Visual electrolytic cell

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of electrochemical reactors, and discloses a visual electrolytic cell. Comprising two transparent polar plates which are made of transparent materials and arranged oppositely, a membrane electrode arranged between the two transparent polar plates, porous transmission layers arranged on the two sides of the membrane electrode respectively, and conductive collector plates arranged between the transparent polar plates and the porous transmission layers, a flow channel area used for flowing of fluid is formed in the side, close to the collector plate, of the transparent polar plate, a hollow first mounting groove is formed in the collector plate, and the flow channel area makes contact with the porous transmission layer through the first mounting groove. According to the technical scheme, the flow channel area is visual, the first mounting groove is hollowed out, and the flow channel area and the porous transmission layer are in contact with each other through the first mounting groove, so that no observation blind area exists in the flow channel area, and the flowing process of fluid in the flow channel area can be comprehensively observed and researched. In addition, the electrolytic cell also has the advantage of low manufacturing cost.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electrochemical reactor, in particular to a visualized electrolytic cell. BACKGROUND

[0002] Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis technology is considered to be a promising green hydrogen production technology in the new energy power era. It uses pure water as a reactant and can work at high current density to produce high-purity hydrogen product. Proton exchange membrane electrolytic cell can be used to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen. The proton exchange membrane electrolytic cell generally includes a flow channel area, a cathode plate, an anode plate, a diffusion layer (transport layer), and a membrane electrode. After the fluid, such as water, enters the flow channel area, it enters the membrane electrode through the diffusion layer, and under the action of the electric field of the cathode plate and the anode plate, hydrogen is produced by electrolysis. In the proton exchange membrane electrolytic cell, the design of the flow channel area has a key influence on mass transfer at high current, especially for large-scale proton exchange membrane electrolytic cells. The difference in flow field structure has a great influence on the two-phase flow mass transfer and heat transfer inside the system, thereby significantly affecting the energy consumption and service life of the system. Therefore, it is of great significance to study and optimize the structure of the flow field in the electrolytic cell model and verify the design of the electrolytic cell assembly.

[0003] At present, small-scale proton exchange membrane electrolytic cells for experiments generally use metal plates with flow channels opened thereon and serve as the mechanical frame of the entire electrolytic cell. However, a key point in the study of two-phase flow in the flow field is to observe and count the formation and discharge of bubbles in the flow channel by a visualized method, so as to obtain research results related to the flow field. There are two related technologies in the prior art for visualized research. One is the preparation of a transparent flow channel plate, which is used for cold model experiments, i.e., the fluid transmission in the flow channel is observed by liquid or gas-liquid two-phase flow. The second is the preparation of a transparent electrolytic cell, in which the flow channel plate is hollowed out on the metal current collector plate, and the organic glass plate is clamped outside the metal current collector plate.

[0004] In the first method, the experimental device only includes a flow channel, but does not include electrode plates, diffusion layers, membrane electrodes, and other components, which cannot accurately simulate the two-phase flow mass transfer process under the normal working state of the electrolytic cell, because in the actual working process, the catalyst, porous diffusion layer, and flow channel will generate a certain pressure difference to drive the discharge of gas, which is completely different from the case where only the flow channel exists.

[0005] In the second method, when the flow channel is engraved on the metal current collector, the support problem of the flow channel part needs to be considered, so that the flow field cannot be observed comprehensively, that is, the bubble formation and discharge in the flow channel cannot be observed and counted completely. For example, a visual electrolytic cell device is disclosed in Chinese Patent CN220149677U, which comprises a first transparent cover plate, an anode plate, an anode gas diffusion layer, a membrane electrode, a cathode gas diffusion layer, a cathode plate and a second transparent cover plate which are sequentially stacked, the anode plate is provided with a first through slot which penetrates the anode plate and connects the opposite sides of the anode plate along the thickness direction thereof, and the cathode plate is provided with a second through slot which penetrates the cathode plate and connects the opposite sides of the cathode plate along the thickness direction thereof. Although the formation and discharge of bubbles in the flow channel can be observed to some extent through the first transparent cover plate and the first through slot and the second transparent cover plate and the second through slot, the flow channel region on the anode plate has a non-through part (such as a flow channel ridge) in addition to the first through slot, which blocks the diffusion process of the gas in the anode gas diffusion layer. Similarly, the flow channel region on the cathode plate has a non-through part in addition to the second through slot, which blocks the diffusion process of the gas in the cathode gas diffusion layer. That is, there is an observation blind area on the anode plate and the cathode plate, so that the bubble formation and discharge in the flow channel cannot be observed and counted comprehensively.

