JP2007253094A - Gas mixer and hydrogen generator - Google Patents

Abstract

It is a first object to obtain a gas mixer capable of uniformly mixing gases having different compositions. Further, by applying this gas mixer, a hydrogen generator capable of preventing self-ignition is obtained.
A gas mixer 60 includes a plurality of plate main bodies 94 stacked to form a combustible gas dividing channel 66 for introducing a combustible gas and a supporting gas dividing channel 68 for introducing a supporting gas. A gas flow dividing portion 70 in which a plurality of adjacent units 74 adjacent to each other via the plate body 94 are formed, a downstream end portion of the combustible gas dividing flow channel 66 and a downstream end portion of the combustion supporting gas dividing flow channel 68. An adjacent gas mixing unit 76 that is provided in communication and mixes combustible gas and combustion support gas for each adjacent unit 74, and an enlarged mixing unit 78 that communicates with mixed gas outlets of the plurality of adjacent gas mixing units 76. .
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas mixer for mixing gases having different compositions, and a hydrogen generator for generating hydrogen by reforming a reforming raw material to which the gas mixer is applied.

For example, as a hydrogen supply device for obtaining hydrogen to be supplied to a fuel cell, a reforming type hydrogen supply device that reforms a hydrocarbon raw material into a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction including steam reforming is considered. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In such a hydrogen supply apparatus, in order to maintain a reforming reaction that is an endothermic reaction, a reforming unit that performs the reforming reaction and a combustion unit that applies heat to the reforming unit are provided adjacent to each other, and the reforming reaction is performed. It can be performed continuously. And, it is considered that the anode off gas of the fuel cell is used as the fuel of the combustion section. Since the anode off gas is supplied to the combustion section at a relatively high temperature close to the operating temperature of the fuel cell, there is an advantage that there is little sensible heat loss due to the temperature rise of the combustion gas.
JP-A-2001-283890

  By the way, when adopting a configuration in which the anode off gas is catalytically combusted in the combustion section for heating the reforming section, the anode off gas supplied at a relatively high temperature as described above is self-contacted with the combustion air (combustion gas). There is a concern that gas phase combustion may occur in the combustion section after ignition. Since this self-ignition tends to occur in a portion where the anode off concentration is locally high, it is possible to prevent self-ignition by providing a mixer that uniformly mixes the anode off gas and the combustion air.

  The first object of the present invention is to obtain a gas mixer capable of uniformly mixing gases having different compositions in consideration of the above facts. In addition, a second object of the present invention is to obtain a hydrogen generator capable of preventing self-ignition by applying the gas mixer.

  In order to achieve the first object, the gas mixer according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a first gas flow path and a second gas for introducing the first gas by laminating a plurality of partition plates. A gas introduction portion in which a plurality of unit adjacent flow passage portions adjacent to each other via the partition plate are formed, and each unit adjacent flow passage portion constituting the gas introduction portion. A downstream end portion of the first gas flow path and a downstream end portion of the second gas flow path are provided in communication with each other, and the first gas and the second gas of the first gas flow path are provided for each unit adjacent flow path portion. And an adjacent gas mixing section for mixing the second gas in the flow path.

  In the gas mixer according to claim 1, the first gas and the second gas that are independently supplied to the gas introduction unit and that flow independently through the first gas channel and the second gas channel that constitute each unit adjacent channel unit. The gases are mixed in the adjacent gas mixing sections, and the mixed gas flowing out from the adjacent gas mixing sections is supplied to a mixed gas consuming device or the like located on the downstream side. Here, in the present gas mixer, the first gas and the second gas are respectively dispersed in the first flow path and the second flow path of each unit adjacent flow path portion, so the first gas flowing through each unit adjacent flow path portion. The second gas has a small flow rate and a small concentration variation. In each adjacent gas mixing section, the first gas and the second gas having a small flow rate and a small concentration variation are mixed independently (in contrast to the other adjacent gas mixing sections). The two gases are well mixed with a flow rate balance (flow rate ratio) that does not vary.

  Thus, in the gas mixer according to claim 1, gases having different compositions can be uniformly mixed. In particular, in a configuration in which the dimension of the first gas flow channel and the second gas flow channel in the partitioning plate stacking direction is small, for example, in a flat structure or a microchannel structure, the first gas and the second gas in the unit adjacent flow channel part merge. In the premixing section, the high shearing force is received and the gas is diffused in the gas flow direction (flow is disturbed), so that mixing is promoted. In addition, it is good also as a structure which provided the mixed gas junction part which joins before supplying the mixed gas which flowed out from each adjacent gas mixing part to a downstream apparatus.

  A gas mixer according to a second aspect of the present invention is the gas mixer according to the first aspect, wherein each of the adjacent gas mixing sections includes a first gas flow path and a second gas flow that constitute the unit adjacent flow path section. It is provided in the downstream end part side in the said partition plate which partitions off a path | route, and is comprised including the communicating path which connects the 1st gas flow path and 2nd gas flow path of this unit adjacent flow path part.

  In the gas mixer according to claim 2, the adjacent gas mixing part is a continuous plate provided in a partition plate interposed between the first gas flow path and the second gas flow path constituting the unit adjacent flow path part. In the passage, the first gas channel and the second gas channel communicate with each other. The communication path is configured by providing a notch or a cutout (hole) in the partition plate. Thereby, the adjacent gas mixing part which continues to each unit adjacent flow path part is comprised by the simple structure which does not provide another member.

  A gas mixer according to a third aspect of the present invention is the gas mixer according to the second aspect, wherein each of the adjacent gas mixing portions is disposed downstream of the communication path, and the first gas is used as the second gas. It includes gas guiding means for guiding to the side.

  4. The gas mixer according to claim 3, wherein the first gas that has flowed through the first gas flow path and reaches the communicating portion is guided by the gas guiding means, and the unit adjacent flow path portion is connected to the first gas flow path. The gas flow direction is forcibly converted toward the downstream side of the second gas flow path constituting the. Thereby, since 1st gas and 2nd gas collide directly, mixing of these is accelerated | stimulated without resorting to an above-mentioned shearing effect | action. In addition, you may provide the gas guide part which guides 2nd gas to the 1st gas side downstream of a communicating path also on the 2nd gas flow path side.

  A gas mixer according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the gas mixer according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the first gas flow path is the adjacent gas mixing section. The gas flow direction for introducing the first gas into the gas flow direction is different from the gas flow direction for introducing the second gas into the adjacent gas mixing section.

