Electrochemical cell for energy converter

Abstract

An electrochemical cell (100) for an electrochemical energy converter (300) wherein the cell (100) comprises:-a first gas diffusion layer (101),-a first electrode (103),-a second electrode (105),-a membrane (107) arranged between the first electrode (103) and the second electrode (105),-a second gas diffusion layer (109),-a first seal (111), and-a second seal (113), the first sealing part (111) is at least partially arranged between the first gas diffusion layer (101) and the first electrode (103), the second sealing part (113) is at least partially arranged between the second gas diffusion layer (109) and the second electrode (105), and the first sealing part (111) has an end region (115) which extends in an obliquely narrowing manner in the direction of the first electrode (103), the second seal section (113) has an end region (117) extending so as to be inclined and narrowed in the direction of the second electrode (105).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The proposed invention relates to an electrochemical cell for an electrochemical energy converter, a method for manufacturing an electrochemical cell, and a root electrochemical energy converter. Background Technology

[0002] Electrochemical cells used for electrochemical energy converters are typically designed with a standardized structure, in which an electrode block with a first electrode, a second electrode, and a membrane disposed between the first and second electrodes is surrounded on both sides by a gas diffusion layer.

[0003] To achieve a seal relative to the environment, the electrode block is wrapped with a sealing portion that extends regionally into the intermediate space between the gas diffusion layer and the corresponding electrode.

[0004] Due to the right-angled end of the seal, a free space is generated in the end region between the corresponding seal and the gas diffusion layer. For example, gases that interfere with the desired electrochemical process will accumulate in this free space. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Within the framework of the proposed invention, an electrochemical cell for an electrochemical energy converter, a method for manufacturing the electrochemical cell, and an electrochemical energy converter are provided. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the specification and drawings. Herein, the features and details relating to the cell according to the invention also apply to the method according to the invention and the energy converter according to the invention, and vice versa. Therefore, the disclosures regarding various aspects of the invention are always mutually referential.

[0006] The invention is particularly intended to provide a highly efficient and robust electrochemical battery.

[0007] Therefore, according to the first aspect of the proposed invention, an electrochemical battery for an electrochemical energy converter is provided.

[0008] The proposed battery includes a first gas diffusion layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, a membrane disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a second gas diffusion layer, a first sealing portion, and a second sealing portion. The first sealing portion is at least partially disposed between the first gas diffusion layer and the first electrode. The second sealing portion is at least partially disposed between the second gas diffusion layer and the second electrode. The first sealing portion has an end region that extends in an inclined tapering manner toward the first electrode. The second sealing portion also has an end region that extends in an inclined tapering manner toward the second electrode.

[0009] Because the proposed battery's sealing portion extends in a tapered manner (i.e., conical) towards the corresponding electrode, the intermediate space between the electrode and the sealing portion is minimized, thereby minimizing the influence of interfering gases on the electrochemical processes occurring within the battery.

[0010] Furthermore, since the sealing portion extends in a tapered manner toward the corresponding electrode, the proposed battery is particularly stable or mechanically load-bearable, because the gas diffusion layer surrounding the sealing portion continuously contacts and mechanically supports the sealing portion (especially in its end region).

[0011] It can be configured such that the end region of the first sealing part directly contacts the first electrode, and the end region of the second sealing part directly contacts the second electrode.

[0012] To achieve a particularly effective seal between the electrode and the environment, the end region of the seal can be directly pressed onto the corresponding electrode, thus eliminating the need for an adhesive layer in the end region.

[0013] Alternatively, a first adhesive layer may be constructed between the end region of the first sealing portion and the first electrode, and a second adhesive layer may be constructed between the end region of the second sealing portion and the second electrode.

[0014] The adhesive layer extending to the end region of the corresponding seal can reliably maintain the seal on the corresponding electrode.

[0015] Alternatively, the first gas diffusion layer may be configured to continuously contact the end region of the first sealing portion, while the second gas diffusion layer may continuously contact the end region of the second sealing portion.

