Hydrogen generating apparatus

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen generator capable of suppressing rapid generation of hydrogen.SOLUTION: The hydrogen generator includes a sealed container in which a hydrogen-generating fuel body that reacts with a reaction liquid to generate hydrogen gas is housed in a housing part provided in a lower part, a reaction liquid tank that is provided in an upper part of the sealed container and stores the reaction liquid, and the hydrogen generator is disposed in an upper part of the housing part. The hydrogen-generating fuel cell system includes a receiving pan for dispersing and supplying the reaction liquid to the hydrogen-generating fuel body, a movable plate disposed so as to be vertically movable between the reaction liquid tank and the receiving pan, an outflow port provided at the bottom of the reaction liquid tank for dropping the reaction liquid stored in the reaction liquid tank into the sealed container, a water shut-off valve attached to the movable plate for opening and closing the outflow port by the vertical movement of the movable plate, and a hydrogen discharge part for discharging hydrogen gas generated in the housing part and flowing out between the receiving pan and the movable plate to the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to hydrogen generation devices. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that hydrogen can be generated by supplying a liquid substance (e.g., water) to a mixture of an inorganic hydride (e.g., sodium borohydride) and a reaction promoter (e.g., boric acid). There is also an apparatus that generates hydrogen gas by reacting a hydrogen generating agent with a reaction liquid (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-21514 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-49584 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, when water is added to a mixture of sodium borohydride and boric acid, hydrogen is rapidly produced in the initial stage. To prevent such a sudden generation of hydrogen, it is necessary to control the amount of water supplied, and there is room for improvement.

[0005] In consideration of the above, the present disclosure aims to provide a hydrogen generation device that can suppress rapid hydrogen generation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The hydrogen generation device of the first aspect comprises a sealed container that contains a hydrogen generation fuel body in a storage section provided at the bottom, which reacts with a reaction liquid to generate hydrogen gas; a reaction liquid tank provided at the top of the sealed container and stores the reaction liquid; a receiving tray located at the top of the storage section and dispersing the reaction liquid and supplying it to the hydrogen generation fuel body; a movable plate that is arranged so as to be able to move up and down between the reaction liquid tank and the receiving tray; an outlet provided at the bottom of the reaction liquid tank and allowing the reaction liquid stored in the reaction liquid tank to fall into the sealed container; a stop valve attached to the movable plate that opens and closes the outlet by moving the movable plate up and down; and a hydrogen discharge section that discharges the hydrogen gas generated in the storage section and that flows out between the receiving tray and the movable plate to the outside.

[0007] In the hydrogen generation device according to the first aspect, when the reaction liquid flows out from the outlet of the reaction liquid tank, the flowed-out reaction liquid falls onto the upper surface of the movable plate, which is moving downward under its own weight, and flows down from the outer periphery of the movable plate onto the receiving tray. The reaction liquid that flows into the tray is dispersed and supplied to the hydrogen generating fuel element contained in the container provided at the bottom of the sealed container. Here, hydrogen gas generated in the container as a result of the hydrogen generating fuel element reacting with the reaction liquid flows out between the tray and the movable plate. The hydrogen gas then flows from the inlet between the tray and the movable plate into the hydrogen outlet and is discharged to the outside. When the amount of hydrogen gas between the tray and the movable plate increases and the hydrogen gas pressure rises, the hydrogen gas pressure pushes up the movable plate. When the movable plate is pushed up, the stop valve of the movable plate approaches the outlet, slowing down the outflow rate of the reaction liquid from the outlet, or the stop valve blocks the outlet, temporarily preventing the reaction liquid from flowing out.

[0008] In this way, the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated from the hydrogen generating fuel element can be slowed down by reducing the amount of reaction liquid supplied to the hydrogen generating fuel element or by stopping the supply of reaction liquid. In other words, the amount of hydrogen gas generated per unit time from the hydrogen generating fuel element can be suppressed.

[0009] When the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated from the hydrogen generating fuel element decreases and the pressure of the hydrogen gas drops, the movable plate descends under its own weight, the stop valve moves away from the outlet, and the reaction liquid flows out from the outlet. This increases the amount of reaction liquid supplied to the hydrogen generating fuel element, and the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated from the hydrogen generating fuel element increases.

[0010] In the hydrogen generation device according to the first aspect, the amount of reaction liquid supplied to the hydrogen generation fuel element is controlled as described above, thereby suppressing the rapid generation of hydrogen gas.

[0011] The hydrogen generation device according to the second aspect is the hydrogen generation device according to the first aspect, wherein the hydrogen discharge portion is a hydrogen discharge pipe that passes through the movable plate from above the tray and leads to the outside of the sealed container.

