Description

HYDROGEN BURNER AND HEAT SUPPLY SYSTEM USING

THE SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a hydrogen burner which can prevent overheating of a nozzle thereof, yet enables effective heat transfer during combustion of hydrogen gas.

[2] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a heat supply system which employs the above-mentioned hydrogen burner and can use highly pure hydrogen gas as its heat source.

[3] More particularly, the present invention is characterized in that the heat supply system comprises the steps of: generating hydrogen gas using a raw material container, an electrolytic cell unit to generate hydrogen gas using electrolyte supplied from the raw material container, and a filtering unit to filter the hydrogen gas; storing the hydrogen gas in a hydrogen storage alloy through a heat conductive material within a storage space or directly supplying the hydrogen gas to a burner through a gas supply pipe; and igniting the hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen storage alloy or directly from the filtering unit through the gas supply pipe and burning the hydrogen gas using the burner, thus generating required heat calories.

[4] Furthermore, the burner is characterized in that it comprises a gas supply pipe, which is connected to a nozzle to form a rising current of air in the interior of the nozzle having a predetermined capacity, with a heat transfer part having increasing thickness integrally formed on the top end of the nozzle and a plurality of nozzle orifices formed through the heat transfer part such that the nozzle orifices can symmetrically divide the heat transfer part into two parts. Background Art

[5] Generally, hydrogen may be infinitely produced using water, which is a virtually unlimited resource, and may be restored to water after use. The hydrogen may be easily transported in a gaseous phase or a liquid phase and may be stored in a variety of states, for example, highly pressurized gas, liquidized hydrogen, or a metal hydride (hydrogen storage alloy).

[6] Furthermore, hydrogen may be used effectively in various industrial fields that use hydrogen as a basic industrial material or a raw material, or in various energy systems, such as a hydrogen vehicle, a hydrogen airplane or a fuel cell.

[7] Furthermore, hydrogen in a gas phase may be used for housing, heating and generation of electricity and may be used in place of conventional gas fuel.

[8] As an example of conventional techniques relating to hydrogen burners, a water mixture gas combustion burner, is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 249582. As shown in FIG. 1, this conventional water mixture gas combustion burner comprises a nozzle plate 120 having an internally threaded hole 121, and a combustion nozzle 130 having both an externally threaded part 132 and a flange 133 formed around the upper end of the threaded part 132.

[9] Furthermore, the combustion nozzle 130 comprises a tubular body 131, with a contact part 134 formed at the upper end of the tubular body 131. A nozzle pipe 110 is axially placed in the combustion nozzle 130 and is supported by the contact surface 135. An orifice 102 is formed through the sidewall of the nozzle pipe 110.

[10] However, the above-mentioned combustion burner is problematic in that it causes a reduction in pressure, so that it cannot show desired thermal characteristics of hydrogen. Furthermore, the nozzle of the burner can become overheated, which reduces durability of the parts of the burner and requires a complex assembly structure and an increased number of parts, and causes fuel to undesirably flow into the orifice due to a turbulent flow of gas, thereby causing sudden instantaneous explosions of the burner, causing safety hazards, and in that is difficult to control the pressure in the burner.

[11] Furthermore, hydrogen can be produced through electrolysis of elements or molecules of water. During electrolysis to produce hydrogen, a basic electrolyte is used as the electrolyte. Combustion of hydrogen discharges only water vapor, so that the hydrogen does not generate contaminants, thus its preference as a next- generation energy source.

[12] Furthermore, hydrogen is nontoxic so that, when hydrogen is discharged to the atmosphere it is harmless to human health. Hydrogen can be continuously produced by supplement of water, and is preferably used as a fuel in a variety of industrial fields, such as a fuel for hydrogen vehicles, a variety of thermal energy generation appliances, or boilers for home or industrial use.

[13] As an example of conventional hydrogen devices using hydrogen as a fuel, a hydrogen generator for fuel cells is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 427165.

[14] Furthermore, an example of conventional techniques using hydrogen as a fuel source for vehicles is referred to in Korean Patent Publication No. 245879, which discloses a fuel system for hydrogen vehicles and a method of controlling the fuel system.

