Electrolysis device with voltage control system

Abstract

The utility model provides an electrolyzer with a voltage control system, a working electrolytic bath is arranged in the electrolyzer, the working electrolytic bath comprises a cathode chamber and an anode chamber which are separated by an ion exchange membrane, an anode catalyst layer is arranged in the anode chamber and close to the ion exchange membrane, and a voltage control system is arranged in the anode catalyst layer. A cathode catalyst layer is arranged at the position, close to the ion exchange membrane, in the cathode chamber, the working electrolytic cell anode and the working electrolytic cell cathode are externally connected with the positive electrode and the negative electrode of a power source, an auxiliary electrolytic cell is further arranged in the electrolysis device, the electrolysis device is further provided with an auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode and an auxiliary electrolytic cell anode, and the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode is connected with the working electrolytic cell cathode in parallel. The auxiliary electrolytic cell anode is connected with the working electrolytic cell anode in parallel, an auxiliary cathode switch is arranged on a parallel branch of the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode, and an auxiliary anode switch is arranged on a parallel branch of the auxiliary electrolytic cell anode. The utility model has the advantages that the influence of open-circuit voltage on the catalyst is eliminated, and the solubility of the catalyst material in the electrolytic bath is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of electrochemical devices, in particular to an electrolytic device with a voltage control system. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the technology of producing hydrogen by electrolyzing water using renewable energy has developed rapidly, especially the development of a number of highly efficient non-precious metal electrocatalysts for cathode hydrogen evolution reaction. However, in actual electrolyzer systems, many cheap metal-based hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts dissolve when immersed in electrolyte at open circuit voltage due to thermodynamic driving factors, which greatly reduces the application of cheap metal catalytic materials in electrolyzers. Utility Model Content

[0003] The utility model aims to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provides an electrolysis device with a voltage control system to eliminate the influence of open circuit voltage on the catalyst, reduce the solubility of the catalyst material in the electrolytic cell, and thus improve the stability of the catalyst material.

[0004] In order to achieve the above purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] An electrolysis device with a voltage control system, wherein a working electrolytic cell is arranged inside the electrolysis device, the working electrolytic cell comprises a cathode chamber and an anode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane, an anode catalyst layer is arranged in the anode chamber near the ion exchange membrane, and a cathode catalyst layer is arranged in the cathode chamber near the ion exchange membrane. The electrolysis device is also provided with a working electrolytic cell cathode and a working electrolytic cell anode extending outwards, which are respectively connected to the cathode chamber and the anode chamber of the working electrolytic cell, and the working electrolytic cell anode and the working electrolytic cell cathode are connected to the positive and negative poles of an external power supply. The electrolysis device is also provided with an auxiliary electrolytic cell, and the electrolysis device is also provided with an auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode and an auxiliary electrolytic cell anode extending outwards and respectively connected to the auxiliary electrolytic cell, the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode is connected in parallel with the working electrolytic cell cathode, the auxiliary electrolytic cell anode is connected in parallel with the working electrolytic cell anode, and an auxiliary cathode switch is arranged on the parallel branch of the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode, and an auxiliary anode switch is arranged on the parallel branch of the auxiliary electrolytic cell anode.

[0006] As a preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned electrolysis device, the electrolysis device includes a cathode end plate, a first sealing gasket, carbon paper, an ion exchange membrane, a titanium fiber plate, a second sealing gasket and an anode end plate which are pressed and assembled in sequence, an electrolyte tank is provided on the side of the anode end plate facing the second sealing gasket, an anode slot connected to the electrolyte tank is opened in the center of the second sealing gasket, the electrolyte tank of the anode end plate, the anode slot of the second sealing gasket and the area between the ion exchange membrane together form an anode chamber, the titanium fiber plate is located in the anode chamber and an anode catalyst layer is provided on the side facing the ion exchange membrane, and the anode of the working electrolytic cell is arranged on the anode end plate; the cathode end plate is provided with a groove on the side facing the first sealing gasket, a cathode slot connected to the groove is opened in the center of the first sealing gasket, the groove of the cathode end plate, the cathode slot of the first sealing gasket and the area between the ion exchange membrane together form a cathode chamber, the carbon paper is located in the cathode chamber and a cathode catalyst layer is provided on the side facing the ion exchange membrane, and the cathode of the working electrolytic cell is arranged on the cathode end plate.

