Liquid flow frame and electric pile

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of flow batteries, in particular to a flow frame and a galvanic pile, which comprise a plate body, a rectangular through hole for accommodating a positive electrode or a negative electrode is arranged in the middle of the plate body, and electrolyte flow channels are respectively arranged on the upper side and the lower side of the rectangular through hole on the plate surface on one side of the plate body. The electrolyte flow channel is used for communicating the rectangular through hole with the side edge of the plate body, and an assembling groove for containing a bipolar plate or a diaphragm is formed in the plate surface of the other side of the plate body; by arranging the assembling groove, the bipolar plate or the diaphragm is embedded in the liquid flow frame, and the diaphragm and the bipolar plate do not need to be as large as the liquid flow frame, so that the use of materials of the diaphragm and the bipolar plate is reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the liquid flow battery is reduced; meanwhile, the bipolar plates or the diaphragms and the liquid flow frames are integrally arranged, and the liquid flow frames are fixed only by using glue, so that the processing technical difficulty is low, and the processing time is effectively shortened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of flow batteries, and specifically relates to a flow frame and an electric stack. Background Art

[0002] A flow battery is a new type of storage battery based on electrochemical energy storage technology, which consists of an electric stack unit, an electrolyte, an electrolyte storage tank, etc.; among them, the electric stack unit is the core component of the flow battery, and the core component in the electric stack unit is the flow frame. The flow frame is the necessary flow domain for introducing the electrolyte into multiple electrodes. Therefore, the design of the flow channels in the flow frame is very important.

[0003] In the prior art, there is a side-inlet flow battery structure with the application number 202410948212.6, which includes a flow frame, a bipolar plate, a current collector plate, a cover plate, and an end plate that are sequentially laid on both sides from the center diaphragm. The two end plates located on the outermost side are connected by bolts to fasten the inner structure; the electric stack structure of the liquid battery with the application number 202410949866.0 has flow frames and bipolar plates symmetrically arranged on both sides with the diaphragm as the center; the prior art has the following disadvantages in the manufacturing process: 1. To ensure the overall assembly firmness of the point pair, both the diaphragm and the bipolar plate need to be the same size as the flow frame, wasting raw materials and increasing the manufacturing cost of the flow battery; 2. The diaphragm, bipolar plate, and flow frame are made of different materials, and only the welding process can be used to weld and fix the diaphragm and bipolar plate to the flow frames on both sides. The welding operation has a high technical difficulty, increasing the processing technical difficulty and processing time. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] Aiming at the deficiencies of the prior art, the purpose of the present utility model is to provide a flow frame and an electric stack that can not affect the performance of the flow battery, are easy to assemble, and can effectively reduce the manufacturing cost of the flow battery.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present utility model to solve its technical problems is:

[0006] A flow frame includes a plate body. A rectangular through hole for accommodating a positive electrode or a negative electrode is provided in the middle of the plate body. On one side of the plate body, an electrolyte flow channel is provided on each of the upper and lower sides of the rectangular through hole. The electrolyte flow channel is used to connect the rectangular through hole and the side of the plate body. An assembly groove for placing a bipolar plate or a diaphragm is provided on the other side of the plate body.

[0007] The present utility model adopting the above technical solution, compared with the prior art, has the following prominent features:

[0008] By setting the assembly groove, the bipolar plate or the diaphragm is embedded in the flow frame. The diaphragm and the bipolar plate do not need to be the same size as the flow frame, reducing the material usage of the diaphragm and the bipolar plate and lowering the manufacturing cost of the flow battery. At the same time, the bipolar plate or the diaphragm and the flow frame are integrally arranged, and only adhesive fixation is required between the flow frames, with low processing technical difficulty and effectively reducing the processing time.

[0009] As a preference, a further technical solution of the present utility model is:

[0010] Preferably, the assembly groove is of a rectangular structure and can completely cover the rectangular through-hole and the two electrolyte flow channels in the width direction and can completely cover the rectangular through-hole in the length direction.

