Reactor

Abstract

To efficiently increase the volume of a reaction field.SOLUTION: A reactor 100 comprises: first flow passages 10 that are formed into a belt-like shape and spirally configured around a vertical axis C parallel to a width direction, and upper end surfaces of which are opened; second flow passages 50 that are spirally configured so as to be mutually disposed with the first flow passages in a radial direction, and whose around a vertical axis C parallel to a width direction, and upper end surfaces of which are opened so as to communicate with the upper end surfaces of the first flow passages; a reaction liquid supply flow passage that supplies reaction liquid to a supply part at a lower end of the outermost diameter part of the first flow passages; a reaction liquid discharge flow passage that discharges the reaction liquid from a discharge part of the outermost diameter part of the second flow passages; and a reflux passage 80 that communicates a first connection part 10b of the lower end of the outermost diameter part of the first flow passages and a second connection part 50a of the outermost diameter part of the second flow passages. The upper end surfaces of the first flow passages and the upper end surfaces of the second flow passages mutually have appropriately the same height over the whole radial region. The lower end surfaces of the second flow passages are located above the lower end surfaces of the first flow passages over the whole radial region, and are inclinedly formed downward to a radially outer side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a reactor. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a reactor for reforming fuel has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The reactor described in Patent Document 1 is configured as a double-tube reactor in which the reaction field is between an outer tube member and an inner tube member that are coaxially arranged, and reforms the fuel by circulating a heat medium on the inner peripheral side of the inner tube member and circulating the fuel in the reaction field. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-112890 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this type of reactor, the volume of the reaction field needs to be increased in order to increase the amount of reformed fuel produced. However, in the double-tube reactor described in Patent Document 1, in order to increase the volume of the reaction field, the overall length is increased accordingly, making it difficult to efficiently increase the volume of the reaction field. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The reactor according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured in a band shape extending in the length direction and width direction, and is configured in a spiral shape centered on a vertical axis parallel to the width direction, and has an open upper end surface. reaction In a vertical cross section including a flow path and a vertical axis, reaction The flow passages are arranged alternately in the radial direction and are configured in a spiral shape about a vertical axis, reaction The upper end surface is open so as to communicate with the upper end surface of the flow path. descent Flow path and centered on the vertical axis reactiona reaction liquid supply flow path for supplying a reaction liquid to a supply portion provided at the lower end of the outermost diameter portion of the flow path; descent a reaction liquid discharge flow path that discharges the reaction liquid from a discharge part provided at the outermost diameter part of the flow path; reaction The first one is provided at the bottom end of the outermost diameter part of the flow passage. reflux Department and descent The second one is located at the outermost part of the flow passage. reflux and a return passage communicating with the portion. reaction The height of the upper end surface of the flow channel descent The height of the upper end faces of the flow paths is substantially uniform over the entire radial area about the vertical axis. descent The lower end surface of the flow path is reaction The groove is located above the lower end surface of the flow passage over the entire radial area, and is formed so as to incline downwardly radially outward from the vertical axis. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, the volume of the reaction field can be efficiently increased. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective assembly view of a reactor according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the reactor taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 . [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the reactor taken along line III-III in FIG. 2 . [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the reactor taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2 . [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the reaction channel in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a heat transfer medium flow path in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a heat transfer medium discharge flow path in FIG. 1; [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the reactor taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1 . [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the reactor taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 1 . [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a downward flow path in FIG. 1; [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a modified example of the reactor in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 11. The reactor according to the embodiment of the present invention is a flow-type reactor in which a reaction liquid is caused to flow and react. In particular, a reforming reactor that is applied to a compression ignition engine mounted on a vehicle and reforms fuel supplied from a fuel tank to the engine by an oxidation reaction will be described below.

[0009] The average temperature of the Earth is kept warm enough for living things by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Specifically, greenhouse gases absorb some of the heat radiated from the Earth's surface, which is heated by sunlight, into space, and re-radiate it back to the Earth's surface, thereby keeping the atmosphere warm. When the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases, the average temperature of the Earth rises (global warming). The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is one of the greenhouse gases that contributes most to global warming, is determined by the balance between the carbon fixed on the ground or in the earth as plants or fossil fuels, and the carbon present in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. For example, when carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is absorbed by plants through photosynthesis during their growth, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere decreases, and when carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases. In order to prevent global warming, it is necessary to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, or renewable fuels derived from biomass, and to reduce carbon emissions.

[0010] As such a renewable fuel, low-octane gasoline obtained by Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis is becoming more and more popular. Low-octane gasoline has high ignition properties and can be used in compression ignition engines, but it is still in the early stages of being popular and is not sold in some areas. On the other hand, the normal octane gasoline currently in use for spark ignition engines has low ignition properties and cannot be used in compression ignition engines as is.

