Generation system

Abstract

This generation system generates a gas of interest in a pressurized state. The gas of interest is a combustible gas. The generation system is provided with a lock hopper (34) and a combustible gas path. The lock hopper is configured to move a solid material from one of the inside of the generation system and the outside of the generation system to the other. In the lock hopper, a part different from an inlet port for the solid material and a discharge port for the solid material is connected to the combustible gas path. The combustible gas path is a path through which the combustible gas in the lock hopper is evacuated to the outside of the lock hopper. A downstream side of the combustible gas path is connected to an internal path in the generation system.

Description

Generation System

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a production system.

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 listed below describes a dust collector that removes solids generated when flammable gas is generated. This dust collector includes a filter device that removes solids from the flammable gas. The filter device is connected to a lock hopper via a receiving valve. While the receiving valve is open, solids are accumulated in the lock hopper from the filter. When the amount of solids accumulated in the lock hopper reaches a predetermined amount, the receiving valve is closed. Nitrogen is then supplied as a non-flammable gas into the lock hopper. The solids are then discharged from the lock hopper.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-110166

[0004] In the above-described device, while the receiving valve is open, flammable gas flows into the lock hopper in addition to solid matter. However, in the above-described device, the flammable gas in the lock hopper cannot be effectively utilized.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a production system for producing a gas to be produced in a pressurized state. The gas to be produced is a flammable gas, and the system includes a lock hopper and a flammable gas path. The lock hopper is configured to move solids from either inside or outside the production system to the other, and is connected to the flammable gas path at a location separate from the solids inlet and the solids outlet. The flammable gas path is a path for removing the flammable gas from inside the lock hopper to the outside of the lock hopper. The downstream side of the flammable gas path is connected to an internal path in the production system. The internal path is a path from the inflow of raw materials for the gas to be produced to the outflow of the gas to be produced in the production system.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a production system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one step of a carbon discharge process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing one step of a carbon discharge process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one step of a carbon discharge process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing one step of a carbon discharge process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one step of a carbon discharge process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing one step of a catalyst supply process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one step of a catalyst supply process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one step of a catalyst supply process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing one step of a catalyst supply process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing one step of a catalyst supply process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing one step of a catalyst supply process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing one step of a catalyst supply process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing one step of a catalyst supply process according to the same embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing one step of a catalyst supply process according to the same embodiment.

[0007] <First embodiment> Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. "System configuration" Fig. 1 shows the configuration of a production system for a target gas according to this embodiment. The system shown in Fig. 1 is a system for producing hydrogen using methane as a raw material.

[0008] As shown in FIG. 1 , methane supplied to the production system is pressurized by a compressor 10 and supplied to a combustible gas supply line 50. A raw material gas line 12 is connected to the combustible gas supply line 50. The methane in the raw material gas line 12 is heated by a heat exchanger 14 and then supplied to a reactor 16. The reactor 16 is a device that decomposes methane into hydrogen and carbon by thermal decomposition. The reactor 16 is provided with a catalyst. An example of the catalyst is iron. In the reactor 16, the catalyst is in a fluidized bed catalyst state, for example. In the reactor 16, the temperature of the reacting methane and catalyst is set to, for example, 750 to 900° C. Furthermore, the pressure in the reactor 16 is higher than atmospheric pressure. The pressure in the reactor 16 may be, for example, several ata to several tens of ata.

[0009] The hydrogen and carbon produced by pyrolysis in the reactor 16 and the methane in the reactor 16 flow into the heat exchanger 14. The methane and hydrogen mixture and carbon flowing out of the heat exchanger 14 flow into the cyclone 20. The cyclone 20 is a centrifugal separator that separates carbon from the mixture of the mixture and carbon. The cyclone 20 is connected to a filter 22, which captures carbon that could not be separated by the cyclone 20. The mixture flowing out of the filter 22 is compressed by a compressor 24 and then supplied to a hydrogen purifier 26. One example of the hydrogen purifier 26 is a PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) system. The hydrogen extracted from the mixture by the hydrogen purifier 26 is the hydrogen produced by this system. The hydrogen extracted by the hydrogen purifier 26 flows into a product gas path 25.

