and have floated up inside the cylindrical body.

[0006] The metal stored in the transport container is, for example, iron powder. When the diameter of iron powder is halved, the specific surface area doubles, and when it is reduced to one-third, it triples. As the specific surface area increases, the reaction rate increases proportionally, making it possible to increase productivity with nano-sized particles. Iron is "universal in a sense" in environmental protection and improvement scenes. Not only in hydrogen production using hydrochloric acid, but also in coastal denudation and oxidized seabeds all over the country and the world, iron ions (Fe2+) can be dissolved and oxygen potential improved to improve hypoxic water masses that cause mass fish deaths, and highly toxic hydrogen sulfide can be converted into non-toxic iron sulfide (chemical formula: Fe3++H2S ⇒ black precipitate FeS). However, fine powders of metals other than iron that can generate hydrogen, such as aluminum and alkali metals (Li, Na, Ka, Rb, Cs, Fr), can also be used (almost any metal that has a stronger tendency to ionize than hydrogen can generate hydrogen).

[0007] In addition, an internal skeleton having a plurality of cells separated by partitions may be placed inside the transport container, and a bag made of nonwoven fabric may be attached to each cell, with iron powder or the like being filled inside each bag. If a metal particle capture layer (adhesive layer, magnetic layer, biologically derived adhesive layer, etc.) is formed on the surface of the partition wall, this metal particle capture layer can capture noble metals and rare metals up to nanometer size in water. If the metal particle capture layer is made of a magnetic material, when sedimentation begins, iron is attracted to the magnetism and loses its magnetism when it becomes iron oxide, which then peels off naturally (iron oxide is environmentally friendly, so it is also possible to return it to the water as is). Gold, which was previously thought to be non-magnetic, has recently been found to be adsorbed to magnets when in nanoparticle form of 2-7 nm. A 10 nm cell formed in a honeycomb shape can provide a specific surface area that is more than one million times the collection efficiency of the IHI sheet used to collect gold from hydrothermal vents in Aogashima, Tokyo.

[0008] The delivery container may have, for example, a spherical, ellipsoidal or regular polyhedral (e.g., pentagonal dodecahedral) shape. The delivery container may also be formed as an ellipsoidal capsule of the drug. If one end of each of the rotor blades is fixed to the top of the transport container, the other end of each rotor blade will rise up like a screw under water pressure as the transport container sinks in the water, allowing the transport container to sink straight while rotating. Even if the container is dropped into the sea surface carelessly using a screw, the gyro effect of the container rotating around the through-hole will ensure that the container sinks vertically and in a straight line, even without a guide cord to guide the rotation. Furthermore, by leading it from the surface or seabed with a guide rod or string, the material being transported to the target waters can be transported without scattering.

[0009] The cylindrical body is configured to comprise a first pipeline for recovering hydrogen and a second pipeline for introducing a transport container, which is connected at an angle to the first pipeline. An opening can be formed on the side of the first pipeline midway, and a guide plate can be arranged at an angle within the first pipeline. In this case, the transport container is inserted into the upper opening of the second pipeline placed above the water and reaches the lower end of the first pipeline via the second pipeline, where hydrogen generated by the reaction between the metal in the transport container and the acid in the water passes through the vent in the guide plate and rises toward the water surface along the first pipeline. Furthermore, the transport container, which has finished the reaction and started to float, is discharged out of the pipe from the opening along the guide plate.

[0010] The storage container is formed, for example, by a balloon placed in water. In this case, hydrogen is discharged from the upper end opening of a cylinder in water and filled into the balloon via a funnel-shaped cap member and a pipe. In this case, if the cylindrical body is made of a material folded like an accordion, the buoyancy of the balloon filled with hydrogen will cause the cylindrical body to expand toward the water surface.

[0011] It is also possible to arrange multiple balloons interconnected via valves and pipes at predetermined depths underwater, with hydrogen stored in the lowest balloon connected to the upper end of the cylinder being transferred sequentially to the upper balloons via the valves and pipes.

