Fluid heating unit and fluid heating device

Abstract

A fluid heating unit 2 according to the present invention comprises: a honeycomb structure 20 having one or more honeycomb structure parts 24 each having an outer peripheral wall 240 and a partition wall 241 that is disposed inside the outer peripheral wall 240 and partitions and forms a plurality of cells 241a forming flow paths extending from one end surface to the other end surface; and an induction heating coil 21 disposed on the outer periphery of the honeycomb structure 20. At least one of the one or more honeycomb structure parts 24 includes an isolation region 242 isolated from corrosive fluid passing through the cells 241a, and includes a conductor and / or a magnetic body 25 provided in the isolation region 242.

Description

Fluid heating unit and fluid heating device

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid heating unit and a fluid heating device for heating a corrosive fluid.

[0002] Heaters are used in industrial applications to heat fluids such as gases and liquids. Generally, when heating corrosive fluids such as hydrogen sulfide, which have the effect of corroding substances, the corrosive fluid is placed in a corrosion-resistant container, and the container is heated from the outside. However, heating from the outside presents a problem in that it is difficult for the heat to reach the center.

[0003] An electrically heated carrier (EHC) is known, as described in Patent Document 1 listed below. The EHC is a honeycomb structure that can be heated by passing a fluid through the cells of the heated honeycomb structure. The cells are arranged inside the outer wall of the honeycomb structure and are partitioned by partition walls, so the contact area between the electrically heated carrier or honeycomb structure and the fluid is large. Therefore, using an electrically heated carrier to heat a fluid is expected to enable more uniform heating of the fluid.

[0004] International Publication No. 2011 / 125815

[0005] When attempts were made to heat various fluids using an electrically heated carrier, a problem arose in that the electrodes for passing electricity through the honeycomb structure could be corroded by the corrosive fluid.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one of its purposes is to provide a fluid heating unit and a fluid heating device that can heat the fluid more uniformly and reduce the risk of electrodes being corroded by corrosive fluids.

[0007] Item 1. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a fluid heating unit for heating a corrosive fluid, the fluid heating unit comprising: a honeycomb structure having one or more honeycomb structure sections each having an outer peripheral wall and partition walls disposed inside the outer peripheral wall and defining a plurality of cells that form flow paths extending from one end face to the other end face; and an induction heating coil disposed on the outer periphery of the honeycomb structure, wherein at least one of the one or more honeycomb structure sections includes an isolation region isolated from the corrosive fluid that is passed through the cells, and includes a conductor and / or a magnetic material provided in the isolation region.

[0008] Item 2. The present invention may relate to the fluid heating unit according to Item 1, wherein the isolated region is the inside of the outer peripheral wall, the inside of the partition wall, and / or the inside of the cell sealed at both ends.

[0009] Item 3. The present invention may relate to the fluid heating unit according to Item 2, wherein the conductor and / or magnetic material inside the cells sealed at both ends is filled into the cells or coated on the surface of the partition walls.

[0010] Item 4. The present invention may relate to the fluid heating unit according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein the conductor and / or magnetic material is present in at least a portion of the honeycomb structure in the radial direction and the axial direction.

[0011] Item 5. The present invention may relate to the fluid heating unit according to any one of items 1 to 4, further comprising a magnetic shield disposed around the outer periphery of the induction heating coil.

[0012] Item 6. The present invention may relate to the fluid heating unit according to any one of Items 1 to 5, wherein the honeycomb structure portion contains at least one selected from the group consisting of cordierite, silicon carbide, silicon, silica, and alumina.

[0013] Item 7. The present invention may relate to the fluid heating unit according to any one of Items 1 to 6, in which a glass or crystalline body containing Al and / or Si is disposed between the honeycomb structure and the induction heating coil.

[0014] Item 8. The present invention may relate to the fluid heating unit according to Item 5, wherein a glass or crystal body containing Al and / or Si is disposed between the induction heating coil and the magnetic shield.

[0015] Item 9. The present invention may relate to the fluid heating unit according to any one of Items 1 to 8, wherein the conductor and / or magnetic material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn, Zn, Co, Cu, and Si.

[0016] Item 10. The present invention may relate to the fluid heating unit according to any one of Items 1 to 9, wherein the magnetic material has a Curie point of 80° C. or higher.

