Bipolar plate, electrolytic bath and hydrogen production system

Abstract

According to the bipolar plate, the gasket grooves are formed in the two sides of the notch of the manifold, the manifold gaskets are arranged in the gasket grooves, and the thickness of the manifold gaskets is the same as the height of the gasket grooves. Therefore, the manifold gasket can effectively provide support for the sealing element, so that the sealing element can be prevented from being embedded into the manifold to block the manifold, meanwhile, the shearing force effect caused by extrusion on the sealing element is avoided, the abrasion of the sealing element is reduced, the service life of the sealing element is prolonged, the sealing reliability of the galvanic pile is improved, and the maintenance frequency is reduced. The economical efficiency of the hydrogen production system is greatly improved; in addition, on the face adjacent to the diaphragm, due to the fact that the flow speed of liquid / gas at the manifold is high, the effect of protecting the diaphragm can be achieved by arranging the manifold gasket.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of producing hydrogen by electrolyzing water, and in particular to a bipolar plate, an electrolyzer and a hydrogen production system. Background Art

[0002] Hydrogen production from renewable energy has shown great potential in solving human energy problems. Among them, alkaline water hydrogen electrolyzers, as key equipment for large-scale hydrogen production from renewable energy, play an important role in building a new energy system. However, with the vigorous development of the alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production industry, various problems and risks have gradually been exposed.

[0003] At present, alkaline water electrolyzer devices mostly adopt two forms: filter press type and independent unit cell type. This patent mainly discusses the filter press electrolyzer structure, which is mainly composed of an electrolytic cell stack and a filter press device, wherein the electrolytic cell stack is formed by stacking electrolytic units one by one and then cooperating with sealing elements to achieve the effect of overall sealing. After the electrolytic units are stacked, electrolytic chambers will be formed between each other, and the chambers are divided into cathode chambers and anode chambers by diaphragms. Alkali solution flows into the bottom of the chamber, and after the electrolysis reaction, hydrogen / oxygen is generated in the cathode / anode chambers, and then flows out from the top of the chamber.

[0004] The main body of the electrolysis unit is a bipolar plate, which has alkali solution flow holes that pass through the bipolar plate at the bottom to provide alkali solution to flow into the fuel cell, an alkali solution manifold that provides alkali solution to flow into the electrolysis chamber, a hydrogen manifold and an oxygen manifold that provide gas outflow, and hydrogen flow holes and oxygen flow holes that pass through the bipolar plate at the top to provide gas outflow from the fuel cell.

[0005] Usually, the manifolds in the above-mentioned bipolar plates are mostly milled and have a groove structure that is semi-open. As a result, the sealing elements of the filter press alkaline water electrolyzer are prone to being embedded in the manifold due to the extrusion force during use. The sealing elements embedded in the manifold will block the manifold, resulting in uneven gas and liquid flow rates in the manifold, and deteriorating the consistency of the flow field in the plate. In addition, the sealing elements are embedded in the manifold and are subject to shear force, which aggravates the mechanical wear of the sealing elements during the long-term operation of the electrolyzer, ultimately leading to the problem of accelerated attenuation of the life of the sealing gasket. Utility Model Content

[0006] The utility model aims to provide a bipolar plate to solve the technical problem in the prior art that the sealing element is embedded in the manifold, which easily leads to uneven gas and liquid flow rate in the tube and aggravated mechanical wear of the sealing element.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the present application provides a bipolar plate, the bipolar plate comprising:

[0008] A bipolar plate body, wherein one side of the bipolar plate body has an anode surface, and the other side opposite to the anode surface has a cathode surface;

[0009] The bipolar plate frame is fixedly arranged on the outer periphery of the bipolar plate body;

[0010] The flow channel holes are arranged through the bipolar plate frame along the thickness direction of the bipolar plate frame;

[0011] The manifold is located on the bipolar plate frame, one end leads to the flow channel holes, and the other end leads to the anode electrolysis chamber or the cathode electrolysis chamber;

[0012] The manifold gasket is located in the gasket groove, and the thickness of the manifold gasket is the same as the height of the gasket groove; the gasket groove is located on both sides of the notch of the manifold.