[0012] The balloon may be configured to have a double structure consisting of an outer layer and an inner layer, and the space between the outer layer and the inner layer may be filled with hydrogen jelly or nitrogen. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] In the hydrogen production method of this invention, a large number of transport vessels can be submerged along a cylindrical body in an acidified lake or seabed, where hydrogen can be generated by reacting the acid in the water with the metal inside the transport vessels. Furthermore, the generated hydrogen rises along the cylindrical body toward the water surface, so it is reliably captured near the upper end of the cylindrical body and can be stored in the storage container. Furthermore, the transport container, which has been lightened after the reaction, naturally rises in the water due to buoyancy and is then recovered at the water surface. In short, the hydrogen production method according to the present invention makes it possible to generate hydrogen by utilizing the natural sinking and then floating of the transfer vessel, without using a fossil fuel-based driving source. Furthermore, unlike carbon dioxide, hydrogen capture takes advantage of its extremely water-insoluble properties (only 1.6 parts per million dissolves in water). There is absolutely no need to worry about hydrogen embrittlement or stress corrosion cracking of the cylindrical components.

[0014] The transport vessel is designed based on buoyancy equilibrium, so regardless of the order in which the beads are dropped, the lightest ones that have undergone the most efficient reaction will flip over onto the surface of the water. The beads with the most efficient reaction will break away from the group, so the replacement of the beads is effective. As a result, efficient hydrogen production that corresponds to the concentration gradient can be achieved. The biggest problem in liquid reactions is the concentration gradient, which determines the efficiency of the chemical reaction. Furthermore, by linking multiple floating transport containers together, a salvage function can be realized. The underwater balloon mentioned above can also be given this salvage function.

[0015] This invention can be used for hydrochloric acid water, such as hydrothermal vents on the seafloor, water from 5,000 closed mines, various acidic hot springs (Tamagawa, Kusatsu, Hakone) and alkaline hot springs (Hakuba) in Japan, and in areas suitable for geothermal power generation. Japan, the United States, and Indonesia, in particular, can benefit from this technology due to their geographical advantages along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

[0016] Furthermore, there are vast areas of water in the Tokyo Bay deep excavation site, dam lakes, and the Black Sea in Europe that are acidic and highly toxic due to hypoxia and hydrogen sulfide, but this can be neutralized (Professor Tsuyoshi Sasaki of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology and others). In addition to producing hydrochloric acid, it is also foreseeable that environmental recovery of water areas severely polluted with hydrogen sulfide will be a secondary effect. In addition to hydrogen production, useful economic benefits can be obtained. The iron sulfide produced can be used in a wide range of applications. Reference: Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology removes sludge with disposable hand warmers? Water purification project in Tokyo | Science and Technology / University News | Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun Online Edition (nikkan.co.jp) https: / / www.nikkan.co.jp / articles / view / 00402132 The reality is that the release of water from Dashidaira Dam in dam lakes and the "blue tide" in Tokyo Bay have caused damage in the hundreds of millions of yen and forced compensation for the fishing industry.

[0017] The vast amounts of "chips" and "swarf" generated daily at metal processing sites in Japan, i.e., metal shavings generated during metal processing such as lathe turning, milling, machining, and drilling, can be used as iron powder to be stored in transport containers. When chips are incorporated into the carbon intensity in this way, the production method has a carbon intensity of almost zero, excluding chip transportation costs. As a result, this invention makes it possible to produce "white hydrogen," which goes beyond "green hydrogen." [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the basic principle of a hydrogen production method. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the basic principle of a hydrogen production method. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the basic principle of a hydrogen production method. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of an iron ball. [Figure 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hydrogen production device having a configuration capable of continuous operation. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which hydrogen generated in a cylindrical body is stored in a balloon in water. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the balloon. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example in which the cylindrical body is made of an expandable bellows-shaped material. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of hydrogen generated in the deep sea being transported to the sea surface via multiple balloons. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the iron pellets. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another modified example of the iron pellets. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] 1 to 3 illustrate the basic principle of the hydrogen production method according to the present invention. First, a relatively long cylindrical body 12 that constitutes the hydrogen generation device 10 is placed in the acidified lake 14, and a large number of iron pellets 16 are placed inside it as "transport containers" (Figure 1). Hydrogen is generated at the lake bottom 14a by utilizing a chemical reaction between the iron powder filled in the iron pellets 16 and the acid (Figure 2). After the chemical reaction is complete, the iron pellets 16 become lighter and automatically float to the surface, where they are collected at the lake surface 14b (Figure 3). Instead of lake water 14, the invention can also be applied to acidified seawater.

