JP7213156B2 - Hydrogen production equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hydrogen production device.

Conventionally, as a hydrogen production apparatus for obtaining hydrogen, there is known one in which raw hydrocarbon is reformed into a reformed gas in a reformer and then supplied to a PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) device (for example, patent Reference 1). In the hydrogen production apparatus of Patent Document 1, reformed water is supplied to the reformer together with city gas, a reformed gas containing hydrogen is generated by steam reforming, and the reformed gas is purified by a hydrogen purifier. , which produces high-purity product hydrogen.

Patent No. 5936491

By the way, product hydrogen is required to have high hydrogen purity, and the hydrogen concentration of hydrogen gas purified by PSA may be measured. The hydrogen gas used to measure the hydrogen concentration is normally released into the atmosphere. Less efficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydrogen production apparatus capable of measuring the concentration of product hydrogen while suppressing a decrease in operating efficiency of the hydrogen production apparatus. .

A hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1 includes a reformer that reforms a raw material to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component, and a reformer that separates the reformed gas into a hydrogen gas and an off-gas containing impurities other than hydrogen. a hydrogen separator, into which part of the hydrogen gas separated by the hydrogen separator is flowed, a hydrogen concentration measuring device that measures the hydrogen concentration of the hydrogen gas, and a hydrogen concentration measuring device that measures the hydrogen concentration, and is sent out from the hydrogen concentration measuring device and a hydrogen utilization unit that uses the hydrogen gas whose concentration has been measured for operation of the device.

A hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1 comprises a reformer and a hydrogen separator. The reformer reforms the raw material to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component. The hydrogen separator separates hydrogen gas from the reformed gas. The hydrogen gas separated by the hydrogen separator flows into the hydrogen concentration measuring device and the hydrogen concentration is measured. The hydrogen gas flowing into the hydrogen concentration measuring device is part of the hydrogen gas separated by the hydrogen separator. After the hydrogen concentration is measured, hydrogen gas is delivered from the hydrogen concentration measuring device (post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas), and the post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas is used in the operation of the device in the hydrogen utilizing section. In this way, by using the hydrogen gas used for the concentration measurement in the operation of the device, it is possible to measure the concentration of product hydrogen while suppressing a decrease in the operating efficiency of the hydrogen production device.

The hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 2 includes a blower for sending the hydrogen gas after the concentration measurement toward the hydrogen utilization unit.

According to the hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 2, since the pressure of the hydrogen gas after the concentration measurement sent from the hydrogen concentration measuring device is increased by the blower, even if there is a pressure difference with the supply destination, the hydrogen gas after the concentration measurement is smoothly supplied. can supply.

In the hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 3, the hydrogen utilization unit includes an offgas tank for temporarily storing an offgas containing impurities separated from the hydrogen gas by the hydrogen separator, and an offgas tank provided in the reformer. and an offgas junction pipe for supplying the hydrogen gas after the concentration measurement to the offgas tank.

According to the hydrogen production apparatus of claim 3, the hydrogen gas after concentration measurement can be used as fuel for heating the reformer.

In the hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 4, the hydrogen utilization unit includes a desulfurizer that is provided upstream of the reformer and performs desulfurization of the raw material.

According to the hydrogen production apparatus of claim 4, the hydrogen gas after concentration measurement can be used for desulfurization.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the density|concentration of product hydrogen can be measured, suppressing the fall of the operating efficiency of a hydrogen production apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the schematic block diagram which showed the hydrogen production apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the schematic block diagram which showed the desulfurizer which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and its vicinity. It is a schematic block diagram showing a hydrogen production apparatus according to a second embodiment.