  In the gas mixer according to the fourth aspect, the gas flow direction of the first gas (immediately before) introduced into the adjacent gas mixing portion is different from the gas flow direction of the second gas. Since the adjacent gas mixing portion is disposed at the portion where the velocity vector of the first gas and the velocity vector of the second gas intersect, the mixing of the first gas and the second gas is further promoted. That is, in the configuration using the shearing action (difference in flow velocity) of the gas, the mixing effect is increased by changing the diffusion direction of the first gas and the second gas, and in the configuration having the gas guiding means, the velocity is also increased in the stacking direction. The mixing effect is increased by crossing the vectors.

  The gas mixer according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the gas mixer according to the fourth aspect, wherein the gas introduction section includes the adjacent gas mixing section and the first gas flow path as viewed from the stacking direction. The gas flow direction is arranged to be a straight line with the gas merging portion, and the second gas flow path is formed in a linear shape that forms an acute angle with the first gas flow path.

  6. The gas mixer according to claim 5, wherein the first gas flows linearly through the first gas flow path, the adjacent gas mixing portion, and the gas merging portion when viewed from the stacking direction in a macro manner, and the second gas is the adjacent gas. In the mixing portion, the first gas is merged from an oblique direction and mixed with the first gas while changing the flow direction. Thereby, for example, the mixing performance is improved as compared with a configuration in which the first gas channel and the second gas channel are formed symmetrically with respect to the gas merging portion (flow direction of the mixed gas). Moreover, since one gas flow is made linear, the pressure loss of each gas flow can be reduced.

  A gas mixer according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the gas mixer according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the gas introduction part is a flow rate ratio between the first gas and the second gas. Is set to be equal to the pressure loss of the first gas flow path and the pressure loss of the second gas flow path.

  In the gas mixer according to claim 6, when the flow rate ratio between the first gas and the second gas is a predetermined value, the pressure loss of the first gas and the pressure loss of the second gas that pass through the gas introduction part are approximately. Since they match, both gases can be delivered and mixed with low energy.

  A gas mixer according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the gas mixer according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the gas introduction part is connected to the gas merging part from a gas inlet of the first gas. Alternatively, the first gas flow path and the second gas flow may be such that the ratio between the distance to the adjacent gas mixing section and the distance from the gas inlet of the second gas to the gas merging section or the adjacent gas mixing section is constant. The channel length of the path is set.

  8. The gas mixer according to claim 7, wherein the distance from the first gas inlet to the gas merging portion or the adjacent gas mixing portion in the gas introducing portion and the gas inlet from the second gas inlet to the gas merging portion or the adjacent gas in the gas introducing portion. By making the ratio of the distance to the mixing part constant, the pressure loss of the first gas and the pressure loss of the second gas are substantially matched.

  A gas mixer according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the gas mixer according to the sixth or seventh aspect, wherein the gas introduction portion extends in the stacking direction and the gas flow direction of the first gas, and A plurality of first partitions defining one gas flow path, and a plurality of second partitions extending in the stacking direction and the gas flow direction of the second gas and partitioning the second gas flow path, An interval between the first partition walls so that the pressure loss of the first gas flow path and the pressure loss of the second gas flow path coincide with each other when the flow ratio of the first gas to the second gas is a predetermined value. An interval between the second partition walls is set.

  In the gas mixer according to claim 8, the pressure loss (back pressure) is reduced when the distance between the first partition walls and the second partition wall is increased, and the distance between the first partition walls and the second partition wall is decreased. Since the pressure loss increases, the pressure loss of the first gas and the pressure loss of the second gas are substantially matched by setting the distance between the first partition walls and the second partition wall.

  In order to achieve the second object, a hydrogen generator according to claim 9 includes a reforming unit that performs a reforming reaction for generating a hydrogen-containing gas from a supplied reforming raw material, and a supplied fuel. The heating unit that supplies the heat generated by burning the reforming unit to the reforming unit as the heat for proceeding the reforming reaction, and either one of the fuel and the supporting gas for burning the fuel are used as the heating unit. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first gas is used as the second gas and the other gas is used as the second gas to supply a mixed gas of the fuel and the combustion support gas to the heating unit. A gas mixer.

  In the hydrogen generation device according to claim 9, the heating unit introduces heat generated by burning the fuel in the mixed gas after the mixed gas of the fuel mixed with the gas mixer and the combustion support gas is introduced. Supply to the reforming section. In the reforming unit, the reforming reaction occurs while absorbing the heat supplied from the heating unit, and a hydrogen-containing gas is generated. Here, since the mixed gas introduced into the heating unit is mixed in the gas mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 8, it is uniformly mixed and locally has a high fuel concentration. Parts are prevented from occurring and the fuel is prevented from self-igniting before being introduced into the heating section.

  Thus, in the hydrogen generator according to claim 9, self-ignition can be prevented. Thereby, for example, it is possible to introduce a relatively high-temperature fuel or combustion-supporting gas into the heating unit, and it is also possible to use the sensible heat of these fuels or combustion-supporting gas for the reforming reaction.

  As described above, the gas mixer according to the present invention has an excellent effect that gases having different compositions can be uniformly mixed.

  Moreover, the hydrogen generator according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the gas mixer can be applied to prevent self-ignition.

  A gas mixer 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. First, the overall system configuration of the fuel cell system 12 including the hydrogen generator 10 to which the gas mixer 60 is applied will be described, and then the gas mixer 60 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 shows a system configuration diagram (process flow sheet) of the fuel cell system 12 to which the hydrogen generator 10 is applied. As shown in this figure, the hydrogen generator 10 supplies a fuel gas containing hydrogen to the fuel cell 14.

  The fuel cell 14 includes an anode channel 16 for introducing a fuel gas containing hydrogen into the anode electrode, and a cathode channel 18 for introducing cathode air containing oxygen as an oxidizing gas into the cathode electrode. The electromotive force is generated by the electrochemical reaction between hydrogen supplied to the anode electrode and oxygen supplied to the cathode electrode. Specifically, the fuel cell 14 has a stack in which the single cells 20 shown in FIG. 5 are stacked. The unit cell 20 is configured by sandwiching an electrolyte layer 22 from both sides by a pair of separators 24 and 26. Each separator 24, 26 is made of a conductive and gas-impermeable material (for example, carbon). One separator 24 is open to the electrolyte layer 22 side to form the cathode flow path 18, and the other separator 24 is open to the electrolyte layer 22 side to form the anode flow path 16.

The electrolyte layer 22 includes an electrolyte membrane 22A that is a solid oxide, a cathode 22B that is disposed on the separator 24 side of the electrolyte membrane 22A, and an anode 22C that is disposed on the separator 26 side of the electrolyte membrane 22A. The electrolyte membrane 22A, for example BaCeO ₃ system can be a perovskite electrolyte membrane ₃ system, etc. SrCeO. Further, as the cathode 22B (cathode catalyst), for example, one having a platinum (Pt) -based diffusion layer is used.

