Cathode and anode gas balance pressure relief device and method for electrolytic bath test equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a cathode and anode gas balance pressure relief device and a cathode and anode gas balance pressure relief method for electrolytic cell test equipment. The device comprises an anode pilot gas circuit which is connected with a first pressure valve and provides first pilot gas for the first pressure valve, and the first pressure valve is arranged in an anode gas discharge pipeline and is set to be opened under the action of first pressure provided by the first pilot gas so as to open the anode gas discharge pipeline; the cathode pilot gas path is connected with a second pressure valve and provides second pilot gas for the second pressure valve, and the second pressure valve is arranged in the cathode gas discharge pipeline and is set to be opened under the action of second pressure provided by the second pilot gas so as to open the cathode gas discharge pipeline; and the communication gas path is connected with the anode pilot gas path and the cathode pilot gas path, and is arranged to communicate the anode pilot gas path with the cathode pilot gas path when the electrolytic cell test equipment is in a target state, so as to balance the anode gas pressure in the anode gas discharge pipeline and the cathode gas pressure in the cathode gas discharge pipeline.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrolytic cell testing equipment technology, and more particularly to a device and method for balancing and relieving anode and cathode gases in electrolytic cell testing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Electrolyzers (such as proton exchange membrane electrolyzers) are an important component of electrolyzer hydrogen production systems. They generally consist of a cell body, an anode, and a cathode. Their performance directly affects the final performance of the electrolyzer hydrogen production system. Therefore, during the research and development and production stages, it is often necessary to use corresponding testing equipment (referred to as electrolyzer testing equipment in this article) to test the product performance of the electrolyzer.

[0003] Electrolyzer testing is typically conducted under various operating conditions. Therefore, electrolyzer testing equipment often needs to provide different testing conditions for the electrolyzer, such as different pressures, different circulating water flow rates and temperatures, and different currents. For example, to enable testing of the electrolyzer under different pressure conditions, the testing equipment can control the pressure within the system through valves, controllers, and other means. Currently, the industry has set high requirements for the pressure control range of testing equipment during electrolyzer testing, with maximum pressures often reaching 50 bar or even higher. Therefore, electrolyzer testing is usually conducted under high-pressure conditions, and the pressure within the system is generally high during the testing process.

[0004] In addition, some special situations may be encountered during the electrolytic cell testing process, which may cause the electrolytic cell testing equipment to malfunction. For example, in emergency situations such as power outages or disasters, it is necessary to shut down the electrolytic cell testing equipment immediately. At this time, on the one hand, the components in the electrolytic cell testing equipment will lose power and will be unable to perform control actions, and on the other hand, it is necessary to safely release the hydrogen and oxygen that are usually under high pressure inside the electrolytic cell testing equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides a device and method for balancing and relieving anode and cathode gases in an electrolytic cell testing equipment, thereby solving or at least alleviating one or more of the above-mentioned problems and other problems existing in the prior art, or providing an alternative technical solution to the prior art.

[0006] According to one aspect of this application, a cathode and anode gas balancing and pressure relief device for an electrolytic cell testing apparatus is provided. The electrolytic cell testing apparatus includes an anode gas treatment unit and a cathode gas treatment unit respectively connected to the anode and cathode of the electrolytic cell. The anode gas treatment unit and the cathode gas treatment unit are respectively connected to an anode gas discharge pipeline and a cathode gas discharge pipeline. The cathode and anode gas balancing and pressure relief device includes:

[0007] An anode pilot gas path is connected to and supplies a first pilot gas to a first pressure valve, the first pressure valve being arranged in the anode gas discharge line and configured to be opened under a first preset pressure provided by the first pilot gas to open the anode gas discharge line.

[0008] A cathode pilot gas path, connected to and supplying a second pressure valve, the second pressure valve being arranged in the cathode gas discharge line and configured to open under a second preset pressure provided by the second pilot gas to open the cathode gas discharge line; and

[0009] A connecting gas path is provided, which is connected to the anode pilot gas path and the cathode pilot gas path, and is configured to connect the anode pilot gas path and the cathode pilot gas path when the electrolytic cell test equipment is in the target state, so as to balance the anode gas pressure in the anode gas discharge pipeline and the cathode gas pressure in the cathode gas discharge pipeline.

[0010] In the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device according to this application, optionally, the anode pilot gas path is provided with a first pressure controller, which is arranged upstream of the first pressure valve along the first pilot gas flow direction of the anode pilot gas path and controls the input first pilot gas to reach the first pressure, and when the electrolytic cell testing equipment is in the target state, both the inlet and outlet valves associated with the first pressure controller are closed; and / or

[0011] The cathode pilot gas path is equipped with a second pressure controller, which is arranged upstream of the second pressure valve along the second pilot gas flow direction of the cathode pilot gas path and controls the input second pilot gas to reach the second pressure. When the electrolytic cell test equipment is in the target state, the inlet and outlet valves associated with the second pressure controller are closed.

