Electrolytic tank for producing hydrogen by electrolyzing water and electrolysis equipment thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of electrolytic baths, in particular to an electrolytic bath for producing hydrogen by electrolyzing water and electrolytic equipment thereof, the electrolytic bath comprises a frame, a disc plate, a first electrode and a second electrode; the two side edges of the disc plate are correspondingly connected with the two side walls of the frame; two end surfaces of the disc plate are correspondingly connected with the end surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode; the first electrode and the second electrode are correspondingly arranged on the two sides of the frame, so that the frame, the first electrode and the disc plate define a first electrolysis chamber, and the frame, the second electrode and the disc plate define a second electrolysis chamber. Electrolyte used in the first electrolysis chamber and the second electrolysis chamber is alkaline electrolyte, so that the materials of the conducting layers at the two ends of the disc plate can be consistent, the arrangement of a conducting composite plate can be optimized, then one pole disc is optimized, the thickness of the disc plate is greatly reduced, the thickness and weight of the electrolytic cell are reduced, and the material cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electrolytic cells, and in particular to an electrolytic cell for hydrogen production by electrolyzing water and its electrolysis equipment. Background Art

[0002] In electrolytic hydrogen production equipment, an electrolytic cell usually has a cathode plate, an anode plate and supporting rib plates. The patent with the publication number CN101245468B discloses an elastic net type ion exchange membrane electrolytic unit cell, which mainly consists of a frame, cathode and anode rib plates, cathode and anode plates, cathode and anode inlet pipes, cathode and anode outlet pipes, cathode and anode nets, and composite plates. The frame is welded by stainless steel square pipes. The composite plate is located in the middle of the frame and is welded to the frame to separate the cathode and anode to form cathode and anode chambers. The cathode and anode plates are symmetrically fixed on both sides of the composite plate. Cathode and anode rib plates are symmetrically welded on the cathode and anode plates. A support net is welded on the cathode rib plate, an elastic net is attached to the support net, a cathode net is attached to the surface of the elastic net, the periphery of the cathode net is fixed to the support net, and the mesh surface of the cathode net protrudes from the plane formed by the frame. The anode net is welded on the anode rib plate. The structure of this patent is reasonable, reducing the pole pitch, thereby reducing the cell voltage of the electrolytic cell and saving energy and reducing consumption.

[0003] However, in this patent, the cathode and anode plates and the composite plate are arranged in the middle of the frame, and then the anode net, anode rib plate and anode plate are connected by resistance welding to form the anode chamber of the electrolytic unit; the support net, cathode rib plate and cathode plate are also connected by resistance welding to form the cathode chamber of the electrolytic unit, making the electrolytic cell have a relatively high thickness and weight, resulting in higher material costs and manufacturing costs of the electrolytic cell. Summary of the Invention

[0004] (I) Technical Problems to be Solved

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides an electrolytic cell for hydrogen production by electrolyzing water and its electrolysis equipment, which solves the technical problems of the relatively thick thickness and heavy weight of the existing electrolytic cell.

[0006] (II) Technical Solutions

[0007] To achieve the above object, the electrolytic cell for hydrogen production by electrolyzing water of the present invention includes a frame, a disk plate, a first electrode and a second electrode;

[0008] The two side edges of the disk plate are correspondingly connected to the two side walls of the frame;

[0009] The two end faces of the disk plate are correspondingly connected to the end faces of the first electrode and the second electrode; the first electrode and the second electrode are correspondingly arranged on both sides of the frame, so that the frame, the first electrode and the disk plate enclose a first electrolysis chamber, and the frame, the second electrode and the disk plate enclose a second electrolysis chamber.

[0010] Optionally, the disk plate is a wavy disk plate;

[0011] The peak of the disk plate is connected to the end face of the first electrode;

[0012] The trough of the disk plate is connected to the end face of the second electrode.

[0013] Optionally, the top of the peak and the top of the trough of the disk plate are both set as plane bodies;

[0014] The plane body is correspondingly connected to the end face of the first electrode or the end face of the second electrode in a face-to-face manner.

