JP2003117380A - Gas generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably supply a gas by providing a gas generator provided with a control means for the discharge pressure of a produced gas in place of a conventional pressure controller to eliminate the decrease of supply pressure. SOLUTION: The gas generator is provided with a gas producing chamber 1 for producing the required gas by the mixture or reaction of gases and a leading pipe 2 for leading the gas produced in the gas producing chamber 1 to another place, and at least one buffer tank 3 in which the produced gas is once stored is provided in the mid-way of a discharge passage of the leading pipe 2. The stable discharge flow rate of the produced gas is secured regardless of the supply pressure by once storing the produced gas in the buffer tank 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a gas generator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a gas generator for electrolyzing water or water vapor to generate oxygen or hydrogen, generation control of the gas is controlled by oxygen or hydrogen generation pressure. Therefore, the pressure of the gas storage space (gas generation chamber) in the generator constantly fluctuates according to the generation status of the product gas (oxygen or hydrogen), and the flow rate of the supplied product gas also fluctuates. . Under such circumstances, stable supply of the generated gas is impossible, and as a countermeasure against this, a well-known pressure regulator (pressure reducing valve) is provided in the gas generator, and the generated gas is not supplied to other sources via the pressure regulator. There is something to supply to.

On the other hand, a gas generator for electrolyzing water or the like to generate oxygen or hydrogen may bring the electrolytic solution in the generator to the above pressure regulator due to its structure. Occasionally, things clogged up and stopped working. Therefore, the user is required to perform maintenance each time, and there is a fear that the operation of producing the target gas will be hindered.

In addition, a general pressure regulator which is usually used can exhibit its performance by reducing the pressure on the primary side (upstream side) due to its structure, and the primary side (upstream side) and the secondary side can be exerted. A pressure difference of at least 50 kPa or more is required between (downstream side). However, in the above-mentioned gas generator that electrolyzes water or the like to generate oxygen, hydrogen, or the like, in order to ensure safety or because of its structure, it is usually generated at a relatively low pressure. When the pressure is further reduced,
In some cases, the supply pressure was insufficient and a sufficient gas flow rate could not be secured.

[0005]

Therefore, the present invention is
Regarding the gas generator, by providing a gas generator equipped with means for adjusting the discharge pressure of the generated gas instead of the conventional pressure regulator, it is possible to eliminate the pressure reduction of the supply pressure and to supply a stable gas. The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems with almost no maintenance required.

[0006]

A gas generator according to a first invention of the present application is a gas generating chamber 1 for generating a desired gas by mixing gases or a chemical reaction, and a gas generated in the gas generating chamber 1. Is provided with a lead-out pipe 2 for guiding the
The following configuration is adopted. That is, at least one buffer tank 3 that can temporarily store the produced gas is provided in the middle of the discharge path of the outlet pipe 2.

In the gas generator according to the first aspect of the present invention which employs the above means, the generated gas is temporarily stored in the buffer tank 3 in the middle of the discharge path of the generated gas.
A stable discharge flow rate of the generated gas can be secured regardless of the supply pressure. That is, this device can maintain the pressure and discharge flow rate on the secondary side (downstream side) of the buffer tank 3 in a stable state against fluctuations in the pressure on the primary side (upstream side) of the buffer tank 3. it can. Even when utilizing electrolysis of water or the like to generate the target gas, the above-mentioned means used for stabilizing the pressure and the flow rate has a simple structure of the tank (buffer tank 3), and therefore the electrolytic solution Even if water is brought in, its ability is not impaired. Therefore, it is not damaged and requires almost no maintenance.

In the gas generator according to the second invention of the present application,
In the gas generator according to the first invention of the present application, the outlet pipe 2 includes a check valve on the upstream side of the buffer tank 3.

By adopting such means, the gas generator according to the second invention of the present application obtains the same operation as that of the gas generator according to the first invention of the present application, and by installing the check valve, The generated gas once stored in the buffer tank 3 can be reliably prevented from flowing back to the upstream side.

In the gas generator according to the third invention of the present application,
In the gas generator according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the above-mentioned buffer tanks 3 are arranged in series in the discharge path of the outlet pipe 2. .

In the third gas generating apparatus of the present application which employs the above means, it is necessary to house the gas generating apparatus according to the first or second invention of the present application in order to obtain the same operation and to stabilize the flow rate. Even if the volume of a certain product gas exceeds the volume required to ensure the safety of work, instead of preparing a buffer tank with such a high dangerous storage volume, the series By preparing a plurality of buffer tanks arranged in the above, it is possible to suppress the accommodation volume of each buffer tank and deal with it. Therefore, it was possible to secure safety and achieve both safety and stability of discharge pressure and flow rate.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a gas generator 100 according to the present invention.

