Electrolytic hydrogen production unit, manufacturing method thereof and PEM electrolytic bath

Abstract

The invention discloses an electrolytic hydrogen production unit, a manufacturing method thereof and a PEM electrolytic bath. The electrolytic hydrogen production unit comprises a conductive net, an anode rubber sealing gasket, an anode plate, a first bonding layer, an anode frame, an anode gas diffusion layer, a second bonding layer, a membrane electrode, a third bonding layer, a cathode gas diffusion layer, a cathode frame, a fourth bonding layer and a cathode plate. According to the electrolytic hydrogen production unit, the anode plate, the anode frame, the membrane electrode, the cathode frame and the cathode plate are bonded together through the bonding layers to form the complete electrolytic hydrogen production unit, only the pressure required by the bonding layers needs to be provided during assembly, and the assembly pressure is very low; the problems of proton membrane wrinkling, carbon paper breakage, catalyst damage and the like in the replacement process of the electrolytic hydrogen production unit are avoided, assembly is more modularized and automatic, and disassembly and replacement are more convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of production and processing of PEM water electrolyzers, and in particular to an electrolytic hydrogen production unit and a manufacturing method thereof, and a PEM electrolyzer. Background Art

[0002] Usually, the electrolysis unit for producing hydrogen by electrolysis of water is composed of a plate or a separator, a sealing film, a plastic frame, a cathode gas diffusion layer and a membrane electrode MEA. The plastic frame defines the reaction area of ​​the electrolysis unit of the electrolyzer, and the plate or separator defines the gas produced by the cathode reaction on both sides thereof. In order to seal water, hydrogen and oxygen in the corresponding area of ​​the water electrolyzer, it is necessary to set a seal at the corresponding position on the frame. The general technology is that the two sides of the PEM membrane are plastic frames, PTFE sealing gaskets, separators and porous diffusion layers. Since the sealing gasket is generally a PTFE sheet, the thickness of the gasket is relatively thin and it is easy to creep, so the plastic frame generally has a sealing feature at the sealing structure. This sealing method of combining PTFE sealing gasket with sealing ridges often makes the assembly force of the electrolytic cell very large and the assembly requirements are high. These conditions will cause complex component structures, high tolerance requirements, a large number of components, a long assembly cycle, severe shear damage to the proton membrane, and severe creep of non-metallic materials. At the same time, it will cause industrial problems such as high manufacturing cost of the electrolytic cell, poor modular function, poor automation capability, slow stacking speed, and difficulty in disassembly and maintenance of the electrolytic cell. Summary of the invention

[0003] The embodiments of the present application provide an electrolytic hydrogen production unit and a method for manufacturing the same, as well as a PEM electrolyzer, which can solve the technical problems in the current electrolyzer industry, such as the difficult processing requirements for the frame sealing structure, large creep of the sealing material, easy damage to the membrane electrode and carbon paper, poor automation capability, slow stacking speed, and difficult disassembly and maintenance.

[0004] The embodiment of the present application provides an electrolytic hydrogen production unit, including: a conductive mesh, an anode rubber sealing gasket, an anode plate, a first bonding layer, an anode frame, an anode gas diffusion layer, a second bonding layer, a membrane electrode, a third bonding layer, a cathode gas diffusion layer, a cathode frame, a fourth bonding layer, and a cathode plate; The electrolytic hydrogen production unit is provided with a central reaction zone and a frame zone; the conductive mesh, the anode plate, the anode gas diffusion layer, the membrane electrode, the cathode gas diffusion layer and the cathode plate are sequentially arranged in the central reaction zone; the conductive mesh, the anode rubber sealing gasket, the anode plate, the first bonding layer, the anode frame, the second bonding layer, the membrane electrode, the third bonding layer, the cathode frame, the fourth bonding layer and the cathode plate are sequentially arranged in the frame zone; the anode rubber sealing gasket fixes the two ends of the conductive mesh.

[0005] Furthermore, the anode plate is a planar structure facing the membrane electrode side, and the conductive mesh is arranged on the anode plate away from the membrane electrode side; the cathode plate is a planar structure.