[0011] By installing a reforming reactor in the fuel supply path from the fuel tank to the engine injector and reforming the fuel as necessary, both low-octane gasoline and normal-octane gasoline can be compression-ignited in a single engine. Therefore, in this embodiment, the reactor is configured as follows to efficiently increase the volume of the reaction field and improve the mountability on a vehicle.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective assembly view of a reactor 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the reactor 100 taken along line II-II in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the reactor 100 taken along line III-III in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the reactor 100 taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 2. Hereinafter, a direction extending radially from a vertical axis C is defined as a radial direction, and a direction along a circumference of a circle centered on the vertical axis C is defined as a circumferential direction.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the reactor 100 has an upper piece 100A and a lower piece 100B formed using a metal material with high thermal conductivity. For example, when the reactor 100 is formed by additive manufacturing (AM), the partition walls separating the flow paths can be thinned to reduce the size of the entire reactor 100. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the upper piece 100A and the lower piece 100B are configured to be detachable from each other by bolts and nuts (not shown) and a seal ring (not shown). This improves the ease of maintenance inside the reactor 100.

[0014] In the lower piece 100B of the reactor 100, a reaction flow path 10 through which a fuel as a reaction liquid flows, and a heat transfer medium flow path 20 through which a heat transfer medium flows are formed. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the reaction flow path 10 and the heat transfer medium flow path 20 are each configured in a band shape extending in a width direction parallel to a vertical axis C and a length direction perpendicular to the width direction, and are configured in a spiral shape centered on the vertical axis C and are arranged alternately in the radial direction. By forming the reactor 100 in a spiral shape, the volume of the reaction field can be efficiently increased.

[0015] 1 and 2, the upper and lower end faces of the reaction flow passage 10 are open, and the upper and lower end faces of the heat transfer medium flow passage 20 are closed. The bottom face of the reactor 100 (lower piece 100B) in which the reaction flow passage 10 and the heat transfer medium flow passage 20 are formed is closed by a closing plate 30. An opening 31 is provided in the closing plate 30, and air (gas) is supplied to the reactor 100 (reaction flow passage 10) from an air pump (not shown) through the opening 31. A check valve is provided in the air supply path from the air pump to the opening 31, and the outflow of fuel through the opening 31 is prevented.

[0016] A filter 40 having uniform pores and made of a porous material such as a metallic fine-pore mesh material or a sintered body or a foamed body is interposed between the lower end surface of the reaction flow passage 10 (and the heat transfer medium flow passage 20) and the closing plate 30. The fuel flowing through the reaction flow passage 10 is also filled in the space between the closing plate 30 and the lower piece 100B of the reactor 100 including the filter 40.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the reaction flow channel 10. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the height of the upper end surface of the reaction flow channel 10 is uniform over the entire radial area. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the lower piece 100B of the reactor 100 is further formed with a reaction liquid supply flow channel 11 that supplies unreformed fuel to a supply unit 10a (FIG. 4) provided at the lower end of the outermost diameter part of the reaction flow channel 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the reaction liquid supply flow channel 11 includes a vertical flow channel 11a, a horizontal flow channel 11b, and an inclined flow channel 11c.

[0018] The vertical flow passage 11a extends vertically from near the upper end to near the lower end of the lower piece 100B on the outer diameter side of the outermost diameter parts of the reaction flow passage 10 and the heat transfer medium flow passage 20. The horizontal flow passage 11b extends horizontally so as to connect the upper end of the vertical flow passage 11a to the external space. The inclined flow passage 11c extends with a downward inclination toward the inside in the radial direction so as to connect the lower end of the vertical flow passage 11a to the supply part 10a of the reaction flow passage 10. In other words, the lower end surface of the reaction liquid supply flow passage 11 is formed with a downward inclination toward the inside in the radial direction.

[0019] As a result, the reaction flow channel 10 is supplied with unreformed fuel from a fuel tank (not shown) through the reaction liquid supply flow channel 11. The fuel supplied from above through the reaction liquid supply flow channel 11, which includes the vertical flow channel 11a and the inclined flow channel 11c, flows radially inward along the length of the reaction flow channel 10, and flows upward along the width direction together with the air supplied from below. Since the lower end surface of the reaction liquid supply flow channel 11 is formed with a downward inclination toward the radial inside, the flow of fuel toward the radial inside is promoted, and the fuel can be distributed uniformly throughout the entire radial area of ​​the reaction flow channel 10.

[0020] The air supplied through the opening 31 of the closing plate 30 becomes homogeneous fine bubbles by passing through the filter 40, and is then supplied to the reaction flow channel 10. As a result, fine air (air bubbles) are supplied to the reaction flow channel 10 from below over the entire radial area. The air bubbles supplied to the reaction flow channel 10 flow upward along the width direction of the reaction flow channel 10. The air bubbles disappear over time, but because the length of the reaction flow channel 10 in the width direction is relatively short, the air bubbles can be reliably maintained from the lower end surface to the upper end surface, even if, for example, the air bubbles are relatively large and the time until they disappear is short.

