Apparatus and method for reusing hydrogen gas

Abstract

The objective is to provide an apparatus and method that can effectively reuse hydrogen gas used in quenching, where hydrogen gas is used as a coolant. [Solution] A hydrogen gas reuse apparatus is used, comprising a quenching section that quenches a first material using hydrogen gas as a coolant, and a heating section that heats a second material using the heat generated by burning the hydrogen gas used in the quenching section, wherein the quenching section comprises (i) a quenching chamber that uses hydrogen gas, which is the first gas, as a coolant to force-cool the first material by convection, (ii) piping for extracting the hydrogen gas used for forced-convection cooling, and (iii) a hydrogen gas buffer tank for storing the hydrogen gas supplied from the piping in (ii); and the heating section comprises (iv) a combustion chamber for burning the hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen gas buffer tank in (iii).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for reusing hydrogen gas, which includes a quenching section that quenches a first material using hydrogen gas as a coolant, and a heating section that heats a second material using heat generated by burning the hydrogen gas used in the quenching section. The present disclosure also relates to a method for reusing hydrogen, which includes a quenching step of quenching a first material using hydrogen gas as a coolant, and a heating step of heating a second material using heat generated by burning the hydrogen gas used in the quenching step.

Background Art

[0002] Quenching is an operation of cooling a material in a high-temperature state more rapidly than in still air. Quenching is carried out, for example, in the manufacturing process of steel materials (e.g., steel), to rapidly cool a heated metal structure having an austenite structure and obtain a martensite structure having more excellent properties in terms of wear resistance, tensile strength, fatigue strength, etc. This operation is particularly important for improving the properties of carburized steel materials in which an austenite structure easily remains on the surface.

[0003] Hydrogen gas having a high thermal conductivity can be preferably used as a coolant for quenching. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a quenching apparatus and a quenching method using hydrogen gas.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Hydrogen gas is useful as a coolant used in quenching due to its high thermal conductivity. On the other hand, hydrogen gas is relatively expensive and is flammable, so it must be properly treated and disposed of after use. Therefore, if hydrogen gas used in the quenching process or in the quenching section can be effectively reused for other purposes, it would be advantageous in terms of cost-effectiveness and environmental impact, and could contribute to the realization of a sustainable society. Therefore, the object of this disclosure is to provide an apparatus and method that can effectively reuse hydrogen gas used in quenching using hydrogen gas as a coolant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The inventors discovered that hydrogen gas can be effectively reused by using the hydrogen gas used to quench the first material as an energy source for heating the second material. In other words, this disclosure discloses, for example, the following aspects: [1] A hydrogen gas recycling apparatus comprising a quenching section that quenches a first material using hydrogen gas as a coolant, and a heating section that heats a second material using the heat generated by burning the hydrogen gas used in the quenching section, The hardened part, (i) A quenching chamber in which a first material is cooled by forced convection using hydrogen gas, which is a first gas, as a coolant, (ii) A hydrogen gas buffer tank for storing the hydrogen gas used for forced convection cooling, Equipped with; The heating element is (iii) Combustion chamber for burning hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen gas buffer tank of (ii) Equipped with, Device. [2] A method for reusing hydrogen, comprising a quenching step in which a first material is hardened using hydrogen gas as a coolant, and a heating step in which a second material is heated using the heat generated by burning the hydrogen gas used in the quenching step. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The apparatus and method of this disclosure can effectively reuse hydrogen gas used in quenching using hydrogen gas as a coolant. Since the hydrogen gas used in quenching the first material is reused as an energy source for heating the second material, it is advantageous in terms of cost-effectiveness and environmental impact, and can contribute to the realization of a sustainable society. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of the apparatus of this disclosure in one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The apparatus and method in one embodiment will be described below with reference to the example configuration of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. However, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described herein, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. For example, the apparatus shown in Figure 1 may omit some of its components, may have additional components, or some components may be changed to other components, as long as the effects of the present invention are obtained.

[0010] Each numerical range in this disclosure includes the upper and lower limits indicated by "~" and "from," respectively. For example, the statement "A~B" or "A to B" using numerical values ​​A and B means that it is greater than or equal to A and less than or equal to B. Furthermore, the statements "A~B," "A to B," or "A or greater and less than or equal to B" in numerical ranges described in stages in this disclosure independently include both "A or greater is preferable" and "B or less is preferable," and these lower or upper limits may be replaced with the upper or lower limits of other numerical ranges.