  The anode 22C is configured by laminating a hydrogen molecule dissociation layer 28 on the separator 26 side and a hydrogen separation membrane 30 on the electrolyte membrane 22A side. As the hydrogen molecule dissociation layer 28, for example, a palladium thin film is used, and this palladium thin film also functions as a catalyst for the anode electrode. Note that a platinum-based catalyst may be employed as a catalyst for the anode electrode as necessary. For the hydrogen separation membrane 30, for example, a metal having selective hydrogen permeability such as a vanadium membrane is used. It is also possible to grasp the laminated film of the hydrogen molecule dissociation layer 28 and the hydrogen separation membrane 30 as a hydrogen separation membrane.

  In the fuel cell 14 (single cell 20) described above, hydrogen in the fuel gas introduced into the anode channel 16 is protonated in the anode 22C (hydrogen molecule dissociation layer 28), and this proton permeates the hydrogen separation membrane 30. Then, it reaches the electrolyte membrane 22A and further moves to the cathode 22B. In this cathode 22B, this proton and oxygen introduced into the cathode channel 18 react to generate water (water vapor). Along with this movement of protons, electrons flow from the anode 22C (separator 26) to the cathode (separator 24) through the external conductor to generate power.

  Thus, the fuel cell 14 is configured to generate power by supplying the hydrogen-containing fuel gas to the anode channel 16 and supplying cathode air to the cathode channel 18. In other words, the fuel cell system 12 can generate power by supplying a mixed gas of hydrogen and another gas to the anode flow path without separating only hydrogen from the fuel gas before being supplied to the fuel cell 14. It is configured.

  The fuel cell 14 provided with the hydrogen separation membrane 30 is diffused when the hydrogen separation membrane 30 becomes high temperature, and may deteriorate due to hydrogen embrittlement when the low temperature hydrogen separation membrane 30 comes into contact with hydrogen. Is maintained within a predetermined temperature range (for example, 200 ° C to 700 ° C, preferably 300 ° C to 600 ° C, more preferably 400 ° C to 500 ° C). Specifically, in the fuel cell system 12, as schematically shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerant flow path 32 is provided in the fuel cell 14 (between the single cells 20), and the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant flow path 32. In this embodiment, the operation temperature of the fuel cell 14 is maintained within the predetermined temperature range described above by air.

  The fuel cell system 12 includes a cathode air pump 34 for supplying cathode air as an oxygen-containing gas to the cathode flow path 18 of the fuel cell 14. The discharge part of the cathode air pump 34 is connected to the upstream end of the cathode air supply line 36 whose downstream end is connected to the cathode air inlet 18 </ b> A of the cathode channel 18. On the other hand, the upstream end of the cathode offgas line 38 is connected to the cathode offgas outlet 18B of the cathode channel 18. In this embodiment, since the cathode offgas containing water vapor and oxygen (air) is used as a reforming gas in the reformer 45 (described later) of the hydrogen generator 10, the downstream end of the cathode offgas line 38 is connected to the hydrogen generator. 10 has been introduced. This configuration will be described later.

  Further, the fuel cell system 12 includes a cooling air pump 40 for supplying cooling air as a refrigerant to the refrigerant flow path 32 of the fuel cell 14. The discharge part of the cooling air pump 40 is connected to the upstream end of the refrigerant line 42 whose downstream end is connected to the refrigerant inlet 32 </ b> A of the refrigerant flow path 32. On the other hand, the upstream end of the cooling off gas line 44 is connected to the refrigerant outlet 32 </ b> B of the refrigerant flow path 32. In this embodiment, the downstream end of the cooling off-gas line 44 is introduced into the hydrogen generator 10 in order to use the cooling off-gas containing oxygen as a combustion support gas in the reformer 45 of the hydrogen generator 10. This configuration will be described later.

  The hydrogen generator 10 is a reforming hydrogen supply source that reforms a hydrocarbon raw material to obtain a hydrogen-containing fuel gas. Therefore, the hydrogen generator 10 includes a reformer 45 for performing a reforming reaction. The reformer 45 includes a reforming unit 46 that performs a reforming reaction and a reforming unit 46 that is used for reforming. And a heating unit 48 for applying heat. This will be specifically described below.

The reforming unit 46 generates a fuel gas containing hydrogen gas by performing a catalytic reaction between the supplied hydrocarbon gas (gasoline, methanol, natural gas, etc.) and the reforming gas (steam, oxygen) (reformation). Reaction). The reforming reaction includes reactions represented by the following formulas (1) to (4). Therefore, the fuel gas obtained in the reforming process includes hydrogen (H ₂ ), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH ₄ ), cracked hydrocarbons, unreacted raw material hydrocarbons (C _x H _y ), etc. Combustible gas and nonflammable gases such as carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) and water (H ₂ O) are included.

_{C n H m + nH 2 O} → nCO + (n + m / 2) H 2 ... (1)
_{C n H m + n / 2O} 2 → nCO + m / 2H 2 ... (2)
CO + H ₂ O⇔CO ₂ + H ₂ (3)
CO + 3H ₂ ＣＨ CH ₄ + H ₂ O (4)
The steam reforming reaction of the main formula (1) in the reforming reaction is an endothermic reaction, and is performed at a predetermined temperature or higher (in this embodiment, about 700 ° C. to 800 ° C.). A fuel gas of 400 ° C. to 500 ° C., which is substantially in the same range as the operating temperature of the battery 14, is generated. For this reason, the reformer 45 has a heating unit 48 that supplies heat that can perform a reforming reaction to the reforming unit 46 to maintain the reforming reaction. The heating unit 48 has an oxidation catalyst 49 (see FIG. 2) inside and is provided adjacent to the reforming unit 46, and heat obtained by catalytic combustion of fuel via the partition wall 50 is provided in the reforming unit. 46 is supplied. For this reason, the structure which can give heat quantity directly to the reforming part 46, without converting calorie | heat amount into temperature like the structure which heats a reforming part via heating media (fluid), such as combustion gas It is said that. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the reformer 45 is configured as a heat exchange type reformer in which reforming units 46 and heating units 48 are alternately stacked via partition walls 50. Yes. As shown in FIG. 2, the oxidation catalyst 49 is fixedly supported on the inner surface of the heating unit 48, that is, the partition wall 50.

  The hydrogen generator 10 includes a raw material pump 52 for supplying a hydrocarbon raw material stored in a fuel tank (not shown) to the reforming unit 46 of the reformer 45, and a discharge part of the raw material pump 52 is a raw material. The feed line 54 is connected to the raw material inlet 46 </ b> A of the reforming unit 46. Further, the downstream end of the cathode offgas line 38 is joined to the raw material supply line 54. Thus, the reforming unit 46 is configured to be supplied with both the hydrocarbon raw material and the cathode offgas (water vapor and oxygen) as the reforming gas from the raw material inlet 46A. Note that a mixer, an injector, or the like may be provided at the junction between the raw material supply line 54 and the cathode offgas line 38 to promote mixing of the hydrocarbon raw material and the reforming gas.