[0021] The ignition ability of fuels whose main component is hydrocarbons can be improved by oxidizing and reforming them using a catalyst such as N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) to generate peroxides. Specifically, hydrogen atoms from NHPI are easily removed by oxygen molecules to generate phthalimide-N-oxyl (PINO) radicals. The PINO radicals remove hydrogen atoms from the hydrocarbons (RH) contained in the fuel to generate alkyl radicals (R·). The alkyl radicals combine with oxygen molecules to generate alkylperoxy radicals (ROO·). The alkylperoxy radicals remove hydrogen atoms from the hydrocarbons contained in the fuel to generate alkylhydroperoxides (ROOH), which are peroxides. [ka]

[0022] The reaction flow channel 10 functions as a reactor (reaction field) where the fuel reacts with oxygen in the air (oxidation reaction, fuel reforming reaction) to produce reformed fuel. A catalyst such as a powdered or wall-supported NHPI catalyst is provided inside the reaction flow channel 10. The fuel supplied to the reaction flow channel 10 comes into contact with the oxygen contained in the air (air bubbles) supplied from below and the catalyst over the entire radial area. This promotes the oxidation reforming reaction of the fuel over the entire radial area of ​​the reaction flow channel 10.

[0023] When the reactor 100 is formed by additive manufacturing, it is easy to provide unevenness on the inner wall surface of the reaction flow channel 10, and the surface area of ​​the wall surface where the reactants and the catalyst come into contact can be increased. The inner wall surface of the reaction flow channel 10 is plated with a material such as nickel that does not affect the reforming reaction. The reactor 100 itself may be formed using a material such as nickel that does not affect the reforming reaction.

[0024] Instead of a fixed bed system in which a catalyst is provided in the reaction flow channel 10 through which the reactants flow, a fluidized bed system may be used in which a catalyst solution in which a catalyst (powder) is mixed with an appropriate solvent is supplied to the reaction flow channel 10 together with the fuel and fluidized. In this case, the reaction efficiency can be improved by reducing the particle size of the catalyst (powder). The NHPI catalyst does not need to be separated from the reformed fuel and can be supplied to the engine as is.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, the gap g1 between the inner wall surfaces of the reaction flow channel 10, more specifically, between the inner end surface and the outer end surface of the reaction flow channel 10 in the radial direction, is formed to be equal to or less than twice the quenching distance. This ensures that the inner wall surface of the reaction flow channel 10 is always within the quenching distance from the reactants, thereby improving the safety of the reactor 100. To further improve safety, the reactor 100 may be formed so that the gap g1 is equal to or less than the maximum safe gap. By configuring the reaction flow channel 10, which is the reaction field where the oxidation reaction of the fuel progresses, with the maximum safe gap, the fire is immediately extinguished even if a flame enters from an adjacent device, for example, so that the safety of the reactor 100 can be further improved.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the heat transfer medium passage 20. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the upper end surface of the heat transfer medium passage 20 is formed with an upward inclination toward the radially inward side. The lower piece 100B of the reactor 100 is further formed with a heat transfer medium supply passage 21 for supplying a heat transfer medium to the vicinity of the lower end of the outermost diameter part of the heat transfer medium passage 20. The heat transfer medium supply passage 21 extends with a downward inclination toward the radially inward side so as to communicate the vicinity of the lower end of the outermost diameter part of the heat transfer medium passage 20 with the external space. In other words, the lower end surface of the heat transfer medium supply passage 21 is formed with a downward inclination toward the radially inward side.

[0027] The heat medium passage 20 is supplied with engine cooling water as a heat medium from an engine (not shown) through the heat medium supply passage 21. Since the lower end surface of the heat medium supply passage 21 is formed with a downward inclination toward the radially inward direction, the flow of the heat medium toward the radially inward direction is promoted, and the heat medium can be uniformly circulated throughout the entire radial direction of the heat medium passage 20. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the heat medium passage 20 is adjacent to the reaction passage 10 through a relatively thin partition wall made of a metal material with high thermal conductivity. By flowing through such a heat medium passage 20, even a heat medium with a relatively low temperature such as engine cooling water can efficiently raise the temperature of the reaction passage 10, which functions as a reaction field for the fuel reforming reaction, to a catalytic activity temperature range, and the fuel reforming reaction can be suitably promoted.

