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CA2475471C - System for reacting fuel and air to produce a reformate - Google Patents

System for reacting fuel and air to produce a reformate Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2475471C
CA2475471C CA 2475471 CA2475471A CA2475471C CA 2475471 C CA2475471 C CA 2475471C CA 2475471 CA2475471 CA 2475471 CA 2475471 A CA2475471 A CA 2475471A CA 2475471 C CA2475471 C CA 2475471C
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Canada
Prior art keywords
nozzle
fuel
air
nozzle outlet
bore
Prior art date
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Expired - Fee Related
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CA 2475471
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French (fr)
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CA2475471A1 (en
Inventor
Rudiger Galtz
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Webasto SE
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Webasto SE
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/0612—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material
    • H01M8/0618—Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
    • B01F25/30—Injector mixers
    • B01F25/31—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
    • B01F25/40—Static mixers
    • B01F25/42—Static mixers in which the mixing is affected by moving the components jointly in changing directions, e.g. in tubes provided with baffles or obstructions
    • B01F25/43—Mixing tubes, e.g. wherein the material is moved in a radial or partly reversed direction
    • B01F25/431—Straight mixing tubes with baffles or obstructions that do not cause substantial pressure drop; Baffles therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/26—Nozzle-type reactors, i.e. the distribution of the initial reactants within the reactor is effected by their introduction or injection through nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J4/00—Feed or outlet devices; Feed or outlet control devices
    • B01J4/001—Feed or outlet devices as such, e.g. feeding tubes
    • B01J4/002—Nozzle-type elements
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/32—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
    • C01B3/34—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
    • C01B3/36—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using oxygen or mixtures containing oxygen as gasifying agents
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23C—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION USING FLUID FUEL OR SOLID FUEL SUSPENDED IN  A CARRIER GAS OR AIR 
    • F23C7/00—Combustion apparatus characterised by arrangements for air supply
    • F23C7/002—Combustion apparatus characterised by arrangements for air supply the air being submitted to a rotary or spinning motion
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23D—BURNERS
    • F23D11/00—Burners using a direct spraying action of liquid droplets or vaporised liquid into the combustion space
    • F23D11/10—Burners using a direct spraying action of liquid droplets or vaporised liquid into the combustion space the spraying being induced by a gaseous medium, e.g. water vapour
    • F23D11/101—Burners using a direct spraying action of liquid droplets or vaporised liquid into the combustion space the spraying being induced by a gaseous medium, e.g. water vapour medium and fuel meeting before the burner outlet
    • F23D11/102—Burners using a direct spraying action of liquid droplets or vaporised liquid into the combustion space the spraying being induced by a gaseous medium, e.g. water vapour medium and fuel meeting before the burner outlet in an internal mixing chamber
    • F23D11/103—Burners using a direct spraying action of liquid droplets or vaporised liquid into the combustion space the spraying being induced by a gaseous medium, e.g. water vapour medium and fuel meeting before the burner outlet in an internal mixing chamber with means creating a swirl inside the mixing chamber
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23D—BURNERS
    • F23D11/00—Burners using a direct spraying action of liquid droplets or vaporised liquid into the combustion space
    • F23D11/10—Burners using a direct spraying action of liquid droplets or vaporised liquid into the combustion space the spraying being induced by a gaseous medium, e.g. water vapour
    • F23D11/101—Burners using a direct spraying action of liquid droplets or vaporised liquid into the combustion space the spraying being induced by a gaseous medium, e.g. water vapour medium and fuel meeting before the burner outlet
    • F23D11/105—Burners using a direct spraying action of liquid droplets or vaporised liquid into the combustion space the spraying being induced by a gaseous medium, e.g. water vapour medium and fuel meeting before the burner outlet at least one of the fluids being submitted to a swirling motion
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23D—BURNERS
    • F23D11/00—Burners using a direct spraying action of liquid droplets or vaporised liquid into the combustion space
    • F23D11/36—Details, e.g. burner cooling means, noise reduction means
    • F23D11/38—Nozzles; Cleaning devices therefor
    • F23D11/383—Nozzles; Cleaning devices therefor with swirl means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/0612—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material
    • H01M8/0625—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material in a modular combined reactor/fuel cell structure
    • H01M8/0631—Reactor construction specially adapted for combination reactor/fuel cell
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
    • B01F2025/91—Direction of flow or arrangement of feed and discharge openings
    • B01F2025/913—Vortex flow, i.e. flow spiraling in a tangential direction and moving in an axial direction
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/025—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a partial oxidation step
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/025—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a partial oxidation step
    • C01B2203/0255—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a partial oxidation step containing a non-catalytic partial oxidation step
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/12—Feeding the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1276—Mixing of different feed components
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23C—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION USING FLUID FUEL OR SOLID FUEL SUSPENDED IN  A CARRIER GAS OR AIR 
    • F23C2900/00—Special features of, or arrangements for combustion apparatus using fluid fuels or solid fuels suspended in air; Combustion processes therefor
    • F23C2900/03002—Combustion apparatus adapted for incorporating a fuel reforming device
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M2008/1095—Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
    • H01M2008/1293—Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
    • H01M8/04014—Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
    • H01M8/04022—Heating by combustion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0662—Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Hydrogen, Water And Hydrids (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
  • Control Of Electric Motors In General (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for reacting fuel (216) and air (218) to a reformate (220). Said system comprises a reformer (214) including a reaction chamber, a nozzle (11) for supply a fuel/air mixture to the reaction chamber, at least one supply line (24) for supplying fuel (216) to the nozzle (11) and at least one entrance channel (18) for supplying air (218) to the nozzle (11).
According to the invention, the nozzle (11) comprises a swirl chamber (19, 22) into which the at least one supply line (24) for supplying fuel (216) runs in a substantially axial/central manner and the at least one entrance channel (18) runs in a substantially tangential manner and from which a nozzle outlet (23) exits. The swirl chamber (19, 22) comprises a narrowing spiral channel (19) into which the entrance channel (18) for the gaseous medium runs, and a space (22) axially contiguous thereto in the direction toward the nozzle outlet (23), into which the supply line (24) for supplying fuel (216) runs and from which the nozzle outlet (23) exits.

