TWI547437B - Fuel reforming device - Google Patents

Description

Fuel reformer

The present invention relates to a fuel reforming apparatus, and more particularly to a method for distributing heat to different fuels by using a fuel evaporating member, so that each fuel can evaporate a predetermined proportion of fuel vapor during the same heating time to produce a predetermined mixing ratio. Mixed fuel vapor. The fuel reformer of the present invention can provide a hydrogen rich gas for different applications, such as a hydrogen engine internal combustion engine or a device that produces electrical energy by electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen.

Referring to the third figure, it is shown that the conventional fuel reformer 20 has a first fuel tank 201a and a second fuel tank 201b, and the first fuel tank 201a and the second fuel tank 201b have a first pipeline 202a, respectively. And the second conduit 202b is in communication with the reformer 204. Pumps/valves 203a, 203b are connected in series in the first line 202a and the second line 202b, respectively. The first fuel tank 201a and the second fuel tank 201b are loaded with different fuels, respectively. The fuel is delivered to the inside of the reformer 204 by the propulsive force of the pumps/valves 203a, 203b, while the mixing of the two fuels injected into the reformer 204 is controlled by the flow control of the pumps/valves 203a, 203b. The ratio is controlled. However, the use of pumps/valves 203a, 203b can result in additional power consumption and increased complexity and difficulty in system configuration and control, which is a deficiencies of conventional fuel reformer devices 20.

The inventors of the present invention have improved the invention and improved a fuel reforming device in view of the above-described lack of the conventional fuel reforming device, completely utilizing the passive control method to reduce energy consumption and reduce system structure and control. Complexity and difficulty.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fuel reforming device that passively controls the evaporation rate of each fuel by means of heat distribution, which uses the contact area of the evaporation member and the fuel, or uses different evaporation materials and thicknesses for heat distribution. This reduces external active control components, simplifies external control systems and reduces energy consumption.

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, the present invention provides a fuel reforming apparatus comprising: a reformer internally provided with a catalyst reaction unit and a heating unit for performing a reforming reaction to generate a hydrogen-rich gas; Generating heat, and for supplying heat to the catalyst reaction unit, the first fuel evaporating member, and the second fuel evaporating member; the first fuel tank is for loading the first fuel; and the second fuel tank is for Loading a second fuel; the first fuel evaporating member is configured to receive heat, and is configured to cause the first fuel of the first fuel tank to be heated to evaporate a first predetermined proportion of the first fuel vapor; the second fuel evaporating member is used Receiving heat, and cooling the second fuel of the second fuel tank to evaporate a second predetermined proportion of the second fuel vapor; wherein the first fuel vapor and the second fuel vapor are used to provide the catalyst reaction unit As a fuel required for the reforming reaction.

In order for the reviewing committee to have a deeper understanding and understanding of the structure, features and efficacy of the present invention, the preferred embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the drawings:

The first figure shows a schematic diagram of the architecture of a first embodiment of the fuel reformer of the present invention. The fuel reformer 10 of the present invention includes a reformer 110, a first fuel tank 101a, a second fuel tank 101b, a first fuel evaporating member 102a, and a second fuel evaporating member 102b. These components will be detailed in the following text.

The first fuel tank 101a is loaded with the first fuel 111a. The second fuel tank 101b is filled with the second fuel 111b. The first and second fuels 111a and 111b are fuels which are mixed at a predetermined ratio and then subjected to a reforming reaction as the reformer 110. An example of the first fuel 111a may be water or an aqueous mixture such as brine; and the second fuel 111b may be exemplified by a hydrocarbon such as methanol or ethanol which is liquid at normal temperature and pressure.

The function of the reformer 110 is to perform a reforming reaction to produce a hydrogen-rich gas after reforming the fuel. The reformer 110 is mainly composed of a catalyst reaction unit 103 and a heating unit 104. The catalyst reaction unit 103 may be injected with a mixed vapor of the first fuel vapor from the first fuel evaporating member 102a and the second fuel vapor of the second fuel evaporating member 102b. The catalyst reaction unit 103 performs a reforming reaction using the mixed vapor to generate a hydrogen-rich gas. The means of implementation of the catalyst reaction unit 103 can directly employ conventional related art.

