Hydrogen generator

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen generator capable of suppressing an excessive increase in height.SOLUTION: The hydrogen generator includes a reactor having a catalyst and pyrolyzing hydrocarbon, a treatment device for treating overflow particles containing carbon generated by pyrolysis, and a conveyance passage for conveying the overflow particles in the reactor to the treatment device by a conveyance fluid. An angle formed by a flow direction of the overflow particles in the conveyance passage and a horizontal direction, the angle being positive on a side advancing from the horizontal direction to a vertically upward direction, is set to zero or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydrogen generation device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 below describes an apparatus for producing hydrogen from methane, in which methane is thermally decomposed into hydrogen and carbon in a reactor containing a catalyst. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-73411 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Carbon is produced by pyrolysis in the reactor. Furthermore, over time, deactivated catalyst is generated during pyrolysis. Therefore, it is desirable to remove and process overflow particles containing the carbon and deactivated catalyst from the reactor. However, if the overflow particles are discharged to the bottom of the reactor using gravity and then processed, the overall height of the hydrogen generator becomes excessively high. This is because, if the overflow particles flowing out of the reactor are cooled while falling due to gravity and then supplied to a device for processing the overflow particles, the length of the cooling path becomes somewhat long. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A hydrogen generation apparatus comprising: a reactor equipped with a catalyst and for thermally decomposing hydrocarbons; and a treatment device for treating overflow particles containing carbon produced by the thermal decomposition, the hydrogen generation apparatus further comprising a transport passage for transporting the overflow particles in the reactor to the treatment device by a transport fluid, wherein the angle formed between the flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage and the horizontal direction, the angle being positive on the side moving vertically upward from the horizontal direction, is set to be equal to or greater than zero.

[0006] In the above configuration, the angle formed by the flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage with respect to the horizontal direction is equal to or greater than zero. Therefore, compared to when the angle is less than zero, the degree of requirement for lowering the relative position of the treatment device with respect to the reactor can be reduced. Therefore, the height of the hydrogen generation device can be prevented from becoming excessively high. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a hydrogen generation device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a hydrogen generation device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] First Embodiment The first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. A hydrogen generation apparatus is shown in Figure 1. In Figure 1, the x-axis and y-axis are horizontal directions, and the z-axis is vertical. In particular, the positive direction of the z-axis is the upward direction in the vertical direction.

[0009] The compressor 10 is configured to increase the pressure of methane, which is the raw material. The methane pressurized by the compressor 10 is heated by the heat exchanger 12. The heat exchanger 12 is configured to exchange heat between the methane as the raw material and a mixture of hydrogen and methane flowing out from the reactor 14. The heat exchanger 12 plays a role in cooling the mixture of hydrogen and methane flowing out from the reactor 14. The heat exchanger 12 also plays a role in effectively utilizing the heat removed from the mixture to heat the methane as the raw material.

[0010] A catalyst 18 is supplied to the reactor 14 through a catalyst supply port 14a. The catalyst 18 is used to promote the thermal decomposition of methane. One example of the catalyst 18 is iron. Meanwhile, methane heated by the heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the reactor 14. More specifically, the methane is ejected into the reactor 14 through a nozzle 20 provided at the bottom of the reactor 14. This causes the catalyst 18 to be in a fluidized bed state in the reactor 14. The pressure inside the reactor 14 is set to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. The pressure inside the reactor 14 may be, for example, several ata to several tens of ata.

[0011] A heating device 16 is provided on the side of the reactor 14. The heating device 16 is configured to supply heat to the inside of the reactor 14 from the side of the reactor 14. The reactor 14 and the heating device 16 may have, for example, a double-pipe structure. Specifically, for example, the reactor 14 may have a configuration in which high-temperature combustion gas is circulated between the outer periphery of the reactor 14 and the inner periphery of an outer tube that houses the reactor 14 to supply heat to the inside of the reactor 14. The temperature of the methane and catalyst in the reactor 14 is, for example, 600 to 900°C. A mixture of hydrogen produced by pyrolysis and methane that was not pyrolyzed flows out from an outlet 14b provided vertically above the reactor 14.