[0012] In the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device according to this application, optionally, the first pressure controller and the second pressure controller are configured such that when the anode and cathode gas discharge operation is performed in the electrolytic cell test equipment, the first pressure and the second pressure are the same.

[0013] In the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device according to this application, optionally, the first pressure valve includes a back pressure valve and a proportional valve, and the second pressure valve includes a back pressure valve and a proportional valve; and / or

[0014] The first pilot gas pressure input to the anode pilot gas path is the same as the second pilot gas pressure input to the cathode pilot gas path. The first pilot gas includes nitrogen and compressed air, and the second pilot gas includes nitrogen and compressed air.

[0015] In the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device according to this application, optionally, the volume of the anode pilot gas path is set to be less than or equal to the volume of the cathode pilot gas path.

[0016] Optionally, in the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device according to this application, the connecting gas path is provided with:

[0017] A first switching valve and a second switching valve are each arranged in the connecting gas path, respectively connected to the anode pilot gas path and the cathode pilot gas path, and are configured to be opened when the electrolytic cell testing equipment is in the target state to connect the anode pilot gas path and the connecting gas path, and to connect the cathode pilot gas path and the connecting gas path, respectively; and

[0018] A throttling component is arranged downstream of the first and second switching valves along the airflow direction in the connected gas path, and is configured to maintain a preset opening degree when the electrolytic cell test equipment performs anode and cathode gas emission operation.

[0019] In the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device according to this application, optionally, the throttling component includes a throttling valve and a throttling orifice, and / or the connecting gas passage is further provided with:

[0020] A first check valve and a second check valve are respectively arranged downstream of the first switching valve and the second switching valve along the airflow direction. The first check valve is configured to prevent the second pilot gas from the cathode pilot gas path from flowing into the anode pilot gas path at the installation position of the first check valve. The second check valve has the same configuration parameters as the first check valve.

[0021] A pressure reducing valve is arranged downstream of the first switching valve and the second switching valve along the airflow direction;

[0022] A volume-enlarging component, arranged in the communicating air passage to increase the air chamber volume; and / or

[0023] A muffler is arranged downstream of the throttling component along the direction of the airflow.

[0024] In the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device according to this application, optionally, the first switching valve includes a ball valve, a butterfly valve, a gate valve, a globe valve, and a diaphragm valve, and the second switching valve includes a ball valve, a butterfly valve, a gate valve, a globe valve, and a diaphragm valve; and / or

[0025] The pressure reducing valve is arranged downstream of the first and second check valves along the airflow direction, and upstream of the throttling component; and / or

[0026] The pressure reducing valve is configured to have a preset pressure, and the throttling component is configured to allow the gas pressure in the connected gas path to decrease at different pressure reduction slopes when the gas pressure in the connected gas path is greater than the preset pressure of the pressure reducing valve by selecting the opening degree of the throttling component.

[0027] In the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device according to this application, optionally, the opening degree of the throttling component is set such that the electrolytic cell testing equipment releases the anode gas and cathode gas respectively through the anode gas discharge pipeline and the cathode gas discharge pipeline at the maximum discharge rate.

[0028] Furthermore, according to another aspect of this application, a method for balancing and depressurizing the anode and cathode gases in an electrolytic cell testing device is also provided, comprising the steps of:

[0029] Configure the electrolytic cell testing equipment with a cathode and anode gas balancing and pressure relief device as described in any of the above items; and

[0030] When the electrolytic cell testing equipment is in the target state and is used to perform anode and cathode gas emission operation, the first pilot gas is supplied to the first pressure valve through the anode pilot gas path to open the anode gas emission pipeline, and the second pilot gas is supplied to the second pressure valve through the cathode pilot gas path to open the cathode gas emission pipeline. The anode pilot gas path and the cathode pilot gas path are connected to the connecting gas path, so that the anode gas pressure in the anode gas emission pipeline and the cathode gas pressure in the cathode gas emission pipeline are kept in balance.

[0031] By employing the solution of this invention, the gas pressures of the anode and cathode are balanced and controlled through the connection of the pilot gas paths of the anode and cathode. This effectively controls the gas release rate of the anode and cathode in the electrolytic cell testing equipment and promotes pressure balance on both sides of the anode and cathode, achieving stable gas release operation. Furthermore, the release rate can be adjusted by regulating the opening of the throttling device, especially in the event of an emergency stop in the electrolytic cell testing equipment, ensuring maximum release speed and effectively guaranteeing system safety. Attached Figure Description

[0032] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. However, it should be understood that these drawings are designed for illustrative purposes only and are intended to conceptually illustrate the structural construction described herein, and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the composition of an embodiment of an anode and cathode gas balance and pressure relief device for an electrolytic cell testing equipment according to this application, an example of an electrolytic cell testing equipment, and an example of an electrolytic cell.