[0006] Similarly, a large-area proton exchange membrane fuel cell visualization device is disclosed in US20110159387A1, which comprises a first transparent plate, a first current collector plate, a first gasket, a membrane electrode assembly, a second gasket, a second current collector plate and a second transparent plate which are sequentially stacked, and channels for fluid flow are formed on the first current collector plate and the second current collector plate respectively, so that the first current collector plate and the second current collector plate include through channel parts and non-through parts, that is, the visualization device still has an observation blind area, so that the bubble formation and discharge in the flow channel cannot be observed and counted comprehensively.

[0007] Therefore, by hollowing out the flow channel on the metal current collector and clamping the transparent electrolytic cell device with the organic glass plate outside the metal current collector, the bubble formation and discharge process in the flow channel cannot be observed and counted comprehensively, and the hollowing out of the flow channel on the metal current collector also has the problem of high manufacturing cost. SUMMARY

[0008] The purpose of the present application is to overcome the technical problems of the prior art that the transparent electrolytic cell device has an observation blind area and a high manufacturing cost, and to provide a visual electrolytic cell which has the advantages of flow channel region visualization and low manufacturing cost.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present application provides a visualized electrolytic cell, comprising two transparent electrode plates made of transparent material and arranged opposite to each other, a membrane electrode arranged between the two transparent electrode plates, a porous transport layer arranged on both sides of the membrane electrode, and a conductive current collector arranged between the transparent electrode plates and the porous transport layer, wherein one side of the transparent electrode plate close to the current collector is formed with a flow channel region for fluid flow, the current collector is formed with a first mounting groove, and the flow channel region and the porous transport layer contact each other through the first mounting groove.

[0010] The two ends of the visualized electrolytic cell are provided with transparent electrode plates, the transparent electrode plates are formed with flow channel regions, and the transparent electrode plates are made of transparent material, so that the transparent electrode plates are transparent and the flow channel regions are visualized. The current collector is formed with a first mounting groove, and the flow channel region and the porous transport layer contact each other through the first mounting groove, for example, the flow channel region and the porous transport layer contact each other in the first mounting groove. In this way, since the flow channel region is visualized, the first mounting groove is hollow, and the flow channel region and the porous transport layer contact each other, so that there is no observation blind area in the flow channel region, and thus the flow of fluid in the flow channel region, the two-phase flow mass transfer process, the bubble generation rate, the relative size of the bubbles and the movement rate of the bubbles can be fully observed and counted. In addition, compared with forming the flow channel region on the current collector, forming the flow channel region on the transparent electrode plate has the advantages of lower cost and easier manufacturing process.

[0011] Optionally, a boss is formed on the side of the transparent electrode plate close to the current collector, the flow channel region is arranged on the boss, and the boss extends towards the current collector and enters the first mounting groove.

[0012] Optionally, the boss has the same size as the first mounting groove, and the side surface of the boss is flush with the outer edge of the first mounting groove.

[0013] Optionally, the outer edge of the first mounting groove is formed with a step recessed towards the transparent electrode plate, and the side surface of the step forms a second mounting groove for mounting the porous transport layer.

[0014] Optionally, a first sealing unit is further arranged between the transparent electrode plate and the current collector, the first sealing unit is sleeved outside the boss, and the sum of the thickness of the first sealing unit and the thickness of the step is the same as the height of the boss.

[0015] Optionally, a second sealing unit is further arranged between the current collector and the membrane electrode, the second sealing unit is sleeved outside the porous transport layer, and the side surface of the second sealing unit close to the membrane electrode is flush with the side surface of the porous transport layer close to the membrane electrode.

[0016] Optionally, the transparent pole plate comprises a sealing water line arranged at the periphery of the flow channel region for sealing the flow channel region.

[0017] Optionally, the transparent pole plate comprises a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet respectively communicating with the inlet and the outlet of the flow channel region.

[0018] Optionally, it further comprises a pole lug for connecting a power supply, the pole lug being arranged at a position of the transparent pole plate on the current collecting plate outside the orthographic projection region of the current collecting plate.