[0015] Optionally, the plane bodies corresponding to the adjacent peaks and troughs of the disk plate are connected by a square plate body or a Z-shaped plate body.

[0016] Optionally, multiple rib plates are arranged on the disk plate;

[0017] One end of the rib plate is correspondingly connected to the peak or trough of the disk plate, and the other end is correspondingly connected to the end face of the first electrode or the end face of the second electrode.

[0018] Optionally, multiple rib plates are vertically connected to both end faces of the disk plate;

[0019] The disk plate is a flat plate body; the free end of the rib plate is correspondingly and perpendicularly connected to the end face of the first electrode or the end face of the second electrode.

[0020] Optionally, V = Q / S; where V is the rising rate of the electrolyte, Q is the flow rate of the electrolyte, and S is the cross-sectional area of the electrolysis chamber;

[0021] The rising rate V of the electrolyte is ≥ 1 mm / s.

[0022] Furthermore, the present invention also provides an electrolysis device, and the electrolysis device includes the electrolysis cell for electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen as described above.

[0023] Optionally, the electrolysis device further includes an extrusion device;

[0024] Multiple electrolysis cells are arrayed horizontally inside the extrusion device; the extrusion device can extrude multiple electrolysis cells along the horizontal direction.

[0025] Optionally, a diaphragm is clamped between adjacent frames;

[0026] The frame, the disk plate and a pair of diaphragms correspondingly enclose a third electrolysis chamber and a fourth electrolysis chamber.

[0027] (III) Beneficial effects

[0028] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0029] The disk plate can separate the gases and liquids in the first electrolysis chamber and the second electrolysis chamber, realizing the separation of H2 and O2; the disk plate can also realize the electrical circuit conduction of the electrolytes in the first electrolysis chamber and the second electrolysis chamber, playing a dual role of separating gas-liquid and electrical circuit conduction.

[0030] The electrolytes used in both the first electrolysis chamber and the second electrolysis chamber are alkaline electrolytes, enabling the materials of the conductive layers at both ends of the disk plate to be the same. Thus, the setting of the conductive composite plate can be optimized, and then one of the electrode plates can be optimized, significantly reducing the thickness of the disk plate, and further reducing the thickness and weight of the electrolytic cell. During the construction of the device, under the condition of the same scale, a device with a lower cell thickness occupies less land, and the corresponding cost of civil engineering land occupation is reduced. Under the condition of ensuring a certain electrolyte rising rate V, the reduction of the cell thickness can reduce the electrolyte flow rate Q of the incoming liquid, thereby reducing the power of the flow pump and reducing the power consumption. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of an electrolytic cell for electrolytic water hydrogen production according to the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 It is a top view of the cross-section of the electrolytic cell in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 It is a top view of the cross-section of the electrolytic cell in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 It is a top view of the cross-section of the electrolytic cell in the third embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 5 It is a top view of the cross-section of the electrolytic cell in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of the electrolysis equipment according to the present invention.

[0037]

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0038] 1: Frame; 11: Inlet pipe; 12: Outlet pipe;

[0039] 2: Disk plate; 21: Solid body; 22: Square plate body; 23: Z-shaped plate body;

[0040] 3: First electrode;

[0041] 4: Second electrode;

[0042] 5: First electrolysis chamber;

[0043] 6: Second electrolysis chamber;

[0044] 7: Rib plate;

[0045] 8: Extrusion device. Detailed implementation manners

[0046] For better explaining the present invention for easy understanding, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings through specific implementation manners.

[0047] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back...) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement conditions between components in a specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If this specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0048] In addition, in the present invention, descriptions such as "first" and "second" are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0049] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, terms such as "connection" and "fixation" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "fixation" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; "connection" can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and can be the communication inside two components or the interaction relationship between two components, unless otherwise clearly limited. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations.

[0050] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the present invention provides an electrolytic cell for hydrogen production by electrolyzing water. The electrolytic cell includes a frame 1, a disk plate 2, a first electrode 3, and a second electrode 4; both side edges of the disk plate 2 are correspondingly connected to both side walls of the frame 1; both end faces of the disk plate 2 are correspondingly connected to the end faces of the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4; the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4 are correspondingly arranged on both sides of the frame 1, so that the frame 1, the first electrode 3, and the disk plate 2 enclose a first electrolytic chamber 5, and the frame 1, the second electrode 4, and the disk plate 2 enclose a second electrolytic chamber 6.

