Pipeless hydrogen purification system

Abstract

The present invention provides a piping-free hydrogen purification system that has a simple overall structure, does not become complex even when multiple units are installed, and is compact, reducing the space required for installation in the heating chamber, allowing for a compact overall design even when constructing a hydrogen purification system with multiple units. [Solution] A long column-shaped hydrogen purification apparatus capable of installing multiple hydrogen permeable metal membranes along the same central axis, wherein the first longitudinal portion 11a and the second longitudinal portion 11b of the raw material gas supply passage 11, the longitudinal portion 12a of the purified gas outlet passage 12, and the longitudinal portion 13a of the bleed gas outlet passage 13 are each independently formed in a straight line in the longitudinal direction inside the main body 1 of the divided structure constituting the hydrogen purification apparatus, and there are no pipes in the side portion connecting the two parallel end faces, thus a pipeless hydrogen purification apparatus.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pipe - less hydrogen purification device, and more particularly, to a cylindrical hydrogen purification device having a plurality of hydrogen - permeable metal membranes arranged on the same center line, in which there is no pipe in the side surface portion connecting between two parallel circular surfaces constituting the upper surface and the bottom surface.

Background Art

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-13901 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] The hydrogen purification apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems because seven pipes are connected to the side portions of the four membrane modules.

[0005] Firstly, the exposure of multiple pipes on the side of the device complicates the overall structure. In a hydrogen purification system using such a device, it is necessary to install numerous hydrogen purification devices to obtain the desired amount of hydrogen produced, resulting in a rather large and cumbersome overall structure for the hydrogen purification system. Secondly, when heating the entire hydrogen purification apparatus, it is necessary to secure a space in the heating chamber that takes into account the multiple pipes on the sides. Therefore, a considerable amount of space is required inside the heating chamber, and a hydrogen purification system using a hydrogen purification apparatus requires the preparation of a huge heating chamber.

[0006] Therefore, the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a piping-less hydrogen purification device in which the overall structure of the device is simple and does not become complicated even when many devices are installed, the entire device is compact and requires less space to be stored in the heating chamber, and the entire system can be made compact even when a hydrogen purification system consisting of many devices is constructed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The means for solving the problems of the present invention are as follows.

[0008] Firstly, A long column-shaped hydrogen purification apparatus capable of installing multiple hydrogen permeable metal membranes along its central axis, A piping-less hydrogen purification apparatus characterized by the absence of piping constituting the supply and extraction channels in the side portion connecting the two parallel end faces that constitute the top and bottom surfaces in an upright state, as the longitudinal portions of the raw material gas supply channel, the purified gas extraction channel, and the bleed gas extraction channel are each independently formed in a straight line in the longitudinal direction inside the main body of the divided structure constituting the hydrogen purification apparatus.

[0009] Secondly, A hydrogen purification apparatus having a divisible, elongated columnar body inside which a hydrogen permeable metal membrane can be installed along the central axis, The main body is, A pipe connection module that allows connection of raw gas inlet piping, purified gas outlet piping, and bleed gas outlet piping on the same side, An end module having an end surface facing the pipe connection module, It has a recovery module capable of recovering purified gas, The recovery module is integrated between the pipe connection module and the end module, in a unified state. A piping-less hydrogen purification apparatus characterized in that, within the main body, the longitudinal portions of the raw material gas supply passage, the purified gas outlet passage, and the bleed gas outlet passage are each independently formed in a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the portion outside the installation location of the hydrogen permeable metal membrane with respect to the center line.

[0010] Thirdly, A hydrogen purification apparatus having a divisible, elongated columnar body inside which a hydrogen permeable metal membrane can be installed along the central axis, The main body is, A pipe connection module that allows connection of raw gas inlet piping, purified gas outlet piping, and bleed gas outlet piping on the same side, An end module having an end surface facing the pipe connection module, A recovery module capable of recovering purified gas, It has a ejection module having a raw material gas ejection port for ejecting raw material gas and a bleed gas intake port for taking in bleed gas, Between the pipe connection module and the end module, the ejection module and the recovery module are combined and integrated into one unit. Within the main body, the longitudinal portions of the raw material gas supply channel, the purified gas outlet channel, and the bleed gas outlet channel are each independently formed in a straight line, extending in the longitudinal direction outside the installation location of the hydrogen permeable metal membrane with respect to the center line. A purified gas intake port leading to a purified gas outlet is formed on the side of the central opening of the recovery module. A piping-less hydrogen purification apparatus characterized in that the ejection module has a raw material gas ejection port in the center leading to a raw material gas supply passage, and a bleed gas intake port adjacent to the raw material gas ejection port leading to a bleed gas extraction passage.