[0007] As a preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned electrolysis device, the auxiliary electrolytic cell is arranged inside the cathode end plate, the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode and the auxiliary electrolytic cell anode are arranged on the cathode end plate, and the cathode end plate is also provided with an auxiliary electrolytic cell water inlet and an auxiliary electrolytic cell water outlet respectively connected to the two ends of the auxiliary electrolytic cell, the auxiliary electrolytic cell water inlet is connected to the auxiliary electrolytic water tank through an auxiliary water pump, and the auxiliary electrolytic cell water outlet is connected to the return water outlet of the auxiliary electrolytic water tank.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned electrolysis device, a working electrolytic cell water inlet and a working electrolytic cell water outlet respectively connected to the two ends of the electrolyte tank are provided on the anode end plate, the working electrolytic cell water inlet and the working electrolytic cell water outlet are respectively connected to the water outlet and the return port of the working electrolytic water tank through water pipes, and a working water pump is provided on the water pipe connecting the working electrolytic cell water inlet and the working electrolytic water tank.

[0009] As a preferred solution of the above electrolysis device, a cathode gas outlet communicating with the groove is provided on the cathode end plate.

[0010] As a preferred solution of the above electrolysis device, the various components of the electrolysis device are press-fitted and assembled by means of screw connections.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the utility model are embodied in:

[0012] 1. The utility model provides an electrolysis device with a voltage control system. By arranging an auxiliary electrolytic cell in the electrolysis device, and connecting the anode and cathode of the auxiliary electrolytic cell in parallel with the anode and cathode of the working electrolytic cell respectively, and connecting the positive and negative electrodes of the power supply together, the voltage of the catalyst in the working electrolytic cell when it is powered on for electrolysis can be controlled, thereby avoiding the rapid dissolution of the catalyst when it experiences an open circuit voltage, so that the loss of the catalyst during the electrolysis process can be controlled within the range specified by the process.

[0013] 2. The utility model provides an electrolysis device with a voltage control system, which installs various components together by means of compression assembly to form the cathode chamber and anode chamber of a working electrolytic cell, and has a simple and compact structural layout; the hydrophobicity and air permeability of carbon paper and titanium fiber board are utilized to ensure that the surface of the ion exchange membrane is continuously covered with water, and the generated gas can be discharged from the carbon paper and titanium fiber board in time; and the carbon paper and titanium fiber board are used as carriers of the cathode and anode catalysts, respectively, and are located on both sides of the ion exchange membrane, respectively, so as to facilitate the lead-out wires of the cathode and anode catalysts while ensuring that a uniform electric field is formed on both sides of the ion exchange membrane to ensure the stable electrolysis reaction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional exploded view of the utility model.

[0015] Figure 2 It is a partial cross-sectional view of the cathode end plate of the utility model.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a circuit diagram of the voltage control system of the utility model.

[0017] In the figure, 1 is the cathode of the working electrolytic cell; 2 is the anode of the working electrolytic cell; 3 is the electrochemical workstation; 4 is the auxiliary electrolytic cell; 5 is the cathode of the auxiliary electrolytic cell; 6 is the anode of the auxiliary electrolytic cell; 7 is the auxiliary cathode switch; 8 is the auxiliary anode switch; 9 is the cathode end plate; 10 is the first sealing gasket; 11 is the carbon paper; 12 is the ion exchange membrane; 13 is the titanium fiber plate; 14 is the second sealing gasket; 15 is the anode end plate; 16 is the electrolyte tank; 17 is the anode slot; 18 is the cathode gas outlet; 19 is the cathode slot; 20 is the auxiliary electrolytic cell water inlet; 21 is the auxiliary electrolytic cell water outlet; 22 is the working electrolytic cell water inlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the utility model clearer, the technical solution in the embodiments of the utility model will be clearly and completely described below in combination with the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0019] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3The present embodiment provides an electrolysis device with a voltage control system, wherein a working electrolytic cell is arranged inside the electrolysis device, and the working electrolytic cell comprises a cathode chamber and an anode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane 12, wherein an anode catalyst layer is arranged in the anode chamber near the ion exchange membrane 12, and a cathode catalyst layer is arranged in the cathode chamber near the ion exchange membrane 12, and the electrolysis device is also provided with a working electrolytic cell cathode 1 and a working electrolytic cell anode 2 extending outward, which are respectively connected to the cathode chamber and the anode chamber of the working electrolytic cell, and the working electrolytic cell anode 2 and the working electrolytic cell cathode 1 are connected to the positive and negative poles of an external power supply, wherein the power supply comes from an electrochemical workstation 3. The electrolysis device is also provided with an auxiliary electrolytic cell 4, and is also provided with an auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode 5 and an auxiliary electrolytic cell anode 6 extending outward and respectively connected to the auxiliary electrolytic cell 4, the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode 5 is connected in parallel with the working electrolytic cell cathode 1, the auxiliary electrolytic cell anode 6 is connected in parallel with the working electrolytic cell anode 2, and an auxiliary cathode switch 7 is provided on the parallel branch of the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode 5, and an auxiliary anode switch 8 is provided on the parallel branch of the auxiliary electrolytic cell anode 6. The voltage control system is composed of the working electrolytic cell cathode 1, the working electrolytic cell cathode 1, the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode 5, the auxiliary electrolytic cell anode 6, the auxiliary cathode switch 7, the auxiliary anode switch 8, the electrochemical workstation 3 and a number of conductors.