[0034] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 The illustrated embodiment of the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device shows the changes in anode and cathode gas pressure during use.

[0035] Figure 3 Is with Figure 1 The diagram shows a composition of an existing anode and cathode gas venting scheme commonly used in electrolytic cell testing equipment.

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the anode and cathode gas balance and pressure relief device for an electrolytic cell testing equipment according to this application, an example of an electrolytic cell testing equipment, and an example of an electrolytic cell.

[0037] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 The illustrated embodiment of the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device shows the changes in anode and cathode gas pressure during use.

[0038] Figure 6 The basic processing steps of an embodiment of the anode and cathode gas balance and depressurization method for an electrolytic cell testing device according to this application are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0039] It should be noted that the following description, by way of example, outlines the structure, steps, features, and advantages of the anode and cathode gas balancing and depressurization device and method for electrolytic cell testing equipment according to this application. However, all descriptions should not be construed as limiting the invention in any way. In this document, the technical terms "first" and "second" are used only for distinguishing purposes and are not intended to indicate their order or relative importance. For any single technical feature described or implied in the embodiments mentioned herein, or any single technical feature shown or implied in the accompanying drawings, the invention still allows for arbitrary combination or deletion among these technical features (or their equivalents) without any technical obstacle. Therefore, these further embodiments according to this application should also be considered within the scope of this description.

[0040] First, refer to Figure 1 In one embodiment, an example of an electrolytic cell testing equipment is configured with an anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device according to this application. This device can effectively control the high-pressure gas in the equipment in the event of an emergency shutdown, and complete the safe release of the anode and cathode gases.

[0041] Specifically, in this given embodiment, the electrolytic cell testing equipment 200 may be equipped with an anode gas treatment unit 210 and a cathode gas treatment unit 220, which are respectively connected to the anode (illustrated by the symbol "+" in the figure) and cathode (illustrated by the symbol "-" in the figure) of the electrolytic cell 300. This allows for appropriate treatment of the anode gas (typically oxygen) on the anode side and the cathode gas (typically hydrogen) on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell according to actual testing requirements, such as various possible pretreatments. The anode gas treatment unit 210 discharges the anode gas through a connected anode gas discharge pipe 211, and the cathode gas treatment unit 220 discharges the cathode gas through a connected cathode gas discharge pipe 221. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can flexibly configure these parts according to actual needs, and detailed discussion is not provided here.

[0042] The anode and cathode gas balance and pressure relief device 100 is configured and connected to the electrolytic cell testing equipment 200. It may include an anode pilot gas path 10, a cathode pilot gas path 20, and a connecting gas path 30. Figure 1 The three different parts have been schematically marked using dashed boxes.

[0043] For the anode pilot gas path 10, it is connected to the pressure valve 11 arranged in the anode gas discharge line 211, and a pressure controller 12 can be arranged in the anode pilot gas path 10. The pressure controller 12 is arranged upstream of the pressure valve 11 to control the pressure of the input pilot gas G1 (e.g., nitrogen, compressed air, etc.). The pressure valve 11 can be opened at a preset pressure (the specific value can be configured as needed), thereby opening the anode gas discharge line 211 so that the anode gas can be discharged outward. In use, the pressure of the pilot gas G1 can be controlled by the pressure controller 12 to achieve the aforementioned preset pressure of the pressure valve 11, thereby realizing the opening operation of the pressure valve 11.

[0044] The cathode pilot gas path 20 is connected to the cathode gas discharge line 221, and a pressure controller 22 can be arranged in the cathode pilot gas path 20. Similar to the anode pilot gas path 10, the pressure controller 22 can be arranged upstream of the pressure valve 11 to control the pressure of the input pilot gas G2 (e.g., nitrogen, compressed air, etc., which can usually have the same configuration as the aforementioned pilot gas G1), and the pressure valve 21 is arranged in the cathode gas discharge line 221. The pressure valve 21 can be opened at a preset pressure (the specific value can be configured as needed), thereby opening the cathode gas discharge line 221, at which time the cathode gas can be discharged to the outside through the cathode gas discharge line 221. In use, the pressure of the pilot gas G2 can be controlled by the pressure controller 22 to achieve the aforementioned preset pressure of the pressure valve 21, thereby opening the pressure valve 21.

[0045] The pressure valves 11 and 21 described above can have the same or different configurations, such as having the same preset pressure. They allow the use of any suitable valve type to achieve the above functions, including but not limited to back pressure valves and proportional valves. For example, the back pressure valve can be an automatically controlled back pressure valve or a manually operated back pressure valve. In the case of using a manual back pressure valve, pressure controller 12 and / or pressure controller 22 may not be required, and the corresponding pressure valve can be opened manually when needed.