[0011] Fourth, A piping-less hydrogen purification apparatus according to any one of the first to third above, A piping-less hydrogen purification apparatus characterized in that the raw material gas supply passage has a first longitudinal portion along the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery, a transverse portion formed in a terminal module leading to the end of the first longitudinal portion, and a second longitudinal portion along the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery leading to the other end of the transverse portion.

[0012] Here, the hydrogen-permeable metal film can be any film that has the property of selectively permeating hydrogen molecules.

[0013] A long columnar shape refers to any shape that has a longitudinal direction, and includes not only cylindrical shapes but also polygonal prism shapes such as triangular prisms, square prisms, and pentagonal prisms, as well as elliptical prisms.

[0014] Hydrogen-permeable metal films arranged along the same central line refer to, for example, disc-shaped hydrogen-permeable metal films, where their centers are located along the same line; those arranged in a spiral pattern are excluded.

[0015] The side surface portion connecting between the two parallel end surfaces constituting the upper surface and the bottom surface refers to the portion constituting the space between the upper surface, which is the upper end surface located above, and the bottom surface, which is the bottom surface on the ground side, in a state where a columnar object such as a cylinder is erected.

[0016] The raw material gas refers to a mixed gas mixed with hydrogen.

[0017] The purified gas refers to high-purity hydrogen gas purified by a hydrogen permeable metal membrane.

[0018] The bleed gas refers to the gas recovered from the raw material gas without being purified by the hydrogen permeable metal membrane.

[0019] Regarding the main body, the outer part from the installation location of the hydrogen permeable metal membrane refers to the part excluding the installation part of the hydrogen permeable metal membrane located in the center line shape of the long column.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, the following effects can be achieved.

[0021] The piping-less hydrogen purification apparatus of the present invention forms a raw material gas supply path, a purified gas extraction path, and a bleed gas extraction path independently and linearly in the longitudinal direction inside the main body. As a result, there is no piping in the side surface portion, so the overall structure of the apparatus is simple and does not become complicated even when a large number of apparatuses are installed. In addition, the entire apparatus is compact, and the storage space for the heating chamber can be reduced. Even when constructing a hydrogen purification system using a large number of apparatuses, the whole can be formed compactly.

[0022] <00001​​Furthermore, since the raw material gas supply channel is formed along the longitudinal direction near the inner periphery of the pipeless hydrogen purification device, the raw material gas itself can be efficiently heated by the heating means for the hydrogen purification device, thereby increasing the hydrogen purification efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0024] [Figure 1] This is an overall explanatory diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram of the pipe connection module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram of the terminal module of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram of the recovery module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram of the ejection module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is an overall explanatory diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram of a pipe connection module according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram of the terminal module of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the attached drawings, identical components are denoted by the same reference numeral, and redundant explanations have been omitted. The description herein represents only one embodiment of the present invention, and therefore the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In the diagram, the symbols F represent the source gas, P represents the purified gas, and B represents the bleed gas. [Examples]

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the pipeless hydrogen purification apparatus of this embodiment is capable of installing hydrogen permeable metal membranes along the same central line and comprises a cylindrical, divisible main body 1.

[0027] [Main unit]

[0028] The main body 1, which has a segmented structure, is equipped with one pipe connection module 20, one end module 30, two recovery modules 40, and one ejection module 50, each of which can be separated.

[0029] Furthermore, although not shown in the figures, the pipeless hydrogen purification apparatus according to the present invention can be configured to use six or more hydrogen permeable metal membranes by providing three or more recovery modules 40 and one fewer ejection module 50 than the number of recovery modules 40. Alternatively, it can be configured to use two hydrogen permeable metal membranes by providing a pipe connection module 20, a recovery module 40, and a terminal module 30 in that order, without using the ejection module 50.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the main body 1 is constructed with a structure in which a recovery module 40, a discharge module 50, and a second recovery module 40 are integrated between the pipe connection module 20 located at the left end and the end module 30 located at the right end, in order from left to right.