The gas generator 100 includes a gas generating chamber 1
And a derivation pipe 2, a buffer tank 3, and a plurality of check valves 4.

In this embodiment, the gas generator 1
A gas header 5 is provided at 00. Further, the gas generator 100 includes a plurality of buffer tanks 3 ... 3 connected in series, that is, the first tank 3 connected in series.
Two buffer tanks a and the second tank 3b are provided. Also, regarding the check valve 4, according to the number of the buffer tanks and the installation of the gas header 5,
The three check valves of the valve 4a, the second valve 4b and the fourth valve 4c are
It is provided in the lead-out pipe 2. The configuration of each part will be described in detail below.

In the gas generating chamber 1, the gas or the liquid as the raw material is introduced from the other (the introduction means is omitted. Any known means may be used), and inside thereof, the gas or liquid is introduced. It is a room in which a gas or liquid as a raw material is reacted or a plurality of gases as raw materials are mixed to generate a desired gas. For example, it is possible to cause an electrolytic reaction in the gas generation chamber 1 to generate hydrogen and oxygen using water or steam as a raw material.

The lead-out pipe 2 is connected to the outside of the gas generating chamber 1. The lead-out pipe 2 discharges the gas generated in the gas generation chamber 1 from the gas generation chamber 1 to another. A metal pipe, a gas hose, or the like can be used as the lead-out pipe 2.

In this embodiment, the lead-out pipe 2
Is composed of a first pipe 2a, a second pipe 2b, and a third pipe 2c. Then, one end of the first pipe 2a is connected to the outside of the gas generation chamber 1. The other end of the first pipe 2a is connected to the first tank 13a. Further, one end of the second pipe 2b is connected to the first tank 3a. The other end of the second pipe 2b is connected to the second tank 3b. Further, the second tank 3b has a third
One end of the pipe 2c is connected.

The check valve 4 is provided on the supply side (primary side or upstream side) of the buffer tanks 3 ... 3, that is, on at least the upstream side of each tank of the first tank 3a and the second tank 3b. Specifically, the first valve 4a is provided in the first pipe 2a, and the second valve 4b is provided in the second pipe 2b.

The buffer tanks 3 ... 3, that is, the first tank 3a and the second tank 3b are cylindrical pressure resistant tanks, respectively. Reference numerals 6 and 7 in the figure denote automatic drains for automatic drainage provided in the first tank 3a and the second tank 3b.

The generated gas generated in the gas generating chamber 1 is temporarily stored in the first tank 3a via the first tank 3a and then discharged from the first tank 3a through the second pipe 2b.
The generated gas discharged from the first tank 3a is supplied to the second pipe 2
After being temporarily stored in the second tank 3b through the b, the third pipe 2
It is discharged from the second tank 3b at c. Second tank 3b
The produced gas discharged from is introduced into the gas header 5 through the third pipe 2c. The produced gas guided to the gas header 5 is supplied from this gas header 5 to the other. 8 in the figure
Shows a ball valve provided in the gas header 5 for adjusting the flow rate to the other. The gas header 5 is a gas take-out port and does not have a function of accumulating like a tank.

The storage capacity of the individual buffer tanks 3a and 3b does not exceed the safe storage capacity for containing the produced gas.
If necessary, the number of buffer tanks can be increased to cope with the situation. Specifically, the buffer tank 3
The storage capacity of each of a and 3b does not exceed 200 liters. However, the present invention is not limited to such a storage volume. For example, if there is no problem in terms of strength, durability and safety of the buffer tank, a buffer tank having a storage volume of more than 200 liters may be used. It is also possible to carry out by using.

In the above apparatus, the gas is consumed by opening the ball valve 8, and the pressures of the gas generation chamber 1 and the tanks of the buffer tanks 3 (3a, 3b) tend to be lowered. Since the gas generation chamber 1 is controlled by setting the upper limit and the lower limit of the generated pressure, gas is generated again when the pressure becomes equal to or lower than the pressure set as the lower limit. And
If the pressure exceeds the upper limit, the gas generation is stopped. Thus, the pressure of the gas generating chamber 1 is constantly changing, and the discharge flow rate is also changing accordingly. The supply means (discharging means) of this device effectively absorbs the instantaneous fluctuation of the generated pressure due to the gas generation in the plurality of pressure resistant tanks (buffer tanks 3), and further the fluctuation due to the pressure drop of the gas generation chamber 1. A plurality of check valves 4 prevent a possible backflow of gas, the pressure of the gas header can be kept substantially constant, and the fluctuation of the discharge flow rate is minimized.