[0020] The electrolysis device includes a cathode end plate 9, a first sealing gasket 10, a carbon paper 11, an ion exchange membrane 12, a titanium fiber plate 13, a second sealing gasket 14 and an anode end plate 15 which are pressed and assembled in sequence. An electrolyte tank 16 is provided on the side of the anode end plate 15 facing the second sealing gasket 14. The various components of the electrolysis device are pressed and assembled by means of screw connections. An anode slot 17 connected to the electrolyte tank 16 is formed in the center of the second sealing gasket 14. The electrolyte tank 16 of the anode end plate 15, the anode slot 17 of the second sealing gasket 14 and the area between the anode end plate 15 and the ion exchange membrane 12 together form an anode chamber. The titanium fiber plate 13 is located in the anode chamber and is provided with an anode catalyst layer on the side facing the ion exchange membrane 12. The working electrolytic cell anode 2 is arranged on the anode end plate 15; the cathode end plate 9 is provided with a groove on the side facing the first sealing gasket 10, and a cathode gas outlet 18 connected to the groove is formed on the cathode end plate 9. A cathode slot 19 connected to the groove is formed in the center of the first sealing gasket 10. The groove of the cathode end plate 9, the cathode slot 19 of the first sealing gasket 10 and the area between the ion exchange membrane 12 together form a cathode chamber. The carbon paper 11 is located in the cathode chamber and is provided with a cathode catalyst layer on the side facing the ion exchange membrane 12. The working electrolytic cell cathode 1 is arranged on the cathode end plate 9.

[0021] The auxiliary electrolytic cell 4 is arranged inside the cathode end plate 9, the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode 5 and the auxiliary electrolytic cell anode 6 are arranged on the cathode end plate 9, and the cathode end plate 9 is also provided with an auxiliary electrolytic cell water inlet 20 and an auxiliary electrolytic cell water outlet 21 respectively connected to the two ends of the auxiliary electrolytic cell 4, the auxiliary electrolytic cell water inlet 20 is connected to the auxiliary electrolytic water tank through an auxiliary water pump, and the auxiliary electrolytic cell water outlet 21 is connected to the return water port of the auxiliary electrolytic water tank.

[0022] A working electrolytic cell water inlet 22 and a working electrolytic cell water outlet are provided on the anode end plate 15, which are respectively connected to the two ends of the electrolyte tank 16. The working electrolytic cell water inlet 22 and the working electrolytic cell water outlet are respectively connected to the water outlet and the return port of the working electrolytic water tank through water pipes, and a working water pump is provided on the water pipe connecting the working electrolytic cell water inlet 22 and the working electrolytic water tank.

[0023] Among them, the working electrolytic water tank and the auxiliary electrolytic water tank are both constant temperature water tanks.

[0024] At the reaction end of the cathode 1 of the working electrolytic cell, the generated hydrogen bubbles are collected and discharged through the cathode outlet 18 provided on the cathode end plate 9, so as to prevent the generated hydrogen bubbles from gathering too quickly in the groove and becoming large bubbles, thereby hindering the contact between the cathode 1 of the working electrolytic cell and the cathode end plate 9. At the reaction end of the anode 2 of the working electrolytic cell, the working electrolyte flows into the electrolyte tank 16 from the working electrolytic cell water inlet 22 of the anode end plate 15, and the water and the generated gas in the subsequent reaction process are discharged from the working electrolytic cell water outlet, thereby preventing the generated oxygen bubbles from gathering too quickly in the electrolyte tank 16 and becoming large bubbles, thereby hindering the contact between the anode 2 of the working electrolytic cell and the anode end plate 15.