[0010] The methane separated by the hydrogen purification device 26 flows into an off-gas path 27. An off-gas tank 29 is provided in the off-gas path 27. The gas in the off-gas tank 29 is compressed by a compressor 28 and then returned to the raw material gas path 12. Note that, since hydrogen is used when separating methane in the hydrogen purification device 26, hydrogen flows into the compressor 28 in addition to methane.

[0011] The carbon separated from the air-fuel mixture by the cyclone 20 and the filter device 22 flows into a feed hopper 30. The feed hopper 30 is connected to a lock hopper 34 via an inlet valve 32. The lock hopper 34 discharges the carbon into a storage tank 38 via a discharge valve 36. The storage tank 38 is open to the atmosphere.

[0012] A flammable gas supply line 50 is connected to the lock hopper 34 via a flammable gas supply valve 52. A non-flammable gas supply line 56 is also connected to the lock hopper 34 via a non-flammable gas supply valve 58. Nitrogen to be supplied to the system is pressurized by a compressor 54 and supplied to the non-flammable gas supply line 56.

[0013] The lock hopper 34 is connected to a product gas line 60 via a product gas valve 62. The product gas line 60 is connected to the off-gas tank 29. The lock hopper 34 is connected to a mixed gas line 64 via a mixed valve 66. A mixture of methane, hydrogen, and nitrogen is discharged from the lock hopper 34 into the mixed gas line 64. This mixture may be removed, for example, by combustion.

[0014] The lock hopper 34 is connected to a non-combustible gas discharge line 68 via a non-combustible gas discharge valve 70. The non-combustible gas discharge line 68 is open to the atmosphere. Strictly speaking, the solids discharged to the storage tank 38 include not only carbon but also a compound of iron and carbon, which acts as a catalyst. The regeneration device 40 extracts iron from this compound. The iron extracted by the regeneration device 40 is combined with iron newly supplied to the system and supplied to the supply hopper 80.

[0015] The supply hopper 80 is connected to a lock hopper 84 via an inlet valve 82. The lock hopper 84 is connected to the reactor 16 via a discharge valve 86. A flammable gas supply line 90 is connected to the lock hopper 84 via a flammable gas supply valve 92. The flammable gas supply line 90 is connected to the flammable gas supply line 50. The lock hopper 84 is connected to a non-flammable gas supply line 94 via a non-flammable gas supply valve 96. The non-flammable gas supply line 94 is connected to the non-flammable gas supply line 56.

[0016] The lock hopper 84 is connected to a product gas passage 100 via a product gas valve 102. The product gas passage 100 is connected to the off-gas tank 29. The lock hopper 84 is connected to a mixed gas passage 104 via a mixed valve 106. A mixture of methane, hydrogen, and nitrogen is discharged from the lock hopper 84 to the mixed gas passage 104. Note that flammable gases in this mixture may be removed, for example, by combustion. The lock hopper 84 is connected to a non-combustible gas discharge passage 108 via a non-combustible gas discharge valve 110. The non-combustible gas discharge passage 108 is open to the atmosphere.

[0017] The control device 200 controls the above-mentioned generation system. The control device 200 operates the inlet valve 32, the outlet valve 36, the flammable gas supply valve 52, the non-flammable gas supply valve 58, the product gas valve 62, the mixing valve 66, and the non-flammable gas exhaust valve 70. The control device 200 also operates the inlet valve 82, the exhaust valve 86, the flammable gas supply valve 92, the non-flammable gas supply valve 96, the product gas valve 102, the mixing valve 106, and the non-flammable gas exhaust valve 110.

[0018] The control device 200 includes a PU 202 and a storage device 204. The PU 202 is a software processing device including at least one of a CPU, a GPU, a TPU, etc. A program including commands for opening and closing the 14 valves is stored in the storage device 204. The PU 202 executes this program to realize the opening and closing control of the 14 valves.

