Sealing frame and electrochemical cell

Abstract

The present application provides a sealing frame comprising: a main body formed in a frame shape having a through opening; and a fiber-reinforced layer attached to an outer peripheral surface of the body, in which the body is made of an elastomeric material, and the fiber-reinforced layer has a higher tensile strength than the elastomeric material. The invention also provides an electrochemical battery unit comprising the sealing frame. According to the invention, reliable sealing performance can be provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electrochemical cells, and in particular to a sealing frame and an electrochemical cell unit comprising the sealing frame. Background Art

[0002] Hydrogen, as a promising clean energy carrier, can be produced and converted in electrochemical cells, for example, it can be produced in water electrolysis cells and consumed in electrochemical cells. Specifically, in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell cell, electricity is generated by supplying hydrogen and oxygen and causing them to undergo an electrochemical reaction, while in a water electrolysis cell such as an anion exchange membrane (AEM), hydrogen and oxygen are generated by supplying electricity to electrolyze water.

[0003] In the prior art, an electrochemical cell generally includes an anode plate, a membrane assembly, and a cathode plate stacked in sequence, and a sealing frame is provided between the membrane assembly and each of the anode plate and the cathode plate, and the sealing frame provides a sealing function around the outer periphery of the membrane assembly. The existing sealing frame is generally made of an elastomer such as silicone rubber, EPDM, fluororubber, etc. During the assembly process, the sealing frame is compressed and deformed, so that the contact pressure of the sealing frame between the anode plate or the cathode plate and the membrane assembly can prevent hydrogen or oxygen from leaking.

[0004] For example, in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell unit, the pressure of hydrogen can reach 2-3 atmospheres, while the pressure of hydrogen produced in a water electrolysis unit can reach 30-70 MPa. Therefore, the sealing of high-voltage electrochemical cells is very challenging. Under such high-pressure conditions, the inner pressure of the elastomer of the sealing frame is much greater than the outer pressure, causing the sealing frame to deform and tend to move outward. In order to provide reliable sealing performance, the contact pressure must be higher than the difference between the inner and outer pressures of the sealing frame. Therefore, under normal compression ratios, it is difficult to meet such pressure requirements, and the relative displacement of the sealing frame between the anode plate or cathode plate and the membrane assembly may occur, causing the sealing function to fail. Under higher compression ratios, the elastomer of the sealing frame may be permanently deformed or ruptured, resulting in mechanical failure, which in turn causes the sealing function to fail.

[0005] In addition to the proton exchange membrane fuel cell unit described above, similar sealing problems also exist in water electrolysis units. For example, on the cathode side of the water electrolysis unit, the generated hydrogen is in a high pressure state, which can easily lead to the failure of the sealing frame.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for an improved sealing frame and an electrochemical cell including the same. Summary of the invention

[0007] The purpose of the present application is to provide an improved sealing frame and an electrochemical cell comprising the sealing frame to solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0008] To this end, according to one aspect of the present application, a sealing frame is provided, comprising: a main body formed into a frame shape having a through opening; and a fiber reinforced layer attached to the outer peripheral surface of the main body, wherein the main body is made of an elastomeric material and the fiber reinforced layer has a higher tensile strength than the elastomeric material.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present application, the fiber-reinforced layer is made of at least one of carbon fiber, silicon carbide fiber and quartz fiber.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present application, the fiber reinforcement layer is formed into threads, braided fabrics, woven fabrics or non-woven fabrics.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present application, the fiber reinforcement layer covers 50% to 85% of the height of the outer peripheral surface of the main body.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present application, the fiber reinforcement layer is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the main body by winding and / or bonding.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided an electrochemical battery cell, comprising:

[0014] an anode plate and a cathode plate facing each other;

[0015] A membrane assembly disposed between the anode plate and the cathode plate; and

[0016] The sealing frame according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

[0017] Wherein, the sealing frame is arranged between the anode plate and the membrane assembly and / or between the cathode plate and the membrane assembly.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present application, the anode plate and the cathode plate each have a groove, and the sealing frame is disposed in the groove.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present application, the membrane assembly includes a reaction portion and a gasket portion surrounding the reaction portion, the gasket portion is in contact with the sealing frame, and the reaction portion overlaps with a through opening of a body of the sealing frame.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present application, the electrochemical cell unit is a fuel cell unit, and the sealing frame is disposed between the anode plate and the membrane assembly and between the cathode plate and the membrane assembly.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present application, the electrochemical cell is a water electrolysis cell, and the sealing frame is disposed between the cathode plate and the membrane assembly.