[0012] In the hydrogen generation device of the second embodiment, compared to a configuration in which hydrogen gas that leaks between the tray and the movable plate flows out only from between the outer periphery of the movable plate and the inner wall of the sealed container, it is easier to adjust the pressure of the hydrogen gas that pushes up the movable plate by letting the hydrogen gas flow out through the hydrogen exhaust pipe. Furthermore, since the hydrogen discharge pipe penetrates the movable plate, the movable plate can be moved up and down along the hydrogen discharge pipe, and tilting of the movable plate can be suppressed.

[0013] The hydrogen generation device of the third aspect is the hydrogen generation device of the first or second aspect, in which the center of the movable plate is located below the outlet, and the upper surface of the movable plate slopes downward from the center to the outer periphery.

[0014] In the hydrogen generation device according to the third aspect, water that has fallen from the outlet onto the movable plate flows smoothly onto the tray along the downwardly sloping upper surface compared to a horizontal, flat surface.

[0015] The hydrogen generation device according to the fourth aspect is the hydrogen generation device according to any one of the first to third aspects, and further includes a holding member that holds the movable plate in the sealed container at a position where the stop valve closes the outlet.

[0016] In the hydrogen generation device according to the fourth aspect, the movable plate can be moved toward the reaction liquid tank so that the stop valve blocks the outlet provided at the bottom of the reaction liquid tank, and the holding member can hold the movable plate in the sealed container. Then, after the outlet is closed with a stop valve, the reaction liquid can be stored in the reaction liquid tank. Therefore, advance preparation can be made so that the hydrogen generation device can be operated with the reaction liquid tank filled with water.

[0017] A hydrogen generation device according to a fifth aspect is the hydrogen generation device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the holding member includes a magnetic body provided on the movable plate and a magnet that is removably provided on the outside of the sealed container.

[0018] In the hydrogen generation apparatus according to the fifth aspect, when the movable plate is held by the holding member, a magnet is attached to the outside of the sealed container so as to be close to the magnetic material provided on the movable plate, whereby the magnet attracts the magnetic material on the movable plate, thereby holding the movable plate.

[0019] To release the movable plate, the magnet is removed from the magnetic body, which causes the magnetic body of the movable plate to no longer be attracted to the magnet, allowing the movable plate to fall under its own weight.

[0020] The hydrogen generation device of the sixth aspect is the hydrogen generation device of the fourth aspect, wherein the retaining member includes a claw provided on the inner periphery of the sealed container so as to protrude inward of the sealed container, and a notch provided on the outer periphery of the movable plate through which the claw can be inserted in an up-and-down direction, and the movable plate is arranged to be rotatable relative to the claw in the circumferential direction so as to switch between a first state in which the movable plate is placed on the claw and the stop valve closes the outflow outlet, and a second state in which the claw is positioned above the notch and the movable plate can move below the claw.

[0021] In the hydrogen generation apparatus according to the sixth aspect, when the movable plate is held by the holding member, the movable plate is placed on the claws that protrude from the inside of the sealed container, whereby the movable plate is held on the claws and prevented from falling, and the stop valve enters the first state in which it closes the outflow port.

[0022] To release the movable plate from the hold, the movable plate is rotated so that the notch of the movable plate and the claw are aligned, in other words, so that the notch and the claw face each other. As a result, the claws of the container pass through the notches in the movable plate, causing the movable plate to move below the claws, that is, causing the movable plate to drop.

[0023] The hydrogen generation device according to the seventh aspect is a hydrogen generation device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the hydrogen generating fuel body comprises a hydrogen generating agent layer in which a hydrogen generating agent that reacts with a reaction liquid to generate the hydrogen gas is layered, and a diffusion member that is stacked alternately with the hydrogen generating agent layer and allows the reaction liquid to penetrate and diffuse.

[0024] In the hydrogen generation device according to the seventh aspect, when a reaction liquid is supplied to the hydrogen generating fuel body, for example, the upper diffusion member diffuses and penetrates the reaction liquid over the entire surface of the hydrogen generating agent layer below it, and the reaction liquid that has penetrated downward from the diffusion member reacts with the hydrogen generating agent in the hydrogen generating agent layer to generate hydrogen.

[0025] The diffusion member can diffuse the reaction liquid supplied from above over the entire surface of the hydrogen generating agent layer below it, and can cause the reaction liquid to permeate over the entire surface of the hydrogen generating agent layer located below the diffusion member. (in other words, supply) This allows the reaction liquid to come into contact with the entire hydrogen generating agent in the hydrogen generating agent layer located below the diffusion member, ensuring that the reaction liquid and the hydrogen generating agent react to generate hydrogen.

