Electrochemical reactor and method for operating electrochemical reactor

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrochemical reactor (1), in particular a redox flow cell, a fuel cell, an electrolytic cell or an electrosynthesis cell, comprising a stack (Z) consisting of a plurality of cells (2) which are separated from each other by at least one bipolar plate (3) and are stacked in a stacking direction (R), wherein the cells (2) each have two electrodes (5, 6) and a separator (10) arranged between the two electrodes (5, 6), and wherein the at least one bipolar plate (3) is flexible. In order to be able to increase mass transfer and material distribution with low construction and equipment investment and low material load, an oscillator (13) which excites at least one bipolar plate (3) to generate oscillations is integrated in the bipolar plate (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrochemical reactor, in particular a redox flow battery, a fuel cell, an electrolytic cell or an electro-synthesis cell, which comprises a stack composed of a plurality of cells respectively separated from each other by at least one bipolar plate and stacked in a stacking direction, wherein each cell has two electrodes and a separator disposed between the two electrodes, and wherein the at least one bipolar plate is formed to be flexible. The present invention also relates to a method for operating an electrochemical reactor. Background Art

[0002] A variety of known configurations of electrochemical reactors exist. Redox reactions occur in electrochemical reactors, and these reactions can be driven by an externally applied voltage difference, such as in the case of charging a redox flow battery and operating an electrolytic cell or an electro-synthesis cell. In an electrolytic cell, a chemical reaction in the form of electrolysis is carried out by means of an electric current to produce a product, such as hydrogen gas. In an electro-synthesis cell, an electro-chemical synthesis process is carried out by applying a voltage to the cell. For example, in an electro-synthesis cell, hydrogen peroxide can be synthesized from oxygen and water, and organic basic chemicals can be synthesized from carbon dioxide and water. Alternatively, the redox reactions occurring in the electrochemical reactor can also be used to generate a voltage. Such is the case, for example, during the discharge of a redox flow battery or the operation of a fuel cell.

[0003] Such electrochemical reactors generally consist of a plurality of electrochemical cells in which the respective redox reactions occur. The individual cells of a storage battery are usually arranged in rows or stacked on top of each other. Thus, in this regard, it is also referred to as a stack. Depending on the specific application, the stack can provide a higher voltage or a larger product flow of the product to be produced in a simple manner. The corresponding stack and its applications are already well-known and can be seen in various application scenarios, so the details will not be elaborated here.

[0004] An individual electrochemical cell consists of half-cells containing electrodes, which are separated from each other by a separator. The electrodes of the cell and the separator are integrated into an internal space, which can be constituted by at least one cell frame. If necessary, an individual cell can also have a plurality of cell frames, for example, one cell frame for each half-cell in the electrochemical cell. The electrodes, at least one cell frame and the separator are at least arranged substantially parallel to each other. Thus, a stack is formed extending in a so-called stacking direction. The individual cells in the stack can be isolated from each other by a so-called bipolar plate. Here, the corresponding anodes and cathodes of adjacent cells are usually located on opposite sides of the bipolar plate. In addition, the anode and the cathode are usually in direct electrical contact with the at least one bipolar plate disposed therebetween.

[0005] The battery frame and the bipolar plate are usually made of different materials, but for cost and manufacturing reasons, a battery frame and a bipolar plate containing at least one thermoplastic are sometimes used. To be able to provide sufficient electrical conductivity to the bipolar plate, the bipolar plate usually contains, in addition to the thermoplastic, a conductive filler, such as in the form of fine particles, such as graphite or carbon black.

[0006] The separator may have an electrolyte required for the operation of the electrochemical reactor, where the separator may have an open porous structure in which a liquid electrolyte can be accommodated. However, it can also be arranged that the electrodes are in direct contact with the electrolyte, in which case the electrolyte and the electrodes of the battery are separated by a separator, such as a membrane. The separator that accommodates the electrolyte can be used in fuel cells, such as polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEM) or solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), while the electrolyte separated by a separator, such as a membrane, can be used in a redox flow battery through which a fluid flows. In a redox flow battery, the electrolyte can flow at least partially through the electrodes.

