Hydrogen generator and fuel cell system
View Patent ↗A hydrogen generator includes: a tubular reformer configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction using a material gas; a CO reducer configured to reduce carbon monoxide contained in the hydrogen-containing gas generated in the reformer; a tubular hydro-desulfurizer provided at an outer periphery of the reformer and configured to remove a sulfur compound contained in the material gas; and a material gas supply passage through which the material gas to be supplied to the hydro-desulfurizer flows. The material gas supply passage is configured to perform heat exchange with the CO reducer, and a material gas inlet port of the hydro-desulfurizer is provided at an end surface closer to the CO reducer.
1. A hydrogen generator comprising:
a tubular reformer configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction using a material gas;
a CO reducer configured to reduce carbon monoxide contained in the hydrogen-containing gas generated in the reformer;
a tubular hydro-desulfurizer provided at an outer periphery of the reformer and configured to remove a sulfur compound contained in the material gas; and
a material gas supply passage through which the material gas and the hydrogen-containing gas to be supplied to the hydro-desulfurizer flows, wherein an output of the reformer is fluidly coupled to the material gas supply passage, wherein:
the material gas supply passage is configured to perform heat exchange with the CO reducer;
the hydro-desulfurizer has one end surface and another end surface; and
a material gas inlet port of the hydro-desulfurizer is provided at the one end surface closer to the CO reducer than the another end surface.
2. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1 , wherein:
the reformer has one end surface and another end surface;
a material gas inlet port of the reformer is provided at the one end surface of the reformer closer to the CO reducer than the another end surface of the reformer; and
a material gas outlet port of the hydro-desulfurizer is provided at the one end surface of the tubular hydro-desulfurizer closer to the CO reducer than the another end surface of the tubular hydro-desulfurizer.
3. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the one end surface at which the material gas inlet port of the hydro-desulfurizer is provided includes a portion not overlapping the CO reducer when viewed from an axis direction of the hydro-desulfurizer.
4. The hydrogen generator according to claim 3 , wherein the material gas inlet port of the hydro-desulfurizer is provided at the portion not overlapping the CO reducer.
5. The hydrogen generator according to claim 4 , wherein a material gas outlet port of the hydro-desulfurizer is provided at the portion not overlapping the CO reducer.
6. The hydrogen generator according to claim 3 , wherein:
the CO reducer has a tubular shape; and
an outer diameter of the hydro-desulfurizer is larger than that of the CO reducer.
7. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1 , wherein:
the hydro-desulfurizer is provided under the CO reducer in a vertical direction;
the hydro-desulfurizer includes therein a hydrodesulfurization catalyst and a passage penetrating the hydrodesulfurization catalyst, the passage including a lower end having an opening that is open in the hydro-desulfurizer; and
an upper end of the passage is connected to any one of the material gas inlet port of the hydro-desulfurizer and a material gas outlet port of the hydro-desulfurizer.
8. A fuel cell system comprising:
the hydrogen generator according to claim 1 ; and
a fuel cell configured to generate electric power using the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the hydrogen generator.
9. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1 , wherein the hydro-desulfurizer overlaps the reformer in a direction perpendicular to an axis direction of the hydro-desulfurizer.