Large-scale hydrogen production electrolytic cell

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of electrolytic hydrogen production, and particularly relates to a large-scale hydrogen production electrolytic bath which comprises a plurality of electrolytic bath units arranged in parallel, the liquid inlet ends of the electrolytic bath units are communicated with an electrolyte pipeline, the gas-liquid discharge ends of the electrolytic bath units are communicated with a gas-liquid mixing pipeline, and each electrolytic bath unit comprises an anode frame and a cathode frame which are arranged in parallel. A sealing insulation pad is arranged between the anode frame and the cathode frame; the interiors of the anode frame and the cathode frame are hollow, and the anode frame and the cathode frame are used for enabling electrolyte to enter and exit from the electrolytic cell unit and discharging hydrogen out of the electrolytic cell unit; and the flow field uniform structure is arranged on the bipolar plate, and the flow field uniform structure is used for controlling the electrolyte to uniformly flow in the electrolytic cell unit. The production and assembly efficiency of the electrolytic cell can be improved, the manufacturing cost is reduced, the maintenance convenience of the electrolytic cell is improved, and the hydrogen production energy consumption of the electrolytic cell is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of electrolytic hydrogen production, and in particular relates to a large-scale hydrogen production electrolytic cell. Background Art

[0002] The electrolytic cell consists of a cell body, an anode and a cathode, and most of them use a diaphragm to separate the anode chamber and the cathode chamber. According to the different electrolytes, it can be divided into three categories: aqueous solution electrolytic cell, molten salt electrolytic cell and non-aqueous solution electrolytic cell. When direct current passes through the electrolytic cell, an oxidation reaction occurs at the interface between the anode and the solution, and a reduction reaction occurs at the interface between the cathode and the solution to produce the desired product. Optimizing the design of the electrolytic cell structure and rationally selecting the electrode and diaphragm materials are the key to improving current efficiency, reducing cell voltage and saving energy consumption.

[0003] Currently, alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production devices still have problems such as low production efficiency, complex assembly and high cost, difficult maintenance, and high energy consumption for hydrogen production, all of which limit the promotion of this technology to large-scale commercial applications.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to design a large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer to solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer to solve the above-mentioned problems, so as to improve the production and assembly efficiency of the electrolyzer, reduce the manufacturing cost, improve the convenience of electrolyzer maintenance, and reduce the energy consumption of hydrogen production by the electrolyzer.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following scheme: a large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer, comprising a plurality of electrolyzer units arranged in parallel, wherein the liquid inlet end of the electrolyzer unit is connected to the electrolyte pipeline, and the gas-liquid outlet end of the electrolyzer unit is connected to the gas-liquid mixing pipeline, and the electrolyzer unit comprises

[0007] An anode frame and a cathode frame are arranged in parallel, and a sealing insulating pad is arranged between the anode frame and the cathode frame;

[0008] The inside of the anode frame and the cathode frame are both set to be in a hollow state, and the anode frame and the cathode frame are used for the electrolyte to enter and exit the electrolytic cell unit and for the hydrogen to exit the electrolytic cell unit;

[0009] A flow field uniform structure is provided on the bipolar plate and is used to control the uniform flow of electrolyte in the electrolytic cell unit.

[0010] Preferably, the anode frame and the cathode frame have the same structure, the anode frame comprises a liquid inlet pipe, one end of the liquid inlet pipe is fixedly connected with a liquid inlet, the liquid inlet is connected with an electrolyte pipeline, the tops of both ends of the liquid inlet pipe are fixedly connected with connecting pipes, the tops of the two connecting pipes are fixedly connected with gas-liquid outlet pipes, the end of the gas-liquid outlet pipe away from the liquid inlet is fixedly connected with a gas-liquid outlet, the gas-liquid outlet is connected with a gas-liquid mixing pipeline, the liquid inlet pipe, the gas-liquid outlet pipe and the connecting pipe are connected to the inside of the electrolytic cell unit.