[0026] The reaction liquid that has permeated the hydrogen generating agent layer then permeates the diffusion member located below it, and the diffusion member causes the reaction liquid that has permeated the upper hydrogen generating agent layer to permeate and diffuse over the entire surface of the hydrogen generating agent layer located below the diffusion member, and the reaction liquid that has permeated downward from the lower diffusion member reacts with the hydrogen generating agent in the hydrogen generating agent layer to generate hydrogen.

[0027] Thereafter, the reaction liquid similarly permeates the stacked diffusion member and hydrogen generating agent layer from top to bottom, generating hydrogen for each hydrogen generating agent layer, and since the reaction liquid does not react with the entire amount of hydrogen generating agent at once, the simple configuration can suppress the rapid generation of hydrogen. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] As described above, the hydrogen generation device of the present disclosure can suppress rapid generation of hydrogen. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a hydrogen generation apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a hydrogen generation apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a hydrogen generation apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1) showing the hydrogen generation apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1(A) to 1(E) are explanatory diagrams showing the order in which hydrogen is generated. [Figure 6] (A) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a hydrogen generation apparatus according to a second embodiment, and (B) is a horizontal cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line 6B-6B in FIG. 6(A)) showing a hydrogen generation apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] (A) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a hydrogen generation apparatus according to a second embodiment, and (B) is a horizontal cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line 7B-7B in Figure 7(A)) showing a hydrogen generation apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8]FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a hydrogen generation device according to a comparative example used in the test. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the schematic configuration of an experimental device for generating hydrogen. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a hydrogen generation apparatus according to a third embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a graph comparing the amount of hydrogen generated between the embodiment and the comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] [First embodiment] A hydrogen generation device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hydrogen generation apparatus 10 includes a cylindrical member 12, a bottom member 14, and a cover member 16. The cylindrical member 12, the bottom member 14, and the cover member 16 form a sealed container 17.

[0031] The cylindrical member 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape from, for example, synthetic resin. The cylindrical member 12 can be formed from a transparent synthetic resin. A female screw 18 is formed on the upper part of the inner surface of the cylindrical member 12, and a female screw 20 is formed on the lower part of the inner surface of the cylindrical member 12.

[0032] The bottom member 14 is made of synthetic resin and is formed in a disk shape, with a small diameter portion 22 formed on the upper side and a male thread 24 formed on the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 22. The male thread 24 of the bottom member 14 is threadedly engaged with the female thread 20 of the tubular member 12, thereby detachably attaching the bottom member 14 to the tubular member 12. The bottom member 14 can be made of a transparent synthetic resin.

[0033] A concave hydrogen generating fuel element accommodating portion 26 is formed in the center of the top of the bottom member 14 . The hydrogen-generating fuel element accommodating section 26 accommodates a hydrogen-generating fuel element 28 .

[0034] The hydrogen generating fuel body 28 comprises a hydrogen generating agent layer 28A in which the hydrogen generating agent is arranged in layers, and a hydrophilic sheet 28B as an example of a diffusion member that is alternately stacked with the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A and allows water W as an example of a reaction liquid to penetrate and diffuse.

[0035] More specifically, the hydrogen generating fuel body 28 is constructed by stacking a circular hydrophilic sheet 28B and a circular, thin hydrogen generating agent layer 28A containing a hydrogen generating agent, one above the other, with each hydrogen generating agent layer 28A sandwiched between hydrophilic sheets 28B, with the hydrophilic sheet 28B being placed on top.

[0036] The hydrophilic sheet 28B has hydrophilic properties and has the property of permeating and diffusing water W, and can be made of paper such as filter paper or tissue paper made of many fibers. The hydrophilic sheet 28B can also be made of nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, water-permeable sheet, or the like other than paper.

[0037] In this embodiment, as an example of the hydrogen generating agent used in the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A, a mixture of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and boric acid (B(OH)3) as a reaction accelerator is used.

[0038] Adding water (H2O) to a mixture of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and boric acid (B(OH)3) produces hydrogen gas and sodium tetraborate, as shown in the following reaction equation: NaBH4+B(OH)3+0.5H2O=4H2+0.5Na2B4O7

[0039] The resulting sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7) can be reused.

[0040] There is no particular limit to the total number of the hydrogen generating agent layers 28A and the number of the hydrophilic sheets 28B. The thickness of the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A is, for example, about 1 mm, but may be thinner or thicker than 1 mm. Taking into consideration the size of the fuel particles, the thickness of the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A is preferably in the range of about 1 to 2 mm.

