Leakage point detection device for hydrogen production electrolytic cell

Abstract

The invention discloses a leakage point detection device for a hydrogen production electrolytic bath, and relates to the technical field of leakage point detection devices for hydrogen production electrolytic baths, and the leakage point detection device comprises a pipeline unit which comprises an inlet, a circulating pipeline and an outlet; the leakage testing unit comprises a connecting pipe, a pressure tank, an ammonia introducing pipe, a plugging cover, a control assembly and a pressure gauge; the purifying unit is communicated with the other side of the inlet and is consistent with the leakage testing unit in structure. According to the device, the leakage testing unit and the purification unit are switched through the T-shaped ball valve, seamless connection of leakage testing and purification working conditions is achieved, and shutdown for pipeline disassembly is not needed. The purification unit supports injection of COO or deionized water, neutralization or flushing of residual ammonia water is completed, and the safety and cleanliness of the system are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technology of leak detection devices for hydrogen electrolyzers, and in particular to a leak detection device for hydrogen electrolyzers. Background Technology

[0002] The piping used in hydrogen electrolyzers typically consists of an electrolyte circulation channel, a hydrogen / oxygen output channel, and a cooling system. The electrolyte circulation channel allows the electrolyte (such as KOH solution) to circulate within the electrolyzer, maintaining a stable reaction temperature (usually 85-90℃) and concentration. The electrolyte generally enters from the bottom or side of the electrolyzer through inlets on the electrode frame and is distributed to each chamber. However, the electrodes are separated into anode and cathode areas by sealing gaskets (such as rubber or metal rings). If the sealing gaskets or inlet / outlet pipes fail due to loose bolts, damage, aging, corrosion, or improper installation, electrolyte may leak into the external environment, becoming a leak point. Such leaks can pose risks of fire, explosion, and poisoning.

[0003] Currently, the ammonia leak test method is used to periodically check the pipeline's tightness for leak testing in the circulation channel. This method involves injecting a small amount of ammonia gas (or ammonia vapor) into the circulation channel, followed by applying an acidic reagent (such as hydrochloric acid or nitric acid) to suspected leak points. The presence of a white reaction product (such as NH4Cl) and the presence of an ammonia odor are observed to determine if a leak has occurred. In practice, ammonia water needs to be injected from the circulation channel inlet to ensure that the ammonia gas flows with the electrolyte to each electrolysis chamber, covering all possible leak points. However, the circulation channel inlet is directly connected to the electrolyte storage tank. During each leak test, the connection to the storage tank must be disconnected, and a temporary ammonia water pipeline must be connected, using a pump to deliver the ammonia water to the entire pipeline system. This operation has the following problems:

[0004] Cumbersome operation: Frequent disassembly and reconnection of pipes increases labor costs and operational complexity;

[0005] Electrolyte leakage risk: Disconnecting the tank connection may cause electrolyte spillage;

[0006] Risk of residual ammonia: If the leak is not thoroughly rinsed after the leak test, residual ammonia may cause poisoning of personnel or corrosion of equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is: to address the risk of electrolyte leakage in the ammonia water test for leak detection of hydrogen electrolyzers at the present stage.

[0008] The above-mentioned technical problems are solved by the following technical solution: The present invention proposes a leak detection device for a hydrogen electrolyzer, which includes a pipeline unit, including an inlet, a circulation pipeline connected to one side of the inlet, and an outlet connected to the other side of the circulation pipeline;

[0009] The leak test unit includes a connecting pipe connected to one side of the inlet, a pressure tank connected to one side of the connecting pipe, an ammonia inlet pipe connected to the side wall of the pressure tank, a sealing cap connected to the end of the pressure tank, a control component built into the inner cavity of the pressure tank, and a pressure gauge that penetrates one side of the sealing cap.