[0011] Preferably, the top wall of the liquid inlet pipe is provided with a plurality of first liquid outlet holes, and the liquid inlet pipe is connected with the interior of the electrolytic cell unit through the first liquid outlet holes; the bottom wall of the gas-liquid outlet pipe is provided with a plurality of gas-liquid holes, and the gas-liquid outlet pipe is connected with the interior of the electrolytic cell unit through the gas-liquid holes; the side wall of the connecting pipe is provided with a plurality of second liquid outlet holes, and the connecting pipe is connected with the interior of the electrolytic cell unit through the second liquid outlet holes.

[0012] Preferably, the bipolar plate comprises a polar plate membrane, one side of the polar plate membrane is fixedly connected to an anode plate, the other side of the polar plate membrane is fixedly connected to a cathode plate, and the flow field uniformity structure is provided on both the anode plate and the cathode plate.

[0013] Preferably, the uniform flow field structure comprises a plurality of first ribs, and the plurality of first ribs are fixedly connected to the anode plate and / or the cathode plate at equal intervals.

[0014] Preferably, the first rib is L-shaped.

[0015] Preferably, the first rib is provided with a plurality of through holes arranged at equal intervals.

[0016] Preferably, the first rib is Z-shaped.

[0017] Preferably, the uniform flow field structure includes a plurality of second ribs, and the plurality of second ribs are fixedly connected to the bipolar plate, and the distance between any two adjacent second ribs decreases along the direction from the liquid inlet to the gas-liquid outlet.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages and technical effects:

[0019] The present invention arranges the anode frame and the cathode frame to be in a hollow state, and can utilize the hollow anode frame and the cathode frame to input electrolyte into the electrolyzer unit, and the gas generated in the electrolysis process can be discharged through the top of the anode frame and the cathode frame. The anode frame and the cathode frame are used as the electrolyte input structure, thereby achieving the purpose of improving the production and assembly efficiency of the electrolyzer, reducing the manufacturing cost, and improving the convenience of electrolyzer maintenance. The flow uniformity structure arranged on the bipolar plate can ensure the uniformity and stability of the electrolyte flow in the electrolyzer unit, prevent energy waste caused by electrolyte instability, and achieve the purpose of reducing the energy consumption of hydrogen production in the electrolyzer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] 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 are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative labor:

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall assembly of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of a single electrolytic cell unit of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the interior of the electrolytic cell of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the interior of the electrolytic cell of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0025] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a bipolar plate of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

[0029] Fig. 9 This is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

[0030] Among them, 1. liquid inlet pipe; 2. gas-liquid outlet pipe; 3. connecting pipe; 4. liquid inlet; 5. gas-liquid outlet; 6. sealing insulating pad; 7. diaphragm; 8. anode plate; 9. first rib; 10. first liquid outlet hole; 11. plate membrane; 12. gas-liquid hole; 13. second rib; 14. through hole; 15. second liquid outlet hole; 16. third rib; 17. rib hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0033] Embodiment 1:

[0034] Reference Figures 1 to 5 As shown, this embodiment provides a large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer, including a plurality of electrolyzer units arranged in parallel, the liquid inlet end of the electrolyzer unit is connected to the electrolyte pipeline, the gas-liquid outlet end of the electrolyzer unit is connected to the gas-liquid mixing pipeline, and the electrolyzer unit includes

[0035] An anode frame and a cathode frame are arranged in parallel, and a sealing insulating pad 6 is arranged between the anode frame and the cathode frame;

[0036] The inside of the anode frame and the cathode frame are both set to be in a hollow state, and the anode frame and the cathode frame are used for the electrolyte to enter and exit the electrolytic cell unit and for the hydrogen to be discharged from the electrolytic cell unit;

[0037] A flow field uniform structure is provided on the bipolar plate and is used to control the uniform flow of electrolyte in the electrolytic cell unit.

