Reactor for electric field catalyst and reactor apparatus including same

Abstract

The present invention provides a reactor having a specific practical configuration for an electric field catalyst using a honeycomb substrate. The present invention provides a reactor for applying an electric field to a catalyst for gas treatment having a honeycomb substrate and a catalyst layer covering a surface of the honeycomb substrate, the reactor including a metal case for storing the catalyst, a pair of electrodes for applying the electric field to the catalyst enclosed in the metal case in a gas-tight manner, a gas introduction pipe made of metal and used for introducing gas into the metal case, and a gas discharge pipe made of metal and used for discharging the gas from the metal case.

Description

Reactor for an electric field catalyst and a reactor including the same

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a reactor for using an electric field catalyst, and a reactor including the reactor and the electric field catalyst.

[0002] In recent years, electric field catalysts that are used by applying an electric field have become known (for example, Patent Document 1). Since an electric field catalyst can exhibit a catalytic reaction in a low temperature range as compared with a normal catalyst by being used while imparting electric energy, it has attracted attention as a new catalyst.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a reactor used for a chemical synthesis method (mainly a hydrogen production method), which includes a pair of electrodes composed of a cylindrical or rod-shaped central electrode and a cylindrical electrode installed so as to cover the central electrode, a voltage application means for applying a voltage between the electrodes, and a catalyst installed between the electrodes. As a specific catalyst, for example, Cs / Ru / SrZrO sieved to 0.6 to 0.3 mm ３ powder is mentioned, and this catalyst is used by being filled in the gap between the cylindrical electrode and the central electrode.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HYPERLINK "http: / / www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp / link?num=2015-189599" 2015-189599

[0005] Since the catalyst material of Patent Document 1 is in powder form, it may be difficult to hold in the apparatus. As a catalyst that is easier to hold, a honeycomb catalyst including a honeycomb substrate and a catalyst layer covering the surface of the substrate is known.

[0006] When using a honeycomb catalyst as an electric field catalyst, a reactor for housing the honeycomb catalyst needs to include a pair of electrodes for applying an electric field in addition to a gas introduction pipe for introducing a gas to be treated and a gas discharge pipe for discharging the treated gas (the gas introduction pipe and the gas discharge pipe may be collectively referred to as a "gas pipe"). That is, in a reactor for an electric field catalyst, gas pipes, electrical wiring, etc. are arranged more complexly than in a reactor for a normal catalyst.

[0007] However, although Patent Document 1 describes using a quartz tube as an insulating reactor, it does not mention the connection between the quartz tube and the gas pipe, and the practical and specific configuration of the reactor is not known.

[0008] One object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a reactor having a realistic and specific configuration for an electric field catalyst using a honeycomb substrate. Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a reactor including such a reactor and a catalyst.

[0009] According to one gist of the present invention, there is provided a reactor for applying an electric field to a catalyst for gas treatment having a honeycomb substrate and a catalyst layer covering the surface of the honeycomb substrate, including: a metal case for storing the catalyst; a pair of electrodes for applying an electric field to the catalyst hermetically sealed in the metal case; a metal gas introduction pipe for introducing gas into the metal case; and a metal gas discharge pipe for discharging the gas from the metal case.

[0010] According to another gist of the present invention, there is provided a reactor including a reactor according to one gist of the present invention and a catalyst for gas treatment having a honeycomb substrate and a catalyst layer covering the surface of the honeycomb substrate stored in the reactor.

[0011] According to one aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, there can be provided a reactor suitable for an electric field catalyst using a honeycomb substrate and capable of catalyst desorption. According to another aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, there can be provided a reactor including the reactor according to the embodiment and a catalyst.

[0012] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the reactor according to Embodiment 1. It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the reactor according to Embodiment 2. It is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example (3D fabric) of a three-dimensional structure composed of metal wires. It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the reactor according to Embodiment 3. It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the reactor according to Embodiment 4. It is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the catalyst used in the reactor according to Embodiment 5. It is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of region A in FIG. 6.

[0013] Hereinafter, reactors suitable for an electric field catalyst using a honeycomb substrate (Embodiments 1 to 4) and a reactor including a reactor and a catalyst (Embodiment 5) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] <Embodiment 1> Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a reactor 10A according to Embodiment 1. The reactor 10A houses a gas reforming catalyst 100 (see Figures 6 and 7) having a honeycomb substrate 110 and a catalyst layer 131 covering the surface of the honeycomb substrate 110, and is used to apply an electric field to the catalyst 100. The catalyst 100 has an external shape, for example, columnar (for example, cylindrical). The reactor 10A includes a metal case 12A having an internal space for housing the catalyst 100, a pair of electrodes 13 and 14 for applying an electric field to the catalyst 100, a metal gas introduction pipe 15 for introducing gas into the metal case 12A, and a metal gas discharge pipe 16 for discharging gas from the metal case 12A.

[0015] The metal case 12A shown in Figure 1 consists of a cylindrical body 12a with openings at both ends, and its openings 12a ３ , 12a ４ It includes a pair of lids 12b and 12c that seal the catalyst 100. The metal case 12A is configured to maintain gas airtightness with the catalyst 100 housed inside. Preferably, gas sealing materials 17 and 18 are placed between the main body 12a and each of the lids 12b and 12c. The gas sealing materials 17 and 18 can more reliably suppress gas leakage between the main body 12a and the lids 12b and 12c. Preferably, the gas sealing materials 17 and 18 are insulating and can insulate the main body 12a from the lids 12b and 12c. The gas sealing materials 17 and 18 may be sheet-like members having the same shape as the shape of the opposing surfaces (annular) when the main body 12a and the lids 12b and 12c are placed facing each other, or the same shape as the outer shape (circular) of the opposing surfaces.

[0016] The lids 12b and 12c are fixed to the main body 12a with gas seal materials 17 and 18 in between. Known fixing methods can be used for fixing, one example being a fixing method using a fastener 50 consisting of a bolt 51, a nut 52, and a washer 53. The bolt 51 and nut 52 may be made of metal material, and the washer 53 is preferably made of an insulating material such as alumina. This provides insulation between the nut 52 and the lids 12b and 12c.