Further, the fuel gas outlet 46B of the reforming unit 46 is connected to the upstream end of the fuel gas supply line 56 whose downstream end is connected to the fuel gas inlet 16A of the fuel cell 14. As a result, the hydrogen-containing fuel gas generated by reacting the hydrocarbon raw material with the cathode off-gas in the reforming unit 46 is supplied to the anode flow path 16 of the fuel cell 14. On the other hand, the fuel cell 14 having the hydrogen separation membrane 30 as described above consumes only hydrogen in the fuel gas to generate power. For this reason, the anode off gas contains a combustible gas such as carbon monoxide (CO) or hydrocarbon (C _x H _y ), and the hydrogen generator 10 (the reformer 45) The anode off gas is used as fuel for the heating unit 48. That is, the anode off gas line 58 whose upstream end is connected to the anode off gas outlet 16 </ b> B of the anode flow channel 16 has its downstream end introduced into the hydrogen generator 10.

  Therefore, in the hydrogen generator 10, that is, the reformer 45, the anode off gas, which is a combustible gas, is catalytically combusted in the heating unit 48 using the cooling off gas (the oxygen therein) as a combustion supporting gas, and the reforming reaction of the reforming unit 46 It is set as the structure which secures the heat which maintains. The anode off gas and the cooling off gas are respectively supplied at a temperature (about 400 ° C. to 500 ° C.) corresponding to the operating temperature of the fuel cell 14 and cause catalytic combustion in a temperature range of about 600 ° C. to 800 ° C. . In response to the supply of heat from the heating unit 48, the reforming unit 46 generates fuel gas having a temperature substantially the same as the operating temperature range of the fuel cell 14 as described above, and supplies the fuel gas to the fuel cell 14. It has become. Thereby, in the fuel cell system 12, the structure with high thermal efficiency is implement | achieved without providing a heat exchanger etc. Depending on the operating conditions (to control the amount of heat generated), part of the cathode off-gas and cooling off-gas is discharged out of the system (the supply amount to the reforming unit 46 and heating unit 48 is adjusted). It may be configured.

The hydrogen generator 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a gas mixer 60 for mixing the anode off gas and the cooling off gas before supplying them to the heating unit 48. That is, in the gas mixer 60, the downstream end of the anode off gas line 58 is connected to the combustible gas inlet 60A, and the downstream end of the cooling off gas line 44 is connected to the combustion supporting gas inlet 60B. The gas mixer 60 has a mixed gas outlet 60 </ b> C connected to a mixed gas inlet 48 </ b> A of the heating unit 48. As a result, the heating unit 48 is supplied with a mixed gas in which the anode off gas and the cooling off gas are substantially uniformly mixed from the gas mixer 60. The combustion exhaust gas outlet 48 </ b> B of the heating unit 48 is connected to the exhaust unit 64 via the exhaust gas line 62. The exhaust part 64 is configured to purify the combustion exhaust gas and exhaust it outside the system (in the atmosphere).
(Mixer configuration)
As shown in FIG. 2, the gas mixer 60 is a gas flow dividing unit that divides the anode off gas and the cooling off gas into a combustible gas dividing channel 66 and a supporting gas dividing channel 68 that are alternately stacked before mixing. 70. In this embodiment, an adjacent unit 74 is configured by one combustible gas dividing channel 66 and one supporting gas dividing channel 68 which are adjacent to each other in the stacking direction via a plate body 94 which will be described later. It can be understood that 70 is configured by laminating a plurality of adjacent units 74 as unit adjacent flow path portions.

  In each adjacent unit 74, the downstream ends of the combustible gas dividing flow path 66 and the combustion supporting gas dividing flow path 68 are communicated to form an adjacent gas mixing portion 76. Therefore, at the downstream end of the gas flow dividing unit 70, a divided mixing unit 75 in which a number of adjacent gas mixing units 76 in which the anode off gas and the cooling off gas are mixed in each adjacent unit 74 is disposed. Downstream of the adjacent gas mixing section 76, it continues to the upstream end of the tapered expansion mixing section 78 that gradually expands the cross section of the flow path toward the downstream side. The downstream end of the expansion mixing section 78 has a cross-sectional shape that matches the mixed gas inlet 48A of the heating section 48, and is connected to and communicated with the mixed gas inlet 48A. In this embodiment, the heating unit 48 is divided into a plurality of flat-shaped flow paths, and is stacked alternately with the reforming units 46 divided in the same manner to form the heat exchange type reformer 45. It is composed.

  A specific configuration example of the gas mixer 60 described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the gas mixer 60 includes a mixer body 80. The mixer main body 80 mixes the combustible gas introduction pipe portion 82 provided with the combustible gas inlet 60A, the combustion support gas introduction pipe portion 84 provided with the combustion support gas inlet 60B, and the anode off gas and the cooling off gas. The mixing tube portion 86 in which the divided mixing portion 75 is disposed is configured to communicate in a trifurcated manner. In this embodiment, in the mixer main body 80, the combustion supporting gas introduction pipe portion 84 and the mixing pipe portion 86 are arranged in a substantially straight line, and the combustible gas introduction pipe portion 82 joins the mixing pipe portion 86 at a predetermined angle. It is substantially “y” -shaped in plan view.

  Accordingly, in plan view, the cooling off gas flows in a substantially straight line (along the arrow A direction shown in FIG. 1) from the combustion supporting gas introduction pipe portion 84 toward the mixing pipe portion 86, and the anode off gas flows in the arrow A direction. On the other hand, it flows in the direction of arrow B, which forms a predetermined angle, reaches the mixing tube section 86, and changes the direction of flow in the direction of arrow A.

  In the mixer main body 80, the laminated core 88 which comprises the gas flow division | segmentation part 70 and the division | segmentation mixing part 75 (each adjacent gas mixing part 76) is arrange | positioned. As shown in FIG. 3, the laminated core 88 is configured by alternately laminating a plurality of combustible gas flow path forming plates 90 and combustion support gas flow path forming plates 92. The combustible gas flow path forming plate 90 and the support gas flow path forming plate 92 include a flat plate main body 94 that separates the combustible gas split flow path 66 and the support gas split flow path 68.

  The plate body 94 is formed in a substantially “y” shape in plan view so as to enter each of the combustible gas introduction pipe portion 82, the combustion support gas introduction pipe portion 84, and the mixing pipe portion 86. The portion of the plate body 94 that enters the combustible gas introduction tube portion 82 is the combustible side plate portion 94A, the portion that enters the combustion support gas introduction tube portion 84 is the combustion support side plate portion 94B, and the portion that enters the mixing tube portion 86 is the mixing plate portion. Say 94C.

