Electrode flow field plate structure based on water electrolysis hydrogen production gradient bionics

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of electrode flow field plate structures, in particular to an electrode flow field plate structure based on water electrolysis hydrogen production gradient bionics, which comprises a polar plate, a flow channel arranged on the polar plate, and a hydrophobic layer and a three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer which are sequentially arranged on the surface of the flow channel from bottom to top, the roughness of the surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer gradually changes in the length direction of the flow channel, and the roughness of the surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer is distributed in a gradient mode in the length direction of the flow channel. According to the utility model, based on the skin water drop directional conveying principle of Texas hornink, the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer is arranged on the surface of the flow channel of the bipolar plate, so that the wettability of the inner surface of the flow channel is gradually enhanced towards a single direction, and the surface roughness is gradually reduced. A liquid phase can obtain Laplace differential pressure driving force for directional transportation, and passive regulation and control of water-gas two-phase flow in the bipolar plate are realized; the distribution uniformity of liquid water can be improved, diffusion of the liquid water can be enhanced, and electrolytic hydrogen production with higher efficiency is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of electrode flow field plate structures, in particular to an electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics of hydrogen production by electrolysis of water. Background Art

[0002] Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis is a technology that uses polymer electrolyte membrane as a solid electrolyte to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen by applying voltage. The bipolar plate is one of the core components of PEM hydrogen production. It has two basic functions: one is to connect adjacent battery stacks, and the other is to supply and remove reactants (i.e., water) and gaseous products (i.e., H2 and O2). The bipolar plate flow channel of PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production is a key component used to transport water or water vapor to the electrolysis cell for electrolysis reaction. The design of the flow channel of the electrode flow field plate structure has an important influence on the uniform delivery of water to the surface of the electrolyte membrane and the efficiency and stability of the hydrogen production reaction. At present, the water-gas two-phase flow control technology in the bipolar plate is a very challenging problem for hydrogen electrolysis. The uneven distribution of water affects the uniformity of the electrolysis reaction. Some areas may lack sufficient water to maintain an efficient electrolysis reaction, while other areas may accumulate too much water. This unevenness may cause the stability of the electrolysis reaction to decrease, thereby affecting the hydrogen production efficiency and hydrogen production rate.

[0003] In response to the above problems, this patent proposes an electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics for hydrogen production by water electrolysis. This structure constructs a three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer in the bipolar plate flow channel to achieve passive regulation of the water-gas two-phase flow in the bipolar plate, thereby achieving better hydrogen production effect and water-gas transportation capacity. Utility Model Content

[0004] In response to the problems in the prior art, the purpose of the utility model is to provide a three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer on the surface of the flow channel based on the principle of directional water droplet transport on the skin of the Texas horned lizard. The surface roughness of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer provided in the flow channel gradually changes, and the wettability of the inner surface of the flow channel also gradually changes along a single direction of the flow channel, so that the liquid phase can obtain the Laplace pressure difference driving force for directional transport, thereby realizing the passive regulation of the water-gas two-phase flow in the electrode plate, and realizing the electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics for hydrogen production by electrolysis of water.

[0005] An electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics for hydrogen production by electrolysis of water comprises an electrode plate, a flow channel opened on the electrode plate, a hydrophobic layer and a three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer sequentially arranged on the surface of the flow channel from bottom to top, wherein the roughness of the surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer gradually changes along the length direction of the flow channel, and the roughness of the surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer is gradiently distributed along the length direction of the flow channel.

[0006] The surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer is provided with gradually changing pores or particles along the length direction of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer.

[0007] The pore structure of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer is a pore with a gradually changing particle size due to laser pulse energy ablation along the length direction of the flow channel.

[0008] The three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer is a particle size structure, and the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer adopts nanoparticles with different particle sizes to be sprayed one by one along the flow channel in a gradient manner.

[0009] There is at least one flow channel.

[0010] When there are at least two flow channels, the flow channels are opened in parallel on the electrode plate, and the flow channels are straight lines or curves.

[0011] When there are at least two flow channels, the flow channels are arranged on the electrode plate in a cross-arrangement manner.

[0012] The hydrophobic layer is formed by nano hydrophobic material coated on the surface of the flow channel.

