Recombinator

Abstract

A recombinator for the catalytic recombination of hydrogen and oxygen generated in energy converters, in particular accumulators, to form water, comprising a housing in which a volume space is formed, into which the gases can flow via an opening and in which a recombination device is arranged that comprises a portion for a catalyst material and a portion for an absorption material, wherein the flow path of the gases to be recombined extends through the portion comprising the absorption material into the portion comprising the catalyst material, wherein a distance space is formed between the portion comprising the absorption material and the portion comprising the catalyst material, wherein the catalyst material is configured as a catalyst bar, the catalyst bar is arranged in a first gas-permeable tube and the distance space is formed in a gap space between the inner walling of the first gas-permeable tube and the outer wall of the catalyst bar.

Claims

1. A recombinator for the catalytic recombination of hydrogen and oxygen generated in energy converters, in particular accumulators, to form water, comprising a housing in which a volume space is formed, into which the gases can flow via an opening and in which a recombination device is arranged that comprises a portion comprising a catalyst material and a portion comprising an absorption material, wherein the flow path of the gases to be recombined extends through the portion comprising the absorption material into the portion comprising the catalyst material, wherein a distance space is formed between the portion comprising the absorption material and the portion comprising the catalyst material, wherein the catalyst material is configured as a catalyst bar, that the catalyst bar is arranged in a first gas-permeable tube and that the distance space is formed in a gap space between an inner wall of the first gas-permeable tube and an outer wall of the catalyst bar.

2. A recombinator according to claim 1, wherein the module formed by the catalyst bar, the distance space and the first gas-permeable tube is surrounded by another second gas-permeable tube while leaving a gap space which receives the absorption material.

3. A recombinator according to claim 2, wherein the gas-permeable tubes are made of porous ceramic.

4. A recombinator according to claim 2, wherein the gap space which receives the absorption material is configured to be hollow cylindrical and is sealed at the end edges.

5. A recombinator according to claim 2, wherein the second gas-permeable tube comprises a greater wall thickness than the one of the first gas-permeable tube.

6. A recombinator according to claim 1, further including a holder for receiving the recombination device on the side of one end.

7. A recombinator according to claim 6, wherein the holder is a pipe socket.

Description

FIGURES

(1) Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description of the figures. Herein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a purely schematic representation of a recombinator of the type according to the invention according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 is a purely schematic representation of a recombinator of the type according to the invention according to a second embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 is a cut perspective view of a recombinator according to a first preferred embodiment; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a cut perspective view of a recombinator according to a second preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a recombinator 1 according to the invention in a so-called vertical orientation, i.e. with a standing recombination device 2.

(7) The recombinator 1, as it is known by itself, comprises a recombination device 2 and a gas-tight housing 3 that provides a volume space 15 and accommodates the recombination device 2.

(8) The recombination device 2 is bar-shaped and comprises a catalyst bar 10 which is arranged inside a ceramic tube 11. With respect to the sheet plane according to FIG. 1, the catalyst bar 10 is supported by an upper holder 21 and a lower holder 22, which in turn rest upon the inner side of the ceramic tube 11. The free gap or annular space 20 between the catalyst bar 10 and the inner surface of the ceramic tube 11 is only atmospherically filled and does thus especially not contain any absorption material. Thanks to this spaced arrangement a distance space 20 is created.

(9) The housing 3 comprises a base 4 and a gas-tight hood 5 which is arranged thereon. In the finally assembled state, the hood 5 will be supported by the base 4.

(10) The base 4, on his part, provides a connecting piece 6 as well as an aerosol separator 7. Herein, the connecting piece 6 serves for a fluidic connection of the recombinator 1 to a not further represented accumulator. In the intended case of use gas to be recombined can be transferred via the connecting piece 6 from the accumulator into the recombinator 1 or water that has been generated due to a recombination can be transferred from the recombinator 1 into the accumulator.

(11) Furthermore, the base 4 supports a holder 8 in the form of a pipe socket which serves for receiving the recombination device 2 at one end side.

(12) In the shown exemplary embodiment the hood 5 is designed as a two-piece component and comprises a hood wall 23, on the one hand, and a hood cover 12, on the other hand. Alternatively to this embodiment, a one-piece design of the hood 5 can also be provided.