[0017] Item 11. The present invention may relate to the fluid heating unit according to any one of Items 1 to 10, wherein at least one of the one or more honeycomb structure sections contains a catalyst.

[0018] Item 12. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a fluid heating device including the fluid heating unit according to any one of items 1 to 11 and a power supply circuit connected to an induction heating coil, and configured to be able to inductively heat the honeycomb structure by magnetic flux from the induction heating coil when a corrosive fluid is passed through the cell.

[0019] Item 13. The present invention may relate to the fluid heating device according to Item 12, wherein the corrosive fluid includes hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, sulfurous acid, nitrous acid, or ammonia.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the fluid heating unit and fluid heating device of the present invention, at least one of the one or more honeycomb structure parts contains a conductor and / or a magnetic material, so that the relationship between the conductor and / or magnetic material as a heating element and the gas can be more reliably managed, the fluid can be heated more uniformly, and the risk of a short circuit caused by a corrosive fluid can be reduced.

[0021] Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a fluid heating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the fluid heating unit of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the power supply circuit of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view showing the honeycomb structure of Fig. 2 and its periphery. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of an existence mode of a conductor and / or a magnetic material in the honeycomb structure of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of an existence mode of a conductor and / or a magnetic material in the honeycomb structure of Fig. 2.

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to each embodiment, and the components can be modified and embodied without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in each embodiment. For example, some components may be omitted from all the components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components of different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

[0023] Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a fluid heating device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a fluid heating unit 2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a power supply circuit 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a front view showing a honeycomb structure 20 and its periphery of Fig. 2. The fluid heating device 1 and the fluid heating unit 2 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are a device and a unit for heating a corrosive fluid 10.

[0024] The corrosive fluid 10 is a fluid that has the effect of corroding materials. The corrosive fluid 10 may contain hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, sulfurous acid, nitrous acid, or ammonia.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1 , the fluid heating device 1 includes a fluid heating unit 2 , a power supply circuit 3 , and a housing 4 .

[0026] As described above, the fluid heating unit 2 is for heating the corrosive fluid 10. The fluid heating unit 2 has a honeycomb structure 20 and an induction heating coil 21.

[0027] The honeycomb structure 20 has one or more honeycomb structure portions 24. FIG. 2 shows a honeycomb structure 20 having multiple honeycomb structure portions 24. As particularly shown in FIG. 2, the honeycomb structure portion 24 has an outer peripheral wall 240 and partition walls 241 disposed inside the outer peripheral wall 240. The partition walls 241 define multiple cells 241a that form flow paths extending from one end face to the other end face. The honeycomb structure portion 24 may have a columnar outer shape. A columnar shape can be understood as a three-dimensional shape having a predetermined thickness in the axial direction AD. The axial direction AD may be the extension direction of the cells 241a. The ratio (aspect ratio) of the axial length of the honeycomb structure portion 24 to the diameter or width of the end face of the honeycomb structure portion 24 is arbitrary. The columnar shape may include a shape (flat shape) in which the axial length of the honeycomb structure portion 24 is shorter than the diameter or width of the end face. The external shape of the honeycomb structure portion 24 is not particularly limited, but may be a columnar shape with square end faces (quadratic column shape) as shown in FIG. 2, a columnar shape with circular or oval end faces, or a columnar shape with polygonal end faces having fewer or more corners (triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, etc.).

[0028] The material of the honeycomb structure 24 (the outer peripheral wall 240 and the partition walls 241) is not particularly limited, but is typically formed of a ceramic material. The honeycomb structure 24 preferably contains at least one selected from the group consisting of cordierite, silicon carbide, silicon, silica, and alumina. More specifically, the honeycomb structure 24 may be formed of cordierite, silicon carbide, aluminum titanate, silicon nitride, mullite, alumina, silica, a silicon-silicon carbide composite material, or a silicon carbide-cordierite composite material. More preferably, the honeycomb structure 24 is formed of cordierite, alumina, silica, silicon carbide, or a silicon-silicon carbide composite material. In this specification, silicon carbide-based and cordierite-based mean that the outer peripheral wall 240 and the partition walls 241 contain silicon carbide or cordierite in an amount of 50 mass% or more of the entire outer peripheral wall 240 and the partition walls 241.