[0006] Furthermore, the material of the anode plate and the cathode plate includes titanium plate, and the surfaces of the anode plate and the cathode plate are provided with a platinum coating.

[0007] Furthermore, the conductive mesh is a metal mesh, and the material of the conductive mesh is one or a combination of sintered titanium, titanium felt, and titanium mesh; the material of the anode rubber sealing gasket is one of fluororubber, EPDM rubber, AEM rubber, TPV rubber, nitrile rubber and silicone rubber.

[0008] Furthermore, the material of the anode frame and the cathode frame includes one of polysulfone, polyetherimide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketone, and polyimide, and the molding method is injection molding.

[0009] Furthermore, the border area is arranged around the central reaction area, the anode frame and the cathode frame are provided with a central through hole in the central reaction area, the anode gas diffusion layer is provided in the central through hole of the anode frame, the cathode gas diffusion layer is provided in the central through hole of the cathode frame, and an anode common flow channel and a cathode common flow channel are provided in the border area; the anode frame is provided with an anode microchannel, and the anode common flow channel is connected to the central through hole through the anode microchannel; the cathode frame is provided with a cathode microchannel, and the cathode common flow channel is connected to the central through hole through the cathode microchannel.

[0010] Furthermore, the materials of the first bonding layer, the second bonding layer, the third bonding layer and the fourth bonding layer include hot melt glue, adhesive and rubber, and the first bonding layer, the second bonding layer, the third bonding layer and the fourth bonding layer are manufactured by dispensing, screen printing, spraying and hot vulcanization.

[0011] Furthermore, the anode gas diffusion layer is made of a titanium gas diffusion layer, and the material of the anode gas diffusion layer is one or a combination of sintered titanium, titanium felt, and titanium mesh; the cathode gas diffusion layer is made of carbon fiber felt or carbon fiber paper.

[0012] The present application also provides a method for manufacturing the aforementioned electrolytic hydrogen production unit, comprising: The installation order of the electrolytic hydrogen production unit is as follows: conductive mesh, anode rubber sealing gasket, anode plate, first bonding layer, anode frame, anode gas diffusion layer, second bonding layer, membrane electrode, third bonding layer, cathode frame, cathode gas diffusion layer, fourth bonding layer, cathode plate.

[0013] The present application also provides a PEM electrolyzer, which includes: an upper end plate, an upper insulating plate, an upper current collecting plate, the above-mentioned electrolysis hydrogen production unit, a lower current collecting plate, a lower insulating plate and a lower end plate.

[0014] The electrolytic hydrogen production unit and its manufacturing method, as well as the PEM electrolyzer provided in the embodiments of the present application, are formed into a complete electrolytic hydrogen production unit by bonding the anode plate, anode frame, membrane electrode, cathode frame, and cathode plate together through an adhesive layer. During assembly, only the pressure required by the adhesive layer needs to be provided, and the assembly pressure is very low, thereby avoiding problems such as proton membrane wrinkles, carbon paper rupture, and catalyst damage during the replacement process of the electrolytic hydrogen production unit. The assembly is more modular and automated, and disassembly and replacement are more convenient. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The technical solution and other beneficial effects of the present application will be made apparent by describing in detail the specific implementation methods of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hydrogen production electrolysis unit provided in an embodiment of the present application in a flattened state.

[0017] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a hydrogen production unit provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0018] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the anode sealing gasket provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0019] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a PEM electrolyzer provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0021] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, "plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0022] In the description of this application, 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 a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or mutual communication; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0023] For details, please refer to Figures 1 to 4 The embodiment of the present application provides a hydrogen production unit 4 by electrolysis, which includes a conductive mesh 701, an anode rubber sealing gasket 601, an anode plate 501, a first bonding layer 301, an anode frame 401, an anode gas diffusion layer 201, a second bonding layer 302, a membrane electrode 100, a third bonding layer 303, a cathode gas diffusion layer 202, a cathode frame 402, a fourth bonding layer 304, and a cathode plate 502.