<First embodiment>
An example of a hydrogen production apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

A hydrogen production apparatus 10A according to this embodiment includes a desulfurizer 60, a reformer 12, a compressor 14, a hydrogen purifier 16, and an offgas tank 18, as shown in FIG. In addition, a pre-pressurization water separation section 30 , a post-pressurization water separation section 32 , and a combustion exhaust gas water separation section 34 are provided. Furthermore, an analysis device 52 is provided as a hydrogen concentration measuring device. 10 A of this hydrogen production apparatus produce hydrogen from a hydrocarbon raw material, and this embodiment demonstrates the case where the city gas which has methane as a main component is used as an example of a hydrocarbon raw material. Note that FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of the hydrogen production device 10A, and the hydrogen production device 10A may include other configurations.

(Desulfurizer)
The desulfurizer 60 removes the sulfur content in the raw material gas by hydrodesulfurization, and includes a raw material supply pipe P1 for supplying city gas as a raw material, and a concentration-measured hydrogen gas for supplying hydrogen gas. A branch pipe P14A is connected. As shown in FIG. 2 , inside the desulfurizer 60 , a catalyst section 62 and a removal section 64 are provided downstream of the catalyst section 62 . The other end of the post-concentration-measurement hydrogen gas branch pipe P14A is connected to the catalyst unit 62, and from the post-concentration-measurement hydrogen gas branch pipe P14A to the catalyst unit 62, product hydrogen gas after being used for hydrogen concentration measurement, which will be described later, is supplied to the catalyst unit 62. is supplied. By adopting hydrodesulfurization as the desulfurization means, it is possible to reduce the size of the desulfurizer as compared with ordinary temperature desulfurization.

The catalyst unit 62 accommodates a catalyst for reacting sulfur compounds contained in city gas with hydrogen to convert them into hydrocarbon compounds and hydrogen sulfide. Sulfur compounds contained in the city gas are converted into hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbon compounds in the reaction in the catalyst unit 62 .

The removal unit 64 contains a metal oxide agent for taking in hydrogen sulfide. In the removal section 64, hydrogen sulfide is converted into water and metal sulfide, and the metal sulfide stays in the removal section 64 and is removed from the city gas. A raw material supply pipe P<b>1 is connected to the exit side of the removing unit 64 to send out the town gas after desulfurization. The raw material supply pipe P1 is branched into raw material branch pipes P1A and P1B. The raw material branch pipe P1A is connected to the combustion section 28 described later, and the raw material branch pipe P1B is connected to the reformer 12 .

(reformer)
The reformer 12 mixes and heats the city gas after desulfurization and the water for reforming to generate a mixed gas, and the steam reforming reaction causes hydrogen to be the main component from the mixed gas. and a reforming catalyst layer 24 for generating the reformed gas G1. It also has a combustion section 28 that serves as a heat source for the reforming reaction. The reformed gas G1 contains hydrogen, carbon monoxide, water vapor, and methane. The reformer 12 also includes a CO conversion catalyst layer 26 that reacts carbon monoxide and water vapor contained in the reformed gas G1 to convert them into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The reformed gas G2 contains less carbon monoxide than the reformed gas G1. As the reformer 12, a multiple cylindrical reformer or the like configured by concentrically arranging cylindrical members can be used.

A raw material supply pipe P1B for supplying city gas from the desulfurizer 60 and a reforming water supply pipe P9 for supplying reforming water are connected to the preheating flow path 22 of the reformer 12 . City gas is supplied to the preheating flow path 22 from the raw material supply pipe P1B, and reforming water is supplied from the reforming water supply pipe P9. The city gas and the reformed water flow through the preheating flow path 22, are heated by the heat from the combustion section 28, the water is vaporized, and the city gas and the gas-phase reforming water (steam) are mixed together. A gas is produced.

The mixed gas that has passed through the preheating flow path 22 is supplied to the reforming catalyst layer 24 . The reforming catalyst layer 24 is provided with a catalyst for steam reforming city gas to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component. The mixed gas generated in the preheating flow path 22 is heated in the reforming catalyst layer 24 by heat from the combustion section 28, and is converted into a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component by a steam reforming reaction and a carbon dioxide reforming reaction. G1 is generated.