[0029] The shape of the cells 241a is not particularly limited, but is preferably a polygon such as a triangle, a rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, or an octagon, a circle, or an ellipse in a cross section perpendicular to the central axis of the honeycomb structure 20, or may be other irregular shapes. A polygon is preferable.

[0030] The thickness of the partition walls 241 is preferably 0.05 to 0.50 mm, and more preferably 0.07 to 0.38 mm from the viewpoint of ease of manufacture. For example, if the thickness is 0.05 mm or more, the strength of the honeycomb structure 20 is further improved, and if the thickness is 0.50 mm or less, pressure loss can be reduced. Note that the thickness of the partition walls 241 is an average value measured by observing a cross section in the central axis direction with a microscope.

[0031] The porosity of the partition walls 241 is preferably 20 to 70%. In terms of ease of manufacture, the porosity of the partition walls 241 is preferably 20% or more, and if it is 70% or less, the strength of the honeycomb structure 20 can be maintained.

[0032] The average pore diameter of the partition walls 241 is preferably 2 to 30 μm, and more preferably 5 to 25 μm. When the average pore diameter of the partition walls 241 is 2 μm or more, manufacturing becomes easy, and when it is 30 μm or less, the strength of the honeycomb structure 20 can be maintained. In this specification, the terms "average pore diameter" and "porosity" refer to the average pore diameter and porosity measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry.

[0033] The density of the cells 241a is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 to 150 cells / cm 2 The range is preferably 16 to 100 cells / cm 2 More preferably, the range is 31 to 100 cells / cm 2 It is more preferable that the range is:

[0034] Such a honeycomb structure portion 24 is produced by forming a honeycomb formed body by molding a clay containing ceramic raw materials into a honeycomb shape having partition walls 241 that define a plurality of cells 241a that extend from one end face to the other and serve as fluid flow paths, and then drying and firing the honeycomb formed body. The peripheral wall 240 may be a peripheral wall 240 extruded integrally with the honeycomb formed body. Alternatively, after molding or firing the honeycomb formed body, the periphery of the honeycomb formed body or sintered honeycomb body may be ground to a predetermined shape, and a coating material may be applied to the ground honeycomb formed body or sintered honeycomb body to form a peripheral coating (in this case, only the peripheral coating constitutes the peripheral wall 240). Alternatively, the peripheral wall 240 extruded integrally with the honeycomb formed body may be formed with a peripheral coating without being ground (the peripheral wall 240 has a two-layer structure consisting of the peripheral wall of the honeycomb sintered body or the like and the peripheral coating).

[0035] The honeycomb structure 20 is not limited to an integrated honeycomb structure 20 in which the partition walls 241 are integrally formed, but may be, for example, a honeycomb structure 20 (bonded honeycomb structure) having a structure in which a plurality of columnar honeycomb segments, each having ceramic partition walls 241 and a plurality of cells 241a that serve as fluid flow paths, are combined together via a bonding material layer.

[0036] At least one of the one or more honeycomb structure portions 24 of this embodiment includes an isolation region 242 isolated from the corrosive fluid 10 passed through the cells 241a, and includes a conductor and / or magnetic material 25 provided in the isolation region 242. The isolation region 242 and the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 are illustrated in Fig. 5, etc., which will be described later. The fluid heating device 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the honeycomb structure 20 can be induction heated by the magnetic flux from the induction heating coil 21 when the corrosive fluid 10 is passed through the cells 241a.

[0037] One method for heating the corrosive fluid 10 involves heating the corrosion-resistant container from the outside while the corrosive fluid 10 is placed in the container. However, external heating has the problem of poor heat transfer to the center. In the honeycomb structure 20 of this embodiment, at least one of the one or more honeycomb structure sections 24 includes a conductor and / or magnetic material 25 provided in the isolation region 242. This allows the honeycomb structure 20 to be heated by induction heating, and the corrosive fluid 10 passing through the cells 241a can be heated by the heat. Therefore, the honeycomb structure 20 of this embodiment can heat the corrosive fluid 10 more uniformly than when the corrosive fluid 10 is heated from the outside of the corrosion-resistant container. More specifically, by incorporating the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 into the honeycomb structure section 24, which is a structure having a predetermined shape, the relationship between the corrosive fluid 10 and the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 within the honeycomb structure section 24 can be more reliably controlled, allowing the corrosive fluid 10 to be heated more uniformly. Furthermore, the effective heating area per volume can be increased by including the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 in the honeycomb structure portion 24. Furthermore, a flow path (cell 241 a) for the corrosive fluid 10 can be secured in the honeycomb structure 20, and the corrosive fluid 10 can be heated efficiently.