[0013] Optionally, the flow channel holes include but are not limited to: lye flow channel holes, oxygen flow channel holes, hydrogen flow channel holes; the manifold includes but is not limited to: lye manifold, oxygen manifold, hydrogen manifold; the manifold gasket includes but is not limited to: lye manifold gasket, oxygen manifold gasket, hydrogen manifold gasket; the gasket groove includes but is not limited to lye gasket groove, oxygen gasket groove, hydrogen gasket groove;

[0014] The lye flow channel holes are arranged through the lower part of the bipolar plate frame along the thickness direction of the bipolar plate frame;

[0015] The lye manifold is located on the bipolar plate frame, one end leads to the lye flow channel holes, and the other end leads to the anode electrolysis chamber or the cathode electrolysis chamber;

[0016] The lye manifold gasket is located in the lye gasket groove, and the thickness of the lye manifold gasket is the same as the height of the lye gasket groove; the lye gasket groove is located on both sides of the notch of the lye manifold;

[0017] The oxygen flow channel holes are arranged through the upper part of the bipolar plate frame along the thickness direction of the bipolar plate frame;

[0018] The oxygen manifold is located on the bipolar plate frame on the same side as the anode surface of the bipolar plate body, one end leads to the oxygen flow channel holes, and the other end leads to the anode electrolysis chamber;

[0019] The oxygen manifold gasket is located in the oxygen gasket groove, and the thickness of the oxygen manifold gasket is the same as the height of the oxygen gasket groove; the oxygen gasket groove is located on both sides of the notch of the oxygen manifold;

[0020] The hydrogen flow channel holes are arranged through the upper part of the bipolar plate frame along the thickness direction of the bipolar plate frame;

[0021] The hydrogen manifold is located on the bipolar plate frame on the same side as the cathode surface of the bipolar plate body, one end is connected to the hydrogen flow channel holes, and the other end is connected to the cathode electrolysis chamber;

[0022] The hydrogen manifold gasket is located within the hydrogen gasket groove, and the thickness of the hydrogen manifold gasket is the same as the height of the hydrogen gasket groove; the hydrogen gasket groove is located on both sides of the notch of the hydrogen manifold.

[0023] Optionally, one end of the manifold gasket does not extend beyond the connection between the manifold and the flow channel hole, and the other end does not extend beyond the connection between the manifold and the anodic electrolysis cell or the cathodic electrolysis cell.

[0024] Optionally, when the manifold gasket is located within the gasket groove, the gap between the outer edge of the manifold gasket and the inner wall of the gasket groove is 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0025] Optionally, the thickness range of the manifold gasket is 1 mm to 3 mm.

[0026] Optionally, the shape of the manifold gasket includes, but is not limited to, rectangle, circle, ellipse, and rounded rectangle.

[0027] Optionally, the manifold gasket matches the shape of the gasket groove.

[0028] Optionally, the connection method between the manifold gasket and the gasket groove includes, but is not limited to, welding, riveting, gluing, and bolt fixing.

[0029] On the other hand, the present application provides an electrolytic cell, which includes the bipolar plate described above.

[0030] On yet another hand, the present application provides a hydrogen production system, which includes the bipolar plate described above, or the electrolytic cell described above.