[0017] The main body 12a has an opening 12a ３ , 12a ４ preferably has a flange 12a １ , 12a ２ around it. By fixing the lid parts 12b and 12c to the flange 12a １ , 12a ２ with the fixing tool 50, the main body 12a and the lid parts 12b and 12c can be firmly fixed. By sandwiching the gas sealing materials 17 and 18 between the flange 12a １ , 12a ２ and the lid parts 12b and 12c, the gas sealing property can be improved.

[0018] The fixing tool 50 is preferably detachable. After fixing the lid parts 12b and 12c to the main body 12a, the lid parts 12b and 12c can be removed as needed. As a result, in the metal case 12A, the catalyst 100 can be taken out and re-stored, and the catalyst 100 can be replaced as needed. In addition, when the replacement of the catalyst 100 is not necessary, the main body 12a and the lid parts 12b and 12c may be fixed using a non-detachable fixing tool.

[0019] The pair of electrodes 13 and 14 are configured to apply an electric field to the catalyst 100 with gas tightness maintained inside the metal case 12A. In the example shown in FIG. 1, each of the pair of electrodes 13 and 14 is airtightly fixed to each of the pair of lid parts 12b and 12c. The tips 13a and 14a of the pair of electrodes 13 and 14 are respectively arranged at positions where they can be electrically connected to the end faces 103 and 104 on both sides of the catalyst 100 stored in the metal case 12A'. Thus, an electric field can be applied to the catalyst 100 stored in the metal case 12A. In the reactor 10A shown in FIG. 1, the tips 13a and

[0020] 14a of the pair of electrodes 13 and 14 are configured to directly contact the end faces 103 and 104 of the catalyst 100. Therefore, the separation distance between the tips 13a and 14a in the longitudinal direction of the metal case 1A substantially coincides with the length of the catalyst 100 to be stored.

[0020] It is preferable that electrodes 13 and 14 are inserted through the lid portions 12b and 12c and fixed in an appropriate position. In particular, it is preferable that electrodes 13 and 14 are fixed to the lid portions 12b and 12c with their tips 13a and 14a protruding into the interior of the metal case 12A. Because the tips 13a and 14a protrude, the catalyst 100 can be held with its end faces 103 and 104 separated from the lid portions 12b and 12c, thus preventing contact between the catalyst 100 and the lid portions 12b and 12c and avoiding a short circuit.

[0021] When fixing electrodes 13 and 14 to the lids 12b and 12c, the electrodes 13 and 14 should be fixed in a way that ensures airtightness between them and the lids 12b and 12c. Airtight fixing methods include welding or fixing using adapters such as Swagelok® connectors. Note that when fixed using these methods, electrodes 13 and 14 and the lids 12b and 12c will be electrically connected. In this case, by using insulating gas seal materials 17 and 18 as gas seal materials 17 and 18 placed between the lids 12b and 12c and the main body 12a, it is possible to prevent electrical contact from the electrodes 13 and 14 through the lids 12b and 12c to the main body 12a.

[0022] Two metal gas pipes (gas inlet pipe 15 and gas outlet pipe 16) are connected to the metal case 12A. The gas inlet pipe 15 is a gas pipe for introducing gas into the internal space of the metal case 12A. The gas introduced by the gas inlet pipe 15 is the gas (to be treated) that is modified by the catalyst 100 housed inside the metal case 12A. The gas outlet pipe 16 is a gas pipe for discharging gas from the metal case 12A. The gas to be treated introduced into the metal case 12A is modified (treated) as it passes through the catalyst 100. The gas (treated gas) after passing through the catalyst 100 is discharged from the internal space of the metal case 12A through the gas outlet pipe 16.

[0023] In the metal case 12A shown in Figure 1, the gas inlet pipe 15 and the gas outlet pipe 16 are located on the side surface 12a of the main body 12a. ５It is preferable that they are connected to the lid portions 12b and 12c. In other words, it is preferable that the gas inlet pipe 15 and the gas outlet pipe 16 are not connected to the lid portions 12b and 12c, so that they can be piped without interfering with the electrodes 13 and 14 inserted through the lid portions 12b and 12c.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the gas introduction pipe 15 is positioned to communicate with the gap 121 between one lid portion 12b and one end face 103 of the catalyst 100, on the side surface 12a of the main body 12a. ５ The gas exhaust pipe 16 is connected to the other lid portion 12c and the other end face 104 of the catalyst 100, and is positioned so as to communicate with the gap 122 between the other lid portion 12c and the other end face 104 of the catalyst 100, on the side surface 12a of the main body 12a ５ The gas inlet pipe 15 and the gas outlet pipe 16 are connected in this manner. Note that "one lid portion 12b" is the lid portion that faces one end face 103 of the catalyst 100 when the catalyst 100 is housed in the metal case 12A, and "the other lid portion 12c" is the lid portion that faces the other end face 104 of the catalyst 100. Connecting the gas inlet pipe 15 and the gas outlet pipe 16 in this manner allows the gas to be treated to circulate efficiently within the catalyst 100. The gas to be treated is introduced from the gas inlet pipe 15 into the gap 121 in the metal case 12A and into the interior of the catalyst 100 from one end face 103 of the catalyst 100. The gas to be treated flows through the catalyst 100 from left to right and is treated. The treated gas then reaches the gap 122 in the metal case 12A from the other end face 104 of the catalyst 100 and is discharged from the metal case 12A through the gas outlet pipe 16. Note that the positions of the gas inlet pipe 15 and the gas outlet pipe 16 can be swapped.

[0025] The inner surface of the metal case 12A (in Figure 1, the inner surface 12a of the main body 12a) ６Preferably, a catalyst retaining material 19 is provided in the metal case 12A to hold the catalyst 100 in a predetermined position. The catalyst retaining material 19 may be a lining made of a soft sheet-like material, and by filling the space between the side surface of the catalyst 100 and the inner surface of the metal case 12A with the catalyst retaining material 19, the catalyst 100 can be held in a predetermined position within the metal case 12A. The lining-type catalyst retaining material 19 can suppress damage to the catalyst 100 by contact with the metal case 12A, and can prevent external impacts from being transmitted to the catalyst 100. Since the catalyst retaining material 19 is not provided on the end surfaces 103 and 104 of the catalyst 100, it does not interfere with the electrical connection between the end surfaces 103 and 104 of the catalyst 100 and the electrodes 13 and 14. Preferably, the catalyst retaining material 19 is made of an insulating material, which can insulate the space between the metal case 12A and the side surface of the catalyst 100.