[0046] Pressure controllers 12 and 22 can be configured in the same or different ways depending on the application requirements. For example, they can be used to make pilot gas G1 and pilot gas G2 reach the same pressure synchronously. Alternatively, pressure valves 11 and 21 can be made to decrease at the same pressure drop rate when the equipment is performing anode and cathode gas discharge operation. At this time, the pressure difference between them can be very small or even zero. As an example, pressure controller 12 and / or pressure controller 22 can be a holding-type pressure controller. In the event of a power outage, such as an emergency stop, the pressure controller can close its associated inlet and outlet valves (e.g., the pressure controller itself is equipped with such valves, or such valves are installed near the inlet and outlet of the pressure controller, such as using on / off valves). This will correspondingly shut off the pilot gas input to the anode pilot gas path 10 or the cathode pilot gas path 20. The above-mentioned shut-off operation can be performed when the electrolytic cell test equipment 200 is in the target state (e.g., due to an emergency shutdown caused by a power outage, a disaster, or to perform a specific test). This will promote the achievement of gas pressure balance between the anode pilot gas path 10 and the cathode pilot gas path 20 after they are connected via the connecting gas path 30.

[0047] In the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device 100, when the electrolytic cell testing equipment 200 is in a target state such as an emergency shutdown, the anode pilot gas path 10 and the cathode pilot gas path 20 can be connected through the connecting gas path 30, thereby balancing the pilot gas pressure in these two gas paths. This allows the anode gas in the anode gas discharge pipe 211 and the cathode gas in the cathode gas discharge pipe 221 to reach a pressure balance. Figure 2 A demonstration was provided, which will be explained in detail later.

[0048] exist Figure 1In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting gas path 30 may be equipped with a switching valve 31, a switching valve 32, a check valve 34, a check valve 35, a throttling component 33, a pressure reducing valve 36, a volume enlargement component 37, and a silencer 38. The switching valve 31 can be arranged in the gas path of the connecting gas path 30 connected to the anode pilot gas path 10, and can be any feasible type such as a ball valve, butterfly valve, gate valve, stop valve, and diaphragm valve, for example, a normally open pneumatic ball valve. In this embodiment, the switching valve 32 can adopt the same or similar configuration as the switching valve 31, and can be arranged in the gas path of the connecting gas path 30 connected to the cathode pilot gas path 20. When the electrolytic cell testing equipment 200 is in the target state, the connecting gas path 30 and the anode pilot gas path 10 can be connected by opening the switching valve 31, and the connecting gas path 30 and the cathode pilot gas path 20 can be connected by opening the switching valve 32. Figure 1 The above arrangement has been illustrated in the text.

[0049] Check valves 34 and 35 are arranged downstream of switching valves 31 and 32, respectively, along the airflow direction in the connecting gas path 30. For differential pressure electrolytic cell testing equipment (i.e., cathode gas pressure is higher than anode gas pressure), check valve 34 can be used to prevent undesirable flow of high-pressure cathode gas into the anode pilot gas path 10, which could then adversely impact components such as the pressure controller 12. When the cathode gas pressure is higher than the anode gas pressure, due to the presence of check valve 34, the anode pilot gas path 10 and the cathode pilot gas path 20 are initially not connected. At this time, the pilot gas G2 in the cathode pilot gas path 20 will flow into the connecting gas path 30 for release. Since the pilot gas path has a relatively small volume at this time, as an optional configuration, it can be configured as follows... Figure 1 The volume-enlarging component 37 is provided to increase the gas chamber volume of the device. For example, the volume-enlarging component 37 can be optionally arranged near the switching valve 32 or at any other suitable location in the system. Furthermore, the volume-enlarging component 37 is not limited to various feasible methods such as using a pressure buffer tank or arranging one or more pipes with relatively larger diameters in series in the pipeline. Since the check valve 34 requires an opening pressure, it will open during the decrease of the cathode gas pressure until the pressure before the check valve 34 is greater than the pressure after the check valve 34, and the pressure difference is not less than the opening pressure of the check valve. When the pressure of the anode pilot gas G1 is greater than the pressure after the check valve 34, and the pressure difference is greater than the opening pressure of the check valve 34, the anode pilot gas path 10 and the cathode pilot gas path 20 will be connected.

[0050] In one or more implementations, in order to facilitate the equal pressure release of the anode and cathode gases, the one-way valve 35 can adopt the same configuration parameters as the one-way valve 34. In this way, when the anode pilot gas path 10 and the cathode pilot gas path 20 are connected, since the downstream pressure and opening pressure of the one-way valve 34 and the one-way valve 35 are the same, their respective upstream pressures are also equal. At this time, the release pressure of the anode and cathode gases can be kept consistent.