[0031] In Figure 1, although not shown in the illustration, circular hydrogen-permeable metal membranes are installed from left to right, between the pipe connection module 20 and the recovery module 40, between the recovery module 40 and the ejection module 50, between the ejection module 50 and the second recovery module 40, and between the second recovery module 40 and the end module 30.

[0032] In other words, in the pipeless hydrogen purification apparatus shown in Figure 1, a total of four hydrogen permeable metal membranes (not shown) are installed in the main body 1.

[0033] The main body 1 can be integrated by fastening it with long-axis bolts and nuts (not shown) through eight through holes 1a that run in a straight line through each module and are arranged in the same circumference.

[0034] In the main body 1, the first longitudinal portion 11a and the second longitudinal portion 11c of the raw material gas supply passage 11, the longitudinal portion 12a of the purified gas outlet passage 12, and the longitudinal portion 13a of the bleed gas outlet passage 13 are formed in a straight line along the longitudinal direction, penetrating the top and bottom surfaces of each module of the pipe connection module 20, recovery module 40, and ejection module 50, with respect to the center line, in the portion located on the outer periphery from the installation location of the hydrogen permeable metal membrane.

[0035] In Figure 1, reference numeral 2 indicates a metal packing housing, and the central through-hole of the small-diameter cylindrical metal packing (not shown) housed in the metal packing housing 2 forms part of the raw material gas supply passage 11, the purified gas outlet passage 12, and the bleed gas outlet passage 13.

[0036] [Pipe connection module]

[0037] As shown in Figure 2, the primary side pipe connection module 20 has, on its upper side, a raw material gas introduction pipe connection port 21 which is the inlet side of the raw material gas supply passage 11, a purified gas extraction pipe connection port 22 which is the outlet side of the purified gas extraction passage 12, and a bleed gas extraction pipe connection port 23 which is the outlet side of the bleed gas extraction passage 13.

[0038] On the side opposite to the upper surface where each connection port is formed, a raw material gas ejection hole 24 is formed in the center, which is connected to the second longitudinal portion 11c of the raw material gas supply passage 11 and capable of ejecting the raw material gas.

[0039] Adjacent to the raw material gas ejection port 24, a bleed gas intake port 25 is formed, which leads to the longitudinal portion 13a of the bleed gas outlet 13.

[0040] [End Module]

[0041] As shown in Figure 1, the secondary end module 30 is located at the right end of the cylinder, opposite the pipe connection module 20 located at the left end.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3, the terminal module 30 has a bottom surface 31 which is a flat surface to which nothing is connected.

[0043] In Figure 3, reference numeral 11b indicates the transverse portion of the raw gas supply passage 11, which is formed to traverse the inner portion along the bottom surface 31.

[0044] The transverse portion 11b of the raw gas supply passage 11 has one end that connects to the first longitudinal portion 11a and the other end that connects to the second longitudinal portion 11c.

[0045] In the central part of the transverse portion 11b, a portion is formed that branches upright and leads to a raw material gas ejection hole 32 from which raw material gas can be ejected.

[0046] Adjacent to the raw material gas ejection port 32, a bleed gas intake port 33 is formed, which leads to the longitudinal portion 13a of the bleed gas outlet 13.

[0047] [Recovery Module]

[0048] As shown in Figure 4, the recovery module 40 has the same structure on both sides and has a central opening 41.

[0049] During assembly, circular hydrogen-permeable metal films (not shown) are placed at both ends of the central opening 41.

[0050] The space between the hydrogen-permeable metal membranes positioned on both sides becomes the collection space 42 for the permeated purified gas P.

[0051] A purified gas inlet 43 is formed on the side of the collection space 42, which leads to the longitudinal portion 12a of the purified gas outlet 12.

[0052] [Ejection Module]

[0053] As shown in Figure 5, the ejection module 50 has the same structure on both sides and is connected to the second longitudinal portion 11c of the raw material gas supply passage 11. Raw material gas ejection holes 51 capable of ejecting raw material gas are formed in the center of each side.

[0054] Adjacent to the raw material gas ejection port 51, a bleed gas intake port 52 is formed, which leads to the longitudinal portion 13a of the bleed gas outlet 13.