[0041] If the sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7) obtained by the above reaction is thick, water does not easily penetrate it. Therefore, it is preferable to make the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A relatively thin in advance, for example, to a thickness of about 1 mm, so that water can easily penetrate it.

[0042] In this embodiment, a mixture of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and boric acid (B(OH)3) as a reaction promoter is used as the hydrogen generating agent, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and any known hydrogen generating agent other than sodium borohydride (NaBH4) may be used as long as it can generate hydrogen by reacting with a reaction liquid such as water. Furthermore, a reaction promoter may be used if necessary, but it is not necessary to use one, but it is basically preferable to use a reaction promoter.

[0043] A water tray 30 made of synthetic resin is mounted on the small diameter portion 22 of the bottom member 14. The top surface of the water tray 30 is inclined so that it gradually becomes lower toward the center. The water tray 30 has a plurality of through holes 32 of different sizes formed in multiple locations, including the center. As will be described later, the water tray 30 drips water W falling from above onto the top surface of the hydrogen generating fuel body 28 through the plurality of through holes 32. The outer peripheral surface of the water tray 30 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member 12 along its entire circumference, and the water tray 30 is fixed to the bottom member 14 so that no gap occurs between the water tray 30 and the tubular member 12.

[0044] The cover member 16 is made of synthetic resin and has a disk shape, with a small diameter portion 34 formed on the lower side. A male thread 36 is formed on the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 34. The cover member 16 is attached to the cylindrical member 12 by threading the male thread 36 into the female thread 18 of the cylindrical member 12. The cover member 16 can be made of a transparent synthetic resin.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the lid member 16 is formed with an inlet 38 for introducing water W, a female threaded hole 42 for attaching a safety valve 40, and, as shown in FIG. 3, a threaded hole 48 for attaching a fitting 46 provided at the end of a pipe 44 for discharging hydrogen gas.

[0046] 1, the inlet 38 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has a male thread 50 formed on the outer periphery thereof. A female thread 54 of a cap 52 is adapted to be screwed onto the male thread 50.

[0047] A recess 56 is formed on the underside of the lid member 16. A water tank 58, which is an example of a reaction liquid tank of the present disclosure and is made of synthetic resin, is fitted and fixed in the recess 56. The water tank 58 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a cylindrical portion 60 and a bottom portion 62 integrally formed at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 60.

[0048] An outlet 64 serving as a valve hole is formed in the center of the bottom 62 of the water tank 58. The outlet 64 is provided with a tapered valve seat 66 whose diameter gradually decreases upward.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a guide rod / hydrogen flow pipe 70 as an example of a hydrogen discharge portion extending in the vertical direction, and a guide rod 72 are attached to the underside of the cover member 16.

[0050] The guide rod / hydrogen flow pipe 70 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and its upper end is fixed to the underside of the cover member 16. The guide rod / hydrogen flow pipe 70 has a male thread 74 formed on its upper outer peripheral surface and a male thread 76 formed on its lower outer peripheral surface, and has a guide section 78 in the middle in the longitudinal direction where no male thread is formed.

[0051] The guide rod / hydrogen flow pipe 70 passes through the bottom 62 of the water tank 58, and the male thread 74 is threaded into a female thread 82 formed in the bottom 62 of the water tank 58. The guide portion 78 of the guide rod / hydrogen flow pipe 70 is located below the bottom 62 of the water tank 58. A nut 84 is attached to the male thread 76 of the guide rod / hydrogen flow pipe 70 to prevent a movable plate 98, which will be described later, from falling. The screw hole 48 of the cover member 16 and the internal flow path of the guide rod / hydrogen flow path pipe 70 are in communication with each other so that hydrogen gas can pass through.

[0052] The guide rod 72 is fixed by threading a male screw 86 formed on the top into a female screw hole 88 formed on the underside of the cover member 16. The guide rod 72 also has a male screw 90 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lower part, and a guide section 92 with no male screw formed in the middle part in the longitudinal direction.

[0053] The guide rod 72 passes through the bottom 62 of the water tank 58, and the male thread 86 is threadedly engaged with a female thread 94 formed in the bottom 62 of the water tank 58. The guide portion 92 of the guide rod 72 is located below the bottom 62 of the lid member 16. A nut 96 is attached to the male thread 90 of the guide rod 72 to prevent a movable plate 98, which will be described later, from falling. The water tank 58 is fixed to the lid member 16 by threading a male screw 86 of the guide rod 72 into a female screw hole 88 formed in the underside of the lid member 16 .