[15] However, the conventional hydrogen devices using hydrogen as a fuel source are problematic in that the devices have been standardized according to the types of facilities using the devices, so that, when the devices are used in the facilities, the devices require additional units. Furthermore, the conventional hydrogen devices

cannot execute quick heating or quick cooling operations, so that additional units must be used to preheat or precool hydrogen prior to using stored hydrogen. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[16] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen burner that is configured to quickly cool its nozzle, thus preventing overheating of the nozzle and improving durability of the nozzle, and is easily fabricated using a minimum number of parts without requiring an additional assembly structure, and prevents sudden instantaneous explosions of the burner, thus reducing possibility of occurrence of safety hazards caused by explosions, and prevents overheating of the nozzle, yet enables effective heat transfer during combustion of fuel.

[17] Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat supply system using a hydrogen burner that can use hydrogen gas as a safe and economical energy source, and as a heat source at room temperature and low pressure, and for various applications requiring thermal energy, and which is configured as a small-sized structure having one of a variety of shapes, and as a portable structure, and which causes no harm to people during the combustion of hydrogen gas and discharges water after combustion so that the water can be recovered and reused as an energy source, and which has a prefabricated structure, thus being adapted for various purposes, and which allows a user to confirm the state of used electrolyte without failure, and in which a hydrogen generating unit, a hydrogen storage tank, and a nozzle are installed as separate parts, so that the parts may be used as individual elements. Technical Solution

[18] In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hydrogen burner, comprising: a nozzle connected to a gas supply pipe, so that a rising current of air is formed in the interior of the nozzle having a predetermined capacity, with a heat transfer part having increasing thickness integrally formed on the top end of the nozzle and a plurality of nozzle orifices formed through the heat transfer part such that the nozzle orifices can symmetrically divide the heat transfer part into parts.

[19] Furthermore, the present invention provides a heat supply system using the hydrogen burner, comprising the step of: producing hydrogen using a raw material container having an inlet port at the upper end of the container, an electrolytic cell unit to produce hydrogen using electrolyte supplied from the raw material container, and a filtering unit to filter the hydrogen;

[20] storing the hydrogen in a hydrogen storage alloy, which is contained in a storage

space of a hydrogen storage tank having therein heat conductive materials, or supplying the hydrogen to a burner through a gas supply pipe; and

[21] igniting and burning the hydrogen, which has been supplied from the hydrogen storage alloy or has been directly supplied from the filtering unit through the gas supply pipe, using a nozzle of the burner installed such that the nozzle efficiently ignites the hydrogen and efficiently emits heat, thus producing required heat calories.

Advantageous Effects

[22] As is apparent from the above descriptions, the present invention uses hydrogen as a safe and economical energy source, uses the hydrogen as a heat source at room temperature and low pressure, and may be efficiently adapted to a variety of applications requiring heat energy, and accomplishes smallness of a burner so that the burner can be configured as a variety of shapes and easily carried by a user.

[23] Furthermore, the hydrogen burner of this invention causes no harm to people during combustion of hydrogen gas and discharges water after combustion so that the water can be recovered and reused as an energy source. The burner has a prefabricated structure, thus being adapted for various purposes, and allows a user to confirm the state of used electrolyte without failure. Furthermore, the hydrogen generating unit, the hydrogen storage tank, and the nozzle are installed as separate parts, so that the parts may be used as individual elements.

[24] Furthermore, the present invention quickly cools the burner, thus preventing overheating of the burner and increasing durability of the burner. The burner is easily fabricated using a minimum number of parts without requiring an additional assembly structure. This invention prevents sudden instantaneous explosions of the burner, thus reducing possibility of occurrence of safety hazards caused by explosions, and prevents overheating of the nozzle, yet enables effective heat transfer during combustion of hydrogen.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[25] FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional water mixture gas combustion burner;

[26] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a combustion burner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[27] FIGS. 3 and 4 are a perspective view and a sectional view illustrating a combustion burner according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[28] FIGS. 5 through 7 are a perspective view and sectional views illustrating combustion burners according to further embodiments of the present invention;

[29] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a heat supply system using a burner according to the present invention;

[30] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state that the heat supply system using the burner according to the present invention is adapted to a practical application;

[31] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an important part of the heat supply system according to the present invention, in which a system coupling structure is illustrated in detail;

[32] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a hydrogen storage tank of the heat supply system according to the present invention;

[33] FIGS. 12 and 13 are sectional views illustrating an electrolytic cell unit and a filtering unit of the hydrogen storage tank of FIG. 11 ; and

[34] FIG. 14 is a sectional view illustrating a gas storage tank and a nozzle for the heat supply system according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[35] Hereafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[36] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a combustion burner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 4 are a perspective view and a sectional view illustrating a combustion burner according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawings, the burner 300 of the present invention comprises a cylindrical nozzle body 310, with upper and lower covers 320 and 350 coupled to the upper and lower ends of the body 310 and defining a predetermined annular space S in the body 310.