Description

SYSTEM FOR REACTING FUEL AND AIR TO PRODUCE A REFORMATE
Field of the Invention This invention relates to a system for reacting fuel and air to produce a reformate, comprising a reformer which has a reaction space, a nozzle for supplying a fuel/air mixture to the reaction space, at least one supply conduit for supplying fuel to the nozzle, and at least one entrance channel for supplying air to the nozzle.

Background of the Invention Generic systems are used for converting chemical energy into electric energy. For this purpose, fuel and air, preferably in the form of a fuel/air mixture, are supplied to the reformer.
Inside the reformer, the fuel then is reacted with the atmospheric oxygen, preferably by performing the process of partial oxidation.

The reformate thus produced then is supplied to a fuel cell or a fuel cell stack, respectively, electric energy being released due to the controlled reaction of hydrogen, as part of the reformate, and oxygen.

As has already been mentioned, the reformer can be designed such that the process of partial oxidation is performed to produce reformate. In this case, when using diesel as fuel, it is particularly useful to perform preliminary reactions prior to the partial oxidation. In this way, long-chain diesel molecules can be converted to shorter-chain molecules with a "cold flame", which ultimately promotes the operation of the reformer. In general, a gas mixture is supplied to the reaction zone of the reformer, which gas mixture is converted to H2 and CO. Another constituent of the reformate is N2 from the air and, in dependence on the air ratio and the tempera-ture, possibly C02, H20 and CH4. In normal operation, the fuel mass flow is controlled corresponding to the required power, and the air mass flow is controlled to obtain an air ratio in the range of k = 0.4. The reforming reaction can be monitored by different sensors, for instance temperature sensors and gas sensors.