[0010] The purification unit is connected to the other side of the inlet and has the same structure as the leak test unit.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the hydrogen electrolyzer leak detection device of the present invention: the inlet includes a two-way valve connected to the front end of the circulation pipeline, and a T-type ball valve disposed inside the two-way valve;

[0012] Both the leak testing unit and the purification unit are connected to the two-way valve sidewalls through the connecting pipe.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the hydrogen electrolyzer leak detection device of the present invention: the pressure tank includes a support ring protruding from its side wall and a connecting ring slidably disposed at the end of the pressure tank;

[0014] A leaf spring is fixedly installed between the connecting ring and the support ring.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the hydrogen electrolyzer leak detection device of the present invention: the sealing cover includes a connecting hole penetrating through the center of its end axis, and a mounting hole disposed on the eccentric side of the connecting hole.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the hydrogen electrolyzer leak detection device of the present invention: the control component includes a rod that is slidably connected to the axis of the connecting hole, a sealing member fixedly disposed at the bottom of the axis of the rod, and a rotating member disposed at the axis of the rod.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the hydrogen electrolyzer leak detection device of the present invention: the rod includes a lead screw threaded to the outside of the rotating member, and a rotating rod slidably embedded inside the lead screw shaft.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the hydrogen electrolyzer leak detection device of the present invention: the sealing component includes a connecting sleeve disposed on the outside of the rotating rod, a valve plate sleeved on the outside of the connecting sleeve, and a sealing sleeve disposed on the eccentric side of the valve plate.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the hydrogen electrolyzer leak detection device of the present invention: the rotating component includes a lead screw nut that is slidably sealed inside the shaft of the connecting hole, and a drive cap that is fixedly disposed outside the lead screw nut.

[0020] A spring is provided between the connecting sleeve and the lead screw.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the hydrogen electrolyzer leak detection device of the present invention: a sealing plate is fixedly provided at the bottom of the rotating rod;

[0022] The sealing plate is used to seal the groove of the sealing sleeve.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the hydrogen electrolyzer leak detection device of the present invention: the pressure gauge includes a detection end disposed inside the pressure tank;

[0024] The detection end is located on the side of the two-way valve near the branch opening on the side wall of the pressure tank.

[0025] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By switching between the leak testing unit and the purification unit using a T-type ball valve, seamless connection between leak testing and purification operations is achieved without the need for system shutdown and pipeline disassembly. The purification unit supports the injection of CO2 or deionized water to neutralize or flush residual ammonia, improving system safety and cleanliness. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below only relate to some embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Wherein:

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the circulation pipeline structure of the hydrogen electrolyzer leak detection device of the present invention is shown;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the inlet structure of the hydrogen electrolyzer leak detection device of the present invention is shown;

[0029] Figure 3 An exploded view of the connection structure between the leak testing unit and the pipeline unit of the present invention is shown;

[0030] Figure 4 A partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the leak testing unit and pipe unit structure of the present invention is shown;

[0031] Figure 5 A full cross-sectional schematic diagram of the internal structure of the pressure tank of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0033] The terminology used in this invention is that which is currently widely used in the art in consideration of the function of the invention; however, these terms may vary according to the intent of those skilled in the art, precedent, or new technology in the art. Furthermore, specific terms may be chosen by the applicant, and in such cases, their detailed meanings will be described in the detailed description of the invention. Therefore, the terminology used in this specification should not be construed as simple names, but rather based on the meaning of the terms and the overall description of the invention.

[0034] Reference Figures 1-5 This embodiment provides a leak detection device for a hydrogen electrolyzer, including a pipeline unit 1, including an inlet 11, a circulation pipeline 12 connected to one side of the inlet 11, and an outlet 13 connected to the other side of the circulation pipeline 12.

[0035] The leak test unit 2 includes a connecting pipe 21 connected to one side of the inlet 11, a pressure tank 22 connected to one side of the connecting pipe 21, an ammonia pipe 23 connected to the side wall of the pressure tank 22, a sealing cap 24 connected to the end of the pressure tank 22, a control component 25 built into the inner cavity of the pressure tank 22, and a pressure gauge 26 that penetrates and is disposed on one side of the sealing cap 24.

[0036] Purification unit 3 is connected to the other side of inlet 11 and has the same structure as leak test unit 2.

[0037] Furthermore, the inlet 11 includes a two-way valve 111 connected to the front end of the circulation pipe 12, and a T-type ball valve 112 disposed inside the two-way valve 111;

[0038] Both the leak test unit 2 and the purification unit 3 are connected to the two-way valve 111 through the connecting pipe 21.

[0039] In this embodiment, the pipeline unit 1 serves as an electrolyte circulation channel, ensuring that the electrolyte flows from the inlet 11 at the bottom or side of the electrolytic cell, through the cuts on the electrode cylinder frame, to each small chamber, and finally converges at the outlet 13 to be discharged outside the pipeline unit 1. The leak test unit 2 is connected to the side of the inlet 11, symmetrically arranged with the purification unit 3 on the side of the inlet 11, and does not obstruct the direct connection between the inlet 11 and the electrolyte storage tank.