[0007] In some cases, the separator itself can provide the electrolyte, for example, in the case of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell or a solid oxide fuel cell. In such fuel cells, the separator is divided into two parts, where one part of the separator is flowed through by a hydrogen-containing gas and the other part of the separator is flowed through by an oxygen-containing gas. The transition of the gas from one part of the separator to the other part is blocked by a membrane, while the membrane allows charge carriers to pass through. In this case, the two parts of the separator and the membrane as a whole can still be regarded as the separator between the electrodes. For the purposes of the present invention, the specific structure of the separator is not a key element. In the case of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the membrane is composed of a solid polymer, while in a solid oxide fuel cell, an oxide ceramic electrolyte is used. Of course, other membranes can also be provided in other types of fuel cells, or the membrane can even be completely omitted.

[0008] However, even an electrochemical reactor in the form of a fuel cell cannot do without fluids. Such fluids refer to working fluids in the form of gases containing hydrogen or oxygen that flow through the separator in the anode region and through the separator in the cathode region. Therefore, in an electrochemical reactor, it is necessary to pay attention that no unexpected leakage of the fluid, such as leakage, occurs during operation. Here, whether the fluid is an electrolyte or a working fluid is not important.

[0009] Based on this background, attention must be paid to the sealing of the corresponding electrochemical reactor during manufacturing. This can be achieved by clamping the stack between two end plates. During this process, the batteries and / or individual components of the battery are pressed against each other, and seals can be provided between the batteries and / or individual components of the battery. This approach is complex on the one hand, and on the other hand, the batteries and / or individual components of the battery must withstand high mechanical forces. To avoid this, it has been proposed to weld the batteries and / or individual components of the battery to each other to provide a smaller and more efficient stack.

[0010] In addition, for the efficiency of an electrochemical reactor, the mass transfer process and the uniform distribution of substances within the battery are also of great significance. For example, deposits of solids or fluids and gas inclusions may occur within the battery, which can impede the mass transfer process and lead to electrochemical dead zones. These dead zones contribute little or not at all to the electrochemical reactions within the battery. In addition, the deposits may also have an adverse effect on the service life of the battery.

[0011] To avoid or redissolve the corresponding deposits, it has been proposed to vibrate the entire stack. However, this treatment may cause the threaded connections and interfaces to loosen and subject the stack materials to a considerable load. Another proposal is to introduce vibrations from the outside into the stack through specific components, but this is relatively complex both structurally and in terms of equipment. Alternatively, actuators that generate vibrations can be integrated within the stack, but these actuators often come into contact with the usually corrosive reaction fluid or cause significant loads on the components excited to vibrate. Summary of the Invention

[0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to construct and further improve the electrochemical reactor and method of the type described at the beginning and in detail above, respectively, such that mass transfer and substance distribution can be improved with a relatively low structural and equipment investment and a relatively small material load.

[0013] This object is achieved in the electrochemical reactor according to the preamble of claim 1 in that an oscillator that excites at least one bipolar plate to oscillate is integrated within the bipolar plate.

[0014] The above object is also achieved according to claim 10 by a method for operating an electrochemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

[0015] - wherein the at least one oscillator is excited to oscillate at least in stages, and

[0016] - wherein the oscillator causes the at least one bipolar plate to oscillate.

[0017] According to the present invention, a stack with at least one flexible bipolar plate is used, and the bipolar plate can be oscillated without high cost and without subjecting the bipolar plate to excessive loads. Thanks to the flexible characteristics of the bipolar plate, even with oscillations, even large-amplitude oscillations, the bipolar plate will not break. In addition, the bipolar plate can be easily excited to oscillate with only a small applied force. Furthermore, due to the flexibility, the oscillation can only be transmitted to adjacent components to a limited extent, effectively protecting them from excessive mechanical loads. In particular, due to the provided flexibility, targeted deformation of the bipolar plate is also achieved, thereby specifically suppressing deposits and air inclusions.

[0018] It should be understood here that the corresponding bipolar plates do not need to be oscillated continuously, although such an operation is feasible and even may be preferred. However, according to the process setting, at least one of the bipolar plates is excited to oscillate at least in stages. Thus, for example, the oscillation of at least one of the bipolar plates can be excited intermittently or at regular intervals to decompose the accumulated deposits or air inclusions and flush them out of the corresponding half-cell. If the oscillation is generated at least substantially continuously, it is possible to completely prevent the formation of deposits or gas inclusions.

[0019] It can also be understood that a stack usually can include a series of bipolar plates, and it is not necessary to integrate an oscillator in each bipolar plate. To keep the equipment and construction costs low when necessary, only an oscillator is integrated in the necessary number of bipolar plates or only the necessary number of bipolar plates are excited to oscillate. In this regard, it can also be set that different bipolar plates generate oscillations at different times, for example, in sequence. If some bipolar plates themselves cannot be excited to oscillate, the adjacent or neighboring bipolar plates can be made to oscillate so that the oscillation can be transmitted from at least one bipolar plate to at least another bipolar plate or at least another single cell.

