PEM electric pile convenient for expansion and efficiency improvement
By setting up a middle plate in the PEM electrolytic cell, separating the electrolyte chambers to prevent oxygen from mixing with hydrogen, and increasing the preparation amount of hydrogen, the problem of low mixing and hydrogen production efficiency in the prior art is solved, and the output of high-purity hydrogen and hydrogen production efficiency is improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421976491.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-15
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-30
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-08-15
AI Technical Summary
The existing PEM electrolytic cell has a simple structure, which makes it easy to mix oxygen and hydrogen, and requires subsequent purification treatment, and the structural limitations cannot improve hydrogen production efficiency through the expansion structure.
By setting up different numbers of mid plates, the two electrolyte chambers in the anode current collector plate and the cathode current collector plate are separated to prevent oxygen from mixing with hydrogen, and the preparation amount of hydrogen is increased by increasing the mid plate.
High purity output of hydrogen is achieved, and the preparation amount of hydrogen is increased by increasing the medium plate, which solves the problem of low mixing and hydrogen production efficiency of oxygen and hydrogen in the prior art.
Smart Images
Figure CN222923261U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of electrolyzed water, in particular to a PEM stack which is convenient for expansion and efficiency improvement. Background Art
[0002] A PEM electrolyzer is a device that decomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen after being powered on. Generally, the PEM electrolyzers on the market at present are composed of an anode current collector plate, a cathode current collector plate, a membrane electrode and two upper and lower end plates. Two water flow channels are provided on both the upper end plate and the anode current collector plate, and hydrogen flow channels are provided on the upper end plate, the anode current collector plate, the cathode current collector plate and the membrane electrode. Water flows into the anode current collector plate from one water flow channel and undergoes an oxidation reaction with the anode current collector plate to generate oxygen, protons and electrons. After being blocked by the membrane electrode, the oxygen and water are discharged from the other water flow channel, while the protons pass through the membrane electrode and contact the electrons flowing to the cathode current collector plate to form hydrogen. The PEM electrolyzer with this structure has a simple structure. Since the anode and the cathode share an electrolyte chamber, it is easy to have a situation where oxygen and hydrogen are mixed, and subsequent purification treatment is required. Moreover, due to structural limitations, it is impossible to improve the hydrogen production efficiency by expanding the structure. Summary of the Utility Model
[0003] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a PEM stack which is convenient for expansion and efficiency improvement, which can improve the hydrogen production efficiency by setting different numbers of middle plates and prevent oxygen from mixing into hydrogen, thereby ensuring the purity of hydrogen.
[0004] To achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present utility model is as follows: A PEM stack facilitating expansion and efficiency improvement, comprising: an upper end plate and a lower end plate. Between the upper end plate and the lower end plate, an upper insulating plate, an anode current collector plate, a first membrane electrode, a middle plate, a second membrane electrode, a cathode current collector plate, and a lower insulating plate are sequentially arranged from top to bottom. On each plate except the lower end plate and the lower insulating plate, as well as on the first membrane electrode and the second membrane electrode, two water channels and two hydrogen channels are circumferentially arranged. A first sealing ring is arranged between the upper insulating plate and the upper end plate, and the first sealing ring seals and isolates the two water channels. A second sealing ring is arranged between the upper insulating plate and the anode current collector plate, and the second sealing ring seals and isolates the two hydrogen channels. A third sealing ring is arranged between the anode current collector plate and the first membrane electrode, and the third sealing ring seals and isolates the two hydrogen channels. On the lower end wall of the anode current collector plate, a first electrolyte chamber communicating with the two water channels is arranged, and in the first electrolyte chamber, a first sintered mesh composite felt in contact with the first membrane electrode is arranged. A fourth sealing ring is arranged between the first membrane electrode and the middle plate, and the fourth sealing ring seals and isolates the two water channels. On the upper end wall of the middle plate, a second electrolyte chamber communicating with the two hydrogen channels is arranged, and in the second electrolyte chamber, a second sintered mesh composite felt in contact with the first membrane electrode is arranged. A fifth sealing ring is arranged between the middle plate and the second membrane electrode, and the fifth sealing ring seals and isolates the two hydrogen channels. On the lower end wall of the middle plate, a third electrolyte chamber communicating with the two water channels is arranged, and in the third electrolyte chamber, a third sintered mesh composite felt in contact with the second membrane electrode is arranged. A sixth sealing ring is arranged between the second membrane electrode and the cathode current collector plate, and the sixth sealing ring seals and isolates the two water channels. On the upper end wall of the cathode current collector plate, a fourth electrolyte chamber communicating with the two hydrogen channels is arranged, and in the fourth electrolyte chamber, a fourth sintered mesh composite felt in contact with the second membrane electrode is arranged. A seventh sealing ring is arranged between the cathode current collector plate and the lower insulating plate.