[0040] Preferably, inlet 11 is located at the left end of pipe unit 1, so as to... Figure 1The direction is indicated, and it is directly connected to the electrolyte storage tank via a flange connection of two-way valve 111. Two-way valve 111 has through slots on both sides, and through welding, extends to the sides of its sidewalls to form interfaces that can connect to the leak test unit 2 and the purification unit 3. The valve core inside the two-way valve 111 is a T-type ball valve 112, ensuring that the leak test unit 2 and the purification unit 3 can be smoothly connected to the circulation pipe 12 independently without hindering the normal opening and closing of the inlet 11. The circulation pipe 12 is the electrolyte supply pipe, supplying electrolyte to the small chamber inside each electrolytic cell. One side of the circulation pipe 12 is connected to the connecting pipe 21 of the leak test unit 2 via the two-way valve 111, and the other side is connected to the hydrogen and oxygen collection chamber at the bottom of the electrolytic cell via the outlet 13.

[0041] Preferably, the connecting pipe 21 is a straight pipe section, with one end connected to the two-way valve 111 via a flange, and the other end threadedly connected to the air inlet of the pressure tank 22. A PTFE gasket is embedded between the connecting pipe 21 and the flange to ensure no gas leakage during pressurization of the pressure tank 22. The pressure tank 22 is a horizontal cylindrical container, with an annular partition plate on its inner wall to evenly distribute the injected ammonia gas and reduce turbulence, preventing leakage at the injection port and the generation of an irritating odor from the released ammonia gas. The ammonia supply pipe 23 is a stainless steel pipe, with one end threadedly connected to the air inlet on the side wall of the pressure tank 22 via a quick-connect fitting, and the other end connected to the ammonia supply equipment. The ammonia supply pipe 23 is used to inject a trace amount of ammonia gas with a concentration ≤5% into the pressure tank 22, which then enters the circulation pipe 12 through the two-way valve 111.

[0042] Preferably, the sealing cap 24 is a circular bolt cap, connected to the open end of the pressure tank 22 via a threaded connection. The sealing cap 24 has multiple sets of slots to provide a sealing connection for the control assembly 25 and the pressure gauge 26. The control assembly 25, through a rod structure, performs ammonia injection, pressure detection, and system isolation. The control assembly 25 passes through the central hole of the sealing cap 24, while the pressure gauge 26 passes through the eccentric side of the sealing cap 24, with its probe extending into the inner cavity of the pressure tank 22 to detect pressure changes within the pressure tank 22.

[0043] Preferably, the control component 25 can seal the opening of the pressure tank 22 through linear movement, and it can be a piston rod mechanism or a valve plate rod structure.

[0044] Preferably, the purification unit 3 has the same structure as the leak test unit 2, including a connecting pipe 21, a pressure tank 22, an ammonia inlet pipe 23, a sealing cap 24, a control component 25, and a pressure gauge 26. The connecting pipe 21 of the purification unit 3 extends to the two-way valve 111 via a flange to form a symmetrical leak test-purification dual channel with the leak test unit 2.

[0045] Preferably, the ammonia-passing pipe 23 of the purification unit 3 can firstly be a carbon dioxide-passing pipe. CO2 is an acidic gas that can react with ammonia or residual chlorine to produce ammonium carbonate, which is harmless and easily decomposed. This can purify the ammonia remaining in the pipe unit 1 on the other side. In addition, CO2 can also be used for leak testing. By using phenolphthalein solution to detect CO2 leaks, CO2 lowers the pH of the solution and changes its color from red to colorless. Alternatively, a soapy water method similar to ammonia leak testing can be used, where CO2 reacts with alkaline solutions such as NaOH to generate foam when leaking. Secondly, it can be a pure water pipe, used to inject deionized water with a conductivity ≤1μS / cm, and to flush the circulation pipe 12 after leak testing.