[0024] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the electrolytic hydrogen production unit 4 is provided with a central reaction zone 10 and a frame zone 20; the conductive mesh 701, the anode plate 501, the anode gas diffusion layer 201, the membrane electrode 100, the cathode gas diffusion layer 202 and the cathode plate 502 are sequentially arranged in the central reaction zone 10, and the conductive mesh 701, the anode rubber sealing gasket 601, the anode plate 501, the first bonding layer 301, the anode frame 401, the second bonding layer 302, the membrane electrode 100, the third bonding layer 303, the cathode frame 402, the fourth bonding layer 304 and the cathode plate 502 are sequentially arranged in the frame zone 20, and the anode rubber sealing gasket 601 fixes the two ends of the conductive mesh 701.

[0025] By bonding the anode plate 501, the anode frame 401, the membrane electrode 100, the cathode frame 402, and the cathode plate 502 together through the bonding layer to form a complete electrolytic hydrogen production unit 4, the PTFE sealing gasket in the traditional electrolyzer is omitted, the problem of too large material creep is avoided, the problem of poor durability of the electrolyzer caused by the shear damage of the membrane electrode by the sealing structure is avoided, and the problems such as poor processability, high tolerance requirements, high processing cost, and low yield rate caused by the sealing convex ridges in the plastic frame are avoided. During assembly, only the pressure required by the bonding layer needs to be provided, and the assembly pressure is very low, which avoids the problems such as proton membrane wrinkles, carbon paper rupture, and catalyst damage in the electrolytic hydrogen production unit during the replacement process, and the assembly is more modular and automated, and it is more convenient to disassemble and replace. The sealing structure is simple, easy to implement, and the sealing performance is reliable and stable, so that the electrolyzer is simple to process and has lower cost.

[0026] Furthermore, the anode plate 501 is a planar structure on the side facing the membrane electrode 100, and the conductive mesh 701 is provided on the side of the anode plate 501 away from the membrane electrode 100; the cathode plate 502 is a planar structure.

[0027] Furthermore, the material of the anode plate 501 and the cathode plate 502 includes titanium plate, and the surfaces of the anode plate 501 and the cathode plate 502 are provided with a platinum coating.

[0028] Furthermore, the conductive mesh 701 is a metal mesh, and the material of the conductive mesh 701 is one or a combination of sintered titanium, titanium felt, and titanium mesh; the metal mesh has a certain compression strength and resilience, and has good conductivity. The use of a conductive metal mesh can not only improve the contact resistance between the electrolytic hydrogen production units 4, but also improve the contact resistance inside the electrolytic cell core, thereby optimizing the overall performance of the entire electrolytic cell. The material of the anode rubber sealing gasket 601 is one of fluororubber, EPDM rubber, AEM rubber, TPV rubber, nitrile rubber and silicone rubber, and the molding process is compression molding or injection molding.

[0029] Furthermore, the material of the anode frame 401 and the cathode frame 402 includes one of polysulfone, polyetherimide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketone, and polyimide, and the molding method is injection molding or machining molding.

[0030] The anode frame 401 and the cathode frame 402 are provided with bonding platforms at the electrolyte inlet and outlet, the reaction zone, and the hydrogen outlet, which are used to fix the bonding layer, ensure the bonding effect, and prevent the leakage of the electrolyte and the generated oxygen and hydrogen. The bonding layer is pre-fixed to the bonding platforms of the anode frame 401 and the cathode frame 402 by dispensing, screen printing, spraying, thermal bonding, etc.

[0031] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the border area 20 is arranged around the central reaction area 10, the anode border 401 and the cathode border 402 are provided with a central through hole in the central reaction area 10, the anode gas diffusion layer 201 is arranged in the central through hole of the anode border 401, and the cathode gas diffusion layer 202 is arranged in the central through hole of the cathode border 402, and an anode common flow channel 801 and a cathode common flow channel 802 are provided in the border area 20; the anode border 401 is provided with an anode microchannel 803, and the anode common flow channel 801 is connected to the central through hole through the anode microchannel 803; the cathode border 402 is provided with a cathode microchannel, and the cathode common flow channel 802 is connected to the central through hole through the cathode microchannel.