[0011] Preferably, the distance between the upper and lower sides of the assembly groove and the nearest parallel side on the electrolyte flow channel and the distance between the left and right sides of the assembly groove and the nearest parallel side on the rectangular through-hole are 10 mm to 15 mm, facilitating the welding and fixation of the diaphragm or the bipolar plate to the flow frame and maximizing the avoidance of damage to the electrolyte flow channel or the electrodes in the rectangular through-hole during the welding operation.

[0012] Preferably, the sides of the two electrolyte flow channels communicating with the side of the plate body are arranged on the same side. Since only one kind of electrolyte (positive or negative electrolyte) enters and exits one plate body, the same-side arrangement of the communication sides can avoid the problem that when the connector is not firmly sealed and the electrolyte overflows, the positive and negative electrolytes on the two plate bodies are mixed and cross-contaminated, resulting in battery failure or battery self-discharge.

[0013] Preferably, a plurality of flow guiding blocks are linearly and spacedly arranged on the side of the electrolyte flow channel communicating with the rectangular through-hole, and a plurality of sub-flow channels communicating the electrolyte flow channel and the rectangular through-hole are formed between the plurality of flow guiding blocks, facilitating the improvement of the uniformity of the electrolyte entering and exiting the porous electrode, thereby improving the uniformity of the current density inside the battery and the reliability of the battery operation.

[0014] Preferably, the upper surface of the flow guiding block is flush with the surface of the plate body, enabling the flow guiding block to play a certain supporting role for the adjacent flow frame and preventing the collapse of the electrolyte flow channel caused by uneven electrolyte flow rates in the flow frames on both sides of the diaphragm after the stack is assembled.

[0015] Preferably, the distance between the plurality of flow guiding blocks satisfies that the distance from the side of the electrolyte flow channel communicating with the side of the plate body to the opposite side is an increasing arithmetic progression. Since the electrolyte flow rate is faster on the side closer to the liquid inlet than on the side farther from the liquid inlet in the electrolyte flow channel, the distance between the flow guiding blocks is smaller on the side closer to the liquid inlet and larger on the side farther from the liquid inlet, thereby being able to balance the amount of electrolyte entering the porous electrode from each sub-flow channel per unit time.

[0016] Preferably, a through groove is provided on the side edge of the plate body at the electrolyte flow channel, and a through groove is also provided at the relative position of the opposite side of the side of the plate body where the through groove is provided; after the stack is integrally encapsulated, the through grooves on each flow frame together form an installation groove for installing a connector.

[0017] A stack includes flow frames. A positive electrode or a negative electrode is arranged in the rectangular through hole of the flow frame, and a bipolar plate or a diaphragm is arranged in the assembly groove; the flow frames are bonded together by gluing; compared with welding the bipolar plate or the diaphragm to both side flow frames, only welding to one side of one flow frame has lower technical difficulty and faster assembly efficiency. Description of the Drawings

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the flow frame in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 is a schematic rear view structural diagram of the flow frame in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram when the flow frame in the embodiment of the present invention is assembled with the electrode and the diaphragm;

[0021] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of the other side when the flow frame in the embodiment of the present invention is assembled with the electrode and the diaphragm;

[0022] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the distribution of the flow frame, positive electrode, diaphragm, bipolar plate, and negative electrode inside the stack in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 is an exploded structural diagram of the stack in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a connector in the prior art;

[0025] Figure 8 is another schematic structural diagram of a connector in the prior art.

[0026] Description of the reference numerals: 1. Plate body; 2. Rectangular through hole; 3. Electrolyte flow channel; 4. Flow guiding block; 5. Through groove; 6. Assembly groove; 7. Electrode; 701. Negative electrode; 702. Positive electrode; 8. Diaphragm; 9. Bipolar plate; 10. End plate; 11. Cover plate; 12. Current collecting plate; 13. Connector; 1301. Groove; 1302. Liquid distribution pipe. Detailed Embodiments

[0027] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments. The purpose is only to better understand the content of the present invention. Therefore, the examples given do not limit the protection scope of the present invention.

