JP2010013323A - Reforming apparatus and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reforming apparatus in which attachment of a heater disposed around an outer cylinder of a reaction tube to preheat a catalyst portion is facilitated and the heater can easily be detached. <P>SOLUTION: The reaction tube 4 is configured by packing a catalyst into an annular space between an outer cylinder 11 and an inner cylinder 8 constituting a double tube structure. An outer peripheral face of the outer cylinder 11 has a connection port 15 of air and ports 14a, 14b, 14c for temperature detection. A heater 16 corrugated by bending two or more times without interfering with the connection port 15 of air and the ports 14a, 14b, 14c for temperature detection is wound around the outer cylinder 11 from the outside in the form of a bellyband and fixed in contact therewith, and it is therefore unnecessary to wind the heater 16 under rotation, the heater 16 can easily be attached as a result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a reformer in a fuel cell power generator and a method for manufacturing the reformer.

  The reformer in the fuel cell power generator generates a hydrogen-rich reformed gas by steam-reforming a raw material such as hydrocarbon with steam using the heat of the combustion gas delivered from the combustor, and The carbon monoxide concentration in the reformed gas is reduced.

  Conventionally, this type of reformer is provided with a heater for preheating the catalyst portion, and the heater is energized and heated at the time of start-up to quickly raise the temperature of the catalyst portion, thereby making the reaction of the catalyst portion efficient. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In some cases, the temperature of the structural member of the reformer is maintained at or above its creep transition temperature by energizing and heating the heater when the power generation operation is stopped (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of a conventional reformer.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the reaction tube 22 has a double tube structure with an inner tube 23 and an outer tube 24, and the annular space between the inner tube 23 and the outer tube 24 is filled with a catalyst. A catalyst layer 25 is formed, and a heater 26 having a heating wire is spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 24 to heat the catalyst layer 25.

  The reaction tube 22 is provided with temperature detection ports 27a, 27b, and 27c for measuring the temperature of the catalyst layer 25. As a temperature sensor (not shown) attached to the temperature detection port, for example, a thermocouple or a thermistor is preferable.

Then, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, the heating amount is adjusted so that the temperature of the catalyst layer 25 becomes 400 ° C. to 500 ° C., for example. In addition, an air connection port 28 is provided in the reaction tube 22 so that air is supplied to the catalyst layer 25.
JP 2001-388146 A JP 2003-288929 A

  However, in the above conventional configuration, when the heater 26 is disposed on the outer cylinder 24, it is necessary to wind the heater 26 while rotating it while avoiding the temperature detection ports 27a, 27b, 27c and the air connection port 28. However, it took a long time and had a problem that the mountability was very bad.

  Further, since the heater 26 is welded or brazed to tightly fix the heater 26 to the outer cylinder 24, the heater 26 cannot be replaced.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a reforming apparatus that can easily attach and detach a heater while easily attaching the heater.

  In order to achieve the above object, the reformer of the present invention forms a reaction tube by filling an annular space between an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder constituting a double pipe structure to form an outer periphery of the outer cylinder. An air connection port and a temperature detection port are provided on the surface, and a corrugated heater is wound around the outer cylinder in a cylindrical shape so as not to interfere with the air connection port and the temperature detection port, and is closely fixed. It was.

  The reforming apparatus according to the present invention eliminates the need to wind the heater while rotating the heater by winding the wave-shaped heater around the outer cylinder so as not to interfere with the air connection port and the temperature detection port. Can be installed easily.

  The reformer of the first invention comprises a reaction tube by filling an annular space between an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder constituting a double pipe structure to form a reaction tube, and an air connection port on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder. A heater having a temperature detection port, which is formed into a wave shape, is wound and fixed tightly around an outer cylinder so as not to interfere with the air connection port and the temperature detection port.

  By winding the wave-shaped heater around the outer cylinder so as not to interfere with the air connection port and the temperature detection port, it is not necessary to wind the heater while rotating it, and the heater can be easily attached.

  The reformer of the second invention is the reformer according to the first invention, in which the heater is closely fixed with a detachable fastening band, and with this configuration, the heater is evenly attached to the outer cylinder simply by tightening the fastening band. The heater can be easily removed by simply removing the fastening band.