[0031] Compared with the prior art, the present application provides a bipolar plate. By providing gasket grooves on both sides of the notch of the manifold, and arranging a manifold gasket within the gasket grooves, and the thickness of the manifold gasket is the same as the height of the gasket groove. In this way, the manifold gasket can effectively provide support for the sealing element, thereby avoiding the sealing element from embedding into the manifold and blocking the manifold, and at the same time avoiding the shear force on the sealing element caused by extrusion, reducing the wear of the sealing element, prolonging the service life of the sealing element, further improving the reliability of the stack seal, reducing the maintenance frequency, and greatly improving the economy of the hydrogen production system; in addition, on the side adjacent to the diaphragm, since the liquid / gas flow rate at the manifold is relatively high, by arranging the manifold gasket, it can also play a role in protecting the diaphragm. Description of the Drawings

[0032] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a bipolar plate provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 2Schematic diagram of the enlarged structure at position A or position B in the bipolar plate;

[0034] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the enlarged cross-section at position A or position B in the bipolar plate;

[0035] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the enlarged structure at position C or position D in the bipolar plate;

[0036] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the enlarged cross-section at position C or position D in the bipolar plate;

[0037] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the structure of another bipolar plate provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 7 It is Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the structure at position A or position B in the bipolar plate shown in;

[0039] Figure 8 It is Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the structure at position C or position D in the bipolar plate shown in;

[0040] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the structure of a rectangular manifold gasket and gasket groove provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 10 Three-dimensional structure diagram of the bipolar plate without a manifold gasket provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 11 It is Figure 10 Three-dimensional structure diagram of position A shown in;

[0043] Figure 12 It is Figure 10 Three-dimensional structure diagram of position C shown in;

[0044] Figure 13 Three-dimensional structure diagram of the bipolar plate with a manifold gasket provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 14 It is Figure 13 Three-dimensional structure diagram of position A shown in;

[0046] Figure 15 It is Figure 13 Three-dimensional structure diagram of position C shown in.

[0047] Among them, the reference numerals are explained as follows:

[0048] 10 - Bipolar plate; 11 - Bipolar plate body; 12 - Pole frame; 13 - Flow channel hole; 131 - Lye flow channel hole; 132 - Oxygen flow channel hole; 133 - Hydrogen flow channel hole; 14 - Manifold; 141 - Lye manifold; 142 - Oxygen manifold; 143 - Hydrogen manifold; 15 - Manifold gasket; 151 - Lye manifold gasket; 152 - Oxygen manifold gasket; 153 - Hydrogen manifold gasket; 16 - Gasket groove; 161 - Lye gasket groove; 162 - Oxygen gasket groove; 163 - Hydrogen gasket groove. Detailed implementation manners

[0049] To make the objectives, advantages and features of the present utility model clearer, the following further describes in detail the method proposed by the present utility model with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are all in very simplified forms and use non-precise scales, only for conveniently and clearly assisting in explaining the objectives of the embodiments of the present utility model.

[0050] To facilitate the understanding of the present utility model, the following further describes the present utility model in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0051] It should be understood that when used in the description of the specification of the present application and the appended claims, the term "comprising" indicates the presence of the described features, wholes, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, components and / or their combinations.

[0052] It should also be understood that the term "and / or" used in the description of the specification of the present application and the appended claims refers to any combination and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, and includes these combinations.

[0053] In the description of the specification of the present application and the appended claims, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used for distinguishing descriptions and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0054] The reference to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" etc. described in the specification of the present application means that a specific feature, structure or characteristic described in combination with the embodiment is included in one or more embodiments of the present application. Thus, the statements "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments", "in other some embodiments", "in still other embodiments" etc. that appear in different places in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but mean "one or more but not all embodiments", unless otherwise specifically emphasized in other ways. The terms "comprising", "including", "having" and their variants all mean "including but not limited to", unless otherwise specifically emphasized in other ways.

[0055] As Figures 1 to 3 shown, whereinFigure 1 The structural schematic diagram of a bipolar plate provided by an embodiment of the present application Figure 2 The enlarged structural schematic diagram at position A or position B in the bipolar plate Figure 3 The enlarged cross-sectional schematic diagram at position A or position B in the bipolar plate Figure 4 The enlarged structural schematic diagram at position C or position D in the bipolar plate Figure 5 The enlarged cross-sectional schematic diagram at position C or position D in the bipolar plate. Among them, the manifolds at positions A and B lead to the cathode surface and the anode surface of the bipolar plate respectively, so the specific structures of the manifolds, manifold gaskets and gasket grooves at positions A and B are the same; similarly, the manifolds at positions C and D also lead to the cathode surface and the anode surface of the bipolar plate respectively, so the specific structures of the manifolds, manifold gaskets and gasket grooves at positions C and D are also the same.