Beside the process of partial oxidation it is likewise possi-ble to perform an autothermal reforming. In contrast to the autothermal reforming, the process of partial oxidation is effected in that a substoichiometric amount of oxygen is sup-plied. For example, the mixture has an air ratio of k = 0.4.
The partial oxidation is exothermal, so that an undesired heating of the reformer can occur in a problematic way. Fur-thermore, the partial oxidation tends to lead to an increased formation of soot. To avoid the formation of soot, the air ratio k can be chosen smaller. This is achieved in that part of the oxygen used for the oxidation is provided by steam.
Since the oxidation with steam is endothermal, it is possible to adjust the proportion of fuel, oxygen and steam such that on the whole neither heat is released nor heat is consumed.
The autothermal reforming thus achieved therefore eliminates the problems of the formation of soot and of an undesired overheating of the reformer.

It is likewise possible that subsequent to the oxidation in-side the reformer further gas treatment steps are effected, and downstream of the partial oxidation there can in particu-lar be provided a methanization.

A commonly used fuel cell system for instance is a PEM system (PEM = Proton Exchange Membrane), which can typically be op-erated at operating temperatures between room temperature and about 100 C. Due to the low operating temperatures, this type of fuel cell frequently is used for mobile applications, for instance in motor vehicles.
Furthermore, high-temperature fuel cells are known, so-called SOFC systems (SOFC = Solid Oxide Fuel Cell). These systems operate for instance in a temperature range of about 800 C, a solid electrolyte (solid oxide) being able to perform the transport of oxygen ions. The advantage of such high-temperature fuel cells as compared to PEM systems in particular consists in the ruggedness with respect to mechanical and chemical loads.

As field of application for fuel cells in conjunction with the generic systems not only stationary applications are considered, but also applications in the field of motor vehicles, for instance as auxiliary power unit (APU).

For a reliable operation of the reformer it is important to supply the fuel or the fuel/air mixture, respectively, to the reaction space of the reformer in a suitable way. For instance, a good mixing of fuel and air and a good distribution of the fuel/air mixture in the reaction space of the reformer are advantageous for the operation of the reformer. Within the scope of the present disclosure reference is always made to a fuel/air mixture when mentioning substances which have to be or have been introduced into the reaction space of the reformer. However, the substances introduced are not restricted to a mixture of fuel and air.
Rather, other substances can also be introduced in addition, such as steam in the case of autothermal reforming. In so far, the term fuel/air mixture should be understood in this general form.

Summary of the Invention It is the object underlying the invention to provide a system for reacting fuel and air to a reformate, which has advantageous properties as regards the introduction of the fuel/air mixture into a reaction space of a reformer.
The invention is a system for reacting fuel and air to produce a reformate, comprising a reformer which has a reaction space;
a nozzle for supplying a fuel and air mixture to the reaction space; at least one supply conduit for supplying fuel to the nozzle; and at least one entrance channel for supplying air to the nozzle, wherein the nozzle has a swirl chamber into which at least one supply conduit for supplying fuel opens substantially axially centrally and the at least one entrance channel opens substantially tangentially and from which exits a nozzle outlet, and that the swirl chamber comprises a narrowing spiral channel, into which opens the entrance channel for the gaseous medium, and a gap space axially contiguous thereto in the direction toward the nozzle outlet, into which opens the supply conduit for supplying fuel and from which exits the nozzle outlet. The arrangement of the invention thus provides that the entrance channel for the air or the gaseous medium in general opens into the annular space, while the supply for fuel, i.e. the liquid medium in general, opens into the gap space. The same in turn opens into the nozzle outlet and via its peripheral edge merges with the annular space or communicates with the same. Thus, the annular space performs the function of a turbulence chamber, into which the gaseous medium is introduced through a relatively large bore at least substantially tangentially at a relatively large distance from the central longitudinal axis of the swirl chamber. From the turbulence chamber or the spiral channel, respectively, the gaseous medium is introduced into a chamber with small axial extension. In the present case, this chamber is referred to as gap space. The small axial extension is chosen to be able to ensure a rather low pressure loss. An essential aspect of the system of the invention, in which there is provided a swirl chamber composed of a spiral channel and a gap space, relates to the maintenance of the spin with - 4a -the objective to introduce the gaseous medium into the annular space at a low speed, to accelerate the same therein and intro-duce the same into the gap space at a high speed. At the axial outlet thereof, which in the present case is also referred to as nozzle outlet, a negative pressure thereby is provided such that the liquid medium axially flowing through the gap space is nebulized. The rheological design of the spiral channel can be effected according to the usual aspects of the design of deflectors for centrifugal fans, which are well known in the prior art.