[0019] "Carbon Discharge Treatment" As described above, the pressure inside the reactor 16 is higher than atmospheric pressure. As a result, the pressure inside the cyclone 20 and the pressure inside the filter device 22 are also higher than atmospheric pressure. Meanwhile, the storage tank 38 is open to the atmosphere. Therefore, the lock hopper 34 is used to discharge carbon from the pressurized system while maintaining the pressure inside the pressurized system including the reactor 16. The carbon discharge treatment using the lock hopper 34 will be described below with reference to Figures 2 to 9. Note that the numbers in Figures 2 to 9 correspond to the chronological order of the processes.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a state in which carbon-112 has accumulated in the lock hopper 34. In FIG. 2, the open / closed states of the inlet valve 32, the outlet valve 36, the combustible gas supply valve 52, the non-combustible gas supply valve 58, the product gas valve 62, the mixing valve 66, and the non-combustible gas outlet valve 70 are indicated by different colors. That is, the black valves indicate a closed state, while the white valves indicate an open state. As shown in FIG. 2, in the process of accumulating carbon-112 in the lock hopper 34, only the inlet valve 32 of the seven valves is open. As a result, the carbon-112 that has flowed into the supply hopper 30 flows into the lock hopper 34. The lock hopper 34 also receives a mixture of hydrogen and methane that has flowed out of the reactor 16.

[0021] 3 shows the process of depressurizing the lock hopper 34. This process is executed under the condition that the state shown in FIG. 2 is achieved. In this process, the PU 202 opens only the product gas valve 62 out of the seven valves. This causes the product gas, which is a mixture of hydrogen and methane in the lock hopper 34, to flow into the product gas path 60.

[0022] 4 shows the process of expelling the produced gas from the lock hopper 34. This process follows the process shown in FIG. 3. In this process, the PU 202 opens only the non-combustible gas supply valve 58 and the mixed gas valve 66 out of the seven valves. This causes nitrogen to flow from the non-combustible gas supply path 56 into the lock hopper 34. This causes the produced gas in the lock hopper 34 to flow out into the mixed gas path 64.

[0023] Figure 5 shows the process of discharging the carbon 112 from the lock hopper 34. This process follows the process shown in Figure 4. In this process, the PU 202 opens only the discharge valve 36 out of the seven valves. This causes the carbon 112 to fall into the storage bin 38 under the action of gravity.

[0024] Figure 6 shows the process of expelling oxygen from the lock hopper 34. This process follows the process shown in Figure 5. In this process, the PU 202 opens only two of the seven valves: the non-combustible gas supply valve 58 and the non-combustible gas discharge valve 70. This causes nitrogen to flow from the non-combustible gas supply path 56 into the lock hopper 34. Oxygen has flowed into the lock hopper 34 from the discharge port 34b in the process shown in Figure 5. Therefore, this oxygen flows out into the non-combustible gas discharge path 68 as nitrogen flows into the lock hopper 34.

[0025] 7 shows the process of expelling nitrogen from the lock hopper 34. This process follows the process shown in FIG. 6. In this process, the PU 202 opens only two of the seven valves: the combustible gas supply valve 52 and the mixed gas valve 66. This causes methane to flow from the combustible gas supply valve 52 into the lock hopper 34. As a result, the nitrogen in the lock hopper 34 is discharged into the mixed gas path 64.

[0026] Figure 8 shows the process of pressurizing the inside of the lock hopper 34. This process follows the process shown in Figure 7. In this process, the PU 202 opens only the combustible gas supply valve 52 out of the seven valves. This increases the methane loading concentration in the lock hopper 34, and the pressure in the lock hopper 34 increases. This process is intended to reduce the difference between the pressure in the lock hopper 34 and the pressure in the reactor 16. In this process, it is desirable to equalize the pressure in the supply hopper 30 and the pressure in the lock hopper 34.

[0027] 9 shows the process of depositing carbon in the lock hopper 34. This process follows the process shown in FIG. 8. In this process, the PU 202 opens only the inlet valve 32 of the seven valves. This allows carbon to accumulate, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 2.