[0026] The following are suitable materials for the components of the metal case 12A. Alloys such as SUS316 and SUS304 can be used for the main body 12a, lids 12b and 12c, gas inlet pipe 15, and gas outlet pipe 16. Depending on the operating environment, heat-resistant alloys such as SUS310S and Inconel 601 can also be used. The main body 12a and lids 12b and 12c are preferably formed from the same alloy material, but they can also be formed from different alloy materials. On the other hand, the main body 12a, gas inlet pipe 15, and gas outlet pipe 16 are preferably formed from the same alloy material.

[0027] The pair of electrodes 13 and 14 are formed from a material that is electrically conductive at the operating temperature, and alloys such as SUS304, SUS316, SUS310S, and Inconel 601 can also be used.

[0028] The gas seal materials 17 and 18 are components that exhibit airtightness upon compression. Preferably, the gas seal materials 17 and 18 have insulating properties. Suitable materials for the gas seal materials 17 and 18 include mica and thermuculite®.

[0029] The catalyst holding material 19 can be made of silica or alumina fibers, or a heat-expandable refractory sheet such as Vermoflex®. In particular, it is preferable to use Vermoflex®, as it can more reliably hold the catalyst 100.

[0030] <Embodiment 2> Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of reactor 10B according to Embodiment 2. The difference from reactor 10A according to Embodiment 1 is that elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22 are provided between each of the pair of electrodes 13 and 14 and the catalyst 100, and otherwise it is the same as reactor 10A. The differences from reactor 10A will be explained below.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2, in reactor 10B, it is preferable that the tips 13a and 14a of the pair of electrodes 13 and 14 are electrically connected to the end faces 103 and 104 of catalyst 100 via elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22. In other words, it is preferable to position the elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22 between the end faces 103 and 104 of catalyst 100 and the tips 13a and 14a of electrodes 13 and 14. When the conductive members 21 and 22 are elastically deformed, they are sandwiched between the end faces 103 and 104 of catalyst 100 and the tips 13a and 14a of electrodes 13 and 14, thereby elastically biasing the conductive members 21 and 22 with respect to both the end faces 103 and 104 of catalyst 100 and the tips 13a and 14a of electrodes 13 and 14. This makes the electrical contact between the end faces 103 and 104 of catalyst 100 and electrodes 13 and 14 more reliable. In particular, if the reactor 10B is configured to allow the catalyst 100 to be removed and re-stored, the inclusion of such elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22 makes it easier to attach the catalyst 100 to the reactor 10B.

[0032] Furthermore, by interposing elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22 between the end faces 103 and 104 of the catalyst 100 and the tips 13a and 14a of the electrodes 13 and 14, even if the catalyst 100 oscillates within the reactor 10B due to external vibrations, direct collision between the end faces 103 and 104 of the catalyst 100 and the tips 13a and 14a of the electrodes 13 and 14 can be avoided, thereby suppressing damage to the catalyst 100.

[0033] It is preferable that the elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22 are sized and shaped to completely cover the end faces of the catalyst 100. This allows for more efficient voltage application to the catalyst 100. It is preferable that the elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22 be fixed to the tips 13a and 14a of each electrode 13 and 14 such that the direction of elastic deformation coincides with the direction perpendicular to the end faces 103 and 104 of the catalyst 100. This makes it easier to exert a biasing force on both the end faces of the catalyst 100 and the tips 13a and 14a of each electrode 13 and 14.

[0034] Suitable elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22 include elastically deformable three-dimensional structures made of metal wires and leaf springs formed from metal plates.

[0035] A specific example of an "elastically deformable three-dimensional structure composed of metal wires" is a multilayer sheet 210 (3D fabric) formed by weaving or braiding metal wires to create a multilayer structure (for example, a three-layer structure consisting of a first layer on the surface side, a third layer on the back side, and a second layer provided between them, as shown in Figure 3). The multilayer sheet 210 shown in Figure 3 is elastically deformable in the thickness direction by giving elasticity to the second layer. As the metal wire for forming the multilayer sheet 210, for example, wires such as SUS304, SUS316, SUS310S, and Inconel 601 can be used, and it is preferable to use wires of alloys with high oxidation resistance such as Crofer 22APU or ZMG (registered trademark).

[0036] As the "leaf spring formed from a metal plate," any shape of leaf spring can be used. Preferably, the leaf spring is fixed to the tips 13a and 14a of electrodes 13 and 14. Methods for fixing the leaf spring include welding to the tips 13a and 14a of electrodes 13 and 14, or fixing with screws. As the metal plate forming the leaf spring, for example, plate materials such as SUS304, SUS316, SUS310S, and Inconel 601 can be used, and it is preferable to use plate materials of alloys with high oxidation resistance such as Crofer 22APU or ZMG (registered trademark).

[0037] In the reactor 10B shown in Figure 2, an elastically deformable conductive member 21 is positioned between the tip 13a of one electrode 13 and one end face 103 of the catalyst 100, and another elastically deformable conductive member 22 is positioned between the tip 14a of the other electrode 14 and the other end face 104 of the catalyst 100. Thus, the reactor 10B may include two elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22. In this case, the conductive members 21 and 22 may have the same structure or different structures. Note that the reactor 10B according to Embodiment 2 is not limited to including two elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22, but may include either one of them.

[0038] <Embodiment 3> Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the reactor 10C according to Embodiment 3. The catalyst holding material 19 included in the reactor 10C according to Embodiment 3 is the same as the catalyst holding material 19 included in the reactor 10A according to Embodiment 1, and the elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22 included in the reactor 10C according to Embodiment 3 are the same as the conductive members 21 and 22 included in the reactor 10B according to Embodiment 2, so a detailed explanation of them will be omitted.

[0039] The metal case 12C of the reactor 10C is composed of two bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e, each with an open end. As shown in Figure 4, the two bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e are connected by the opening 12d of the bottomed cylindrical body 12d ３ and the opening 12e of the bottomed cylindrical body 12e ３ They are arranged facing each other. The two bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e have an opening 12d ３ , 12e ３ They are fixed to each other with a gas seal material 25 that seals the periphery in between. It is preferable to use a fixing device 50 similar to that in Embodiment 1 for the fixing method. The bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e are connected by the opening 12d ３ , 12e ３ Flange 12d around it １ , 12e １ It may also be equipped with: Flange 12d １ and flange 12e １ By fixing them with the fixing device 50, the bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e can be firmly fixed together. Flange 12d１ , 12e １ By sandwiching the gas sealing material 25 between them, the gas sealing performance can be improved. The bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e can be formed from the same material as the main body 12a described in Embodiment 1.