The system in accordance with the invention in particular has an advantageous design in that one end wall of the spiral channel, i.e. the inner wall or the outer wall, is formed in a circular cylindrical shape, and the other end wall of the spiral channel is formed in a spiral shape. In this way, the spiral channel can be manufactured in two parts from a milled part provided with the spiral shape and a cylindrical part centrally inserted into the same.

Particularly preferably, the entrance channel for the liquid medium is arranged coaxially with respect to the nozzle out-let.

In particular, the liquid medium thus is centrally fed into the gap space in alignment with the central longitudinal axis of the swirl chamber through a small bore and on the side of the gap space directly opposite said bore is discharged through another larger bore; the same forms the nozzle out-let.

In this connection it is particularly preferable that the nozzle outlet is defined by a nozzle bore in an end plate of the gap space of the swirl chamber.

The edge of the nozzle outlet bore on the side of the gap space-can be rounded, in order to minimize the pressure re-quired to deliver the mixture of liquid and gaseous medium into the nozzle outlet. In another advantageous embodiment it is possible that this edge can be bevelled or can also be sharp-edged for the same purpose.

In a particularly advantageous way, the system in accordance with the invention is constituted such that the axial length of the nozzle outlet is 0.05 mm to 1 mm, in particular 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

Particularly preferably, means are provided so that secondary air can flow into the reaction space. In this connection, the air entering the reaction space through the nozzle, i.e. the air present in the fuel/air mixture, can be referred to as primary air. The secondary air advantageously is delivered through secondary air bores in the housing of the reaction space. Dividing the air into primary air and secondary air can be useful for providing a rich, readily ignitable mixture at the outlet of the nozzle. This is useful in particular during the starting operation of the system, as here the re-former advantageously operates in the manner of a burner.
Advantageously, the invention is developed in that the nozzle has means for holding a glow plug. The position of the glow plug with respect to the nozzle is an important parameter with regard to a good starting behavior of the reformer. In prior art devices, the glow plug generally was held by the reformer housing, so that this could lead to variations in position with respect to the nozzle. Due to the property of the inventive nozzle that the nozzle itself has means for holding the glow plug, such tolerances can be excluded. The glow plug always has the same position with respect to the nozzle.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention it is provided that the means for holding the glow plug are re-alized as bore extending at an angle with respect to the noz-zle axis. For the proper positioning, the glow plug then must merely be introduced into the bore. A stop at the glow plug and/or inside the bore ensures that the glow plug is guided into its optimum position with respect to the nozzle.

The invention is based on the knowledge that by means of a swirl chamber composed of a spiral channel and a gap space a particularly advantageous maintenance of the spin can be obtained. As a result, the gaseous medium, i.e. in particular the air, can be introduced into the annular space at a low speed, can be accelerated in the same, and from the same can then be introduced into the gap space at a high speed. In this way, a negative pressure is provided at the outlet of the gap space such that the liquid medium flowing through the gap space, i.e. in particular the fuel, is atomized or nebulized, respectively.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be explained by way of example by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a schematic block circuit diagram of a system in which the present invention can be used;
Fig. 2 shows a partial longitudinal section of an embodiment of a nozzle for use in a system in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the annular space of the swirl chamber of the nozzle as shown in Fig.

2.
Detailed Description of the Drawings In the following description of the drawings, the same or comparable components are designated by the same reference numerals.
Fig. 1 shows a schematic block circuit diagram of a system in which the present invention can be used. Via a pump 240, fuel 216 is supplied to a reformer 214. Furthermore, air 218 is supplied to the reformer 214 via a blower 242. Via a valve means 222, the reformate 220 produced in the reformer 214 reaches the anode 224 of a fuel cell 212. Via a blower 226, cathode supply air 228 is supplied to the cathode 230 of the fuel cell 212. The fuel cell 212 produces electric energy 210. The anode waste gas 234 and the cathode waste air 236 are supplied to a burner 232. Reformate can likewise be sup-plied to the burner 232 via the valve means 222. In a heat exchanger 238, the thermal energy produced in the burner 232 can be supplied to the cathode waste air 228, so that the same is preheated. Waste gas 250 flows out of the heat ex-changer 238.