[0012] The gas mixture flowing out from the outlet 14b flows into the cyclone 22 via the heat exchanger 12. The cyclone 22 is a centrifugal separator that separates carbon from a mixture of gas mixture and carbon. The cyclone 22 is connected to a filter device 24, which captures carbon that could not be separated by the cyclone 22. The carbon separated by the cyclone 22 and the carbon captured by the filter device 24 fall by gravity into a solids removal device 26 that is arranged vertically downward. The solids removal device 26 is configured to remove solids into a space at atmospheric pressure while maintaining pressure on the cyclone 22 and filter device 24 sides. The solids removal device 26 is configured to include, for example, a lock hopper.

[0013] The gas mixture flowing out from the filter device 24 is supplied to the hydrogen purifier 70 via a pressure control valve 60. The hydrogen purifier 70 is, for example, a PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) device. The hydrogen extracted from the gas mixture by the hydrogen purifier 70 is the hydrogen to be produced.

[0014] The methane separated from the gas mixture in the hydrogen purification device 70 is returned to the reactor 14 via a return passage 72. Specifically, a compressor 74 is provided in the return passage 72. The methane separated from the gas mixture in the hydrogen purification device 70 is pressurized by the compressor 74 and then merges with methane as the raw material gas supplied to the heat exchanger 12. Note that the fluid supplied from the hydrogen purification device 70 to the heat exchanger 12 contains a small amount of hydrogen in addition to methane.

[0015] An inlet of an overflow pipe 30 is provided in the reactor 14 at a height of 0.6 to 0.8 of the length of the reactor 14. Here, the length of the reactor 14 is the vertical distance between the lowest position on the inner circumferential surface where the catalyst can be present in the vertical direction and the outlet 14b. The overflow pipe 30 is arranged so that its axial direction is vertical. The outlet of the overflow pipe 30 is connected to a chamber 32.

[0016] Carbon produced by the thermal decomposition of methane in the reactor 14 enters the chamber 32 as overflow particles through the inlet of the overflow pipe 30. The overflow particles contain deactivated catalyst in addition to carbon. The inlet of the overflow pipe 30 serves to limit the height of the catalyst 18 interface. Specifically, above the catalyst in a fluidized bed state, there is a freeboard region where sporadic particles float. The particles in the freeboard region are discharged to the outside through the inlet of the overflow pipe 30. Incidentally, some of the particles in the freeboard region flow out of the reactor 14 through the outlet 14b of the reactor 14.

[0017] A perforated plate 34 is disposed on the bottom surface of the chamber 32. Methane pressurized by the compressor 28 is ejected into the chamber 32 through the perforated plate 34. The temperature of the methane ejected into the chamber 32 through the perforated plate 34 is, for example, 250 to 400°C. The temperature of the methane ejected into the chamber 32 through the perforated plate 34 is preferably 300 to 350°C.

[0018] The pressure of the methane pressurized by the compressor 28 is adjusted so that the pressure in the chamber 32 is equal to or lower than the pressure in the reactor 14. The pressure of the methane pressurized by the compressor 28 is desirably a value that makes the pressure in the chamber 32 lower than the pressure in the reactor 14 by a predetermined amount. The overflow particles move from top to bottom in the overflow pipe 30 due to the action of gravity and flow into the chamber 32. Note that in order to minimize the amount of hydrogen generated in the reactor 14 that flows into the chamber 32, it is desirable that the predetermined amount be as small as possible.

[0019] The methane ejected into the chamber 32 serves as a carrier fluid. This methane flows into the overflow particle carrier pipe 40 together with the overflow particles through the bell mouth 36. The bell mouth 36 has a funnel shape, for example. It is desirable that the surface of the bell mouth 36 has a curved shape. For example, the bell mouth 36 opens vertically downward.