[0051] The throttling component 33 and the pressure reducing valve 36 are both arranged downstream of the switching valves 31 and 32 along the airflow direction in the connecting air passage 30. For example, they can be arranged downstream of the check valves 34 and 35 and placed adjacent to each other. For example, the pressure reducing valve 36 can be arranged upstream of the throttling component 33. The specific arrangement can be selected and determined according to the actual application.

[0052] The throttling component 33 can be a component such as a throttling valve or a throttling orifice to achieve a throttling effect. In use, the throttling component 33 can be configured to maintain a preset opening degree during the discharge of anode and cathode gases through the electrolytic cell testing equipment 200, so as to control the gas pressure in the connecting gas path 30 to decrease steadily at the desired preset pressure drop slope. For example, the opening degree of the throttling component 33 can be set so that the electrolytic cell testing equipment 200 can discharge anode and cathode gases at the maximum discharge rate. The maximum discharge rate can be optionally configured according to different applications. For example, considering system safety requirements, the maximum discharge rate under these conditions can be calculated based on specific configuration parameters, such as cathode gas chamber volume, anode gas chamber volume, cathode gas pressure, anode gas pressure, cathode gas discharge pipe size (e.g., pipe diameter), anode gas discharge pipe size (e.g., pipe diameter), cathode gas flow rate limit, and anode gas flow rate limit. Furthermore, the pressure reducing valve 36 can be set to have a preset pressure. When the air pressure flowing through the pressure reducing valve 36 exceeds this preset pressure, the air pressure in the connecting air path 30 can decrease at different pressure reduction slopes by selecting the opening degree of the throttling component 33. That is, during device commissioning, the pressure reduction slope can be controlled by adjusting the opening degree of the throttling component to achieve the desired result. Once the device is properly commissioned, the opening degree of the throttling component usually remains constant, and the air pressure in the connecting air path 30 decreases steadily at a pressure reduction slope corresponding to that opening degree.

[0053] Continue to refer to Figure 1A silencer 38 can be installed in the connecting air passage 30 to effectively reduce or even eliminate noise that may be generated due to airflow in the pipeline, thus greatly contributing to a quiet environment. As an optional configuration, the silencer 38 can be positioned at the end of the connecting air passage 30 or at locations prone to generating significant noise, such as directly downstream of the throttling component 33. Figure 1 The example provided is a demonstration.

[0054] exist Figure 2 The use of Figure 1 The pressure changes of the anode and cathode gases in the embodiment of the anode and cathode gas balance and pressure relief device are described. The electrolytic cell testing equipment used in this case is often called differential pressure electrolytic cell testing equipment. Figure 2 In the diagram, curves S1, S2, and S3 represent the respective changes in anode gas pressure, cathode gas pressure, and the pressure difference between the anode and cathode gas during the anode-cathode gas venting operation in this differential pressure electrolytic cell testing equipment. Figure 2 As shown, when pilot gases G1 and G2 are input into the anode pilot gas path 10 and the cathode pilot gas path 20 respectively, and the two pilot gas paths are connected through the connecting gas path 30, as time progresses (represented by the horizontal time axis T), the anode and cathode gases, which initially had a large pressure difference, will reach an equilibrium state in a very short time. Their pressure difference during the depressurization period is extremely small, and the depressurization rate can be controlled to remain basically consistent, eventually reaching a stable state. Through the measured pressure data at several coordinate points exemplarily marked in the figure, as well as the degree of overlap between curves S1 and S2, and the corresponding changes in curve S3, the significant technical effect of the anode and cathode gas balancing and depressurization device of this application can be clearly seen. This is achieved by using, for example... Figure 3 The existing technical solutions shown do not possess this feature at all.

[0055] To better understand the technical advantages of the device of the present invention, Figure 3 The comparison illustrates a gas pressure relief scheme commonly used in electrolytic cell testing equipment in this field. For example... Figure 3 As shown, by configuring a venting bypass 212 for the anode gas discharge line 211 and a venting bypass 222 for the cathode gas discharge line 221, the anode and cathode gases can be vented using the above two venting bypasses 212 and 222 in the event of an emergency shutdown of the electrolytic cell testing equipment.

