Low-cost high-integration-level electrolytic cell device based on proton exchange membrane

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of proton exchange membrane electrolytic cells, and provides a proton exchange membrane-based low-cost high-integration electrolytic cell device which comprises an anode assembly, a cathode assembly and a membrane electrode, and the anode assembly and the cathode assembly are arranged on the two sides of the membrane electrode respectively; the anode assembly comprises an anode plate, an anode water tank, an anode runner plate and an anode porous transmission layer, the anode plate, the anode runner plate and the anode porous transmission layer are sequentially arranged, the anode runner plate and the anode porous transmission layer are attached and fixedly connected, and the side, facing the membrane electrode, of the anode porous transmission layer is plated with an anti-oxidation layer; the anode water tank is arranged above the anode plate, the anode water tank and the anode flow channel and comprises an inlet and an outlet, water flows into the water injection channel on one side of the anode plate from the inlet, flows through the anode flow channel plate and is contacted and reacted with the membrane electrode, and excessive water flows back to the anode water tank from the outlet. And the anode porous transmission layer is improved from two-side plating treatment to single-side plating treatment, so that the water electrolysis cost of the electrolytic bath can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of proton exchange membrane electrolyzers, and in particular relates to a low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on a proton exchange membrane. Background Art

[0002] At present, in the proton exchange membrane water electrolysis system, the flow plate is one of the key components. It is mainly used to evenly distribute the reaction gas and liquid to ensure the efficient operation of the electrolysis process. The channel design on the flow plate ensures that the reactants can fully contact the electrode surface, while taking away the reaction products, avoiding gas retention and accumulation, preventing blockage and reduced reaction efficiency. Effective flow field design can reduce the overall resistance of the electrolytic cell, reduce power loss, and improve hydrogen yield and system stability. In traditional electrolyzers, the flow plate is designed as a separate plate, and the contact with the porous transport layer is usually point contact. In order to avoid oxidation of the porous transport layer, it needs to be platinum-plated, which greatly increases the cost of electrolyzing water, which runs counter to the national research direction of reducing precious metal loading. In addition, traditional electrolyzers use inlet and outlet water pumps for water supply, which has a large operating power consumption.

[0003] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention designs a low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on a proton exchange membrane. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention provides a low-cost and highly integrated electrolytic cell device based on a proton exchange membrane, aiming to solve the problems of the cost of platinum plating treatment of the porous transport layer of the electrolytic cell and the power consumption of the electrolytic cell during operation.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: a low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on proton exchange membrane, comprising an anode assembly, a cathode assembly and a membrane electrode, wherein the anode assembly and the cathode assembly are respectively arranged on both sides of the membrane electrode, the anode assembly comprises an anode plate, an anode water tank, an anode flow channel plate and an anode porous transport layer, the anode plate, the anode flow channel plate and the anode porous transport layer are arranged in sequence, the anode flow channel plate is fitted with and fixedly connected to the anode porous transport layer, the anode porous transport layer is plated with an anti-oxidation layer on the side facing the membrane electrode, the anode water tank is arranged above the anode plate, the anode water tank and the anode flow channel, and comprises an inlet and an outlet, wherein water flows from the inlet into the water injection channel on one side of the anode plate, flows through the anode flow channel plate, and after contacting and reacting with the membrane electrode, excess water flows back to the anode water tank from the outlet.

[0006] Based on the above technical solution, the cathode assembly includes a cathode plate, a cathode flow channel plate and a cathode porous transport layer. The anode plate, anode flow channel plate, anode porous transport layer, membrane electrode, cathode porous transport layer, cathode flow channel plate and cathode plate are arranged in sequence, and the cathode flow channel plate and the cathode porous transport layer are first bonded and fixedly connected.

[0007] Based on the above technical solution, the cathode assembly further includes a cathode water tank, which is arranged above the cathode plate, and the water flowing through the membrane electrode and the hydrogen generated by the cathode can enter the cathode water tank.

[0008] On the basis of the above technical solution, the membrane electrode comprises a proton exchange membrane, an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer, and the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer are respectively arranged on both sides of the proton exchange membrane.

[0009] Based on the above technical solution, a platinum metal layer is plated on the side of the anode porous transport layer facing the anode catalyst layer.

[0010] Optionally, a platinum metal layer is plated on the side of the cathode porous transport layer facing the cathode catalyst layer.

[0011] Based on the above technical solution, the fixed connection method between the anode flow channel plate and the anode porous transmission layer is welding.