[0005] Further, for the aforementioned PEM stack facilitating expansion and efficiency improvement, on the side wall of the anode current collector plate, an anode ear plate with an anode symbol extends outward. On the side wall of the cathode current collector plate, a cathode ear plate with a cathode symbol extends outward.
[0006] Further, for the aforementioned PEM stack facilitating expansion and efficiency improvement, on the side walls of the anode current collector plate, the middle plate, and the cathode current collector plate, electric measuring plates extend outward.
[0007] Further, for the aforementioned PEM stack facilitating expansion and efficiency improvement, a cathode identifier C is arranged on the upper end wall of the middle plate, and an anode identifier A is arranged on the lower end wall of the middle plate.
[0008] Further, for the aforementioned PEM stack facilitating expansion and efficiency improvement, the upper end plate, lower end plate, upper insulating plate, anode current collector plate, first membrane electrode, middle plate, second membrane electrode, cathode current collector plate, and lower insulating plate are all circular in shape. A flat base is extended outwardly on the side walls of the upper end plate and the lower end plate. Connecting through holes are evenly distributed in a circular pattern on the upper end plate, lower end plate, upper insulating plate, anode current collector plate, first membrane electrode, middle plate, second membrane electrode, cathode current collector plate, and lower insulating plate. A screw is passed through the aligned connecting through holes. The head of the screw abuts against the lower end plate, and the screw section of the screw extends upward beyond the upper end plate and is threadedly connected to a nut.
[0009] Further, for the aforementioned PEM stack facilitating expansion and efficiency improvement, an ABS isolation column is sleeved on the screw, and the ABS isolation column is in contact with the upper insulating plate, anode current collector plate, first membrane electrode, middle plate, second membrane electrode, cathode current collector plate, and lower insulating plate.
[0010] Further, for the aforementioned PEM stack facilitating expansion and efficiency improvement, two positioning holes are symmetrically arranged on the upper end plate, lower end plate, upper insulating plate, anode current collector plate, first membrane electrode, middle plate, second membrane electrode, cathode current collector plate, and lower insulating plate. A positioning rod is passed through the aligned positioning holes, and an insulating skin is coated on the positioning rod 15.
[0011] The advantages of the present utility model are as follows: The structure is simple. By providing the middle plate, the two electrolyte chambers in the anode current collector plate and the cathode current collector plate can be separated. This can not only prevent the mixing of oxygen and hydrogen, improve the purity of hydrogen, but also increase the production amount of hydrogen by setting different numbers of middle plates. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a PEM stack facilitating expansion and efficiency improvement according to the present utility model.
[0013] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a planar structural schematic diagram in the rotational cross-sectional direction of
[0014] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a planar structural schematic diagram in another rotational cross-sectional direction in
[0015] Figure 4 is Figure 1 an exploded structural schematic diagram of
[0016] Figure 5 is Figure 4 a structural schematic diagram when the lower end wall of the anode current collector plate in
[0017] Figure 6 is Figure 4Schematic diagram of the structure when the lower end wall of the medium plate faces upward. Detailed implementation manner
[0018] The technical solution of the present utility model will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.