The reformed gas G<b>1 produced in the reforming catalyst layer 24 is sent to the CO conversion catalyst layer 26 . In the CO conversion catalyst layer 26, carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas reacts with water vapor to be converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, thereby reducing carbon monoxide. A CO selective oxidation catalyst layer for removing carbon monoxide may be further provided downstream of the CO conversion catalyst layer 26 . The reformed gas G2 that has passed through the CO conversion catalyst layer 26 or the CO conversion catalyst layer 26 and the CO selective oxidation catalyst layer is sent to the reformed gas discharge pipe P3.

An off-gas pipe P7 is connected to the combustion unit 28, and off-gas, which will be described later, is supplied as fuel from the off-gas pipe P7. Furthermore, an air supply pipe P2 for supplying combustion air is connected to the upper end of the combustion section 28 . A raw material branch pipe P1A branched from the raw material supply pipe P1 is also connected to the combustion section 28 . An air branch pipe P2A branched from the air supply pipe P2 is connected to the raw material branch pipe P1A. A gas obtained by mixing city gas with air is supplied to the combustion unit 28 separately from the off-gas. Either one or both of off-gas and town gas for combustion are supplied as required.

The combustion exhaust gas from the combustion section 28 is sent to a flow path (not shown) for heat exchange within the reformer 12 . The combustion exhaust gas after heat exchange is discharged to the gas discharge pipe P10 outside the reformer 12 .

As shown in FIG. 1, the reformed gas sent from the reformer 12 to the reformed gas discharge pipe P3 passes through the pre-pressurization water separator 30, the compressor 14, the post-pressurization water separator 32, and the hydrogen purifier 16. flow in this order. That is, the reformer 12, the pre-pressurization water separator 30, the compressor 14, the post-pressurization water separator 32, and the hydrogen purifier 16 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the gas flow direction. there is

(separation section before boosting)
The pre-pressurization water separation unit 30 has a gas chamber 30A in the upper portion and a liquid chamber 30B in the lower portion. A downstream end of a reformed gas discharge pipe P3 is connected to the gas chamber 30A. The gas chamber 30A is also connected to the upstream end of the communication channel pipe P4. A reformed gas water pipe P8A is connected to the bottom of the liquid chamber 30B. The water vapor in the reformed gas is cooled and condensed in the heat exchanger HE<b>1 arranged upstream of the pre-pressurization water separation section 30 . The water separated from the reformed gas by condensation is stored in the liquid chamber 30B and sent to the reformed gas water pipe P8A.

(Compressor)
Connected to the compressor 14 are a communication channel pipe P4 through which the reformed gas from the pre-pressurization water separation unit 30 flows, and a communication channel pipe P5 through which the reformed gas supplied to the post-pressurization water separation unit 32 flows. ing. The compressor 14 compresses and pressurizes the reformed gas supplied from the pre-pressurization water separation unit 30 , and supplies the pressurized pressurized gas to the post-pressurization water separation unit 32 .

A buffer tank 35 is provided upstream of the compressor 14 and downstream of the pre-pressurization water separator 30 . The buffer tank 35 accumulates the reformed gas supplied from the pre-pressurization water separator 30 . The reformed gas temporarily accumulated in the buffer tank 35 is delivered to the compressor 14 . The buffer tank 35 is also connected to a post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas discharge pipe P14, which will be described later.

(separation section after boosting)
The post-pressurization water separation section 32 has a gas chamber 32A in the upper portion and a liquid chamber 32B in the lower portion. The gas chamber 32A is connected to the downstream end of the communication channel pipe P5. The gas chamber 32A is also connected to the upstream end of the communication flow path pipe P6. A reformed gas water pipe P8B is connected to the bottom of the liquid chamber 32B. The steam in the reformed gas is condensed by being cooled in the heat exchanger HE2 arranged upstream of the water separator 32 after pressurization. The water separated from the reformed gas by condensation is stored in the liquid chamber 32B and sent to the reformed gas water pipe P8B.