[0020] The oscillator is preferably a component capable of generating the oscillation of the bipolar plate. Nevertheless, the oscillation of the bipolar plate can still be externally induced, that is, excited. Therefore, it is preferred to arrange an actuator outside the stack body, which excites the oscillator in at least one bipolar plate to oscillate. Since the oscillator is integrated inside the bipolar plate, the oscillation of this oscillator will directly cause the bipolar plate to oscillate. There is no need to use an actuator that must be in external contact with the bipolar plate and is not necessary for the operation of the stack in addition.

[0021] In terms of low material load and prevention of deposits, it is particularly suitable when the oscillation generated by at least one oscillator is ultrasonic oscillation. The frequency range of this ultrasonic oscillation can be between 20 kHz and 20 GHz. However, other frequencies can also be used.

[0022] In a particularly preferred design of this electrochemical reactor, the oscillator is composed of at least one flexoelectric plastic, at least one hydrogel, at least one shape memory polymer, at least one piezoelectric material, and / or at least one magnetostrictive material. This enables the simple and efficient integration of the oscillator in the bipolar plate without significantly affecting its electrical function.

[0023] Flexoelectric plastics, such as PVDF, are dielectric plastics, which will form polarization in the plastic under mechanical load, and vice versa. Based on this, at least a part of the component composed of flexoelectric plastic, such as the bipolar plate, can be made to generate at least slight bending or deformation by applying a voltage. Here, the bipolar plate does not need to be completely made of flexoelectric plastic. It is sufficient for the flexoelectric plastic to form a part of the bipolar plate. Therefore, the bipolar plate can also additionally have thermoplastic plastic and conductive fillers as required.

[0024] A hydrogel refers to a polymer that can bind water but is insoluble in water, and this polymer forms a gel here. Its water absorption process can be carried out physically or chemically. By embedding hydrophilic polymer components such as sodium polyacrylate or poloxamer in the bipolar plate, the bipolar plate can be swollen and its volume can increase significantly, which is known, for example, from so-called superabsorbent materials. By discharging and absorbing water in the hydrogel in the bipolar plate, a change in its volume can be achieved. If this process is alternately carried out fast enough, the bipolar plate can be induced to oscillate. According to requirements, in addition to at least one hydrogel, the bipolar plate can also have a thermoplastic and a conductive filler.

[0025] As a shape memory polymer, a polymer with a two-way memory effect is particularly suitable for selection, which is known, for example, from shape memory alloys. Such shape memory polymers can be, for example, polyurethanes or block copolymers. When these shape memory polymers usually complete a specific shape programming under heating conditions, by changing the temperature or magnetic field, the shape memory polymer can switch from one shape to another. Here, the bipolar plate can also be partially composed of the shape memory polymer to avoid affecting its electrical and mechanical properties. At this time, the bipolar plate can still have a thermoplastic and a conductive filler, for example.

[0026] Piezoelectric materials, such as quartz, lithium niobate, gallium orthophosphate, or lead zirconate titanate, will show a change in polarization and thus generate a voltage (direct piezoelectric effect) when they undergo elastic deformation. Conversely, these materials will deform when a voltage is applied (inverse piezoelectric effect). If a voltage source is connected to a bipolar plate that at least partially contains a piezoelectric material, the bipolar plate can be deformed by changing the voltage, thereby causing oscillation. For example, when the piezoelectric material is arranged in a dispersed form in the bipolar plate, the bipolar plate can still have a thermoplastic and a conductive filler.

[0027] Magnetostrictive materials have a property called magnetostriction, that is, magnetostrictive materials will deform when a magnetic field is applied. Here, the corresponding object will undergo an elastic change in length (Joule magnetostriction effect) due to the change in the orientation of magnetic domains under the condition of constant volume. By means of an alternating magnetic field, a bipolar plate containing a magnetostrictive material can be induced to oscillate, even if the bipolar plate is only partially composed of the magnetostrictive material. In this case, the bipolar plate can also have a thermoplastic and a conductive filler, for example.