[0055] [Effect]

[0056] Next, we will explain the operation of the pipeless hydrogen purification system described above.

[0057] The raw material gas F, which enters the raw material gas supply path 11 through the raw material gas introduction piping connection port 21, passes through the first longitudinal section 11a, and at the intermediate portion of the transverse section 11b formed in the end module 30, a portion of it is ejected from the raw material gas ejection hole 32.

[0058] The remaining raw material gas F passes through the second longitudinal section 11c, and a portion of it is ejected from the raw material gas ejection holes 51 formed on both sides of the ejection module 50.

[0059] Furthermore, the remaining raw material gas F passes through the second longitudinal section 11c and is ejected from the raw material gas ejection hole 24 formed in the pipe connection module 20.

[0060] During this process, the raw material gas F is continuously heated as it passes through the first longitudinal section 11a, and is ejected from each nozzle in a sufficiently heated state.

[0061] The purified gas P, purified by the hydrogen permeable metal membrane, reaches the collection space 42, then enters the longitudinal portion 12a of the purified gas outlet passage 12 through the purified gas intake port 43, and is extracted from the purified gas outlet piping connection port 22 of the pipe connection module 20.

[0062] Furthermore, the unpurified bleed gas B enters the bleed gas outlet 13 from the bleed gas inlet 52 of each module and is removed from the bleed gas outlet piping connection port 23 of the pipe connection module 20.

[0063] When replacing or maintaining the hydrogen permeable membrane, the main body 1, which has a segmented structure, can be easily disassembled by simply removing the long-axis bolts and nuts that hold it together, without needing to consider the routing of the piping. [Examples]

[0064] As shown in Figure 6, the pipeless hydrogen purification apparatus of this embodiment 2 also allows for the installation of hydrogen permeable metal membranes along the same central axis and is equipped with a cylindrical, divisible main body 1.

[0065] In this embodiment 2 of the pipeless hydrogen purification apparatus, explanations of components similar to those in the pipeless hydrogen purification apparatus of embodiment 1 may be omitted.

[0066] [Main unit]

[0067] The segmented main body 1 is equipped with a detachable pipe connection module 20', a terminal module 30', two recovery modules 40, and a discharge module 50.

[0068] As shown in Figure 6, in this embodiment as well, the main body 1 is constructed with an integrated structure in which a discharge module 50, a recovery module 40, and a second discharge module 50 are sandwiched between the pipe connection module 20' located at the left end and the end module 30' located at the right end, in order from left to right.

[0069] In the main body 1, the first longitudinal portion 11a and the second longitudinal portion 11c of the raw material gas supply passage 11, the longitudinal portion 12a of the purified gas outlet passage 12, and the longitudinal portion 13a of the bleed gas outlet passage 13 are formed in a straight line along the longitudinal direction, penetrating the top and bottom surfaces of each module of the pipe connection module 20, recovery module 40, and ejection module 50, with respect to the center line, in the portion located on the outer periphery from the installation location of the hydrogen permeable metal membrane.

[0070] [Pipe connection module]

[0071] As shown in Figure 7, the pipe connection module 20' of this embodiment 2 also has, on its upper side, a raw material gas introduction pipe connection port 21 which is the inlet side of the raw material gas supply passage 11, a purified gas extraction pipe connection port 22 which is the outlet side of the purified gas extraction passage 12, and a bleed gas extraction pipe connection port 23 which is the outlet side of the bleed gas extraction passage 13.

[0072] On the side opposite to the top surface where each connection port is formed, a space for collecting purified gas P is formed, and a purified gas intake port 26 is formed on the side.

[0073] The purified gas intake port 26 is connected to the longitudinal portion 12a of the purified gas outlet passage 12.

[0074] [End Module]

[0075] As shown in Figure 8, the terminal module 30' of this embodiment 2 also has a bottom surface 31 which is a flat surface to which nothing is connected.

[0076] Reference numeral 11b in Figure 8 also indicates a cross-section of the raw gas supply passage 11, which is formed to traverse the inner portion along the bottom surface 31.

[0077] The transverse portion 11b of the raw gas supply passage 11 has one end that connects to the first longitudinal portion 11a and the other end that connects to the second longitudinal portion 11c.

[0078] In this embodiment 2, there is a space for collecting purified gas P in the center, and a purified gas intake port 34 is formed on the side. [Effect]

[0079] Next, we will explain the operation of the pipeless hydrogen purification system described above.