[0022] By wrapping a fiber reinforcement layer made of fibers with high tensile strength such as carbon fiber and silicon carbide fiber on the outer peripheral surface of the main body of the sealing frame made of an elastomeric material, the sealing frame can withstand a greater pressure difference between the inside and outside under a normal compression ratio. Therefore, even if a greater compression ratio is not applied to the sealing frame, reliable sealing performance can be provided. Accordingly, the size and weight of the sealing frame can also be reduced, and the service life of the sealing frame can be increased, thereby providing a compact and reliable electrochemical battery unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The exemplary embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments described below are only used to explain the present application, rather than to limit the scope of the present application. In the accompanying drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a sealing frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 2 is along Figure 1 A schematic enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line II';

[0026] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic front view of a sealing frame and an anode plate combined together;

[0027] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrochemical cell before assembly is completed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrochemical cell after assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The preferred embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to examples. In the embodiments of the present application, the present application is described by taking a sealing frame for a fuel cell unit as an example. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that these exemplary embodiments do not mean that any limitation is formed on the present application. For example, the sealing frame of the present application can also be used for a water electrolysis unit. In addition, the features in the embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other in the absence of conflict. In different drawings, the same parts are represented by the same reference numerals, and other parts are omitted for the sake of brevity, but this does not mean that the sealing frame and electrochemical cell unit of the present application cannot include other parts. It should be understood that the drawings are not drawn to scale, and the size, proportional relationship and number of parts of the components in the drawings are not used as limitations on the present application.

[0030] Refer to the following Figures 1 to 5 The sealing frame of the present application and the electrochemical cell including such sealing frame are described.

[0031] Figure 1 Schematically shows a sealing frame 50 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, Figure 2 Shown along Figure 1 A schematic enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line II'. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the sealing frame 50 of the present application includes a main body 51 and a fiber reinforced layer 52, wherein the main body 51 is formed into a frame shape with a through opening 53, the fiber reinforced layer 52 is attached to the outer peripheral surface 54 of the main body 51, and the main body 51 is made of an elastomeric material, and the fiber reinforced layer 52 has a higher tensile strength than the elastomeric material.

[0032] Therefore, during use, when there is a high gas pressure in the through opening 53 of the sealing frame 50, the main body 51 of the sealing frame 50 is subjected to the pressure difference between the inner pressure and the outer pressure and tends to stretch and deform outward. However, since there is a fiber reinforcement layer 52 on the outer peripheral surface 54 of the main body 51, and the tensile strength of the fiber reinforcement layer 52 is higher than the tensile strength of the elastomeric material of the main body 51, the fiber reinforcement layer 52 limits the outward deformation of the main body 51, so that the sealing frame 50 and the adjacent components maintain stable contact, thereby ensuring reliable sealing performance. The specific changes of the sealing frame 50 during use will be described below in conjunction with Figure 4 and Figure 5 Further detailed explanation.

[0033] In order to ensure that the sealing frame 50 can withstand a large pressure difference and reduce the overall size and weight, the fiber-reinforced layer 52 can be made of at least one of carbon fiber, silicon carbide fiber and quartz fiber. For example, carbon fiber has the advantages of high strength, light weight, easy processing, good durability, etc. However, the present application is not limited thereto, and the fiber-reinforced layer 52 can also use other fibers with high tensile strength.

[0034] like Figure 2 As shown, the fiber reinforcement layer 52 is formed as a thread wound on the outer peripheral surface 54 of the main body 51, however, the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the fiber reinforcement layer 52 may be formed as a woven fabric, a textile fabric, or a non-woven fabric, and may be attached to the outer peripheral surface 54 of the main body 51 by winding and / or bonding. For example, a carbon fiber non-woven fabric may be attached to the outer peripheral surface 54 of the main body 51 by an adhesive.