  Further, the combustible gas flow path forming plate 90 and the combustion support gas flow path forming plate 92 include an outer wall 96 erected from a portion excluding both ends in the arrow A direction and an upstream end in the arrow B direction at the periphery of the plate body 94. Yes. Further, the combustible gas flow path forming plate 90 is extended along the arrow B direction from a corner portion 96A in which the combustible side plate portion 94A and the combustion support side plate portion 94B of the outer wall 96 form an acute angle, and the combustion support side plate portion 94B. A gas interval wall 98 that separates the (supporting gas inlet 60B) and the mixing plate portion 94C (the combustible gas dividing flow path 66) is provided. On the other hand, the combustion support gas flow path forming plate 92 extends from the corner portion 96A of the outer wall 96 along the direction of the arrow A, and combustible side plate portion 94A (combustible gas inlet 60A) and mixing plate portion 94C (supporting gas split flow). A gas spacing wall 100 is provided separating the channel 68).

  In this embodiment, a notch portion 102 as a communication path constituting the adjacent gas mixing portion 76 is formed in the downstream portion of the mixing plate portion 94 </ b> C in the direction of arrow A in the combustible gas flow path forming plate 90. Accordingly, the combustible gas flow path forming plate 90 forms an adjacent unit 74 with the combustion support gas flow path forming plate 92 adjacent to the lower side (plate body 94 side) thereof, and the combustible gas divided flow path 66 is formed by the notch 102. And the combustion supporting gas dividing flow path 68 constitute an adjacent gas mixing section 76.

  Further, in this embodiment, the combustible gas flow path forming plate 90 is elongated along the arrow B direction, and is erected on the same side as the outer wall 96 from the plate body 94 so that the combustible gas divided flow paths 66 pass through a plurality of parallel flows. A flow path interval wall 104 that is divided into paths 66A is provided. The upstream end of the flow path interval wall 104 is the upstream edge of the combustible side plate portion 94 </ b> A in the direction of arrow B, and the downstream end is the upstream edge of the notch 102. Similarly, the combustion support gas flow path forming plate 92 is elongated along the direction of the arrow A, and is erected on the same side as the outer wall 96 from the plate body 94 so that the combustion support gas divided flow paths 68 are arranged in a plurality of parallel flow paths. A flow path interval wall 106 divided into 68A is provided. The upstream end of the channel space wall 106 is an upstream edge portion in the direction of arrow A of the combustion support side plate portion 94B, and the downstream end thereof is the downstream end of the mixing plate portion 94C. The parallel channels 66A and 68A divided by the channel spacing walls 104 and 106 have a so-called microchannel structure. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which extended the flow-path space | interval wall 104 by the side of combustible gas to the downstream edge part of the notch part 102. FIG. In that case, it is preferable to arrange in parallel from the upstream edge part of the notch part 102 to the downstream edge part in the flow-path space | interval wall 104 so that the flow-path space | interval wall 106 may be contact | connected.

  By laminating the combustible gas flow path forming plate 90 and the combustion support gas flow path forming plate 92 described above alternately and airtightly joining them, the laminated core 88 formed with the gas flow dividing portion 70 and the divided mixing portion 75 is formed. The gas mixer 60 is configured by accommodating the laminated core 88 in the mixer main body 80.

  In summary, the gas mixer 60 is introduced from the combustible gas inlet 60 </ b> A to the combustible gas dividing flow paths 66 formed in the laminated core 88 through the combustible gas introduction pipe section 82, and the notch 102, that is, the adjacent gas mixing section 76. The anode off-gas Ga (see FIG. 2) that has reached to the cooling off-gas Gr flowing through each of the support gas dividing flow paths 68 into the laminated core 88 from the support gas inlet 60B through the support gas introduction pipe 84 is mixed with adjacent gas. The unit 76 is joined and mixed. Further, in the gas mixer 60, the mixed gas Gm in which the anode off gas Ga and the cooling off gas Gr are mixed in each adjacent gas mixing unit 76 of the divided mixing unit 75 is further mixed in the expansion mixing unit 78, or evenly mixed. It is fed to the heating part 48 while maintaining the state.

  Further, the gas mixer 60 has a pressure loss of the anode off gas in the gas mixer 60 when the flow rate of the anode off gas and the flow rate of the cooling off gas are a constant flow rate ratio (when the combustion stoichiometry is substantially constant). The size and shape of each part are determined so that the pressure loss of the cooling off gas is substantially constant. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the flow path length La from the combustible gas inlet 60 </ b> A of the combustible gas dividing channel 66 to the adjacent gas mixing unit 76, and the supporting gas inlet of the supporting gas dividing channel 68. The channel length Lr from 60B to the adjacent gas mixing unit 76 is set to be the same. Further, considering that the cooling off gas has a larger flow rate than the anode off gas, the flow direction of the cooling off gas is a straight line along the arrow A.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  In the fuel cell system 12 including the hydrogen generator 10 having the above-described configuration, the hydrogen generated by the reforming reaction performed by the reformer 46 while receiving heat from the heater 48 in the reformer 45 of the hydrogen generator 10. The contained fuel gas is supplied to the anode flow path 16 of the fuel cell 14 through the fuel gas supply line 56. Cathode air from the cathode air pump 34 is constantly supplied to the cathode flow path 18 of the fuel cell 14 through the cathode air supply line 36. In the fuel cell 14, hydrogen in the fuel gas introduced into the anode flow path 16 is protonated at the anode 22C (hydrogen molecule dissociation layer 28), and the protons pass through the hydrogen separation membrane 30 to the electrolyte membrane 22A. Then, it further moves to the cathode 22B. Along with this movement of protons, electrons flow from the anode 22C (separator 26) to the cathode (separator 24) through the external conductor to generate power. At the cathode 22B, protons react with oxygen introduced into the cathode channel 18 to generate water (water vapor). Further, at this time, the fuel cell 14 is cooled by the cooling air of the cooling air pump 40 supplied through the refrigerant line 42, the temperature rise due to power generation (exothermic reaction) is prevented, and the operation temperature is maintained in a certain range. Is done.

  Then, the cathode offgas containing water vapor generated at the cathode 22B as described above is joined to the raw material supply line 54 via the cathode offgas line 38, and together with the hydrocarbon raw material from the raw material pump 52, as a reforming gas, the reforming section. 46. In the reforming unit 46, the reforming reaction including the reactions of the above formulas (1) to (4) is performed by bringing the hydrocarbon raw material and the cathode offgas (the water vapor and oxygen thereof) into contact with the reforming catalyst. A fuel gas containing carbon monoxide or the like is generated, and this fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell 14 as described above.