[0016] The continuous contact between the gas diffusion layer and the sealing part (especially in the end region of the sealing part) is achieved, on the one hand, by a shape that is inclined and narrowed toward the electrode, and on the other hand, by pressing the gas diffusion layer onto the sealing part or the electrode.

[0017] Alternatively, the battery can be configured as a fuel cell or an electrolytic cell.

[0018] According to the second aspect, the proposed invention provides a method for manufacturing a battery for an electrochemical energy converter.

[0019] The proposed method includes: disposing a membrane between a first electrode and a second electrode; disposing a first sealing portion on the first electrode; disposing a first gas diffusion layer on the first sealing portion; disposing a second sealing portion on the second electrode; and disposing a second gas diffusion layer on the second sealing portion, wherein the first sealing portion has an end region that extends in an inclined tapering manner toward the first electrode, and wherein the second sealing portion has an end region that extends in an inclined tapering manner toward the second electrode.

[0020] Due to the shapes of the first and second sealing parts, the intermediate space between the sealing part and the corresponding gas diffusion layer is minimized or avoided, thereby minimizing or avoiding the accumulation of interfering gas.

[0021] Alternatively, the method may include: shaping the end region of the first sealing portion into an obliquely reduced extension of the first sealing portion; and shaping the end region of the second sealing portion into an obliquely reduced extension of the second sealing portion.

[0022] For the forming end region, the corresponding sealing part (e.g., the sealing part with a right angle end region after manufacturing) can be processed by pressing, cutting, milling, laser processing or any other technically applicable forming process.

[0023] Specifically, it can be configured such that when the end region of the first sealing part is formed, the first sealing part is obliquely cut; and when the end region of the second sealing part is formed, the second sealing part is obliquely cut.

[0024] Flexible seals can be deformed quickly and persistently by using oblique cutting. This can be achieved by moving the seal along the cutting edge at a predetermined angle, or by having the cutting edge pass through the seal at a predetermined angle. Alternatively, the seal can be cut using a laser.

[0025] According to a third aspect, the proposed invention provides an electrochemical energy converter, wherein the electrochemical energy converter includes a battery stack, wherein the battery stack comprises a plurality of feasible configurations of the proposed batteries.

[0026] The advantages detailed in the electrochemical cell for an electrochemical energy converter according to the first aspect of the present invention also apply to the method for manufacturing a cell for an electrochemical energy converter according to the second aspect of the present invention and to the electrochemical energy converter according to the third aspect of the present invention, and vice versa.

[0027] The energy converter can be configured to be a fuel cell system or an electrolysis system. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Other advantages, features, and details of the present invention are further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in a detailed description of embodiments of the invention. Here, the features mentioned in the specification may play a key role in the present invention, either individually or in any combination.

[0029] Accordingly, it schematically illustrates: Figure 1 One feasible configuration of the proposed battery, Figure 2 Another feasible configuration of the proposed battery, Figure 3 One feasible configuration of the proposed method, and Figure 4 A feasible configuration of the proposed energy converter. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Figure 1 It shows that according to Figure 3 Electrochemical cell 100 for use in electrochemical energy converter 300.

[0031] The battery 100 includes a first gas diffusion layer 101, a first electrode 103, a second electrode 105, a membrane 107 disposed between the first electrode 103 and the second electrode 105, a second gas diffusion layer 109, a first sealing portion 111, and a second sealing portion 113.

[0032] The first sealing part 111 is partially disposed between the first gas diffusion layer 101 and the first electrode 103, and the second sealing part 113 is partially disposed between the second gas diffusion layer 109 and the second electrode 105.

[0033] The first sealing portion 111 has an end region 115 that extends in an inclined and tapering manner toward the first electrode 103.

[0034] The second sealing portion 113 has an end region 117 that extends in an inclined and tapering manner toward the second electrode 105.

[0035] exist Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, end regions 115 and 117 directly contact electrodes 103 and 105. This is because the adhesive layer 119 used to connect the first sealing portion 111 with the second sealing portion 113 and the first electrode 103 and the second electrode 105 terminates before the end regions 115 and 117.