The function of the heating unit 104 is to generate heat. This heat is supplied to the catalyst reaction unit 103, the first fuel evaporating member 102a, the second fuel evaporating member 102b, and the like. When the heating unit 104 begins to generate heat, a portion of the heat is transferred to the catalyst reaction unit 103 as heat energy required for the recombination reaction. The heating unit 104 can be combined with the catalyst reaction unit 103, and therefore, the above-mentioned partial heat is conducted to the catalyst reaction unit 103 by the contact surface of the catalyst reaction unit 103 and the heating unit 104.

A flow passage 108 may be disposed inside the heating unit 104, and the flow passage 108 is provided with a first fuel vapor inlet 107a, a second fuel vapor inlet 107b, and a mixed vapor outlet 107c, respectively. The mixed vapor outlet 107c is connected to the catalyst reaction unit 103. The first fuel vapor inlet 107a may be directly connected to the first fuel evaporating member 102a or may be connected to the vapor outlet 1021 of the first fuel evaporating member 102a via a line 105a. The second fuel vapor inlet 107b may be directly connected to the second fuel evaporating member 102b or may be connected to the vapor outlet 1022 of the second fuel evaporating member 102b via a line 105b. The heat generating means of the heating unit 104 may employ a conventional heating structure capable of performing a combustion exothermic reaction or a catalytic combustion exothermic reaction. Another means of generating heat from the heating unit 104 may employ an electric heater.

When the heating unit 104 starts generating heat, a portion of the heat is conducted to the first fuel evaporating member 102a and the second fuel evaporating member 102b via the first heat conduction path 105c and the second heat conduction path 105d, respectively. The ratio of the amount of heat required for the first fuel vapor and the second fuel to be vaporized into a predetermined ratio of the first fuel vapor and the second fuel vapor, respectively, is achieved by considering the first evaporating member 102a and the second evaporating member 102b. The material, the thickness, the contact area with the first and second fuels 111a, 111b, and the thermodynamic characteristics of the first and second fuels 111a, 111b are designed.

A portion of the first fuel evaporating member 102a extends into the first fuel tank 101a to contact the first fuel 111a. A portion of the second fuel evaporating member 102b extends into the second fuel tank 101b to contact the second fuel 111b. Therefore, the first fuel 111a located in the first fuel tank 101a evaporates out of the first fuel vapor due to heat, while the second fuel 111b located in the second fuel tank 101b evaporates out of the second fuel vapor due to heat, and is the same During the heating time, the amount of vapor of the first fuel vapor and the second fuel vapor may be a first predetermined ratio and a second predetermined ratio, respectively. The ratio of the mixed fuel is thus controlled by the different evaporation rates of the individual constituent fuels.

The shape of the second fuel evaporating members 102a, 102b may be T-shaped, but is not limited by this shape.

Referring to the first figure, the state of use of the fuel reformer 10 of the present invention will be described. When the heating unit 104 starts to generate heat, a part of the heat is transferred to the catalyst reaction unit 103, and another part of the heat is conducted to The first fuel evaporating member 102a and the second fuel evaporating member 102b. The first fuel evaporating member 102a evaporates the first fuel 111a out of the first predetermined ratio of the first vapor, while the second fuel evaporating member 102b evaporates the second fuel 111b out of the second predetermined ratio of the second vapor. Next, the first vapor and the second vapor are injected into the flow path 108 of the heating unit 101, and then mixed into the mixed vapor in the flow path 108, and finally, the mixed vapor is injected into the catalyst reaction unit 103. The catalyst reaction unit 103 performs a reforming reaction of the mixed vapor to generate a hydrogen-rich gas, and the hydrogen-rich gas can be discharged from the hydrogen-rich gas outlet 103a.