[0054] Inside the space S surrounded by the tubular member 12, the bottom member 14, the lid member 16, and the water tank 58, a movable plate 98 is disposed horizontally.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 4, the movable plate 98 has a disk portion 100 whose diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical member 12. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the disk portion 100 is thickest at the center and decreases in thickness toward the periphery. The upper surface of the disk portion 100 is inclined downward from the center toward the periphery. The material of the movable plate 98 is not limited as long as it is impermeable to hydrogen and lightweight enough to be pushed up by the pressure of hydrogen gas generated from the hydrogen generation fuel body 28. In this embodiment, the movable plate 98 is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin (e.g., acrylic, EVA resin, etc.). The movable plate 98 can be formed of a transparent synthetic resin. Furthermore, the movable plate 98 may be made of metal as long as it satisfies the above conditions.

[0056] 1, a water stop valve 102 is attached to the center of the disk part 100. The upper end portion of the water stop valve 102 is formed in a conical shape.

[0057] The outlet 64 is opened and closed by the stop valve 102 coming into contact with and separating from the valve seat 66, and the bottom 62 in which the outlet 64 is formed and the stop valve 102 constitute a so-called on-off valve.

[0058] The stop valve 102 can be brought into close contact with the valve seat 66 of the outlet 64 formed in the lid member 16 to block the outlet 64, i.e., to close the on-off valve. This prevents the water W stored in the water tank 58 from flowing out through the outlet 64. The movable plate 98 is positioned between the bottom surface of the water tank 58 and the top surface of the water tray 30, above a position halfway up the height of this space (the center position in the height direction), so that a slight rise of the movable plate 98 allows the stop valve 102 to block the outlet 64.

[0059] In addition, by moving the stop valve 102 away from the valve seat 66, the outlet 64 can be opened (i.e., the opening / closing valve can be opened), thereby allowing the water W stored in the water tank 58 to flow downward through the outlet 64. The amount of water flowing out from the outlet 64 can also be changed by changing the distance between the stop valve 102 and the valve seat 66 .

[0060] 3, the movable plate 98 is formed with a through-hole 104 through which the guide portion 78 of the guide rod / hydrogen flow pipe 70 is slidably inserted, and a through-hole 106 through which the guide portion 92 of the guide rod 72 is slidably inserted. As a result, the movable plate 98 is guided by the guide portion 78 of the guide rod / hydrogen flow pipe 70 and the guide portion 92 of the guide rod 72, and is able to move up and down while being prevented from tilting.

[0061] The amount of downward movement of the movable plate 98 is limited by the movable plate 98 moving downward and hitting the fall prevention nut 84 attached to the guide rod / hydrogen flow path pipe 70 and the fall prevention nut 96 attached to the guide rod 72. When the movable plate 98 hits the nut 84 and the nut 96, the water stop valve 102 moves away from the valve seat 66 to open the outflow port 64, i.e., the on-off valve is in the open state.

[0062] 1 and 4, first magnets 110, which are an example of the magnetic material of the present disclosure, are embedded in the outer periphery of the disk portion 100 of the movable plate 98. In the example shown in Fig. 4, there are two first magnets 110, which are spaced 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction around the center of the disk portion 100, in other words, are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the disk portion 100.

[0063] 1, by disposing a second magnet 112 on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 12 facing the first magnet 110 and exerting an attractive force between the first magnet 110 and the second magnet 112, the movable plate 98 can be held at the height position where the second magnet 112 is disposed. The first magnet 110 and the second magnet 112 are examples of holding members of the present disclosure.

[0064] (Action, effect) To generate hydrogen gas from the hydrogen generator 10, preparations are made in the following order, for example. (1) The cylindrical member 12 and the bottom member 14 are separated, the hydrogen generating fuel element 28 is accommodated in the hydrogen generating fuel element accommodating portion 26 of the bottom member 14, and the water receiving tray 30 is mounted on the bottom member 14.

[0065] (2) The bottom member 14 is attached to the cylindrical member 12.

[0066] (3) A second magnet 112 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 12 facing the first magnet 110, and the second magnet 112 is slid upward so that the movable plate 98 moves upward and the stop valve 102 comes into close contact with the valve seat 66, i.e., so that the on-off valve is in a closed state.

[0067] Then, the movement of the second magnet 112 is stopped so that the stop valve 102 remains in close contact with the valve seat 66, and the movable plate 98 is held (see FIG. 5(A)). Note that, because a magnetic attractive force acts between the first magnet 110 and the second magnet 112, the movable plate 98 is held even if the second magnet 112 is released.

[0068] (4) Remove the cap 52 attached to the inlet 38 of the lid member 16, pour a predetermined amount of water W as an example of a reaction liquid into the water tank 58 through the inlet 38, and tighten the cap 52 as shown in Figure 5(B).