[0038] Furthermore, in the case of an electrically heated carrier such as that described in Patent Document 1, electrodes are connected to the outside of the honeycomb structure 20, and the honeycomb structure 20 is heated by passing an electric current through the electrodes. However, in the honeycomb structure 20 of this embodiment, the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 can be heated by induction heating, which eliminates the need to connect electrodes to the outside of the honeycomb structure 20 and reduces the risk of the electrodes being corroded by the corrosive fluid 10.

[0039] As will be explained later with reference to the drawings, the isolation region 242 may be inside the outer peripheral wall 240, inside the partition wall 241, and / or inside the cells 241a with both ends sealed. Furthermore, the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 inside the cells 241a with both ends sealed may be filled in the cells 241a or coated on the surfaces of the partition wall 241. Furthermore, the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 may be present in at least a part of the radial direction and the axial direction AD within the honeycomb structure 20.

[0040] The conductor and / or magnetic material 25 coated on the surface of the partition wall 241 can form a coating layer together with an adhesive material in which the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 are dispersed. As the adhesive material, glass, crystallized glass, ceramics, etc. containing silicic acid, boric acid, or borosilicate, or glass, crystallized glass, ceramics, etc. containing other oxides can be used.

[0041] The conductor and / or magnetic material 25 may have a columnar outer shape that matches the shape of the cell 241a before being filled into the cell 241a, or may have such an outer shape after being filled into the cell 241a. In other words, the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 may constitute a shaped material having a predetermined shape, or may constitute a paste-like amorphous material.

[0042] The shaped material and the unshaped material may be composed of a composite composition of a conductor and / or magnetic material 25 and a binder or adhesive material. Examples of binders include materials primarily composed of metal or glass. Examples of adhesive materials include materials primarily composed of silica or alumina. In addition to the binder or adhesive material, an organic or inorganic substance may be further contained. The conductor and / or magnetic material 25 may be filled from one end face to the other end face of the honeycomb structure 20, except for the positions where the plugging portions 28 (see FIG. 6, etc.) that plug the cells 241a are provided. Alternatively, the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 may be filled from one end face of the honeycomb structure 20 to partway through the cells 241a.

[0043] The conductive and / or magnetic material 25 may contain at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn, Zn, Co, Cu, and Si. As the conductor and / or magnetic material 25, for example, the balance Co-20 mass% Fe, the balance Co-25 mass% Ni-4 mass% Fe, the balance Fe-15 to 35 mass% Co, the balance Fe-17 mass% Co-2 mass% Cr-1 mass% Mo, the balance Fe-49 mass% Co-2 mass% V, the balance Fe-18 mass% Co-10. Mass%Cr-2mass%Mo-1mass%Al, balance Fe-27mass%Co-1mass%Nb, balance Fe-20mass%Co-1mass%Cr-2mass%V , balance Fe-35% by mass Co-1% by mass Cr, pure cobalt, pure iron, electromagnetic soft iron, balance Fe-0.1 to 0.5% by mass Mn, balance Fe-3% by mass Si, balance Part Fe-6.5% by mass Si, remainder Fe-18% by mass Cr, remainder Fe-16% by mass Cr-8% by mass Al, remainder Ni-13% by mass Fe-5.3% by mass Mo, balance Fe-45% by mass Ni, balance Fe-10% by mass Si-5% by mass Al, balance Fe-36% by mass Ni, balance Fe-45% by mass Ni, balance Fe Metals such as -35% by mass Cr, balance Fe-13% by mass Cr-2% by mass Si, balance Fe-20% by mass Cr-2% by mass Si-2% by mass Mo, balance Fe-20% by mass Co-1% by mass V, balance Fe-13% by mass Cr-2% by mass Si, balance Fe-17% by mass Co-2% by mass Cr-1% by mass Mo. Furthermore, oxides such as Mn-Zn ferrite, Cu-Zn ferrite, Ni-Zn ferrite, and Cu-Zn-Mg ferrite can also be used as the conductor and / or magnetic material 25. Each of these conductors and / or magnetic materials 25 has a different Curie point, and is selected appropriately depending on the heating temperature of the corrosive fluid 10.