[0020] For convenience of illustration, the vertical dimension of the cylindrical body 12 is shown as short, but in reality, the length is on the order of several hundred to several thousand meters so that it can reach the lake bottom 14a or the seabed. This cylindrical body 12 functions to guide the numerous iron spheres 16 to the lake bottom 14a or the sea bottom, and also to guide the generated hydrogen and the iron spheres 16 after the reaction to the lake surface 14b or the sea surface, and there are no restrictions on the material as long as it can block hydrogen. The cylindrical body 12 can also be made from fire hose or waterproof paper. Hydrogen is naturally a gas, and its limit concentration at room temperature and pressure is only 1.6 ppm, so it is almost insoluble in water, so paper is a sufficient material.

[0021] The lower end of the cylindrical body 12 is closed by a lid member 20 having a large number of water passage holes 18, and a nonwoven fabric 22 is arranged on the upper surface of the lid member 20. The presence of this nonwoven fabric 22 effectively prevents iron powder and iron oxide after reaction from leaking into the water, even if the iron balls 16 are broken inside the cylindrical body 12. The bottom of the cylindrical body 12 may be appropriately formed into a hemispherical shape to expand the reaction space, thereby increasing the reaction efficiency.

[0022] If the cylinder 12 is made of a material with a low specific gravity, such as a hose or paper, by fixing an appropriate weight or anchor to its bottom, it can be reliably placed on the lake bottom 14a and can be placed in a stable position. By applying origami engineering, it is possible to form an extremely space-saving cylinder 12, and it is also possible to realize a bellows-shaped cylinder 12 that can be dropped from a ship onto the sea surface and then directly reach the seabed.

[0023] In Figure 2, it is assumed that hydrogen bubbles generated at the lake bottom 14a are caught by a funnel-shaped cap member 24 attached to the upper end of the cylindrical body 12 and stored in a tank or balloon as a "storage container" via a pipe 26, but as will be described later, the hydrogen can also be caught underwater and stored underwater as is.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the iron balls 16, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. The iron balls 16 have a spherical outer shell 28 made of an acid-resistant resin material such as polyethylene, and as shown in Figure 5, the interior is divided into four cells (regions) 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d by partitions 30. Each of the cells 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d contains a bag 33 made of nonwoven fabric, and each bag 33 is filled with fine iron powder 34 having a particle size of about 5 μm. The outer shell 28 is provided with a plurality of water-passing holes 36 that communicate with each of the cells 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d (FIG. 4). If the outer shell 28 is made of a porous material, the provision of the water-passing holes 36 can be omitted. The outer shell 28 is formed by joining a first hemispherical member 28a and a second hemispherical member 28b together, which may be factory-produced in equal sections (e.g., eight sections) like a bunch of mandarin oranges.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, floating members 38 made of foamed polyethylene or the like are disposed on the upper and lower parts of the outer shell 28. The volume and material of the floating member 38 are adjusted in advance so that the buoyancy provided by the floating member 38 satisfies the following conditions. (1) Before the iron powder 34 reacts with the acid, the iron pellets 16 sink into the water (lake water or seawater) into which they are introduced. (2) After the iron powder 34 reacts with the acid to turn into iron oxide and becomes lighter in weight (approximately 64% lighter), the iron nodules 16 naturally rise to the surface of the water. *Specific gravity of iron: 7.84, specific gravity of iron oxide: 2.84

[0026] As a result, when the iron balls 16 are dropped in, they sink to the bottom of the water under their own weight, and after generating hydrogen, they automatically rise to the surface without the need for any driving source, making them possible to recover them by ship or the like. The iron oxide in the recovered iron pellets 16 is effectively utilized for the purification of cadmium-contaminated rice fields, etc. If the location where the iron spheres 16 are to be dropped is hot, such as near a hydrothermal vent on the seafloor, the outer shell 28 may be made of a material with high heat resistance and corrosion resistance, such as copper.

[0027] Powders generally pose a risk of explosion, but by applying a technology that ultrafine particles the iron and freezes it together with the water (water atomization method), the explosion of the iron spheres 16 can be effectively prevented. In this case, adding a thickener to the iron powder to make it like ice cream prevents the iron particles from rubbing against each other, further reducing the risk of explosion.

