Hydrogen generation device

Abstract

The present invention provides a hydrogen device, comprising a hydrogen generator body, a secondary coil, an eddy current generating unit, and at least one support member. The hydrogen generator body includes a chamber, wherein one end part of the hydrogen generator body is provided with a first inlet for allowing a first substance to enter the chamber, and a second inlet for allowing a second substance to enter the chamber. The other end part of the hydrogen generator body is provided with an outlet and a discharge port. The secondary coil is wound around the exterior of the hydrogen generator body. The eddy current generating unit is disposed within the chamber at a position corresponding to where the secondary coil is wound. The support member, having a plurality of through holes, is disposed within the chamber. The eddy current generating unit penetrates the support member and is arranged within the chamber by means of the support member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a hydrogen generator, and more particularly to a hydrogen generator that uses thermal cracking to produce hydrogen. Prior Technology

[0002] Hydrogen, as a clean and efficient energy carrier, plays a crucial role in today's global energy transition. First, the only byproduct of hydrogen combustion is water, making it a zero-carbon energy option. Similar to electricity, hydrogen has advantages in industries where electrification is difficult, such as heavy industry and long-distance transportation. According to projections from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), by 2050, hydrogen will meet 12% to 13% of global final energy demand, compared to almost zero currently.

[0003] Furthermore, hydrogen can be produced through water electrolysis, especially when electricity comes from renewable energy sources, resulting in a pollution-free clean energy source. When hydrogen reacts chemically with oxygen, it can produce electricity and pure water. Hydrogen can exist in gaseous or liquid form, which is beneficial for long-term storage and long-distance transportation, and can compensate for the locational limitations of renewable energy sources.

[0004] In the industrial sector, hydrogen is a crucial raw material for industries such as ammonia synthesis, methanol production, and petroleum refining. With the continued decline in the cost of renewable energy generation, it is projected that by 2030, the cost of green hydrogen production in some regions will be comparable to that of hydrogen produced from traditional fossil fuels, which will drive the widespread application of hydrogen energy in the industrial sector. In conclusion, hydrogen plays a key role in driving global energy transition, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting sustainable economic development. With technological advancements and policy support, the application scope of hydrogen energy will continue to expand, providing a powerful impetus for optimizing the global energy structure.

[0005] As mentioned above, the production of hydrogen from a substance, such as methane, through thermal or catalytic cracking has long been widely used by industry players. However, regarding thermal cracking, to utilize high temperatures for methane cracking, a device capable of generating such high temperatures must first be prepared. Common examples include cracking furnaces, vacuum flash cracking equipment, or plasma cracking equipment. Furthermore, while catalytic cracking equipment offers good hydrogen production efficiency, it requires not only high-temperature equipment but also a catalyst to assist in the cracking process.

[0006] While all of the aforementioned conventional high-temperature equipment can provide high temperatures to crack gases and produce hydrogen, most of these devices suffer from high costs and difficulty in temperature control. Furthermore, they are often unsuitable for small-scale hydrogen production generators.

[0007] Therefore, how to provide a hydrogen generator that is low-cost, has easily controllable temperature, and is suitable for small-scale hydrogen production is a major challenge today. In other words, the object of this invention is to provide a hydrogen generator that is low-cost, has easily controllable temperature, and is suitable for small-scale hydrogen production. Summary of the Invention

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a hydrogen generator, comprising a hydrogen generator body, a primary coil, an eddy current generating unit, and at least one support member. The hydrogen generator body has a chamber; one end of the hydrogen generator body has a first inlet for a first substance to enter the chamber and a second inlet for a second substance to enter the chamber, while the other end has an outlet and a drain outlet; the secondary coil is wound around the outside of the hydrogen generator body; the eddy current generating unit is disposed in the chamber corresponding to the position where the secondary coil is wound; the support member has a plurality of through holes and is disposed in the chamber, and the eddy current generating unit is disposed in the chamber via the support member.

[0009] In one embodiment, the support member is provided with a support hole and a plurality of through holes, and the eddy current generating unit is disposed in the cavity through the support hole.