[0069] Next, the procedure for generating hydrogen gas will be described below. First, as shown in FIG. 5(C), the second magnet 112 is moved away from the cylindrical member 12 (first magnet 110).

[0070] When the second magnet 112 is moved away from the tubular member 12, the first magnet 110 and the second magnet 112 are no longer attracted to each other, and as shown in Figure 5 (D), the movable plate 98 falls, the stop valve 102 moves away from the valve seat 66, and the water W stored in the water tank 58 is discharged from the outlet 64.

[0071] The water W discharged from the outlet 64 flows along the upper surface of the movable plate 98 and falls from the end of the movable plate 98 onto the water receiving tray 30. The water W that falls onto the water receiving tray 30 drips evenly onto the upper surface of the hydrogen generation fuel body 28 through the multiple through-holes 32.

[0072] When water W is supplied onto the hydrogen generating fuel body 28, the water first penetrates the uppermost hydrophilic sheet 28B, then diffuses throughout the entire hydrophilic sheet 28B, and can then diffuse and penetrate throughout the entire surface of the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A below it.

[0073] When the water W that has permeated downward from the hydrophilic sheet 28B comes into contact with the hydrogen generating agent in the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A, the water W reacts with the hydrogen generating agent to generate hydrogen gas. The generated hydrogen gas can be discharged to the outside of the hydrogen generator 10 via the guide rod / hydrogen flow path pipe 70.

[0074] In this way, first, the water W comes into contact with the entire hydrogen generating agent in the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A located below the uppermost hydrophilic sheet 28B to generate hydrogen, and the hydrogen generating agent becomes sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7) after reacting with the water W to generate hydrogen. Therefore, the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A becomes a layer of sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7) after reacting with the water W to generate hydrogen.

[0075] The layer of sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7) obtained after hydrogen generation is a thin layer similar to the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A, so water W supplied from above permeates downward and is supplied to the lower hydrophilic sheet 28B, i.e., the second hydrophilic sheet 28B counting from the top. Thereafter, the water W that has permeated downward from the second hydrophilic sheet 28B reacts with the hydrogen generating agent in the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A located below the second hydrophilic sheet 28B to generate hydrogen gas.

[0076] Similarly, the supplied water permeates downward through the hydrogen generating fuel body 28, and each time the water W permeates the hydrogen generating agent layer 28A, the water W reacts with the hydrogen generating agent to generate hydrogen gas, and the hydrogen generating fuel body 28 continues to generate hydrogen gas until the water W permeates the lowest hydrogen generating agent layer 28A.

[0077] The hydrogen gas generated inside the hydrogen generation device 10 can be discharged to the outside through the guide rod / hydrogen flow pipe 70. The lower end of the guide rod / hydrogen flow pipe 70 serves as an inlet into which hydrogen gas flows, and the hydrogen gas flows from this inlet into the guide rod / hydrogen flow pipe 70 and is then discharged to the outside.

[0078] Here, when the amount of hydrogen gas generated from the hydrogen generation fuel body 28 increases and the pressure of the hydrogen gas generated from the hydrogen generation fuel body 28 increases, the movable plate 98 is pushed up by the pressure of the hydrogen gas, the water stop valve 102 approaches the valve seat 66 of the outlet 64, the outflow rate of the water W from the outlet 64 decreases, or the water stop valve 102 comes into contact with the valve seat 66 and the water W temporarily stops flowing out.

[0079] In this way, the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated from the hydrogen generation fuel element 28 can be slowed by reducing the amount of water W supplied to the hydrogen generation fuel element 28 or by stopping the supply of water W. In other words, the amount of hydrogen gas generated per unit time from the hydrogen generation fuel element 28 is suppressed.

[0080] Then, when the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated from the hydrogen generation fuel element 28 decreases to a certain extent and the pressure of the hydrogen gas pushing up the movable plate 98 decreases, the movable plate 98 descends under its own weight and the stop valve 102 moves away from the outlet 64. This increases the outflow rate of the water W from the outlet 64, increases the amount of water W supplied to the hydrogen generation fuel element 28, and increases the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated from the hydrogen generation fuel element.

[0081] In the hydrogen generation device 10 of this embodiment, the amount of water W supplied to the hydrogen generation fuel body 28 can be controlled as described above, thereby suppressing the rapid generation of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen generation fuel body 28 and making it possible to stably discharge hydrogen gas from the guide rod / hydrogen flow path pipe 70.