[0028] In this case, one of the aforementioned materials can be arranged in a dispersed manner in the bipolar plate, but it can also be arranged to accommodate such materials in an internal cavity of the bipolar plate. In this way, the bipolar plate oscillation can be simply excited without the need for the oscillation-generating material to be in contact with the electrodes. This is also beneficial for integrating these materials into the bipolar plate more simply and / or more easily.

[0029] To enable the bipolar plate to generate oscillations simply and reliably, it is advantageous to couple the oscillator with an activation device. In this way, the oscillator itself can be said to be passive and is specifically activated by the activation device. Depending on the oscillator, this can be simply achieved by the activation device inducing periodic voltage changes, pressure changes, and / or temperature changes in the oscillator.

[0030] By forming an oscillator by utilizing at least one internal fluid-filled fluid cavity within the bipolar plate, a simple and efficient bipolar plate can be provided as needed. Here, the corresponding fluid cavity is variable due to the elasticity of the bipolar plate. The fluid cavity is also connected to a fluid supply device through at least one supply line, through which periodic input and discharge of the fluid can be achieved. Through the input and discharge of the fluid, the fluid cavity within the bipolar plate expands, thereby driving the bipolar plate to expand, and then the fluid cavity retracts again, thereby driving the bipolar plate to retract. In this way, oscillations of the bipolar plate can be generated.

[0031] For the sake of simplicity and reliability, the oscillator can be arranged between at least two mutually conductively connected bipolar plate components. The oscillator can thus be integrated into the bipolar plate as an independent component or part. Here, it is particularly preferred that the at least two bipolar plate components form a bipolar pad, and the oscillator is accommodated in the internal cavity of the bipolar pad. Therefore, the oscillator is accommodated between bipolar plate components that are mutually conductively connected and are each in electrical contact with adjacent electrodes.

[0032] In principle, it is preferred that at least one of the bipolar plate, bipolar plate components, and / or bipolar pad consists at least mainly of a thermoplastic plastic and a conductive filler. This allows for simple and low-cost manufacturing, as well as high elasticity of the bipolar plate. This high elasticity promotes the favorable oscillating behavior of the bipolar plate. Here, when the thermoplastic plastic is formed at least mainly of polyethylene and / or polypropylene, its production can be particularly simple and economical. Alternatively or additionally, the conductive filler can similarly consist at least mainly of a carbon-containing material, such as graphite, carbon black, or carbon nanotubes.

[0033] It is particularly advantageous and useful when at least one oscillator is an integral part of the bipolar plate, bipolar plate components, and / or bipolar pad. The oscillator thus becomes an indispensable core component and does not impair the function of the bipolar plate, bipolar plate components, and / or bipolar pad even when vibrations are not required. This is particularly prominent when the oscillator is accommodated as a dispersed phase in a continuous phase including a thermoplastic plastic. Thus, uniform and material-protective deformation or oscillation of the bipolar plate can be achieved. In addition, the conductive filler can also be accommodated as a dispersed phase in a continuous phase of at least one thermoplastic plastic.

[0034] For the durability of the at least one bipolar plate, at least one bipolar plate with high elasticity can be used. In addition, to protect the at least one bipolar plate or the stack, it is advantageous to cause the bipolar plate to oscillate at a low or high frequency. In addition, the oscillation amplitude should not be too large to keep the material load low. However, a certain amplitude is necessary to prevent or reduce deposits and / or gas inclusions.

[0035] To construct a durable stack despite the presence of at least periodically occurring oscillations, at least one separator and / or two electrodes of the battery can be accommodated in a cavity of at least one battery frame. In this way, the stacks can be simply stacked, which can make the overall stack more resistant.

[0036] In a first particularly preferred design of the method, it is provided that at least one bipolar plate is formed in the form of a bipolar pad with a variable volume. The volume of the bipolar plate can be changed by pumping fluid into and out of the bipolar plate. Thereby, oscillations of the bipolar plate can be generated. Alternatively or complementarily, the electrolyte can also be expelled from at least one half-cell by pumping fluid into the bipolar plate, and / or the electrolyte can be sucked into at least one half-cell by discharging fluid from the bipolar plate. In other words, by changing the volume of at least one bipolar plate, electrolyte flow can be generated in the stack. This flow can even be used to push the electrolyte through the stack as needed. Here, a pump and / or a pressure difference can be additionally configured as needed to assist the electrolyte flow through the stack. However, these pressure differences and / or such a pump can also be omitted according to requirements. Thus, the transport of the at least one electrolyte through the at least one half-cell can be achieved, for example, entirely by the inflow of fluid into the at least one bipolar plate or the discharge therefrom.