[0028] "Catalyst Supply Process" Iron is supplied to the above-described supply hopper 80 in a state open to the atmosphere. A lock hopper 84 is used to supply the iron supplied under atmospheric pressure to a pressurized system including the reactor 16. The catalyst supply process using the lock hopper 84 will be described below with reference to Figures 10 to 18. Note that the numbers in Figures 10 to 18 correspond to the chronological order of the steps.

[0029] 10 shows a state in which iron 114 as a catalyst has been supplied into the supply hopper 80. In this state, all seven valves, namely, the inlet valve 82, the outlet valve 86, the combustible gas supply valve 92, the non-combustible gas supply valve 96, the product gas valve 102, the mixture valve 106, and the non-combustible gas outlet valve 110, are closed.

[0030] Figure 11 shows the process of supplying iron 114 to the lock hopper 84. This process is executed under the condition that the state shown in Figure 10 is achieved. In this process, the PU 202 opens only the inlet valve 82 of the seven valves. As a result, the iron 114 in the supply hopper 80 falls into the inlet 84b of the lock hopper 84 by the action of gravity.

[0031] Figure 12 shows the process of purging oxygen from the lock hopper 84. This process follows the process shown in Figure 11. In this process, the PU 202 opens only two of the seven valves: the non-combustible gas supply valve 96 and the non-combustible gas discharge valve 110. This causes nitrogen to be supplied from the non-combustible gas supply valve 96 to the lock hopper 84. Oxygen has been flowing into the lock hopper 84 from the supply hopper 80 in the process shown in Figure 11. This oxygen is discharged from the non-combustible gas discharge path 108 as nitrogen flows into the lock hopper 84.

[0032] Figure 13 shows the process of purging nitrogen from the lock hopper 84. The process shown in Figure 13 is a process that follows the process shown in Figure 12. In this process, the PU 202 opens only two of the seven valves: the combustible gas supply valve 92 and the mixed gas valve 106. This causes methane to flow from the combustible gas supply path 90 into the lock hopper 84. As a result, the nitrogen in the lock hopper 84 is purged into the mixed gas path 104.

[0033] 14 shows the process of pressurizing the inside of the lock hopper 84. This process follows the process shown in FIG. 13. In this process, the PU 202 opens only the combustible gas supply valve 92 out of the seven valves. This causes methane to flow into the lock hopper 84 from the combustible gas supply line 90. This increases the concentration of methane in the lock hopper 84, thereby pressurizing the inside of the lock hopper 84. This process is provided to reduce the difference between the pressure in the lock hopper 84 and the pressure in the reactor 16. In this process, it is desirable to equalize the pressure in the lock hopper 84 with the pressure downstream of the discharge valve 86.

[0034] 15 shows a process for supplying iron 114 to reactor 16. This process follows the process shown in FIG. 14. In this process, PU 202 opens only discharge valve 86 out of the seven valves. This causes iron 114 in lock hopper 84 to be discharged from lock hopper 84 by the action of gravity.

[0035] Figure 16 shows the process of reducing the pressure in the lock hopper 84. This process follows the process shown in Figure 15. In this process, the PU 202 opens only the product gas valve 102 out of the seven valves. This causes the product gas in the lock hopper 84 to flow into the product gas path 100. In the process shown in Figure 15, the product gas flows into the lock hopper 84 from the reactor 16 side. Therefore, product gas is present in the lock hopper 84 when the process shown in Figure 16 is started.

[0036] 17 shows the process of purging the produced gas from the lock hopper 84. This process follows the process shown in FIG. 16. In this process, the PU 202 opens only two of the seven valves: the non-combustible gas supply valve 96 and the mixed gas valve 106. This causes nitrogen to flow from the non-combustible gas supply path 94 into the lock hopper 84. This causes the produced gas from the lock hopper 84 to be purged into the mixed gas path 104.

[0037] Figure 18 shows the process of depressurizing the lock hopper 84. This process follows the process shown in Figure 17. In this process, the PU 202 opens only the non-combustible gas discharge valve 110 out of the seven valves. As a result, the nitrogen in the lock hopper 84 flows out into the non-combustible gas discharge path 108, and the pressure in the lock hopper 84 becomes equivalent to atmospheric pressure.