As described above, the supply means provided in the device according to the present invention is composed of a plurality of connected tanks and a plurality of check valves, and is adapted to the fluctuation of the pressure on the supply side of the device without reducing the pressure. The pressure on the discharge side and the discharge flow rate can be stabilized, and it can be used for a long period of time and requires almost no maintenance. Designing with a pipe diameter and a check valve that can withstand the flow rate used eliminates the problems that have previously occurred without pressure loss. That is, in the pressure regulator by decompression conventionally used generally, the gas flow rate cannot be ensured due to insufficient discharge pressure, and the regulator itself is used for a long time, so This ability was sometimes lost, but this point was resolved.

In the above-described embodiment, the number of buffer tanks 3 and the number of check valves are each two, but these are
The present invention can be implemented with one each or with three or more. It is possible to change the number of the buffer tank 3 and the check valve according to the flow rate of the produced gas. In addition, the configuration of the lead-out pipe can be changed in accordance with the above change. If the required capacity can be secured, the same effect can be obtained even if the number of buffer tanks 3 is one or more. However, by using a plurality of buffer tanks 3, the capacity of each buffer tank 3 can be suppressed, and it is possible to adapt to the installation space.

The generated gas such as oxygen and hydrogen generated by this gas generator is used as a fuel for a general gas combustor, a gas cutting machine, etc. while being mixed with fossil fuel etc., if necessary. It can be widely applied to each application by separating it into oxygen gas or hydrogen gas.

To summarize the above-mentioned supply means (discharge means) for the generated gas, which is provided in this apparatus, the supply means prevents the reverse flow of gas, and prevents the gas on the discharge side from being affected by fluctuations in the primary pressure on the supply side. For the purpose of stabilizing the secondary pressure and the discharge flow rate, for example, when it is carried out in a gas generator that electrolyzes water or the like to generate oxygen, hydrogen, etc., the supply means, as described above, It is composed of a connected tank (buffer tank) and a check valve provided on either or both of the supply side and the discharge side. In particular, the provision of the check valve prevents the gas once stored in the plurality of tanks (buffer tanks) from flowing back. The supply means are
It is composed of multiple tanks and multiple check valves, and if the material and pressure resistance of the tank are the specifications of a normal pressure tank, the moisture such as the electrolytic solution from the gas generator will not flow to the supply device. Even if they are brought in, their ability will not be impaired. Further, the supply device is not damaged and maintenance is almost unnecessary.

[0027]

By implementing the first invention of the present application, a stable discharge pressure and discharge flow rate of the produced gas can be secured without using a pressure regulator such as a conventional pressure reducing valve. In particular, such a structure is realized with a simple structure that does not cause a problem with the mixing of electrolytes, and the labor required for maintenance, which has occurred in conventional pressure regulators that are vulnerable to mixing electrolytes, is greatly reduced, and gas production is improved. Significantly increased the efficiency of.

Further, by carrying out the second invention of the present application, the same effect as that of the first invention of the present application can be obtained and, together with the buffer tank, the backflow of the produced gas to the upstream side can be reliably prevented. Therefore, the safety of work can be further improved.

By carrying out the third invention of the present application, the same effect as that of the first or second invention of the present application can be obtained, and the volume of the whole produced gas which needs to be housed once in order to stabilize the flow rate is Even if the volume exceeds the volume required to ensure safety, the required safety can be reliably ensured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a gas generator according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 gas generation chamber 2 Outlet piping 3 buffer tanks

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A gas generation chamber (1) for generating a desired gas by mixing gases or a chemical reaction, and an outlet pipe (2) for guiding the gas generated in the gas generation chamber (1) to another. In the gas generator, at least one buffer tank (3) capable of temporarily accommodating the produced gas is provided in the middle of the discharge path of the outlet pipe (2). Generator. 2. The lead-out pipe (2) is the buffer tank.
The gas generator according to claim 1, further comprising a check valve on the upstream side of (3). 3. The gas generation according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the above-mentioned buffer tanks (3) are arranged in series in the discharge path of the outlet pipe (2). apparatus.