[0040] The gas seal material 25 suppresses gas leakage between the two bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e. The gas seal material 25 is preferably insulating and can insulate the two bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e. The gas seal material 25 may be a sheet-like member having the same shape as the shape of the opposing surfaces (annular) when one bottomed cylindrical body 12d and the other bottomed cylindrical body 12e are placed facing each other. The gas seal material 25 preferably has the same physical properties as the gas seal materials 17 and 18 described in Embodiment 1 and can be formed from the same material.

[0041] Similar to Embodiment 1, the fixing device 50 is preferably detachable, allowing the two bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e to be fixed to each other and then separated as needed. This allows the catalyst 100 to be removed and re-stored in the metal case 12C, and the catalyst 100 to be replaced as needed. If replacement of the catalyst 100 is not required, the two bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e may be fixed using a non-detachable fixing device.

[0042] Each bottomed cylindrical body 12d, 12e has a cylindrical side wall 12d ５ , 12e ５ and bottom 12d ２ , 12e ２ It has the bottom 12d ２ , 12e ２A gas inlet pipe 15 and a gas outlet pipe 16 are connected to it, respectively. Connecting the gas inlet pipe 15 and the gas outlet pipe 16 in this way allows the gas to be treated to flow efficiently into the catalyst 100. The gas to be treated is introduced from the gas inlet pipe 15 into the gap 123 in the metal case 12C and into the interior of the catalyst 100 from one end face 103 of the catalyst 100. The gas to be treated flows through the catalyst 100 from left to right and is treated. The treated gas then reaches the gap 124 in the metal case 12C from the other end face 104 of the catalyst 100 and is discharged from the metal case 12C through the gas outlet pipe 16. The positions of the gas inlet pipe 15 and the gas outlet pipe 16 can be swapped.

[0043] The reactor 10C is equipped with a pair of electrodes 130 and 140. One electrode 130 is connected to the side wall 12d of one of the bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d ５ Hole 12d provided therein ５１ Through the bottom 12d of one of the bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d ２ It is inserted into the gap 123 between it and one end face 103 of the catalyst 100, and is further bent toward the other end face 103. The tip 130a of the electrode 130 faces the end face 103 of the catalyst 100. Similarly, the other electrode 140 is positioned toward the side wall 12e of the other bottomed cylindrical body 12e. ５ Hole 12e provided in ５１ Through to the bottom 12e of the other bottomed cylindrical body 12e ２ It is inserted into the gap 124 between it and the other end face 104 of the catalyst 100, and is further bent toward the other end face 104. The tip 140a of the electrode 140 faces the end face 104 of the catalyst 100. The electrodes 130 and 140 can be formed from the same material as the electrodes 13 and 14 described in Embodiment 1.

[0044] Electrodes 130, 140 and the side walls 12d of the bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d, 12d ５ , 12e ５ The hole 12d provided therein ５１ , 12e ５１The gaps between them are hermetically sealed by insulating gas seal materials 23 and 24. This allows the electrodes 130 and 140 to be insulated from the bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e, while maintaining a gas-sealed state inside the metal case 12C consisting of the bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e. Hermetic sealing technology can be used for the gas seal materials 23 and 24, and they have both airtightness and insulation properties due to insulating materials such as glass ceramics.

[0045] Similar to Embodiment 2, an elastically deformable conductive member 21 may be placed between the tip 130a of electrode 130 and the end face 103 of catalyst 100, and an elastically deformable conductive member 22 may be placed between the tip 140a of electrode 140 and the end face 104 of catalyst 100. The preferred configuration and fixing method of the elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22 are the same as those described in Embodiment 2.

[0046] <Embodiment 4> Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of reactor 10D according to Embodiment 4. Reactor 10D combines a part of the configuration of reactor 10B according to Embodiment 2 and a part of the configuration of reactor 10C according to Embodiment 3. Detailed explanation of the same configuration as in Embodiments 2 and 3 will be omitted.

[0047] The metal case 12D of the reactor 10D consists of a bottomed cylindrical body 12f with an open end and the opening 12f of the bottomed cylindrical body 12f ３ The structure includes a lid portion 12c that seals the bottomed cylindrical body 12f and the lid portion 12c. An insulating gas seal material 18 is placed between the bottomed cylindrical body 12f and the lid portion 12c. The insulating gas seal material 18 can more reliably suppress gas leakage between the bottomed cylindrical body 12f and the lid portion 12c and can insulate them from each other. The gas seal material 18 preferably has the same shape and physical properties as the gas seal materials 17 and 18 described in Embodiment 1, and can be formed from the same material.

[0048] The lid portion 12c of the metal case 12D has the same configuration as the lid portion 12c described in Embodiment 1, and the bottomed cylindrical body 12f has the same configuration as the bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e described in Embodiment 3. However, the bottomed cylindrical body 12f of Embodiment 4 has a side wall 12f ５The length in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the side wall 12d of the bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e described in Embodiment 3 is ５ , 12e ５ It is longer than the opening 12f. Similar to Embodiment 3, the bottomed cylindrical body 12f ３ Flange 12f around it １ It is preferable that the following be provided. The method for fixing the bottomed cylindrical body 12f and the lid portion 12c can be the same as the method for fixing the main body 12a and the lid portions 12b and 12c described in Embodiment 1, and the method for fixing the two bottomed cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e described in Embodiment 3.

[0049] The reactor 10D according to Embodiment 4 is equipped with a pair of electrodes 130 and 14. One electrode 130 has the same shape as the one electrode 130 described in Embodiment 3 and is fixed to the bottomed cylindrical body 12f in the same manner. That is, one electrode 130 is fixed to the side wall 12f of the bottomed cylindrical body 12f ５ Hole 12f provided in ５１ Through the bottom 12f of the bottomed cylindrical body 12f ２ It is inserted into the gap 125 between it and one end face 103 of the catalyst 100, and is further bent toward the other end face 103. The tip 130a of the electrode 130 faces the end face 103 of the catalyst 100. Also, the electrode 130 and the side wall 12f of the bottomed cylindrical body 12f ５ Hole 12f ５１ The gap is hermetically sealed by an insulating gas seal material 23. The insulating gas seal material 23 can be formed from the same material as the insulating gas seal materials 23 and 24 described in Embodiment 3.