[0082] [Second embodiment] A hydrogen generation device 10 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 6(A), (B) and 7(A), (B). Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0083] As shown in Figures 6(A), (B) and 7(A), (B), in the hydrogen generation device 10 of this embodiment, a notched movable plate 120 is provided instead of the movable plate 98 of the first embodiment. The notched movable plate 120 is formed in a disk shape, and has a pair of notches 122 formed on the outer periphery. As with the movable plate 98 according to the first embodiment, the notched movable plate 120 according to the second embodiment is not limited to a material as long as it is impermeable to hydrogen and lightweight enough to be pushed up by the pressure of hydrogen gas generated from the hydrogen generation fuel body 28, as will be described later.

[0084] Meanwhile, a pair of claws 124, which are an example of a holding member of the present disclosure, are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical member 12. When the notches 122 and the claws 124 are at different positions in the circumferential direction of the notched movable plate 120 as shown in Fig. 6(B), the notched movable plate 120 can be placed on the claws 124 as shown in Fig. 6(A).

[0085] When the notched movable plate 120 is placed on the claws 124, the water stop valve 102 contacts the valve seat 66 at the outlet 64 and the on-off valve is closed, so water W is poured into the water tank 58 in this state.

[0086] To generate hydrogen gas from the hydrogen generator 10, the cover member 16 is rotated so that the notched movable plate 120 moves from the position shown in Figure 6(B) to the position shown in Figure 7(B), i.e., to a position where the notch 122 is aligned with the claw 124. When the notch 122 is aligned with the claw 124, the claw 124 passes through the notch 122, and as shown in Figure 7(A), the movable plate 98 falls, the stop valve 102 moves away from the valve seat 66, and the water W stored in the water tank 58 is discharged from the outlet 64. This allows water W to be supplied to the hydrogen-generating fuel element 28, similarly to the first embodiment. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0087] [Third embodiment] A hydrogen generation device 10 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0088] As shown in Fig. 10, the hydrogen generation apparatus 10 of this embodiment is provided with a movable plate 130 instead of the movable plate 98 of the first embodiment. The movable plate 130 has a disk portion 134 whose diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical member 12. The upper surface of the disk portion 134 is inclined downward from the center toward the outer periphery. The lower surface of the disk portion 134 is also inclined downward from the center toward the outer periphery. The disk portion 134 has a constant thickness from the center toward the outer periphery. Like the movable plate 98 of the first embodiment and the notched movable plate 120 of the second embodiment, the movable plate 130 of the third embodiment is not limited to any particular material, as long as it is impermeable to hydrogen and lightweight enough to be pushed up by the pressure of the hydrogen gas generated from the hydrogen generation fuel body 28.

[0089] A flat, annular extension 132 extends downward from the outer periphery of the disk portion 134. As a result, a recess extending from the bottom to the top is formed on the underside of the disk portion 134. This recess allows the generated water vapor to accumulate on the underside of the disk portion 134, realizing a structure that makes it easy to obtain buoyancy.

[0090] The movable plate 130 is made of a synthetic resin, and can be made of a transparent synthetic resin.

[0091] Although not shown in Fig. 10, the movable plate 130 of the third embodiment also has through holes similar to the through holes 104, 106 of the movable plate 98 of the first embodiment. Also, although not shown in Fig. 10, a first magnet 110 is embedded in the outer periphery of the disk portion 134.

[0092] [Test example] Next, in order to confirm the effect of the hydrogen generation device of the present disclosure, the hydrogen generation device of the third embodiment and a hydrogen generation device according to a comparative example were fabricated as prototypes, and hydrogen generation was compared between them.

[0093] 8 shows a hydrogen generator 150 according to a comparative example. The hydrogen generator 150 is the hydrogen generator 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 without the movable plate 98.

[0094] As shown in Figure 9, the experimental equipment for measuring the amount of hydrogen produced comprises a hydrogen generation device 10 (150), a catch filter 160 that cools the hydrogen gas and removes alkaline substances, a silica gel filter 162 that removes moisture from the hydrogen gas, a flow meter 164 that measures the flow rate of the hydrogen gas, a data logger 166 that records the flow rate of the hydrogen gas, a valve 172, and piping that connects these components.

[0095] When hydrogen gas is generated in hydrogen generator 10 or hydrogen generator 150, the hydrogen gas passes through catch filter 160, silica gel filter 162, and flow meter 164, and the flow rate is measured by flow meter 164. Note that by measuring the flow rate of hydrogen gas with flow meter 164, the amount of hydrogen gas generated can be obtained.

[0096] In this test, the amount of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in the hydrogen generating fuel body in the hydrogen generating device was 10 g, and the amount of boric acid (B(OH)3) was 16.3 g. The number of hydrophilic sheets (permeable sheets) in the hydrogen generating fuel body was four, and the number of hydrogen generating agent layers was three.