  In addition, the anode off gas of the fuel cell 14 is introduced into the combustible gas introduction pipe portion 82 of the gas mixer 60 through the anode off gas line 58, and the cooling off gas of the fuel cell 14 is supported by the gas mixer 60 through the cooling off gas line 44. The gas is introduced into the gas introduction pipe portion 84. The anode off-gas and the cooling off-gas are each divided into a minute flow having a stable concentration distribution independently in the gas flow dividing unit 70 and premixed in the adjacent gas mixing unit 76. At this time, as schematically shown in FIG. 2, a shearing force acts on the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr passing through a large number of microchannels that are flat in cross section, and the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr. And a high shearing force acts on the adjacent gas mixing part 76 (communication space) based on the difference in the protruding flow velocity. For this reason, the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr protruding to the adjacent gas mixing section 76 diffuse in the flow direction or form vortices and efficiently mix with the counterpart gas to become the mixed gas Gm.

  Further, the mixed gas Gm protruding from each adjacent gas mixing section 76 to the expansion mixing section 78 diffuses or forms vortices in the expansion mixing section 78 and is mixed more uniformly (at least maintaining a good mixed state). While being fed downstream. The mixed gas Gm mixed in the gas mixer 60 is introduced into the heating unit 48 and contacts the oxidation catalyst 49 to cause catalytic combustion. The heat generated by the catalytic combustion is supplied to the adjacent reforming unit 46 through the partition wall 50, and the reforming reaction that is an endothermic reaction in the reforming unit 46 is maintained. That is, hydrogen supply to the fuel cell 14 and power generation by the fuel cell 14 are maintained. The combustion exhaust gas generated by the heating unit 48 is purified by the exhaust unit 64 introduced via the exhaust gas line 62 and exhausted outside the system.

  Here, since the hydrogen generator 10 is provided with the gas mixer 60 that mixes the anode off-gas and the cooling off-gas before being supplied to the heating unit 48, the anode off-gas and the anode off-gas are compared with the configuration without such a mixer. The mixing time with the cooling off gas, that is, the gas residence time in which the anode off gas and the cooling off gas are in contact with each other in the gas phase due to the mixing before the contact with the oxidation catalyst 49 is shortened.

  In particular, in the gas mixer 60, the anode off-gas and the cooling off-gas, which are divided into a large number of microstreams independently (before mixing), first form a common adjacent unit 74 in the adjacent gas mixing section 76 (adjacent). The flow rate balance (flow rate ratio) has little variation in the portion of the same flow rate distribution between the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr because the counter flow gas and the counterpart gas having a stable concentration distribution in the flow path are premixed with each other. ) Is mixed well.

  In addition, since the gas flow dividing section 70 of the gas mixer 60 is configured by alternately laminating a large number of combustible gas dividing flow paths and combustion supporting gas dividing flow paths each formed in a flat shape, A high shearing force acts on the anode offgas Ga and the cooling offgas Gr, and further, a shearing force due to a difference in the protruding speed to the adjacent gas mixing unit 76 acts, so that these gases are mixed more efficiently. That is, the mixed gas Gm of the adjacent gas mixing unit 76 is locally a collection of minute mixed gases that have a microscopically secured mixing ratio that substantially matches the macroscopic mixing ratio of the anode offgas Ga and the cooling offgas Gr. Mix very uniformly without the presence of high concentration parts.

  Here, in the gas mixer 60, the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr are symmetrical with respect to the merged portion because the anode off-gas Ga merges at a predetermined angle with the cooling off-gas Gr that flows linearly in plan view. It has been experimentally confirmed that the gas mixing performance is improved as compared with the configuration in which the flows are joined together. As described above, in the gas mixer 60, uniform mixing of the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr is easily promoted, and a portion having a locally high combustible gas concentration is generated in the mixed gas Gm before being supplied to the heating unit 48. It is suppressed. In this embodiment, the concentration distribution of the combustible component of the mixed gas Gm is realized within ± 5%.

  Furthermore, since the gas divided into minute amounts is mixed by the action of high shearing force as described above, the spatial distance and mixing time required for the uniform mixing of the anode off gas and the cooling off gas, that is, the gas phase of the mixed gas. Stay time is shortened. For this reason, in the hydrogen generator 10 to which the gas mixer 60 is applied, the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr can be passed through the gas mixer 60 in a short time, and the anode off-gas (combustible component therein) self Ignition can be suppressed. As a result, in the hydrogen generator 10, the anode off-gas introduced into the gas mixer 60 (heating unit 48) at 400 ° C. to 500 ° C. comes into contact with the cooling off-gas having a temperature in the same region to cause a gas phase accompanying self-ignition. Generation of combustion is suppressed. Further, even if gas phase combustion occurs, the anode off gas and the cooling off gas are uniformly mixed by the gas mixer 60, so that a portion having an extremely high concentration of combustible components does not occur. The combustion temperature accompanying vapor phase combustion of is suppressed.

  Thus, in the gas mixer 60 according to the first embodiment, the anode off-gas and the cooling off-gas having different compositions can be uniformly mixed. Further, in the hydrogen generator 10 to which the gas mixer 60 is applied, self-ignition of the anode off gas can be prevented.

  Further, in the gas mixer 60, the anode off-gas and the cooling off-gas are well mixed in the adjacent gas mixing unit 76 as described above. Therefore, even if the enlarged mixing unit 78 is tapered, the flow path cross-section has a constant mixing space. Compared with the mixer of the comparative example in which unmixed anode off gas and cooling off gas flow out from each combustible gas dividing channel 66 and supporting gas dividing channel 68, the overall mixing performance is maintained and improved. And the gas mixer 60 uses the taper-shaped expansion mixing part 78, and sets the cross section of the gas flow division | segmentation part 70 (lamination | stacking core 88) small compared with the cross section of the heating part 48 (manifold). As a result, the overall configuration is compact.

  In this embodiment, the performance is inferior to that of the gas mixer 60 (within ± 10% in the concentration distribution of the combustible component). Compared with the mixer according to the comparative example, the flow cross-sectional area of the gas flow dividing unit 70 is approximately. It was possible to reduce the size and weight to ¼, the total mass to about ３. As a result, the gas mixer 60 has a reduced heat capacity and a reduced surface area, contributing to an improvement in the startability of the applied hydrogen generator 10 and reducing its own heat dissipation loss.