[0050] The other electrode 14 has the same form as electrodes 13 and 14 described in Embodiment 1 and is fixed to the lid portion 12c in the same manner. In other words, the other electrode 14 is hermetically fixed to the lid portion 12c. Electrodes 130 and 14 can be formed from the same materials as electrodes 13 and 14 described in Embodiment 1.

[0051] One of the gas inlet pipe 15 and the gas outlet pipe 16 (the gas inlet pipe 15 in Figure 5) is the bottom 12f of the bottomed cylindrical body 12f ２The other of the gas inlet pipe 15 and gas outlet pipe 16 (gas outlet pipe 16 in Figure 5) is connected to the side wall 12f of the bottomed cylindrical body 12f at a position that allows it to communicate with the gap 126 between the lid portion 12c and the other end face 104 of the catalyst 100. ５ It is fixed in place.

[0052] By connecting the gas inlet pipe 15 and the gas outlet pipe 16 in this manner, the gas to be treated can be efficiently circulated within the catalyst 100. The gas to be treated is introduced from the gas inlet pipe 15 into the gap 125 in the metal case 12D and into the interior of the catalyst 100 from one end face 103 of the catalyst 100. The gas to be treated flows through the catalyst 100 from left to right and is treated. The treated gas then reaches the gap 126 in the metal case 12D from the other end face 104 of the catalyst 100 and is discharged from the metal case 12D through the gas outlet pipe 16. The positions of the gas inlet pipe 15 and the gas outlet pipe 16 can be swapped.

[0053] In the reactors 10A to 10C according to embodiments 1 to 3, the arrangement of electrodes 13 and 14 and gas piping (gas inlet pipe 15 and gas outlet pipe 16) is symmetrical. On the other hand, in the reactor 10D according to embodiment 4, the arrangement of electrodes 13 and 14 and gas piping 15 and 16 is asymmetrical. Thus, since the reactors according to this disclosure are configured to allow relatively free arrangement of electrodes 13 and 14 and gas piping, the reactors can be modified to accommodate the arrangement of external equipment (for example, the location of the power supply, the location of the gas to be treated, and the location of the treated gas discharge).

[0054] <Embodiment 5> Embodiment 5 describes a reactor configured by housing a catalyst 100 in one of the reactors 10A to 10D according to each of Embodiments 1 to 4.

[0055] (Reactors 10A to 10D) These are the same as reactors 10A to 10D described in Embodiments 1 to 4, so their description is omitted.

[0056] (Catalyst 100) Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of catalyst 100 according to Embodiment 5, and Figure 7 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of region A in Figure 6. Catalyst 100 is a so-called electric field catalyst used by applying an electric field, and is used for gas reforming. Catalyst 100 includes a honeycomb substrate 110 and a catalyst layer 131 covering the surface 110s of the honeycomb substrate 110. The honeycomb substrate 110 may be porous. The honeycomb substrate 110 shown in Figure 6 has a cylindrical shape and contains a large number of cells 150 (gas passages through which the gas to be treated passes) inside. The cells 150 extend in the axial direction of the cylindrical shape (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 6). The honeycomb substrate 110 illustrated in Figure 6 is a type equipped with cells 150 with a rectangular cross-section, but honeycomb substrates equipped with cells with a hexagonal or circular cross-section are also known. Adjacent cells 150 are separated from each other by partition walls 160.

[0057] In this specification, "surface 110s of the honeycomb substrate 110" refers to the inner surface of the cell 150 of the honeycomb substrate 110, that is, the surface of the partition wall 160. The gas to be treated passing through the cell 150 comes into contact with the surface 110s of the honeycomb substrate 110. By forming a catalyst layer 131 so as to cover the surface 110s, the gas to be treated comes into contact with the catalyst layer 131, thereby accelerating the gas treatment.

[0058] The catalyst 100 may have a high-resistivity layer 120 provided between the honeycomb substrate 110 and the catalyst layer 131. The high-resistivity layer 120 has a higher electrical resistivity than the catalyst layer 131.

[0059] By providing a high-resistance layer 120 between the honeycomb substrate 110 and the catalyst layer 131, when an electric field is applied to the catalyst 100, the current can be concentrated in the catalyst layer 131. In other words, since electrical energy is concentrated in the catalyst layer 131, the electrical energy is efficiently utilized in the catalytic reaction occurring in the catalyst layer 131. As a result, catalytic reactions can be initiated even at low reaction temperatures where conventional catalytic reactions would not occur.

[0060] Since the catalyst layer 131 and the high-resistivity layer 120 are formed thinly on the surface 110s of the honeycomb substrate 110, it can be difficult to directly measure their electrical resistivity. In such cases, the actual catalyst 100 can be analyzed to determine the component composition and structure (especially porosity) of each of the catalyst layer 131 and the high-resistivity layer 120. Samples with similar component composition and structure can then be prepared, and the electrical resistivity of these samples can be measured to estimate the electrical resistivity of each of the catalyst layer 131 and the high-resistivity layer 120.

[0061] The electrical resistivity of the high-resistivity layer 120 is preferably at least twice as high as the electrical resistivity of the catalyst layer 131. In other words, it is preferable that (electrical resistivity of high-resistivity layer 120) / (electrical resistivity of catalyst layer 131) is 2.0 or higher. This is expected to make the effect of concentrating the current flowing through the catalyst layer 131 more pronounced. The ratio (electrical resistivity of high-resistivity layer 120) / (electrical resistivity of catalyst layer 131) is more preferably 3.0 or higher, even more preferably 10.0 or higher, and particularly preferably 50.0 or higher.

[0062] The catalyst layer 131 is made of an electric field catalyst material containing Ru, Ba, Zr, Y, and O, and the high-resistance layer 120 can be formed from an insulating material containing Ba, Zr, and O. The high-resistance layer 120 may further contain Y. Specifically, the electric field catalyst material constituting the catalyst layer 131 is an oxide of Ba, Zr, and Y (chemical formula: Ba(Zr,Y)O ３ Preferably, the catalyst has ) as its main component and Ru added as an active metal. By controlling the amount of Ru added, the conductivity (electrical resistivity) of the catalyst layer 131 can be controlled.