[0056] The bipolar plate 10 includes a bipolar plate body 11, a pole frame 12, flow channel holes 13, manifolds 14, manifold gaskets 15 and gasket grooves 16.

[0057] Among them, one side of the bipolar plate body 11 has an anode surface, and the other side opposite to the anode surface has a cathode surface. The bipolar plate body can be a square structure or a circular structure, and no specific limitation is made.

[0058] The pole frame 12 is fixedly arranged on the outer periphery of the bipolar plate body 11.

[0059] The flow channel holes 13 can be arranged through the pole frame 12 along the thickness direction of the pole frame 12. Specifically, as Figures 6 to 8 shown, among which Figure 6 The structural schematic diagram of another bipolar plate provided by an embodiment of the present application Figure 7 is Figure 6 The structural schematic diagram of position A or position B in the bipolar plate shown in Figure 8 is Figure 6 The structural schematic diagram of position C or position D in the bipolar plate shown in

[0060] The flow channel holes 13 include but are not limited to: lye flow channel holes 131, oxygen flow channel holes 132, and hydrogen flow channel holes 133. Among them, the lye flow channel holes 132 can be arranged through the lower part of the pole frame 12 along the thickness direction of the pole frame 12; the oxygen flow channel holes 132 can be arranged through the upper part of the pole frame 12 along the thickness direction of the pole frame 12; the hydrogen flow channel holes 133 can be arranged through the upper part of the pole frame 12 along the thickness direction of the pole frame 12.

[0061] The manifold 14 is located on the bipolar plate frame 12. One end leads to the flow channel hole 13, and the other end leads to the anode electrolysis chamber or the cathode electrolysis chamber. Specifically, the manifold 14 includes but is not limited to: an alkali solution manifold 141, an oxygen manifold 142, and a hydrogen manifold 143. Among them, the alkali solution manifold 141 can be located on the bipolar plate frame 12. One end leads to the alkali solution flow channel hole 131, and the other end leads to the anode electrolysis chamber or the cathode electrolysis chamber; the oxygen manifold 142 can be located on the bipolar plate frame 12 on the same side as the anode surface of the bipolar plate body 11. One end leads to the oxygen flow channel hole 132, and the other end leads to the anode electrolysis chamber; the hydrogen manifold 143 can be located on the bipolar plate frame 12 on the same side as the cathode surface of the bipolar plate body 11. One end is connected to the hydrogen flow channel hole 133, and the other end is connected to the cathode electrolysis chamber.

[0062] The manifold gasket 15 can be located within the gasket groove 16, and the thickness of the manifold gasket 15 is the same as the height of the gasket groove 16. The gasket groove 16 can be located on both sides of the notch of the manifold 14 for accommodating the manifold gasket 15. Among them, the manifold gasket 15 includes but is not limited to: an alkali solution manifold gasket 151, an oxygen manifold gasket 152, and a hydrogen manifold gasket 153; the gasket groove 16 includes but is not limited to an alkali solution gasket groove 161, an oxygen gasket groove 162, and a hydrogen gasket groove 163. The alkali solution manifold gasket 151 can be located within the alkali solution gasket groove 161, and the thickness of the alkali solution manifold gasket 151 is the same as the height of the alkali solution gasket groove 161. The alkali solution gasket groove 161 can be located on both sides of the notch of the alkali solution manifold 141; the oxygen manifold gasket 152 can be located within the oxygen gasket groove 162, and the thickness of the oxygen manifold gasket 152 is the same as the height of the oxygen gasket groove 162. The oxygen gasket groove 162 can be located on both sides of the notch of the oxygen manifold 142; the hydrogen manifold gasket 153 can be located within the hydrogen gasket groove 163, and the thickness of the hydrogen manifold gasket 153 is the same as the height of the hydrogen gasket groove 163. The hydrogen gasket groove 163 is located on both sides of the notch of the hydrogen manifold 143.