[37] Furthermore, a gas supply pipe 480 is connected to a sidewall of the cylindrical nozzle body 310 such that the pipe 480 is inclined downwards from the body 310.

[38] In the present invention, the upper cover 320 is preferably integrated with the cylindrical nozzle body 310 into a single structure.

[39] Furthermore, the upper cover 320 is integrally provided with a heat transfer part

360 having predetermined thickness to cause easy dissipation of heat during combustion of hydrogen.

[40] A plurality of nozzle orifices 390, which discharge hydrogen to the atmosphere, is formed through the heat transfer part 360, with an exposing depression 390' formed on the upper surface of the heat transfer part 360 to communicate with each of the nozzle orifices 390.

[41] An airflow chamber A is defined in the cylindrical nozzle body 310 so that air passes through the chamber. A guide protrusion 340 is formed on the inner surface of the space S to guide the current of hydrogen gas to a desired direction in the space.

[42] Furthermore, the upper end of the annular space S, which communicates with the lower ends of the nozzle orifices 390, is configured as a dome shape, thus defining a

vaulted guide 340' to guide hydrogen gas to the orifices 390.

[43] FIGS. 5 and 6 are a perspective view and a sectional view illustrating a combustion burner according to a further embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawings, the hydrogen burner 300 according to this embodiment comprises an annular nozzle body 310, which is connected to a gas supply pipe 480 through first and second connection pipes 370' and 370", so that hydrogen gas is supplied from the gas supply pipe 480 to the body 310. A plurality of nozzle orifices 390 is formed through the upper surface of the annular nozzle body 310.

[44] Furthermore, the second connection pipe 370" comprises a plurality of branch pipes which branch out from the upper end of the first connection pipe 370' in radial directions. A dome-shaped reflective part 440 is provided at the center of the branch pipes of the second connection pipe 370" and has a diameter larger than the diameter of the first connection pipe 370'.

[45] The hydrogen burner according to the present invention, having the above- mentioned construction, will be operated as follows.

[46] As shown in FIGS. 2 through 7, when hydrogen gas is supplied to the nozzle body

310 through the gas supply pipe 480 that is inclinedly connected to the body 310, a strong upward swirling current of gas is formed in the space S of the nozzle body 310 by both the upward inclined connection of the gas supply pipe 480 to the body 310 and the intrinsic characteristics of hydrogen gas.

[47] In the above state, the cylindrical nozzle body 310 defines the airflow chamber A therein, so that oxygen required during combustion can be supplied to the orifices 390 from the inside and outside of the orifices 390 during the combustion of hydrogen. The oxygen is efficiently supplied to the orifices due to natural convection current of air created during combustion.

[48] Furthermore, the upper cover 320 may be separately produced from the nozzle body 310 and mounted to the upper end of the nozzle body 310 through screwing or welding. Alternatively, the upper cover 320 may be integrally formed with the nozzle body 310 using molds.

[49] Furthermore, the guide protrusion 340 is formed as a spiral shape on the inner surface of the space S of the nozzle body 310, and forms an upward current of hydrogen gas in the space, thus quickly guiding hydrogen gas to the nozzle orifices 390 without causing any loss of hydrogen.

[50] Furthermore, the nozzle body 310, which is integrally formed with the cover 320, may become overheated by combustion heat of hydrogen gas during combustion. In the above state, the cover 320 is integrally formed with the heat transfer part 360, which has a predetermined thickness and has a symmetrical surface area based on the nozzle orifices 390, so that heat generated during combustion of hydrogen gas can be

efficiently dissipated to the surroundings.

[51] The exposing depressions 390' are formed on the upper surface of the heat transfer part 360 to communicate with the respective hydrogen discharging nozzle orifices 390, so that the contact surface area of the orifices 390 relative to the atmosphere becomes enlarged, thus causing the heat transfer part 360 to be quickly cooled.

[52] Furthermore, the upper end of the annular space S, which communicates with the lower ends of the nozzle orifices 390, is configured as a dome shape, so that the vaulted guide 340', to guide hydrogen gas to the orifices 390, is defined. Due to the vaulted guide 340', the hydrogen gas can be efficiently guided into the orifices 390 without causing a vortex in the space.

