Electrolytic cell and high pressure electrolytic cell

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of electrolytic unit and a kind of high-pressure electrolytic cell formed by the electrolytic unit, belong to pressure electrolytic cell technical field.The electrolytic unit is by a pair of electrode plate, the annular sealing gasket of abutting on the positive and negative side of electrode plate and the electrolytic diaphragm of being clamped between the opposite side of a pair of electrode plate, the two annular sealing gaskets of a pair of electrode plate are respectively with the two sides of electrolytic diaphragm form two circles of line seal that are staggered with each other, greatly improve the sealing of electrolytic unit;With multiple the electrolytic unit is stacked and compressed after each other and is placed in pressure vessel and is constituted high-pressure electrolytic cell, can realize no leakage high-pressure hydrogen production and oxygen production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an electrolysis unit structure for a high-voltage electrolytic cell and a high-voltage electrolytic cell formed from the electrolysis unit structure, belonging to the technical field of pressure electrolytic cells. Background Technology

[0002] Chinese patent CN219032404U discloses an electrolytic cell for producing high-pressure hydrogen and oxygen, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the electrolytic cell is composed of three types of planar components: an electrode plate, a sealing gasket, and a diaphragm, all of which are flat and attached together. Each electrolytic cell is formed by stacking and tightly bonding the first sealing gasket 103, the anode plate 104, the second sealing gasket 106, the cathode plate 107, the second sealing gasket 106, and the diaphragm 105 together. Because the electrode plate, sealing gasket, and diaphragm of the electrolytic cell are all flat and attached to each other, a planar seal is formed between them after compression. However, the inventors of the aforementioned patent discovered in subsequent experiments during the fabrication of the electrolytic cell that as the electrolytic reaction continuously generates gases (hydrogen and oxygen) and gradually builds up high pressure, gas-liquid leakage occurs between the electrode plate, sealing gasket, and diaphragm, resulting in seal failure. Therefore, the inventors of the aforementioned patent conducted in-depth research on the component sealing structure of the electrolytic cell's electrolytic cell assembly and made further improvements. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve the electrolysis unit structure of the existing high-pressure electrolytic cell to meet the needs of high-pressure electrolysis sealing and to form a high-pressure electrolytic cell with reliable sealing to achieve high-pressure extraction of hydrogen and oxygen.

[0004] The present invention proposes the following technical solution to solve the above-mentioned technical problems: An electrolysis unit comprises a pair of electrode plates, annular sealing gaskets abutting the front and back sides of the electrode plates, and an electrolytic diaphragm sandwiched between the opposite sides of the pair of electrode plates. One of the electrode plates is connected to the positive terminal of a power supply as the anode, and the other is connected to the negative terminal as the cathode. The electrode plates have an electrolysis region in the middle of their front and back sides, in which a liquid inlet, two liquid outlet gas inlets, and multiple small through holes are formed. The electrolytic diaphragm covers the electrolysis region and is sandwiched between two opposing annular sealing gaskets. The electrolytic diaphragm has membrane openings corresponding to the liquid inlet and liquid outlet vents, respectively. A raised ring is formed on the outward-facing side of the annular sealing gasket. The diameters of the two raised rings on opposite sides of the two electrode plates (cathode and anode) are unequal. The raised ring of the annular sealing gasket on one electrode plate abuts against one side of the electrolytic diaphragm to form a first line seal, and the raised ring of the annular sealing gasket on the other electrode plate abuts against the other side of the electrolytic diaphragm to form a second line seal. The first and second line seals are staggered circumferentially.

[0005] The second technical solution proposed by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is: a high-pressure electrolytic cell, which is composed of multiple sealed electrolytic units of the above-mentioned technical solution one stacked and pressed together and placed in a pressure vessel. The liquid inlet and its corresponding membrane opening are used for the electrolyte to enter and fill the electrolytic areas on both sides of the electrode plate. The two liquid outlet gas holes and their corresponding membrane openings are used to export the gas and liquid after the electrolytic reaction on the cathode side and the anode side respectively.

[0006] Furthermore, the initial pressure inside the pressure vessel is atmospheric pressure.

[0007] Furthermore, pressurized gas or liquid is continuously introduced into the pressure vessel during electrolysis.

[0008] After in-depth research into the component sealing structure of the existing electrolytic cell unit assembly, the inventors of this patent application discovered the following: 1. The seal formed between the compressed electrode plate, gasket, and diaphragm is planar. Due to manufacturing precision limitations, it is difficult to achieve a high degree of flatness in the sealing surfaces of the electrode plate, gasket, and diaphragm. When the electrolytic reaction zone gradually generates gas and liquid to form high pressure, a large pressure difference is created with the outside environment. Under this large pressure difference, the seal between the electrode plate, gasket, and diaphragm is prone to failure. 2. Because the seal formed between the electrode plate, gasket, and diaphragm is planar, although it is constrained by axial force after compression, there is no effective constraint in the radial direction. Therefore, under the force of high-pressure gas and liquid generated in the electrolytic reaction zone, small movements are easily generated on the plane, which leads to the easy failure of the seal between the electrode plate, gasket, and diaphragm.