[0028] The shape of the iron balls 16 is not limited to a perfect sphere as described above, but may be a regular polygon, an egg (ellipsoid), etc. Alternatively, it may be a shape like a medicine capsule. Although not shown in the figure, small protrusions for standing upright may be provided at the bottom of the iron ball 16 to provide functions such as water flow control.

[0029] In the hydrogen production method of Figures 1 to 3, the work process is clearly divided into the iron pellet 16 input phase (Figure 1), the hydrogen generation phase (Figure 2), and the iron pellet 16 recovery phase (Figure 3), but it is also possible to carry out the steps of inputting the iron pellet 16 → hydrogen generation → recovery of the iron pellet 16 continuously.

[0030] Figure 6 shows the device configuration that enables this continuous operation. A branch pipe (second pipeline) 40 for feeding the iron spheres 16 is connected to one side of the cylindrical body 12, and an opening 42 for removing the iron spheres 16 is provided on the other side of the cylindrical body 12. Furthermore, a guide plate 44 is installed at an angle from the opening 42 toward the inside of the cylindrical body 12.

[0031] Iron pellets 16 are successively introduced from the opening 40a of the branch pipe 40, which protrudes above the lake surface 14b, and reach the bottom of the cylindrical body 12. The iron powder 34 stored inside reacts with the acid in the water (e.g., dilute hydrochloric acid), generating hydrogen. Then, the iron balls 16 that have completed the reaction automatically rise to the surface due to buoyancy.

[0032] The left end of the guide plate 44 contacts the inner wall surface of the cylindrical body 12, and the right end extends to the outside of the cylindrical body 12, and since the left end is positioned lower than the right end, the iron balls 16 that have risen to the surface after the reaction has finished move along this guide plate 44 and are discharged outside the cylindrical body 12 through the opening 42. In contrast, the guide plate 44 has many fine vent holes formed therein, so hydrogen generated at the bottom of the cylindrical body 12 passes through the vent holes in the guide plate 44, rises within the cylindrical body 12, and is collected above the water. A hydrogen separation membrane can also be attached to the guide plate 44. In this case, it will operate at a pressure of 150 atm. It is also possible to attach other gas separation membranes in order of increasing permeability.

[0033] As described above, the iron spheres 16 that have completed the reaction are sequentially discharged out of the cylindrical body 12 through the opening 42, so that new iron spheres 16 can be introduced from the branch pipe 40, making it possible to generate hydrogen continuously. The reacted iron spheres 16 discharged from the cylindrical body 12 through the opening 42 can be efficiently collected on the water surface using a fishing net or a special pump for scooping up spheres.

[0034] When hydrogen is collected, it moves straight along the center line of the cylinder 12, but the iron spheres 16 do not necessarily rise along the center line. This can be addressed by designing the pipeline so that the iron spheres 16 that have once deviated from the center line return to the center line and wind around the vertical, straight cylinder 12 in a spiral like a snake, or in a double spiral. As a result, the iron spheres 16 float up close to the hydrogen outlet, making them easy to collect.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows an example in which hydrogen generated in a cylindrical body 12 placed underwater 46 is stored in a balloon 50 underwater 46 as is. Storing hydrogen in a tank or other storage facility in the atmosphere requires a relatively large volume (more than four times that of heavy oil for the same amount of energy), but underwater, the volume can be reduced due to the effects of water pressure (for example, at a depth of 400m, the volume shrinks to about one-fortieth of that above water). Furthermore, storing the fuel in water also helps to avoid the risk of hydrogen explosion. Land-based hydrogen tanks and pipelines require four times the capacity of heavy oil, and expensive metals such as palladium must be mixed into the raw metal to prevent hydrogen embrittlement and stress corrosion cracking. Like hydrogen storage alloys, the hydrogen must be heated to 100 degrees when used; however, underwater storage eliminates these hassles.

[0036] In this case, iron pellets 16 are sequentially dropped from a branch pipe 40 consisting of a hose fixed to a ship 52 on the sea surface 46a, and reach the inside of the cylindrical body 12 near the seabed, where hydrogen is generated as the iron powder 34 inside reacts with acid released from a hydrothermal vent on the seabed. The generated hydrogen travels through the cylindrical body 12 to the cap member 24 , and is accumulated in the balloon 50 via the pipe 26 connected to the tip of the cap member 24 and the valve 54 of the balloon 50 .