  A reformer of a third invention is the reformer according to the first invention, provided with a hook fitting for fixing both ends of the heater to the outer cylinder. With this configuration, both ends of the heater are fixed and the heater mounting pitch is uniform. This makes it easy to install.

  In the reforming apparatus of the fourth invention, in the first invention, the air connection port and the temperature detection port are provided in one direction between the start and end of winding of the heater on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder. With this configuration, the heater can be removed without removing the wiring connected to the piping of the air connection port and the temperature detection port, and the heater can be easily removed.

  A reformer of a fifth invention is the reformer according to the first invention, wherein the outer cylinder has a plurality of different outer diameters, and heaters are provided for the different outer diameters of the outer cylinder. The heater can be easily attached regardless of the size.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reformer manufacturing method in which a plurality of linear micro-heater elements are bent in advance to form a wave-shaped heater, and the wave-shaped heater is wound around the outer cylinder constituting the reaction tube. Since the heater to be fixed has good stretchability, the heater can be easily attached.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reformer manufacturing method in which the heater is fixed to the outer cylinder by fastening the heater with a fastening band after fixing both ends of the heater to the hook fitting provided on the outer cylinder. Yes, the heater can be easily installed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiments, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a reforming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external view of a heater of the reforming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. It is an external view of the reforming apparatus in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the combustor 1 includes city gas (or LPG) supplied from a gas valve 2, off-gas (unreacted hydrogen gas) discharged from a fuel cell, fuel gas obtained by mixing city gas and off-gas, and The combustion air from the blower 3 is combusted to release a high-temperature combustion gas.

  The reaction tube 4 has a plurality of concentric double tube shapes, a first tube 5 from which combustion gas from the combustor 1 is discharged from the inside, and a second tube provided outside the first tube 5. An annular space evaporation section 9 and a reforming catalyst layer 10 formed by an annular space combustion gas flow path 7 formed by the tube 6 and an inner tube 8 provided outside the second tube 6. An annular space shift catalyst layer 12 and a selective oxidation catalyst layer 13 formed by an outer cylinder 11 provided outside the cylinder 8 are provided.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 11, temperature detection ports 14 a, 14 b and 14 c and an air connection port 15 which is a selective oxidation air port for supplying air necessary for the selective oxidation reaction are provided, and the heater 16 is connected to the outer cylinder 11. Are arranged. As a temperature sensor (not shown) attached to the temperature detection ports 14a, 14b, and 14c, for example, a thermocouple or a thermistor is preferable.

  The heater 16 is energized at the time of startup to heat the shift catalyst layer 12 and the selective oxidation catalyst layer 13 and, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, for example, when the temperature reaches 180 ° C. to 200 ° C., the heating amount is adjusted. Thus, the temperature raising time of the shift catalyst layer 12 and the selective oxidation catalyst layer 13 is shortened.

  The hydrocarbon-based raw material and steam necessary for the steam reforming reaction are sent to the evaporation unit 9 from the raw material supply unit 17 and the water supply unit 18 installed outside the reformer, and are combusted in the combustor 1. Is heated and evaporated by the heat transmitted when passing through the combustion gas flow path 7 on the inner wall surface of the evaporation section 9 and supplied to the reforming catalyst layer 10, and a hydrogen-containing gas is generated by a steam reforming reaction with the reforming catalyst. Is generated.

  Further, by passing the hydrogen-containing gas through the shift catalyst layer 12 and the selective oxidation catalyst layer 13, the carbon monoxide generated in the reforming reaction by the aqueous shift reaction and the selective oxidation reaction is changed to carbon dioxide, and the carbon monoxide concentration is extremely high. The small reformed gas is supplied from the reformed gas pipe 19 to the power generation cell.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the heater 16 has a wave shape formed by bending a plurality of times, and includes a power supply connection portion 16a at one end thereof.