[0028] When the reactor 100 is formed by additive manufacturing, it is easy to provide unevenness on the inner wall surface of the heat transfer passage 20 (and the reaction passage 10), which increases the surface area of ​​the wall surface that performs heat exchange and improves the heat exchange performance. By sufficiently increasing the temperature of the reaction passage 10 that functions as the reaction field of the fuel reforming reaction, it is possible to improve the fuel reforming rate. Alternatively, it is possible to increase the options for catalysts that can be used.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 6, the lower piece 100B of the reactor 100 is further formed with a heat medium discharge passage 22 for discharging the heat medium from the innermost diameter part of the heat medium passage 20. The heat medium discharge passage 22 protrudes upward from the lower end surface of the heat medium passage 20 and is formed in a cylindrical shape centered on the vertical axis C. The heat medium passage 20 and the heat medium discharge passage 22 provided within the heat medium passage 20 are separated by a cylindrical partition wall 23.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the heat medium discharge passage 22, and shows a front view of the partition wall 23. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the partition wall 23 is provided with a plurality of (four in the illustrated example) communication holes 24 having different heights from the lower end surface of the heat medium passage 20, and the heat medium is discharged from the heat medium passage 20 through the communication holes 24 and the heat medium discharge passage 22. The engine coolant as the heat medium discharged through the heat medium discharge passage 22 is returned to the engine. The partition wall 23 is formed so that the plurality of communication holes 24 are larger toward the bottom and smaller toward the top. As a result, the flow of the heat medium in the heat medium passage 20 becomes larger toward the bottom, so that the heat exchange in the lower part of the reactor 100 is promoted, and heat exchange can be performed in a well-balanced manner throughout the entire area in the vertical direction of the reactor 100. The plurality of communication holes 24 are provided at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction (two locations in the illustrated example).

[0031] 1 and 2, the lower piece 100B of the reactor 100 further has a descending passage 50, through which the reformed fuel (reformed fuel) flows, formed above the heat transfer passage 20. That is, the descending passage 50 is also configured in a spiral shape about the vertical axis C, and is arranged alternately with the reaction passages 10 in the radial direction.

[0032] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the reactor 100 taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the reactor 100 taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the upper end surface of the descending flow passage 50 is opened so as to communicate with the upper end surface of the reaction flow passage 10. The height of the upper end surface of the reaction flow passage 10 and the height of the upper end surface of the descending flow passage 50 correspond to the height of the partition wall 51 separating the reaction flow passage 10 and the descending flow passage 50 (and the heat transfer medium flow passage 20), and are the same with each other over the entire radial range. The heat transfer medium flow passage 20 and the descending flow passage 50 are separated by the partition wall 52, and the height of the upper end surface of the heat transfer medium flow passage 20, the height of the lower end surface of the descending flow passage 50, and the height of the partition wall 52 are approximately the same with each other over the entire radial range. The lower end surface of the descending flow passage 50 is located above the lower end surfaces of the reaction flow passage 10 and the heat transfer medium flow passage 20 over the entire radial area, and is formed to be inclined downwardly toward the radially outward side.

[0033] The upper piece 100A of the reactor 100 is formed with a first protruding portion 60 and a second protruding portion 70 that protrude downward from the upper inner wall surface. The first protruding portion 60 is formed corresponding to the reaction flow path 10, and protrudes from the inner wall surface above the reaction flow path 10 toward the reaction flow path 10 over the entire radial range. The second protruding portion 70 is formed corresponding to the descending flow path 50 (and the heat transfer medium flow path 20), and protrudes from the inner wall surface above the descending flow path 50 toward the descending flow path 50 over the entire radial range.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the gap g2 between the first protrusion 60 and the second protrusion 70, more specifically, between the outer end surface of the first protrusion 60 and the inner end surface of the second protrusion 70 in the radial direction, is also configured to be less than twice the quenching distance or less than the maximum safe gap. Similarly, the gap g3 between the outer end surface of the second protrusion 70 and the inner end surface of the first protrusion 60 is also configured to be less than twice the quenching distance or less than the maximum safe gap. In addition, the gap g4 between the upper end surface of the reaction flow channel 10 and the lower end surface of the first protrusion 60, and the gap g5 between the lower end surface of the descending flow channel 50 and the lower end surface of the second protrusion 70 are also configured to be less than twice the quenching distance or less than the maximum safe gap.

[0035] The liquid level (gas-liquid separation surface) L of the reformed fuel is adjusted to be located between the upper end surfaces of the reaction flow path 10 and the descending flow path 50 and the lower end surface of the first protruding portion 60. The space (gas-liquid separation space) SP from the gas-liquid separation surface L to the upper inner wall surface of the upper piece 100A has a spiral labyrinth shape due to the first protruding portion 60 and the second protruding portion 70, and this allows sufficient gas-liquid separation to be performed in the gas-liquid separation space SP. Therefore, there is no need to separately provide a gas-liquid separation device such as a separator or a condenser, and the entire structure of the reactor 100 can be simplified. By dividing the reactor 100 into the upper piece 100A and the lower piece 100B, an internal shape can be formed in which the upper ends of the partition walls 51, 52 and the lower ends of the first protruding portion 60 and the second protruding portion 70 are intertwined.