[0038] "Operations and Effects of the Present Embodiment" Carbon is separated from the hydrogen, carbon, and methane flowing out of the reactor 16 by the cyclone 20 and the filter device 22. The hydrogen and methane mixture from which the carbon has been separated is pressurized by the compressor 24 and then taken into the hydrogen purifier 26. The hydrogen purifier 26 extracts hydrogen from the mixture. Due to the nature of the process of extracting hydrogen, the pressure in the product gas path 25 of the hydrogen purifier 26 is higher than the pressure in the off-gas path 27.

[0039] Meanwhile, the methane and hydrogen that flow out from the lock hopper 34 into the product gas passage 60 are supplied to the off-gas tank 29 provided in the off-gas passage 27. In addition, the methane and hydrogen that flow out from the lock hopper 84 into the product gas passage 100 are supplied to the off-gas tank 29 provided in the off-gas passage 27.

[0040] Here, the pressure in the product gas passages 60, 100 is lower than the pressure in the product gas passage 25. Therefore, an additional compressor is required to supply the gas mixture in the product gas passages 60, 100 to the product gas passage 25. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the gas in the product gas passages 60, 100 is supplied to the off-gas passage 27, which has a lower pressure than the product gas passage 25. This allows the gas mixture in the product gas passages 60, 100 to be supplied to the off-gas passage 27 without providing an additional compressor. The gas mixture supplied in this manner is compressed by the compressor 28 and then returned to the reactor 16. Therefore, the gas mixture in the product gas passages 60, 100 can be effectively used for hydrogen generation in the hydrogen generation system according to this embodiment.

[0041] Second Embodiment A second embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings, focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

[0042] Figure 19 shows a system for generating a target gas according to this embodiment. For convenience, components in Figure 19 that correspond to components shown in Figure 1 are given the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the mixture of hydrogen and methane flowing out of the filter device 22 is pressurized by a compressor 24 and then supplied to a hydrogen purification device 120. The hydrogen purification device 120 is equipped with a separation membrane and separates hydrogen from the mixture. The hydrogen separated by the hydrogen purification device 120 flows into a product gas path 25. A compressor 124 is provided in the product gas path 25.

[0043] Furthermore, the methane separated by the hydrogen purification device 120 flows into the off-gas passage 27. The pressure in the off-gas passage 27 is higher than the pressure in the product gas passage 25. In particular, the pressure in the off-gas passage 27 is higher than the pressure in the product gas passages 60 and 100. Therefore, in order to supply the mixture in the product gas passages 60 and 100 to the off-gas passage 27, a new compressor must be installed. Therefore, in this embodiment, the product gas passages 60 and 100 are connected to the product gas passage 25. As a result, the gas in the product gas passage 25 becomes hydrogen mixed with a trace amount of methane. Therefore, the target gas production system according to this embodiment is suitable for producing a product that allows a trace amount of methane to be mixed with hydrogen. An example of such a case is when the target gas is used as fuel for a gas turbine.

[0044] <Correspondence> The correspondence between the items in the above embodiment and the items described in the "Notes" section below is as follows: Below, the correspondence is shown for each solution number described in the "Notes" section.

[0045] [1] The target gas corresponds to hydrogen. The lock hopper, the flammable gas path, the solid, the inlet, and the outlet correspond to the lock hopper 34, the product gas path 60, the carbon 112, the inlet 34a, and the outlet 34b, respectively. The lock hopper, the flammable gas path, the solid, the inlet, and the outlet correspond to the lock hopper 84, the product gas path 100, the iron 114, the inlet 84b, and the outlet 84a, respectively.

[0046] [2] The separation device corresponds to the hydrogen purification device 26 in Figure 1 and the hydrogen purification device 120 in Figure 19. The first and second paths correspond to the product gas path 25 and the off-gas path 27, respectively.

[0047] [3] The matters described in Solution 3 correspond to Figure 1. The "internal path upstream of the first path" corresponds to the source gas path 12. [4] The matters described in Solution 4 correspond to Figure 19.