An example of the use of methanol and water for reforming reactions is given. The first fuel 111a required for the recombination reaction is water, and the second fuel 111b is methanol. The ratio of water to methanol required for the recombination reaction is: 1 mol water to 1 mol methanol, that is, weight percentage 36% (first predetermined ratio) of steam to 64% (second predetermined ratio) of methanol vapor. When the heating unit 104 starts to generate heat, a part of the heat is transmitted to the first fuel evaporating member 102a and the second fuel evaporating member 102b. Since the specific heat, boiling point and heat of evaporation of the water are higher than methanol, in terms of design considerations, A fuel evaporating member 102a must pass more heat, and its contact area with the fuel is larger than that of the second fuel evaporating member 102b to achieve the evaporating molar ratio of the first fuel 111a and the second fuel 111b in the same time. It is 1 (first predetermined ratio) to 1 (second predetermined ratio).

The second figure shows a schematic block diagram of a second embodiment of the fuel reformer of the present invention. The fuel reformer 10' of the second embodiment is provided with a first capillary structure member 109a and a second capillary structure member 109b. The first fuel evaporating member 102'a of the fuel reforming device 10' of the second embodiment does not protrude into the first fuel tank 101a, and the second fuel evaporating member 102'b does not protrude into the second fuel tank 101b. . One end of the first capillary structure member 109a extends into the first fuel tank 101a to contact the first fuel 111a, and the other end is in contact with the first fuel evaporation member 102'a. One end of the second capillary structure member 109b projects into the second fuel tank 101b to contact the second fuel 111b, and the other end is in contact with the second fuel evaporating member 102'b.

The first and second capillary structures 109a, 109b are respectively provided with a plurality of capillary tubes (not shown), or a water-absorbent material having a capillary structure such as a sponge or a water-absorbing polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (polyvinyl alcohol is abbreviated as PVA). Therefore, the first and second fuels 111a, 111b pass through the capillaries due to capillary action, and finally contact the first fuel evaporating member 102'a and the second fuel evaporating member 102'b, respectively, and then respectively receive heat. A first predetermined ratio of the first vapor and a second predetermined ratio of the second vapor are evaporated.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the capillary structure is added to the first fuel tank 101a and the second fuel tank 101b, and the other effect achieved is that the hydrogen production rate is not caused by the orientation or inclination of the fuel reforming device. And it will not change due to the liquid level of the fuel.

The invention utilizes the heat distribution mode of the fuel evaporating member so that the fuel can be vaporized while obtaining the control of the amount of fuel vapor, so that the overall energy consumption of the reformer during the reforming reaction can be reduced as a whole and the system structure can be simplified. And control, this is the advantage and beneficial effect of the invention.

However, the above-mentioned preferred embodiments of the present invention are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can clearly make changes and modifications. The substance of the invention.

10, 10'‧‧‧ fuel reforming unit

101a‧‧‧First fuel tank

101b‧‧‧second fuel tank

102a, 102’a‧‧‧First Fuel Evaporator

102b, 102’b‧‧‧second fuel evaporating parts

103‧‧‧catalyst reaction unit

103a‧‧‧hydrogen-rich gas outlet

104‧‧‧heating unit

105a, 105b‧‧‧ pipeline

105c‧‧‧First heat conduction path

105d‧‧‧second heat conduction path

107a‧‧‧First fuel vapor inlet

107b‧‧‧second fuel vapor inlet

107c‧‧‧ Mixed Vapor Export

108‧‧‧ flow path

109a‧‧‧First capillary structure

109b‧‧‧Second capillary structure

110‧‧‧Restructor

111a‧‧‧First fuel

111b‧‧‧second fuel

1021, 1022‧‧‧Vapor export

20‧‧‧Fuel reformer

201a. . . First fuel tank

201b. . . Second fuel tank

202a. . . First line

202b. . . Second pipeline

203a, 203b. . . Pump/valve

204. . . Reformer

The first figure is a schematic diagram showing the architecture of a first embodiment of the fuel reformer of the present invention.