[0036] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper piece 100A of the reactor 100 is further formed with a gas discharge passage 53 for discharging gas from the reaction passage 10. The gas discharge passage 53 communicates with the reaction passage 10 through a gas-liquid separation space SP. The air supplied to the reaction passage 10 through the opening 31 of the closing plate 30 rises in the reaction passage 10 and is used for the reforming reaction, and then is discharged from the gas-liquid separation surface L to the gas-liquid separation space SP. After the liquid is separated in the gas-liquid separation space SP, the air is discharged to the outside space through the gas discharge passage 53. The air discharged through the gas discharge passage 53 is supplied to the intake port of the engine and is sucked into the combustion chamber of the engine together with fresh air.

[0037] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the descending flow passage 50. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, the lower end surface of the descending flow passage 50 is formed with a downward inclination toward the radially outward side. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, the lower piece 100B of the reactor 100 is further formed with a reflux flow passage 80 for refluxing the reformed fuel to the reflux section 10b (FIG. 4) provided at the lower end of the outermost diameter part of the reaction flow passage 10. As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the gap g6 between the inner wall surfaces of the reflux flow passage 80, more specifically, between the inner end surface and the outer end surface of the reflux flow passage 80 in the radial direction, is also configured to be equal to or less than twice the quenching distance or equal to or less than the maximum safe gap.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, the return flow path 80 includes a vertical flow path 80a, a horizontal flow path 80b, and an inclined flow path 80c. The vertical flow path 80a extends vertically from near the upper end to near the lower end of the lower piece 100B at the outermost diameter portion of the reaction flow path 10 and the heat transfer medium flow path 20, i.e., on the outer diameter side of the outermost diameter portion of the partition wall 51. The horizontal flow path 80b extends horizontally at the upper end surface of the outermost diameter portion of the partition wall 51 so as to communicate the return part 50a provided at the outermost diameter portion of the descending flow path 50 with the upper end surface of the vertical flow path 80a. The inclined flow path 80c extends with a downward inclination toward the inside in the radial direction so as to communicate the lower end of the vertical flow path 80a with the return part 10b provided at the lower end of the outermost diameter portion of the reaction flow path 10. In other words, the lower end surface of the return flow path 80 is formed with a downward inclination toward the inside in the radial direction.

[0039] 1 and 9, a reaction liquid discharge flow passage 90 for discharging a part of the reformed fuel from the reflux section 50a of the descending flow passage 50 is further formed in the lower piece 100B of the reactor 100. The reaction liquid discharge flow passage 90 extends horizontally near the upper end of the reflux flow passage 80, more specifically, at a position slightly lower than the horizontal flow passage 80b, so as to communicate the vertical flow passage 80a with the outside space.

[0040] 5 and 8 to 10, the reformed fuel that has been reformed while flowing upward along the width direction of the reaction channel 10 overflows from the upper end surface of the reaction channel 10, flows over the partition wall 51 into the descending channel 50, and flows radially outward along the length direction of the descending channel 50. Since the lower end surface of the descending channel 50 is formed with a downward inclination toward the radially outward side, the flow of the reformed fuel toward the radially outward side is promoted, and the reformed fuel can be circulated smoothly.

[0041] A part of the reformed fuel that reaches the outermost diameter part (return part 50a) of the descending flow passage 50 is discharged through the reaction liquid discharge flow passage 90, and the remaining part is returned to the lower end of the outermost diameter part (return part 10b) of the reaction flow passage 10 through the return flow passage 80. Even if the fuel contains a catalyst, the catalyst particles are not discharged from the horizontal reaction liquid discharge flow passage 90, but are returned to the reaction flow passage 10 together with the reformed fuel through the return flow passage 80 (vertical flow passage 80a). Since the lower end surface of the return flow passage 80 is formed with a downward gradient toward the radially inward direction, the flow of the reformed fuel toward the radially inward direction is promoted, and the reformed fuel can be circulated uniformly throughout the entire radial area of ​​the reaction flow passage 10.

[0042] By configuring the reactor 100 in this way, the volume of the reaction channel 10 serving as the reaction field can be efficiently increased while ensuring the safety of the reactor 100, and the reactor 100 as a whole can be made smaller, improving the mountability on a vehicle. In addition, the band-shaped reaction channel 10 serving as the reaction field is sandwiched between similarly band-shaped heat transfer channel 20, and the temperature is efficiently increased over the entire area, so that the catalytic reforming reaction can be efficiently promoted even when the engine cooling water, which is relatively low in temperature, is used as the heat transfer medium.

[0043] In addition, by refluxing the reformed fuel inside the reactor 100 and recirculating it to the reaction flow passage 10, the reaction rate (reformation rate) can be improved even under certain reaction conditions (atmospheric pressure, engine water temperature). That is, by repeatedly circulating the reformed fuel through the reaction flow passage 10, the substantial reaction time is lengthened and the reaction rate is improved. In particular, by forming the reaction flow passage 10 to have a uniform height, the reformed fuel can be uniformly spilled over the entire radial direction along the length of the reaction flow passage 10 and the descending flow passage 50, and can be efficiently refluxed. Furthermore, by forming the reaction liquid supply flow passage 11 and the reflux flow passage 80 to extend in the vertical direction and have the lower end surface inclined downward toward the radial inside, the flow toward the radial inside can be promoted and efficiently refluxed.