[0012] Optionally, the cathode flow channel plate and the cathode porous transport layer are fixedly connected by welding.

[0013] Based on the above technical solution, the anode flow channel plate and the cathode flow channel plate are both provided with S-shaped flow channels.

[0014] Based on the above technical solution, the low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on proton exchange membrane also includes a seal, which is arranged between the membrane electrode, the anode porous transport layer and the cathode porous transport layer and the top wall and bottom wall of the electrolyzer.

[0015] Compared with the related art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. The present invention, by fitting and fixedly connecting the anode flow channel plate and the anode porous transport layer, can avoid coating the anode porous transport layer with an anti-oxidation layer on the side facing the anode flow channel plate compared to the prior art. Only the anti-oxidation layer needs to be plated on the side of the anode porous transport layer facing the membrane electrode, thereby improving the double-sided coating treatment to a single-sided coating treatment, which can reduce the cost of electrolyzing water in the electrolytic cell. At the same time, the anode flow channel plate and the anode porous transport layer are fixedly connected, which can ensure a fixed path for gas-liquid transmission, avoid oxidation and local hot spots on the anode flow channel plate and the anode porous transport layer, and ensure stable flow and contact at the gas-liquid contact interface.

[0016] 2. Compared with the prior art, the present invention avoids the use of a water pump to drive water to flow to the anode flow channel plate and excess water to flow out of the electrolytic cell by arranging the anode water tank above the remaining parts of the anode assembly. Instead, the present invention directly drives water to flow through the anode flow channel plate and the anode porous transmission layer by gravity as the water flows from top to bottom in the anode water tank to carry out the subsequent water electrolysis process. This can avoid unnecessary operating power consumption and ensure sufficient water supply to the anode. In addition, excess ultrapure water can flow from the anode flow channel plate through the outlet back to the anode water tank for recycling, thereby avoiding the waste of ultrapure water. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the prior art descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only one embodiment of the present invention, and for ordinary technicians in this field, other implementation drawings can be derived from the provided drawings without creative work.

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a low-cost, highly integrated electrolyzer device based on a proton exchange membrane provided by the present invention, wherein the direction of the arrows is the direction of gas-liquid flow at the anode and cathode.

[0019] In the figure: 1. anode assembly; 11. anode plate; 12. anode water tank; 121. inlet; 122. outlet; 123. water injection channel; 13. anode flow channel plate; 131. S-shaped flow channel; 14. anode porous transport layer; 2. cathode assembly; 21. cathode plate; 22. cathode flow channel plate; 23. cathode porous transport layer; 24. cathode water tank; 3. membrane electrode; 31. proton exchange membrane; 4. seal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples: Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0021] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0022] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside" and "outside" etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0023] Combination Figure 1 As shown, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on a proton exchange membrane 31, including an anode assembly 1, a cathode assembly 2 and a membrane electrode 3, wherein the anode assembly 1 and the cathode assembly 2 are respectively arranged on both sides of the membrane electrode 3, the anode assembly 1 includes an anode plate 11, an anode water tank 12, an anode flow channel plate 13 and an anode porous transport layer 14, the anode plate 11, the anode flow channel plate 13 and the anode porous transport layer 14 are arranged in sequence, the anode flow channel plate 13 is in contact with and fixedly connected to the anode porous transport layer 14, the anode porous transport layer 14 is plated with an anti-oxidation layer on the side facing the membrane electrode 3, the anode water tank 12 is arranged above the anode plate 11, the anode water tank 12 and the anode flow channel, and includes an inlet 121 and an outlet 122, wherein water flows from the inlet 121 into a water injection channel 123 on one side of the anode plate 11, flows through the anode flow channel plate 13, and after contacting and reacting with the membrane electrode 3, excess water flows back to the anode water tank 12 from the outlet 122.

[0024] By adopting the low-cost, high-integration electrolyzer device based on proton exchange membrane provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, by fitting and fixedly connecting the anode flow channel plate 13 and the anode porous transport layer 14, compared with the prior art, it is possible to avoid coating the anode porous transport layer 14 with an anti-oxidation layer on the side facing the anode flow channel plate 13, and only the anti-oxidation layer needs to be plated on the side of the anode porous transport layer 14 facing the membrane electrode 3, thereby improving the double-sided coating treatment to a single-sided coating treatment, which can reduce the cost of electrolyzing water in the electrolyzer. At the same time, the anode flow channel plate 13 and the anode porous transport layer 14 are fixedly connected, which can ensure a fixed path for gas-liquid transmission, avoid oxidation and local hot spots in the anode flow channel plate 13 and the anode porous transport layer 14, and ensure stable flow and contact at the gas-liquid contact interface.