[0020] The overflow particle transport pipe 40 has a double-pipe structure including a heat transfer pipe 42 and an outer pipe 44 that houses the heat transfer pipe 42. One end of the heat transfer pipe 42 is connected to the bell mouth 36. This allows the heat transfer pipe 42 to communicate with the chamber 32. A cooling medium is supplied into the space defined by the outer circumferential surface of the heat transfer pipe 42 and the inner circumferential surface of the outer pipe 44. The cooling medium is, for example, water. The cooling medium may also be nitrogen.

[0021] The overflow particle transport pipe 40 extends vertically upward. More specifically, the transport passage defined by the inner circumferential surface of the heat transfer pipe 42 extends vertically upward, for example. The heat transfer pipe 42 is connected to a treatment device 50 for treating the overflow particles. Because the overflow particles are cooled in the overflow particle transport pipe 40, the temperature of the overflow particles flowing into the treatment device 50 is lower than the temperature of the overflow particles in the reactor 14. For example, the temperature of the overflow particles flowing into the treatment device 50 is preferably 400°C or less. For example, the temperature of the overflow particles flowing into the treatment device 50 is "300 to 400°C."

[0022] The processing device 50 includes a metal filter 52. The metal filter 52 is connected to the heat transfer tube 42. This connects the transport passage to the metal filter 52. The metal filter 52 captures solids, such as carbon and deactivated catalyst, contained in the transport fluid and overflow particles flowing in from the transport passage. The carbon and deactivated catalyst captured by the metal filter 52 fall by gravity to a solids removal device 54 located below the metal filter 52. The solids removal device 54 is configured to remove solids to a space at atmospheric pressure while maintaining pressure on the metal filter 52 side. The solids removal device 54 is configured, for example, to include a lock hopper. The solids discharged from the solids removal device 54 merge with the solids discharged from the solids removal device 26.

[0023] The gas in the metal filter 52 is supplied to the hydrogen purification device 70 via a suction passage 56. A flow control valve 58 is provided in the suction passage 56. The control device 80 includes a PU 82 and a memory 84. The PU 82 is a software execution device that executes programs stored in the memory 84. The PU 82 is a processing unit such as a CPU or a GPU. The control device 80 performs various processes by having the PU 82 execute the programs stored in the memory 84. The control device 80 is configured to control the pressure in the hydrogen purification apparatus by operating the pressure control valve 60 and the flow control valve 58. To control the pressure, the control device 80 refers to the pressure Pa in the reactor 14 detected by a pressure sensor 90. The control device 80 also refers to the pressure Pb in the metal filter 52 detected by a pressure sensor 92.

[0024] The control device 80 controls the pressure in the transfer passage to be lower than the pressure in the chamber 32 by operating the flow control valve 58. This controls the flow velocity of the transfer fluid in the transfer passage to be equal to or higher than the terminal velocity of the overflow particles. The flow velocity of the transfer fluid may be, for example, 1 to 30 m / s.

[0025] The filling rate of the overflow particles in the transport passage is set to, for example, 0.001 to 0.5, where the filling rate of the overflow particles is (volume flow rate of overflow particles) / {(volume flow rate of overflow particles)+(volume flow rate of transport fluid)}.

[0026] "Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment" The overflow particles flowing out from the reactor 14 are transported to the treatment device 50 by the airflow transport system without lowering their height below the bottom surface of the chamber 32. This prevents the height of the hydrogen purification device from becoming excessively high, compared to when the overflow particles flowing out from the reactor 14 are transported to the treatment device 50 by gravity.

[0027] According to the present embodiment described above, the following actions and effects can be further obtained. (1) The transport passage defined by the overflow particle transport pipe 40 is arranged parallel to the vertical direction. This allows the height of the upstream side of the treatment device 50 to be positioned higher than the bottom surface of the reactor 14, thereby reducing the vertical drop in the outlet of the treatment device 50 relative to the top surface of the reactor 14.

[0028] (2) The overflow particle transport pipe 40 has a double pipe structure through which the cooling medium and the overflow particles flow. This allows the temperature of the overflow particles supplied to the processing device 50 to be lower than the temperature of the overflow particles flowing out of the reactor 14. Therefore, the temperature of the overflow particles supplied to the processing device 50 can be set to a temperature that is easily acceptable to the processing device 50.