[0019] Optionally, the transparent pole plate and the current collecting plate are connected to each other by a bolt extending therethrough. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a perspective structural schematic view of the visualized electrolytic cell provided by the present application;

[0021] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the visualized electrolytic cell provided by the present application;

[0022] Figure 3 is a perspective structural view of the cathode transparent pole plate provided by the present application;

[0023] Figure 4 is a top view of Figure 3 ;

[0024] Figure 5 is a perspective structural view of the cathode metal current collecting plate provided by the present application;

[0025] Figure 6 is a top view of Figure 5 ;

[0026] REFERENCE SIGNS

[0027] 1-anode transparent pole plate; 2-first sealing gasket; 3-anode current collecting plate; 4-anode porous transport layer; 5-third sealing gasket; 6-membrane electrode; 7-fourth sealing gasket; 8-cathode porous transport layer; 9-cathode current collecting plate; 91-second threaded hole; 92-pole lug; 93-step; 94-first mounting groove; 95-second mounting groove; 10-second sealing gasket; 11-cathode transparent pole plate; 111-fluid inlet; 112-flow channel region; 1121-first main flow channel; 1122-second main flow channel; 113-fluid outlet; 114-first threaded hole; 115-sealing water line. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The specific embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely intended for the purpose of illustration and explanation of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0029] In the present application, the terms "upper, lower, left, right, inner, outer, top, bottom" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0030] In addition, the terms "first", "second" and the like are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second" can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present application, the meaning of "a plurality of" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited.

[0031] In the present application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mounting", "connection", "connection", "fixing" and the like should be broadly understood, for example, it can be fixedly connected, or it can be detachably connected, or it can be integrated; it can be mechanically connected, or it can be electrically connected or in communication with each other; it can be directly connected, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal communication or interaction relationship of two elements, unless otherwise explicitly limited. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0032] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The visual electrolytic cell provided by the present application comprises two transparent electrode plates made of transparent material and arranged opposite to each other, a membrane electrode 6 arranged between the two transparent electrode plates, a porous transport layer arranged on both sides of the membrane electrode 6, and a conductive current collector arranged between the transparent electrode plate and the porous transport layer, wherein the side of the transparent electrode plate close to the current collector is formed with a flow channel area 112 for fluid flow, the current collector is formed with a first mounting groove 94, and the flow channel area 112 and the porous transport layer are in contact with each other through the first mounting groove 94.

[0033] By the technical solution, the flow channel area 112 is formed on the transparent electrode plate, and the transparent electrode plate is made of transparent material, so that the transparent electrode plate is transparent, and the flow channel area 112 is visualized. The collecting plate is provided with the first installation slot 94, and the flow channel area 112 and the porous transport layer contact each other through the first installation slot 94, for example, the flow channel area 112 and the porous transport layer contact each other in the first installation slot 94. In this way, since the flow channel area 112 is visualized, the first installation slot 94 is hollow, and the flow channel area 112 and the porous transport layer contact each other, so that there is no observation blind area in the flow channel area 112, and the flow of the fluid in the flow channel area 112, the two-phase flow mass transfer process, the generation rate of the bubbles, the relative size of the bubbles, and the movement rate of the bubbles can be fully observed and counted. In addition, compared with forming the flow channel area on the collecting plate, forming the flow channel area 112 on the transparent electrode plate has the advantages of lower cost and easier manufacturing process.