A buffer tank 36 is provided downstream of the post-pressurization water separator 32 and upstream of the hydrogen purifier 16 . The buffer tank 36 accumulates the reformed gas supplied from the post-pressurization water separator 32 . The reformed gas once accumulated in the buffer tank 36 is sent to the hydrogen purifier 16 .

(hydrogen purifier)
To the hydrogen purifier 16 as a hydrogen separator, the downstream end of a communication flow path pipe P6 through which the reformed gas sent out from the water separator 32 after pressurization flows is connected. A PSA device is used as an example of the hydrogen purifier 16 . The hydrogen purifier 16 separates the reformed gas into hydrogen gas (product hydrogen gas) and off-gas containing impurities other than hydrogen. A product hydrogen pipe P11 is connected to the hydrogen purifier 16, and the refined product hydrogen gas is sent to the product hydrogen pipe P11. The off-gas is delivered to an off-gas pipe P7, which will be described later.

The product hydrogen pipe P11 is branched into two, and one main product hydrogen pipe P11A is connected to the product hydrogen tank 50 . The other product hydrogen analysis pipe P11B is connected to an analysis device 52 as a hydrogen concentration measuring device. A flow control valve 48 is provided in the product hydrogen analysis pipe P11B. The flow rate control valve 48 adjusts the flow rate of the product hydrogen gas sent to the analyzer 52 .

(Analysis equipment)
The analysis device 52 is a device capable of measuring hydrogen concentration. For example, a hydrogen purity meter that uses the principle that the resonance frequency of a thin film cylinder changes depending on the surrounding gas density, or an optical hydrogen purity meter. Any device such as a sensor may be used as long as the hydrogen concentration can be measured. Further, the hydrogen concentration measurement may be performed by directly measuring the hydrogen concentration from the target gas, or by measuring impurities other than hydrogen in the target gas. The flow rate control valve 48 adjusts the flow rate branched to the product hydrogen analysis pipe P11B so that the flow rate of the product hydrogen gas required for concentration measurement by the analysis device 52 is delivered to the analysis device 52 . The measurement of the hydrogen concentration by the analysis device 52 may be performed all the time, or may be performed intermittently at regular time intervals.

One end of a post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas discharge pipe P14 through which product hydrogen gas after being used for hydrogen concentration measurement is delivered is connected to the outlet side of the analyzer 52 . The other end of the post-concentration-measurement hydrogen gas discharge pipe P14 is branched into two. The post-concentration-measurement hydrogen gas branch pipe P14A is provided with a flow rate adjustment valve 49A to adjust the flow rate of the product hydrogen gas supplied to the desulfurizer 60 . The other branched post-concentration-measurement hydrogen gas branch pipe P14B is connected to an off-gas tank 18, which will be described later. A blower 56 is provided in the post-concentration-measurement hydrogen gas discharge pipe P14. The blower 56 applies a predetermined pressure to the product hydrogen gas after it has been used for concentration measurement, and sends it to the desulfurizer 60 .

An upstream end of an offgas pipe P7 is connected to the side of the hydrogen purifier 16 from which offgas is discharged. A downstream end of the offgas pipe P7 is connected to the combustion section 28 of the reformer 12 . From the hydrogen purifier 16, the off-gas separated by hydrogen purification is sent to the off-gas pipe P7. An offgas tank 18 is provided in the offgas pipe P7. The offgas is temporarily stored in the offgas tank 18 . A post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas branch pipe P14B is connected to the off-gas tank 18, and the product hydrogen gas after concentration measurement is mixed with the off-gas and temporarily stored in the off-gas tank 18.

The offgas pipe P7 connected to the outlet side of the offgas tank 18 is connected to the combustion section 28 of the reformer 12, and the offgas flowing through the offgas pipe P7 is supplied to the combustion section 28.