[0029] (3) An overflow pipe 30 is disposed in the reactor 14. This allows the overflow particles in the reactor 14 to be guided to the conveying passage. (4) A chamber 32 is provided between the overflow pipe 30 and the heat transfer pipe 42, and a carrier fluid is supplied into the chamber 32. This allows a mixture of the carrier fluid and the overflow particles to flow through the carrier passage to the processing device 50.

[0030] (5) The control device 80 controlled the pressure on the processing device 50 side to be lower than the pressure in the chamber 32 by operating the flow control valve 58. This allowed the carrier fluid to be drawn into the processing device 50 side.

[0031] (6) In this embodiment, the hydrogen generator has a structure in which a heating device 16 for heating the inside of the reactor 14 is provided on the side of the reactor 14. In this case, it is difficult to provide the outlet of the overflow pipe 30 on the side of the reactor 14. Therefore, the outlet of the overflow pipe 30 is configured to protrude from the bottom surface of the reactor 14. However, in this case, if the processing device 50 is provided below the bottom surface of the reactor 14, the height of the hydrogen generator will be large. Therefore, it is particularly effective to set the flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage vertically upward.

[0032] (7) The inlet of the overflow pipe 30 is preferably located at a height 0.6 to 0.8 times the length of the reactor 14. The height of the catalyst interface in the fluidized bed is limited by the height of the inlet of the overflow pipe 30, and therefore the area in which the catalyst 18 exists in the fluidized bed is limited by the height of the inlet of the overflow pipe 30. By setting the inlet height of the overflow pipe 30 as described above, the fluidized bed catalyst area contributing to the thermal decomposition of methane in the reactor 14 can be maintained at an appropriate size. Furthermore, by setting the inlet height of the overflow pipe 30 as described above, catalyst particles used in the thermal decomposition reaction of methane and carbon produced by the thermal decomposition can be gradually discharged to the outside of the reactor 14.

[0033] (8) The chamber 32 is provided with a bell mouth 36, which defines the entrance to the conveying passage. This creates a restriction in the direction from the upstream side to the downstream side of the bell mouth 36, thereby increasing the flow rate of overflow particles flowing into the conveying passage. This therefore facilitates the overflow particles being sucked into the conveying passage.

[0034] (9) The hydrogen generator is provided with a return passage 72 for returning the fluid that has flowed into the treatment device 50 to the reactor 14. This allows methane or hydrogen to be resupplied to the reactor 14 even if it is mixed into the transfer passage. Therefore, compared to a case where the return passage 72 is not provided, the production rate of hydrogen relative to methane as the raw material gas can be improved.

[0035] However, when the return passage 72 is provided, the carrier fluid flows into the reactor 14. Therefore, if the carrier fluid is a fluid that is not used in the reactor 14, such as an inert gas such as nitrogen, there is a risk that the concentration of the carrier fluid in the reactor 14 will increase. Therefore, in the above configuration, by using methane as the carrier fluid, it is possible to suppress the increase in the concentration of the carrier fluid in the reactor 14.

[0036] (11) When the control device 80 controls the flow velocity of the carrier fluid to "1 to 30 m / s," it is easy to increase efficiency while reducing the maintenance frequency of the hydrogen generator. That is, by setting the flow velocity of the carrier fluid to be equal to or greater than the terminal velocity of the overflow particles, the flow velocity of the overflow particles can be made to match the flow velocity of the carrier fluid. Furthermore, by setting the flow velocity of the carrier fluid to "30 m / s" or less, it is possible to reduce pressure loss and increase efficiency. Furthermore, by setting the flow velocity of the carrier fluid to "30 m / s" or less, it is possible to suppress wear on the vent portion of the overflow particle carrier pipe 40, thereby reducing the maintenance frequency.

[0037] (12) The filling rate of the overflow particles in the conveying passage is set to 0.001 to 0.5. This allows the overflow particles to flow smoothly without clogging the conveying passage, compared to when the filling rate exceeds 0.5.