[0063] It should be noted that the manifold 14 is generally machined on the bipolar plate frame 12 by a milling cutter. That is to say, the manifold 14 is generally a groove structure, and the cross-section of this groove structure is U-shaped. The notch of this manifold 14 refers to the opening position of the U-shape.

[0064] In this way, the manifold gasket can effectively provide support for the sealing element, and then can prevent the sealing element from being embedded in the manifold to block the manifold. At the same time, it avoids the shear force acting on the sealing element due to extrusion, reduces the wear of the sealing element, extends the service life of the sealing element, and further improves the reliability of the stack seal, reduces the maintenance frequency, and greatly improves the economy of the hydrogen production system; in addition, on the side adjacent to the diaphragm, since the liquid / gas flow rate at the manifold is relatively high, by setting the manifold gasket, it can also play a role in protecting the diaphragm.

[0065] Further, one end of the manifold gasket 15 shall not extend beyond the connection between the manifold 14 and the flow channel hole 13, and the other end shall not extend beyond the connection between the manifold 14 and the anode electrolysis cell or the cathode electrolysis cell.

[0066] In the embodiment of the present application, when the manifold gasket 15 is located within the gasket groove 16, the gap between the outer edge of the manifold gasket 15 and the inner wall of the gasket groove 16 is 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0067] The thickness range of the manifold gasket 15 is 1 mm to 3 mm. If the manifold gasket 15 is too thin, it is prone to deformation under the pressure of the stack, affecting the sealing effect; if the manifold gasket 15 is too thick, it compresses the flow area of the manifold, affecting the circulation of the lye and the flow of the gas.

[0068] The shape of the manifold gasket 15 can be various, specifically including but not limited to rectangle, circle, ellipse, and rounded rectangle.

[0069] The material of the manifold gasket 15 can be a metal material or a non-metal material, and no specific limitation is made.

[0070] Further, the shapes of the manifold gasket 15 and the gasket groove 16 are matched. Specifically, the shape of the gasket groove that encloses and is used to accommodate the manifold gasket is matched with the shape of the manifold gasket. For example Figure 9 As shown, it is a schematic structural diagram of a rectangular manifold gasket and a gasket groove provided by the embodiment of the present application. The shape of the gasket groove that encloses and is used to accommodate the rectangular manifold gasket is also rectangular. The same applies to other shaped manifold gaskets and gasket grooves, and no further detailed description will be given here.

[0071] In the embodiment of the present application, the connection method between the manifold gasket 15 and the gasket groove 16 can be various, including but not limited to welding, riveting, gluing, and bolt fixing.

[0072] To more clearly describe the structure of the bipolar plate provided by the present application, especially the structures of the manifold gasket and the gasket groove, the following is combined with Figures 10 to 15 , and the specific structure of the present application can be more clearly understood through the three-dimensional structure diagram shown therein. The specific structure has been described above and will not be elaborated here. Among them, Figure 10 is a three-dimensional structure diagram of the bipolar plate without the manifold gasket provided by the embodiment of the present application, Figure 11 is for Figure 10 the three-dimensional structure diagram at position A shown in Figure 12 is for Figure 10 the three-dimensional structure diagram at position C shown in Figure 13 is a three-dimensional structure diagram of the bipolar plate with the manifold gasket provided by the embodiment of the present application, Figure 14 is forFigure 13 The three-dimensional structure schematic diagram at position A shown in Figure 15 is Figure 13 the three-dimensional structure schematic diagram at position C shown in

[0073] The embodiment of the present application further provides an electrolytic cell, including the bipolar plate described above.

[0074] The embodiment of the present application further provides a hydrogen production system, including the bipolar plate described above, or including the electrolytic cell described above.