[0036] Figure 2 Another structure of the battery 100 is shown, wherein the adhesive layer 119 extends into the end regions 115 and 117.

[0037] Figure 3 The diagram illustrates a method 200 for manufacturing a battery 100 for an electrochemical energy converter 300.

[0038] The method 200 includes: a first arrangement step 201, wherein a membrane 107 is arranged between a first electrode 103 and a second electrode 105; a second arrangement step 203, wherein a first sealing portion 111 is arranged on the first electrode 103; a third arrangement step 205, wherein a first gas diffusion layer 101 is arranged on the first sealing portion 111; a fourth arrangement step 207, wherein a second sealing portion 113 is arranged on the second electrode 105; and a fifth arrangement step 209, wherein a second gas diffusion layer 109 is arranged on the second sealing portion 113.

[0039] Here, the first sealing portion 111 has an end region 115 that extends in an inclined manner toward the first electrode 103; while the second sealing portion 113 has an end region 117 that extends in an inclined manner toward the second electrode 105.

[0040] Figure 4 An electrochemical energy converter 300 is shown, which includes a battery stack 301 in which multiple [reasons] are arranged. Figure 1 or Figure 2 100 batteries.

Claims

1. An electrochemical cell (100) for use in an electrochemical energy converter (300), wherein, The battery (100) includes: - First gas diffusion layer (101). - First electrode (103). - Second electrode (105). - A membrane (107) disposed between the first electrode (103) and the second electrode (105). - Second gas diffusion layer (109). - First sealing part (111), and - Second sealing part (113). The first sealing portion (111) is at least partially disposed between the first gas diffusion layer (101) and the first electrode (103). The second sealing portion (113) is at least partially disposed between the second gas diffusion layer (109) and the second electrode (105). The first sealing portion (111) has an end region (115) that extends in a tapering manner toward the first electrode (103), and The second sealing portion (113) has an end region (117) that extends in an inclined manner toward the direction of the second electrode (105).

2. The battery (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end region (115) of the first sealing part (111) directly contacts the first electrode (103), and the end region (117) of the second sealing part (113) directly contacts the second electrode (105).

3. The battery (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, A first adhesive layer (119) is formed between the end region (115) of the first sealing portion (111) and the first electrode (103), and a second adhesive layer (119) is formed between the end region (117) of the second sealing portion (113) and the second electrode (105).

4. The battery (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The first gas diffusion layer (101) continuously contacts the end region (115) of the first sealing portion (111), and The second gas diffusion layer (109) is in continuous contact with the end region (117) of the second sealing part (113).

5. The battery (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The battery (100) is a fuel cell or an electrolytic cell.

6. A method (200) for manufacturing a battery (100) for an electrochemical energy converter (300), wherein, The method (200) includes: - The membrane (107) is arranged (201) between the first electrode (103) and the second electrode (105). - The first sealing part (111) is arranged (203) on the first electrode (103), - The first gas diffusion layer (101) is arranged (205) on the first sealing part (111), - Arrange the second sealing part (113) (207) on the second electrode (105), and - The second gas diffusion layer (109) is arranged (209) on the second sealing part (113), The first sealing portion (111) has an end region (115) that extends in a tapering manner toward the first electrode (103), and The second sealing portion (113) has an end region (117) that extends in an inclined manner toward the direction of the second electrode (105).

7. The method (200) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method (200) further includes: - The end region (115) of the first sealing portion (111) is shaped to extend in an inclined tapering manner, and - The end region (117) of the second sealing part (113) is shaped to extend in an inclined and tapering manner.

8. The method (200) according to claim 7, characterized in that, When forming the end region (115) of the first sealing portion (111), the first sealing portion (111) is obliquely cut; and When forming the end region (117) of the second sealing part (113), the second sealing part (113) is obliquely cut.

9. An electrochemical energy converter (300). in, The electrochemical energy converter (300) includes: - Battery stack (301). The battery stack (301) includes a plurality of batteries (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

10. The energy converter (300) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The energy converter (300) is a fuel cell system or an electrolysis system.

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