[0056] The gas pressure relief scheme of configuring a pressure relief bypass on the main gas emission path has been widely recognized and adopted in the industry for a long time. However, after research, this application found some drawbacks. For example, on the one hand, in the event of an emergency and emergency shutdown of the equipment, users of the electrolytic cell testing equipment generally require that the high-pressure gas inside the equipment be released as soon as possible to minimize the residence time of these gases in the system. However, the flow rate of hydrogen, oxygen, etc., in stainless steel pipes may be limited and cannot flow too fast. Therefore, the release rate of high-pressure gas inside the equipment may have an upper limit. This makes it difficult to guarantee and increase the gas release rate while meeting the gas flow rate limit, resulting in a relatively slow gas release rate and prolonging the residence time of the hazard source in the system. On the other hand, the anode and cathode systems of the electrolytic cell are generally separated by proton exchange membranes and bear the pressure difference between the anode and cathode. Figure 3 The existing technical solutions shown cannot control the pressure difference between the anode and cathode during the venting process. When the hydrogen at the cathode and the oxygen at the anode of the electrolytic cell are vented through their respective venting bypasses, the different gas chamber volumes of the anode and cathode result in different gas venting rates, which may lead to a larger pressure difference between the anode and cathode. In extreme cases, this may cause the proton exchange membrane to rupture and create an explosion risk.

[0057] Compared with existing technical solutions, this application overcomes existing technical biases in the industry. Unlike the gas pressure relief method that those skilled in the art are accustomed to using by adding a bypass pressure relief branch, this invention takes the opposite approach, innovatively using the main gas discharge path as a pressure relief channel. Furthermore, by connecting the two pilot gas paths arranged on both sides of the anode and cathode through a connecting gas path when the equipment encounters target states such as emergency shutdown, pressure balance between the two pilot gas paths can be achieved, for example, to reach the same pressure or a very small pressure difference. In addition, compared with the existing solution of slowly relieving pressure through a throttling method in the bypass branch of the main path, the solution of this invention can not only indirectly control the gas release rate of the anode and cathode of the electrolytic cell test equipment by controlling the pressure in the anode and cathode pilot gas paths, but also ensure that the pressure on both sides of the anode and cathode remains consistent when needed, thereby achieving stable gas release without pressure difference and preventing damage to the proton exchange membrane. In addition, by controlling components such as pressure reducing valves and throttling devices in the gas connection path, the pressure drop rate during the release of anode and cathode gases can be kept constant, the pressure release process can be kept stable, and the pressure release rate can be flexibly adjusted according to actual needs. Under the premise of ensuring safety, the electrolytic cell testing equipment can complete the release of high-pressure gas at the fastest speed, thereby greatly improving the safety and reliability of the system.

[0058] exist Figure 4The preceding text provides a general example of applying another embodiment of the anode-cathode gas balance and pressure relief device according to this application to an electrolytic cell testing apparatus, unless otherwise specifically indicated herein. Figure 1 The corresponding descriptions of the parts and their components in the embodiments are applicable to Figure 4 In embodiments, for example, the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar components or features.

[0059] and Figure 1 Compared with the embodiments, in Figure 4 The illustrated embodiment of the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device omits one-way valves 34 and 35. This configuration is suitable for isobaric electrolytic cell testing equipment and offers benefits such as simplified structure, easier installation, and reduced system costs. Alternatively, the volume of the anode pilot gas path 10 can be set to be less than or equal to the volume of the cathode pilot gas path 20. This helps avoid a sudden pressure drop caused by the connection between the anode and cathode pilot gases when the cathode gas pressure is higher than the anode gas pressure.

[0060] refer to Figure 5 The diagram illustrates the use of Figure 4 The embodiment of the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device shows the changes in anode and cathode gas pressures, where curves S1, S2, and S3 represent the changes in anode gas pressure, cathode gas pressure, and the difference between anode and cathode gas pressures, respectively, during the anode and cathode gas venting operation in the isobaric electrolytic cell test equipment. Figure 5 As shown, when pilot gases G1 and G2 are input into the anode pilot gas path 10 and the cathode pilot gas path 20 respectively, and the two pilot gas paths are connected through the connecting gas path 30, as time progresses (represented by the transverse time axis T), the anode and cathode gases, which originally had a large pressure difference, can be controlled to reach an equilibrium state in a very short time. Figure 5 The measured pressure data at a few coordinate points, which are only shown as examples, and the almost identical or extremely small pressure difference between curves S1 and S2, especially the intuitive characteristics of curve S3, fully demonstrate that the anode and cathode gas balance pressure relief device of this application has the technical advantages described above, and is significantly superior to the existing technical solutions.

[0061] The above discussion presents two specific embodiments of the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device according to this application. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can flexibly configure or adjust the components in the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device based on the content of this disclosure and according to different application needs. For example, the one-way valve, pressure reducing valve, volume enlargement component and / or silencer can be removed in one or more embodiments, or one or more components such as valve, flow meter, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, etc. can be added at appropriate locations, which will not be elaborated here.

[0062] Continue to refer to Figure 6 The figure illustrates the basic processing steps of a cathode and anode gas balance and pressure relief method for an electrolytic cell testing device according to this application. This embodiment of the cathode and anode gas balance and pressure relief method may include the following steps:

[0063] In step S11, an anode-cathode gas balance and pressure relief device provided according to the present invention can be configured for the electrolytic cell testing equipment. It can have an anode pilot gas path, a cathode pilot gas path and a connecting gas path and be connected to the electrolytic cell testing equipment, which has been described in detail above.