(Combustion exhaust gas water separator)
The combustion exhaust gas water separator 34 has a gas chamber 34A at its upper portion and a liquid chamber 34B at its lower portion. A downstream end of a gas discharge pipe P10 is connected to the gas chamber 34A. An external discharge pipe P12 is connected to the gas chamber 34A. A combustion exhaust gas water pipe P8C is connected to the bottom of the liquid chamber 34B.

Combustion exhaust gas is delivered from the combustion section 28 to the gas discharge pipe P10. Water vapor in the flue gas is condensed by being cooled in the heat exchanger HE3 arranged upstream of the flue gas water separator 34 . The water separated from the flue gas by condensation is stored in the liquid chamber 34B and sent to the flue gas water pipe P8C. The combustion exhaust gas from which the water has been separated is discharged to the outside through the external discharge pipe P12.

A water tank 40 is arranged at the bottom of the hydrogen production device 10A. A water inlet 40A is formed in the water tank 40, and the reformed gas water pipes P8A and P8B and the combustion exhaust gas water pipe P8C are connected to the water inlet 40A after joining. The pipe after joining is called a water inflow pipe P8. The inner diameter of the water inflow pipe P8 is larger than the inner diameter of the combustion exhaust gas water pipe P8C.

The water tank 40 has a larger capacity than the total amount of water that can be stored in the pre-pressurization water separation unit 30, the post-pressurization water separation unit 32, and the combustion exhaust gas water separation unit 34. It is arranged below the post-water separation section 32 and the combustion exhaust gas water separation section 34 in the vertical direction. Here, "the water tank 40 is arranged vertically below the pre-pressurization water separation section 30, the post-pressurization water separation section 32, and the combustion exhaust gas water separation section 34" means the bottom portion of the liquid chamber 30B. , the bottom of the liquid chamber 32B and the bottom of the liquid chamber 34B are arranged above the water inlet 40A of the water tank 40 in the vertical direction.

The upstream end of the reforming water supply pipe P9 is connected to the water tank 40 . The reformed water supply pipe P9 is provided with a water treatment device (ion exchange resin) 42 for removing dissolved ion components. A pump 44 is provided in the reformed water supply pipe P9, and the water stored in the water tank 40 is supplied to the reformer 12 through the water treatment device 42 by driving the pump 44. A pure water supply pipe P13 is connected to the reformed water supply pipe P9 downstream of the water treatment device 42 and upstream of the pump 44 . Pure water is supplied from the pure water supply pipe P13 to the reformer 12 through the reformed water supply pipe P9 as required.

(action)
Next, the action of the hydrogen production device 10A will be described.

During the hydrogen production operation, city gas is supplied to the desulfurizer 60 from the raw material supply pipe P1A. In the catalyst section 62 of the desulfurizer 60, the sulfur compounds contained in the city gas are converted into hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbon compounds. In the removal section 64, hydrogen sulfide is converted to water and metal sulfide and removed from the city gas. From the removing unit 64, the desulfurized city gas is sent to the raw material supply pipe P1B.

Town gas after desulfurization treatment is supplied to the reformer 12 from the raw material supply pipe P1, and reformed water is supplied to the reformer 12 from the reformed water supply pipe P9. The town gas and the reforming water are mixed and heated in the preheating passage 22 , and the mixed gas is supplied to the reforming catalyst layer 24 .

In the reforming catalyst layer 24, the mixed gas is heated by the combustion exhaust gas from the combustion section 28, steam reforming the mixed gas, and a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component is generated. The carbon monoxide and water vapor contained in the reformed gas supplied to the CO conversion catalyst layer 26 react with each other and are converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, thereby reducing carbon monoxide. The reformed gas that has passed through the CO conversion catalyst layer 26 is delivered to the reformed gas discharge pipe P3.