[0048] [5] The lock hopper corresponds to the lock hopper 34. [6] The lock hopper corresponds to the lock hopper 84. <Other Embodiments> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be implemented in combination with each other to the extent that no technical contradiction occurs.

[0049] "Regarding the flammable gas path" The flammable gas path connected to the path that generates the target gas in the generation system is not limited to the generated gas path 60, 100. For example, it may be the mixed gas path 64, 104. In that case, however, it is desirable to provide a device for separating and removing nitrogen midway along the mixed gas path.

[0050] Regarding downstream connections of the flammable gas passages: In FIG. 19, the downstream of the produced gas passages 60 and 100 may be connected to the off-gas passage 27 via a compressor.

[0051] 1, the downstream of the produced gas passages 60 and 100 may be connected to the product gas passage 25 via a compressor. "Regarding Hydrocarbons" The hydrocarbons to be subjected to thermal cracking are not limited to methane. For example, propane may be used.

[0052] Regarding the target gas to be generated: It is not essential that the target gas to be generated be hydrogen. In short, if there is a process of transferring solids from either inside or outside the generation system to the other, and flammable gas is mixed into the lock hopper, the flammable gas can be recovered in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

[0053] "Regarding the control device" The control device is not limited to one that executes software processing. For example, it may be equipped with a dedicated hardware circuit, such as an ASIC, that executes at least part of the processing executed in the above embodiments. That is, the control device may include a processing circuit having any of the following configurations (a) to (c): (a) A processing circuit that includes a processing device that executes all of the above processing in accordance with a program, and a program storage device, such as a memory device, that stores the program. (b) A processing circuit that includes a processing device and program storage device that executes part of the above processing in accordance with a program, and a dedicated hardware circuit that executes the remaining processing. (c) A processing circuit that includes a dedicated hardware circuit that executes all of the above processing. Here, there may be multiple software execution devices that include a processing device and a program storage device. Also, there may be multiple dedicated hardware circuits.

[0054] <Additional Notes> Solution 1. A generation system that generates a target gas under pressure, the target gas being a flammable gas, comprising a lock hopper and a flammable gas pathway, the lock hopper being configured to move solids from either inside or outside the generation system to the other, and a location separate from the solids inlet and the solids outlet being connected to the flammable gas pathway, the flammable gas pathway being a pathway for removing the flammable gas within the lock hopper to the outside of the lock hopper, the downstream side of the flammable gas pathway being connected to an internal pathway in the generation system, and the internal pathway being a pathway from the inflow of raw materials for the target gas into the generation system to the outflow of the target gas.

[0055] In the above configuration, the flammable gas flowing out of the lock hopper into the flammable gas passage is supplied to the internal passage. This allows the flammable gas flowing into the lock hopper to contribute to the production volume of the target gas generated by the generation system. This increases the generation efficiency, which is the ratio of the target gas to the raw material supplied to the generation system.

[0056] Solution 2. The generation system according to Solution 1 above, further comprising a separation device configured to separate the target gas from a supplied gas, and connected to a first path into which the target gas flows and a second path into which residual gas generated when separating the target gas flows, the downstream of the second path being connected to another path among the internal paths that is different from the first path, and the flammable gas path being connected to the path with a lower pressure between the first path and the second path.

[0057] When the separation device separates the target gas, the pressure in one of the first and second paths becomes higher than the pressure in the other path. Here, when the flammable gas path is connected to the path with the higher pressure, a compressor is required to increase the pressure of the flammable gas in the flammable gas path in order to allow the flammable gas in the flammable gas path to flow into that path.

[0058] Therefore, in the above configuration, the flammable gas path is connected to the path with the lower pressure of the first path or the second path, so that the flammable gas in the flammable gas path can be supplied to a predetermined path without providing a compressor for increasing the pressure of the flammable gas in the flammable gas path.

[0059] Solution 3. The generation system according to Solution 2, wherein the pressure in the second path is lower than the pressure in the first path, the second path is connected to a compressor, and the compressor is configured to return the pressurized gas to one of the internal paths upstream of the first path.