[0063] The preferred content of each element (Y, Ru) is, when the Ba content is 1.0 mole, Y: 0 to 0.3 moles and Ru: 0.04 to 0.40 moles. When Y is within the above range, a catalyst material with high electric field activity can be obtained. When Ru is within the above range, the electrical resistivity of the catalyst layer 131 can be sufficiently reduced, and a catalyst material with high electric field activity can be obtained. Although adding Ru above the upper limit does not adversely affect the catalytic activity, adding Ru above 0.20 moles saturates the electric field catalytic activity and simply increases the cost, so the preferred upper limit is set to 0.20 moles.

[0064] The more preferable content of Y and Ru is, when the content of Ba is 1.0 mole, Y: 0 to 0.2 moles and Ru: 0.08 to 0.24 moles.

[0065] The insulating material constituting the high-resistance layer 120 is an oxide of Ba, Zr, and Y (chemical formula: Ba(Zr,Y)O ３ It mainly consists of ). The high-resistance layer 120 does not contain Ru, which is an element that imparts conductivity, and is therefore insulating.

[0066] Since the main components of the catalyst layer 131 and the high-resistance layer 120 are the same, chemical reactions are less likely to occur between the catalyst layer 131 and the high-resistance layer 120, and deterioration of the catalytic reaction of the catalyst layer 131 due to chemical reactions can be suppressed.

[0067] In addition to the above, the catalyst material constituting the catalyst layer 131 may include Ni-containing YSZ, Ni-containing BaZrO ３ CeO2 supporting at least one of the following: Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru ２ Materials capable of exhibiting electric field reforming reactions, such as those in the Al system, are applicable. The insulating material constituting the high-resistivity layer 120 is not particularly limited as long as its electrical resistivity is higher than that of the catalyst layer 131. ２ O ３ Common ceramics such as those mentioned above may be used. Furthermore, it is desirable to select a material that has low reactivity with both the material constituting the honeycomb substrate 110 (usually an insulating material) and the catalyst material constituting the catalyst layer 131, and that has a similar coefficient of thermal expansion to both materials.

[0068] The porous honeycomb substrate 110 is usually formed from an insulating material. This suppresses the flow of current through the honeycomb substrate 110 when an electric field is applied to the electric field catalyst, allowing the current to be concentrated in the catalyst layer 131. Cordierite is an example of a suitable material for the honeycomb substrate 110.

[0069] (Method for manufacturing catalyst 100) The method for manufacturing catalyst 100 includes, in this order: 1) a step of preparing a honeycomb substrate 110; 2) a step of forming a high-resistance layer 120; and 3) a step of forming a catalyst layer 131. A generally known method can be applied to manufacture catalyst 100. A typical method for manufacturing catalyst 100 is described below.

[0070] Step 1) Step to prepare the honeycomb substrate 110 The honeycomb substrate 110 is obtained by extruding a ceramic material having an appropriate resistivity (e.g., cordierite, alumina, stabilized zirconia, etc.), drying and firing it. In the case of cordierite, commercially available honeycomb substrates can also be used.

[0071] Step 2) Step to form the high-resistance layer 120 The high-resistance layer 120 can be formed from, for example, an insulating material. There are no restrictions on the synthesis method of the insulating material, and synthesis methods used in the synthesis of ceramic materials, such as the solid-phase method and the coprecipitation method, can be applied. Here, the solid-phase method will be explained. Raw materials (for example, in the case of hydrocarbon reforming, BaCO3 ３ , and ZrO ２ Prepare the materials, weigh them to the specified molar ratio, add the pebbles and water, and wet mix to obtain the mixture. After drying the obtained mixture in an oven at a temperature of 100 to 150°C, the material is fired in air at a temperature of 900 to 1300°C for 1 to 6 hours to obtain an insulating material.

[0072] The obtained insulating material, water as a solvent, and optionally a pore-forming agent (carbon, resin, etc.) are added and mixed in a ball mill for 2 hours to prepare a coating slurry. By controlling the porosity and pore size of the high-resistance layer 120 with the pore-forming agent, the stress caused by the difference in thermal expansion coefficients with the honeycomb substrate 110 can be reduced.

[0073] A predetermined amount of slurry for the high-resistance layer 120 is applied (wash coat) to the entire surface of the honeycomb substrate 110 and dried to form the high-resistance layer 120 (containing a pore-forming agent).

[0074] Step 3) Process raw materials for forming the catalyst layer 131 (for example, in the case of hydrocarbon reforming, BaCO3 ３ , ZrO ２ , and RuO ２ Prepare the following: weigh the materials to achieve a predetermined molar ratio, add the pebbles and water, and wet mix to obtain the mixture. Dry the obtained mixture in an oven at a temperature of 100 to 150°C, and then calcine it in air at a temperature of 900 to 1200°C for 1 to 6 hours to obtain the catalyst material.

[0075] The obtained catalyst material, water as a solvent, and optionally a pore-forming agent (carbon, resin, etc.) are added and mixed in a ball mill for 2 hours to prepare a coating slurry. By controlling the porosity and pore size of the catalyst layer 131 with the pore-forming agent, the stress caused by the difference in thermal expansion coefficients with the honeycomb substrate 110 can be reduced. It is also possible to form supply paths for the gas to be treated into the interior of the catalyst layer 131.

[0076] A predetermined amount of slurry for the catalyst layer 131 is applied (wash coat) to the entire surface of the honeycomb substrate 110 on which the high-resistance layer 120 is formed, and then dried to form the catalyst layer 131 (containing a pore-forming agent). After that, it is fired at 500 to 900°C for 1 to 6 hours. Any optionally added pore-forming agent is burned away by combustion or thermal decomposition during firing. In this way, the catalyst 100 can be formed.

[0077] The manufacturing method described herein is merely one example, and it goes without saying that those skilled in the art can manufacture the catalyst 100 according to the embodiment by different methods, taking into account known technologies.

[0078] (Gas reforming using a reactor) First, the catalyst 100 is placed in reactors 10A to 10D. In reactors 10A and 10B (Figures 1 and 2), one of the lids 12b or 12c is removed from the metal cases 12A and 12B. In reactor 10D (Figure 5), the lid 12c of the metal case 12D is removed. The catalyst 100 is inserted into the internal space of the metal cases 12A, 12B, and 12D, and then the removed lids are reattached.