[0037] To reduce the resistance in the stack, at least one electrode of the electrochemical reactor can be in contact with only at least one thermoplastic and / or filler of the bipolar plate. At this time, the oscillator can be arranged in a region of the bipolar plate far from the at least one electrode.

[0038] To reduce deposits and / or air inclusions in the battery, it is particularly advantageous to apply low-frequency or high-frequency oscillations to the at least one bipolar plate. Here, low-frequency oscillation phases, high-frequency oscillation phases, and / or oscillation-free phases can alternate. Description of the Drawings

[0039] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings which only show embodiments. In the drawings:

[0040] Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view transverse to the battery stacking direction in the stack of an electrochemical reactor according to the present invention is shown;

[0041] Figure 2 Shown for Figure 1 A perspective view of a bipolar plate in the shown electrochemical reactor;

[0042] Figure 3 Shown for Figure 1 a perspective cutaway view of an alternative bipolar plate in the illustrated electrochemical reactor;

[0043] Figure 4 Shown for Figure 1 Schematic perspective view of bipolar plates in an electrochemical reactor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Figure 1 A side cross-sectional view shows an electrochemical reactor 1 in the form of a redox flow battery with a bipolar structure. The electrochemical reactor 1 comprises a stack (Zellstack Z) of individual cells 2 arranged side by side in a stacking direction R. Bipolar plates 3 are provided between the individual cells 2, which abut the negative electrode 5 of the cell 2 on one side and the positive electrode 6 of the adjacent cell 2 on the opposite side. End plates 7 and 8 with integrated conductive current collectors 9 are provided at opposite ends of the electrochemical reactor 1, via which voltage can be drawn from or applied to the electrochemical reactor 1. This is not shown in detail.

[0045] Each cell 2 comprises two electrodes 5, 6, separated from each other by a separator 10 disposed therebetween. In the illustrated electrochemical reactor 1, the two electrodes 5, 6 are each in contact with an electrolyte 11, 12. The electrodes 5, 6 are each housed in a cell frame 12 and in direct contact with the adjacent bipolar plates 3. These cell frames 12 can be clamped together using external clamping devices. However, it is also possible to weld the cell frames 12 together, optionally across the bipolar plates 3.

[0046] The bipolar plate 3 is connected to external activation devices, which are designed to vibrate an oscillator integrated in the bipolar plate 3. The bipolar plate 3 can adopt different designs, some of which will be described below as examples.

[0047] Figure 2Shows a bipolar plate 3, in which an oscillator 13 is accommodated in a matrix formed by a thermoplastic 14. The thermoplastic 14 forms a continuous phase, and fillers 15, such as graphite or carbon black, and the oscillator 13 are distributed as dispersed phases in the continuous phase. By applying a varying external voltage via an external activation device 16 in the form of a voltage source, the bipolar plate 3 can be made to oscillate, more precisely vibrate. The oscillation of the bipolar plate 3 is transmitted to other components of the stack Z. In a redox flow battery, the oscillation is particularly also transmitted to the electrolytes 11, 12. The oscillator 13 is particularly but not necessarily a flexoelectric plastic or a piezoelectric material. As an alternative or addition, these oscillators 13 can also be integrated into the bipolar plate 3 as a layer or in the form of strips. The remaining part of the bipolar plate 3 can be composed of a mixture of the thermoplastic 14 and the conductive filler 15.

[0048] Figure 3 Shows a bipolar plate 3 having two outer bipolar plate parts 17, which enclose an internal space therebetween that can serve as a fluid chamber 18 for accommodating a fluid 19 or a hydrogel. The fluid chamber 18 is connected to the external activation device 16. The activation device 16 includes a supply line 20 and a pump unit 21 for periodically inputting and discharging the fluid 19 into and from the fluid chamber 18 of the bipolar plate 3 formed as a bipolar pad 22. The oscillator 13 of the bipolar plate 3 is accommodated in the fluid chamber 18. The bipolar plate parts 17 are directly conductively connected on the one hand and indirectly conductively connected via the fluid 19 or the hydrogel on the other hand.

[0049] Figure 4 Shows a bipolar plate 3 having two outer bipolar plate parts 17, between which a strip 23 based on a piezoelectric material 24, a magnetostrictive material or a shape memory polymer is accommodated in the bipolar plate 3. The strip 23 is connected to the external activation device 16, which can apply an alternating voltage, an alternating magnetic field or an alternating temperature to the strip 23, thereby causing the bipolar plate 3 to oscillate.