The system illustrated in connection with the Figures de-scribed below can be used for supplying a fuel/air mixture to the reformer 214.

The low-pressure atomizer which in Figure 2 is generally des-ignated with the reference numeral 10 comprises a two-fluid nozzle 11 inserted in the wall 12 of a reformer. In detail, the two-fluid nozzle 11 includes a solid cylindrical base body 13, which from the rear side is inserted flush into a cylindrical blind-hole bore 27 of the wall 12. The relatively thin-walled wall portion 12A of the wall 12, which defines the blind-hole bore 27, is interrupted by a cylindrical aper-ture 28. On the right-hand side in Figure 2, which corre-sponds to the exit of the two-fluid nozzle 11 into the re-former, the base body 13 has a recess 16 which defines the outer edge of a narrowing spiral channel 19.

Inside the spiral channel 19, coaxially with respect to the base body 13, a cylindrical recess 15 in the shape of a blind hole is provided, which has a larger axial extension than the spiral channel 19. Into the recess 15, a solid cylindrical part 17 is tightly inserted with a close fit, which protrudes from said recess axially extending into the spiral channel 19 and defines the inner contour thereof. The spiral channel 19 forms part of the swirl chamber of the two-fluid nozzle 11.
An entrance channel 18 for a gaseous medium tangentially opens into the same. The entrance channel 18 continuously merges with the spiral channel 19 at the widest point thereof. With its narrowest point, the spiral channel 19 ends on the inside after about 360 degrees at the level of the en-trance channel 18, separated from the same by a parting rib 20. At its front end (nozzle outlet end), the blind-hole bore 27 is closed almost completely by an end plate 21 and is merely interrupted by a central nozzle bore forming the noz-zle outlet 23. The axial extension of the solid cylindrical part 17 is chosen such that between the front end face (the right-hand face in Figure 2) of the cylindrical part 17 and the end plate 21 a gap space 22 is left, which due to the end face of the cylindrical part 17 has a circular shape and merges with the spiral channel 19 over its entire periphery.
The spiral channel 19 and the gap space 22 together form the swirl chamber of the two-fluid nozzle 11.

The nozzle bore forming the nozzle outlet 23 is formed in alignment with the central longitudinal axis 14 in the end plate 21.

The two-fluid nozzle 11 also comprises a supply conduit 24 for a liquid medium, in particular fuel, which is traversed by a bore 25 of the solid cylindrical part 17 extending co-axially with respect to the central longitudinal axis 14 and which is received flush in an extension of the bore 25. The same is incorporated in the cylindrical part 17 proceeding from the rear side, and it extends along about half the axial length of the cylindrical part 17. Adjoining this bore in the cylindrical part 17 a bore 26 of smaller diameter is pro-vided, which opens into the gap space 22. The axial extension of the gap space 22 is comparatively small with regard to a rather low pressure loss.

The base body 13 of the two-fluid nozzle 11 can additionally have a bore (not shown) extending at an angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis. For this purpose, either the base body 13 can have a diameter larger than shown or the spiral channel 19 can be arranged with less space required.
Such bore (not shown) then can receive a glow plug (not shown), so that the position of the glow plug (not shown) with respect to the nozzle bore 23 then can be defined almost without any tolerance.

The operation of the low-pressure atomizer 10 is as follows.
Via the entrance channel 18, gaseous medium, in particular air, is fed into the spiral channel 19 of the swirl chamber, and this air flows through this spiral channel into the gap space 22 of the swirl chamber under uniform pressure condi-tions. Via the bore 26, liquid medium, in particular fuel, is fed into the gap space 22, and this fuel is discharged from the opposed nozzle outlet 23 by the pressurized gaseous me-dium and thereby torn into fine droplets.