[0064] In step S12, when the electrolytic cell testing equipment is in the target state (e.g., emergency shutdown, performing specific required tests, etc.), during the anode and cathode gas emission operation via the electrolytic cell testing equipment, as described above, pilot gas G1 can be supplied to the pressure valve located in the anode gas emission pipeline through the anode pilot gas path, thereby opening the anode gas emission pipeline. Similarly, pilot gas G2 can be supplied to the pressure valve located in the cathode gas emission pipeline through the cathode pilot gas path, thereby opening the cathode gas emission pipeline. The anode and cathode pilot gas paths are then connected via a connecting gas path, allowing the anode gas pressure in the anode gas emission pipeline to be balanced with the cathode gas pressure in the cathode gas emission pipeline. That is, the anode gas pressure and cathode gas pressure can be controlled to be the same or have a relatively small pressure difference. It is understood that, for example, by adjusting the component configuration in the anode and cathode gas balancing and pressure relief device, the above pressure difference can be controlled within a preset range that meets the requirements of actual application.

[0065] It should also be noted that, for example, differential pressure electrolytic cell testing equipment, after connecting the anode pilot gas path and the cathode pilot gas path through the connecting gas path, the pressure of the pilot gas G1 and G2 in the gas path will change accordingly and reach a state of equilibrium. During this process, the opening degree of the corresponding pressure valve in the anode gas discharge pipeline and / or the cathode gas discharge pipeline will be adjusted accordingly with the above pressure change of the pilot gas, and the pressure balance of the discharged anode and cathode gases will be achieved.

[0066] The configuration and use of the electrolytic cell testing equipment, anode pilot gas path, cathode pilot gas path, and connecting gas path have been described in detail above. Therefore, more step features can be obtained by directly referring to the relevant descriptions, thereby forming more specific embodiments of the method of the present invention. For example, the discharge rate of the anode and cathode gases can be controlled by adjusting the opening of the throttling component in the connecting gas path, such as achieving the maximum discharge rate of the current system after adjustment. As another example, the steps of adding volume-enlarging components and / or silencers can be adopted to achieve the desired technical effects such as increasing the overall gas chamber volume of the device and improving airflow noise.

[0067] The above examples are merely illustrative of the anode and cathode gas balancing and depressurization device and method for electrolytic cell testing equipment according to this application. These examples are only for illustrating the principles and implementation methods of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and improvements can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical solutions should fall within the scope of this invention and be defined by the claims of this invention.

Claims

1. An anode-cathode gas balance pressure relief device (100) for an electrolyzer test apparatus (200) including an anode gas processing section (210) and a cathode gas processing section (220) connected to an anode and a cathode of an electrolyzer (300), respectively, and the anode gas processing section (210) and the cathode gas processing section (220) are connected to an anode gas discharge line (211) and a cathode gas discharge line (221), respectively, characterized in that, comprises: an anode pilot gas path (10) connected to a first pressure valve (11) and supplying a first pilot gas (G1) thereto, the first pressure valve (11) being arranged in the anode gas discharge path (211) and configured to be opened to open the anode gas discharge path (211) under the action of a first pressure provided by the first pilot gas (G1); a cathode pilot gas path (20) connected to a second pressure valve (21) and supplying a second pilot gas (G2) thereto, the second pressure valve (21) being arranged in the cathode gas discharge path (221) and configured to be opened to open the cathode gas discharge path (221) under the action of a second pressure provided by the second pilot gas (G2); and a communication gas path (30) connected to the anode pilot gas path (10) and the cathode pilot gas path (20) and configured to communicate both the anode pilot gas path (10) and the cathode pilot gas path (20) to balance an anode gas pressure in the anode gas discharge path (211) and a cathode gas pressure in the cathode gas discharge path (221) when the electrolytic cell test device (200) is in a target state. The anode pilot gas path (10) is provided with a first pressure controller (12) arranged upstream of the first pressure valve (11) along a flow direction of the first pilot gas (G1) of the anode pilot gas path (10) and controlling the first pilot gas (G1) inputted to reach the first pressure, and inlet and outlet valves associated with the first pressure controller (12) are both closed when the electrolytic cell test device (200) is in the target state; and / or 2. The anode-cathode gas equalization pressure relief device (100) according to claim 1, wherein The cathode pilot gas path (20) is provided with a second pressure controller (22) arranged upstream of the second pressure valve (21) along a flow direction of the second pilot gas (G2) of the cathode pilot gas path (20) and controlling the second pilot gas (G2) inputted to reach the second pressure, and inlet and outlet valves associated with the second pressure controller (22) are both closed when the electrolytic cell test device (200) is in the target state. The first pressure controller (12) and the second pressure controller (22) are configured such that the first pressure and the second pressure are the same when the electrolytic cell test device (200) performs anode and cathode gas discharge operation.