[0035] To ensure that the sealing frame 50 is sufficiently deformed when compressed and to limit the movement of the sealing frame 50 in the outward direction, the fiber reinforcement layer 52 may cover 50% to 85% of the height D of the outer peripheral surface 54 of the body 51, such as Figure 2 As shown. It should be noted that here, the ratio of the height D of the fiber-reinforced layer 52 covering the outer peripheral surface 54 is used to define how the fiber-reinforced layer 52 is arranged. Alternatively, it can also be defined by the ratio of the area of ​​the outer peripheral surface 54 covered by the fiber-reinforced layer 52, and the same ratio can be used. In other words, the fiber-reinforced layer 52 can cover 50% to 85% of the area of ​​the outer peripheral surface 54 of the main body 51.

[0036] Specifically, if the ratio of the height D of the outer peripheral surface 54 of the main body 51 covered by the fiber reinforced layer 52 is less than 50%, the main body 51 of the sealing frame 50 is prone to large deformation and may still show obvious movement in the outward direction, thus possibly destroying the sealing state. If the ratio of the height D of the outer peripheral surface 54 of the main body 51 covered by the fiber reinforced layer 52 is higher than 85%, the compression of the main body 51 of the sealing frame 50 in the height direction is limited, and may not provide sufficient deformation to achieve sealing. It should be noted that in Figure 2 In the embodiment, the fiber reinforced layer 52 extends along the outer peripheral surface 54 from a position flush with one side of the main body 51 to the other side of the main body 51, but the present application is not limited thereto, and the fiber reinforced layer 52 may extend from any position of the outer peripheral surface 54. That is, the fiber reinforced layer 52 may be disposed at a position on the outer peripheral surface 54 away from any side of the main body 51.

[0037] exist Figure 1 In the sealing frame 50 shown, in addition to the through opening 53, a through hole may also be provided, such as in Figure 1The three through holes (not shown) are shown on the left and right sides of the sealing frame 50. It should be noted that the sealing frame 50 of the present application may not include such through holes or may include more through holes, which can be set according to specific configuration requirements. Figure 3 The combination of the sealing frame 50 and the anode plate 10 will be described.

[0038] Figure 3 The combination of the sealing frame 50 and the anode plate 10 is shown, wherein the anode plate 10 has three holes 11 located on the left and right sides thereof, for example, a hydrogen inlet hole, an oxygen inlet hole, and a coolant inlet hole, as well as a hydrogen outlet hole, an oxygen outlet hole, and a coolant outlet hole, but the present application is not limited thereto, and the arrangement structure of each hole can be arbitrarily replaced according to the specific plate structure. The holes 11 of the anode plate 10 can correspond to the through holes of the sealing frame 50, so as to achieve sealing between the holes. Similarly, the cathode plate 20 (see Figure 4 and Figure 5 ) may also have a similar structure. The anode plate 10 and the cathode plate 20 are generally made of a carbonaceous material (e.g., graphite), a metal material (e.g., aluminum, nickel, titanium, stainless steel) or a composite material. Since the anode plate 10 and the cathode plate 20 are common components in an electrochemical cell, they will not be described in further detail herein.

[0039] Combine the following Figure 4 and Figure 5 The specific application of the sealing frame 50 of the present application is described in detail with reference to the electrochemical cell 100 including the sealing frame 50 shown in FIG.

[0040] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment, the electrochemical cell 100 is a fuel cell cell. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the electrochemical cell 100 may include an anode plate 10 and a cathode plate 20 facing each other, a membrane assembly 30 disposed between the anode plate 10 and the cathode plate 20, and the above-mentioned sealing frame 50, wherein the sealing frame 50 is disposed between the anode plate 10 and the membrane assembly 30 and between the cathode plate 20 and the membrane assembly 30. Figure 4 As shown, before the assembly is completed, the sealing frame 50 is not compressed and the main body 51 maintains a normal height. Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 , after the assembly is completed, the sealing frame 50 is compressed, so that the main body 51 is deformed. Specifically, the height of the main body 51 decreases, and the main body 51 is deformed and moved on the inside, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown by the arrow 55 in FIG. 5 , the outer side does not move. This is because the outer fiber reinforcement layer 52 limits the deformation of the body 51 in the outward direction. Therefore, sufficient contact pressure can be generated between the sealing frame 50 and the anode plate 10 / cathode plate 20 / membrane assembly 30, thereby providing a reliable seal.