[0034] Specifically, referring to FIG. 1, Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the transparent electrode plate includes an anode transparent electrode plate 1 and a cathode transparent electrode plate 11, and the anode transparent electrode plate 1 and the cathode transparent electrode plate 11 are arranged opposite to each other. The materials of the anode transparent electrode plate 1 and the cathode transparent electrode plate 11 can be transparent polymer materials such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, acrylic, organic glass), polystyrene, and polycarbonate. In this way, the anode transparent electrode plate 1 and the cathode transparent electrode plate 11 are transparent and visual. The membrane electrode 6 is arranged between the anode transparent electrode plate 1 and the cathode transparent electrode plate 11. The anode porous transport layer 4 is arranged on the side of the membrane electrode 6 close to the anode transparent electrode plate 1, and the anode collecting plate 3 is arranged between the anode transparent electrode plate 1 and the anode porous transport layer 4. The cathode porous transport layer 8 is arranged on the side of the membrane electrode 6 close to the cathode transparent electrode plate 11, and the cathode collecting plate 9 is arranged between the cathode transparent electrode plate 11 and the cathode porous transport layer 8. The materials of the anode collecting plate 3 and the cathode collecting plate 9 are conductive materials such as titanium alloy, stainless steel, graphite, and aluminum alloy. Therefore, when the anode collecting plate 3 and the cathode collecting plate 9 are electrically connected to the anode and the cathode of an external power supply, respectively, an electric field is generated between the anode collecting plate 3 and the cathode collecting plate 9 to ionize the fluid, such as water, in the electrolytic cell of the application. The anode porous transport layer 3 and the cathode porous transport layer 8 can be porous titanium sheets, titanium felt, carbon paper, carbon cloth, etc., which have a plurality of pores therein. When the flow channel area on the anode transparent electrode plate 1 and the anode porous transport layer 3, and the flow channel area 112 on the cathode transparent electrode plate 11 and the cathode porous transport layer 8 are in contact, a flow channel is established between the anode transparent electrode plate 1 and the membrane electrode 6, and between the cathode transparent electrode plate 11 and the membrane electrode 6 through the pores. The membrane electrode 6 includes a proton exchange membrane, a cathode catalyst, and an anode catalyst. For example, when water is electrolyzed, the membrane electrode 6 is a Nafion 117 proton exchange membrane, the cathode catalyst is Pt / C loaded, and the anode catalyst is IrOx.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the visualized electrolytic cell of the present application, in combination Figure 2 As shown, the anode transparent polar plate 1, the anode current collector plate 3, the anode porous transport layer 4, the membrane electrode 6, the cathode porous transport layer 8, the cathode current collector plate 9 and the cathode transparent polar plate 11 are stacked and installed in the direction from top to bottom to form the visualized electrolytic cell, wherein the anode transparent polar plate 1 and the cathode transparent polar plate 11, the anode current collector plate 3 and the cathode current collector plate 9, and the anode porous transport layer 4 and the cathode porous transport layer 8 are symmetrically arranged about the membrane electrode 6 and have substantially the same structural shape, therefore, the embodiments of the cathode transparent polar plate 11, the cathode current collector plate 9 and the cathode porous transport layer 8 of the visualized electrolytic cell of the present application will be described in detail below, while the embodiments of the anode transparent polar plate 1, the anode current collector plate 3 and the anode porous transport layer 4 are substantially the same as the embodiments of the cathode transparent polar plate 11, the cathode current collector plate 9 and the cathode porous transport layer 8 respectively, therefore, the embodiments will not be described in detail below.

[0036] Referring to Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the cathode transparent polar plate 11 is formed with a flow channel area 112 for fluid flow near the side of the cathode current collector plate 9, the flow channel area is a channel structure, including a first main flow channel 1121, a plurality of branch flow channels and a second main flow channel 1122, wherein the first main flow channel 1121 is used for the inflow of fluid, and the second main flow channel 1122 is used for the outflow of fluid. The flow channel area 112 of the visualized electrolytic cell of the present application can be composed of a plurality of shapes through the first main flow channel 1121, the plurality of branch flow channels and the second main flow channel 1122, for example, the flow channel area 112 can be a point-shaped flow channel, a snake-shaped flow channel, a parallel flow channel, a multi-level flow channel, etc. Alternatively, in combination Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the cathode transparent polar plate 11 is formed with a flow channel area 112 for fluid flow near the side of the cathode current collector plate 9, the flow channel area is a channel structure, including a first main flow channel 1121, a plurality of branch flow channels and a second main flow channel 1122, wherein the first main flow channel 1121 is used for the inflow of fluid, and the second main flow channel 1122 is used for the outflow of fluid. The flow channel area 112 of the visualized electrolytic cell of the present application can be composed of a plurality of shapes through the first main flow channel 1121, the plurality of branch flow channels and the second main flow channel 1122, for example, the flow channel area 112 can be a point-shaped flow channel, a snake-shaped flow channel, a parallel flow channel, a multi-level flow channel, etc. Alternatively, in combination Figure 3 and 4As shown, the fluid inlet 111 is arranged at one end of the cathode transparent plate 11 and extends into the cathode transparent plate 11, the bottom of the first main flow channel 1121 is in communication with the fluid inlet 111, the fluid outlet 113 is arranged at the other end of the cathode transparent plate 11 and extends into the cathode transparent plate 11, the bottom of the second main flow channel 1122 is in communication with the fluid outlet 113, the inlets of the plurality of branch flow channels are distributed in the first main flow channel 1121, and the outlets of the plurality of branch flow channels respectively merge into the second main flow channel 1122, so that the fluid flows from the fluid inlet 111 into the first main flow channel 1121, is distributed into the plurality of branch flow channels, then the fluid merges into the second main flow channel 1122, and finally is discharged from the fluid outlet 113 of the visualized electrolytic cell.