[0010] In one embodiment, the hydrogen generator of the present invention further includes a primary coil circuit, which is electrically coupled to a secondary coil, and the secondary coil generates a high-voltage alternating current, thereby generating an alternating electromagnetic field in the chamber of the hydrogen generator body, so that the eddy current generating unit generates an eddy current, and the eddy current generating unit generates a high temperature accordingly.

[0011] In one embodiment, the operating voltage of the primary coil circuit is between 12V and 24V; while the voltage generated by the secondary coil is between 50KV and 200KV.

[0012] In one embodiment, the high temperature generated by the eddy current generating unit is between 1000°C and 1600°C.

[0013] In one embodiment, the hydrogen generator system is made of quartz or ceramic material.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first inlet port is connected to a first nozzle, and the second inlet port is connected to a second nozzle.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first substance is methane, or ethane, or propane, or butane, or methanol, or ethanol, or ammonia, or water molecule gas, or water mist.

[0016] In one embodiment, the second substance is methane, ethane, propane, butane, methanol, ethanol, ammonia, water molecule gas, or water mist.

[0017] In one embodiment, the eddy current generating unit includes a tube, at least one fixing member, and a refractory conductive material; the fixing member is disposed in the tube; and the refractory conductive material is disposed in the tube by means of the fixing member.

[0018] In one embodiment, the refractory conductive material system comprises a refractory metal or a refractory metal alloy.

[0019] In one embodiment, the refractory metal system is tungsten, molybdenum, or tantalum; and the refractory metal alloy system is a tungsten alloy, a molybdenum alloy, or a tantalum alloy.

[0020] In one embodiment, the piping system is made of quartz or ceramic material.

[0021] In one embodiment, the hydrogen generator of the present invention further includes a hydrogen separation membrane disposed in the chamber and between the outlet and the drain.

[0022] In one embodiment, the hydrogen separation membrane system comprises a ceramic membrane or a metal-ceramic composite membrane.

[0023] In summary, because the hydrogen generator of this invention utilizes the alternating electromagnetic field generated by the secondary coil to induce an eddy current in the refractory conductive material of the eddy current generating unit, thereby generating a high temperature in the space near the eddy current generating unit, the hydrogen generator of this invention has a lower manufacturing cost and its temperature is easier to control. Furthermore, because the hydrogen generator of this invention utilizes the high temperature generated by the eddy current generating unit to induce a thermal decomposition reaction between the first and second substances in the chamber to produce hydrogen, the hydrogen generator of this invention is very suitable for smaller-scale hydrogen production equipment. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-section of the hydrogen generator of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the front view of a support member of the present invention in direction B. Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of another cross-section of a hydrogen generator with a primary coil circuit. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the front view of another support member of the present invention in direction B. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing another cross-section of a hydrogen generator with a first nozzle and a second nozzle. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing another cross-sectional view of the hydrogen generator of the present invention. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the front view of another support member of the present invention in direction B. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing another cross-section of a hydrogen generator with a hydrogen separation membrane. Implementation

[0025] The specific implementation of the hydrogen generator of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the hydrogen generator of the present invention includes a hydrogen generator body 1, a primary coil 2, an eddy current generating unit 3, and at least one support member 4. In this embodiment, two support members 4 are used.

[0027] The hydrogen generator body 1 has a chamber 11. One end of the hydrogen generator body 1 is provided with a first inlet 12 for a first substance to enter the chamber 11 and a second inlet 13 for a second substance to enter the chamber 11. In this embodiment, the first substance or the second substance may be methane, ethane, propane, butane, methanol, ethanol, ammonia, water molecule gas, or water mist, respectively. The other end of the hydrogen generator body 1 is provided with an outlet 14 for discharging hydrogen gas and a discharge outlet 15 for discharging byproducts. It should be noted that, in actual use, one of the first inlet 12 and the second inlet 13 of the hydrogen generator body 1 can be closed (sealed) and not used. That is to say, the substance introduced into the chamber 11 of the hydrogen generator body 1 is only the first substance or only the second substance.