[0080] The raw material gas F, which enters the raw material gas supply path 11 through the raw material gas introduction piping connection port 21, passes through the first longitudinal section 11a, the transverse section 11b and the second longitudinal section 11c formed in the end module 30', and is ejected from the raw material gas ejection holes 51 formed on both sides of the ejection module 50.

[0081] The purified gas P, purified by the hydrogen permeable metal membrane, enters the longitudinal portion 12a of the purified gas outlet passage 12 through the purified gas inlet 26 and the purified gas inlet 43, and is extracted from the purified gas outlet piping connection port 22 of the pipe connection module 20'.

[0082] Furthermore, the unpurified bleed gas B enters the bleed gas outlet passage 13 from the bleed gas intake port 52 of each module and is removed from the bleed gas outlet piping connection port 23 of the pipe connection module 20'. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0083] 1 Main unit 1a Through hole 2. Metal gasket storage section 11. Raw material gas supply route 11a First Longitudinal Section 11b Transverse section 11c Second Long Section 12. Purified gas extraction channel 12a Long side 13 Bleed gas outlet 13a Long side 20 Pipe Connection Modules 21. Raw material gas introduction piping connection port 22 Purified gas extraction piping connection port 23 Bleed gas outlet piping connection port 24 Raw material gas injection port 25 Bleed gas inlet 26 Purified gas intake 30 End Modules 31 Bottom 32 Raw material gas injection holes 33 Bleed gas inlet 34 Purified gas intake 40 Recovery Modules 41 Central opening 42 Collection Space 43 Purified gas intake 50 ejection modules, 51 Raw material gas outlet 52 Bleed gas inlet F raw material gas P purified gas B Bleed gas

Claims

1. A long column-shaped hydrogen purification apparatus capable of installing multiple hydrogen permeable metal membranes along its central axis, A piping-free hydrogen purification apparatus characterized by the absence of piping on the sides, as the longitudinal sections of the raw material gas supply passage, the purified gas outlet passage, and the bleed gas outlet passage are each independently formed in a straight line along the longitudinal direction inside the main body.

2. A hydrogen purification apparatus having a divisible, elongated columnar body inside which a hydrogen permeable metal membrane can be installed along the central axis, The main body is, A pipe connection module that allows connection of raw gas inlet piping, purified gas outlet piping, and bleed gas outlet piping on the same side, An end module having an end surface facing the pipe connection module, It has a recovery module capable of recovering purified gas, The recovery module is integrated between the pipe connection module and the end module, in a unified state. A piping-less hydrogen purification apparatus characterized in that, within the main body, the longitudinal portions of the raw material gas supply passage, the purified gas outlet passage, and the bleed gas outlet passage are each independently formed in a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the portion outside the installation location of the hydrogen permeable metal membrane with respect to the center line.

3. A hydrogen purification apparatus having a divisible, elongated columnar body inside which a hydrogen permeable metal membrane can be installed along the central axis, The main body is, A pipe connection module that allows connection of raw gas inlet piping, purified gas outlet piping, and bleed gas outlet piping on the same side, An end module having an end surface facing the pipe connection module, A recovery module capable of recovering purified gas, It has a ejection module having a raw material gas ejection port for ejecting raw material gas and a bleed gas intake port for taking in bleed gas, Between the pipe connection module and the end module, the ejection module and the recovery module are combined and integrated into one unit. Within the main body, the longitudinal portions of the raw material gas supply channel, the purified gas outlet channel, and the bleed gas outlet channel are each independently formed in a straight line, extending in the longitudinal direction from the installation location of the hydrogen permeable metal membrane with respect to the center line. A purified gas intake port leading to a purified gas outlet is formed in the central opening of the recovery module. A piping-less hydrogen purification apparatus characterized in that the ejection module has a raw material gas ejection port in the center leading to a raw material gas supply passage, and a bleed gas intake port leading to a bleed gas extraction passage.

4. A piping-less hydrogen purification apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A piping-less hydrogen purification apparatus characterized in that the raw material gas supply passage has a first longitudinal portion along the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery, a transverse portion formed in an end module leading to the end of the first longitudinal portion, and a second longitudinal portion along the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery leading to the other end of the transverse portion.

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