Flame Extinction Piping for Hydrogen Detonation and Pressure Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flame arresters are inadequate in suppressing flame and shock wave propagation in hydrogen-oxygen mixtures with high burning velocity, and hydrogen production systems lack effective safety measures against detonation and detonation-induced damage.

Innovation Solution

A flame extinction device with a specific configuration, including a connective piping section, flame propagation suppression section, pressure reduction section, and shock absorption section, is employed to suppress flame and shock wave propagation, while a photochemical reactor with a double-tube structure enhances photocatalyst efficiency and safety by reducing water contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a flame arrester is used to block flame and shock wave propagation, then safety against detonation is improved, but pressure loss in normal operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety against detonationVSAvoidpressure loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The flame arrester is divided into multiple independent flame extinction elements arranged in parallel. Each element contains a flame extinction section with porous material and a shock wave reflection section. This segmentation allows the system to maintain low pressure loss while providing effective flame and shock wave suppression through the combined action of multiple elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the flame arrester have different functional properties: the flame extinction section uses porous material with specific pore sizes to extinguish flames, while the shock wave reflection section has a smooth reflective surface to reflect shock waves. This local differentiation of properties optimizes both flame extinction performance and pressure loss characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If a separator membrane is disposed downstream to separate hydrogen and oxygen, then cost is reduced, but the risk of explosion increases due to stoichiometric composition

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidexplosion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A flame arrester is installed upstream of the separator membrane to prevent flame propagation before the gas reaches the membrane. Additionally, a shock wave reflection section is provided to reflect any shock waves away from the separator membrane, preventing detonation-induced damage. These preliminary safety measures enable the use of cost-effective separator membranes without compromising safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shock wave reflection section converts the potentially harmful shock wave into a beneficial protective mechanism by reflecting it away from the separator membrane. This transforms the shock wave, which could cause detonation damage, into a safety feature that protects the separator membrane and prevents catastrophic failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If photocatalyst is provided in direct contact with water, then hydrogen production efficiency is improved, but the risk of detonation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen production efficiencyVSAvoiddetonation risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A flame arrester is installed in the gas passage between the photocatalyst and the separator membrane to act as an intermediary safety device. This flame arrester prevents flame propagation from reaching the photocatalyst-water reaction zone, thereby reducing detonation risk while allowing the photocatalyst to remain in direct contact with water for efficient hydrogen production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The flame extinction device effectively suppresses detonation and shock waves, ensuring safety in hydrogen production, and the photochemical reactor maintains photocatalyst efficiency and reduces the risk of detonation, achieving efficient hydrogen and oxygen production.

Implementation Method 1

a flame propagation suppression section that has a housing, as well as a bent portion, a narrowed portion, and a porous portion in a flow path in the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlame propagation suppression:

Implementation Method 2

the flame extinction device effectively suppresses detonation and shock waves

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock wave propagation suppression:

Implementation Method 3

A third gist of the present invention relates to a photochemical reactor having a photocatalyst, and a device and a method for producing hydrogen and oxygen using the photochemical reactor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotochemical reaction:

Implementation Method 4

a photochemical reactor for carrying out photochemical reaction, the photochemical reactor including: an inner cylinder; and an outer cylinder which is constituted by a material that transmits light used in reaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotocatalysis:

Data Source

PatentUS20250281781A1Quenching device, hydrogen production device, hydrogen production method and reactor for photochemical reaction

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 MITSUBISHI CHEM CORP

AI summary

A gist of the present invention provides a flame extinction device which is excellent in flame propagation suppressive effect and in shock wave propagation suppressive effect, and a hydrogen production device including the flame extinction device. A flame extinction device (1) includes: a flame propagation suppression section (3) having a porous portion on the first pipe (10) side and/or the second pipe (22) side when seen from a connective piping section (20); and a pressure reduction section (2) that reduces a risen internal pressure at an end part of a third pipe (23) which is not orthogonal to any of the first pipe (10) and the second pipe (22).