Hydrogen Generator Pressure Relief and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell power generation systems face issues with rapid pressure rise and emission of carbon monoxide due to high-temperature fuel gases, which can lead to incomplete combustion and increased temperature of exhausted gases.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a hydrogen generator that preferentially exhausts material gas and steam upstream of the reforming catalyst using a pressure releasing device, accompanied by a cooler to reduce the temperature of the exhausted gas, thereby preventing carbon monoxide emission and temperature reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a relief valve is used to suppress rapid pressure rise during reformer operation, then pressure control is improved, but high-temperature fuel gas containing carbon monoxide is exhausted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful high-temperature fuel gas containing carbon monoxide from the main system by providing a separate exhaust path through the relief valve connected to the atmosphere, rather than directing it through the catalytic combustor where it would pose safety risks
Solution Approach 2:
The relief valve acts as an intermediary device that provides an alternative pathway for exhaust gas, separating the pressure relief function from the combustion function to prevent carbon monoxide emission into the fuel cell system
2Stress or pressure
If high-temperature fuel gas is exhausted from the relief valve, then pressure relief is achieved, but the temperature of exhausted gas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the hot exhaust gas directly from the reformer outlet and discharges it to the atmosphere through the relief valve, bypassing the need to cool it down, thus achieving pressure relief without the complexity of additional cooling systems
3Use of energy by moving object
If the catalytic combustor is used to combust fuel gas, then energy recovery is improved, but combustion completeness deteriorates when gas temperature is high or carbon monoxide concentration is high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful high-temperature fuel gas containing carbon monoxide into a beneficial pressure relief mechanism by directing it to the atmosphere, where it serves as both a safety valve and a source of external heating for the reformer
Solution Approach 2:
The relief valve system serves dual functions: it relieves pressure from the reformer and simultaneously provides external heating to maintain reformer temperature, eliminating the need for separate heating systems
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
This approach effectively suppresses pressure rise and reduces the temperature and volume of exhausted gases, ensuring safe and efficient operation by preventing carbon monoxide emission and optimizing gas exhaust.
Implementation Method 1
a reformer 1 which generates a hydrogen-rich fuel gas from the raw material and the steam through a steam reforming reaction
Implementation Method 2
a cooler 8 for cooling the gas exhausted from the pressure releasing device 6
Implementation Method 3
a fuel cell 104 which performs power generation through an electrochemical reaction using the generated fuel gas and oxygen in air
Implementation Method 4
a catalytic combustor 106 and a catalytic combustor 107 which combust the fuel gas exhausted from the fuel cell 104
Data Source
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AI summary
A hydrogen generator of the present invention comprises a reformer (1) including a reforming catalyst (1A) which allows a hydrogen-containing gas to be generated using a raw material and steam; a water evaporator (3) for generating the steam; a raw material supply passage (2) which supplies the raw material to the reforming catalyst (1A) of the reformer (1); a steam supply passage (4) which supplies the steam generated in the water evaporator (3) to the reforming catalyst (1A) of the reformer (1); a pressure releasing device (6) provided at the raw material supply passage (2) or the steam supply passage (4); an exhaust passage (7) which flows a gas exhausted from the pressure releasing device (6) and containing the steam; and a cooler (8) provided at the exhaust passage and configured to cool the gas.