[0013] Beneficial effects of the utility model:

[0014] The utility model is based on the principle of directional water droplet transport on the skin of the Texas horned lizard. A three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer is arranged on the surface of the flow channel. The surface roughness of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer arranged in the flow channel changes gradually, and the wettability of the inner surface of the flow channel will also change gradually along a single direction of the flow channel. The surface roughness of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer arranged in the flow channel becomes smaller and smaller, and the wettability of the inner surface of the flow channel will gradually increase along a single direction of the flow channel; the surface roughness of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer arranged in the flow channel becomes larger and larger, and the wettability of the inner surface of the flow channel will gradually decrease along a single direction of the flow channel; thereby, the liquid phase can obtain the Laplace pressure difference driving force for directional transport, and realize passive regulation of the water-gas two-phase flow in the bipolar plate; the utility model can improve the uniformity of liquid water distribution and enhance the diffusion of liquid water, and realize more efficient electrolytic hydrogen production; the utility model adopts a gradient morphological structure designed based on the bionic principle, which can perform passive regulation of the liquid phase, with lower energy consumption and higher efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the utility model.

[0016] Figure 2 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the utility model.

[0017] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of directional transportation of the utility model.

[0018] Figure 4This is the second structural schematic diagram of the present utility model.

[0019] Figure 5 This is an experimental data diagram showing that the surface roughness of the utility model is positively correlated with the particle size. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The serial numbers in the figure are: 1 is the electrode plate, 2 is the flow channel, 3 is the hydrophobic layer, 4 is the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer, and 5 is the wettability.

[0021] Embodiment 1: The utility model provides an electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics for hydrogen production by electrolysis of water, comprising an electrode plate 1, a flow channel opened on the electrode plate 1, three hydrophobic layers and a three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 arranged on the surface of the flow channel 2 in sequence from bottom to top, the roughness of the surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 gradually increases or decreases along the length direction of the flow channel 2, and the roughness of the surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 is gradiently distributed along the length direction of the flow channel 2.

[0022] The utility model is based on the principle of directional water droplet transport on the skin of the Texas horned lizard. A three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 is provided on the surface of the flow channel 2 of the electrode plate 1. The surface roughness of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 provided in the flow channel 2 changes gradually, and the wettability of the inner surface of the flow channel 2 will also change gradually along a single direction of the flow channel. The surface roughness of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 provided in the flow channel 2 becomes smaller and smaller, and the wettability of the inner surface of the flow channel 2 will gradually increase along a single direction of the flow channel; the surface roughness of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 provided in the flow channel 2 becomes larger and larger, and the wettability of the inner surface of the flow channel will gradually decrease along a single direction of the flow channel; thereby, the liquid phase can obtain the Laplace pressure difference driving force for directional transport, and realize passive regulation of the water-gas two-phase flow in the electrode plate 1; the utility model can improve the uniformity of liquid water distribution and enhance the diffusion of liquid water, and realize more efficient electrolytic hydrogen production; the utility model adopts a gradient morphological structure designed based on the bionic principle, which can perform passive regulation of the liquid phase, with lower energy consumption and higher efficiency.

[0023] Embodiment 2: The surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 is distributed with pores or particles that gradually increase from small to large along the length direction of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4, and the roughness of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 is gradiently distributed along the direction of the flow channel 2; the pore structure of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 can adopt a femtosecond laser method to increase the laser pulse energy one by one along the flow channel 2 to ablate pores of different particle sizes; when the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 is a particle size structure, the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer adopts nanoparticles with particle sizes from small to large to be gradiently sprayed one by one along the flow channel.

[0024] Embodiment 3: The surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 is distributed with pores or particles that gradually change from large to small along the length direction of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4, and the roughness of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 is gradiently distributed along the direction of the flow channel 2; the pore structure of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 can adopt a femtosecond laser method to reduce the laser pulse energy one by one along the flow channel 2 to ablate pores of different particle sizes; when the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 is a particle size structure, the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer adopts nanoparticles with particle sizes from large to small to be gradiently sprayed one by one along the flow channel.

[0025] Embodiment 3: There is at least one flow channel 2; when there are multiple flow channels 2, multiple flow channels 2 are opened in parallel on the electrode 1, and the flow channels 2 are straight lines or curves; when there are multiple flow channels 2, the flow channels 2 can be arranged on the electrode in a cross-arrangement. The hydrophobic layer 3 is formed by a nano-hydrophobic material coated on the surface of the flow channel 2.