[0032] The compression amount of the anode gas diffusion layer 201 is completely controlled by the anode frame 401 , and the compression amount of the cathode gas diffusion layer 202 is completely controlled by the cathode frame 402 . The compression amounts of the anode gas diffusion layer 201 and the cathode gas diffusion layer 202 are highly consistent.

[0033] like Figure 3 As shown, the anode frame 401 is provided with a sealing strip 804 surrounding the anode common flow channel 801 and the cathode common flow channel 802. Similarly, the cathode frame 402 may also be provided with a sealing strip 804 surrounding the anode common flow channel 801 and the cathode common flow channel 802.

[0034] Furthermore, the materials of the first bonding layer 301, the second bonding layer 302, the third bonding layer 303, and the fourth bonding layer 304 include hot melt glue, adhesive, and rubber, and the first bonding layer 301, the second bonding layer 302, the third bonding layer 303, and the fourth bonding layer 304 are manufactured by dispensing, screen printing, spraying, and hot vulcanization.

[0035] Furthermore, the anode gas diffusion layer 201 is made of a titanium gas diffusion layer, and the material of the anode gas diffusion layer 201 is one or a combination of sintered titanium, titanium felt, and titanium mesh; the cathode gas diffusion layer 202 is made of carbon fiber felt or carbon fiber paper.

[0036] The present application also provides a method for manufacturing the aforementioned electrolytic hydrogen production unit, comprising: The installation order of the electrolytic hydrogen production unit 4 is as follows: conductive mesh 701, anode rubber sealing gasket 601, anode plate 501, first bonding layer 301, anode frame 401, anode gas diffusion layer 201, second bonding layer 302, membrane electrode 100, third bonding layer 303, cathode frame 402, cathode gas diffusion layer 202, fourth bonding layer 304, cathode plate 502.

[0037] Specifically, during the assembly operation, the method for manufacturing the electrolytic hydrogen production unit includes: S1. The bonding layer is fixed in advance to the bonding platforms of the anode frame 401 and the cathode frame 402 by dispensing, screen printing, spraying, thermal bonding, etc.

[0038] S2. After positioning and assembling the anode plate 501, the anode gas diffusion layer 201, the anode frame 401, the membrane electrode 100, the cathode frame 402, the cathode gas diffusion layer 202 and the cathode plate 502, determine a suitable bonding layer according to the bonding process requirements of different adhesives to bond the electrolytic hydrogen production unit 4 into a whole.

[0039] S3, fixing the anode rubber sealing gasket 601 to the anode plate 501 by adhesive, or fixing it to the anode plate 501 by in-situ vulcanization of rubber.

[0040] S4. Place the conductive mesh 701 on the side of the anode plate 501 away from the membrane electrode 100 or integrate the conductive mesh 701 with the anode plate 501 to assemble the entire hydrogen production unit 4.

[0041] like Figure 4 As shown, the present application also provides a PEM electrolyzer, which includes: an upper end plate 1, an upper insulating plate 2, an upper current collecting plate 3, the above-mentioned electrolysis hydrogen production unit 4, a lower current collecting plate 5, a lower insulating plate 6 and a lower end plate 7.

[0042] The electrolytic hydrogen production unit and its manufacturing method, and the PEM electrolyzer provided in the embodiments of the present application are formed into a complete electrolytic hydrogen production unit 4 by bonding the anode plate 501, the anode frame 401, the membrane electrode 100, the cathode frame 402, and the cathode plate 502 together through an adhesive layer. During assembly, only the pressure required by the adhesive layer needs to be provided. The assembly pressure is very low, which avoids the problems of proton membrane wrinkles, carbon paper rupture, catalyst damage, etc. during the replacement of the electrolytic hydrogen production unit. The assembly is more modular and automated, and disassembly and replacement are more convenient.