[0019] As Figures 1 to 6As shown in the figure, a PEM stack that is convenient for expansion and efficiency improvement according to the present utility model includes: an upper end plate 1 and a lower end plate 2. Between the upper end plate 1 and the lower end plate 2, an upper insulating plate 3, an anode current collector plate 4, a first membrane electrode 5, a middle plate 6, a second membrane electrode 7, a cathode current collector plate 8, and a lower insulating plate 9 are sequentially arranged from top to bottom. On each plate except the lower end plate 2 and the lower insulating plate 9, as well as on the first membrane electrode 5 and the second membrane electrode 7, two water channels 11 and two hydrogen channels 12 are circumferentially arranged. The water channels 11 and the hydrogen channels 12 are evenly distributed along the circumference. One of the water channels 11 is the water inlet end, and the other water channel 11 is the water outlet end. The two water channels 11 are centrally symmetrically arranged. Both of the two hydrogen channels 12 are the gas outlet ends, and the two hydrogen channels 12 are also centrally symmetrically arranged. A first sealing ring 31 is arranged between the upper insulating plate 3 and the upper end plate 1, and the first sealing ring 31 seals and isolates the two water channels 11. A second sealing ring 41 is arranged between the upper insulating plate 3 and the anode current collector plate 4, and the second sealing ring 41 seals and isolates the two hydrogen channels 12. A third sealing ring 42 is arranged between the anode current collector plate 4 and the first membrane electrode 5, and the third sealing ring 42 seals and isolates the two hydrogen channels 12. On the lower end wall of the anode current collector plate 4, a first electrolyte chamber 43 connected to the two water channels 11 is arranged. In the first electrolyte chamber 43, a first sintered mesh composite felt 44 in contact with the first membrane electrode 5 is arranged. On the side wall of the anode current collector plate 4, an anode ear plate 45 with an anode composite is extended outward. A fourth sealing ring 61 is arranged between the first membrane electrode 5 and the middle plate 6, and the fourth sealing ring 61 seals and isolates the two water channels 11. On the upper end wall of the middle plate 6, a second electrolyte chamber 62 connected to the two hydrogen channels 12 is arranged. In the second electrolyte chamber 62, a second sintered mesh composite felt 63 in contact with the first membrane electrode 5 is arranged. The upper end wall of the middle plate 6 is the cathode surface, and a cathode mark C is arranged on the upper end wall of the middle plate 6. A fifth sealing ring 64 is arranged between the middle plate 6 and the second membrane electrode 7, and the fifth sealing ring 64 seals and isolates the two hydrogen channels 12. On the lower end wall of the middle plate 6, a third electrolyte chamber 65 connected to the two water channels 11 is arranged. In the third electrolyte chamber 65, a third sintered mesh composite felt 66 in contact with the second membrane electrode 7 is arranged. The lower end wall of the middle plate 6 is the anode surface, and an anode mark A is arranged on the lower end wall of the middle plate 6. A sixth sealing ring 81 is arranged between the second membrane electrode 7 and the cathode current collector plate 8, and the sixth sealing ring 81 seals and isolates the two water channels 11. On the upper end wall of the cathode current collector plate 8, a fourth electrolyte chamber 82 connected to the two hydrogen channels 12 is arranged. In the fourth electrolyte chamber 82, a fourth sintered mesh composite felt 83 in contact with the second membrane electrode 7 is arranged. On the side wall of the cathode current collector plate 8, a cathode ear plate 84 with a cathode symbol is extended outward. A seventh sealing ring 91 is arranged between the cathode current collector plate 8 and the lower insulating plate 9.