[0097] The graph shown in Figure 11 shows the relationship between the flow rate of hydrogen gas and time when hydrogen gas was generated using the hydrogen generation device 10 of the embodiment and when hydrogen gas was generated using the hydrogen generation device 150 of the comparative example, as (A), (B), and (C), for three experiments conducted. In this graph, the solid line shows the results of hydrogen generation in the hydrogen generation device 10 of the embodiment (with movable plate), and the dotted line shows the results of hydrogen generation in the hydrogen generation device 150 of the comparative example (without movable plate).

[0098] Table 1 shows the total amount of hydrogen produced and the peak value of hydrogen production in three experiments. The total amount of hydrogen produced is the total amount of hydrogen produced from the start to the end of the experiment. The peak value of hydrogen production is the maximum amount of hydrogen produced per unit time from the start to the end of the experiment. [Table 1]

[0099] 11, when hydrogen gas is generated using the hydrogen generator 10 of the embodiment (see the solid graph line), the sudden generation of hydrogen (peak value) is suppressed compared to when hydrogen is generated using the hydrogen generator 150 of the comparative example (see the dotted graph line), and hydrogen gas is generated stably over a long period of time. Furthermore, Table 1 shows that the total amount of hydrogen generated in the embodiment is comparable to that of the comparative example.

[0100] [Other embodiments] The above describes one embodiment of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0101] In the first and third embodiments, the first magnet 110 is provided on the outer periphery of the disk portion 100 of the movable plate 98, but instead of the first magnet 110, a ferromagnetic material (such as iron) that can be attracted by the second magnet 112 may be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0102] 10 Hydrogen generator 17 Airtight containers 26 Hydrogen generating fuel assembly housing (housing) 28 Hydrogen-producing fuel body 28A Hydrogen generating agent layer 28B Each stage member 30 Water tray (tray) 58 Water tank (reaction liquid tank) 64 Outlet 70 Guide rod and hydrogen flow pipe (hydrogen discharge section) 98 Movable plate 102 Water stop valve 110 First magnet (holding member, magnetic body) 112 second magnet (holding member, magnet) 120 Movable plate 122 Notch 124 Nails 130 Movable plate

Claims

1. a sealed container in which a hydrogen generating fuel element that reacts with a reaction liquid to generate hydrogen gas is accommodated in a container portion provided at a lower portion; a reaction liquid tank provided at an upper portion of the sealed container and configured to store the reaction liquid; a tray disposed above the accommodation section, which disperses the reaction liquid and supplies it to the hydrogen-generating fuel body; a movable plate disposed between the reaction liquid tank and the tray so as to be movable up and down; an outlet provided at the bottom of the reaction liquid tank, through which the reaction liquid stored in the reaction liquid tank falls into the sealed container; a stop valve attached to the movable plate and configured to open and close the outlet by vertical movement of the movable plate; a hydrogen discharge section that discharges the hydrogen gas that is generated in the accommodation section and that has flowed out between the tray and the movable plate to the outside; A hydrogen generating device having the above structure.

2. the hydrogen discharge part is a hydrogen discharge pipe that passes through the movable plate from above the tray and leads to the outside of the sealed container. The hydrogen generating apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. a central portion of the movable plate is located below the outlet, The upper surface of the movable plate has a downward slope from the center to the outer periphery. The hydrogen generating apparatus according to claim 1 .

4. a holding member that holds the movable plate in the sealed container when the stop valve is at a position where it closes the outlet; The hydrogen generating apparatus according to claim 1 .

5. The holding member is configured to include a magnetic body provided on the movable plate and a magnet detachably provided on the outside of the sealed container. The hydrogen generating apparatus according to claim 4.

6. the holding member includes a claw provided on an inner peripheral portion of the sealed container so as to protrude inward of the sealed container, and a notch provided on an outer peripheral portion of the movable plate through which the claw can be inserted in a vertical direction, The movable plate is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the claws in a circumferential direction so as to switch between a first state in which the movable plate is placed on the claws and the stop valve closes the outflow port, and a second state in which the claws are positioned above the notches and the movable plate can move to a position below the claws. The hydrogen generating apparatus according to claim 4.

7. The hydrogen generating fuel element includes a hydrogen generating agent layer in which a hydrogen generating agent that reacts with a reaction liquid to generate the hydrogen gas is layered, and a diffusion member that is alternately stacked with the hydrogen generating agent layers and allows the reaction liquid to penetrate and diffuse. The hydrogen generating apparatus according to claim 1 .

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