[0037] The reacted iron balls 16 are discharged to the outside from the opening of the cylinder 12 along the same guide plate as above, and are collected at the sea surface 46a. If an ultrasonic transmitter 56 is attached to the balloon 50, the emitted sound can be detected by a receiver 58 on the ship 52, making it possible to determine the location of the balloon 50 in the water.

[0038] As shown in Figure 8, the balloon 50 has a double structure consisting of an outer layer 60 and an inner layer 62 made of nylon, and the space between the outer layer 60 and the inner layer 62 is filled with edible high-concentration hydrogen jelly 64. This hydrogen jelly 64 functions as a buffer for the balloon 50 and also helps prevent leakage of the hydrogen stored inside the balloon 50. If the space in the balloon 50 is filled with nitrogen (nitric oxide or nitrogen dioxide) instead of hydrogen jelly 64, it is possible to impart the fire-extinguishing effect of nitrogen to the balloon 50. In addition, a photocatalytic layer 66 is formed on the inner surface of the inner layer 62. The hydrophilic effect of this photocatalytic layer 66 forms a water film, which enhances the effect of preventing hydrogen leakage. Furthermore, by adding an aluminum vapor deposition film to the inside surface of the inner layer 62, the oxygen and water vapor blocking ability and light blocking ability can be increased up to 10 times compared to conventional products, thereby increasing the airtightness. This photocatalytic layer can convert methane into hydrogen in water when irradiated with light. This finding can be applied to applications other than hydrogen storage, such as photochemical or thermal reactions of the gas inside the balloon, which can turn CO2 stored in water into charcoal powder. 2Mg + CO2 → (heat) 2MgO (magnesium oxide) + C (charcoal)

[0039] A hydrogen-permeable filter is disposed within the valve 54 of the balloon 50, and this filter prevents substances other than hydrogen from entering the balloon 50. The generated hydrogen is stored in the balloon 50 as is, and is towed by ship while submerged in water to a port near the consumption area. The hydrogen in the balloon 50 is extracted through a branch valve 68 connected to the valve 54, transferred to a tank on the ground, etc., and then used for various purposes.

[0040] The balloon 50 has a truss-structure-based outer and inner shells with high pressure resistance, and by attaching rotors and towing it horizontally, it can achieve stable, straight-line movement. It may also be shaped like a submarine's teardrop. This allows it to be towed underwater using wind or tidal power, or even a yacht. The presence of the outer and inner shells effectively prevents the balloon from collapsing when not filled with gas, preventing the gas from being blocked.

[0041] Figure 9 shows an example in which the cylindrical body 12 is formed from a material folded in an accordion-like shape. When the balloon 50 begins to inflate due to the generation of hydrogen (Figure 9(a)), the buoyancy of the balloon causes the cylindrical body 12 to stretch upward (Figure 9(b)), and the balloon 50 rises to the water surface.

[0042] Since the volume of the balloon 50 containing hydrogen can be reduced as the depth of the water increases, it is desirable to place the balloon 50 as deep as possible. However, if the balloon 50 is transported near the water surface to use the hydrogen, its volume will increase rapidly, creating the risk of it bursting. For this reason, it is desirable to connect multiple relay balloons 50 in a multi-stage manner at each predetermined depth, and gradually transfer hydrogen from the deep sea toward the sea surface, thereby adjusting the pressure.

[0043] FIG. 10 shows a specific example of this, in which the valves 54 of a plurality of balloons 50 arranged at different depths are connected in a daisy chain manner via connecting pipes 70 . In this case, when the lower balloon 50 is filled with hydrogen, some of it is transferred to the balloon 50 above via the valve 54 and the connecting pipe 70. When this balloon 50 is filled with hydrogen, a portion of the hydrogen is transferred to the balloon above via the valve 54 and the connecting pipe 70. By repeating this process multiple times, it becomes possible to safely transport hydrogen from the deep sea to the sea surface 46a. The opening and closing operations of the valves 54 of each balloon 50 are controlled by wire from a ship 52 on the sea surface 46a via a cable (not shown), for example.

[0044] This means that the pressure is increased and decreased in multiple stages, which also prevents explosions caused by multiple balloons catching fire.