  Further, the heater 16 is bent in a U-shaped radius and pitch so as not to interfere with the temperature detection ports 14a, 14b and 14c provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 11 and the air connection port 15 which is a selective oxidation air port. Adjusted and molded.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the heater 16 is disposed on the outer cylinder 11 so as not to interfere with the temperature detection ports 14 a, 14 b, 14 c provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 11 and the air connection port 15 that is a selective oxidation air port. It is arranged by winding around the body from the outside and can be fixed easily with a fixed band.

The reforming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, so that it is not necessary to wind the heater 16 while rotating it, and the heater can be easily attached.
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is an external view of a reforming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

In addition to the reforming apparatus of the first embodiment, the reforming apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention is a device in which the heater 16 is firmly fixed to the outer cylinder 11 with a detachable fastening band 20, thereby the fastening band 20. The heater 16 can be uniformly and firmly fixed to the outer cylinder 11 simply by tightening the, and the heater 16 can be easily removed simply by removing the fastening band 20.
(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 is an external view of a reforming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

In addition to the reforming apparatus of the first embodiment, the reforming apparatus of the third embodiment of the present invention is provided with a hook fitting 21 for fixing both ends of the heater 16 in the outer cylinder 11, thereby the heater 16. Since both ends of the heater 16 are fixed and the mounting pitch of the heaters 16 becomes uniform, the mounting can be facilitated.
(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 6 is an external view of a reforming apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

Since the air connection port 15 and the temperature detection ports 14a, 14b, and 14c are provided in one direction between the start and end of winding of the heater 16 on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 11, the air connection port 15 is provided. Since the heater 16 can be removed without removing the wires connected to the pipes and the temperature detection ports 14a, 14b, and 14c, the heater can be easily removed.
(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 7 is an external view of a reforming apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

  The reaction tube 4 is composed of two outer cylinders 11 having different outer diameters, and the heater 16 is formed in a shape that is in close contact with the outer diameter of each of the outer cylinders 11, and the heater 16 regardless of the size of the reaction tube 4. Can be installed easily.

  As described above, the reformer according to the present invention generates a hydrogen-rich reformed gas by causing steam and a steam reforming reaction of a raw material such as hydrocarbon using the heat of the combustion gas sent from the combustor. In order to preheat the catalyst part of the reformer, the heater provided in the outer tube of the reaction tube is easily attached, and can be applied to applications such as catalytic reaction equipment.

The fragmentary sectional view which shows the whole structure of the reformer in Embodiment 1 of this invention External view of the heater of the reformer External view of the reformer External view of reformer in Embodiment 2 of the present invention External view of reformer in Embodiment 3 of the present invention External view of the reformer in Embodiment 4 of this invention External view of reformer in Embodiment 5 of the present invention Partial sectional view showing the overall structure of a conventional reformer

Explanation of symbols

4 reaction tube 8 inner cylinder 11 outer cylinder 12 shift catalyst layer 13 selective oxidation catalyst layer 14a temperature detection port 14b temperature detection port 14c temperature detection port 15 air connection port 16 heater 20 fastening band 21 hook fitting

Claims (7)

A reaction tube is formed by filling the annular space between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder constituting the double-pipe structure to form a reaction tube, and provided with an air connection port and a temperature detection port on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder. A reformer in which the heater formed in the above is wound around and fixed tightly around the outer cylinder so as not to interfere with the air connection port and the temperature detection port. The reforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heater is closely fixed by a detachable fastening band. The reformer according to claim 1, wherein the outer cylinder is provided with a hook fitting for fixing both ends of the heater. 2. The reformer according to claim 1, wherein the air connection port and the temperature detection port are provided in one direction between the start and end of winding of the heater on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder. The reformer according to claim 1, wherein the outer cylinder has a plurality of different outer diameters, and the heater is provided at each of the different outer diameters of the outer cylinder. A method of manufacturing a reforming apparatus in which a plurality of linear micro-heater elements are bent and bent to form a wave-shaped heater, and the wave-shaped heater is wound around a barrel of a reaction tube and fixed in close contact. The method for manufacturing a reformer according to claim 6, wherein both ends of the heater are fixed to a hook fitting provided on the outer cylinder, and then the heater is tightened with a fastening band to be closely fixed to the outer cylinder.

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