[0038] A further optimized solution is provided in which the anode frame and the cathode frame have the same structure, the anode frame comprises a liquid inlet pipe 1, one end of the liquid inlet pipe 1 is fixedly connected with a liquid inlet port 4, the liquid inlet port 4 is connected with an electrolyte pipeline, the tops of both ends of the liquid inlet pipe 1 are fixedly connected with connecting pipes 3, the tops of the two connecting pipes 3 are fixedly connected with gas-liquid outlet pipes 2, the end of the gas-liquid outlet pipe 2 away from the liquid inlet port 4 is fixedly connected with a gas-liquid outlet 5, the gas-liquid outlet 5 is connected with a gas-liquid mixing pipeline, the liquid inlet pipe 1, the gas-liquid outlet pipe 2 and the connecting pipe 3 are connected with the inside of the electrolytic cell unit.

[0039] The material of the liquid inlet pipe 1 and the gas-liquid outlet pipe 2 is one or more of stainless steel, nickel-based alloy, pure nickel, polyphenylene sulfide, fluorine resin, poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole), polytetrafluoroethylene, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyarylsulfone, polyarylate, liquid crystal polymer, polyketone, polyetheretherketone, polyaryletherketone, polyimide, and polyetherimide.

[0040] The liquid inlet 4 and the gas-liquid outlet 5 are both fixed by using a ferrule, a pagoda or a flange, and are connected to the electrolyte pipeline and the gas-liquid mixing pipeline through a PTFE or PFA corrosion-resistant hose.

[0041] Furthermore, a diaphragm 7 is provided on the side of the anode frame and the cathode frame that are away from each other, and the two diaphragms 7 and the anode frame and the cathode frame constitute a sealed electrolytic cell unit.

[0042] The hydrogen generated during the electrolysis process is discharged through the gas-liquid outlet 5 connected to the cathode frame, and the oxygen generated is discharged through the gas-liquid outlet 5 connected to the anode frame.

[0043] A further optimized solution is that a plurality of first liquid outlet holes 10 are formed on the top wall of the liquid inlet pipe 1, and the liquid inlet pipe 1 is connected to the interior of the electrolytic cell unit through the first liquid outlet holes 10; a plurality of gas-liquid holes 12 are formed on the bottom wall of the gas-liquid outlet pipe 2, and the gas-liquid outlet pipe 2 is connected to the interior of the electrolytic cell unit through the gas-liquid holes 12; a plurality of second liquid outlet holes 15 are formed on the side wall of the connecting pipe 3, and the connecting pipe 3 is connected to the interior of the electrolytic cell unit through the second liquid outlet holes 15.

[0044] In this embodiment, the connecting tube 3 is set to a hollow state, and the electrolyte can enter the electrolytic cell through the second liquid outlet hole 15. The connecting tube 3 can also be set to a solid state. At this time, the connecting tube 3 only serves to connect and support the liquid inlet pipe 1 and the gas-liquid outlet pipe 2, and the electrolyte only enters the electrolytic cell through the first liquid outlet hole 10.

[0045] According to a further optimization scheme, the bipolar plate includes a plate membrane 11, one side of the plate membrane 11 is fixedly connected to an anode plate 8, and the other side of the plate membrane 11 is fixedly connected to a cathode plate, and both the anode plate 8 and the cathode plate are provided with a flow field uniformity structure.

[0046] The anode plate 8 and the cathode plate are made of alkali corrosion resistant metal with a thickness of 2mm-3mm.

[0047] The anode plate 8, the anode frame and the diaphragm 7 constitute the anode chamber of the electrolytic cell unit, and the cathode plate, the cathode frame and another diaphragm 7 constitute the cathode chamber of the electrolytic cell unit.

[0048] According to a further optimized solution, the uniform flow field structure includes a plurality of first ribs 9, and the plurality of first ribs 9 are fixedly connected to the anode plate 8 and / or the cathode plate at equal intervals.

[0049] According to a further optimized solution, the first rib 9 is L-shaped.