[53] The annular nozzle body 310 is connected to the gas supply pipe 480 through the first and second connection pipes 370' and 370", so that hydrogen gas can be supplied from the gas supply pipe 480 to the nozzle body 310. In the above state, the first connection pipe 370' extends in a vertical direction, while the second connection pipe 370" comprises the branch pipes, which branch from the upper end of the first connection pipe 370' in radial directions. The branch pipes of the second connection pipe 370" are also inclined upwards at an angle of inclination, so that hydrogen gas can be quickly supplied to the space S of the nozzle body 310.

[54] In the above state, the dome-shaped reflective part 440, which has a diameter larger than the diameter of the first connection pipe 370', is provided at the center of the branch pipes of the second connection pipe 370". Due to the dome-shaped reflective part 440, the ascending current of hydrogen gas can efficiently change its direction from a vertical direction into radial directions.

[55] Furthermore, the cover 320 is preferably made of a copper alloy consisting of

Cu(63~65wt%)+Zn(35~37wt%), and controls the temperature of the nozzle, which typically discharges hydrogen gas of 0.3MPa and produces flame having an average flame temperature of 85O ⁰ C, at a safe temperature not higher than 300 ⁰ C, which is the regulation temperature.

[56] In the present invention, the hydrogen burner 300, which includes the cover, the nozzle body, and the gas supply pipe, may be integrally formed as a single structure using the above-mentioned copper alloy.

[57] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the nozzle body 310 may be configured as a tapered cylindrical body, having a diameter gradually increasing in a direction from the bottom to the top or from the top to the bottom, so that, when hydrogen gas is supplied to the nozzle body, the cross-section of the nozzle body for combustion can be adjusted.

[58] As shown in FIGS. 8 through 14, the present invention also provides a heat supply system using the above-mentioned hydrogen burner 300. The heat supply system of

this invention generates hydrogen gas using a raw material container 170, which has an inlet port 110a on the upper end thereof, an electrolytic cell unit 120, which generates hydrogen gas by applying electric power of a power supply unit 140 to electrolyte supplied from the raw material container 170, and a filtering unit 190, which filters the hydrogen gas.

[59] In the above state, the raw material container 170, the electrolytic cell unit 120 and the filtering unit 190 are installed in a housing 110 of a main body 100.

[60] Furthermore, the housing 110 has an inlet port 110a on the upper surface thereof such that the inlet port 110a is exposed outside the housing 110. A display unit 130 is provided on a sidewall of the housing 110 to display the level of the electrolyte contained in the housing 110. The housing 110 further includes a power switch 150 to turn on the power supply unit 140, a power lamp 152 to display the operational state of the power supply unit 140, a pressure gauge 154 to display the pressure of the hydrogen gas, and an ampere meter 153 to display the electric current of the power supply unit.

[61] The electrolytic cell unit 120 comprises a plurality of unit cells 123, each of which has a laminated structure including a polar plate, a waterproof plate, an electrode plate, and a rare-earth particle sheet. The unit cells 123, each having the laminated structure, are sequentially arrayed and integrated into a single body using a plurality of locking bolts 125.

[62] In the electrolytic cell unit 120, the electrode plate, the polar plate and the waterproof plate are laminated on each side of the rare-earth particle sheet of each unit cell such that the unit cell has a symmetrical structure. Thus, while electrolyte passes through the electrolytic cell unit 120, water is decomposed through electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen.

[63] Furthermore, the filtering unit 190 is configured such that a filtering body 195, made of a porous tubular body, is placed in a main body 190, and a filtering material 193 made of silica gel is contained in the space around the filtering body 195 in the main body 190. Thus, the filtering unit 190 filters the hydrogen, which has been produced and supplied from the electrolytic cell unit 120, thus removing liquid components from the hydrogen and preparing pure hydrogen gas.

[64] Hydrogen supplied from the electrolytic cell unit 120 may be stored in a hydrogen storage tank 200, which defines therein a storage space having a predetermined capacity, with both a plurality of heat conductive materials 250 installed in the storage space of the tank 200 and a hydrogen storage alloy 290 contained in the storage space having the heat conductive materials 250. Alternatively, the hydrogen may be directly supplied to the burner 300 through a separate gas supply pipe 480.

[65] The hydrogen storage tank 200 has a main body 210, with a valve unit 230

provided at the upper end of the main body 210 to charge or discharge hydrogen gas into or from the tank 200. A porous filtering unit 270 is axially installed in the tank 200, with the plurality of heat conductive materials 250 coupled to the porous filtering unit 270 in radial direction in the tank 200.