[0028] As described above, the secondary coil 2 is wound outside the hydrogen generator body 1. The eddy current generating unit 3 is positioned corresponding to the winding location of the secondary coil 2 and is disposed within the chamber 11. As shown in Figure 2, the support member 4 has a support hole 41 and a plurality of through holes 42, and is disposed within the chamber 11. The eddy current generating unit 3 passes through the support hole 41 into the support member 4 and is disposed within the chamber 11 via the support member 4.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, the hydrogen generator of the present invention further includes a primary coil circuit 5, which is electrically coupled to the secondary coil 2. The secondary coil 2 generates a high-voltage alternating current, which in turn generates an alternating electromagnetic field in the chamber 11 of the hydrogen generator body 1. This causes the refractory conductive material 33 of the eddy current generating unit 3 to generate an eddy current, and causes the chamber 11 near the eddy current generating unit 3 to generate a high temperature. In this embodiment, the operating voltage of the primary coil circuit is between 12V and 24V; while the voltage generated by the secondary coil is between 50KV and 200KV. The high temperature generated by the eddy current generating unit 3 is between 1000℃ and 1600℃. By using the high temperature of 1000℃ to 1600℃, the first substance or the second substance can be thermally decomposed to generate hydrogen.

[0030] The following will further explain how to use the hydrogen generator of the present invention to generate hydrogen. When the first substance is methane, or when both the first and second substances are methane, the methane is introduced into the chamber 11 through the first inlet 12 or the second inlet 13. Then the methane gas flows through the high-temperature region where the eddy current generating unit 3 is located, and then the methane gas generates hydrogen and solid carbon through a high-temperature cracking reaction, as shown in reaction formula (1). ...Chemical reaction formula (1)

[0031] When the first substance is methane and the second substance is water mist or water molecule gas, the methane is introduced into the chamber 11 through the first inlet 12 and the water mist or water molecule gas is introduced into the chamber 11 through the second inlet 13. Then the methane gas and the water mist or water molecule gas will flow through the high temperature area where the eddy current generating unit 3 is located, and then hydrogen and carbon dioxide will be generated through the methane recombination reaction and the water-gas conversion reaction. The chemical reactions are shown in reaction formula (2) and reaction formula (3). ...Chemical reaction formula (2) ...Chemical reaction formula (3)

[0032] As mentioned above, the hydrogen produced by thermal cracking is discharged and utilized through outlet 14, while solid carbon or carbon dioxide, as byproducts, is discharged through outlet 15.

[0033] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 and 4, or Figures 6 and 7. The eddy current generating unit 3 of the hydrogen generator of the present invention includes a tube 31, two fixing members 32, and a refractory conductive material 33. In this embodiment, the tube 31 is made of quartz or ceramic material. The refractory conductive material 33 is disposed in the tube 31 by means of the fixing members 32. The eddy current generating unit 3 is disposed in the chamber 11 by means of the support members 4, 4', 4”. Viewed from direction B in Figures 1, 3, or 7, the support members 4, 4', 4” have a support hole 41, 41', 41” and a plurality of through holes 42, 42', 42”. The eddy current generating unit 3 is disposed in the chamber 11 by passing through the support members 4, 4', 4” through the support hole 41, 41', 41”. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the first substance or the second substance is produced by a thermal decomposition reaction through the plurality of through holes 42, 42', 42" of the support members 4, 4', 4" or through the space between the support members 4, 4', 4" and the hydrogen generator body 1, thereby producing hydrogen gas.

[0034] Referring again to Figure 5, the first inlet 12 and the second inlet 13 of the hydrogen generator body 1 of the present invention can be respectively connected to a first nozzle 121 and a second nozzle 131. By means of the first nozzle 121 or the second nozzle 131, the amount of gas introduced into the chamber 11 by the first substance or the second substance can be controlled. Of course, when the second substance is water, it can also produce a misting effect.