If it is desired, for instance, that fuel be introduced with a flow rate of 500 g/h, typical dimensions of the two-fluid nozzle 11 are as follows: The distance of the entrance chan-nel 18 from the central longitudinal axis 14 is about 8 mm, and the free cross-section is about 4 mm. The axial extension of the gap space 22 is about 0.65 mm. The diameter of the nozzle bore forming the nozzle outlet 23 is about 2 mm, and its length is 0.05 mm to 1 mm (maximum length about 0.5 mm to 1 mm). With a two-fluid nozzle 11 of such dimensions, the minimum pressure required for atomizing the liquid medium is 30 mbar.
The features of the invention disclosed in the above descrip-tion, in the drawings and in the claims can be essential for the realization of the invention both individually and in any combination.
List of reference numerals low-pressure atomizer 11 two-fluid nozzle 12 wall 12A wall portion 13 base body 14 central longitudinal axis recess 16 recess 17 cylindrical part 18 entrance channel 19 spiral channel parting rib 21 end plate 22 gap space 23 nozzle bore 24 supply conduit bore 26 bore 27 blind-hole bore 28 aperture (in 12) 64 glow plug 210 electric power 212 fuel cell 214 reformer 216 fuel 218 air 220 reformate 222 valve means 224 anode 226 blower 228 cathode supply air 230 cathode 232 burner 234 anode waste gas 236 cathode waste air 238 heat exchanger 240 pump 242 blower 250 waste gas

Claims (11)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A system for reacting fuel and air to produce a reformate, comprising:
a reformer which has a reaction space;
a nozzle for supplying a fuel and air mixture to the reaction space;
at least one supply conduit for supplying fuel to the nozzle; and at least one entrance channel for supplying air to the nozzle, wherein the nozzle has a swirl chamber into which the at least one supply conduit for supplying fuel opens substantially axially centrally and the at least one entrance channel opens substantially tangentially, and from which exits a nozzle outlet, and the swirl chamber comprises a narrowing spiral channel, into which opens the entrance channel for the gaseous medium, and a gap space axially contiguous thereto in the direction toward the nozzle outlet, into which opens the supply conduit for supplying fuel, and from which exits the nozzle outlet.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein one end wall of the spiral channel has a circular cylindrical shape and the other one has a spiral shape.
3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the entrance channel for the liquid medium is arranged coaxially with respect to the nozzle outlet.
4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid medium is centrally fed into the gap space via a bore aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the swirl chamber and is discharged on the side of the gap space directly opposite said bore via another larger bore which forms the nozzle outlet.
5. The system according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the nozzle outlet is defined by a nozzle bore in an end plate of the gap space of the swirl chamber.
6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the edge of the nozzle outlet on the side of the gap space of the swirl chamber is rounded, bevelled or sharp-edged.
7. The system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the axial length of the nozzle outlet is 0.050 mm to 1 mm.
8. The system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the axial length of the nozzle outlet is 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.
9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein means are provided for enabling a flow of secondary air into the reaction space.
10. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the nozzle has means for holding a glow plug.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the means for holding the glow plug are realized as bore extending at an angle with respect to the nozzle axis.
CA 2475471 2002-02-28 2002-02-28 System for reacting fuel and air to produce a reformate Expired - Fee Related CA2475471C (en)

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DE (1) DE50206769D1 (en)
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DE102004055426B4 (en) * 2004-11-17 2008-01-31 Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Mixing chamber for a reformer and method for operating the same
KR20120067814A (en) * 2010-12-16 2012-06-26 주식회사 효성 Reformer burner for a fuel cell

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CA2475471A1 (en) 2003-09-04
EP1478453B1 (en) 2006-05-10
WO2003072234A1 (en) 2003-09-04
ES2262791T3 (en) 2006-12-01
DK1478453T3 (en) 2006-10-09
EP1478453A1 (en) 2004-11-24
ATE325652T1 (en) 2006-06-15
AU2002247746A1 (en) 2003-09-09
US20050271993A1 (en) 2005-12-08
DE50206769D1 (en) 2006-06-14
JP2005519011A (en) 2005-06-30
JP4418851B2 (en) 2010-02-24

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