[0051] The electrolyte enters the electrolysis chamber (i.e., the first electrolysis chamber 5 and the second electrolysis chamber 6) through the inlet pipe 11. The disk plate 2 can separate the gases and liquids in the first electrolysis chamber 5 and the second electrolysis chamber 6, realizing the separation of H2 and O2 during the electrolysis process. H2 and O2 are discharged from the outlet pipe 12 of the first electrolysis chamber 5 and the outlet pipe 12 of the second electrolysis chamber 6 respectively. At the same time, the two ends of the disk plate 2 are respectively provided with a cathode and an anode electrode. It can be understood that the disk plate 2 is equivalent to a wire to realize the electrical circuit conduction of the electrolyte in the first electrolysis chamber 5 and the second electrolysis chamber 6, and further realize the series connection between multiple electrolytic cells arranged horizontally and extruded.

[0052] In the existing combination method of the cathode and anode disks and the supporting rib plates, the electrolytes in the cathode chamber and the anode chamber are different, resulting in different materials for the cathode disk and the anode disk. Therefore, it is necessary to weld the cathode disk and the anode disk with different materials through a conductive composite plate, which leads to a relatively high thickness and weight of the electrolytic cell. The electrolytes used in the first electrolysis chamber 5 and the second electrolysis chamber 6 of the present invention are both alkaline electrolytes, so that the materials of the conductive layers at both ends of the disk plate 2 can be the same, thus optimizing the setting of the conductive composite plate, and further optimizing one of the electrode disks, greatly reducing the thickness of the disk plate 2, and then reducing the thickness and weight of the electrolytic cell. When the device is constructed, under the same scale, the device with a lower cell thickness occupies less land, and the civil engineering land occupation cost is correspondingly reduced. Under the condition of ensuring a certain electrolyte rising rate V, the reduction of the cell thickness can reduce the electrolyte flow rate Q of the incoming liquid, thereby reducing the power of the flow pump and reducing the power consumption.

[0053] It should be noted that the first electrode 3 (or the second electrode 4) can be set as an anode or a cathode. For example, when the first electrode 3 is connected to the positive electrode of the power supply, the first electrode 3 is an anode, and the second electrode 4 of another electrolytic cell in contact with this electrolytic cell should be set as a cathode, that is, the electrode polarities on both ends of the diaphragm are opposite to form a bipolar electrode with a small electrode distance or a zero electrode distance, so as to cancel the electrolyte voltage between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4 and reduce the power consumption.

[0054] First Embodiment:

[0055] Refer to again Figure 2 , the disk plate 2 is a wavy disk plate; the wave crest of the disk plate 2 is connected to the end face of the first electrode 3; the wave trough of the disk plate 2 is connected to the end face of the second electrode 4. Specifically, the wavy shape includes but is not limited to a sine curve and a tooth-shaped curve. The end face between adjacent wave crests of the wavy disk plate encloses with the first electrode 3, separating the first electrolysis chamber 5 into multiple independent small electrolysis chambers, and the small electrolysis chambers effectively reduce the cross-sectional area S of the electrolysis chamber. The same applies to the second electrolysis chamber 6. Secondly, the wavy disk plate also increases the contact area between the disk plate 2 and the electrolyte, improving the conductive effect; it also enhances the structural strength of the disk plate 2 and improves the adaptability to the extrusion force applied by the extrusion device 8.

[0056] Furthermore, both the peak top and the trough top of the disk plate 2 are provided with a planar body 21; the planar body 21 is connected to the end face of the first electrode 3 or the end face of the second electrode 4 in a face-to-face manner. Compared with the way that the arc vertices of the wavy disk plate are directly connected to the end face of the electrode, the connection strength of the planar body 21 and the end face of the electrode in a face-to-face connection is higher. The setting of the planar body 21 also increases the contact area between the disk plate 2 and the electrode, further improving the conductivity efficiency of the electrolytic cell.