The second figure is a schematic view showing the architecture of a second embodiment of the fuel reforming apparatus of the present invention.

The third figure is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a conventional fuel reformer.

10‧‧‧Fuel reformer

101a‧‧‧First fuel tank

101b‧‧‧second fuel tank

102a‧‧‧First fuel evaporating parts

102b‧‧‧Second fuel evaporating parts

103‧‧‧catalyst reaction unit

103a‧‧‧hydrogen-rich gas outlet

104‧‧‧heating unit

105a, 105b‧‧‧ pipeline

105c‧‧‧First heat conduction path

105d‧‧‧second heat conduction path

107a‧‧‧First fuel vapor inlet

107b‧‧‧second fuel vapor inlet

107c‧‧‧ Mixed Vapor Export

108‧‧‧ flow path

110‧‧‧Restructor

111a‧‧‧First fuel

111b‧‧‧second fuel

1021, 1022‧‧‧Vapor export

Claims (17)

A fuel reforming apparatus comprising: a reformer coupled to a first fuel tank and a second fuel tank, respectively, and comprising: a catalyst reaction unit for receiving the first fuel tank a first fuel vapor is subjected to a reforming reaction with a second fuel vapor from the second fuel tank to generate a hydrogen-rich gas; a heating unit is used to generate a heat, and is used to supply the heat to The catalyst reaction unit, a first fuel evaporating member, and a second fuel evaporating member; the first fuel tank is for loading a first fuel; and the second fuel tank is for loading a second fuel The first fuel evaporating member is configured to receive the heat and to cause the first fuel of the first fuel tank to be heated to evaporate a first predetermined ratio of the first fuel vapor, wherein the first a portion of the fuel evaporating member extending into the first fuel tank to contact the first fuel; the second fuel evaporating member for receiving the heat and for causing the second portion of the second fuel tank The fuel is heated and evaporates to a second Certain proportion of the second fuel vapor, wherein the second portion of the fuel evaporation device, based on the second fuel tank extending into and contacting the second fuel. The fuel reforming device of claim 1, wherein the first fuel evaporating member and the second fuel evaporating member are different materials. The fuel reforming device of claim 1, wherein the first fuel evaporating member and the second fuel evaporating member have different thicknesses. The fuel reforming device of claim 1, wherein the first fuel evaporating member and the second fuel evaporating member have different contact areas with the first fuel and the second fuel, respectively. The fuel reforming device of claim 1, further comprising: a first capillary structure member, one end of which extends into the first fuel tank to contact the first fuel, and the other end is coupled to The first fuel evaporating member contacts; a second capillary structure member has one end extending into the second fuel tank to contact the second fuel, and the other end is in contact with the second fuel evaporating member. The fuel reforming device of claim 1, wherein the first fuel is water. The fuel reformer of claim 1, wherein the first fuel is an aqueous mixture. The fuel reforming device of claim 7, wherein the first fuel is an aqueous solution containing sodium chloride. The fuel reforming device according to claim 1, wherein the second fuel is a liquid hydrocarbon at normal temperature and pressure. The fuel reforming device of claim 9, wherein the second fuel is methanol. The fuel reforming device of claim 9, wherein the second fuel is ethanol. The fuel reforming unit according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is a heating unit capable of performing a combustion exothermic reaction or a catalytic combustion exothermic reaction. The fuel reforming unit of claim 1, wherein the heating unit is an electric heater. The fuel reforming device of claim 5, wherein the first capillary structure and the second capillary structure comprise a plurality of capillary tubes. The fuel reforming device of claim 5, wherein the first capillary structure member and the second capillary structure member are sponges. The fuel reforming device according to claim 5, wherein the first capillary structure member and the second capillary structure member are water-absorbing polymer. The fuel reforming device of claim 16, wherein the first capillary structure member and the second capillary structure member are polyvinyl alcohol.