[0050] Explanation of reference numerals

[0051] 1 Electrochemical reactor

[0052] 2 Cell

[0053] 3 Bipolar plate

[0054] 5 Electrode

[0055] 6 Electrode

[0056] 7 End plate

[0057] 8 End plate

[0058] 9 Current collector plate

[0059] 10 Separator

[0060] 11 Electrolyte

[0061] 12 Battery frame

[0062] 13 Oscillator

[0063] 14 Plastic

[0064] 15 Filler

[0065] 16 Activation device

[0066] 17 Bipolar plate component

[0067] 18 Fluid chamber

[0068] 19 Fluid

[0069] 20 Supply pipeline

[0070] 21 Pump unit

[0071] 22 Bipolar pad

[0072] 23 Strip

[0073] 24 Piezoelectric material

[0074] R Stacking direction

[0075] Z Stack

Claims

1. An electrochemical reactor (1), in particular a redox flow battery, a fuel cell, an electrolytic cell or an electrosynthesis cell, having a stack (Z) composed of a plurality of cells (2) separated from each other by at least one bipolar plate (3) and stacked in a stacking direction (R), wherein each cell (2) has two electrodes (5, 6) and a separator (10) arranged between the two electrodes (5, 6), and wherein the at least one bipolar plate (3) is formed to be flexible, characterized in that, an oscillator (13) that excites the at least one bipolar plate (3) to generate oscillations is integrated inside the bipolar plate (3).

2. The electrochemical reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that, the oscillator (13) is composed of at least one flexoelectric plastic, at least one hydrogel, at least one shape memory polymer, at least one piezoelectric material and / or at least one magnetostrictive material.

3. The electrochemical reactor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the oscillator (13) is coupled to an activation device (16), and the activation device (16) preferably forms a periodic voltage change, pressure change and / or temperature change for the oscillator (13).

4. The electrochemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the oscillator (13) is composed of at least one internal fluid chamber (18) filled with a fluid (19) inside the bipolar plate (3), and the fluid chamber (18) is connected to a fluid supply device through at least one supply line (20) to achieve periodic input and discharge of the fluid (19).

5. The electrochemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the oscillator (13) is arranged between at least two mutually conductively connected bipolar plate components (17), and preferably, the at least two bipolar plate components (17) form a bipolar pad (22), and the oscillator (13) is accommodated in the internal cavity of the bipolar pad (22).

6. The electrochemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, the at least one bipolar plate (3), bipolar plate component (17) and / or bipolar pad (22) are at least mainly composed of a thermoplastic (14) and a conductive filler (15), and preferably, the thermoplastic (14) at least mainly contains polyethylene and / or polypropylene, and / or the conductive filler (15) at least mainly contains a carbon-based material such as graphite, carbon black or carbon nanotubes.

7. The electrochemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, the at least one oscillator (13) is an integral part of the bipolar plate (3), bipolar plate component (17) and / or bipolar pad (22), and preferably, the oscillator (13) is accommodated as a dispersed phase in a continuous phase including a thermoplastic (24) and a filler (15).

8. The electrochemical reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The at least one spacer (10) and / or the two electrodes (5, 6) of the battery (2) are received in a cavity of at least one battery frame.

9. A method for operating an electrochemical reactor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, - wherein the at least one oscillator (13) is oscillated at least in phases, and - wherein the oscillator (13) causes the at least one bipolar plate (3) to oscillate.

10. The method according to claim 9, - wherein the at least one bipolar plate (3) is formed in the form of a bipolar pad (22) with a variable volume, - wherein the volume of the bipolar plate (3) is changed by feeding and discharging a fluid (19) to and from the bipolar plate (3), and - wherein the electrolyte (11) is expelled from at least one half-cell and / or the electrolyte (11) is sucked into at least one half-cell by discharging the fluid (19).

11. The method according to claim 10, - wherein the transport of the at least one electrolyte (11) through the at least one half-cell is effected entirely by feeding the fluid (19) into the at least one bipolar plate (3) or discharging the fluid therefrom.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, - wherein the at least one electrolyte (11) of the electrochemical reactor (1) comes into contact only with the at least one thermoplastic (14) and / or filler (15) of the bipolar plate (3).

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, - wherein a low-frequency or high-frequency oscillation is applied to the at least one bipolar plate (3).

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