[0050] The first ribs 9 are arranged in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber along the flow direction of the electrolyte and are welded and fixed to the anode plate 8 and the cathode plate to support the anode plate 8 and the cathode plate and assist the uniform flow of gas and liquid in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, while also playing the role of conducting current.

[0051] The first rib 9 is made of nickel, nickel alloy, or other corrosion-resistant conductive materials.

[0052] In this embodiment Figure 1 In the figure, the electrolyte enters from the lower left corner and the gas-liquid mixture exits from the upper right corner. In the actual production process, there are also the following entry and exit methods:

[0053] 1. The electrolyte enters from the lower left corner, and the gas-liquid mixture exits from the upper left corner;

[0054] 2. The electrolyte enters from the lower right corner and the gas-liquid mixture exits from the upper right corner;

[0055] 3. The electrolyte enters from the lower right corner and the gas-liquid mixture exits from the upper left corner;

[0056] 4. The electrolyte enters from the lower left and lower right corners, and the gas-liquid mixture exits from the upper left and upper right corners.

[0057] Embodiment 2:

[0058] Reference Figure 6 As shown, the difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the first rib plate 9 is L-shaped, and a plurality of through holes 14 arranged at equal intervals are opened on the first rib plate 9.

[0059] In the process of the electrolyte entering the liquid inlet pipe 1 from the liquid inlet 4 and entering the electrolytic cell unit through the first liquid outlet hole 10, due to the resistance of the inner wall of the liquid inlet pipe 1 and the first liquid outlet hole 10, the amount of electrolyte overflowing from the first liquid outlet hole 10 close to the liquid inlet 4 is greater than the amount of electrolyte overflowing from the first liquid outlet hole 10 far away from the liquid inlet 4. At the same time, due to the existence of the first rib 9, the electrolyte flow field in the electrolytic cell unit will be uneven and unstable. By opening a through hole 14 on the first rib 9, the electrolyte between any two first ribs 9 close to the liquid inlet 4 can pass through the through hole 14 and enter between the two first ribs 9 far away from the liquid inlet 4. In this way, the problem of small amount of electrolyte overflowing from the first liquid outlet hole 10 far away from the liquid inlet 4 can be solved, thereby making the electrolyte flow field uniform and stable.

[0060] Embodiment three:

[0061] Reference Figure 7 As shown, the difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the first rib 9 is Z-shaped.

[0062] The Z-shaped first ribs 9 can provide more stable support for the anode plates 8 and the cathode plates.

[0063] Embodiment 4:

[0064] Reference Figure 8As shown, the difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the uniform flow field structure includes a plurality of second ribs 13, the plurality of second ribs 13 are fixedly connected to the bipolar plate, and the distance between any two adjacent second ribs 13 decreases along the direction from the liquid inlet 4 to the gas-liquid outlet 5.

[0065] The electrolyte overflow amount of the first liquid outlet 10 close to the liquid inlet 4 is large and the distance between the two adjacent second ribs 13 is large, while the electrolyte overflow amount of the first liquid outlet 10 far from the liquid inlet 4 is small and the distance between the two adjacent second ribs 13 is small. The electrolyte flow field after the large overflow amount and the large distance is combined with the electrolyte flow field after the small overflow amount and the small distance is combined can reach the same state, thereby ensuring the uniformity and stability of the electrolyte flow inside the entire electrolytic cell.

[0066] Embodiment five:

[0067] Reference Fig. 9 As shown, the difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that a plurality of third ribs 16 are provided on both the anode plate 8 and the cathode plate, the third ribs 16 are S-shaped, and a plurality of rib holes 17 are provided on the third ribs 16. The inner concave sections or outer convex sections of any two adjacent third ribs 16 are relatively arranged, so that a flow channel with variable size can be formed between the two adjacent third ribs 16. When the electrolyte flows through the flow channel with variable size, the flow velocity will change, thereby preventing multiple small-volume bubbles generated by the electrolysis of the electrolyte from gathering to form large-volume bubbles, so that they can be discharged from the electrolytic cell more smoothly. Even if large-volume bubbles are formed, the large-volume bubbles will be decomposed into small-volume bubbles again when passing through the rib holes 17 and discharged from the electrolytic cell.