[0060] In the above configuration, the flammable gas in the flammable gas path is returned to a path upstream of the first path among the internal paths. Therefore, the flammable gas in the flammable gas path can be used as a raw material for generating the target gas. Moreover, by utilizing the compressor for returning the residual gas discharged from the separation device to the upstream side of the generation system, the flammable gas in the flammable gas path can be returned to the upstream side of the generation system.

[0061] Solution 4. The generation system according to Solution 2, wherein the pressure in the first path is lower than the pressure in the second path, and the flammable gas flowing from the lock hopper to the flammable gas path includes the target gas to be generated.

[0062] In the above configuration, the flammable gas in the flammable gas path merges with the target gas separated by the separation device, thereby increasing the production amount of the target gas generated by the generation system compared to when the flammable gas and the target gas are not merged.

[0063] Solution 5. The generation system according to any one of Solutions 1 to 4, wherein the generation system is a system that generates hydrogen as the target gas by thermally decomposing hydrocarbons, the lock hopper is configured to move carbon generated by the thermal decomposition to the outside of the generation system, and the combustible gas flowing into the combustible gas path is a mixture of the hydrogen and the hydrocarbons.

[0064] When the carbon produced by pyrolysis is transferred to the outside of the production system via the lock hopper, a mixture of hydrocarbons and hydrogen flows into the lock hopper. By recovering this mixture via the combustible gas path, the mixture in the lock hopper can be used to increase the production volume of the target gas produced by the production system.

[0065] Solution 6. The generation system according to any one of Solutions 1 to 4 above, wherein the generation system is a system that thermally decomposes hydrocarbons to generate hydrogen as the target gas, the lock hopper is configured to move a catalyst for the thermal decomposition from outside the generation system to a reactor that performs the thermal decomposition, and the combustible gas that flows into the combustible gas path is a mixture of the hydrogen and the hydrocarbon that has flowed back from the reactor side.

[0066] When the catalyst is fed to the reactor, the hydrocarbons and hydrogen in the reactor flow back into the lock hopper. By recovering these hydrocarbons and hydrogen through the combustible gas path, the recovered mixture can contribute to increasing the production volume of the target gas produced by the production system.

Claims

1. A generation system which generates a target gas under pressurized conditions, the target gas being a flammable gas, comprising a lock hopper and a flammable gas pathway, the lock hopper being configured to move solids from either inside or outside the generation system to the other, and a point other than the solid inlet and the solid outlet being connected to the flammable gas pathway, the flammable gas pathway being a pathway for removing the flammable gas within the lock hopper to the outside of the lock hopper, the downstream side of the flammable gas pathway being connected to an internal pathway in the generation system, and the internal pathway being a pathway from the flow of raw materials for the target gas into the generation system to the flow of the target gas out of the generation system.

2. A generation system as described in claim 1, comprising a separation device configured to separate the gas to be generated from a supplied gas and connected to a first path into which the gas to be generated flows and a second path into which residual gas generated when separating the gas to be generated flows, the downstream of the second path being connected to a path among the internal paths other than the first path, and the flammable gas path being connected to the path having the lower pressure between the first path and the second path.

3. A generation system as described in claim 2, wherein the pressure in the second path is lower than the pressure in the first path, the second path is connected to a compressor, and the compressor is configured to return pressurized gas to a path upstream of the first path among the internal paths.

4. A generation system as described in claim 2, wherein the pressure in the first path is lower than the pressure in the second path, and the flammable gas flowing from the lock hopper to the flammable gas path includes the gas to be generated.

5. The generation system is a system that thermally decomposes hydrocarbons to generate hydrogen as the target gas to be generated, the lock hopper is configured to move carbon generated by the thermal decomposition outside the generation system, and the combustible gas flowing into the combustible gas path is a mixture of the hydrogen and the hydrocarbons. A generation system as described in claim 1.

6. The generation system is a system that thermally decomposes hydrocarbons to generate hydrogen as the target gas, the lock hopper is configured to move a catalyst for the thermal decomposition from outside the generation system to a reactor in which the thermal decomposition is performed, and the combustible gas flowing into the combustible gas path is a mixture of the hydrogen and the hydrocarbons that have flowed back from the reactor side. The generation system described in claim 1.

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