Method and Apparatus for Manufacturing Hydrogen-Containing Gas

23:

• A method for manufacturing a hydrogen-containing gas, comprising:
• a mixing step of mixing, in a mixing chamber, an oxygen-containing gas with a feed gas obtained by mixing steam with a hydrocarbon fuel;
• and
• a reformation step of guiding the mixed gas obtained in the mixing chamber into a catalytic reaction chamber via an antechamber provided on the upstream side of the catalytic reaction chamber and bringing the mixed gas into contact with at least one reforming catalyst and thereby obtaining a hydrogen-containing gas by means of a partial oxidation reaction and a steam reforming reaction, wherein the catalytic reaction chamber includes a first catalyst section in which is disposed a first reforming catalyst that has good low-temperature oxidation activity and a second catalyst section which is provided on the downstream side of the first catalyst section and in which is disposed a second reforming catalyst that has good reforming activity, and the mixed gas is introduced into the catalytic reaction chamber after the temperature of the antechamber has been set to at least a minimum partial-oxidation temperature and below a self-ignition temperature, where the self-ignition temperature is the temperature at which the mixed gas self-ignites during the advection period required for the mixed gas to move from the mixing chamber to the catalytic reaction chamber, and the minimum partial-oxidation temperature is the minimum temperature at which the first reforming catalyst undergoes the partial oxidation reaction.

31:

• An apparatus for manufacturing a hydrogen-containing gas, comprising:
• a mixing chamber in which an oxygen-containing gas is mixed with a feed gas obtained by mixing steam with a hydrocarbon fuel;
• a catalytic reaction chamber into which the mixed gas obtained in the mixing chamber is guided via an antechamber and brought into contact with at least one reforming catalyst and a hydrogen-containing gas is obtained by means of a partial oxidation reaction and a steam reforming reaction, the catalytic reaction chamber comprising, from the inlet side, a first catalyst section in which is disposed a first reforming catalyst that has good low-temperature oxidation activity, and a second catalyst section which is provided on the downstream side of the first catalyst section and in which is disposed a second reforming catalyst that has good reforming activity;
• and
• an antechamber temperature setting means for setting the temperature of the antechamber to at least a minimum partial-oxidation temperature and below a self-ignition temperature, where the self-ignition temperature is the temperature at which the mixed gas self-ignites during the advection period required for the mixed gas to move from the mixing chamber to the catalytic reaction chamber, and the minimum partial-oxidation temperature is the minimum temperature at which the first reforming catalyst undergoes the partial oxidation reaction.

39:

• A method for manufacturing a hydrogen-containing gas comprising:
• a mixing step of mixing, in a mixing chamber, an oxygen-containing gas with a feed gas obtained by mixing steam with a hydrocarbon fuel;
• and
• a reformation step of guiding the mixed gas obtained in the mixing chamber into a catalytic reaction chamber via an antechamber provided on the upstream side of the catalytic reaction chamber and bringing the mixed gas into contact with at least one reforming catalyst and thereby obtaining a hydrogen-containing gas by means of a partial oxidation reaction and a steam reforming reaction, wherein the catalytic reaction chamber includes a first catalyst section in which is disposed a ruthenium catalyst and a second catalyst section which is provided on the downstream side of the first catalyst section and in which is disposed a ruthenium catalyst in a state of higher concentration than the first catalyst section, the mixed gas is introduced into the catalytic reaction chamber after the temperature of the antechamber has been set to at least a minimum partial-oxidation temperature and below a self-ignition temperature, where the self-ignition temperature is the temperature at which the mixed gas self-ignites during the advection period required for the mixed gas to move from the mixing chamber to the catalytic reaction chamber and the minimum partial-oxidation temperature is the minimum temperature at which the first reforming catalyst undergoes the partial oxidation reaction, and the ruthenium concentration of the first catalyst section is set such that the first catalyst section outlet temperature will be at least the temperature at which the second catalyst section undergoes partial oxidation and no higher than the self-ignition temperature in a state in which the temperature of the antechamber has been set to at least the minimum partial-oxidation temperature and below the self-ignition temperature;
• and
• a step of providing a heat blocking layer with lower thermal conduction characteristics than the first catalyst section between the first catalyst section and the second catalyst section.

42:

• An apparatus for manufacturing a hydrogen-containing gas, comprising:
• a mixing chamber in which an oxygen-containing gas is mixed with a feed gas obtained by mixing steam with a hydrocarbon fuel;
• a catalytic reaction chamber into which the mixed gas obtained in the mixing chamber is guided via an antechamber and brought into contact with at least one reforming catalyst and a hydrogen-containing gas is obtained by means of a partial oxidation reaction and a steam reforming reaction, the catalytic reaction chamber comprising, from the inlet side, a first catalyst section in which is disposed a ruthenium catalyst and a second catalyst section which is provided on the downstream side of the first catalyst section and in which is disposed a ruthenium catalyst in a state of higher concentration than the first catalyst section, and the ruthenium concentration of the first catalyst section is set such that the first catalyst section outlet temperature will be at least the temperature at which the second catalyst section undergoes partial oxidation and no higher than the self-ignition temperature in a state in which the temperature of the antechamber has been set to at least the minimum partial-oxidation temperature and below the self-ignition temperature;
• an antechamber temperature setting means for setting the temperature of the antechamber to at least a minimum partial-oxidation temperature and below a self-ignition temperature, where the self-ignition temperature is the temperature at which the mixed gas self-ignites during the advection period required for the mixed gas to move from the mixing chamber to the catalytic reaction chamber and the minimum partial-oxidation temperature is the minimum temperature at which the first reforming catalyst undergoes the partial oxidation reaction;
• and
• a heat blocking layer with lower thermal conduction characteristics than the first catalyst section provided between the first catalyst section and the second catalyst section.