[0020] After the upper end plate 1, upper insulating plate 3, anode current collector plate 4, first membrane electrode 5, middle plate 6, second membrane electrode 7, cathode current collector plate 8, lower insulating plate 9 and lower end plate 2 are combined together in sequence, the anode ear plate 45 on the anode current collector plate 4 and the cathode ear plate 84 on the cathode current collector plate 8 are respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the power supply. Then, the water flow channel 11 serving as the water inlet end is connected to a water source, the water flow channel 11 serving as the water outlet end is connected to a discharge pipe, and both hydrogen flow channels 12 are connected to a hydrogen collection device. After water flows into the water flow channel 11 serving as the water inlet end, since the first sealing ring 31 seals the water flow channel 11 between the upper insulating plate 3 and the upper end plate 1, the water will continue to flow downward. When the water reaches between the upper insulating plate 3 and the anode current collector plate 4, since the second sealing ring 41 between the upper insulating plate 3 and the anode current collector plate 4 only seals the hydrogen flow channel 12 and does not seal the water flow channel 11, the water will flow into the second sealing ring 41 between the upper insulating plate 3 and the anode current collector plate 4 and react with the anode current collector plate 4 to generate oxygen, protons and electrons. The water, oxygen and protons enter the first electrolyte chamber 43 on the lower end wall of the anode current collector plate 4 through the water flow channel 11 on the anode current collector plate 4 and come into contact with the first sintered mesh composite felt 44 and the first membrane electrode 5. The first membrane electrode 5 blocks the oxygen and water, so that the oxygen and water can only be discharged outward through the water flow channel 11 serving as the water outlet end. The protons pass downward through the first membrane electrode 5, and the electrons generated by oxidation are transmitted to the second sintered mesh composite felt 63 through the upper end wall (i.e., the cathode surface) of the anode current collector plate 4 and the middle plate 6. The second sintered mesh composite felt 63 transmits the electrons to the first membrane electrode 5, so that the protons and electrons combine in the second electrolyte chamber 62 on the lower end wall of the middle plate 6 to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen cannot move upward through the first membrane electrode 5 and can only flow in the second electrolyte chamber 62, and then is discharged into the hydrogen collection device from the hydrogen flow channel 12 not blocked by the fourth sealing ring 61. Since the fourth sealing ring 61 seals the water flow channel between the middle plate 6 and the first membrane electrode 5, and the water and oxygen cannot pass through the first membrane electrode 5, the hydrogen generated in the middle plate 6 will not be mixed with oxygen and water, and the purity of the produced hydrogen can be ensured to be relatively high.
[0021] The excess water will continue to flow downward from the water flow channel 11 serving as the water inlet end. Since the fifth sealing ring 64 between the middle plate 6 and the second membrane electrode 7 only seals the two hydrogen flow channels 12 and does not seal the two water flow channels 11, the water will flow into the space between the middle plate 6 and the second membrane electrode 7. The water will undergo an oxidation reaction in the third electrolyte chamber 65 on the lower end wall (i.e., the anode surface) of the middle plate 6 to form oxygen, protons, and electrons. The oxygen and water are blocked by the second membrane electrode 7 and are discharged outward from the water flow channel 11 serving as the water outlet end. The protons pass downward through the second membrane electrode 7, and the electrons are transmitted through the middle plate 6 to the cathode current collector plate 8 and then through the fourth sintered mesh composite felt 83 to the second membrane electrode 7. The electrons and protons combine on the second membrane electrode 7 to generate hydrogen. The hydrogen flows in the fourth electrolyte chamber 82 of the cathode current collector plate 8. The sixth sealing ring 81 between the second membrane electrode 7 and the cathode current collector plate 8 only seals the two water flow channels 11 and does not seal the two hydrogen flow channels 12. Therefore, the hydrogen in the fourth electrolyte chamber 82 will be discharged from the two hydrogen flow channels 12 into the hydrogen collection device.
[0022] From the above working principle, it can be seen that by adding the middle plate 6, the two electrolyte chambers in the anode current collector plate 4 and the cathode current collector plate 8 can be separated, thereby improving the purity of hydrogen. Moreover, more middle plates 6 can be added to achieve multi-chamber electrolysis reactions, so as to increase the production amount of hydrogen. Since hydrogen will generate a certain pressure in the corresponding electrolyte chamber after production, each additional middle plate 6 can increase the hydrogen pressure value. When there are enough middle plates 6, the hydrogen pressure generated by the PEM stack for easy expansion and efficiency improvement described in the present invention is large enough to be automatically discharged into the hydrogen collection device without using additional power components. When installing the middle plate 6, the anode and cathode poles of the middle plate 6 can be distinguished according to the anode mark A and the cathode mark C on the upper and lower end walls of the middle plate 6. One is for convenient installation, and the other is to prevent the situation where the water flow channel 11 and the hydrogen flow channel 12 cannot be connected and are connected to the water flow channel 11 and the hydrogen flow channel 12 of other components, resulting in no gas outlet when the middle plate 6 is installed incorrectly. When installing the middle plate 6, it is also necessary to ensure that there are membrane electrodes between the middle plate 6 and the middle plate 6, between the middle plate 6 and the anode current collector plate 4, and between the middle plate 6 and the cathode current collector plate 8.