[0028] As Figure 1 to Figure 4 shown, this embodiment provides a liquid flow frame, including a plate body 1. A rectangular through-hole 2 for accommodating a positive electrode 702 or a negative electrode 701 is provided in the middle of the plate body 1. On one side surface of the plate body 1, an electrolyte flow channel 3 is provided on each of the upper and lower sides of the rectangular through-hole 2. The electrolyte flow channel 3 is used to connect the rectangular through-hole 2 and the side of the plate body 1. An assembly groove 6 for placing a bipolar plate 9 or a separator 8 is provided on the other side surface of the plate body 1; wherein, the assembly groove 6 is of a rectangular structure and can completely cover the rectangular through-hole 2 and the two electrolyte flow channels 3 in the width direction and can completely cover the rectangular through-hole 2 in the length direction, so that after the overall assembly of the stack, the bipolar plate 9 can realize the series connection and separation of multiple single cells and the conduction of the current generated in the battery, and the separator 8 can effectively realize the ion exchange in the single cell.

[0029] Specifically, the distance between the upper and lower sides of the assembly groove 6 and the nearest parallel side on the electrolyte flow channel 3, and the distance between the left and right sides of the assembly groove 6 and the nearest parallel side on the rectangular through-hole 2 are 10 mm to 15 mm; so as to facilitate welding and fixing the separator 8 or the bipolar plate 9 in the assembly groove 6 of the liquid flow frame.

[0030] The two electrolyte flow channels 3 are arranged on the same side where they are connected to the side of the plate body 1; after the stack is assembled, the inlet and outlet of the positive electrolyte are on one side of the stack, and the inlet and outlet of the negative electrolyte are on the other side of the stack, avoiding the problem that the stack and the connector 13 are not firmly sealed, and the positive and negative electrolytes are mixed and cross-contaminated, resulting in battery failure or battery self-discharge.

[0031] As Figure 1 shown, a plurality of flow guiding blocks 4 are linearly and spaced on the side of the electrolyte flow channel 3 connected to the rectangular through-hole 2. A plurality of sub-liquid flow channels connecting the electrolyte flow channel 3 and the rectangular through-hole 2 are formed between the plurality of flow guiding blocks 4; the upper surface of the flow guiding block 4 is flush with the surface of the plate body 1; by providing the flow guiding blocks 4, the uniformity of the electrolyte entering and leaving the porous electrode 7 is improved. At the same time, during the assembly of the stack, the flow guiding blocks 4 play a supporting role for the adjacent liquid flow frame on the side, preventing the electrolyte flow channel 3 from being collapsed due to uneven electrolyte flow rates in the liquid flow frames on both sides of the separator 8 after the stack is assembled.

[0032] Since the electrolyte flow rate is relatively fast on the side of one electrolyte flow channel 3 as the inlet liquid flow channel close to the side where the electrolyte flow channel 3 is connected to the plate body 1 (i.e., the inlet side), when designing the spacing between the flow guiding blocks 4, the spacing between the plurality of flow guiding blocks 4 satisfies that the spacing from the side where the electrolyte flow channel 3 is connected to the side of the plate body 1 to the opposite side is an increasing arithmetic progression; making the electrolyte distribution more uniform when the sub-liquid flow channels distribute the electrolyte to the electrode 7.

[0033] A through groove 5 is provided on the side edge of the plate body 1 at the electrolyte flow channel 3, and a through groove 5 is also provided at the relative position of the opposite side of the side edge of the plate body 1 where the through groove 5 is provided; after the stack is integrally encapsulated, the through grooves 5 on each liquid flow frame together form an installation groove for installing the connector 13; the setting of the through groove 5 facilitates the connection of the connector 13 to realize the inflow and outflow of the electrolyte; the connector 13 is as Figure 7 , Figure 8 shown, including a connecting plate adapted to the installation groove, and grooves 1301 are provided corresponding to the liquid inlet and outlet of each single cell in the stack; a liquid distribution pipe 1302 is provided corresponding to each groove 1301 on the connecting plate, one end of the liquid distribution pipe 1302 is connected to the main pipeline, and the other end communicates with the groove 1301; the electrolyte flows into the liquid distribution pipe 1302 from the liquid inlet pipe in the main pipeline, flows into the groove 1301, and is distributed from the groove 1301 to the connection between the electrolyte flow channel 3 and the side edge of the plate body 1 on each single cell liquid flow frame, and then enters the electrolyte flow channel 3, and the same is true when discharging.