[0057] Second Embodiment:

[0058] Refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the planar bodies 21 corresponding to the adjacent peaks and troughs of the disk plate 2 are connected by a square plate body 22. The square plate body 22 has strong adaptability to the extrusion force applied by the extrusion device 8.

[0059] Third Embodiment:

[0060] Refer to Figure 4 , the planar bodies 21 corresponding to the adjacent peaks and troughs of the disk plate 2 are connected by a Z-shaped plate body 23. The Z-shaped plate body 23 further increases the contact area between the disk plate 2 and the electrolyte, improving the conductivity efficiency of the electrolyte.

[0061] As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, multiple rib plates 7 are arranged on the disk plate 2; one end of the rib plate 7 is correspondingly connected to the peak or trough of the disk plate 2, and the other end is correspondingly connected to the end face of the first electrode 3 or the end face of the second electrode 4. On the one hand, the rib plate 7 further divides the small electrolytic chamber, further reducing the cross-sectional area S of the electrolytic chamber. On the other hand, the rib plate 7 further improves the structural strength of the disk plate 2, reducing the deformation of the disk plate 2 when the extrusion device 8 extrudes the electrolytic cell, ensuring the uniform division of multiple small electrolytic chambers.

[0062] Fourth Embodiment:

[0063] Refer to Figure 5 , multiple rib plates 7 are perpendicularly connected to both end faces of the disk plate 2; the disk plate 2 is a flat plate body; the free ends of the rib plates 7 are perpendicularly connected to the end face of the first electrode 3 or the end face of the second electrode 4 correspondingly. In this embodiment, the first electrode 3, the disk plate 2, and a pair of adjacent rib plates 7 enclose a small electrolytic cell. Optionally, the rib plate 7 is a conductive plate, so that the rib plate 7 can not only improve the structural strength of the disk plate 2, but also improve the conductivity efficiency of the electrolyte.

[0064] Reasonably selecting the electrolytic cells of the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment can correspondingly adjust the size of the cross-sectional area S of the electrolytic chamber of the small electrolytic cell, and by controlling the rising speed of the electrolyte, the electrolytic cell can have better operating effects and lower energy consumption.

[0065] Furthermore, the rising rate V of the electrolyte = the flow rate Q of the electrolyte / the cross-sectional area S of the electrolysis chamber; the rising rate V of the electrolyte ≥ 1 mm / s. Preferably, the rising rate V of the electrolyte is 1.5 - 3.0 mm / s. Specifically, when the electrolyte flows through the electrolysis chamber, the ratio of the flow rate to the cross-sectional area is its rising rate in the electrolysis chamber. If the rising rate of the electrolyte is too small, the voltage will increase; while if the rising rate is too large, it will not only increase the power of the flow pump and energy consumption, but also may affect the gas purity. To make the electrolysis reaction have better effects and at the same time have a more optimal selection of the flow pump, the rising rate of the electrolyte should be controlled within a certain range. The first embodiment is selected to conduct electrolysis tests at different rising rates under the same electrolysis conditions, and the corresponding cell voltages are recorded in Table 1.

[0066]

[0067] Table 1

[0068] In addition, the present invention also provides an electrolysis device. The electrolysis device includes the above-mentioned electrolysis cell for electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen; the electrolysis device further includes a squeezing device 8; a plurality of electrolysis cells are arrayed horizontally inside the squeezing device 8; the squeezing device 8 can squeeze the plurality of electrolysis cells in the horizontal direction. Specifically, the push plate of the squeezing device 8 squeezes the plurality of electrolysis cells in the horizontal direction, so that the plurality of electrolysis cells are suspended inside the squeezing device 8, and the electrolyte of the squeezing device 8 enters the electrolysis chamber through the inlet pipe 11 at the bottom end of the electrolysis cell. During squeezing, the frames 1 of adjacent electrolysis cells squeeze each other, and a sealing gasket is arranged between the frames 1 of adjacent electrolysis cells. The sealing gasket can buffer the squeezing force and adjust the distance between the bipolar electrodes, so that the electrodes are suspended through the disk plate 2 or the rib plate 7, effectively avoiding squeezing the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4 when the squeezing device 8 works.