[0068] The first liquid outlet 10, the gas-liquid hole 12, the through hole 14 and the second liquid outlet 15 in the electrolytic cell of the present invention are all circular, and can also be designed into other shapes according to actual needs, such as rectangle, triangle or diamond.

[0069] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "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 do not indicate or imply 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.

[0070] The embodiments described above are only descriptions of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the design spirit of the present invention, various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present invention by ordinary technicians in this field should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer, comprising a plurality of electrolyzer units arranged in parallel, wherein the liquid inlet end of the electrolyzer unit is connected to an electrolyte pipeline, and the gas-liquid outlet end of the electrolyzer unit is connected to a gas-liquid mixing pipeline, characterized in that: The electrolytic cell unit comprises An anode frame and a cathode frame are arranged in parallel, and a sealing insulating gasket (6) is arranged between the anode frame and the cathode frame; The inside of the anode frame and the cathode frame are both set to be in a hollow state, and the anode frame and the cathode frame are used for the electrolyte to enter and exit the electrolytic cell unit and for the hydrogen to exit the electrolytic cell unit; A flow field uniform structure is provided on the bipolar plate and is used to control the uniform flow of electrolyte in the electrolytic cell unit.

2. A large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The anode frame and the cathode frame have the same structure. The anode frame comprises a liquid inlet pipe (1). One end of the liquid inlet pipe (1) is fixedly connected to a liquid inlet port (4). The liquid inlet port (4) is connected to an electrolyte pipeline. The tops of both ends of the liquid inlet pipe (1) are fixedly connected to connecting pipes (3). The tops of the two connecting pipes (3) are fixedly connected to gas-liquid outlet pipes (2). One end of the gas-liquid outlet pipe (2) away from the liquid inlet port (4) is fixedly connected to a gas-liquid outlet (5). The gas-liquid outlet (5) is connected to a gas-liquid mixing pipeline. The liquid inlet pipe (1), the gas-liquid outlet pipe (2) and the connecting pipe (3) are connected to the inside of the electrolytic cell unit.

3. A large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The top wall of the liquid inlet pipe (1) is provided with a plurality of first liquid outlet holes (10), and the liquid inlet pipe (1) is connected to the interior of the electrolytic cell unit through the first liquid outlet holes (10); the bottom wall of the gas-liquid outlet pipe (2) is provided with a plurality of gas-liquid holes (12), and the gas-liquid outlet pipe (2) is connected to the interior of the electrolytic cell unit through the gas-liquid holes (12); the side wall of the connecting pipe (3) is provided with a plurality of second liquid outlet holes (15), and the connecting pipe (3) is connected to the interior of the electrolytic cell unit through the second liquid outlet holes (15).

4. A large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bipolar plate comprises a polar plate membrane (11), one side of the polar plate membrane (11) is fixedly connected to an anode plate (8), the other side of the polar plate membrane (11) is fixedly connected to a cathode plate, and both the anode plate (8) and the cathode plate are provided with the flow field uniformity structure.

5. A large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer according to claim 4, characterized in that: The flow field uniform structure comprises a plurality of first ribs (9), and the plurality of first ribs (9) are fixedly connected to the anode plate (8) and / or the cathode plate at equal intervals.

6. A large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first rib (9) is L-shaped.

7. A large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first rib plate (9) is provided with a plurality of through holes (14) arranged at equal intervals.

8. A large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first rib (9) is Z-shaped.

9. A large-scale hydrogen production electrolyzer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The uniform flow field structure comprises a plurality of second ribs (13), wherein the plurality of second ribs (13) are fixedly connected to the bipolar plate, and the distance between any two adjacent second ribs (13) decreases along the direction from the liquid inlet (4) to the gas-liquid outlet (5).

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