[0043] In the above embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own emphasis. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0044] The above is a detailed introduction to an electrolysis hydrogen production unit and its manufacturing method, and a PEM electrolyzer provided in the embodiments of the present application. Specific examples are used in this article to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present application. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the technical solution and its core idea of ​​the present application; ordinary technicians in this field should understand that: they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some of the technical features therein with equivalents; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solution deviate from the scope of the technical solution of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A hydrogen production unit by electrolysis, characterized in that: include: Conductive mesh, anode rubber sealing gasket, anode plate, first bonding layer, anode frame, anode gas diffusion layer, second bonding layer, membrane electrode, third bonding layer, cathode gas diffusion layer, cathode frame, fourth bonding layer, cathode plate; The electrolytic hydrogen production unit is provided with a central reaction zone and a frame zone; the conductive mesh, the anode plate, the anode gas diffusion layer, the membrane electrode, the cathode gas diffusion layer and the cathode plate are sequentially arranged in the central reaction zone, and the conductive mesh, the anode rubber sealing gasket, the anode plate, the first bonding layer, the anode frame, the second bonding layer, the membrane electrode, the third bonding layer, the cathode frame, the fourth bonding layer and the cathode plate are sequentially arranged in the frame zone, and the anode rubber sealing gasket fixes the two ends of the conductive mesh; The frame area is arranged around the central reaction area, the anode frame and the cathode frame are provided with a central through hole in the central reaction area, the anode gas diffusion layer is provided in the central through hole of the anode frame, the cathode gas diffusion layer is provided in the central through hole of the cathode frame, and an anode common flow channel and a cathode common flow channel are provided in the frame area; the anode frame is provided with an anode microchannel, and the anode common flow channel is connected to the central through hole through the anode microchannel; the cathode frame is provided with a cathode microchannel, and the cathode common flow channel is connected to the central through hole through the cathode microchannel.

2. The hydrogen production unit by electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: The anode plate is a planar structure facing the membrane electrode side, and the conductive mesh is arranged on the anode plate facing away from the membrane electrode side; the cathode plate is a planar structure.

3. The hydrogen production unit by electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material of the anode plate and the cathode plate includes titanium plate, and the surfaces of the anode plate and the cathode plate are provided with a platinum coating.

4. The hydrogen production unit by electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive mesh is a metal mesh, and the material of the conductive mesh is one or a combination of sintered titanium, titanium felt, and titanium mesh; the material of the anode rubber sealing gasket is one of fluororubber, EPDM rubber, AEM rubber, TPV rubber, nitrile rubber and silicone rubber.

5. The hydrogen production unit by electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material of the anode frame and the cathode frame includes one of polysulfone, polyetherimide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketone, and polyimide, and the molding method is injection molding.

6. The hydrogen production unit by electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: The materials of the first bonding layer, the second bonding layer, the third bonding layer and the fourth bonding layer include hot melt glue, adhesive and rubber, and the first bonding layer, the second bonding layer, the third bonding layer and the fourth bonding layer are manufactured by dispensing, screen printing, spraying and hot vulcanization.

7. The hydrogen production unit by electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: The anode gas diffusion layer is a titanium gas diffusion layer, and the material of the anode gas diffusion layer is one or a combination of sintered titanium, titanium felt, and titanium mesh; the cathode gas diffusion layer is made of carbon fiber felt and carbon fiber paper.

8. A method for manufacturing a hydrogen production unit by electrolysis according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: include: The installation order of the electrolytic hydrogen production unit is as follows: conductive mesh, anode rubber sealing gasket, anode plate, first bonding layer, anode frame, anode gas diffusion layer, second bonding layer, membrane electrode, third bonding layer, cathode frame, cathode gas diffusion layer, fourth bonding layer, cathode plate.

9. A PEM electrolyzer, characterized in that: include: An upper end plate, an upper insulating plate, an upper current collecting plate, a hydrogen production unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a lower current collecting plate, a lower insulating plate and a lower end plate.

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