[0046] Leak testing phase: Connect ammonia water to the ammonia inlet pipe 23, and use the control component 25 to open the previously sealed pressure tank 22, connecting it to the cavity of the two-way valve 111. Then, inject ammonia gas into the pressure tank 22 through the ammonia inlet pipe 23 to the set pressure, such as 0.3 MPa. The ammonia gas enters the circulation pipe 12 after passing through the ammonia inlet pipe 23 and flows with the electrolyte to each chamber of the electrolytic cell. If a chlorine odor is detected on-site, locate the suspected leak point and apply hydrochloric acid reagent. If white NH4Cl crystals or an ammonia odor are observed, a leak is confirmed. Next, observe the pressure gauge 26 reading and monitor the pressure inside the pressure tank 22 in real time. If the pressure drops by more than 5%, a significant leak is indicated.

[0047] Purification stage: Rotate the T-type ball valve 112 to switch to purification unit 3 and close the leak test unit 2. Similarly, use the control component 25 on this side of purification unit 3 to open the originally sealed pressure tank 22 opening; inject the purification reagent into the pressure tank 22 and enter the circulation pipeline 12 through the ammonia pipe 23, flushing at a flow rate ≥2m³ / h for at least 30 minutes until the pH value of the effluent is neutral 6~7.

[0048] In summary, this device uses a T-type ball valve 112 to switch between the leak testing unit 2 and the purification unit 3, achieving seamless integration of leak testing and purification operations without requiring system shutdown and pipeline disassembly. The purification unit 3 supports CO2 or deionized water injection to neutralize or flush residual ammonia, improving system safety and cleanliness.

[0049] Reference Figures 3-4 As an optional embodiment, in one embodiment provided in this application, the pressure tank 22 further includes a support ring 221 protruding from its side wall and a connecting ring 222 slidably disposed at the end of the pressure tank 22;

[0050] A leaf spring 41 is fixedly installed between the connecting ring 222 and the support ring 221.

[0051] In this embodiment, the support ring 221 is an annular boss structure with an inner diameter consistent with the outer wall of the pressure tank 22. It is fixedly connected to the outside of the pressure tank 22 by welding. The support ring 221 is symmetrically arranged in the middle section of the side wall of the pressure tank 22, and its axial center line is perpendicular to the central axis of the pressure tank 22, forming a stable support reference surface. This position design can effectively disperse the circumferential stress generated by the pressure tank 22 during pressurization and prevent the cylinder from deforming. The connecting ring 222 is a detachable annular component with a guide block protruding from its end. The guide block extends in the circumferential direction and cooperates with the guide groove provided on the outer wall of the sealing cover 24. The connecting ring 222 and the sealing cover 24 are tightly connected by screwing the groove together.

[0052] Preferably, the sealing cap 24 is threaded to the pressure tank 22, and a double seal is achieved by screwing the outer connecting ring 222 into the groove of the sealing cap 24. The connecting ring 222 is sleeved on the outer end wall of the pressure tank 22 through a guide groove, and can slide with limited displacement in the axial direction. This sliding connection structure allows the connecting ring 222 to produce slight displacement during thermal expansion and contraction or pressure fluctuations, avoiding stress concentration. The leaf spring 41 is a multi-layered stainless steel elastic sheet, one end of which is slidably limited to the outer end face of the support ring 221 by a slide rail, and the other end is fixed to the inner end face of the connecting ring 222 in the same way.

[0053] When ammonia or water is filled into the pressure tank 22 and pressurized, the tank body undergoes axial tensile deformation due to the internal pressure. At this time, the connecting ring 222 slides along the guide rail away from the center of the tank body under the internal pressure, stretching the leaf spring 41. The leaf spring 41 absorbs this displacement energy through elastic deformation and generates a reverse restoring force, effectively alleviating mechanical stress caused by thermal expansion or pressure fluctuations, preventing loosening or leakage at the connection between the sealing cover 24 and the tank body, and preventing damage to the threads. During system operation, the pumping of electrolyte or gas flow may cause pipeline vibration. The multi-layered composite structure of the leaf spring 41 has good damping characteristics, absorbing high-frequency vibration energy and reducing the overall system's mechanical noise and fatigue damage risk. Because the connecting ring 222 is a sliding structure, when the sealing cover 24 needs to be disassembled for maintenance, simply loosen the fixing bolts; the elastic preload of the leaf spring 41 will automatically push the connecting ring 222 outward a certain distance, facilitating quick separation of the flange connection by operators and significantly improving maintenance efficiency.

[0054] Reference Figures 2-5 As an optional embodiment, the sealing cap 24 includes a connecting hole 241 extending through the center of its end axis, and a mounting hole 242 disposed on the eccentric side of the connecting hole 241.

