Hydrogen Generator Water Trapping Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydrogen generators face increased costs and durability issues due to complex steam passage configurations, and the direct supply of liquid water to the reforming catalyst can inhibit reactions and damage the catalyst.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen generator design featuring an annular preheat evaporator, a water trapping portion, and a reformer with a shift converter, where liquid water is trapped before reaching the reforming catalyst, and heat exchange occurs between the hydrogen-containing gas and liquid water to control temperatures and prevent catalyst cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid water is directly supplied to the reforming catalyst, then the steam-reforming reaction can proceed, but the catalyst temperature drops rapidly causing reaction inhibition and catalyst damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a water trapping portion that captures liquid water before it reaches the reforming catalyst. This preliminary action prevents the harmful direct contact between liquid water and the catalyst, allowing the steam-reforming reaction to proceed while maintaining catalyst temperature and stability.
2Ease of operation
If a complex steam passage configuration is used, then steam can be supplied to the reformer, but the system cost increases and durability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water trapping function from the complex steam passage system and implements it as a separate, simple water trapping portion. This simplifies the overall steam passage configuration while maintaining the necessary steam supply capability to the reformer.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the reformer is positioned directly below the preheat evaporator, then heat exchange efficiency improves, but liquid water from the evaporator directly contacts the reforming catalyst causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the water trapping portion as an intermediary component between the preheat evaporator and the reforming catalyst. This intermediary captures liquid water while allowing heat exchange to continue, thus maintaining thermal efficiency while preventing catalyst damage.
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 configuration stabilizes hydrogen generation by preventing catalyst inhibition and damage, reducing costs and improving durability, while maintaining optimal reaction temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
an annular preheat evaporator which heats a raw material and water by the combustion gas generated by the heater to generate a mixture gas of the raw material and steam
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange occurs between the hydrogen-containing gas and liquid water to control temperatures
Implementation Method 3
an annular reformer which is disposed under the preheat evaporator and generates a hydrogen-containing gas by causing the mixture gas generated by the preheat evaporator to pass through a reforming catalyst heated by the combustion gas
Implementation Method 4
The reformer uses a material gas, such as city gas or LPG, obtained from, for example, an existing fossil material infrastructure, and steam generated by a water evaporator to progress a steam-reforming reaction at a temperature of 600° C. to 700° C., thereby generating the hydrogen-containing gas
Implementation Method 5
The shift converter decreases the temperature of the hydrogen-containing gas and progress a water gas shift reaction at a temperature of 200° C. to 350° C. to reduce the concentration of the carbon monoxide
Implementation Method 6
the selective oxidizer progresses a selective oxidation reaction at a temperature of 100° C. to 150° C. to further reduce the concentration of the carbon monoxide
Implementation Method 7
a heater which combusts a mixture gas of combustion fuel and combustion air to generate a combustion gas
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen generator (100a) includes: a heater (1) which combusts a mixture gas of combustion fuel and combustion air to generate a combustion gas; a preheat evaporator (6) which heats a raw material and water by the combustion gas generated by the heater to generate a mixture gas of the raw material and the water; a reformer (2) which generates a hydrogen-containing gas by causing the mixture gas generated by the preheat evaporator to pass through a reforming catalyst (2a) heated by the combustion gas; and a shift converter (3) which incorporates a shift catalyst (3a) which reduces, by a shift reaction, carbon monoxide contained in the hydrogen-containing gas generated by the reformer, and further includes a water trapping portion (7) which traps liquid water discharged from the preheat evaporator, and the hydrogen generator (100a) is configured to carry out heat exchange between the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the reformer to the shift converter and the water in the water trapping portion.