[0025] In addition, by arranging the anode water tank 12 above the remaining parts of the anode assembly 1, compared with the prior art, it is possible to avoid using a water pump to drive the water flow to the anode flow plate 13 and the excess water flow out of the electrolytic cell, and directly use the gravity of the water flowing from top to bottom in the anode water tank 12 to drive the water flow through the anode flow plate 13 and the anode porous transport layer 14 to carry out the subsequent water electrolysis process. This can avoid unnecessary operating power consumption and ensure sufficient water supply to the anode, and excess ultrapure water can flow from the anode flow plate 13 through the outlet 122 back to the anode water tank 12 for recycling, thereby avoiding the waste of ultrapure water.

[0026] Based on the above technical solution, the cathode assembly 2 includes a cathode plate 21, a cathode flow channel plate 22 and a cathode porous transport layer 23, and the anode plate 11, anode flow channel plate 13, anode porous transport layer 14, membrane electrode 3, cathode porous transport layer 23, cathode flow channel plate 22 and cathode plate 21 are arranged in sequence, and the cathode flow channel plate 22 and the cathode porous transport layer 23 are first bonded and fixedly connected.

[0027] Specifically, by fitting and fixing the cathode flow channel plate 22 and the cathode porous transport layer 23 together, compared with the prior art, it is possible to avoid coating the cathode porous transport layer 23 with an anti-oxidation layer on the side facing the cathode flow channel plate 22. Only the cathode porous transport layer 23 needs to be coated with an anti-oxidation layer on the side facing the membrane electrode 3. The double-side coating process is improved to a single-side coating process, which can reduce the cost of electrolyzing water in the electrolytic cell.

[0028] Based on the above technical solution, the cathode assembly 2 further includes a cathode water tank 24 , which is arranged above the cathode plate 21 , and the water flowing through the membrane electrode 3 and the hydrogen generated by the cathode can enter the cathode water tank 24 .

[0029] Specifically, water flows out from the anode water tank 12, flows through the anode flow channel plate 13 and the anode porous transport layer 14 through the water injection channel 123, and electrolyzes hydrogen ions and oxygen ions under the action of the membrane electrode 3. The oxygen ions lose electrons to generate oxygen, and the lost electrons reach the cathode through the external circuit. The hydrogen ions reach the cathode through the membrane electrode 3, and combine with the electrons at the cathode to form hydrogen. The oxygen generated at the anode and the excess water flow flow back to the anode water tank 12, and the hydrogen generated at the cathode and the water flow flowing through the membrane electrode 3 flow to the cathode water tank 24, completing the water electrolysis process.

[0030] On the basis of the above technical solution, the membrane electrode 3 includes a proton exchange membrane 31 , an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer, and the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer are respectively arranged on both sides of the proton exchange membrane 31 .

[0031] The cathode catalyst is usually a platinum catalyst, which is similar to the cathode catalyst in the fuel cell and can effectively promote the generation of hydrogen. The requirements for the anode catalyst are more stringent, because there is a strong oxidizing environment on the anode side, and the oxygen evolution reaction requires the use of antioxidant and corrosion-resistant catalyst materials. Iridium (Ir), ruthenium (Ru) and its oxides (such as IrO2, RuO2) are the most commonly used anode catalysts. These materials have excellent stability and catalytic performance, and can maintain good electrolysis efficiency at high current density.

[0032] Based on the above technical solution, the anode porous transport layer 14 is plated with a platinum metal layer on the side facing the anode catalyst layer.

[0033] The anode porous transport layer 14 is fitted and fixedly connected to the anode flow channel plate 13, so that the anode porous transport layer 14 only needs to be platinum-plated on the side facing the anode catalyst layer, which greatly reduces the precious metal loading and the cost of electrolyzing water, while providing a more compact electrolytic cell design to facilitate the optimization of industrial production.

[0034] Optionally, the cathode porous transport layer 23 is plated with a platinum metal layer on the side facing the cathode catalyst layer.

[0035] Based on the above technical solution, the anode flow channel plate 13 and the anode porous transmission layer 14 are fixedly connected by welding.