[0011] The device shown in Fig. 1 is a device that reuses hydrogen gas, comprising a quenching section 101 that quenches a first material using hydrogen gas as a coolant, and a heating section 201 that heats a second material using the heat generated by burning the hydrogen gas used in the quenching section. The quenching section 101 (i) includes a quenching chamber 102 that forcibly convectively cools a first material 103 using hydrogen gas, which is a first gas, as a coolant, and (ii) a hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 that stores the hydrogen gas used for the forced convective cooling; and The heating section 201 (iii) includes a combustion chamber 203 that burns the hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 in (ii). and

[0012] This device is advantageous in terms of cost - effectiveness and environmental load because the hydrogen gas used as a coolant for quenching the first material in the quenching section 101 is burned in the heating section 201 and reused as a heating source for heating the second material, and can contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

[0013] <Quenching section> The quenching section 101 quenches the first material 103 using hydrogen gas as a coolant. Also, the quenching section 101 supplies the hydrogen gas used for quenching to the heating section 201.

[0014] (First material) The first material 103 is not limited as long as it is a material that can be quenched. For example, the first material 103 may be a metallic material, an iron - based alloy (including steel, such as carbon steel, alloy steel, particularly carburized quenched steel, tool steel, high - speed steel, cast iron), or a non - ferrous alloy (such as an aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy, a nickel alloy).

[0015] The first material 103 is typically a material that has been heated prior to being quenched in the quenching chamber 102. The heated material may be, for example, a material heated to 800-1000°C. The heated material may also be the second material 206 that has been heated in the heating section 201 described later.

[0016] The first material 103 can be used in any application within the scope of obtaining the effects of the present invention. For example, the first material 103 may be used as a gear, shaft, bearing, cutting tool, valve, structural member (e.g., machine part, crankshaft, mold), spring, screw, or axle.

[0017] (Hydrogen gas) Hydrogen gas refers to a gas that contains H2 as its main component. Hydrogen gas may contain 50% or more by volume, 60% or more by volume, 70% or more by volume, 80% or more by volume, 85% or more by volume, 90% or more by volume, 95% or more by volume, 98% or more by volume, 99% or more by volume, 99.9% or more by volume, or 100% by volume, relative to the total volume of the gas.

[0018] Hydrogen gas may or may not contain an inert gas. Examples of inert gases include helium, neon, argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and any combination of these gases.

[0019] Hydrogen gas may contain unavoidable impurities derived from the raw materials. Non-exclusive examples of such impurities include water, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. These impurities may be in solid, liquid, or gaseous form.

[0020] The hydrogen gas may contain impurities such as fine particles originating from the first material 103 that were mixed in during the quenching of the first material 103.

[0021] If the composition of the hydrogen gas fluctuates inside the quenched section 101, the hydrogen gas may have the above-described composition at the time the hydrogen gas is supplied from outside to inside the quenched section 101.

[0022] (quenching room) The quenching chamber 102 is a space for quenching the first material 103 by forced convection cooling using hydrogen gas as a coolant. The first material 103 can be placed inside the quenching chamber 102 through an openable and closable material inlet / outlet (not shown) provided in the quenching chamber 102.

[0023] In Figure 1, hydrogen gas is introduced into the quenching chamber 102 from the hydrogen gas tank 109 via piping L4, piping L3, and the fan unit 110. The introduced hydrogen gas can be reintroduced into the quenching chamber 102 from piping L2, the heat exchanger 108, piping L3, and the fan unit 110, as described later.

[0024] The hydrogen gas introduced into the quenching chamber 102 is preferably pressurized hydrogen gas. This pressurized hydrogen gas may be, for example, pressurized to 5 to 10 bar, or up to 30 bar. By using pressurized hydrogen gas, the cooling effect of the hydrogen gas is improved, and forced convection cooling of the first material 103 can be effectively carried out.

[0025] (Hydrogen gas tank) The hydrogen gas stored in the hydrogen gas tank 109 is typically pressurized to a higher pressure than the hydrogen gas introduced into the quenching chamber 102, and may be pressurized to, for example, 10 to 50 bar, or even up to 700 bar. In this case, the hydrogen gas stored in the hydrogen gas tank 109 can be effectively introduced into the quenching chamber 102 by utilizing the pressure gradient between the hydrogen gas tank 109 and the quenching chamber 102.