[0023] In this embodiment, the measuring plates 10 are all extended outward on the side walls of the anode current collector plate 4, the middle plate 6, and the cathode current collector plate 8. When a fault occurs, the voltmeter can be used to detect which plate has a fault by connecting it to the adjacent two measuring plates 10. For example, when there is no problem when the voltmeter is connected to the measuring plates 10 of the anode current collector plate 4 and the middle plate 6, it means that the anode current collector plate 4 and the middle plate 6 are okay. When a problem is found when the voltmeter is connected to the measuring plates 10 of the middle plate 6 and the cathode current collector plate 8, it means that the cathode current collector plate 8 has a problem and needs to be replaced. If there are many middle plates 6, the above method can be referred to for detection.
[0024] In this embodiment, the upper end plate 1, the lower end plate 2, the upper insulating plate 3, the anode current collector plate 4, the first membrane electrode 5, the middle plate 6, the second membrane electrode 7, the cathode current collector plate 8 and the lower insulating plate 9 are all circular in shape. Connecting through holes are evenly distributed in a circumferential manner on the upper end plate 1, the lower end plate 2, the upper insulating plate 3, the anode current collector plate 4, the first membrane electrode 5, the middle plate 6, the second membrane electrode 7, the cathode current collector plate 8 and the lower insulating plate 9. A screw rod 13 is inserted through the connecting through holes that are aligned vertically. The head of the screw rod 13 abuts against the lower end plate 2. The screw rod section of the screw rod 13 extends upward beyond the upper end plate 1 and is threadedly connected to a nut 131, which facilitates installation and expansion. Moreover, since the screw rods 13 are evenly distributed in a circumferential manner, the locking force generated by the screw rods 13 is also evenly distributed in a circumferential manner, so that the force around the screw rods 13 is more uniform, thus achieving a more stable locking effect. An ABS isolation column 14 is sleeved on the screw rod 13. The ABS isolation column 14 is in contact with the upper insulating plate 3, the anode current collector plate 4, the first membrane electrode 5, the middle plate 6, the second membrane electrode 7, the cathode current collector plate 8 and the lower insulating plate 9. The ABS isolation column 14 can prevent the screw rod 13 from conducting electricity and causing a short circuit. Flat bases are extended outward on the side walls of the upper end plate 1 and the lower end plate 2, which can level the entire PEM electrolytic cell when the screw rod 13 and the nut 131 are screwed, facilitating the screwing.
[0025] In this embodiment, two positioning holes are symmetrically arranged on the upper end plate 1, the lower end plate 2, the upper insulating plate 3, the anode current collector plate 4, the first membrane electrode 5, the middle plate 6, the second membrane electrode 7, the cathode current collector plate 8 and the lower insulating plate 9. A positioning rod 15 is inserted through the positioning holes that are aligned vertically. An insulating skin is coated on the positioning rod 15 to prevent a short circuit.
[0026] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: the specific implementation manners of the present invention can still be modified or equivalently replaced, and any modification or equivalent replacement without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention shall be covered by the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.
