Burner for hydrogen generation system and hydrogen generation system having the same

Abstract

To provide a burner for a hydrogen generation system having an excellent combustion stability which can be achieved at low costs, and a hydrogen generation system having such a burner. A burner for hydrogen generation systems according to the present invention includes a combustion chamber that has a taper that enlarges in a flame radiation direction, and a distributor having an upper-stage gas injection ports for injecting utility gas and off-gas into the combustion chamber. Air injection ports are formed in the tapered side wall of the combustion chamber for injecting combustion air into the combustion chamber. The air injection ports are generally opposed to the upper-stage gas injection ports formed in the distributor.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A burner for a hydrogen generation system comprising: 
 a combustion chamber that has a taper that enlarges in a flame radiation direction; and    a distributor that is placed in said combustion chamber to supply to said combustion chamber a fuel gas containing a compound made up of at least carbon and hydrogen and an off-gas that is released from a fuel cell, said distributor being projected in the flame radiation direction,    said combustion chamber having multiple combustion air injection ports formed in said combustion chamber to inject combustion air into said combustion chamber,    said distributor having multiple gas injection ports formed in said distributor to inject the fuel gas and the off-gas into said combustion chamber,    at least some of the combustion air injection ports and at least some of the gas injection ports being arranged in such a manner that a jet flow of the combustion air collides with jet flows of the fuel gas and the off-gas.    
     
     
         2 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the combustion air injection ports and the gas injection ports that are arranged to achieve the collision are aligned with each other in a generally colinear manner from the perspective of the flame radiation direction.  
     
     
         3 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the combustion air injection ports that are arranged to achieve the collision are formed in the tapered side wall of said combustion chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the combustion air injection ports that are arranged to achieve the collision are formed in the tapered side wall of said combustion chamber, the combustion air injection ports being passed through the side wall in a direction generally perpendicular to the side wall, and wherein the gas injection ports that are arranged to achieve the collision is passed through said distributor in a direction generally perpendicular to said distributor.  
     
     
         5 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the combustion air injection ports that are arranged to achieve the collision are formed in the bottom wall of said combustion chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the combustion air injection ports that are arranged to achieve the collision are formed in the tapered side wall of said combustion chamber and in the bottom wall of said combustion chamber.  
     
     
         7 . A burner for a hydrogen generation system comprising: 
 a combustion chamber that has a taper that enlarges in a flame radiation direction; and    a distributor that is placed in said combustion chamber to supply to said combustion chamber a fuel gas and an off-gas that is released from a fuel cell, said distributor being projected in the flame radiation direction,    said combustion chamber having multiple combustion air injection ports formed in the tapered side wall of said combustion chamber to inject combustion air into said combustion chamber,    said distributor having multiple gas injection ports formed in said distributor to inject the fuel gas and the off-gas into said combustion chamber,    at least some of the combustion air injection ports and at least some of the gas injection ports being generally opposed to each other.    
     
     
         8 . The burner as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the combustion air injection ports that are generally opposed are formed in the tapered side wall of said combustion chamber, the combustion air injection ports being passed through the side wall in a direction generally perpendicular to the side wall, and wherein the gas injection ports that are generally opposed are passed through said distributor in a direction generally perpendicular to said distributor.  
     
     
         9 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1  or  7 , wherein a taper angle of said combustion chamber is in a range of from 10 degrees to 90 degrees, both inclusive.  
     
     
         10 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1  or  7 , wherein the combustion air injection ports are arranged in such a manner that a larger amount of the combustion air is injected into said combustion chamber on the downstream side than on the upstream side of said combustion chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The burner as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the density of the combustion air injection ports is higher on the downstream side than on the upstream side of said combustion chamber.  
     
     
         12 . The burner as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the diameter of the combustion air injection ports is larger on the downstream side than on the upstream side of said combustion chamber.  
     
     
         13 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1  or  7 , wherein the gas injection ports comprising a first gas injection port and a second gas injection port, the first gas injection port being for injecting the fuel gas, and the second gas injection port being for injecting the off-gas, the second gas injection port being located downstream of said combustion chamber relative to the first gas injection port.  
     
     
         14 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1  or  7 , wherein said combustion chamber is formed by pressing or draw-pressing a sheet-like material.  
     
     
         15 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1  or  7 , wherein said combustion chamber is cylindrical in shape having a flange member that is projected outward in the radial direction, the flange member having a turned-up portion along the periphery thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1  or  7 , further comprising: 
 an electrode that is placed in said combustion chamber; and  
 a flame detection circuit that is connected to said electrode.  
 
     
     
         17 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1  or  7 , further comprising: 
 an electrode that is placed in said combustion chamber; and  
 a flame ignition circuit that is connected to said electrode.  
 
     
     
         18 . The burner as claimed in  claim 1  or  7 , further comprising: 
 an electrode that is placed in said combustion chamber;  
 a flame detection circuit and a flame ignition circuit that are connected to said electrode; and  
 a switch circuit that is used to switch the connection between said electrode and said flame detection circuit and the connection between said electrode and said flame ignition circuit.  
 
     
     
         19 . The burner as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said electrode is projected from the center of said distributor in the flame radiation direction.  
     
     
         20 . A hydrogen generation system comprising: 
 a reformer for generating a reformed gas that contains hydrogen by reforming a feed material that contains a compound made up of at least carbon and hydrogen; and    a burner for a hydrogen generation system according to  claim 1  or  7 .