[0009] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: In Technical Solution 1, an annular sealing gasket is designed between the sides of a pair of electrode plates. When the pair of electrode plates constituting the cathode and anode are close together with an electrolytic diaphragm sandwiched in between, the two opposing annular sealing gaskets on the opposite sides of the electrode plates form two staggered line seals with the two sides of the electrolytic diaphragm (the first line seal and the second line seal). Therefore, this invention transforms the existing planar seal between the sealing gasket and the electrolytic diaphragm and the electrode plate into a two-line seal, greatly improving the sealing performance of the electrode unit. When such electrolytic units are stacked and pressed together and placed in a pressure vessel, they constitute the high-pressure electrolytic cell of Technical Solution 2. Technical Solution Two: Since each electrolysis unit is entirely within a pressure vessel, one scenario is that even if the inner ring gasket leaks, the pressure difference between the inner and outer rings of the electrolysis diaphragm will gradually self-balance and disappear after continuous hydrogen or oxygen production. Eventually, the pressure within the pressure vessel will reach the same high pressure as the electrolysis unit. This means the high-pressure electrolyzer can reach the required high pressure after continuous electrolysis without worrying about leaks, thus achieving leak-free high-pressure hydrogen-to-oxygen production, producing high-pressure hydrogen and oxygen. Another scenario is that the pressure vessel is continuously filled with pressurized liquid or gas during electrolysis, and its pressure always matches the pressure of the hydrogen or oxygen produced inside the high-pressure electrolyzer. In this way, the inside and outside of the high-pressure electrolyzer are always under the same pressure environment, with no pressure difference. That is, the inside of the gasket is always under high pressure with no pressure difference, greatly reducing the difficulty of sealing and thus achieving leak-free high-pressure hydrogen-to-oxygen production, producing high-pressure oxygen and hydrogen.

[0010] Furthermore, the convex ring is an O-ring or other cross-sectional shape.

[0011] Furthermore, the raised ring is an adhesive strip that is glued to the outward-facing hollow side of the annular sealing gasket.

[0012] Furthermore, the convex ring is a plating layer formed on the outward-facing empty side of the annular sealing gasket.

[0013] Furthermore, the convex ring is a convex ring strip integrally formed with the annular sealing gasket. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, further illustrates an electrolysis unit and a high-voltage electrolytic cell of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing assembly of an electrolysis unit in an existing electrolyzer for producing high-pressure hydrogen and oxygen.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the electrolysis unit structure in Example 1.

[0017] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 AA-direction section view.

[0018] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A magnified view of the area within the circle at point B.

[0019] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of an electrode plate and annular sealing gasket in the middle of the decomposition.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a high-voltage electrolytic cell in Example 2.

[0021] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Exploded view of multiple electrolysis units. Implementation Example 1

[0022] This embodiment provides a sealed electrolysis unit, such as Figure 2 As shown, it consists of a pair of electrode plates 1, an annular sealing gasket 6 abutting the side of the electrode plates 1, and an electrolytic diaphragm 10 sandwiched between the opposite sides of the pair of electrode plates 1. One of the electrode plates 1 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply as the anode, and the other electrode plate 1 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply as the cathode. The electrode plates 1, the annular sealing gasket 6, and the electrolytic diaphragm 10 are pressed tightly against each other. Figure 3 As shown, the electrode plate 1 has an electrolysis region 100 in the middle of its front and back sides, which participates in the electrolysis reaction. Within this region, there is an inlet hole 2, two outlet gas holes 3-1 and 3-2, and multiple small through holes 4. The electrolysis diaphragm 10 has membrane openings corresponding to the inlet hole 2 and the outlet gas holes 3-1 and 3-2, respectively. The electrolysis diaphragm 1 covers the electrolysis region 100 and is sandwiched between two opposing annular sealing gaskets 6.

[0023] like Figure 4 , 5 As shown, a raised ring 8 is formed on the outward-facing side of the annular sealing gasket 6. In this embodiment, the raised ring 8 is an O-ring that is embedded in the outward-facing empty side of the annular sealing gasket 6. Figure 4 As shown, the two convex rings 8 of the two annular sealing gaskets 6 on opposite sides of the pair of electrode plates 1, which respectively constitute the negative electrode plate and the positive electrode plate, have different ring diameters. Figure 4 As shown, the convex ring 8 of the annular sealing gasket 6 on one of the electrode plates 1 abuts against one side of the electrolytic diaphragm 10 to form a first ring seal 5-1, and the convex ring 8 of the annular sealing gasket 6 on the other electrode plate 1 abuts against the other side of the electrolytic diaphragm 10 to form a second ring seal 5-2; the first ring seal 5-1 and the second ring seal 5-2 are staggered from each other circumferentially. Example 2