[0026] Preferably, the piping L4 is provided with an on / off valve and / or a pressure regulating valve to appropriately set the pressure of the hydrogen gas introduced from the hydrogen gas tank 109 into the quenching chamber 102.

[0027] (Hydrogen gas buffer tank) The hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 temporarily stores the hydrogen gas used for forced convection cooling of the first material 103 in the quenching chamber 102. The hydrogen gas is supplied to the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 from piping L1 (described later) and is discharged from the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 via piping L5. The hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 via piping L5 is then supplied to the combustion chamber 203 in the heating section 201, as described later.

[0028] The volume of the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 is not limited within the range in which the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but can be, for example, 500 to 10,000 L. The pressure of the hydrogen gas stored in the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 is not limited to the range in which the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but is preferably 10 to 30 bar, more preferably 15 to 25 bar. The material of the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 is preferably steel (e.g., austenitic stainless steel, carbon steel), composite material, aluminum alloy, or fiber-wound plastic liner. The shape of the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 is preferably a flat-bottomed tank with a cylindrical, spherical, bullet-shaped, hemispherical, or elliptical head. The volume of the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 is preferably such that it can store at least twice the volume of hydrogen gas used at the required pressure during cooling. For example, if the gas consumed during cooling is 1 Nm³ at a pressure of 0.8 MPa. 3 In this case, the buffer tank is 0.8 MPa and 2 Nm 3 A volume that can store more than the above is preferable.

[0029] (Piping for extracting hydrogen gas used in quenching and supplying it to a hydrogen gas buffer tank) Piping L1 is a pipe that extracts the hydrogen gas used to quench the first material 103 in the quenching chamber 102 and supplies it to the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104. In the apparatus shown in Figure 1, piping L1 extracts hydrogen gas from piping L2, which sends the hydrogen gas discharged from the quenching chamber 102 to the heat exchanger 108.

[0030] The piping L1 may be equipped with an on / off valve 105. The on / off valve 105 can be opened when the piping L1 extracts hydrogen gas and closed when it does not.

[0031] The piping L1 may be equipped with a particulate filter 106 to remove impurities contained in the hydrogen gas. Examples of such impurities include unavoidable impurities derived from the raw materials mentioned above, and impurities such as fine particles derived from the first material 103 that were mixed in during the quenching of the material. The particulate filter 106 can improve the quality of the hydrogen gas supplied to the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 by removing impurities contained in the hydrogen gas flowing through the piping L1.

[0032] The piping L1 may include a compressor 107 that increases the pressure of the hydrogen gas. The compressor 107 can increase the hydrogen gas supply efficiency to the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 and also increase the hydrogen gas pressure in the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 by raising the hydrogen gas pressure to preferably 2 to 30 bar, more preferably 10 to 25 bar. As the compressor 107, any known hydrogen gas processor can be used within the scope of achieving the effects of the present invention. Non-limiting examples of such known hydrogen gas processors include piston compressors (including oil-free and highly lubricated types), diaphragm compressors, centrifugal compressors, rotary screw compressors, as well as non-mechanical types such as electrochemical compressors, ionic liquid piston compressors, and metal hydride compressors.

[0033] (heat exchanger) The quenching section 101 typically further comprises a heat exchanger 108. The heat exchanger 108 cools the hydrogen gas discharged from the quenching chamber 102, which is supplied via piping L2, and delivers it to piping L3. The hydrogen gas delivered to piping L3 is reintroduced into the quenching chamber 102 via a fan section 110 and can be used as a coolant for forced convection cooling of the first material 103.

[0034] <Heating part> The heating section 201 heats the second material 206 using the heat generated by burning the hydrogen gas used in the quenching section 101. The hydrogen gas used in the quenching section 101 is supplied from the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 in the heating section 201 to the combustion chamber 203 in the heating section 201 via piping L5.

[0035] (Second ingredient) The second material 206 is not limited to the extent that the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but may be the same as, for example, the first material 103. For example, when the first material 103 after quenching is used as the second material 206, the second gas heated in the heating chamber 204 can heat the quenched material, allowing it to undergo tempering, annealing, or normalizing. Alternatively, the second material 206, heated by the second gas heated in the heating chamber 204, can be used as the first material 103 before quenching, allowing it to undergo heat treatment for quenching (including austenitization and carburizing). Therefore, the apparatus and method of this disclosure can integrate a series of operations related to heating and cooling materials when the first material 103 and the second material 206 are the same.