[0034] Figure 6 shown, the present invention also discloses a stack, including end plates 10 at both ends, and a cover plate 11, a current collector plate 12 and a plurality of battery packs are sequentially arranged from the outside to the inside between the two end plates 10, as Figure 5 shown, each battery pack is composed of a plurality of single cells, and each single cell includes two of the above-mentioned liquid flow frames; a negative electrode 701 is arranged in the rectangular through hole 2 of one liquid flow frame, and a separator 8 is arranged in the assembly groove 6, and a positive electrode 702 is arranged in the rectangular through hole 2 of the other liquid flow frame, and a bipolar plate 9 is arranged in the assembly groove 6; both the bipolar plate 9 and the separator 8 are fixed in the assembly groove 6 by welding and are integrated with the liquid flow frame, and all the liquid flow frames and between the liquid flow frames in the stack are bonded by glue; the single cells are separated by the bipolar plate 9.

[0035] Compared with the prior art (both sides of the bipolar plate 9 or the separator 8 are welded to the liquid flow frame), in the present invention, the bipolar plate 9 or the separator 8 is integrally connected to the liquid flow frame, and it is only necessary to glue between the liquid flow frames, effectively reducing the operation technical difficulty, and the stack structure is more convenient for assembly.

[0036] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present utility model that can be implemented, and do not limit the scope of the rights of the present utility model. Any equivalent changes made by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present utility model are included in the scope of the rights of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A liquid flow frame, comprising a plate body (1), a rectangular through hole (2) for accommodating a positive electrode (702) or a negative electrode (701) is provided in the middle of the plate body (1), and an electrolyte flow channel (3) is arranged on each of the upper and lower sides of the rectangular through hole (2) on one side surface of the plate body (1), and the electrolyte flow channel (3) is used for communicating the rectangular through hole (2) with the side edge of the plate body (1), and is characterized in that: On the other side surface of the plate body (1), there is an assembly groove (6) for holding the bipolar plate (9) or the separator (8).

2. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein: The assembly groove (6) is of a rectangular structure and can completely cover the rectangular through hole (2) and the two electrolyte flow channels (3) in the width direction and can completely cover the rectangular through hole (2) in the length direction.

3. The flow cell according to claim 2, characterized in that: The distances between the upper and lower side edges of the assembly groove (6) and the nearest side edges parallel thereto on the electrolyte flow channel (3), and the distances between the left and right side edges of the assembly groove (6) and the nearest side edges parallel thereto on the rectangular through hole (2) are 10 mm to 15 mm.

4. The flow cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two electrolyte flow channels (3) are arranged on the same side at the side where they communicate with the side edge of the plate body (1).

5. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein: On the side edge where the electrolyte flow channel (3) communicates with the rectangular through hole (2), a number of flow guiding blocks (4) are linearly arranged at intervals, and a number of sub-liquid flow channels for communicating the electrolyte flow channel (3) and the rectangular through hole (2) are formed between the number of flow guiding blocks (4).

6. The flow cell according to claim 5, wherein: The upper surface of the flow guiding block (4) is flush with the surface of the plate body (1).

7. The flow cell according to claim 5, characterized in that: The distances between the number of flow guiding blocks (4) satisfy that the distances from the side where the electrolyte flow channel (3) communicates with the side edge of the plate body (1) to the opposite side are an increasing arithmetic progression.

8. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein: On the side edge of the plate body (1) at the position of the electrolyte flow channel (3), a through groove (5) is opened, and a through groove (5) is also opened at the relative position of the opposite side edge of the plate body (1) where the through groove (5) is provided; after the overall packaging of the stack, the through grooves (5) on each liquid flow frame together form an installation groove for installing the connector (13).

9. A stack, characterized in that, It includes the liquid flow frame according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A positive electrode (702) or a negative electrode (701) is arranged in the rectangular through hole (2) of the liquid flow frame, and a bipolar plate (9) or a separator (8) is arranged in the assembly groove (6); the liquid flow frames are bonded to each other by adhesive.

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