[0045] FIG. 11 shows a modified example of the iron balls 16, in which a part of the outer shell 28 made of porous polyethylene or the like has been peeled off. As shown in the figure, a honeycomb-ball-shaped internal skeleton 74 having a large number of hexagonal cells (small chambers) 72 is housed within the iron ball 16. This internal skeleton 74 is made of polyethylene or the like. Although not shown in the figure, each cell 72 is filled with a bag made of nonwoven fabric in which iron powder is sealed.

[0046] In this way, by disposing the honeycomb ball-shaped internal skeleton 74 inside the iron balls 16, the rigidity of the iron balls 16 can be increased, thereby improving the water pressure resistance performance. Furthermore, if a metal particle capture layer (adhesive layer) is formed on the surface of each cell 72 by coating it with alginates, sulfuric hot spring red algae, or magnetic materials such as neodymium before filling it with iron powder, the slippery properties of the layer will enable the capture of rare metals and precious metals present on the seafloor. Furthermore, if the diagonal length of each cell 72 is set to 7 to 10 nm, the specific surface area will be more than one million times that of a single sheet. As a result, valuable rare metals and other precious metals can be collected by disassembling the outer shell 28 after collecting the iron balls 16. Forming the internal skeleton 74 into a honeycomb ball shape as described above increases the specific surface area, which is expected to increase the collection efficiency of rare metals and other precious metals. Furthermore, the Magnus effect and the Coanda effect allow water currents to wrap around the balls and penetrate into the interior, dramatically improving the collection efficiency. As described above, since the outer shell 28 is made of a porous material, seawater or the like can be taken into the iron balls 16 without the need for any water holes.

[0047] FIG. 12 shows another modified example of the iron ball 16, in which a plurality of rotor blades 76 (four in the figure) are attached near the apex of the outer shell 28 (FIG. 12(a)). Each rotor 76 is made of a flexible material, and one end is fixed to the outer shell 28 of the iron ball 16, while the remaining portion is left unfixed. Therefore, when the iron spheres 16 are dropped into water, the water pressure and water flow cause the non-fixed parts of each rotor 76 to point upward (Fig. 12(b)), and the screw effect causes them to rotate and sink straight down. In other words, the rotation of each rotor 76 allows the iron spheres 16 to descend straight down. This also has an effect on horizontal transport. Although not shown in the drawings, by providing a ratchet function to the through holes or the guide string, the buoyancy of the countless iron balls 16 that float up can be restored, thereby realizing a salvage function. When countless numbers of them accumulate, they have a considerable buoyancy.

[0048] Acidic lakes are generally broadly classified into chlorine-based, nitric acid-based, and sulfuric acid-based lakes, but as shown in the following formula, this invention can generate hydrogen when introduced into any acidic lake. (1) Fe (iron) + 2HCl (hydrochloric acid) → FeCl2 (iron chloride) + H2 (hydrogen) (2) Fe (iron) + 2HNO3 (nitric acid) → Fe(NO3)2 (iron nitrate) + H2 (hydrogen) (3) Fe (iron) + H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) → FeSO4 (iron sulfate) + H2 (hydrogen) Furthermore, as shown in the following formula, the effect can be achieved by filling the iron spheres 16 with aluminum powder instead of iron powder. (4) 2Al + 6HCl → 2AlCl3 (aluminum chloride) + 3H2 (hydrogen)

[0049] This invention is originally intended to transport iron powder for hydrogen production, but it can also transport CO2. To transport CO2 in liquid or solid form in a ball and store it deep underwater, the conditions are that it must quickly reach and be isolated in waters that meet the following requirements: (1) a depth of more than 400 meters, and (2) a seawater temperature of less than 5°C. At this time, sublimated and expanded CO2 gas is expelled from the upper outlet of the transport container up to the water depth (1), creating thrust. Because the thrust is directed in one direction, it significantly increases the original sinking speed of the iron spheres, causing them to head towards the seabed and settle. This container easily overcomes the weaknesses of NEDO's international collaborative research project, the "CO2 Ocean Sequestration Method (Sherbet Discharge Nozzle Method: COSMOS)," such as omnidirectional diffusion and sphere breakage, and provides better sequestration efficiency. A "natural CO2 seafloor pool" has been confirmed on Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture, and considering the three states of matter, if liquid and solid CO2 are transported to a natural pool with a depression in the seafloor (e.g., a radius of 1 km) in addition to the two conditions above, CO2 can be sequestrated in the ocean by container. There are bodies of water scattered throughout the country where freshwater is leached from seawater and methane hydrate sherbet can be expected to cap the liquid CO2. We are ready to use photosynthesis via optical fiber. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10 Hydrogen production equipment 12 Cylinder 14 In the lake 14a Lake bottom 14b Lake surface 16 Iron balls (transport container) 18 Water vent 20 Cover member 22 Nonwoven fabric 24 Cap member 26 Pipe 28 Outer shell 28a First hemispherical member 28b Second hemispherical member 30 Bulkhead Cells 32a-32d 33 Bag body 34 Iron powder 36 Water vent 38 Floating member 40 Branch Pipe 40a Branch pipe opening 42 Cylinder opening 44 Signboard 46 Undersea 46a Sea level 50 balloons 52 Ships 54 Valve 56 Ultrasonic transmitter 58 Receiver 60 outer layer of balloon 62 Inner layer of balloon 64 Hydrogen Jelly 66 Photocatalyst layer 68 Branch stop 70 Connecting pipe 72 cells 74 Internal Skeleton 76 Rotor