[0038] <Second embodiment> The second embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0039] The hydrogen generation device according to this embodiment is shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, the members corresponding to those shown in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals for convenience. 2, the chamber 32 of this embodiment does not include a perforated plate 34 or a bell mouth 36. The overflow particles that have flowed into the chamber 32 flow together with the carrier fluid into the carrier passage from the inlet of the heat transfer tube 42 that opens on the side of the chamber 32.

[0040] <Correspondence> The correspondence between the matters in the above embodiment and the matters described in the "Notes" section below is as follows. Below, the correspondence is shown for each solution number described in the "Notes" section. [1, 2, 11] The catalyst corresponds to iron. The hydrocarbon corresponds to methane. The treatment device corresponds to the treatment device 50. The transport passage corresponds to the passage defined by the inner circumference of the heat transfer tube 42. The "angle between the flow direction of overflow particles in the transport passage and the horizontal direction" corresponds to an angle of 90°. [3] The coolant flow passage corresponds to the passage defined by the outer circumference of the heat transfer tube 42 and the inner circumference of the outer tube 44. [4] The overflow passage partition member corresponds to the overflow pipe 30. [5] The matters related to Solution 5 correspond to the fact that the outlet of the overflow pipe 30 is provided in the chamber 32 and the overflow particle transport pipe 40 is connected to the chamber 32. [6] The pressure reducing device corresponds to the flow control valve 58 and the pressure control valve 60. [7] The heating device corresponds to the heating device 16. [8] The details of Solution 8 are depicted in Figures 1 and 2. [9] The details of Solution 9 correspond to the bell mouth 36 being connected to the heat transfer tube 42 in Figure 1.

[10] The return passage corresponds to the return passage 72.

[0041] <Other embodiments> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0042] "About the reactor" It is not essential to provide a nozzle 20 at the bottom of the reactor 14 and eject methane from the nozzle 20. For example, a plate with a plurality of holes may be provided at the bottom of the reactor, and methane may be ejected from the holes. Here, the plate may be, for example, an iron plate. Also, the plate may be, for example, made of ceramic.

[0043] The reactor does not necessarily have to be a cylindrical member. For example, it may be a rectangular parallelepiped member. It is not essential that the longitudinal direction of the reactor be arranged parallel to the vertical direction.

[0044] "About the heating device" The heating device for heating the inside of the reactor is not limited to a device that applies heat from the outside of the reactor. For example, it may be a high-temperature member that protrudes into the inside of the reactor.

[0045] A heating device for heating the inside of the reactor is not required. For example, methane may be thermally decomposed by supplying methane and a catalyst to the reactor after they have been sufficiently heated. "About the transport aisle" The transfer passage does not necessarily have to be the heat transfer tube 42. For example, a hole in a rectangular parallelepiped member may serve as the transfer passage.

[0046] The flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage does not necessarily have to be vertically upward. For example, the flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage may be tilted 45° vertically relative to the horizontal. Even in this case, the vertical height of the outlet portion of the heat transfer tube 42 can be made higher than the bottom surface of the chamber 32. This eliminates the need to make the bottom of the treatment device 50, which utilizes the particle's own weight, excessively lower than the bottom surface of the reactor 14.

[0047] The flow direction of the overflow particles in the conveying passage does not necessarily have to have an angle greater than zero with respect to the horizontal direction. The flow direction of the overflow particles in the conveying passage may be horizontal.

[0048] It is not essential that the filling rate of the overflow particles in the conveying passage be 0.001 to 0.5. "About the Chamber" 1, the carrier fluid is ejected from the perforated plate 34, but this is not limiting. For example, similar to the reactor 14, a nozzle may be provided in the chamber 32, and the carrier fluid may be ejected from the nozzle.

[0049] It is not essential to provide the chamber 32 between the overflow pipe 30 and the overflow particle transport pipe 40. For example, an ejector may be provided between the overflow pipe 30 and the overflow particle transport pipe 40. In this case, the overflow particles in the overflow pipe 30 can be drawn into the ejector by supplying compressed transport fluid to the ejector. The pressure of the transport fluid supplied to the ejector is set to a value higher than the pressure on the processing device side.