[0041] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the anode plate 10 and the cathode plate 20 each have a groove 12, and the sealing frame 50 is disposed in the groove 12 to facilitate the positioning and assembly of the sealing frame 50. In addition, the anode plate 10 and the cathode plate 20 each have a recess (not shown) facing the membrane assembly 30, so that the recess of the anode plate 10 forms an oxygen channel, and the recess of the cathode plate 20 forms a hydrogen channel.

[0042] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the membrane assembly 30 includes a reaction portion 34 and a gasket portion 35 surrounding the reaction portion 34, the gasket portion 35 is in contact with the sealing frame 50, and the reaction portion 34 overlaps with the through opening 53 of the body 51 of the sealing frame 50. In this way, the high-pressure gas adjacent to the reaction portion 34 applies an inner pressure to the sealing frame 50. Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the case of the fuel cell unit shown, the membrane assembly 30 may be a proton exchange membrane electrode assembly, and its reaction portion 34 may include an anode gas diffusion layer 31, a cathode gas diffusion layer 32, and a proton exchange membrane 33, etc. Since the fuel cell unit is only an application example of the electrochemical cell unit 100 of the present application, the membrane assembly 30 of the fuel cell unit will not be described in more detail herein.

[0043] Alternatively, Figure 4 and Figure 5 The electrochemical cell 100 shown in the figure may also be a water electrolysis cell (not shown), in which case the sealing frame 50 may be disposed between the cathode plate 20 and the membrane assembly 30. Since the hydrogen pressure generated on the cathode plate 20 side is higher and the oxygen pressure generated on the anode plate 10 side is lower, it is not necessary to provide the sealing frame 50 of the present application on the anode plate 10 side, but a sealing frame of the prior art may be used.

[0044] Therefore, by adopting the sealing frame of the present application, a larger pressure difference can be withstood under a normal compression ratio, reliable sealing can be ensured, and the overall size, weight and durability of the sealing frame can be reduced. In addition, the size, weight, performance, etc. of the electrochemical cell including the sealing frame can also be improved.

[0045] The present application has been described in detail above in conjunction with specific embodiments. Obviously, the above description and the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings should be understood as exemplary and do not constitute a limitation to the present application. For those skilled in the art, various modifications or changes can be made to the present application without departing from the spirit of the present application, and these modifications or changes do not depart from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A sealing frame (50), characterized in that: The sealing frame (50) comprises: a main body (51) formed in a frame shape having a through opening (53); and a fiber reinforcement layer (52) attached to the outer peripheral surface (54) of the body (51), Wherein, the main body (51) is made of an elastomeric material, and the fiber-reinforced layer (52) has a higher tensile strength than the elastomeric material.

2. The sealing frame (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fiber-reinforced layer (52) is made of at least one of carbon fiber, silicon carbide fiber and quartz fiber.

3. The sealing frame (50) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fiber reinforcement layer (52) is formed into threads, braids, weaves or non-woven fabrics.

4. The sealing frame (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The fiber reinforcement layer (52) covers 50% to 85% of the height (D) of the outer peripheral surface (54) of the main body (51).

5. The sealing frame (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The fiber reinforcement layer (52) is attached to the outer peripheral surface (54) of the main body (51) by winding and / or bonding.

6. An electrochemical cell (100), characterized in that: The electrochemical cell (100) comprises: An anode plate (10) and a cathode plate (20) facing each other; a membrane assembly (30) disposed between the anode plate (10) and the cathode plate (20); and The sealing frame (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The sealing frame (50) is arranged between the anode plate (10) and the membrane assembly (30) and / or between the cathode plate (20) and the membrane assembly (30).

7. The electrochemical cell (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that The anode plate (10) and the cathode plate (20) each have a groove (12), and the sealing frame (50) is disposed in the groove (12).

8. The electrochemical cell (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that The membrane assembly (30) includes a reaction portion (34) and a gasket portion (35) surrounding the reaction portion (34), the gasket portion (35) being in contact with the sealing frame (50), and the reaction portion (34) overlapping with a through opening (53) of a body (51) of the sealing frame (50).

9. The electrochemical cell (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that The electrochemical cell unit (100) is a fuel cell unit, and the sealing frame (50) is arranged between the anode plate (10) and the membrane assembly (30) and between the cathode plate (20) and the membrane assembly (30).

10. The electrochemical cell (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that The electrochemical cell (100) is a water electrolysis cell, and the sealing frame (50) is disposed between the cathode plate (20) and the membrane assembly (30).

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