초록 ▼

A hydrogen producing apparatus for producing hydrogen on an industrial scale by steam reforming reactions and separating hydrogen using a hydrogen-permeable membrane, including nested outer (14), intermediate (18) and inner (20) cylinders, a combustion burner (44) disposed toward the inner hollow ch

A hydrogen producing apparatus for producing hydrogen on an industrial scale by steam reforming reactions and separating hydrogen using a hydrogen-permeable membrane, including nested outer (14), intermediate (18) and inner (20) cylinders, a combustion burner (44) disposed toward the inner hollow chamber of the inner cylinder (20), a catalyst layer (A) in the annulus (30) between the intermediate (18) and inner (20) cylinders, hydrogen-permeable tubes (32) disposed in the catalyst layer (A-30), and sweep gas supply tubes (34) in the hydrogen-permeable tubes (32). The raw material gas is fed to the catalyst layer (A) and is converted into hydrogen at a high temperature produced by the burner (44), the produced hydrogen permeates the hydrogen-permeable tubes (32) which selectively separate and collect the hydrogen, and the permeated hydrogen flows with the sweep gas out of the apparatus through the outlet (52) for the sweep tubes (34).

대표청구항 ▼

A hydrogen producing apparatus in which hydrogen produced from a steam reforming reaction in a fixed bed catalyst is separated and collected by passing through a partitioning wall having selective permeability for hydrogen, said apparatus comprising: an outer tubular cylinder having a closed end wal

A hydrogen producing apparatus in which hydrogen produced from a steam reforming reaction in a fixed bed catalyst is separated and collected by passing through a partitioning wall having selective permeability for hydrogen, said apparatus comprising: an outer tubular cylinder having a closed end wall at one end thereof; an intermediate tubular cylinder in said outer cylinder in coaxial spaced relationship thereto to form an outer annulus therebetween; an inner tubular cylinder in said intermediate cylinder in coaxial spaced relationship therewith to form an inner annulus therebetween and having an inner hollow chamber; heating means disposed substantially in said inner hollow chamber in said inner cylinder for producing a temperature in said hollow chamber and inner annulus sufficiently high to convert process gas in said inner annulus in the presence of a reforming catalyst into hydrogen, said intermediate and inner cylinders being joined together at one end of each in spaced relationship to said closed end wall of said outer cylinder to form a closed end portion of said inner annulus, and so that said outer annulus is in communication with said inner hollow chamber in said inner cylinder; a catalyst layer of reforming catalyst in said inner annulus; a source of sweep gas; at least one hydrogen-permeable tube having hydrogen permeability disposed in said catalyst layer in said inner annulus and having an open end communicating with said source of sweep gas and a closed end adjacent said closed end portion of said inner annulus; a source of process feed gas; process feed gas inlet means for conducting process feed gas from said source thereof to said inner annulus, said process feed gas means comprising means for introducing said process feed gas adjacent said closed end portion of said inner annulus so that said process feed gas flows upwardly in said reforming catalyst layer; process feed gas outlet means communicating with said inner annulus for discharging said feed gas after separation of hydrogen therefrom; and a sweep gas tube disposed within said at least one hydrogen-permeable tube and having an open inlet end proximate said closed end of said at least one hydrogen-permeable tube and an outlet end; so that said heating means produces said high temperature in said hollow chamber and said inner annulus, process feed gas introduced into said inner annulus flows through said catalyst layer and is converted into hydrogen at said high temperature, said process feed gas and sweep gas flow at least partly in counter-flowing relation with respect to each other and said hydrogen permeates said at least one hydrogen-permeable tube and is selectively separated thereby and flows with said sweep gas through said open end of said sweep gas tube, through said sweep gas tube and out of said apparatus through said outlet end of said sweep gas tube.