[0050] "Cooling of overflow particles" The double-pipe structure for cooling the overflow particles is not limited to the structure exemplified in the above embodiment. For example, a cooling medium may be circulated through the heat transfer pipe 42, and the overflow particles may flow in a passage defined by the outer circumferential surface of the heat transfer pipe 42 and the inner circumferential surface of the outer pipe 44.

[0051] The structure for cooling the overflow particles does not necessarily have to be a double-pipe structure. For example, a structure in which a pipe through which the overflow particles flow and a pipe through which the cooling medium flow are arranged adjacent to each other may be used. In this case, the pair of pipes is not limited to straight pipes, and may be formed into a double spiral shape. Also, for example, multiple straight pipes through which the overflow particles flow and multiple straight pipes through which the cooling medium flow may be arranged adjacent to each other. This increases the contact area between the straight pipes through which the overflow particles flow and the straight pipes through which the cooling medium flow.

[0052] The region of the overflow particle transport passage adjacent to the cooling medium flow passage is not limited to the region where the overflow particles flow vertically upward. For example, in a configuration in which the flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage changes from vertical to horizontal, the region where the overflow particles flow horizontally may be the region adjacent to the cooling medium flow passage. Furthermore, for example, the above configuration may be replaced with a configuration in which the flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage changes from horizontal to vertical.

[0053] The conveying passage may be configured to cause the flow direction of overflow particles to meander. Here, the flow direction of the overflow particles may fluctuate up and down. In this case, the angle between the average flow direction of the overflow particles and the horizontal direction may be set to be equal to or greater than zero. This allows the height of the outlet of the conveying passage to be set higher than the height of the inlet of the conveying passage.

[0054] It is not essential that the cooling of the overflow particles takes place in the conveying channel. "About the carrier fluid" The carrier fluid does not necessarily have to be the raw material gas. For example, it may be hydrogen gas, which is the gas to be generated.

[0055] The carrier fluid may be a rare gas or, for example, an inert substance that is in a liquid phase in the operating temperature range. "About Hydrocarbons" The hydrocarbon gas does not necessarily have to be methane. For example, it may be propane. In this case, the substances effluent from the reactor will contain methane, ethylene, propane, etc. in addition to hydrogen and carbon.

[0056] "About hydrogen generation equipment" The hydrogen generator does not necessarily have to include only one reactor. For example, the hydrogen generator may include multiple reactors connected in series. Alternatively, for example, the hydrogen generator may include multiple reactors connected in parallel.

[0057] <Additional Notes> Solution 1. A hydrogen generation apparatus comprising: a reactor equipped with a catalyst and for thermally decomposing hydrocarbons; and a treatment device for treating overflow particles containing carbon produced by the thermal decomposition; a transport passage provided between the reactor and the treatment device for transporting the overflow particles in the reactor to the treatment device by a transport fluid; and an angle formed between the flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage and the horizontal direction, the angle being positive on the side moving vertically upward from the horizontal direction, set to zero or more.

[0058] In the above configuration, the angle formed by the flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage with respect to the horizontal direction is equal to or greater than zero. Therefore, compared to when the angle is less than zero, the degree of requirement for lowering the relative position of the treatment device with respect to the reactor can be reduced. Therefore, the height of the hydrogen generation device can be prevented from becoming excessively high.

[0059] Solution 2. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the angle is set to a value greater than zero. In the above configuration, the angle formed by the flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage with respect to the horizontal direction is set to a value greater than 0. Therefore, the region having a height equal to or greater than the lowest point of the reactor and the region where the treatment device is present can be brought closer together, thereby sufficiently preventing the height of the hydrogen generator from becoming excessively high.

[0060] Solution 3: The hydrogen generation apparatus according to the above item 1 or 2, wherein at least a portion of the transport passage is adjacent to a cooling medium flow passage, and the cooling medium is configured to flow through the cooling medium flow passage.

[0061] In the above configuration, the temperature of the overflow particles supplied to the treatment device can be lowered relative to the temperature of the overflow particles flowing out from the reactor, so that the overflow particles can be supplied to the treatment device after their temperature has been lowered to a temperature acceptable to the treatment device.