[0035] Referring again to Figure 8, the hydrogen generator of the invention may further include a hydrogen separation membrane 6. The hydrogen separation membrane 6 is disposed in the chamber 11, between the outlet 14 and the drain port 15. The hydrogen separation membrane 6 allows hydrogen to pass through and exits through the outlet 14. Carbon or carbon dioxide, as byproducts, is blocked by the hydrogen separation membrane 6 and discharged through the drain port 15. In this embodiment, the hydrogen separation membrane 6 comprises a ceramic membrane or a metal-ceramic composite membrane.

[0036] In summary, since the hydrogen generator of the present invention utilizes the alternating electromagnetic field generated by the secondary coil to induce an eddy current in the refractory conductive material 33 of the eddy current generating unit 3, thereby generating a high temperature in the space near the eddy current generating unit 3, the hydrogen generator of the present invention has a lower manufacturing cost and the temperature is easier to control. Furthermore, because the hydrogen generator of the present invention utilizes the high temperature generated by the eddy current generating unit 3 to induce a thermal decomposition reaction between the first and second substances in the chamber 11 to produce hydrogen, the hydrogen generator of the present invention is very suitable for smaller-scale hydrogen production equipment.

[0037] 1: Hydrogen generator body 11: Chamber 12: First inlet 121: First nozzle 13: Second inlet port 131: Second nozzle 14: Export port 15: Excretion port 2: Secondary coil 3: Eddy current generating unit 31: Pipe body 32: Fasteners 33: Refractory conductive materials 4, 4', 4”: Support component 41, 41', 41”: Support holes 42, 42', 42”: Through holes 5: Primary coil circuit 6: Hydrogen separation membrane B: Direction

Claims

1. A hydrogen generator, comprising: a hydrogen generator body having a chamber, one end of the hydrogen generator body having a first inlet for a first substance to enter the chamber and a second inlet for a second substance to enter the chamber, and the other end having an outlet and a drain outlet; a primary coil wound around the hydrogen generator body; an eddy current generating unit disposed in the chamber corresponding to the position of the secondary coil winding; and at least one support member disposed in the chamber, the eddy current generating unit being disposed in the chamber by means of the support member; wherein the eddy current generating unit includes a tube, at least one fixing member, and a refractory conductive material; the refractory conductive material includes a refractory metal or a refractory metal alloy, the refractory conductive material being disposed in the tube by means of the fixing member; the refractory metal is tungsten, or molybdenum, or tantalum; the refractory metal alloy is a tungsten alloy, or a molybdenum alloy, or a tantalum alloy; the tube is made of quartz material or ceramic material.

2. The hydrogen generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member has a support hole and a plurality of through holes, and the eddy current generating unit is disposed in the chamber through the support hole.

3. The hydrogen generator as claimed in claim 1 further comprises: a primary coil circuit electrically coupled to the secondary coil, which generates a high-voltage alternating current and generates an alternating electromagnetic field in the chamber of the hydrogen generator body, thereby causing the eddy current generating unit to generate an eddy current and generate a high temperature.

4. The hydrogen generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the operating voltage of the primary coil circuit is between 12V and 24V; and the voltage generated by the secondary coil is between 50KV and 200KV.

5. The hydrogen generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the high temperature generated by the eddy current generating unit is between 1000°C and 1600°C.

6. The hydrogen generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body of the hydrogen generator is made of quartz or ceramic material.

7. The hydrogen generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first inlet is connected to a first nozzle and the second inlet is connected to a second nozzle.

8. The hydrogen generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first substance is methane, or ethane, or propane, or butane, or methanol, or ethanol, or ammonia, or water molecule gas, or water mist.

9. The hydrogen generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second substance is methane, or ethane, or propane, or butane, or methanol, or ethanol, or ammonia, or water molecule gas, or water mist.

10. The hydrogen generator as claimed in claim 1 further comprises: a hydrogen separation membrane disposed in the chamber between the outlet and the drain.

11. The hydrogen generator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hydrogen separation membrane comprises a ceramic membrane or a metal-ceramic composite membrane.

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