[0026] The surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 is sprayed with 50 mesh, 100 mesh and 150 mesh particles, and the Keyence VHX digital microscope is used to measure and obtain Figure 5 ,pass Figure 5 It can be seen that the surface roughness of the 3D bionic structure gradient layer 4 is positively correlated with the particle size. According to the relationship between surface roughness and wettability, the closer the surface, the closer it is, and the less wettability the surface, the less wettability the surface. As the roughness decreases, the wettability gradually increases.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, an electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics of hydrogen production by electrolysis of water is shown, wherein the electrode plate 1 is divided into an oxygen electrode flow field plate and a hydrogen electrode flow field plate.

[0028] When the electrode plate 1 is an oxygen electrode flow field plate, inside the oxygen electrode flow field plate, the particle size / pore size distribution of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 along the water inlet of the flow channel 2 is from large to small, from dense to loose, and its surface wettability is gradually enhanced along the flow channel 2. The liquid phase is driven by the Laplace force of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer and flows from the electrode to the gas diffusion layer.

[0029] When the electrode plate 1 is a hydrogen electrode flow plate, in the hydrogen electrode flow field plate, the particle size / pore size distribution of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer 4 along the water inlet of the flow channel 2 increases from small to large, and from loose to dense, and its surface wettability gradually weakens along the flow channel 2. The liquid phase is driven by the Laplace force of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer and flows from the gas diffusion layer to the electrode.

[0030] The unevenness of the anode plate transporting water into the reaction gas and the "flooding" of the cathode plate seriously affect the efficiency and stability of hydrogen production. The unevenness of the anode plate transporting water into the reaction area will lead to reduced reaction efficiency and restrict the hydrogen yield. The cathode plate is prone to flooding, which directly affects the release of hydrogen and increases the complexity and energy consumption of the hydrogen production process. By improving the surface layout of the anode and cathode plates, water can be evenly transported to the reaction area, improving the reaction efficiency, and timely removing the water on the cathode plate to ensure smooth hydrogen release.

[0031] Through the above methods, the liquid phase can obtain the Laplace pressure difference driving force for directional transport, realize the passive regulation of the water-gas two-phase flow in the bipolar plate, improve the uniformity of liquid water distribution and enhance the diffusion of liquid water, and realize more efficient electrolytic hydrogen production. The above shows and describes the basic principles, main features and advantages of the utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that the utility model is not limited by the above embodiments. The above embodiments and descriptions only describe the principles of the utility model. The utility model will have various changes and improvements without departing from the spirit and scope of the utility model, and these changes and improvements fall within the scope of the utility model to be protected. The scope of protection required by the utility model is defined by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics of hydrogen production by electrolysis of water, characterized in that: It includes an electrode plate, a flow channel opened on the electrode plate, a hydrophobic layer and a three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer arranged on the surface of the flow channel from bottom to top. The roughness of the surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer gradually changes along the length direction of the flow channel, and the roughness of the surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer is gradiently distributed along the length direction of the flow channel.

2. The electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics of hydrogen production by water electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer is provided with gradually changing pores or particles along the length direction of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer.

3. The electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics of hydrogen production by electrolysis of water according to claim 2, characterized in that: The pore structure of the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer is a pore with a gradually changing particle size due to laser pulse energy ablation along the length direction of the flow channel.

4. The electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics of hydrogen production by electrolysis of water according to claim 2, characterized in that: The three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer is a particle size structure, and the three-dimensional bionic structure gradient layer adopts nanoparticles with different particle sizes to be sprayed one by one along the flow channel in a gradient manner.

5. The electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics of hydrogen production by electrolysis of water according to claim 1, characterized in that: There is at least one flow channel.

6. The electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics of hydrogen production by electrolysis of water according to claim 5, characterized in that: When there are at least two flow channels, the flow channels are opened in parallel on the electrode plate, and the flow channels are straight lines or curves.

7. The electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics of hydrogen production by water electrolysis according to claim 5, characterized in that: When there are at least two flow channels, the flow channels are arranged on the electrode plate in a cross-arrangement manner.

8. The electrode flow field plate structure based on gradient bionics of hydrogen production by electrolysis of water according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hydrophobic layer is formed by nano hydrophobic material coated on the surface of the flow channel.

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