[0062] Solution 4. The hydrogen generation apparatus according to any one of the above items 1 to 3, wherein the reactor is provided with an overflow passage partitioning member, and the overflow passage partitioning member is a member that partitions an overflow passage, which is a passage that guides the overflow particles to the transport passage.

[0063] In the above configuration, the overflow particles in the reactor can be made to flow to the treatment device via the overflow passage and the transport passage. Solution 5. The hydrogen generation apparatus according to the above item 4, wherein a chamber is provided between the overflow passage and the transport passage, and a transport fluid is supplied to the chamber.

[0064] In the above-described configuration, by supplying the carrier fluid to the chamber, the mixture of the carrier fluid and the overflow particles can be caused to flow through the transport passage to the processing device. Solution 6. The hydrogen generator according to any one of the above items 1 to 5, further comprising a pressure reducing device for reducing the pressure on the treatment device side to a level lower than the pressure inside the reactor.

[0065] In the above configuration, the pressure on the treatment device side is made lower than the pressure inside the reactor, so that the carrier fluid can be drawn into the treatment device side. Solution 7. The hydrogen generation apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6 (excluding those not including Solution 4), wherein a heating device for heating the inside of the reactor is provided on a side surface of the reactor, and the outlet of the overflow passage is configured to protrude from the bottom surface of the reactor.

[0066] In the above configuration, since the heating device is provided on the side surface of the reactor, it is difficult to provide the outlet of the overflow passage on the side surface of the reactor. Therefore, in the above configuration, the outlet of the overflow passage is configured to protrude from the bottom surface of the reactor. In that case, if the treatment device is provided below the bottom surface of the reactor, the height of the hydrogen generation device will be large. Therefore, it is particularly effective to set the flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage as described above.

[0067] Solution 8: The hydrogen generation apparatus according to any one of the above 4 to 7 (excluding those not including Solution 4), wherein the catalyst is a fluidized catalyst, and the inlet of the overflow passage is provided at a height that is 0.6 to 0.8 times the height from the bottom surface of the reactor to the surface of the reactor facing the bottom surface.

[0068] In the above configuration, the height of the fluidized catalyst in the reactor is limited by the height of the inlet of the overflow passage. Therefore, in the above configuration, by setting the inlet of the overflow passage at the above height, the fluidized bed catalyst region contributing to the thermal cracking of hydrocarbons in the reactor can be maintained at an appropriate size. Furthermore, by setting the inlet at the above height, catalyst particles used in the thermal cracking reaction of hydrocarbons and carbon generated by the thermal cracking can be gradually discharged to the outside of the reactor.

[0069] Solution 9: The hydrogen generation device according to any one of the above items 5 to 8 (excluding those not including Solution 5), wherein the chamber is provided with a bell mouth, and the bell mouth constitutes an inlet of the transfer passage.

[0070] In the above configuration, the bell mouth can promote the suction of overflow particles into the conveying passage. Solution 10. The hydrogen generation apparatus according to any one of the above items 1 to 9, further comprising a return passage for returning the fluid that has flowed into the treatment device to the reactor, wherein the carrier fluid is a hydrocarbon gas.

[0071] In the above configuration, since the return passage is provided, even if hydrocarbons flowing out of the reactor are mixed into the transfer passage, the hydrocarbons can be supplied again to the reactor, and therefore the hydrogen production rate relative to the hydrocarbons as the raw material gas can be improved compared to when the return passage is not provided.

[0072] However, when a return passage is provided and a fluid that is not used in the reactor, such as an inert gas such as nitrogen, is selected as the carrier fluid, there is a risk that the concentration of fluids other than hydrocarbons in the reactor will increase. Therefore, in the above configuration, by using hydrocarbons as the carrier fluid, it is possible to suppress the increase in the concentration of fluids other than hydrocarbons in the reactor.