[0036] Other non-limiting examples of the second material include air, water, and so on.

[0037] (Combustion chamber) The combustion chamber 203 is a space for burning hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 in the heating section 201 via piping L5. The combustion chamber 203 is equipped with a hydrogen burner 202. The heat generated by the combustion of hydrogen gas is typically transferred from the outer wall of the combustion chamber 203 to the heating chamber 204.

[0038] The material of the combustion chamber 203 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that has fire resistance and heat resistance capable of withstanding the combustion of hydrogen gas, but is preferably a high-temperature alloy (e.g., nickel-based alloy), refractory ceramics, or heat-resistant steel. The shape of the combustion chamber 203 is preferably cylindrical, rectangular (e.g., flat or Swiss roll shape), or tubular. The volume of the combustion chamber 203 is preferably 1 m³. 3 ~1000m 3 That is the case.

[0039] A combustion chamber having a tubular shape is also called a radiant tube. Known materials can be used as radiant tubes.

[0040] (Hydrogen burner) The hydrogen burner 202 burns hydrogen gas supplied via piping L5, mixed with an oxidizer supplied via piping L6. The hydrogen gas may be burned alone or as a mixed gas with other gases (e.g., natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and / or ammonia gas).

[0041] Any material suitable for the combustion of hydrogen gas can be used as the hydrogen burner 202. Compared to natural gas, for example, hydrogen gas has properties such as burning at high temperatures, having a fast flame velocity, and the composition of the exhaust gas changing due to the H2O produced by combustion. Therefore, it is preferable that the hydrogen burner 202 has a configuration that can accommodate these properties of hydrogen gas. For example, it is preferable that the hydrogen burner 202 has a configuration that does not cause operational problems such as flame flashback, where the flame recedes into the hydrogen burner, or lift-off, where the flame separates from the hydrogen burner head. Furthermore, it is preferable that the hydrogen burner 202 has a nozzle, mixing chamber, stabilizer, etc., that can appropriately adjust the length, width, and shape of the flame so that the hydrogen gas is properly burned. When the oxidizing agent used for combustion contains nitrogen (for example, when the oxidizing agent is air), the hydrogen burner 202 generates NO due to high-temperature combustion. xIt is preferable to operate the hydrogen burner in a way that reduces the amount of hydrogen produced. Therefore, it is preferable to appropriately adjust the flame temperature by, for example, adjusting the amount of oxygen contained in the oxidizer or by reintroducing a portion of the exhaust gas to dilute the oxidizer and / or hydrogen gas. By appropriately configuring the hydrogen burner and properly controlling its operation, appropriate flame characteristics and exhaust gas characteristics can be achieved.

[0042] Because hydrogen gas has a low minimum ignition energy and a wide range of flammable concentrations, hydrogen burners should be operated with sufficient safety measures in place. Furthermore, since the flame of hydrogen gas is colorless when hydrogen is alone, it is preferable that hydrogen burners be monitored by monitoring devices such as flame detection sensors that detect the combustion of hydrogen gas.

[0043] (Oxidizing agent) Any oxidizing agent can be used as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, provided that it is supplied via piping L6. Non-limiting examples include oxygen (O2) gas, air, oxygen-concentrated air, etc.

[0044] (Exhaust gas) The exhaust gas produced by the combustion of hydrogen gas can be discharged from the combustion chamber 203 through piping L7. The exhaust gas typically contains H2O produced by the combustion of hydrogen and substances not used in combustion (for example, components such as nitrogen in the air if air is used as an oxidizer). The amount of exhaust gas discharged may be adjusted, for example, by adjusting a fan 207 installed in piping L7. The product of hydrogen gas combustion is H2O. Therefore, the exhaust gases mentioned above tend to have a low environmental impact and do not contain undesirable components such as carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas.

[0045] (heating chamber) The heating section is, (iv) A heating chamber that heats the second gas by the heat transferred from the combustion chamber of (iii) It may further include the following: In this case, the heated second gas typically heats the second material. For example, the heating unit 201 in Figure 1 includes a heating chamber 204 as the heating chamber of (iv). Here, the combustion chamber 203 is installed inside the heating chamber 204. With this configuration, the heat generated by the combustion of hydrogen gas in the combustion chamber 203 is effectively transferred from the outer wall of the combustion chamber 203 to the heating chamber 204, heating the second gas inside the heating chamber 204.