[0044] According to this embodiment, the following advantageous effects can be obtained. (1) The reactor 100 is configured in a band shape extending in the length direction and the width direction, and is configured in a spiral shape about a vertical axis C parallel to the width direction, and includes a reaction flow path 10 with an open upper end surface, a descending flow path 50 configured in a spiral shape about the vertical axis C so as to be radially alternately arranged with the reaction flow paths 10 in a vertical cross section including the vertical axis C, and the descending flow path 50 has an open upper end surface so as to communicate with the upper end surface of the reaction flow path 10, and The reaction flow passage 10 includes a reaction liquid supply flow passage 11 for supplying unreformed fuel to a supply section 10a provided at the lower end of the outermost diameter part of the reaction flow passage 10, a reaction liquid discharge flow passage 90 for discharging the reformed fuel from a reflux section 50a provided at the outermost diameter part of a downward flow passage 50 centered on a vertical axis C, and a reflux flow passage 80 for communicating between the reflux section 10b provided at the lower end of the outermost diameter part of the reaction flow passage 10 and the reflux section 50a provided at the outermost diameter part of the downward flow passage 50 (FIGS. 1 to 5, 8 to 10).

[0045] The height of the upper end surface of the reaction flow channel 10 and the height of the upper end surface of the descending flow channel 50 are substantially the same over the entire radial range centered on the vertical axis C (FIGS. 1, 2, 8, and 9). The lower end surface of the descending flow channel 50 is located higher than the lower end surface of the reaction flow channel 10 over the entire radial range, and is formed with a downward gradient toward the radially outward direction centered on the vertical axis C (FIGS. 1, 2, 8, and 9).

[0046] In this way, by forming the reactor 100 in a spiral shape, the volume of the reaction field can be efficiently increased. In addition, by recirculating the reaction liquid (fuel) inside the reactor 100, the reaction rate (reforming rate) can be improved. That is, the reaction liquid supplied from the lower end of the outermost diameter part of the reaction flow channel 10 through the reaction liquid supply flow channel 11 flows radially inward along the length direction, flows from bottom to top along the width direction, overflows from the upper end surface of the reaction flow channel 10, and flows into the descending flow channel 50. The reaction liquid that flows into the descending flow channel 50 flows radially outward along the length direction, and when it reaches the outermost diameter part, a part of it is discharged through the reaction liquid discharge flow channel 90, and the remaining part is returned to the reaction flow channel 10 through the return flow channel 80 and recirculated.

[0047] (2) The height of the upper end surface of the reaction channel 10 is uniform over the entire radial area (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 8, and 9). This allows the reaction liquid to overflow uniformly over the entire radial area of ​​the reaction channel 10, enabling efficient circulation.

[0048] (3) The lower end surface of the reaction liquid supply channel 11 and the lower end surface of the return channel 80 are formed to be inclined downwardly toward the inside in the radial direction about the vertical axis C (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 9). This promotes the flow of the reaction liquid toward the center, and allows the reaction liquid to circulate uniformly throughout the entire radial area of ​​the reaction channel 10.

[0049] (4) The reactor 100 further includes a heat transfer medium passage 20 spirally arranged around a vertical axis C so as to be radially alternated with the reaction passage 10 in a vertical cross section below the descending passage 50, a heat transfer medium supply passage 21 for supplying a heat transfer medium to the outermost part of the heat transfer medium passage 20 centered on the vertical axis C, and a heat transfer medium discharge passage 22 for discharging the heat transfer medium from the center of the heat transfer medium passage 20 centered on the vertical axis C (FIGS. 1 to 3, 6, 8, and 9). As a result, the reaction passage 10 through which the reaction liquid flows is sandwiched between the heat transfer medium passages 20 through which the heat transfer medium flows, and the temperature is efficiently raised over the entire area, so that the reaction can be efficiently promoted even when a relatively low-temperature heat transfer medium such as engine cooling water is used.

[0050] (5) The reactor 100 further includes a closing plate 30 having openings 31 for supplying gas from the lower end of the reaction channel 10 over the entire radial area (FIGS. 1, 2, and 5). This allows the necessary gas (air) to be efficiently supplied over the entire reaction channel 10, which is the reaction field for the gas-liquid reaction (reforming reaction), and improves the reaction rate. In addition, the upward flow of gas promotes the upward flow of the reaction liquid, allowing the reaction liquid to be circulated efficiently.