[0037] Optionally, in combination with Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the first mounting groove 94 is formed on the cathode current collecting plate 9, and the first mounting groove 94 can be formed at the middle position of the cathode current collecting plate 9. The flow channel region 112 and the cathode porous transport layer 8 are in contact with each other through the first mounting groove 94. Since the cathode transparent plate 11 is transparent and visible, the flow channel region 112 is formed on the cathode transparent plate 11 and is in contact with the cathode porous transport layer 8 through the first mounting groove 94, so that the flow process of the fluid in the flow channel region 112 is completely visualized.

[0038] Optionally, the flow channel region 112 and the cathode porous transport layer 8 can be in contact with each other in various ways, for example, the cathode porous transport layer 8 is mounted in the first mounting groove 94 and is in contact with the flow channel region 112, or, as shown in Figures 2-6 As shown, the side of the cathode transparent plate 11 close to the cathode current collecting plate 9 is formed with a boss, and the flow channel region 112 is arranged on the boss. The boss can be mounted in the first mounting groove 94 and is in contact with the cathode porous transport layer 8. Preferably, the boss has the same size as the first mounting groove 94, and the side of the boss facing the membrane electrode 6 is flush with the outer edge of the first mounting groove 94, so that there is no gap between the boss, the first mounting groove 94 and the cathode porous transport layer 8, thereby improving the sealing performance of the visualized electrolytic cell.

[0039] As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 The cathode current collecting plate 9 comprises a cathode current collecting plate body and a first mounting groove 94. The outer edge of the first mounting groove 94, i.e. the part of the cathode current collecting plate body defining the first mounting groove 94, forms a step 93 recessed towards the cathode transparent plate 11. The side where the step 93 is located forms a second mounting groove 95 for mounting the cathode porous transport layer 8. Optionally, the side of the boss facing the membrane electrode 6 is flush with the side of the step 93 facing the membrane electrode 6. As shown in Figure 6As shown, the cathode porous transport layer 8 is installed in the second installation groove 95, and the thickness of the cathode porous transport layer 8 can be the same as or different from the depth of the step 93 (i.e. the height of the step 93 to the cathode current collector plate body).

[0040] Optionally, the visualized electrolytic cell of the present application further comprises a first sealing unit for sealing the anode transparent polar plate 1 and the anode current collector plate 3, and the cathode transparent polar plate 11 and the cathode current collector plate 9, referring to Figure 2 As shown, the first sealing unit comprises a first sealing gasket 2 arranged between the anode transparent polar plate 1 and the anode current collector plate 3, and a second sealing gasket 10 arranged between the cathode transparent polar plate 11 and the cathode current collector plate 9, the first sealing gasket 2 and the second sealing gasket 10 have a first hollow part, and are respectively sleeved on the outside of the boss of the anode transparent polar plate 1 and the outside of the boss of the cathode transparent polar plate 11 through the first hollow part. The first sealing gasket 2 and the second sealing gasket 10 can be polytetrafluoroethylene gaskets. Further, the shape and size of the first hollow part on the first sealing gasket 2 and the second sealing gasket 10 are the same as the outer contour of the boss of the anode transparent polar plate 1 and the outer contour of the boss of the cathode transparent polar plate 11, and the thickness of the first sealing gasket 2 plus the thickness of the step of the anode current collector plate 3 is equal to the height of the boss of the anode transparent polar plate 1, that is, after the first sealing gasket 2 is installed between the anode transparent polar plate 1 and the anode current collector plate 3, the side of the boss of the anode transparent polar plate 1 facing the anode porous transport layer 4 is flush with the side where the step of the anode current collector plate 3 is located, so that the anode porous transport layer 4 can be completely fitted on the step. Similarly, the thickness of the second sealing gasket 10 plus the thickness of the step 93 of the cathode current collector plate 9 is equal to the height of the boss of the cathode transparent polar plate 11, that is, after the second sealing gasket 10 is installed between the cathode transparent polar plate 11 and the cathode current collector plate 9, the side of the boss of the cathode transparent polar plate 11 facing the cathode porous transport layer 8 is flush with the side where the step 93 of the cathode current collector plate 9 is located, so that the cathode porous transport layer 8 can be completely fitted on the step 93.

