Multi-Cylinder Hydrogen Reformer With Uniform Combustor Fuel Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydrogen generation devices face challenges in achieving uniform temperature distribution across larger cylinders, limiting hydrogen production volume and stability due to uneven fuel supply and flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen generation device with multiple cylinders, each equipped with a combustor and reactor, featuring a distributor for uniform fuel supply and a fuel meter with an opening adjuster that adjusts fuel flow based on hydraulic pressure, along with an auxiliary distributor and meters to stabilize fuel delivery, ensuring consistent temperature distribution and hydrogen production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the size of the cylinder is increased to increase hydrogen production volume, then the hydrogen production capacity is improved, but the temperature distribution uniformity across internal regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the single large cylinder into multiple smaller cylinders (first cylinder, second cylinder, etc.), each with its own combustor and reactor. This segmentation allows each small cylinder to maintain uniform temperature distribution while the overall system achieves high hydrogen production volume through parallel operation of multiple units.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple small cylinders are combined into a unified system with a common fuel supply network. The distributor connects fuel supply pipes to multiple combustors, and the system integrates the output from multiple reactors to achieve high productivity while maintaining the temperature uniformity benefits of small individual cylinders.
2Productivity
If multiple fuel supply pipes are provided to increase fuel delivery capacity, then the hydrogen production capability is improved, but the flow rate uniformity across pipes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Flow rate sensors are installed in each fuel supply pipe to detect the flow rate of fuel. When flow rate unevenness is detected, the control unit adjusts the opening degree of control valves in individual pipes to balance the flow rates, ensuring uniform fuel distribution while maintaining high delivery capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamically adjustable control valves in each fuel supply pipe rather than fixed openings. The control unit continuously monitors and adjusts valve positions to maintain uniform flow rates despite variations in system conditions, enabling both high capacity and uniformity.
3Productivity
If the opening degree of fuel supply pipes is increased to improve fuel flow, then the hydrogen production rate is improved, but the flow rate concentration in specific pipes worsens
Solution Approach 1:
Each fuel supply pipe is equipped with a dynamically controllable valve that can adjust its opening degree independently. The control unit optimizes valve positions to maintain uniform flow distribution while achieving the total fuel flow needed for high hydrogen production rates.
Solution Approach 2:
Each fuel supply pipe receives localized control through individual control valves, allowing the system to optimize flow distribution pipe-by-pipe. This enables high overall flow capacity while preventing concentration in specific pipes through localized flow regulation.
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 device achieves uniform fuel supply to combustors, stabilizes temperature distribution across cylinders, and enhances hydrogen production volume, even with uneven flow rates, promoting efficient and environmentally friendly energy production.
Implementation Method 1
The valve disc may be moved in a direction closer to or away from the seat hole depending on hydraulic pressure of the fuel delivered to the plurality of combustors
Implementation Method 2
a combustor provided in each of the plurality of cylinders... The combustor may initiate ignition and may combust a fuel received from a distributor
Implementation Method 3
Each reactor may generate hydrogen by a reforming reaction of a feed supplied from a feed supplier. In each cylinder, the reactor may be heated by a combustion heat transmitted from the combustor of the cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a hydrogen generation device. The hydrogen generation device includes: a plurality of cylinders; a combustor disposed in each of the plurality of cylinders to combust a fuel; a distributor configured to deliver the fuel supplied from the fuel supplier to each of the plurality of combustors by distributing the fuel in a uniform quantity, a plurality of reactors disposed in the plurality of cylinders, respectively, to generate hydrogen by a reforming reaction of a feed supplied from a feed supplier while the reactors are heated by a combustion heat transmitted from the combustor, and a fuel meter disposed between the distributor and the combustor to adjust an amount of the fuel delivered from the distributor to the combustor in a fixed quantity.