[0051] (6) The reactor 100 further includes a first protrusion 60 that protrudes downward toward the reaction flow path 10 from above the reaction flow path 10 over the entire radial range, and a second protrusion 70 that protrudes downward toward the descending flow path 50 from above the descending flow path 50 over the entire radial range (Figures 1, 2, 8, and 9).

[0052] (7) The gap g1 between the inner end surface and the outer end surface of the reaction flow channel 10 in the radial direction centered on the vertical axis C, the gap g2 between the outer end surface of the first protrusion 60 and the inner end surface of the second protrusion 70, and the gap g3 between the outer end surface of the second protrusion 70 and the inner end surface of the first protrusion 60 are less than twice the quenching distance or less than the maximum safe gap (FIGS. 8 and 9). The gap g4 between the upper end surface of the reaction flow channel 10 and the lower end surface of the first protrusion 60, and the gap g5 between the lower end surface of the descending flow channel 50 and the lower end surface of the second protrusion 70 are also less than twice the quenching distance or less than the maximum safe gap (FIGS. 8 and 9). This makes it possible to efficiently increase the volume of the reaction field while ensuring the safety of the reactor 100.

[0053] (8) The reactor 100 further includes a closing plate 30 having openings 31 for supplying gas from the lower end of the reaction channel 10 over the entire radial area, and a gas discharge channel 53 for discharging gas from the reaction channel 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The gas discharge channel 53 communicates with the reaction channel 10 through a gas-liquid separation space SP defined by the first protruding portion 60, the second protruding portion 70, and the upper end surfaces of the reaction channel 10 and the descending channel 50 (FIGS. 1, 2, 8, and 9). As a result, sufficient gas-liquid separation can be performed in the gas-liquid separation space SP above the reaction channel 10 and the descending channel 50, and therefore there is no need to separately provide a gas-liquid separation device such as a separator or a condenser, and the overall configuration of the reactor 100 can be simplified.

[0054] (9) The reactor 100 comprises a lower piece 100B in which a reaction flow path 10, a descending flow path 50, a reaction liquid supply flow path 11, a reaction liquid discharge flow path 90, and a reflux flow path 80 are formed, and an upper piece 100A in which a first protruding portion 60 and a second protruding portion 70 are formed (FIGS. 1, 2, 8, and 9). The lower piece 100B and the upper piece 100A are configured to be detachable from each other (FIG. 1). This improves the ease of maintenance inside the reactor 100.

[0055] (10) The reaction liquid is a fuel mainly composed of hydrocarbons, and the gas is air. The reaction flow path 10 is configured so that the fuel supplied through the reaction liquid supply flow path 11 undergoes an oxidation reaction in the presence of a catalyst. For example, the reactor 100 is configured as a reforming reactor mounted on a vehicle to reform the on-board fuel. By efficiently increasing the volume of the reaction field in such a reactor 100, it is possible to improve the mountability on the vehicle.

[0056] This embodiment can be modified in various ways. Some modified examples will be described below. In the above embodiment, an example of providing a catalyst in the reaction flow path 10 has been described, but as shown in FIG. 11, a catalyst may be supported on a carrier 12 that can be inserted and removed from the reaction flow path 10. A material with a large non-surface area, such as a porous body, can be used for the carrier 12. When a catalyst is provided in the reaction flow path 10, the catalyst may be added or replaced depending on the state of aging deterioration, etc. The reactor 100 is configured to be separable into an upper piece 100A and a lower piece 100B, and a catalyst is used for the carrier 12 that can be inserted and removed from the reaction flow path 10, thereby further improving the maintainability of the reactor 100.

[0057] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the reactor is applied to an on-vehicle compression ignition engine and the fuel supplied from a fuel tank to the engine is reformed by reacting with oxygen in the air under elevated temperature. However, the reactor is not limited to the example, as long as it is a reactor that causes a liquid to flow and react. The presence or absence of a catalyst applied to the first flow path, the type of catalyst, the plating treatment of the inner wall surface of the first flow path, etc. can be appropriately selected depending on the type of chemical reaction to which the reactor is applied. When the reactor is applied to a reaction that proceeds at room temperature, the third flow path, the heat medium supply flow path that supplies a heat medium to the third flow path, and the heat medium discharge flow path that discharges the heat medium from the third flow path can be omitted. When the reactor is applied to a reaction that does not involve gas, the gas supply flow path can be omitted. In this case, the lower end surface of the first flow path may be closed.