[0025] During operation, the anode and cathode of the electrolysis device are connected to the electrochemical workstation 3. The auxiliary electrolytic water tank is started so that the auxiliary electrolyte in the auxiliary electrolytic water tank reaches the set stability, and then the auxiliary water pump is turned on to fill the water in the auxiliary electrolytic water tank into the auxiliary electrolytic cell 4. The auxiliary cathode switch 7 and the auxiliary anode switch 8 remain in the on state. At this time, the working electrolyte is not introduced into the working electrolytic cell. When the electrochemical workstation 3 is started, the circuit of the auxiliary electrolytic cell 4 is connected, and the circuit of the working electrolytic cell is disconnected. When the access voltage reaches the set voltage, the electrolytic water tank and the working water pump are started again, and the working electrolyte is introduced into the working electrolytic cell, and the circuit of the working electrolytic cell is connected. After the working electrolyte is introduced into the working electrolytic cell, the auxiliary electrolytic cell still needs to be connected for a few minutes for buffering, and then the auxiliary cathode switch 7 and the auxiliary anode switch 8 are disconnected. At this time, the cathode and anode catalyst layers of the working electrolytic cell are immersed in the electrolyte at the set voltage, which avoids the rapid dissolution of the catalyst when experiencing the open circuit voltage, and effectively reduces the loss of the catalyst. Afterwards, a uniform electric field is formed on both sides of the ion exchange membrane 12, ensuring the stable progress of the electrolysis reaction.

[0026] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrolysis device with a voltage control system, wherein a working electrolytic cell is arranged inside the electrolysis device, the working electrolytic cell comprises a cathode chamber and an anode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane, an anode catalyst layer is arranged in the anode chamber near the ion exchange membrane, and a cathode catalyst layer is arranged in the cathode chamber near the ion exchange membrane, the electrolysis device is also provided with a working electrolytic cell cathode and a working electrolytic cell anode extending outward, which are respectively connected to the cathode chamber and the anode chamber of the working electrolytic cell, and the working electrolytic cell anode and the working electrolytic cell cathode are connected to the positive and negative poles of an external power supply, characterized in that: The electrolysis device is also provided with an auxiliary electrolytic cell, and is also provided with an auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode and an auxiliary electrolytic cell anode extending outward and respectively connected to the auxiliary electrolytic cell, the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode is connected in parallel with the working electrolytic cell cathode, the auxiliary electrolytic cell anode is connected in parallel with the working electrolytic cell anode, and an auxiliary cathode switch is provided on the parallel branch of the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode, and an auxiliary anode switch is provided on the parallel branch of the auxiliary electrolytic cell anode.

2. An electrolysis device with a voltage control system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The electrolysis device includes a cathode end plate, a first sealing gasket, carbon paper, an ion exchange membrane, a titanium fiber plate, a second sealing gasket and an anode end plate which are pressed and assembled in sequence. An electrolyte tank is provided on the side of the anode end plate facing the second sealing gasket, an anode slot connected to the electrolyte tank is opened in the center of the second sealing gasket, the electrolyte tank of the anode end plate, the anode slot of the second sealing gasket and the area between the ion exchange membrane together form an anode chamber, the titanium fiber plate is located in the anode chamber and an anode catalyst layer is provided on the side facing the ion exchange membrane, and the anode of the working electrolytic cell is arranged on the anode end plate; a groove is provided on the side of the cathode end plate facing the first sealing gasket, a cathode slot connected to the groove is opened in the center of the first sealing gasket, the groove of the cathode end plate, the cathode slot of the first sealing gasket and the area between the ion exchange membrane together form a cathode chamber, the carbon paper is located in the cathode chamber and a cathode catalyst layer is provided on the side facing the ion exchange membrane, and the cathode of the working electrolytic cell is arranged on the cathode end plate.

3. An electrolysis device with a voltage control system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The auxiliary electrolytic cell is arranged inside the cathode end plate, the auxiliary electrolytic cell cathode and the auxiliary electrolytic cell anode are arranged on the cathode end plate, and the cathode end plate is also provided with an auxiliary electrolytic cell water inlet and an auxiliary electrolytic cell water outlet respectively connected to the two ends of the auxiliary electrolytic cell, the auxiliary electrolytic cell water inlet is connected to the auxiliary electrolytic water tank through an auxiliary water pump, and the auxiliary electrolytic cell water outlet is connected to the return water port of the auxiliary electrolytic water tank.

4. An electrolysis device with a voltage control system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The anode end plate is provided with a working electrolytic cell water inlet and a working electrolytic cell water outlet respectively connected to the two ends of the electrolyte tank. The working electrolytic cell water inlet and the working electrolytic cell water outlet are respectively connected to the water outlet and the return port of the working electrolytic water tank through water pipes, and a working water pump is provided on the water pipe connecting the working electrolytic cell water inlet and the working electrolytic water tank.

5. An electrolysis device with a voltage control system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The cathode end plate is provided with a cathode gas outlet which is communicated with the groove.

6. An electrolysis device with a voltage control system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The various components of the electrolysis device are assembled by compression through screw connection.

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