  Further, in the gas mixer 60, when the flow rate of the anode off gas and the flow rate of the cooling off gas have a constant flow rate ratio (when the combustion stoichiometry is substantially constant), the pressure loss of the anode off gas in the gas mixer 60 is Since the pressure loss of the cooling off gas is substantially constant, the supply pressures of both the anode off gas and the cooling off gas can be reduced, and the operating pressure of the entire system can be reduced to improve the energy efficiency.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Parts and portions that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment or the previous configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment or the previous configuration, and the description thereof is omitted. May be omitted.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the gas mixer 110 according to the second embodiment. As shown in this figure, the gas mixer 110 includes a guide portion 112 that guides the anode off gas Ga of the combustible gas dividing channel 66 to the side of the combustion supporting gas dividing channel 68 constituting the same adjacent unit 74. It is different from the gas mixer 60 according to the first embodiment. The guide portion 112 is configured by closing the combustible gas dividing flow channel 66 in the arrow A direction on the downstream side of the upstream edge portion 102A of the notch portion 102.

  As a result, the anode off-gas Ga flowing in the direction of arrow A and hitting the guide portion 112 is forcibly pushed into the combustion-supporting gas dividing flow path 68 side. For example, the guide portion 112 may be configured as a wall portion continuous to the outer wall 96 or may be configured by attaching another member. Other configurations of the gas mixer 110 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the gas mixer 60, including portions not shown.

  Therefore, in the gas mixer 110 according to the second embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as that of the gas mixer 60 according to the first embodiment. When a portion different from the gas mixer 60 is supplemented by the action of the gas mixer 110, the guide portion 112 is provided in the gas mixer 110, and therefore, the anode off gas Ga mainly collides with the cooling off gas Gr (speed vector). As a result, a good mixing performance equivalent to the case where the shearing force resulting from the difference in protrusion speed between the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr is used is realized.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 7 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the gas mixer 120 according to the third embodiment. As shown in this figure, the gas mixer 120 is different from the second embodiment in that it includes a guide portion 122 having the same function instead of the guide portion 112. The guide portion 122 has a taper surface 122A in which the upstream surface in the direction of arrow A faces both the upstream side and the combustion support gas dividing flow path 68, and the anode off gas Ga is smoothly transferred to the support gas dividing flow path 68. It is designed to guide you. The other configuration of the gas mixer 120 is the same as the corresponding configuration of the gas mixer 110, including the parts not shown.

  Therefore, in the gas mixer 120 according to the third embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as that of the gas mixer 110 according to the second embodiment. Moreover, in the gas mixer 120, since the guide part 122 has the taper surface 122A, peeling of the anode off gas Ga is prevented, and the anode off gas Ga collides with the cooling off gas Gr with a uniform distribution and is mixed well. Moreover, pressure loss can be reduced.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 8 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the gas mixer 130 according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in this figure, the gas mixer 130 is different from the second embodiment in that a guide part 132 for guiding the mixed gas Gm to the combustible gas dividing channel 66 side is provided downstream of the guide part 112. Is different. The guide part 132 is configured by closing the combustion support gas dividing flow path 68 in the arrow A direction on the downstream side of the guide part 112. That is, in the gas mixer 130, a multistage guide portion is formed.

  As a result, the mixed gas Gm flowing in the direction of the arrow A and hitting the guide portion 132 is pushed into the combustible gas dividing channel 66 side. For example, the guide portion 132 may be configured as a wall portion continuous with the outer wall 96 or may be configured by attaching another member. The other configuration of the gas mixer 130 is the same as the corresponding configuration of the gas mixer 110, including the parts not shown.

  Therefore, in the gas mixer 130 according to the fourth embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as that of the gas mixer 110 according to the second embodiment. Further, in the gas mixer 130, since the mixing flow path in the adjacent gas mixing unit 76 of the adjacent unit 74 is long, the anode off gas Ga and the cooling off gas Gr are well mixed before flowing out to the expansion mixing unit 78.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 9 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the gas mixer 140 according to the fifth embodiment. As shown in this figure, the gas mixer 140 includes a guide part 142 for guiding the anode off gas Ga to the combustion supporting gas dividing flow path 68 side, and a guide part 144 for guiding the cooling off gas Gr to the combustible gas dividing flow path 66 side. Are different from the second embodiment in that they are provided at the same position in the arrow A direction.

  The guide parts 142 and 144 are configured by closing substantially half of the combustible gas dividing flow path 66 and substantially half of the combustion supporting gas dividing flow path 68, respectively, and between the guide parts 142 and 144, the anode off gas Ga and The cooling off gas Gr is mixed. Also with this configuration, the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr cross the velocity vectors, and are directly collided and mixed. The other configuration of the gas mixer 140 is the same as the corresponding configuration of the gas mixer 110, including the parts not shown.

  Therefore, in the gas mixer 130 according to the fifth embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as that of the gas mixer 110 according to the second embodiment.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 10 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the gas mixer 150 according to the sixth embodiment. As shown in this figure, the gas mixer 150 is different from the fifth embodiment in that it includes guide portions 152 and 154 having the same function instead of the guide portions 142 and 144. The guide portion 152 has a tapered surface 152A in which the upstream side in the direction of arrow A faces both the upstream side and the combustion support gas dividing flow path 68, and the anode off gas Ga is smoothly supplied to the combustion support gas dividing flow path 68 side. To guide you. Similarly, the function guide section 154 has a tapered surface 154A whose upstream surface in the direction of arrow A faces both the upstream side and the combustible gas dividing channel 66 side, so that the cooling off gas Gr can be smoothly divided into the combustible gas dividing flow. Guide to the road 66 side. Other configurations of the gas mixer 150 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the gas mixer 140, including parts not shown.

  Therefore, in the gas mixer 150 according to the sixth embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as that of the gas mixer 140 according to the fifth embodiment. Further, in the gas mixer 150, since the guide portions 152 and 154 have the tapered surfaces 152A and 154A, separation of the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr is prevented, and the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr have a uniform distribution. Collisions and mix well. Moreover, pressure loss can be reduced.

(Seventh embodiment)
FIG. 11 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the gas mixer 160 according to the seventh embodiment. As shown in this figure, the gas mixer 160 has two combustible gas dividing flow paths instead of the adjacent unit 74 constituted by one combustible gas dividing flow path 66 and one supporting gas dividing flow path 68. It differs from 1st, 2nd embodiment by the point provided with the adjacent unit 162 of the 3 layer structure which pinched | interposed the one combustion support gas division | segmentation flow path 68 between 66. FIG.

  In the adjacent unit 162, 112 (or 122) may be provided on the downstream end sides of the two combustible gas dividing channels 66, so that the anode off-gas Ga of each combustible gas dividing channel 66 is supplied to the supporting gas dividing channel 68. It is guided to collide with the cooling off gas Gr. For this reason, in the adjacent unit 162, the plate main bodies 94 of the combustible gas flow path forming plate 90 and the combustible gas flow path forming plate 92 that partition the combustible gas divided flow path 68 and the combustible gas divided flow path 66 at the center in the stacking direction. Are not formed in each of the plate main bodies 94 of the combustible gas flow path forming plate 90 and the combustion supporting gas flow path forming plate 92 that partition between the adjacent units 162. It is configured.