[66] Furthermore, the hydrogen storage alloy 290 is an alloy, which consists of

6.0~10.0wt% La, 15.0~19.0wt% Ce, 1.2-1.8wt% Pr, 4.1~4.9wt% Nd, 43.4~52.6wt% Ni, 11.0~15.0wt% V, 3.0~5.0wt% Zr(Co), 0.5~2.0wt% Mn, 0.5~1.2wt% Al, 1.5~1.7wt% Fe, based on the total weight of the alloy.

[67] In the heat supply system of this invention, hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage alloy 290 or from the main body 100 is ignited and burnt by the burner 300, which is installed such that the burner ignites the hydrogen and efficiently emits heat, thus producing required heat calories.

[68] In the above state, the burner 300 comprises a nozzle body 310, with a space S defined in the nozzle body 310 so that hydrogen gas can flow into the space. A plurality of nozzle orifices 330 is formed through the upper surface of the nozzle body 310 to eject the hydrogen gas to the atmosphere. An airflow chamber A is defined in the nozzle body 310, so that, while hydrogen gas is ejected through the nozzle orifices, oxygen can be efficiently supplied to the hydrogen gas through the chamber A.

[69] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the heat supply system of the present invention includes an igniting unit 500, which is a gas range. The main body 100 and the hydrogen storage tank 200 are separately installed in the igniting unit 500, so that the main body 100 and the hydrogen storage tank 200 may be selectively used according to purpose.

[70] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, after two hydrogen storage tanks 200 are completely installed in the igniting unit 500, the main body 100 is turned on. Thus, an electric current is supplied to the electrode plates of the electrolytic cell unit 120, so that water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis, thus producing hydrogen.

[71] In the above state, the hydrogen is kept at a predetermined pressure by the electric current supplied from the power supply unit.

[72] The hydrogen, which has been produced by the main body 100 having the above- mentioned construction, is supplied to the hydrogen storage tanks 200 or to the burner 300 through a gas supply pipe 460.

[73] The supply pipe 460 is divided into two pipes by a three-way valve 400. Two branch pipes of the gas supply pipe 460 are connected to the burner 300 and the gas supply branch pipe 480, respectively, and are controlled by manipulation of a valve 550 of the igniting unit 500.

[74] Furthermore, a check valve 430 is mounted on the gas supply pipe 460 at a position

around the three-way valve 400 so that, when the hydrogen storage tanks 200 are opened, the check valve 430 causes hydrogen to flow only in one direction toward the burner 300 without flowing back.

[75] The igniting unit 500 is provided with guide rails 530 on opposed side edges, while the main body 100 is provided with guide grooves 1700 at positions corresponding to the guide rails 530, so that the igniting unit 500 can be removably assembled with the main body 100 through engagement of guide rails 530 with the guide grooves 170.

[76] The present invention having the above-mentioned construction will be operated as follows.

[77] As shown in FIGS. 8 through 14, when the hydrogen storage tanks 200 are installed in the igniting unit 500 such that the tanks 200 are connected to the gas supply branch pipe 480 through respective connectors 560, hydrogen from the gas supply pipe 460 is supplied to the hydrogen storage tanks 200.

[78] In the above state, due to operation of both the three-way valve 400 and the check valve 430 mounted on the gas supply pipe 460, hydrogen from the gas supply pipe 460 may be supplied to the burner 300 or to the hydrogen storage tanks 200. In the present invention, the three-way valve 400 can be controlled by manipulation of the valve 550 of the igniting unit 500.

[79] Furthermore, due to the check valve 430 mounted on the gas supply pipe 460, if the valve 550 of the igniting unit 500 is opened to use hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage tanks 200, the hydrogen from the tanks 200 can be supplied only to the nozzle 300.

[80] In the present invention, the burner 300 is set in the igniting unit 500, while at least one hydrogen storage tank 200 can be removably installed in the igniting unit 500. Thus, the main body 100 to produce hydrogen, the burner 300, and the hydrogen storage tank 200 may be selectively used as desired.

[81] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claim. Industrial Applicability

[82] The present invention allows hydrogen to be used as a safe and economical energy source at room temperature and low pressure and for various applications requiring thermal energy, prevents overheating of the nozzle of a burner, yet enables effective heat transfer during combustion of hydrogen gas in the burner.