[0036] Compared with the prior art in which the anode flow channel plate 13 and the anode porous transport layer 14 are squeezed into contact by external force to form point contact, the anode flow channel plate 13 and the anode porous transport layer 14 are fixedly connected by welding to ensure stable flow and contact at the gas-liquid contact interface.

[0037] Optionally, the cathode flow channel plate 22 and the cathode porous transport layer 23 are fixedly connected by welding.

[0038] Based on the above technical solution, the anode flow channel plate 13 and the cathode flow channel plate 22 are both provided with S-shaped flow channels.

[0039] The setting of the S-shaped flow channels in the anode flow channel plate 13 and the cathode flow channel plate 22 can enable the reactants to fully contact the surface of the membrane electrode 3, while taking away the reaction products, avoiding gas retention and accumulation, and can evenly distribute the reaction gas and liquid, effectively reducing the internal pressure drop, thereby ensuring the efficient operation of the electrolysis process.

[0040] It can be understood that the flow channel form of the anode flow channel plate 13 and the cathode flow channel plate 22 can be an S-shaped flow channel or other forms of flow channels, and the present application does not limit the flow channel form.

[0041] Based on the above technical solution, the low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on proton exchange membrane also includes a seal 4, which is arranged between the membrane electrode 3, the anode porous transport layer 14 and the cathode porous transport layer 23 and the top and bottom walls of the electrolyzer.

[0042] The setting of the seal 4 makes the area where the anode assembly 1 and the cathode assembly 2 are located relatively sealed, preventing the oxygen ions generated in the anode area and the generated oxygen from entering the cathode area, and preventing the hydrogen generated in the cathode area from entering the anode area, thereby ensuring the normal progress of the electrolysis process and ensuring the electrolysis efficiency of the electrolytic cell.

[0043] The present invention is described above by way of examples, but the present invention is not limited to the above specific embodiments, and any changes or modifications made based on the present invention belong to the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on proton exchange membrane, characterized in that: It includes an anode assembly, a cathode assembly and a membrane electrode, wherein the anode assembly and the cathode assembly are respectively arranged on both sides of the membrane electrode, the anode assembly includes an anode plate, an anode water tank, an anode flow channel plate and an anode porous transport layer, the anode plate, the anode flow channel plate and the anode porous transport layer are arranged in sequence, the anode flow channel plate is fitted with and fixedly connected to the anode porous transport layer, the anode porous transport layer is plated with an anti-oxidation layer on the side facing the membrane electrode, the anode water tank is arranged above the anode plate, the anode water tank and the anode flow channel, and includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein water flows from the inlet into the water injection channel on one side of the anode plate, flows through the anode flow channel plate, and after contacting and reacting with the membrane electrode, excess water flows back to the anode water tank from the outlet.

2. The low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on proton exchange membrane according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The cathode assembly includes a cathode plate, a cathode flow channel plate and a cathode porous transport layer. The anode plate, anode flow channel plate, anode porous transport layer, membrane electrode, cathode porous transport layer, cathode flow channel plate and cathode plate are arranged in sequence, and the cathode flow channel plate and the cathode porous transport layer are first bonded and fixedly connected.

3. The low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on proton exchange membrane according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The cathode assembly further comprises a cathode water tank, which is arranged above the cathode plate. The water flowing through the membrane electrode and the hydrogen generated by the cathode can enter the cathode water tank.

4. The low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on proton exchange membrane according to claim 1, characterized in that: The membrane electrode comprises a proton exchange membrane, an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer, wherein the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer are respectively arranged on both sides of the proton exchange membrane.

5. The low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on proton exchange membrane according to claim 1, characterized in that: The anode porous transport layer is plated with a platinum metal layer on the side facing the anode catalyst layer.

6. The low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on a proton exchange membrane according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The cathode porous transport layer is plated with a platinum metal layer on the side facing the cathode catalyst layer.

7. The low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on a proton exchange membrane according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The anode flow channel plate and the anode porous transmission layer are fixedly connected by welding.

8. The low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on a proton exchange membrane according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The cathode flow channel plate and the cathode porous transmission layer are fixedly connected by welding.

9. The low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on a proton exchange membrane according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The anode flow channel plate and the cathode flow channel plate are both provided with S-shaped flow channels.

10. The low-cost and highly integrated electrolyzer device based on a proton exchange membrane according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: Also included is a seal, which is disposed between the membrane electrode, the anode porous transport layer, the cathode porous transport layer, and the top wall and the bottom wall of the electrolytic cell.

Images