[0041] As described above, the thickness of the cathode porous transport layer 8 can be the same as or different from the depth of the step 93 of the cathode current collector plate 9, and similarly, the thickness of the anode porous transport layer 4 can be the same as or different from the depth of the step of the anode current collector plate 3. When the thickness of the cathode porous transport layer 8 is the same as the depth of the step 93 of the cathode current collector plate 9, that is, the side of the cathode porous transport layer 8 facing the membrane electrode 6 is flush with the side of the cathode current collector plate body facing the membrane electrode 6, at this time, the membrane electrode 6 can be directly installed on the installation surface formed by the cathode porous transport layer 8 and the cathode current collector plate body; similarly, when the thickness of the anode porous transport layer 4 is the same as the depth of the step of the anode current collector plate 3, the membrane electrode 6 can be directly installed on the installation surface formed by the anode porous transport layer 4 and the anode current collector plate 3.

[0042] Optionally, when the thickness of the cathode porous transport layer 8 is greater than the depth of the step 93 of the cathode current collector 9, and the thickness of the anode porous transport layer 4 is greater than the depth of the step of the anode current collector 3, the visual electrolytic cell of the present application further comprises a second sealing unit for sealing the anode current collector 3 and the membrane electrode 6, and the cathode current collector 9 and the membrane electrode 6, as shown in Figure 2 The second sealing unit comprises a third sealing gasket 5 arranged between the anode current collector 3 and the membrane electrode 6, and a fourth sealing gasket 7 arranged between the cathode current collector 9 and the membrane electrode 6, the third sealing gasket 5 and the fourth sealing gasket 7 have a second hollow part, and are respectively sleeved on the outside of the anode porous transport layer 4 and the cathode porous transport layer 8 through the second hollow part. The third sealing gasket 5 and the fourth sealing gasket 7 can be polytetrafluoroethylene gaskets. Further, the shape and size of the second hollow part on the third sealing gasket 5 and the fourth sealing gasket 7 are the same as the outer contour of the anode porous transport layer 4 and the outer contour of the cathode porous transport layer 8, and the thickness of the third sealing gasket 5 is equal to the thickness of the anode porous transport layer 4 minus the depth of the step of the anode current collector 3, so that the side of the third sealing gasket 5 facing the membrane electrode 6 is flush with the side of the anode porous transport layer 4 facing the membrane electrode 6, and the thickness of the fourth sealing gasket 7 is equal to the thickness of the cathode porous transport layer 8 minus the height of the step 93 of the cathode current collector 9, so that the side of the fourth sealing gasket 7 facing the membrane electrode 6 is flush with the side of the cathode porous transport layer 8 facing the membrane electrode 6, thereby further improving the sealing performance between the anode current collector 3 and the membrane electrode 6, and the cathode current collector 9 and the membrane electrode 6.

[0043] Optionally, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 The cathode transparent pole plate 11 further comprises a sealing water line 115 arranged on the periphery of the flow channel area 112 for sealing the flow channel area, the sealing water line 115 is a closed curve-shaped groove, which is arranged around the flow channel area 112, and when the flow channel area 112 is arranged on the boss of the cathode transparent pole plate 11, the sealing water line 115 is arranged on the periphery of the boss. When assembling the cathode transparent pole plate 11, a sealing material can be filled in the sealing water line 115, so as to better seal the cathode transparent pole plate 11 and the second sealing gasket 10 or the cathode current collector 9.

[0044] In addition, as shown in Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 The visual electrolytic cell of the present application comprises a tab 92 for connecting the cathode power supply, the material of the tab 92 is a conductive material, for example, titanium alloy, stainless steel, graphite, aluminum alloy, etc., and the tab 92 is arranged on the outer edge of the cathode current collector 9, so that the tab 92 is located outside the orthographic projection area of the cathode transparent pole plate 11 on the cathode current collector 9, so that after the assembly of the visual electrolytic cell of the present application is completed, the tab 92 is convenient to connect with the cathode power supply.