  In the gas mixer 160 described above, the mixing mechanism of the anode off gas Ga and the cooling off gas Gr is the same as that of the gas mixers 110 and 120. Other configurations of the gas mixer 160 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the gas mixers 60 and 110 together with portions not shown.

  Therefore, in the gas mixer 160 according to the seventh embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as that of the gas mixer 110 according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, an example in which the adjacent unit 162 having the three-layer structure including the two combustible gas dividing flow paths 66 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. You may comprise the adjacent unit of the 3 layer structure which pinched | interposed the one combustible gas division | segmentation flow path 66 with the path | route 68. FIG. With this configuration, it is possible to disperse the cooling off-gas Gr having a large flow rate in a large number of the combustion-supporting gas dividing flow paths 68 and to make the pressure loss between the anode off-gas Ga and the cooling off-gas Gr constant.

(Eighth embodiment)
FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a combustible gas flow path forming plate 90 and a combustion support gas flow path forming plate 92 constituting a gas mixer 170 according to the eighth embodiment. As shown in these figures, the combustible gas flow path forming plate 90 and the support gas flow path forming plate 92 have a space W1 between the flow path interval walls 104 that further divides the combustible gas divided flow path 66 so that the combustion support gas flows. It is set narrower than the interval W2 between the channel interval walls 106 that further divide the division channel 68. With this setting, in the gas mixer 170, when the flow rate of the anode off-gas and the flow rate of the cooling off-gas have a constant flow rate ratio (when the combustion stoichiometry is substantially constant), the pressure of the anode off-gas in the gas mixer 60 The size and shape of each part are determined so that the loss and the pressure loss of the cooling off gas are substantially constant. Other configurations of the gas mixer 170 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the gas mixer 60, including parts not shown.

  Therefore, in the gas mixer 160 according to the eighth embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as that of the gas mixer 60 according to the first embodiment.

  Comparing the gas mixing performance of the gas mixers 60 to 170 having the configurations according to the respective embodiments described above, the gas mixer 60 according to the first embodiment is the best, and then the gas mixing according to the second embodiment. The vessel 110 was good and the performance of the remaining gas mixers 120-170 was nearly equivalent.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the gas mixer 60 or the like is applied to the hydrogen generator 10 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applied to a mixer for various uses. Can do.

It is a top view which shows the internal structure of the mixer which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows typically the gas mixing state by the mixer which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the flow-path division | segmentation structure of the mixer which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of a fuel cell system to which a hydrogen supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is typical sectional drawing of the fuel cell single cell which receives supply of fuel gas from the hydrogen supply apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which expands and shows the principal part of the mixer which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which expands and shows the principal part of the mixer which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which expands and shows the principal part of the mixer which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which expands and shows the principal part of the mixer which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which expands and shows the principal part of the mixer which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which expands and shows the principal part of the mixer which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the lamination | stacking plate which comprises the mixer which concerns on the 8th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Hydrogen generator 46 Reforming part 48 Heating part 60 Gas mixer 66 Combustible gas division | segmentation flow path (1st flow path)
68 Combustion gas split flow path (second flow path)
70 Gas flow division part (gas introduction part)
74 Adjacent unit (unit adjacent channel)
76 Adjacent gas mixing section 80 Mixer body (gas introduction section)
90 Combustible gas flow path forming plate (partition plate)
92 Supporting gas flow path forming plate (partition plate)
94 Plate body (partition plate)
102 Notch (communication path)
104 Channel spacing wall (first partition)
106 Channel spacing wall (second partition)
110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170 Gas mixer 112, 122, 132, 142, 144, 152, 154 Guide unit 162 Adjacent unit (unit adjacent channel unit)

Claims (9)

By laminating a plurality of partition plates, a unit adjacent flow in which a first gas channel for introducing a first gas and a second gas channel for introducing a second gas are adjacent to each other via the partition plate A gas introduction portion in which a plurality of passage portions are formed;
In each unit adjacent flow path portion constituting the gas introduction section, the downstream end portion of the first gas flow path and the downstream end portion of the second gas flow path are provided in communication with each other. An adjacent gas mixing section for mixing the first gas in the first gas flow path and the second gas in the second gas flow path;
With gas mixer.   Each adjacent gas mixing section is provided on the downstream end side of the partition plate that partitions the first gas flow path and the second gas flow path forming the unit adjacent flow path section. The gas mixer of Claim 1 comprised including the communicating path which connects a 1st gas flow path and a 2nd gas flow path.   3. The gas mixer according to claim 2, wherein each of the adjacent gas mixing portions is disposed on the downstream side with respect to the communication path and includes gas guiding means for guiding the first gas to the second gas side.   The gas introduction unit includes a gas flow direction in which the first gas flow channel introduces the first gas into the adjacent gas mixing unit, and a gas in which the second gas flow channel introduces the second gas into the adjacent gas mixing unit. The gas mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flow direction is set differently. The gas introduction part is
The first gas flow path is disposed so that the gas flow direction is a straight line between the adjacent gas mixing portion and the gas merging portion when viewed from the stacking direction,
The gas mixer according to claim 4, wherein the second gas channel is formed in a linear shape that forms an acute angle with the first gas channel.   The gas introduction unit is set so that the pressure loss of the first gas flow path and the pressure loss of the second gas flow path coincide with each other when the flow rate ratio between the first gas and the second gas is a predetermined value. The gas mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:   The gas introduction part includes a distance from the gas inlet of the first gas to the gas merging part or the adjacent gas mixing part, and a distance from the gas inlet of the second gas to the gas merging part or the adjacent gas mixing part. The gas mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein channel lengths of the first gas channel and the second gas channel are set so that a ratio is constant.   The gas introduction part extends in the stacking direction and the gas flow direction of the first gas, and extends in the stacking direction and the gas flow direction of the second gas, and a plurality of first partitions that partition the first gas flow path. A plurality of second partition walls that divide the second gas flow path, and the pressure loss of the first gas flow path when the flow rate ratio of the first gas and the second gas is a predetermined value; The gas mixer according to claim 6 or 7, wherein an interval between the first partition walls and an interval between the second partition walls are set so that the pressure loss of the second gas flow path coincides. A reforming unit that performs a reforming reaction to generate a hydrogen-containing gas from the supplied reforming raw material;
A heating unit for supplying heat generated by burning the supplied fuel to the reforming unit as heat for proceeding with the reforming reaction;
Either one of the fuel and combustion supporting gas for burning the fuel is used as the first gas and the other is used as the second gas, and a mixed gas of the fuel and the combustion supporting gas is supplied to the heating unit. A gas mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 8 applied for
A hydrogen generation apparatus comprising:

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