[0073] Solution 11. The hydrogen generation apparatus according to any one of the above items 1 to 10, wherein the filling rate of the overflow particles in the transport passage is 0.001 to 0.5, and the filling rate is a value obtained by dividing the volumetric flow rate of the overflow particles by the sum of the volumetric flow rate of the overflow particles and the volumetric flow rate of the transport fluid.

[0074] In the above configuration, the overflow particles can flow smoothly without clogging the transport passage, compared to when the filling rate exceeds 0.5. Solution 12: The hydrogen generator according to any one of the above items 1 to 11, wherein the flow velocity of the carrier fluid in the carrier passage is "1 to 30 m / s." According to the above configuration, it is easy to increase the efficiency while reducing the maintenance frequency of the hydrogen generator. That is, by setting the flow velocity of the carrier fluid to be equal to or greater than the terminal velocity of the overflow particles, the flow velocity of the overflow particles can be made to match the flow velocity of the carrier fluid. Furthermore, by setting the flow velocity of the carrier fluid to 30 m / s or less, it is possible to reduce pressure loss and increase efficiency. Furthermore, by setting the flow velocity of the carrier fluid to 30 m / s or less, it is possible to suppress wear on the vent portion of the carrier passage, etc., thereby reducing the maintenance frequency. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10...Compressor 12...Heat exchanger 14...Reactor 14a...Catalyst supply port 14b...Exit 16...Heating device 18...Catalyst 20...Nozzle 22...Cyclone 24...Filter device 26...Solid removal device 28...Compressor 30...Overflow pipe 32...Chamber 34...Perforated plate 36...Bellmouth 40...Overflow particle transport pipe 42...Heat transfer tube 44...Outer tube 50...Processing equipment 52...Metal filter 54...Solid removal device 56...Suction passage 58...Flow control valve 60...Pressure control valve 70...Hydrogen purification equipment 72...Return passage 74...Compressor 80...Control device

Claims

1. a reactor equipped with a catalyst and for thermally cracking hydrocarbons; a treatment device for treating overflow particles containing carbon produced by the pyrolysis, a conveying passage provided between the reactor and the treatment device, for conveying overflow particles in the reactor to the treatment device by a conveying fluid; A hydrogen generation apparatus in which the angle between the flow direction of the overflow particles in the transport passage and the horizontal direction, the angle being positive on the side moving vertically upward from the horizontal direction, is set to be equal to or greater than zero.

2. The hydrogen generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the angle is set to a value greater than zero.

3. At least a portion of the transfer passage is adjacent to a cooling medium flow passage; 2. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the cooling medium flow passage is configured so that a cooling medium flows through the cooling medium flow passage.

4. the reactor is provided with an overflow passage partition member, 2. The hydrogen generation apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the overflow passage partitioning member is a member that partitions an overflow passage that is a passage that guides the overflow particles to the transfer passage.

5. a chamber is provided between the overflow passage and the transfer passage; The hydrogen generation apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a carrier fluid is supplied to the chamber.

6. The hydrogen generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure reducing device for reducing the pressure on the processing device side to a pressure lower than the pressure inside the reactor.

7. a heating device for heating the inside of the reactor is provided on a side surface of the reactor, The hydrogen generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the outlet of the overflow passage is configured to protrude from the bottom surface of the reactor.

8. the catalyst is a fluidized catalyst; 5. The hydrogen generation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the inlet of the overflow passage is provided at a height 0.6 to 0.8 times the height from the bottom surface of the reactor to the surface of the reactor facing the bottom surface.

9. The chamber is provided with a bell mouth, The hydrogen generator according to claim 5 , wherein the bell mouth constitutes an inlet of the transfer passage.

10. a return passage for returning the fluid that has flowed into the treatment device to the reactor; 2. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the carrier fluid is a hydrocarbon gas.

11. a filling rate of the overflow particles in the transport passage is 0.001 to 0.5; 2. The hydrogen generation apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the filling rate is a value obtained by dividing the volumetric flow rate of the overflow particles by the sum of the volumetric flow rate of the overflow particles and the volumetric flow rate of the carrier fluid.

12. 2. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the flow velocity of the carrier fluid in the carrier passage is 1 to 30 m / s.

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