[0024] This embodiment provides a high-voltage electrolytic cell, such as Figure 6 As shown, it is constructed by stacking and pressing multiple electrolysis units from Embodiment 1 together and placing them inside a pressure vessel 7. Figure 7 As shown, the inlet hole 2 of the electrode plate 1 and its corresponding second opening 20 on the electrolytic diaphragm 10 are used for the electrolyte to enter and fill the electrolytic regions 100 on both sides of the electrode plate. The two outlet gas holes 3-1 and 3-2 and their corresponding second openings 10-1 and 10-2 on the electrolytic diaphragm 10 are used to discharge the gas and liquid after the electrolytic reaction on the cathode and anode sides, respectively. In this embodiment, there are two situations inside the pressure vessel: one is that the initial pressure inside the pressure vessel is atmospheric pressure, i.e., ordinary air; the other is that pressurized gas or liquid is continuously introduced into the pressure vessel during the electrolysis process, and the pressure of the introduced pressurized gas or liquid is the same as the pressure of high-pressure hydrogen or oxygen in the electrolysis unit.

[0025] The convex ring 8 in Embodiments 1 and 2 above can also be modified as follows:

[0026] 1) The raised ring 8 is an adhesive strip that is glued to the outward-facing hollow side of the annular sealing gasket 6;

[0027] 2) The raised ring 8 is a ring of plating, such as ceramic plating, formed on the outward-facing empty side of the annular sealing gasket 6;

[0028] 3) The raised ring 8 is a raised ring strip integrally made with the annular sealing gasket 6, that is, the raised ring 8 is part of the same material as the annular sealing gasket 6.

[0029] 4) The cross-sectional shape of the convex ring 8 can be any reasonable shape other than O-shape, such as triangle, quadrilateral, etc.

[0030] 5) The number of convex rings 8 used for sealing is unlimited, and can be 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, etc.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the electrode plate 1 is circular, but this does not mean that a circle is the only possible shape for the electrode plate. The electrode plate 1 can also be square, rhomboid, elliptical, or polygonal, or other shapes. Similarly, the annular sealing gasket 6 and the outer sealing ring 7 can be circular, square, or other annular shapes.

[0032] In addition, other prior art of the electrolysis unit and electrolytic cell involved in the above embodiments can be found in the Chinese patents or similar publications mentioned in the background art, and will not be repeated here.

[0033] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. All equivalent substitutions or modifications made to the concept and technical solutions of the present invention should be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrolysis unit comprising a pair of electrode plates, annular sealing gaskets abutting the front and back sides of the electrode plates, and an electrolytic diaphragm sandwiched between opposite sides of the pair of electrode plates, wherein one of the electrode plates is connected to the positive terminal of a power supply as the anode and the other is connected to the negative terminal of a power supply as the cathode, wherein the front and back sides of the electrode plates have an electrolysis region in the middle for participating in the electrolysis reaction, and an inlet hole, two outlet gas holes, and multiple small through holes are formed in the region, the electrolytic diaphragm covers the electrolysis region and is sandwiched between two opposite annular sealing gaskets, and the electrolytic diaphragm has membrane openings corresponding to the inlet hole and the outlet gas holes respectively; characterized in that: A raised ring is formed on the outward-facing side of the annular sealing gasket. The diameters of the two raised rings on the opposite sides of the two electrode plates, which respectively constitute the negative electrode plate and the positive electrode plate, are different. The raised ring of the annular sealing gasket on one electrode plate abuts against one side of the electrolytic diaphragm to form a first line seal, and the raised ring of the annular sealing gasket on the other electrode plate abuts against the other side of the electrolytic diaphragm to form a second line seal. The first and second line seals are staggered from each other circumferentially. The raised ring is an O-ring embedded in the outward-facing empty side of the annular sealing gasket, or the raised ring is an adhesive strip adhered to the outward-facing empty side of the annular sealing gasket, or the raised ring is a raised ring strip integrally formed with the annular sealing gasket.

2. A high-voltage electrolytic cell, characterized in that: The device is composed of multiple electrolysis units as described in claim 1 stacked and pressed together and placed in a pressure vessel. The inlet hole and its corresponding membrane opening are used for the electrolyte to enter and fill the electrolysis areas on both sides of the electrode plate. The two outlet gas holes and their corresponding membrane openings are used to export the gas and liquid after the electrolysis reaction on the cathode side and the anode side, respectively.

3. The high-voltage electrolytic cell according to claim 2, characterized in that: The initial pressure inside the pressure vessel is atmospheric pressure.

4. The high-voltage electrolytic cell according to claim 2, characterized in that: As electrolysis progresses, pressurized gas or liquid is continuously introduced into the pressure vessel, and the pressure of the introduced gas or liquid is the same as the pressure of the high-pressure hydrogen or oxygen in the electrolysis unit.

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