[0055] Furthermore, the control component 25 includes a rod 251 that is slidably connected to the axis of the connection hole 241, a sealing member 252 that is fixedly disposed at the bottom of the axis of the rod 251, and a rotating member 253 disposed at the axis of the rod 251.

[0056] Furthermore, the rod 251 includes a lead screw 2511 threaded to the outside of the rotating member 253, and a rotating rod 2512 slidably embedded inside the axis of the lead screw 2511.

[0057] Furthermore, the sealing component 252 includes a connecting sleeve 2521 disposed on the outside of the rotating rod 2512, a valve plate 2522 sleeved on the outside of the connecting sleeve 2521, and a sealing sleeve 2523 disposed on the eccentric side of the valve plate 2522.

[0058] Furthermore, the rotating component 253 includes a lead screw nut 2531 that is slidably sealed inside the shaft of the connecting hole 241, and a drive cap 2532 that is fixedly disposed on the outside of the lead screw nut 2531.

[0059] A spring 42 is provided between the connecting sleeve 2521 and the lead screw 2511.

[0060] Furthermore, a sealing plate 43 is fixedly installed at the bottom of the rotating rod 2512;

[0061] The sealing plate 43 is used to seal the groove of the sealing sleeve 2523.

[0062] Furthermore, the pressure gauge 26 includes a detection end 261 disposed inside the pressure tank 22;

[0063] The detection end 261 is located on the side of the support port 223 on the side wall of the pressure tank 22, near the two-way valve 111.

[0064] In this example, the connecting hole 241 is a cylindrical hole penetrating the axis of the sealing cover 24, with its centerline coinciding with the axis of the sealing cover 24. The connecting hole 241 has the same diameter as the rotating part 253 in the control assembly 25, serving as a guide channel for the rod 251 in the control assembly 25, allowing the rod 251 to slide linearly along the axial direction, while achieving rotational movement through threads or a lead screw nut. The mounting hole 242 is a stepped hole eccentrically located on the outside of the sealing cover 24, with its centerline offset from the axis of the sealing cover 24. The mounting hole 242 is used to embed the detection end 261 of the pressure gauge 26, and is sealed and fixed to the pressure gauge housing by threads or snaps, ensuring that the detection end probe is stably extended into the inner cavity of the pressure tank 22.

[0065] Preferably, the control assembly 25 comprises a rod 251, a sealing element 252, and a rotating element 253. The rod 251 has a double-layered structure, with its outer layer being a threaded screw 2511, which is threadedly connected to the screw nut 2531 of the rotating element 253. The inner layer of the rod 251 is a sliding tube structure rotating rod 2512, which is nested within the shaft of the screw 2511, and the two are slidably connected together. The screw 2511 controls the displacement of the sealing element 252 along its axial direction within the pressure tank 22. The outer wall of the screw nut 2531 tightly fits against the inner wall of the shaft connection hole 241 of the sealing cover 24, while the labyrinth seal ring on the inner side of the screw nut 2531 can tightly fit against the screw 2511, preventing gas leakage from the gap between the screw 2511 and the screw nut 2531. The outer side of the lead screw nut 2531 is fixedly fitted with the drive cap 2532. The lead screw nut 2531 is a deep groove ball screw nut, nested in the inner wall of the connecting hole 241; while the drive cap 2532 is a hexagonal nut structure, which is easy to fit onto the outer side of the drive cap 2532 to drive the lead screw nut 2531 to rotate. The lead screw nut 2531 supports the rotational movement of the drive cap 2532 and reduces frictional loss; the drive cap 2532 is rotated manually or with a power tool to achieve displacement control of the lead screw 2511.

[0066] When the drive cap 2532 rotates, it clamps the lead screw nut 2531 to rotate, while the lead screw 2511 in the inner cavity of the pressure tank 22 is restricted by the sealing part 252 at the bottom of the lead screw 2511 and cannot rotate. This results in the lead screw 2511 being radially stationary and axially displaced, so that the lead screw 2511 drives the rotating rod 2512 and the sealing part 252 to move axially. At the same time, the rotating rod 2512 can rotate independently to realize the opening and closing control of the sealing plate 43.