[0044] At least one of the one or more honeycomb structure portions 24 may contain a catalyst. Examples of the catalyst include atoms such as Pt, Pd, Ni, La, Ce, Ru, and / or compounds such as metal oxides such as MnO. The catalyst may be fixed to the honeycomb structure portion 24 while being fixed to a material such as AlO, or may be fixed directly on the honeycomb structure portion 24.

[0045] The induction heating coil 21 is disposed on the outer periphery of the honeycomb structure 20. The induction heating coil 21 may be formed by winding a conductor 210 around a predetermined axis. The axis of the induction heating coil 21 may be parallel to the axial direction AD of the honeycomb structure 20. The axis may be coaxial with the central axis of the honeycomb structure 20. While FIG. 1 shows a band-shaped conductor 210 with a rectangular cross section, the conductor 210 may have any shape, such as a circular or tubular shape. The conductor 210 may be molded with an insulating material 211. Examples of the insulating material 211 that can be used include alumina, mullite, and / or heat-resistant resin. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the conductor 210 molded with the insulating material 211 is fitted onto the outer surface of the outer wall 240 of the honeycomb structure 20.

[0046] The induction heating coil 21 is connected to a power supply circuit 3. As shown in FIG. 3 , the power supply circuit 3 may include a DC power supply 220, an inverter 221, a transformer 222, and a resonant capacitor 223. DC power from the DC power supply 220 is converted to AC power by the inverter 221. The transformer 222 is used when it is necessary to amplify the current flowing through the induction heating coil 21. The transformer 222 has a primary coil 222a connected to the inverter 221 and a secondary coil 222b connected to the resonant capacitor 223 and the induction heating coil 21. The turns ratio of the primary coil 222a to the secondary coil 222b is N:1. N is a number greater than 1, and the transformer 222 can amplify the AC power current. The capacitance of the resonant capacitor 223 is set to adjust the resonant frequency of the power supply circuit 3. The induction heating coil 21 is connected in series to the resonant capacitor 223 and may be connected to both ends of the secondary coil 222b together with the resonant capacitor 223.

[0047] When an alternating current is supplied from the power supply circuit 3 to the induction heating coil 21, a magnetic flux is generated in the vicinity of the induction heating coil 21. The honeycomb structure 20 and the conductor and / or magnetic body 25 can be induction heated by the magnetic flux from the induction heating coil 21.

[0048] By selecting the Curie point of the conductor and / or magnetic material 25, the heating temperature of the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 by induction heating can be adjusted. The conductor and / or magnetic material 25 is heated for the purpose of heating the corrosive fluid 10, but if the temperature rises too high, problems such as the catalyst falling outside its optimal operating temperature range or a decrease in the specific surface area of ​​the catalyst or the material supporting the catalyst may occur, resulting in early deterioration of the catalytic function. By selecting a conductor and / or magnetic material 25 with a low Curie point, such problems can be prevented. The conductor and / or magnetic material 25 may have a Curie point of 80°C or higher. The Curie point of the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 is preferably 100°C or higher, and more preferably 300°C or higher.

[0049] The fluid heating unit 2 may further include a magnetic shield 23 arranged around the outer periphery of the induction heating coil 21. The magnetic shield 23 may be arranged to surround the induction heating coil 21. The magnetic shield 23 may be made of a magnetic material. In the illustrated embodiment, the magnetic shield 23 is a tubular member that is arranged around the outer periphery of the induction heating coil 21 and has wall portions that protrude radially inward at both ends. The length of the magnetic shield 23 in the axial direction of the induction heating coil 21 may be longer than the length of the induction heating coil 21 in the same direction. By providing such a magnetic shield 23, heat generation by the induction heating coil 21 can be suppressed.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 4 , a glass or crystalline body 27 containing Al and / or Si may be disposed between the honeycomb structure 20 and the induction heating coil 21. Alternatively, a glass or crystalline body 27 containing Al and / or Si may be disposed between the induction heating coil 21 and the magnetic shield 23. By disposing the glass or crystalline body 27 containing Al and / or Si (hereinafter simply referred to as the "crystalline body 27") in these positions, electrical short circuits between the honeycomb structure 20, the induction heating coil 21, and the magnetic shield 23 can be prevented, and components such as moisture contained in the corrosive fluid 10 flowing through the honeycomb structure 20 can be prevented from coming into contact with the induction heating coil 21. While FIG. 4 shows the crystalline body 27 as a rectangular frame surrounding the honeycomb structure 20, the crystalline body 27 may have other shapes. For example, the crystalline body 27 may be a plate-like body overlapping only one side of the honeycomb structure 20. In FIG. 4, the distance between the honeycomb structure 20 and the induction heating coil 21 is exaggerated, but this is merely for ease of understanding.