[0045] Alternatively, the cathode transparent pole plate 11 and the cathode current collector 9, and the anode transparent current collector 1 and the anode current collector 3 can be connected by means of adhesive bonding, or, as shown in Figures 1-6 the cathode transparent pole plate 11 and the cathode current collector 9, and the anode transparent current collector 1 and the anode current collector 3 are connected to each other by means of bolts extending therethrough. Specifically, according to one embodiment of the visualized electrolytic cell of the present application, in combination with Figures 1 to 6 shown, the visualized electrolytic cell comprises the anode transparent pole plate 1, the first sealing gasket 2, the anode current collector 3, the anode porous transport layer 4, the third sealing gasket 5, the membrane electrode 6, the fourth sealing gasket 7, the cathode porous transport layer 8, the cathode current collector 9, the second sealing gasket 10 and the cathode transparent pole plate 11, which are sequentially stacked and assembled, wherein the corresponding positions of the anode transparent pole plate 1, the first sealing gasket 2, the anode current collector 3, the third sealing gasket 5, the fourth sealing gasket 7, the cathode current collector 9, the second sealing gasket 10 and the cathode transparent pole plate 11 are respectively provided with a plurality of threaded holes, for example, a plurality of first threaded holes 114 are provided outside the sealing water line 115 on the cathode transparent pole plate 11, and a plurality of second threaded holes 91 are provided on the cathode current collector body of the cathode current collector 9. A plurality of bolts respectively pass through the aforementioned plurality of threaded holes and are fixed by a plurality of nuts, thereby completing the assembly of the visualized electrolytic cell of the present application.

[0046] The preferred embodiments of the present application are described in detail above in combination with the drawings, but the present application is not limited thereto. Within the technical concept of the present application, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of the present application, including the combination of various specific technical features in any suitable manner. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, the present application does not further describe various possible combination manners. However, these simple modifications and combinations should also be considered as disclosed by the present application and belong to the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A visual electrolytic cell, characterized in that, include: The system comprises two transparent electrode plates (1, 11) made of transparent material and arranged opposite to each other, a membrane electrode (6) disposed between the two transparent electrode plates (1, 11), porous transport layers (4, 8) disposed on both sides of the membrane electrode (6), and a conductive current collector (3, 9) disposed between the transparent electrode plates (1, 11) and the porous transport layers (4, 8). The transparent electrode plates (1, 11) have a flow channel region (112) for fluid flow on the side near the current collector (3, 9). The current collector (3, 9) has a hollow first mounting groove (94). The flow channel region (112) and the porous transport layers (4, 8) are in contact with each other through the first mounting groove (94).

2. The visualized electrolytic cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transparent electrode plate (1, 11) forms a boss on the side near the collector plate (3, 9), and the flow channel region (112) is disposed on the boss. The boss extends toward the collector plate (3, 9) and enters the first mounting groove (94).

3. The visualized electrolytic cell according to claim 2, characterized in that, The boss is the same size as the first mounting groove (94), and the side of the boss is flush with the outer edge of the first mounting groove (94).

4. The visualized electrolytic cell according to claim 3, characterized in that, The outer edge of the first mounting groove (94) forms a step (93) that is recessed toward the transparent electrode plate (1, 11), and the side where the step is located forms a second mounting groove (95) for mounting the porous transmission layer (4, 8).

5. The visualized electrolytic cell according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes a first sealing unit (2, 10) disposed between the transparent electrode plate (1, 11) and the current collector plate (3, 9), the first sealing unit (2, 10) being sleeved outside the boss, and the sum of the thickness of the first sealing unit (2, 10) and the thickness of the step (93) being the same as the height of the boss.

6. The visualized electrolytic cell according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes a second sealing unit (5, 7) disposed between the current collector (3, 9) and the membrane electrode (6). The second sealing unit (5, 7) is sleeved outside the porous transport layer (4, 8), and the side of the second sealing unit (5, 7) near the membrane electrode (6) is flush with the side of the porous transport layer (4, 8) near the membrane electrode (6).

7. The visualized electrolytic cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transparent electrode plate (1, 11) includes a sealing water line (115) disposed on the periphery of the flow channel region (112) for sealing the flow channel region (112).

8. The visualized electrolytic cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transparent electrode (1, 11) includes a fluid inlet (111) and a fluid outlet (113) that are respectively connected to the inlet and outlet of the flow channel region (112).

9. The visualized electrolytic cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes tabs (92) for connecting to a power source, wherein the tabs (92) are disposed on the transparent electrode plate (1, 11) on the current collector plate (3, 9) at a position outside the orthographic projection area of ​​the current collector plate (3, 9).

10. The visualized electrolytic cell according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The transparent electrode plates (1, 11) and the current collector plates (3, 9) are connected to each other by bolts extending through them.

Images