[0046] If the heating section includes the heating chamber of (iv), the second material may be installed inside the heating furnace 205, as shown in Figure 1, or inside the heating chamber 204.

[0047] The heating of the second gas in the heating chamber 204 may be carried out solely by the heat transferred from the combustion chamber 203, or by a combination of that heat and heat transferred from other heating means (e.g., electric heating).

[0048] The material of the heating chamber 204 is not particularly limited, as long as it has heat resistance to the heat transmitted from the combustion chamber and is suitable for heating the second gas, but may be, for example, a high-temperature metal alloy (heat-resistant metal alloy) or a ceramic fiber insulating material. The shape of the heating chamber 204 may be, for example, cylindrical or rectangular parallelepiped. The volume of the heating chamber 204 may be, for example, 1 to 100 m³. 3 That's fine.

[0049] (Second gas) The second gas is not limited as long as it is a gas suitable for heating the second material, but non-limiting examples include nitrogen gas, noble gas (e.g., Ar), air, ammonia, and hydrogen mixed with an inert gas. gas These are some examples.

[0050] The second gas can be heated in the heating chamber 204 to heat the second material to a desired temperature. For example, the second gas is preferably heated to 100-1200°C, more preferably to 900-1200°C.

[0051] (heating furnace) The heating section is, A heating furnace that heats the second material using the heated second gas supplied from the heating chamber of (v)(iv). It may also be equipped with additional features. In the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the second material 206 is placed in the heating furnace 205. The second gas, heated in the heating chamber 204, is supplied to the heating furnace 205 via piping L9, heating the second material 206 inside the heating furnace 205. The second gas used to heat the second material 206 can be discharged to the outside of the heating furnace 205 via piping L10.

[0052] The heating furnace (v) in the heating section may be the same as the quenching chamber (i) in the quenching section. With this configuration, both quenching and heating of the same material, which is both the quenching chamber (i) and the heating furnace (v), can be performed within the same space.

[0053] <Additional configuration> The apparatus shown in Figure 1 may have additional configurations. Non-limiting examples of additional configurations include thermometers for measuring the temperature of the heating chamber 204, the combustion chamber 203, and / or other parts; pressure gauges for measuring the pressure of the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104, the hydrogen gas tank 109, the quenching chamber 102, and / or other parts; on-off valves, pressure relief valves (safety valves), flow meters, gas analyzers, heat recovery units, etc., appropriately provided in each piping.

[0054] <Operation of the device in Figure 1> The device shown in Figure 1 typically operates as follows:

[0055] (i) Hardening In the quenching section 101, hydrogen gas is introduced into the quenching chamber 102 from the hydrogen gas tank 109 via piping L3 and the fan section 110. The hydrogen gas introduced into the quenching chamber 102 may be pressurized to, for example, 5 to 10 bar, or up to 30 bar. The hydrogen gas introduced into the quenching chamber 102 cools the first material 103 placed inside the quenching chamber 102, thereby quenching the first material 103. During quenching, the temperature of the hydrogen gas rises. The hydrogen gas used for quenching is sent from the quenching chamber 102 to the heat exchanger 108 via piping L2, cooled in the heat exchanger 108, and then reintroduced into the quenching chamber 102 via piping L3 and the fan section 110. The reintroduced hydrogen gas can be used again for quenching the first material 103.

[0056] (ii) Extraction and storage of hydrogen gas used in quenching After quenching, the hydrogen gas used for quenching is removed via piping L1 by opening the on / off valve 105 and stored in the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104. In this process, in piping L1, preferably, impurities in the hydrogen gas are removed by a particulate filter 106, and if necessary, the gas is pressurized to a desired pressure (e.g., 5 to 30 bar) by a compressor 107.

[0057] (iii) Combustion During the quenching process 101, the hydrogen gas stored in the hydrogen gas buffer tank 104 is supplied to the heating section 201. That is, the hydrogen gas is mixed with an oxidizing agent supplied via piping L6 and combusted in a combustion chamber 203 equipped with a hydrogen burner 202. The exhaust gas produced by the combustion of hydrogen gas is discharged to the outside of the device via piping L7. As mentioned earlier, the product of the combustion of hydrogen gas is H2O. Therefore, the exhaust gas described above has a low environmental impact and tends not to contain undesirable components such as carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas.