Claims
1. A PEM stack that is easy to expand and increase efficiency, comprising: The upper end plate and the lower end plate are characterized in that: an upper insulating plate, an anode current collecting plate, a first membrane electrode, a middle plate, a second membrane electrode, a cathode current collecting plate and a lower insulating plate are sequentially arranged between the upper end plate and the lower end plate from top to bottom; two water flow channels and two hydrogen flow channels are circumferentially arranged on the other plates except the lower end plate and the lower insulating plate and the first membrane electrode and the second membrane electrode; a first sealing ring is arranged between the upper insulating plate and the upper end plate, the first sealing ring seals and isolates the two water flow channels; a second sealing ring is arranged between the upper insulating plate and the anode current collecting plate, the second sealing ring seals and isolates the two hydrogen flow channels; a third sealing ring is arranged between the anode current collecting plate and the first membrane electrode, the third sealing ring seals and isolates the two hydrogen flow channels; a first electrolyte chamber connected to the two water flow channels is arranged on the lower end wall of the anode current collecting plate; a first sintered mesh composite felt in contact with the first membrane electrode is arranged in the first electrolyte chamber; a first electrolyte chamber is provided between the first membrane electrode and the middle plate; A fourth sealing ring is arranged between the two membrane electrodes, and the fourth sealing ring seals and isolates the two water flow channels. A second electrolyte chamber connected to the two hydrogen flow channels is arranged on the upper end wall of the middle plate, and a second sintered mesh composite felt in contact with the first membrane electrode is arranged in the second electrolyte chamber. A fifth sealing ring is arranged between the middle plate and the second membrane electrode, and the fifth sealing ring seals and isolates the two hydrogen flow channels. A third electrolyte chamber connected to the two water flow channels is arranged on the lower end wall of the middle plate, and a third sintered mesh composite felt in contact with the second membrane electrode is arranged in the third electrolyte chamber. A sixth sealing ring is arranged between the second membrane electrode and the cathode current collecting plate, and the sixth sealing ring seals and isolates the two water flow channels. A fourth electrolyte chamber connected to the two hydrogen flow channels is arranged on the upper end wall of the cathode current collecting plate, and a fourth sintered mesh composite felt in contact with the second membrane electrode is arranged in the fourth electrolyte chamber. A seventh sealing ring is arranged between the cathode current collecting plate and the lower insulating plate.
2. A PEM stack that is easy to expand and increase efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that: An anode ear plate with an anode symbol is extended outwardly from the side wall of the anode current collecting plate, and a cathode ear plate with a cathode symbol is extended outwardly from the side wall of the cathode current collecting plate.
3. A PEM stack that is easy to expand and increase efficiency according to claim 2, characterized in that: Electricity measuring plates are arranged on the side walls of the anode current collecting plate, the middle plate and the cathode current collecting plate, extending outwards.
4. A PEM stack that is easy to expand and increase efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that: A cathode mark C is arranged on the upper end wall of the middle plate, and an anode mark A is arranged on the lower end wall of the middle plate.
5. A PEM stack that is easy to expand and increase efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end plate, the lower end plate, the upper insulating plate, the anode current collecting plate, the first membrane electrode, the middle plate, the second membrane electrode, the cathode current collecting plate and the lower insulating plate are all circular in shape, and a flat base is extended outward on the side walls of the upper end plate and the lower end plate. The upper end plate, the lower end plate, the upper insulating plate, the anode current collecting plate, the first membrane electrode, the middle plate, the second membrane electrode, the cathode current collecting plate and the lower insulating plate are all circumferentially evenly provided with connecting through holes, and a screw is passed through between the upper and lower aligned connecting through holes, the head of the screw rests on the lower end plate, and the screw section of the screw extends upward from the upper end plate and is threadedly connected to the nut.
6. A PEM stack that is easy to expand and increase efficiency according to claim 5, characterized in that: An ABS isolation column is mounted on the screw rod, and the ABS isolation column is in contact with the upper insulating plate, the first membrane electrode of the anode current collecting plate, the middle plate, the second membrane electrode, the cathode current collecting plate and the lower insulating plate.
7. A PEM stack that is easy to expand and increase efficiency according to claim 5, characterized in that: Two positioning holes are symmetrically arranged on the upper end plate, the lower end plate, the upper insulating plate, the anode current collecting plate, the first membrane electrode, the middle plate, the second membrane electrode, the cathode current collecting plate and the lower insulating plate. A positioning rod is passed through between the upper and lower aligned positioning holes, and the positioning rod is covered with an insulating skin.