[0075] The above description is only a description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Any changes and modifications made by those of ordinary skill in the art of the present invention according to the above disclosure are within the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A bipolar plate, characterized in that, The bipolar plate includes: A bipolar plate body, one side of the bipolar plate body has an anode surface, and the other side opposite to the anode surface has a cathode surface; A bipolar plate frame, fixedly arranged on the outer periphery of the bipolar plate body; Flow channel holes, penetrating through the bipolar plate frame along the thickness direction of the bipolar plate frame; A manifold, located on the bipolar plate frame, one end leads to the flow channel holes, and the other end leads to the anode electrolysis chamber or the cathode electrolysis chamber; A manifold gasket, located in a gasket groove, and the thickness of the manifold gasket is the same as the height of the gasket groove; the gasket groove is located on both sides of the notch of the manifold.

2. The bipolar plate according to claim 1, wherein The flow channel holes include but are not limited to: lye flow channel holes, oxygen flow channel holes, hydrogen flow channel holes; the manifold includes but is not limited to: lye manifold, oxygen manifold, hydrogen manifold; the manifold gasket includes but is not limited to: lye manifold gasket, oxygen manifold gasket, hydrogen manifold gasket; the gasket groove includes but is not limited to lye gasket groove, oxygen gasket groove, hydrogen gasket groove; The lye flow channel holes penetrate through the lower part of the bipolar plate frame along the thickness direction of the bipolar plate frame; The lye manifold is located on the bipolar plate frame, one end leads to the lye flow channel holes, and the other end leads to the anode electrolysis chamber or the cathode electrolysis chamber; The lye manifold gasket is located in the lye gasket groove, and the thickness of the lye manifold gasket is the same as the height of the lye gasket groove; the lye gasket groove is located on both sides of the notch of the lye manifold; Oxygen flow channel holes penetrate through the upper part of the bipolar plate frame along the thickness direction of the bipolar plate frame; The oxygen manifold is located on the bipolar plate frame on the same side as the anode surface of the bipolar plate body, one end leads to the oxygen flow channel holes, and the other end leads to the anode electrolysis chamber; The oxygen manifold gasket is located in the oxygen gasket groove, and the thickness of the oxygen manifold gasket is the same as the height of the oxygen gasket groove; the oxygen gasket groove is located on both sides of the notch of the oxygen manifold; Hydrogen flow channel holes penetrate through the upper part of the bipolar plate frame along the thickness direction of the bipolar plate frame; The hydrogen manifold is located on the bipolar plate frame on the same side as the cathode surface of the bipolar plate body, one end is connected to the hydrogen flow channel holes, and the other end is connected to the cathode electrolysis chamber; The hydrogen manifold gasket is located in the hydrogen gasket groove, and the thickness of the hydrogen manifold gasket is the same as the height of the hydrogen gasket groove; the hydrogen gasket groove is located on both sides of the notch of the hydrogen manifold.

3. The bipolar plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the manifold gasket cannot exceed the connection part between the manifold and the flow channel holes, and the other end cannot exceed the connection part between the manifold and the anode electrolysis chamber or the cathode electrolysis chamber.

4. The bipolar plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the manifold gasket is located in the gasket groove, the gap between the outer edge of the manifold gasket and the inner wall of the gasket groove is 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm.

5. The bipolar plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness range of the manifold gasket is 1 mm to 3 mm.

6. The bipolar plate according to claim 1, wherein, The shape of the manifold gasket includes but is not limited to rectangle, circle, ellipse, rounded rectangle.

7. The bipolar plate according to claim 1, wherein, The manifold gasket matches the shape of the gasket groove.

8. The bipolar plate according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The connection method between the manifold gasket and the gasket groove includes but is not limited to welding, riveting, gluing, bolt fixing.

9. An electrolytic cell, characterized in that, The electrolytic cell includes a bipolar plate as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. A hydrogen production system, characterized in that, The hydrogen production system includes a bipolar plate as described in any one of claims 1-8, or an electrolytic cell as described in claim 9.

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