[0051] The honeycomb structure 20 may have only one honeycomb structure portion 24, or may have a plurality of honeycomb structure portions 24 as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows an embodiment in which three rectangular parallelepiped honeycomb structure portions 24 extending long in the axial direction AD (flow direction of the corrosive fluid 10) are arranged in parallel. Two induction heating coils 21 are provided in each of the honeycomb structure portions 24, and one magnetic shield 23 is provided so as to surround the entire three honeycomb structure portions 24. The two induction heating coils 21 are arranged at the front and rear of the honeycomb structure portion 24 in the axial direction AD.

[0052] One of the multiple honeycomb structure sections 24 arranged in parallel is referred to as the first honeycomb structure section, and the one arranged adjacent to the first honeycomb structure section is referred to as the second honeycomb structure section. When the first honeycomb structure section has the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 as described above, the second honeycomb structure section does not need to have the conductor and / or magnetic material 25. This is because the second honeycomb structure section can be heated by heat generated in the first honeycomb structure section. Second honeycomb structure sections not having the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 may be arranged on both sides of the first honeycomb structure section having the conductor and / or magnetic material 25, or first honeycomb structure sections having the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 may be arranged on both sides of the second honeycomb structure section not having the conductor and / or magnetic material 25. The configuration of the second honeycomb structure section may be the same as the configuration of the honeycomb structure section 24 described above, except that it does not have the conductor and / or magnetic material 25.

[0053] Furthermore, multiple honeycomb structure sections 24 may be arranged in series in the axial direction AD. One of the multiple honeycomb structure sections 24 arranged in series is called the upstream honeycomb structure section, and the one arranged downstream of the upstream honeycomb structure section in the flow direction of the corrosive fluid 10 is called the downstream honeycomb structure section. When the upstream honeycomb structure section has a conductor and / or magnetic material 25 as described above, the downstream honeycomb structure section does not need to have a conductor and / or magnetic material 25. This is because the downstream honeycomb structure section can be heated by heat generated in the upstream honeycomb structure section. The configuration of the downstream honeycomb structure section may be the same as the configuration of the honeycomb structure section 24 described above, except that it does not have a conductor and / or magnetic material 25.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1 , the housing 4 accommodates the fluid heating unit 2 therein. The housing 4 may have a large diameter portion 40 disposed in a central portion of the housing 4 in the axial direction AD, a pair of small diameter portions 41 provided on both sides of the housing 4 in the axial direction AD, and a connecting portion 42 connecting the large diameter portion 40 and the small diameter portion 41. The diameter or width of the large diameter portion 40 may be larger than the diameter or width of the small diameter portion 41. The diameter or width may vary from the diameter or width of the large diameter portion 40 to the diameter or width of the small diameter portion 41. The large diameter portion 40, the small diameter portion 41, and the connecting portion 42 may be arranged coaxially with one another.

[0055] The housing 4 may have a first opening 431 disposed at one end in the axial direction AD and a second opening 432 disposed at the other end in the axial direction AD. The first opening 431 and the second opening 432 may be provided at one end of the small diameter portion 41 in the axial direction AD.

[0056] The corrosive fluid 10 from the first opening 431 enters the cells 241a from one end face of the honeycomb structure 20, passes through the cells 241a, and exits the honeycomb structure 20 from the other end face. In the process of passing through the cells 241a, the corrosive fluid 10 is heated.