The reformed gas is supplied to the gas chamber 30A of the pre-pressurization water separation section 30 through the heat exchanger HE1 provided in the reformed gas discharge pipe P3. Water contained in the reformed gas supplied to the gas chamber 30A is condensed by cooling in the heat exchanger HE1, stored in the liquid chamber 30B, and delivered to the water tank 40 through the reformed gas water pipe P8A. The reformed gas from which water has been separated flows from the gas chamber 30A through the communication flow pipe P4 and is supplied to the buffer tank 35 . The buffer tank 35 temporarily stores the reformed gas from the reformer 12 to reduce pressure fluctuations, and supplies the reformed gas to the compressor 14 . The compressor 14 compresses the reformed gas.

The compressed reformed gas flows through the connecting flow pipe P6, passes through the heat exchanger HE2, and is supplied to the gas chamber 32A of the water separator 32 after being pressurized. The water vapor contained in the reformed gas supplied to the gas chamber 32A is condensed by cooling in the heat exchanger HE2, stored in the liquid chamber 32B, and delivered to the water tank 40 through the reformed gas water pipe P8B. From the gas chamber 32A, the reformed gas from which water has been separated flows through the connecting flow pipe P6 and is supplied to the hydrogen purifier 16. As shown in FIG.

In the hydrogen purifier 16, the reformed gas is separated into hydrogen gas (product hydrogen gas) and off-gas containing impurities, and the product hydrogen gas is sent to the hydrogen supply pipe P11. The sent product hydrogen gas is divided into a product hydrogen main pipe P11A and a product hydrogen analysis pipe P11B. The product hydrogen gas that has passed through the product hydrogen main pipe P11A is stored in the product hydrogen tank 50 . The product hydrogen gas branched to the product hydrogen analysis pipe P<b>11</b>B is supplied to the analyzer 52 . The analyzer 52 measures the hydrogen concentration of the supplied product hydrogen gas. The measured hydrogen concentration values are output and can be displayed, for example, on a display. Alternatively, it may be output to the controller as product hydrogen concentration data.

The product hydrogen gas after being used for hydrogen concentration measurement is supplied to the catalyst section 62 of the desulfurizer 60 and the offgas tank 18 .

The off-gas separated from the reformed gas and containing impurities other than hydrogen flows through the off-gas pipe P7 and is temporarily stored in the off-gas tank 18 . In the offgas tank 18, the product hydrogen gas after being used for hydrogen concentration measurement is mixed with the offgas. From the offgas tank 18, offgas (including product hydrogen gas used for hydrogen concentration measurement) is sent out, and the offgas is supplied as fuel to the combustion section 28 of the reformer 12 via the offgas pipe P7. be.

In the combustion section 28 of the reformer 12, the off-gas is combusted, and the combustion exhaust gas is supplied to the gas chamber 34A of the combustion exhaust gas water separation section 34 through the gas discharge pipe P10. Water vapor contained in the flue gas supplied to the gas chamber 34A is condensed by cooling in the heat exchanger HE3, stored in the liquid chamber 34B, and delivered to the water tank 40 through the flue gas water pipe P8C. The combustion exhaust gas from which water has been separated is discharged to the outside through an external discharge pipe P12.

In the hydrogen production apparatus 10A of this embodiment, the hydrogen concentration of the product hydrogen gas sent from the hydrogen purifier 16 can be measured by the analyzer 52 . Further, the product hydrogen gas used for measuring the hydrogen concentration is supplied to the desulfurizer 60 and used for hydrodesulfurization. The product hydrogen gas used for measuring the hydrogen concentration is supplied to the offgas tank 18 and used as fuel for combustion in the combustion section 28 of the reformer 12 . As a result, the product hydrogen gas used for measuring the hydrogen concentration can be effectively used, and the concentration of the product hydrogen can be measured while suppressing a decrease in the operating efficiency of the hydrogen production apparatus 10A.

In particular, the flow rate of the product hydrogen gas used for hydrogen concentration measurement in the analyzer 52 is the flow rate of the product hydrogen gas produced during the steady operation of the hydrogen production device 10A (the product sent from the hydrogen purifier 16 to the product hydrogen pipe P11 of 10% or more of the flow rate of the hydrogen gas), it contributes to suppressing a decrease in the operating efficiency of the hydrogen production device 10A. It is assumed that the hydrogen production device 10A is a relatively small-scale distributed type.