[0079] In reactor 10C (Figure 4), the metal case 12C is separated into two closed-bottom cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e. One end (left end) of the catalyst 100 is inserted into one of the closed-bottom cylindrical bodies (for example, the closed-bottom cylindrical body 12d on the left in Figure 4), and the other end (right end) of the catalyst 100 is placed over the other closed-bottom cylindrical body (the closed-bottom cylindrical body 12e on the right in Figure 4). The two closed-bottom cylindrical bodies 12d and 12e are then fixed to each other. In this way, the catalyst 100 is housed in the metal cases 12A to 12D, and a reactor is obtained.

[0080] The catalyst 100, housed in metal cases 12A to 12D, is electrically connected to each of its ends and to each of the pair of electrodes 13 and 14, either directly or indirectly via elastically deformable conductive members 21 and 22. An electric field is applied to the catalyst 100 housed in the metal cases 12A to 12D by connecting an external power supply to the pair of electrodes 13 and 14. Furthermore, the catalyst 100 is heated to a reaction temperature of 473 K (Kelvin) to 673 K, and the gas to be reformed (e.g., hydrocarbons) is introduced into the metal cases 12A to 12D from the gas introduction pipe 15 and brought into contact with the catalyst 200 to react with (reform) the gas. The reformed gas is discharged from the gas discharge pipe 16.

[0081] <Preparation of catalyst samples> Catalyst samples were prepared using the following procedure.

[0082] (Honeycomb substrate 110) For the honeycomb substrate 110, a cylindrical honeycomb substrate made of cordierite (φ36 mm × 100 mm thick, number of cells: 750 cpsi) was used.

[0083] (Formation of high-resistance layer 120) BaCO ３ , ZrO ２ and Y ２ O３ A mixture was prepared, weighed to the specified molar ratio, and mixed with pebbles and water using a wet mixing method. The resulting mixture was dried in an oven at 120°C, and then fired in air at 1100°C for 1 hour to obtain an insulating material. The obtained insulating material, water as a solvent, and an acrylic resin pore-forming agent were added and mixed in a ball mill for 2 hours to prepare a coating slurry. The slurry was applied (wash coat) to the entire surface of the honeycomb substrate 110 and dried to form a high-resistance layer 120 (containing the pore-forming agent).

[0084] (Formation of catalyst layer 131) BaCO ３ , ZrO ２ , Y ２ O ３ and RuO ２ The materials were prepared, weighed to the specified molar ratio, and mixed with water in a wet process to obtain a mixture. The resulting mixture was dried in an oven at 120°C, and then calcined in air at 1100°C for 1 hour to obtain a catalyst material. The obtained catalyst material, water as a solvent, and an acrylic resin pore-forming agent were added and mixed in a ball mill for 2 hours to prepare a coating slurry.

[0085] A slurry for the catalyst layer 131 was applied (wash-coated) to the entire surface of the honeycomb substrate 110, on which the high-resistance layer 120 was formed, using the amount of coating described in Table 1. The mixture was then dried to form the catalyst layer 131 (containing a pore-forming agent). Subsequently, it was fired at 800°C for 3 hours. The pore-forming agent was burned away during firing by combustion or thermal decomposition.

[0086] In this manner, catalyst samples for measurement were prepared. Furthermore, gold paste was baked onto the end faces of the catalyst samples to ensure electrical conductivity with the electrodes.

[0087] <Fabrication of Reactor 10A> Reactor 10A was fabricated as shown in Figure 1. The components were as follows: ・Metal case 12A: A cylindrical body 12a (flange 12a) with an inner diameter of 40 mmφ and a length of 180 mm １ , 12a ２ (Yes) opening 12a ３ , 12a ４The lids 12b and 12c, each 90 mm in diameter, were secured to the metal case 12A with a fastener 50 consisting of a SUS bolt 51, a SUS nut 52, and an alumina washer 53. Alumina washers and collars were used to insulate the metal case 12A from the bolts and nuts. Catalyst holding material 19: Vermoflex (registered trademark) Electrodes 13, 14: SUS rods with a diameter of 6 mm Gas sealing material 17, 18: Mica

[0088] <Activity Evaluation> The activity of the fabricated reactor was evaluated in a steam reforming reaction. The reactor was placed inside an electric furnace, and gas piping was connected to the gas inlet pipe 15 and the gas outlet pipe 16. In addition, the electrodes 13 and 14 of the reactor were connected to a power supply device installed outside the electric furnace with metal wires. The furnace temperature was set to 300°C, and humidified methane gas was supplied to the reactor as the gas to be treated from the gas inlet pipe 15. The space velocity (SV) at this time was 10,000 / hour, and S / C = 2. A DC current (current 150 mA, voltage 1464 V) was applied from the power supply device to the electrodes 13 and 14 of the reactor, and an electric field was applied to the catalyst sample inside the reactor to perform gas reforming. The methane conversion rate was 50%.

[0089] In the examples, steam reforming of methane was performed, but the reactor according to this disclosure can be applied to various catalytic reaction systems by changing the type of electric field catalyst used. Furthermore, although the evaluation was carried out in an electric furnace in the examples, the reactor can be applied even when there is no heat supply from an electric furnace by controlling the temperature of the input gas and adiabatic control of the reactor.

[0090] The disclosures herein may include the following embodiments: <1> A reactor for applying an electric field to a gas treatment catalyst having a honeycomb substrate and a catalyst layer covering the surface of the honeycomb substrate, comprising: a metal case for housing the catalyst; a pair of electrodes for applying an electric field to the catalyst which is gas-sealed within the metal case; a metal gas introduction pipe for introducing gas into the metal case; and a metal gas exhaust pipe for discharging the gas from the metal case.

[0091] <2> The reactor according to <1>, wherein each of the pair of electrodes has a tip that is electrically connected to each of the two end faces of the catalyst.

[0092] <3> The reactor according to <2>, wherein one or both ends of the pair of electrodes are electrically connected to the end face of the catalyst via an elastically deformable conductive member.

[0093] <4> The reactor according to <3>, wherein the elastically deformable conductive member is an elastically deformable three-dimensional structure made of metal wires.

[0094] <5> The reactor according to <3>, wherein the elastically deformable conductive member is a leaf spring formed from a metal plate.

[0095] <6> The reactor according to any one of <1> to <5>, wherein a catalyst holding material for holding the catalyst in a predetermined position within the metal case is arranged on the inner surface of the metal case.

[0096] <7> The reactor according to any one of <1> to <6>, wherein the metal case is configured to allow removal and re-storage of the catalyst.