[0057] Next, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of the presence of the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 in the honeycomb structure 20 of FIG. 2 . As described above, the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 is provided in the isolation region 242 isolated from the corrosive fluid 10 passing through the cells 241 a. The isolation region 242 may be the interior of the outer peripheral wall 240, the interior of the partition wall 241, and / or the interior of the cells 241 a sealed at both ends. The conductor and / or magnetic material 25 in the cells 241 a sealed at both ends may be filled in the cells 241 a or coated on the surfaces of the partition wall 241. The conductor and / or magnetic material 25 may be present in at least a portion of the radial direction and the axial direction AD within the honeycomb structure 20. An example of the presence of the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 is shown in FIG. 5 .

[0058] In FIG. 5 , the honeycomb structure 24 (the outer peripheral wall 240 and the partition walls 241) is typically formed of a ceramic material such as cordierite. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 , the honeycomb structure 24 is fabricated by mixing or coating the ceramic material with a conductive and / or magnetic material 25, and the conductive and / or magnetic material 25 is present inside the outer peripheral wall 240 and the partition walls 241. By adopting such an embodiment, the outer peripheral wall 240 and the partition walls 241 can function as heaters in the honeycomb structure 20. As is well known, the outer peripheral wall 240 and the partition walls 241 may have pores therein, but not all of the pores are connected. Therefore, the interior of the outer peripheral wall 240 and the partition walls 241 at a position away from the surfaces of the outer peripheral wall 240 and the partition walls 241 may be an isolated region 242 isolated from the corrosive fluid 10 passing through the cells 241 a.

[0059] Next, Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of the presence of the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 in the honeycomb structure 20 of Fig. 2. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the conductor and / or magnetic material 25 is filled inside the cells 241a, both ends of which are plugged. The plugging portions 28 may be formed from a ceramic material of a normal honeycomb structure 20.

[0060] Although the manner in which the conductors and / or magnetic bodies 25 are present has been described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, these manners in which the conductors and / or magnetic bodies 25 are present can be combined in any manner.

[0061] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the technical ideas set forth in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0062] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Fluid heating device 2 Fluid heating unit 10 Corrosive fluid 20 Honeycomb structure 21 Induction heating coil 23 Magnetic shield 24 Honeycomb structure portion 240 Outer wall 241 Partition wall 241a Cell 242 Separation region 25 Conductor and / or magnetic material 27 Glass or crystalline material 28 Plugging portion

Claims

1. A fluid heating unit for heating a corrosive fluid, comprising: a honeycomb structure having one or more honeycomb structure sections having an outer peripheral wall and partition walls arranged inside the outer peripheral wall and defining a plurality of cells that form a flow path extending from one end face to the other end face; and an induction heating coil arranged on the outer periphery of the honeycomb structure, wherein at least one of the one or more honeycomb structure sections includes an isolation region isolated from the corrosive fluid passing through the cells, and includes a conductor and / or a magnetic material provided in the isolation region.

2. The fluid heating unit of claim 1, wherein the isolated region is the inside of the outer peripheral wall, the inside of the partition wall, and / or the inside of the cell having both ends sealed.

3. A fluid heating unit as described in claim 2, wherein the conductor and / or magnetic material inside the cell, both ends of which are sealed, is filled into the cell or coated on the surface of the partition.

4. The fluid heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the conductor and / or magnetic material is present in at least a portion of the honeycomb structure in the radial and axial directions.

5. The fluid heating unit of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic shield disposed around the outer periphery of said induction heating coil.

6. The fluid heating unit according to claim 1, wherein said honeycomb structure portion contains at least one selected from the group consisting of cordierite, silicon carbide, silicon, silica and alumina.

7. The fluid heating unit according to claim 1, wherein a glass or crystal material containing Al and / or Si is disposed between the honeycomb structure and the induction heating coil.

8. The fluid heating unit according to claim 5, wherein a glass or crystal containing Al and / or Si is disposed between the induction heating coil and the magnetic shield.

9. The fluid heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the conductor and / or magnetic material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn, Zn, Co, Cu and Si.

10. The fluid heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic material has a Curie point of 80° C. or higher.

11. The fluid heating unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of said one or more honeycomb structures includes a catalyst.

12. A fluid heating device comprising: a fluid heating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11; and a power supply circuit connected to the induction heating coil, said fluid heating device being configured so that the honeycomb structure can be inductively heated by the magnetic flux from the induction heating coil when the corrosive fluid is passed through the cell.

13. The fluid heating apparatus of claim 12, wherein the corrosive fluid comprises hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, sulfurous acid, nitrous acid, or ammonia.

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