In this embodiment, after the concentration measurement, the hydrogen gas discharge pipe P14 is branched into two, and the product hydrogen gas used for the measurement of the hydrogen concentration is sent to the desulfurizer 60 and the offgas tank 18. may be sent only.

Further, in this embodiment, the blower 56 is provided in the hydrogen gas discharge pipe P14 after concentration measurement, but as in this embodiment, the blower 56 is connected to the relatively low-pressure off-gas tank 18 and the desulfurizer 60 to measure the hydrogen concentration. The blower 56 is not necessarily required when delivering product hydrogen gas. By providing the blower 56, it is possible to smoothly supply the product hydrogen gas after it has been used to measure the hydrogen concentration even if there is a pressure difference with the supply destination.

<Second embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. Parts similar to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the hydrogen production apparatus 10B of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas discharge pipe P14 is further branched, the post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas branch pipe P14C is connected to the buffer tank 35, and the post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas branch pipe P14C is connected to the buffer tank 35. A hydrogen gas branch pipe P<b>14</b>D is connected to the product hydrogen tank 50 . The post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas branch pipe P14C is provided with a flow rate adjustment valve 49B, and the post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas branch pipe P14D is provided with a flow rate adjustment valve 49C. The flow rate adjustment valve 49B adjusts the flow rate of the product hydrogen gas sent to the buffer tank 35, and the flow rate adjustment valve 49C adjusts the flow rate of the product hydrogen gas sent to the product hydrogen tank 50.

In the hydrogen production apparatus 10B of the present embodiment, the product hydrogen gas used for measuring the hydrogen concentration passes through the hydrogen gas branch pipe P14C after the concentration measurement, is combined with the reformed gas in the buffer tank 35, and is again supplied to the compressor 14. , and can be stored in the product hydrogen tank 50 as product hydrogen gas after purification. This makes it possible to measure the concentration of product hydrogen while suppressing a decrease in hydrogen production efficiency.

In addition, the product hydrogen gas used for measuring the hydrogen concentration is supplied to the product hydrogen tank 50 via the hydrogen gas branch pipe P14D after the concentration measurement. can be measured.

10A, 10B hydrogen production device 12 reformer 16 hydrogen purifier (hydrogen separator)
18 off-gas tank (hydrogen utilization part)
28 combustion part (hydrogen utilization part)
35 buffer tank 50 product hydrogen tank 52 analyzer (hydrogen concentration measuring instrument)
56 blower 60 desulfurizer (hydrogen utilization part)
P14 Post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas discharge pipe P14A Post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas branch pipe P14B Post-concentration measurement hydrogen gas branch pipe (off-gas merging pipe)

Claims (4)

a reformer that reforms the raw material to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component;
a hydrogen separator for separating the reformed gas into hydrogen gas and an off-gas containing impurities other than hydrogen;
a hydrogen concentration measuring device into which a part of the hydrogen gas separated by the hydrogen separator is flowed and which measures the hydrogen concentration of the hydrogen gas;
a hydrogen utilization unit that uses the hydrogen gas after concentration measurement sent from the hydrogen concentration measuring device after the hydrogen concentration measurement for operation of the device;
Hydrogen production equipment with 2. The hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a blower for sending the hydrogen gas after concentration measurement toward the hydrogen utilization unit. The hydrogen utilization unit is
an off-gas tank for temporarily storing the off-gas containing impurities separated from the hydrogen gas by the hydrogen separator;
a combustion unit provided in the reformer for burning the off-gas supplied from the off-gas tank to heat the reformer;
including an offgas junction pipe that supplies hydrogen gas after concentration measurement to the offgas tank;
The hydrogen production device according to claim 1 or 2. The hydrogen production device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hydrogen utilization unit includes a desulfurizer that is provided upstream of the reformer and performs desulfurization treatment of the raw material. .

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