[0058] The above description is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and modifications, as long as the features of the present invention are not impaired. The above-mentioned embodiment and one or more modifications can be arbitrarily combined, and modifications can be combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 10 reaction flow path, 10a supply section, 10b reflux section, 11 reaction liquid supply flow path, 11a vertical flow path, 11b horizontal flow path, 11c inclined flow path, 12 carrier, 20 heat transfer medium flow path, 21 heat transfer medium supply flow path, 22 heat transfer medium discharge flow path, 23 partition wall, 24 communication hole, 30 closing plate, 31 opening, 40 filter, 50 down flow path, 50a reflux section, 51, 52 partition wall, 53 gas discharge flow path, 60 first protrusion, 70 second protrusion, 80 reflux flow path, 80a vertical flow path, 80b horizontal flow path, 80c inclined flow path, 90 reaction liquid discharge flow path, 100 reactor, 100A upper piece, 100B lower piece, C vertical axis, g1 to g6 gap, L liquid level (gas-liquid separation surface), SP Space (gas-liquid separation space)

Claims

1. a reaction flow path that is formed in a band shape extending in a length direction and a width direction, and that is formed in a spiral shape about a vertical axis parallel to the width direction, and has an open upper end face; a descending flow path that is spirally formed about the vertical axis so as to be radially alternately arranged with the reaction flow path in a vertical cross section including the vertical axis, and has an open upper end surface so as to communicate with the upper end surface of the reaction flow path; a reaction solution supply flow path that supplies the reaction solution to a supply portion provided at a lower end of an outermost diameter portion of the reaction flow path centered on the vertical axis; a reaction liquid discharge flow path that discharges the reaction liquid from a discharge part provided at an outermost diameter part of the descending flow path centered on the vertical axis; a reflux flow path communicating a first reflux section provided at the lower end of the outermost diameter section of the reaction flow path and a second reflux section provided at the outermost diameter section of the descending flow path, a height of an upper end surface of the reaction flow channel and a height of an upper end surface of the downflow channel are substantially the same over an entire radial area around the vertical axis, a lower end surface of the descending flow path is located higher than a lower end surface of the reaction flow path over the entire radial direction, and is formed to be inclined downwardly toward the radially outward direction about the vertical axis.

2. 2. The reactor of claim 1 , A reactor, characterized in that the height of the upper end surface of the reaction channel is uniform throughout the entire radial direction.

3. In the reactor according to claim 1 or 2, A reactor characterized in that a lower end surface of the reaction liquid supply channel and a lower end surface of the reflux channel are formed so as to be inclined downwardly toward an inner side in a radial direction about the vertical axis.

4. In the reactor according to claim 1 or 2, a heat transfer medium flow passage formed in a spiral shape around the vertical axis so as to be alternately arranged with the reaction flow passage in the radial direction in the vertical cross section below the descending flow passage; a heat medium supply flow path for supplying a heat medium to an outermost diameter portion of the heat medium flow path centered on the vertical axis; A reactor further comprising a heat transfer medium discharge passage that discharges the heat transfer medium from a center portion of the heat transfer medium passage centered on the vertical axis.

5. In the reactor according to claim 1 or 2, A reactor further comprising a gas supply passage for supplying a gas from a lower end of the reaction passage over the entire radial area.

6. In the reactor according to claim 1 or 2, a first protruding portion protruding downward toward the reaction flow path from above the reaction flow path over the entire radial direction; a second protrusion protruding downward toward the descending flow path from above the descending flow path over the entire radial area of ​​the reactor.

7. 7. The reactor of claim 6, A gap between an inner end surface and an outer end surface of the reaction flow channel in a radial direction centered on the vertical axis is equal to or less than twice the quenching distance or equal to or less than a maximum safe gap, a gap between an outer end surface of the first protruding portion and an inner end surface of the second protruding portion in the radial direction is equal to or less than twice the quenching distance or equal to or less than the maximum safe gap, A gap between an outer end surface of the second protruding portion and an inner end surface of the first protruding portion in the radial direction is equal to or less than twice the quenching distance or equal to or less than the maximum safe gap, A gap between the upper end surface of the reaction channel and the lower end surface of the first protrusion is equal to or less than twice the quenching distance or equal to or less than the maximum safe gap, A reactor, characterized in that a gap between a lower end surface of the descending flow passage and a lower end surface of the second protrusion is equal to or less than twice the quenching distance or equal to or less than the maximum safe gap.

8. 7. The reactor of claim 6, a gas supply flow path that supplies a gas from a lower end of the reaction flow path over the entire radial area; a gas exhaust flow path that exhausts the gas from the reaction flow path, a gas discharge passage communicating with the reaction passage via a gas-liquid separation space defined by the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the upper end surface of the reaction passage, and the upper end surface of the descending passage.

9. 7. The reactor of claim 6, a lower piece in which the reaction flow path, the descending flow path, the reaction liquid supply flow path, the reaction liquid discharge flow path, and the return flow path are formed; an upper piece on which the first protrusion and the second protrusion are formed, The reactor is characterized in that the lower piece and the upper piece are configured to be detachable from each other.

10. 6. The reactor of claim 5, The reaction liquid is a fuel mainly composed of a hydrocarbon, The gas is air, A reactor characterized in that the reaction flow path is configured so that the fuel supplied through the reaction liquid supply flow path undergoes an oxidation reaction in the presence of a catalyst.

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