[0067] Preferably, the connecting sleeve 2521 is a stepped sleeve with a cylindrical upper end, facilitating the fixation of the inner limiting spring 42. The other side of the spring 42 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the lead screw 2511, and the rotating rod 2512 is sleeved inside the spring 42. The inner side of the connecting sleeve 2521 is fitted onto the diameter of the rotating rod 2512, achieving a sealing effect. The valve plate 2522 is a frustum-shaped metal plate with a chamfered bottom and inwardly curled edges forming a sealing lip. The valve plate 2522 is compressed by the spring 42, pressing against the flange face at the opening of the pressure tank 22 to achieve an initial seal. When the lead screw 2511 moves upward, the valve plate 2522 is moved away, forming a venting channel. A through hole is provided at the axis of the valve plate 2522, which can be sealed and fitted with the connecting sleeve 2521; a through hole is also provided on the eccentric side of the valve plate 2522, which can be sealed and fitted with the sealing sleeve 2523. When the valve plate 2522 is open, the sealing sleeve 2523 and the sealing plate 43 together form a secondary seal to prevent leakage of ammonia or water.

[0068] Preferably, both the connecting sleeve 2521 and the sealing sleeve 2523 are made of rubber and are sealed to the rod diameter of the rotating rod 2512 or to the rod diameter of the detection end 261 of the pressure gauge 26, so that the diaphragms of the connecting sleeve 2521 and the sealing sleeve 2523 are deformed under pressure, completely sealing the rod diameter.

[0069] Preferably, the probe of the detection end 261 is embedded in the pressure tank 22 and the space isolated by the pressure tank 22 and the port 223 of the pressure tank 22 through the mounting hole 242. When ammonia gas is introduced into the port 223, the probe of the detection end 261 is located in the circulation pipeline 12 system so that the pressure gauge 26 indicates whether there is a pressure leak in the circulation pipeline 12.

[0070] When the leak test unit 2 and purification unit 3 are not connected to the two-way valve 111, the lead screw 2511 compresses the spring 42, causing the valve plate 2522 to fit tightly against the flange of the open pressure tank 22. This ensures that the leak test unit 2, purification unit 3, and pressure gauge 26 are not connected to the circulation pipe 12, and does not affect the normal use of the electrolyte pipeline in the circulation pipe 12. At this time, the probe of the detection end 261 is inside the pressure tank 22, and the sealing plate 43 is restricted by the rotation of the rotating rod 2512, which blocks the opening of the sealing sleeve 2523, making the sealing element 252 completely sealed. Ammonia gas is introduced into the branch port 223. The pressure tank 22 is restricted by the valve plate 2522. At this time, the reading displayed by the pressure gauge 26 is the internal pressure of the pressure tank 22, which can be used for self-testing before the introduction of gas.

[0071] When the leak test unit 2 and the purification unit 3 are connected to the two-way valve 111, rotating the drive cap 2532 causes the lead screw 2511 to move the rotating rod 2512 upward, releasing the spring 42 and causing the valve plate 2522 to disengage from the flange face, opening the pressure tank 22. Ammonia gas is injected into the pressure tank 22 through the ammonia inlet pipe 23 to the set pressure of 0.3 MPa. After being evenly distributed by the annular partition plate, the ammonia gas enters the circulation pipe 12 and flows with the electrolyte to each chamber of the electrolytic cell. The leaf spring 41 is stretched when the pressure tank 22 is pressurized, absorbing the expansion stress of the tank body and preventing the threads of the sealing cap 24 from loosening. If a leak occurs at a certain point, the pressure gauge 26 reading will drop by more than 5%, indicating that there is a significant leak in the system; at the same time, the location of the leak can be confirmed by observing NH4Cl crystals or the smell of ammonia after applying hydrochloric acid reagent.

[0072] Purification stage: Rotate the T-type ball valve 112 to switch the inlet 11 to the purification unit 3 and close the leak test unit 2. Repeat the above operation through the control component 25 to inject deionized water or CO2 gas into the pressure tank 22, and complete the flushing or acid gas reaction through the circulation pipeline 12.