(13) Furthermore, the recombinator 1 comprises a module 13 shown in the exemplary embodiment and formed between the recombination device 2 and the hood cover 12, which module 13 can comprise, in a manner known per se, an ignition reverse arrangement, for example in the form of a frit and a valve arrangement, which valve arrangement can for example comprise an overpressure valve and/or a vacuum valve, such that in case of need a pressure compensation by means of the atmosphere surrounding the recombinator 1 can take place.

(14) In the shown exemplary embodiment the catalyst bar 10 is arranged inside a first gas-permeable tube 11. For this purpose, the first gas-permeable tube 11 is inserted into the holder 8 in the area of the base 4 in the shown exemplary embodiment.

(15) A second gas-permeable tube 16 receives the module composed of the catalyst bar 10 and the first gas-permeable tube 11 while being arranged around it. Sealings 19 are provided with respect to the first gas-permeable tube 11, which sealings 19 are arranged between the first gas-permeable tube 11, on the one hand, and the second gas-permeable tube 16, on the other hand. These sealings 19 furthermore limit the gap or annular space 17 formed between the two tubes. Herein, this gap space 17 forming an absorber serves to receive an absorption material, also in a pourable form, since the sealings 19 serve as barriers against falling out.

(16) In a known manner, the hood cover 12 is provided with the module 13 known by itself. A condensation roof 14 is placed above the catalyst bar 10 and configured as upper holder of the first gas-permeable tube 11 in the shown exemplary embodiment.

(17) The gas flowing via the connecting piece 6 into the volume space 15 at first passes the second gas-permeable tube 16 in order to get into contact with the absorption material in the gap space 17. Then, the gas continues to flow through the first gas-permeable tube towards the catalyst bar 10. The generated water vapour flows in the opposite direction and precipitates in a condensing manner on the hood 5. Herein, the condensation roof 14 serves for protecting the recombination device 2, especially the catalyst bar 10, against an undesired seepage due to the water that has condensed on the hood cover 12 and is dripping down. The water generated by means of recombination finally leaves the recombinator 1 via the aerosol separator 7.

(18) It is of essential importance for the invention to provide the distance space 20, by means of which the absorption material that forms the absorber is spaced from the catalyst bar 10 with interposition of the ceramic tube 11. Thanks to this design it is assured that the catalyst bar 10 and the absorber are thermally decoupled from each other, such that a too strong impact of the heat that is generated at the catalyst bar 10 during operation will be avoided. This advantageously leads to a higher longevity of the absorber and thus also of the recombination device 2.

(19) FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein this embodiment concerns a so-called lying arrangement, which means a horizontally oriented arrangement of the recombination device 2. Otherwise, the structure and the functioning of the recombinator 1 shown in FIG. 2 correspond to the ones of the recombinator 1 according to FIG. 1.

(20) Here, the catalyst bar 10 as well as the two essentially concentric gas-permeable tubes 11 and 16 are essentially arranged parallel to the surface of a not shown accumulator or other energy converter. In this case a supporting sleeve 18 assures that the essentially horizontal orientation remains in position.

(21) In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 the recombination device 2 is standing essentially perpendicularly with respect to the surface of an accumulator, such that here corresponding displacements do not have to be expected.

(22) For the purpose of a horizontal orientation of the recombination device 2, the holder 8 which supports the recombination device 2, is made in two pieces, wherein a first piece is provided at the one end and another piece is provided at the other end of the recombination device 2 for supporting the same one.

(23) FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively show a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein FIG. 3 shows a so-called vertical orientation and FIG. 4 shows a so-called horizontal orientation.

(24) Both embodiments according to FIG. 3 or according to FIG. 4 have in common that the catalyst 10 is configured as a fill. Herein, the gas-permeable tube 11 serves as a sleeve-body for receiving the catalyst fill. In the shown exemplary embodiment the catalyst fill is a granulate composed of spherical grains 24 which are accommodated by the inner space enclosed by the tube 11. For closing the tube 11 at the ends plugs 25 and 26 are used, between which two plugs 25 and 26 the catalyst fill is arranged in a position-safe manner.

(25) The granulate grains 24 of the catalyst fill lie next to each other while respectively forming an interspace, wherein these interspaces in total provide the distance space 20. Alternatively or in addition to this it can be provided that the fill is spaced from the gas-permeable tube 11 while leaving an annular space, in which case the distance space 20 is then formed by the interspaces between the granulate grains and by the annular space.