[0097] <8> The reactor according to any one of <1> to <7>, wherein the metal case includes a cylindrical body with openings at both ends and a pair of lids that seal the openings, and an insulating gas seal material is further disposed between the body and each lid.

[0098] <9> The reactor according to <8>, wherein each of the pair of electrodes is hermetically fixed to each of the pair of lids, and the gas introduction pipe is connected to the side of the main body at a position that can communicate with the gap between one lid and one end face of the catalyst, and the gas exhaust pipe is connected at a position that can communicate with the gap between the other lid and the other end face of the catalyst.

[0099] <10> The reactor according to any one of <1> to <7>, wherein the metal case consists of two bottomed cylindrical bodies with one end open, the two bottomed cylindrical bodies are arranged so that their openings face each other, and are fixed to each other with a gas sealing material that seals the periphery of their openings in between.

[0100] <11> The reactor according to <10>, wherein each of the gas inlet pipe and the gas outlet pipe is connected to the bottom of each bottomed cylindrical body, one of the pair of electrodes is inserted through a hole provided in the side wall of one bottomed cylindrical body to the gap between the bottom of the one bottomed cylindrical body and one end face of the catalyst, and is further bent toward the one end face, the other of the pair of electrodes is inserted through a hole provided in the side wall of the other bottomed cylindrical body to the gap between the bottom of the other bottomed cylindrical body and the other end face of the catalyst, and is further bent toward the other end face, and each electrode and the hole are hermetically sealed with an insulating gas seal material.

[0101] <12> The reactor according to any one of <1> to <7>, wherein the metal case includes a bottomed cylindrical body with one end open and a lid that seals the opening, and further an insulating gas seal material is disposed between the bottomed cylindrical body and the lid.

[0102] <13> The reactor according to <12>, wherein one of the pair of electrodes is inserted through a hole provided in the side wall of the bottomed cylindrical body to the gap between the bottom of the bottomed cylindrical body and one end face of the catalyst, and is further bent toward the one end face, the other of the pair of electrodes is hermetically fixed to the lid, one of the gas inlet pipe and the gas outlet pipe is connected to the bottom of the bottomed cylindrical body, and the other is connected to the side wall of the bottomed cylindrical body at a position that can communicate with the gap between the lid and the other end face of the catalyst.

[0103] <14> A reactor comprising a reactor according to any one of <1> to <13>, and a gas treatment catalyst stored in the reactor, having a honeycomb substrate and a catalyst layer covering the surface of the honeycomb substrate.

[0104] This application claims priority under Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-158605, filed in Japan on 12 September 2024, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0105] 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D Reactors 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D Metal cases 12a Main body 12b, 12c Lids 12d, 12e, 12f Bottomed cylindrical bodies 13, 14, 130, 140 Electrodes 15 Gas inlet pipe 16 Gas outlet pipe 17, 18, 25 Gas sealing material 19 Catalyst holder 21, 22 Elastically deformable conductive members 23, 24 Insulating gas sealing material

Claims

1. A reactor for applying an electric field to a gas treatment catalyst having a honeycomb substrate and a catalyst layer covering the surface of the honeycomb substrate, comprising: a metal case for housing the catalyst; a pair of electrodes for applying an electric field to the catalyst which is gas-sealed inside the metal case; a metal gas introduction pipe for introducing gas into the metal case; and a metal gas exhaust pipe for discharging the gas from the metal case.

2. The reactor according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of electrodes has a tip that is electrically connected to each of the two end faces of the catalyst.

3. The reactor according to claim 2, wherein one or both ends of the pair of electrodes are electrically connected to the end face of the catalyst via an elastically deformable conductive member.

4. The reactor according to claim 3, wherein the elastically deformable conductive member is an elastically deformable three-dimensional structure made of metal wires.

5. The reactor according to claim 3, wherein the elastically deformable conductive member is a leaf spring formed from a metal plate.

6. The reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a catalyst holding material is disposed on the inner surface of the metal case for holding the catalyst in a predetermined position within the metal case.

7. The reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the metal case is configured to allow removal and re-storage of the catalyst.

8. The reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the metal case comprises a cylindrical body with openings at both ends and a pair of lids that seal the openings, and further comprising an insulating gas seal material disposed between the body and each lid.

9. The reactor according to claim 8, wherein each of the pair of electrodes is hermetically fixed to each of the pair of lids, and the gas introduction pipe is connected to the side of the main body at a position that can communicate with the gap between one lid and one end face of the catalyst, and the gas exhaust pipe is connected at a position that can communicate with the gap between the other lid and the other end face of the catalyst.

10. The reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the metal case comprises two bottomed cylindrical bodies with one end open, the two bottomed cylindrical bodies are arranged so that their openings face each other, and are fixed to each other with a gas sealing material in between that seals the periphery of their openings.

11. The reactor according to claim 10, wherein each of the gas inlet pipe and the gas outlet pipe is connected to the bottom of each bottomed cylindrical body, one of the pair of electrodes is inserted through a hole provided in the side wall of one bottomed cylindrical body to the gap between the bottom of the one bottomed cylindrical body and one end face of the catalyst, and is further bent toward the one end face, the other of the pair of electrodes is inserted through a hole provided in the side wall of the other bottomed cylindrical body to the gap between the bottom of the other bottomed cylindrical body and the other end face of the catalyst, and is further bent toward the other end face, and each electrode and the hole are hermetically sealed with an insulating gas seal material.

12. The reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the metal case includes a bottomed cylindrical body with one end open and a lid that seals the opening, and further an insulating gas seal material is disposed between the bottomed cylindrical body and the lid.

13. The reactor according to claim 12, wherein one of the pair of electrodes is inserted through a hole provided in the side wall of the bottomed cylindrical body to the gap between the bottom of the bottomed cylindrical body and one end face of the catalyst, and is further bent toward the one end face, the other of the pair of electrodes is hermetically fixed to the lid, one of the gas inlet pipe and the gas outlet pipe is connected to the bottom of the bottomed cylindrical body, and the other is connected to the side wall of the bottomed cylindrical body at a position that can communicate with the gap between the lid and the other end face of the catalyst.

14. A reactor comprising: a reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 13; and a gas treatment catalyst stored in the reactor, having a honeycomb substrate and a catalyst layer covering the surface of the honeycomb substrate.

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