[0073] In summary, this device achieves seamless switching between the leak testing unit 2 and the purification unit 3 via the T-type ball valve 112, eliminating the need for system shutdown and pipeline disassembly. After injecting ammonia to detect leaks during the leak testing phase, it can directly switch to the purification unit 3, using deionized water or CO2 to flush or neutralize residues, significantly reducing manual intervention and greatly improving maintenance efficiency. The purification unit 3 supports CO2 or deionized water injection, which not only neutralizes residual ammonia to generate ammonium carbonate, which is harmless and easily decomposed, but also assists in leak detection using phenolphthalein solution or alkaline solution foaming method. In addition, the detection end 261 is embedded into the inner cavity of the pressure tank 22 through the mounting hole 242, avoiding areas of fluid disturbance and ensuring stable pressure readings unaffected by ammonia injection or electrolyte flow. The pressure gauge 26 records pressure changes within the pressure tank 22 in real time; a pressure drop indicates a leak. When the two-way valve 111 is not connected, the sealing plate 43 completely seals the groove of the sealing sleeve 2523, and the reading of the pressure gauge 26 is the pressure inside the pressure tank 22, which can be used as a self-check basis before pressurization.

[0074] Finally, it should be noted that the methods and devices described in detail above are merely embodiments, and those skilled in the art can modify these embodiments in different ways as long as they do not depart from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A leak detection device for a hydrogen electrolyzer, characterized in that: include, The pipeline unit (1) includes an inlet (11), a circulation pipe (12) connected to one side of the inlet (11), and an outlet (13) connected to the other side of the circulation pipe (12). The leak test unit (2) includes a connecting pipe (21) connected to one side of the inlet (11), a pressure tank (22) connected to one side of the connecting pipe (21), an ammonia pipe (23) connected to the side wall of the pressure tank (22), a sealing cap (24) connected to the end of the pressure tank (22), a control component (25) built into the inner cavity of the pressure tank (22), and a pressure gauge (26) that penetrates one side of the sealing cap (24). The purification unit (3) is connected to the other side of the inlet (11) and has the same structure as the leak test unit (2).

2. The leak detection device for hydrogen electrolyzers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inlet (11) includes a two-way valve (111) connected to the front end of the circulation pipe (12) and a T-type ball valve (112) disposed inside the two-way valve (111). Both the leak testing unit (2) and the purification unit (3) are connected to the two-way valve (111) through the connecting pipe (21).

3. The leak detection device for hydrogen electrolyzers according to claim 2, characterized in that: The pressure tank (22) includes a support ring (221) protruding from its side wall and a connecting ring (222) slidably disposed at the end of the pressure tank (22). A leaf spring (41) is fixedly disposed between the connecting ring (222) and the support ring (221).

4. The leak detection device for hydrogen electrolyzers according to claim 3, characterized in that: The sealing cap (24) includes a connecting hole (241) extending through the center of its end axis, and a mounting hole (242) disposed on the eccentric side of the connecting hole (241).

5. The leak detection device for a hydrogen electrolyzer according to claim 4, characterized in that: The control component (25) includes a rod (251) slidably connected to the axis of the connection hole (241), a sealing component (252) fixedly disposed at the bottom of the axis of the rod (251), and a rotating component (253) disposed at the axis of the rod (251).

6. The leak detection device for a hydrogen electrolyzer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The rod (251) includes a lead screw (2511) threaded to the outside of the rotating member (253) and a rotating rod (2512) slidably embedded inside the axis of the lead screw (2511).

7. The leak detection device for a hydrogen electrolyzer according to claim 6, characterized in that: The sealing component (252) includes a connecting sleeve (2521) disposed on the outside of the rotating rod (2512), a valve plate (2522) sleeved on the outside of the connecting sleeve (2521), and a sealing sleeve (2523) disposed on the eccentric side of the valve plate (2522).

8. The leak detection device for a hydrogen electrolyzer according to claim 7, characterized in that: The rotating component (253) includes a lead screw nut (2531) that is slidably sealed inside the shaft of the connecting hole (241), and a drive cap (2532) that is fixedly disposed on the outside of the lead screw nut (2531). A spring (42) is provided between the connecting sleeve (2521) and the lead screw (2511).

9. The leak detection device for a hydrogen electrolyzer according to claim 8, characterized in that: A sealing plate (43) is fixedly installed at the bottom of the rotating rod (2512); The sealing plate (43) is used to seal the groove of the sealing sleeve (2523).

10. The leak detection device for a hydrogen electrolyzer according to claim 9, characterized in that: The pressure gauge (26) includes a detection end (261) disposed inside the pressure tank (22); The detection end (261) is located on the side of the two-way valve (111) near the branch port (223) on the side wall of the pressure tank (22).

Images