[0069] Secondly, a diaphragm (not shown in the figure) is clamped between adjacent frames 1; the frame 1, the disk plate 2 and a pair of diaphragms enclose the third electrolysis chamber and the fourth electrolysis chamber correspondingly. The diaphragm can separate gases, so that the gases between adjacent electrolysis cells do not flow, and thus the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4 do not need to seal the side of the frame 1, or there is no need to set a side sealing structure for the frame 1. At this time, the first electrolysis chamber 5 expands to the third electrolysis chamber, and the second electrolysis chamber 6 expands to the fourth electrolysis chamber, improving the contact area between the electrodes and the electrolyte, and thus improving the electrolysis efficiency.

[0070] It should be understood that the above description of the specific embodiments of the present invention is only for explaining the technical route and features of the present invention, and its purpose is to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly. However, the present invention is not limited to the above specific embodiments. Any changes or modifications made within the scope of the claims of the present invention should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrolyzer for hydrogen production by electrolyzing water, characterized in that, The electrolytic cell includes a frame (1), a disk plate (2), a first electrode (3), and a second electrode (4); Both side edges of the disk plate (2) are correspondingly connected to both side walls of the frame (1); Both end faces of the disk plate (2) are correspondingly connected to the end faces of the first electrode (3) and the second electrode (4); the first electrode (3) and the second electrode (4) are correspondingly arranged on both sides of the frame (1), so that the frame (1), the first electrode (3), and the disk plate (2) enclose a first electrolytic chamber (5), and the frame (1), the second electrode (4), and the disk plate (2) enclose a second electrolytic chamber (6).

2. The electrolytic cell for hydrogen production by electrolyzing water according to claim 1, characterized in that, The disk plate (2) is a wavy disk plate; The peak of the disk plate (2) is connected to the end face of the first electrode (3); The trough of the disk plate (2) is connected to the end face of the second electrode (4).

3. The electrolytic cell for hydrogen production by electrolyzing water according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both the top of the peak and the top of the trough of the disk plate (2) are provided with a solid body (21); The solid body (21) is correspondingly connected to the end face of the first electrode (3) or the end face of the second electrode (4) in a face-to-face manner.

4. The electrolyzer for hydrogen production by electrolyzing water according to claim 3, characterized in that, The solid bodies (21) corresponding to the adjacent peak and trough of the disk plate (2) are connected by a square plate body (22) or a Z-shaped plate body (23).

5. The electrolytic cell for hydrogen production by electrolyzing water according to claim 2, characterized in that, A plurality of rib plates (7) are arranged on the disk plate (2); One end of the rib plate (7) is correspondingly connected to the peak or trough of the disk plate (2), and the other end is correspondingly connected to the end face of the first electrode (3) or the end face of the second electrode (4).

6. The electrolytic cell for hydrogen production by electrolyzing water according to claim 1, characterized in that, A plurality of rib plates (7) are vertically connected to both end faces of the disk plate (2); The disk plate (2) is a flat plate body; the free end of the rib plate (7) is correspondingly and perpendicularly connected to the end face of the first electrode (3) or the end face of the second electrode (4).

7. The electrolyzer for hydrogen production by electrolyzing water according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, V = Q / S; where V is the rising rate of the electrolyte, Q is the electrolyte flow rate, and S is the cross-sectional area of the electrolytic chamber; The rising rate V of the electrolyte is ≥ 1 mm / s.

8. An electrolysis device, characterized in that, The electrolysis device includes the electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen according to any one of claims 1-7.

9. The electrolysis device according to claim 8, wherein The electrolysis device further includes an extrusion device (8); A plurality of the electrolytic cells are arrayed horizontally inside the extrusion device (8); the extrusion device (8) can extrude a plurality of the electrolytic cells along the horizontal direction.

10. The electrolysis device according to claim 8, characterized in that, A diaphragm is clamped between adjacent frames (1); The frame (1), the disk plate (2), and a pair of the diaphragms correspondingly enclose a third electrolytic chamber and a fourth electrolytic chamber.

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