3. The anode-cathode gas equalization pressure relief device (100) of claim 2, wherein, The first pressure valve (11) comprises a back pressure valve and a proportional valve, and the second pressure valve (21) comprises a back pressure valve and a proportional valve; and / or 4. The anode-cathode gas equalization pressure relief device (100) of claim 1, wherein, The first pilot gas (G1) inputted to the anode pilot gas path (10) has the same pressure as the second pilot gas (G2) inputted to the cathode pilot gas path (20), the first pilot gas (G1) comprising nitrogen and compressed air, and the second pilot gas (G2) comprising nitrogen and compressed air. The volume of the anode pilot gas path (10) is configured to be less than or equal to the volume of the cathode pilot gas path (20).

5. The anode-cathode gas equalization pressure relief device (100) of claim 1, wherein, The communication gas path (30) is provided with:

6. The anode-cathode gas equalization pressure relief device (100) according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, ​ a first switch valve (31) and a second switch valve (32) each arranged in the communication gas passage (30) in a gas passage connected to the anode pilot gas passage (10) and the cathode pilot gas passage (20), respectively, and configured to be opened to communicate the anode pilot gas passage (10) and the communication gas passage (30), and to communicate the cathode pilot gas passage (20) and the communication gas passage (30), respectively, when the electrolyzer testing apparatus (200) is in the target state; and a throttling member (33) arranged downstream of the first switch valve (31) and the second switch valve (32) along a gas flow direction in the communication gas passage (30), and configured to maintain a preset opening degree when the electrolyzer testing apparatus (200) performs anode and cathode gas discharge operation.

7. The anode-cathode gas equalization pressure relief device (100) of claim 6, wherein, The throttling member (33) includes a throttle valve and a throttle hole, and / or the communication gas passage (30) is further provided with: a first check valve (34) and a second check valve (35) arranged downstream of the first switch valve (31) and the second switch valve (32) along the gas flow direction, respectively, the first check valve (34) being configured to prevent the second pilot gas (G2) from the cathode pilot gas passage (20) from flowing into the anode pilot gas passage (10) at the installation position of the first check valve (34), the second check valve (35) having the same configuration parameters as the first check valve (34); a pressure reducing valve (36) arranged downstream of the first switch valve (31) and the second switch valve (32) along the gas flow direction; a volume increasing member (37) arranged in the communication gas passage (30) to increase the volume of the gas cavity; and / or a muffler (38) arranged downstream of the throttling member (33) along the gas flow direction.

8. The anode-cathode gas equalization pressure relief device (100) of claim 7, wherein, The first switch valve (31) includes a ball valve, a butterfly valve, a gate valve, a stop valve, and a diaphragm valve, and the second switch valve (32) includes a ball valve, a butterfly valve, a gate valve, a stop valve, and a diaphragm valve; and / or The pressure reducing valve (36) is arranged downstream of the first check valve (34) and the second check valve (35) along the gas flow direction, and arranged upstream of the throttling member (33); and / or The pressure reducing valve (36) is configured to have a preset pressure, and the throttling member (33) is configured to have an opening degree selected so that the gas pressure in the communication gas passage (30) decreases at different pressure reduction slopes when the gas pressure in the communication gas passage (30) flowing through the pressure reducing valve (36) is greater than the preset pressure of the pressure reducing valve (36).

9. The anode-cathode gas equalization pressure relief device (100) of claim 6, wherein, The opening degree of the throttling member (33) is configured so that the electrolyzer testing apparatus (200) discharges anode gas and cathode gas through anode gas discharge pipeline (211) and cathode gas discharge pipeline (221), respectively, at a maximum discharge speed.

10. A method for anode and cathode gas balancing pressure relief for a cell test equipment silencer, characterized by, The method comprises the steps of: configuring an anode and cathode gas balance pressure relief device (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1-9 for an electrolyzer testing apparatus (200); and When the electrolytic cell test equipment (200) is used to perform anode and cathode gas discharge operation in a target state, the first pilot gas (G1) is delivered to the first pressure valve (11) through the anode pilot gas path (10) to open the anode gas discharge pipeline (211), the second pilot gas (G2) is delivered to the second pressure valve (21) through the cathode pilot gas path (20) to open the cathode gas discharge pipeline (221), and the anode pilot gas path (10) and the cathode pilot gas path (20) are communicated with the communication gas path (30), so that the anode gas pressure in the anode gas discharge pipeline (211) and the cathode gas pressure in the cathode gas discharge pipeline (221) are balanced.

Images