Claims

1. erecting a relatively long cylindrical body in acidified water; a step of introducing a plurality of transport containers, each containing a metal that reacts with an acid to generate hydrogen, into the cylindrical body and allowing each of the transport containers to sink under its own weight; generating hydrogen at the lower end of the cylinder by reaction of the acid in the water with the metal in the transfer vessel; a step of collecting the hydrogen that has risen through the cylindrical body near the upper end of the cylindrical body and storing it in a predetermined storage container; a step of recovering the transport container that has become lighter due to the reaction and has inverted and floated up inside the cylindrical body; A method for producing hydrogen comprising:

2. 2. The method for producing hydrogen according to claim 1, wherein the metal contained in the transfer vessel is iron powder or the like.

3. an internal skeleton having a plurality of cells separated by partitions is disposed within the transport container; A bag made of nonwoven fabric is installed inside each cell, 3. The method for producing hydrogen according to claim 2, wherein each bag is filled with iron powder or the like.

4. a metal fine particle capture layer is formed on a surface of the partition wall, 4. The method for producing hydrogen according to claim 3, wherein the metal particle capturing layer captures noble metals and rare metals in the water.

5. 5. The method for producing hydrogen according to claim 3, wherein the transport vessel has a spherical, ellipsoidal or regular polyhedral shape.

6. One end of each of a plurality of rotor blades is fixed to the top of the transport container, 6. The hydrogen production method according to claim 5, wherein when the transport vessel sinks in water, the other end of each rotor is subjected to water pressure and stands up in a screw shape, thereby rotating the transport vessel.

7. the cylindrical body comprises a first pipeline for recovering hydrogen and a second pipeline for introducing a transfer vessel, the second pipeline being connected obliquely to the first pipeline; An opening is formed on a side surface of the first pipe, In addition, a guide plate is disposed at an angle within the first pipe, a transport container is introduced into the upper end opening of the second pipeline arranged on the water, and reaches the lower end of the first pipeline via the second pipeline; The hydrogen generated by the reaction between the metal in the transport container and the acid in the water passes through the vent hole in the guide plate and rises toward the water surface along the first pipe.

3. The method for producing hydrogen according to claim 1, wherein the transfer vessel, which has completed the reaction and begun to float, is discharged out of the pipe from the opening along the guide plate.

8. the container comprises a balloon disposed in water; 3. The method for producing hydrogen according to claim 1, wherein hydrogen discharged from the upper end opening of the cylindrical body is filled into the balloon via a funnel-shaped cap member and a pipe.

9. The cylindrical body is made of a material folded in an accordion shape, 9. The method for producing hydrogen according to claim 8, wherein the cylindrical body extends toward the water surface due to the buoyancy of the balloon filled with hydrogen.

10. A plurality of balloons are connected to each other through valves and pipes and are arranged at predetermined depths in the water; 9. The method for producing hydrogen according to claim 8, wherein hydrogen stored in the lowest balloon connected to the upper end of the cylindrical body is transferred sequentially to the upper balloons via valves and pipes.

11. The balloon has a double structure consisting of an outer layer and an inner layer, 9. The method for producing hydrogen according to claim 8, wherein the gap between the outer layer and the inner layer is filled with hydrogen jelly or nitrogen.

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