[0058] (iv) Heating of the second gas The heat generated by the combustion of hydrogen gas is transferred to the heating chamber 204 via the outer wall of the combustion chamber 203. This heats the second gas introduced into the heating chamber 204 via piping L8.

[0059] (v) Heating of the second material The second gas heated in the heating chamber 204 is supplied to the heating furnace 205 via piping L9 to heat the second material 206 in the heating furnace 205. The second material 206 may be the same as the first material 103. In this case, as mentioned above, the material after quenching can be heated to perform tempering, annealing, or normalizing. Alternatively, the material before quenching can be heated to perform heat treatment for quenching (including austenitization and carburizing).

[0060] The apparatus shown in Figure 1, through the operation described above, can effectively reuse the hydrogen gas used in the quenching section 101 in the heating section 201. Furthermore, when the first material 103 and the second material 206 are the same, the apparatus shown in Figure 1 can perform a series of operations related to heating and cooling the materials in an integrated manner.

[0061] A non-limiting list of exemplary embodiments and combinations of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are disclosed below. [1] A hydrogen gas recycling apparatus comprising a quenching section that quenches a first material using hydrogen gas as a coolant, and a heating section that heats a second material using the heat generated by burning the hydrogen gas used in the quenching section, The hardened part, (i) A quenching chamber in which a first material is cooled by forced convection using hydrogen gas, which is a first gas, as a coolant, (ii) A hydrogen gas buffer tank for storing the hydrogen gas used for forced convection cooling, Equipped with; The heating element is (iii) Combustion chamber for burning hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen gas buffer tank of (ii) Equipped with, Device. [2] The apparatus according to [1], wherein the combustion chamber is equipped with a hydrogen burner. [3] The heating section is (iv) A heating chamber that heats the second gas by the heat transferred from the combustion chamber of (iii) Furthermore, The second material is heated using the heated second gas. The apparatus described in [1] or [2]. [4] The heating section is A heating furnace that heats the second material using the heated second gas supplied from the heating chamber of (v)(iv). The apparatus described in [3] further comprises the following: [5] The apparatus according to [3] or [4], wherein the second gas is nitrogen gas, a noble gas, or air. [6] The apparatus according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the second material is the same material as the first material. [7] A method for reusing hydrogen, comprising a quenching step of quenching a first material using hydrogen gas as a coolant, and a heating step of heating a second material using the heat generated by burning the hydrogen gas used in the quenching step. [8] The method according to [7], wherein the heat generated by burning hydrogen gas heats a second gas, and the heated second gas heats a second material. Each configuration and its combination in each embodiment is an example, and additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. This disclosure is not limited by the embodiments. [Industrial applicability]

[0062] The apparatus and method of this disclosure are capable of effectively performing quenching of a first material and heating of a second material by effectively reusing hydrogen gas, and have industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 101 Hardened section 102 Hardening Chamber 103 First material 104 Hydrogen gas buffer tank 105 Shut-off valve 106 Particulate Filter 107 Compressor 108 Heat exchanger 109 Hydrogen gas tank 110 Fan Club 201 Heating section 202 Hydrogen Burner 203 Combustion chamber 204 Heating chamber 205 Heating Furnace 206 Second material 207 Fans L1~10 Piping

Claims

1. A hydrogen gas recycling apparatus comprising a quenching section that quenches a first material using hydrogen gas as a coolant, and a heating section that heats a second material using the heat generated by burning the hydrogen gas used in the quenching section, The hardened part, (i) A quenching chamber in which a first material is cooled by forced convection using hydrogen gas, which is a first gas, as a coolant, (ii) A hydrogen gas buffer tank for storing the hydrogen gas used for forced convection cooling. Equipped with; The heating element is Combustion chamber that burns hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen gas buffer tank of (iii)(iii) Equipped with, Device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber is equipped with a hydrogen burner.

3. The heating element is A heating chamber that heats the second gas by the heat transferred from the combustion chamber of (iv)(iii). Furthermore, The second material is heated using the heated second gas. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The heating element is A heating furnace that heats the second material using the heated second gas supplied from the heating chamber of (v)(iv). The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second gas is nitrogen gas, a noble gas, or air.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second material is the same material as the first material.

7. A method for reusing hydrogen gas, comprising a quenching step in which a first material is quenched using hydrogen gas as a coolant, and a heating step in which a second material is heated using the heat generated by burning the hydrogen gas used in the quenching step.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the heat generated by burning hydrogen gas heats a second gas, and the heated second gas heats a second material.

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