Frame assembly and electrolytic bath
By incorporating a structure combining soft and hard seals in the frame assembly of the proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, the reliability problem of the sealing structure under high-pressure operation is solved, thereby improving the sealing reliability and safety of the electrolyzer.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202522271775.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-09
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-10-27
AI Technical Summary
Under high-pressure operation, the reliability of the sealing structure of proton exchange membrane electrolyzers faces severe challenges, leading to an increased risk of leakage.
The design employs a frame component, comprising a first frame, a third frame, and a second frame stacked together and connected by sealant. A rigid protrusion and a soft sealing area are provided between the frames to form a structure that combines soft and hard seals, thus limiting excessive compression of the sealant.
It improves the sealing reliability of the frame assembly, reduces the risk of leakage in the electrolytic cell, enhances the safety and durability of the electrolytic cell, and adapts to thermal stress and pressure fluctuations during electrolytic cell operation.
Smart Images
Figure CN223780370U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of hydrogen production by electrolysis, and in particular to a frame assembly and an electrolyzer. Background Technology
[0002] With the deepening of global energy transition goals, green hydrogen produced from renewable energy has become a core energy carrier for achieving deep decarbonization in industries and transportation. Proton exchange membrane electrolyzers (PEMWEs) are widely recognized as one of the most promising green hydrogen production technologies due to their high efficiency, fast response speed, and high hydrogen production pressure. In particular, their high-pressure operation capability can significantly reduce the energy consumption and cost of downstream hydrogen compression, which is key to improving the economics of green hydrogen. However, the continuous increase in operating pressure poses extremely severe challenges to the reliability of the electrolyzer's sealing structure. Utility Model Content
[0003] Therefore, this application provides a frame assembly and an electrolytic cell to improve the sealing reliability of the frame assembly.
[0004] A first aspect of this application provides a border component, the border component including a first border, a third border and a second border stacked along the thickness direction, wherein the third border is located between the first border and the second border along the thickness direction;
[0005] The first frame and the third frame, as well as the second frame and the third frame, are sealed together with sealant.
[0006] At least one of the first border and the third border has a first protrusion, and the first border and the third border are connected through the first protrusion. At least one of the second border and the third border has a second protrusion, and the second border and the third border are connected through the second protrusion.
[0007] In one specific embodiment, the first frame has a first protrusion that presses against the third frame, and the second frame has a second protrusion that presses against the third frame.
[0008] In one specific embodiment, a first sealant is provided between the first frame and the third frame, and a second sealant is provided between the second frame and the third frame;
[0009] In a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction, the first sealant and the second sealant are staggered.
[0010] In one specific embodiment, the projection of the first sealant along its thickness direction falls within the projection range of the second protrusion, and the projection of the second sealant along its thickness direction falls within the projection range of the first protrusion.
[0011] In one specific embodiment, the first protrusion further has a first sealing tooth, and the second protrusion further has a second sealing tooth, the first sealing tooth and the second sealing tooth being interference-fitted with the third frame.
[0012] In one specific embodiment, in the thickness direction, the projection of the region where the first sealing tooth is located at least partially overlaps with the projection of the region where the second sealing tooth is located.
[0013] In one specific embodiment, the first sealing tooth and the second sealing tooth are located between the first sealant and the second sealant.
[0014] In one specific embodiment, the first sealant and the second sealant are in a compressed state, the height of the first protrusion is the same as the height of the first sealant after compression, and the height of the second protrusion is the same as the height of the second sealant after compression.
[0015] A second aspect of this application provides an electrolytic cell, the electrolytic cell including bipolar plates and membrane electrodes stacked along the thickness direction, the electrolytic cell also including the aforementioned frame assembly, the stacked bipolar plates and membrane electrodes being located within the space enclosed by the frame assembly.
[0016] In one specific embodiment, the membrane electrode has bipolar plates on both sides along the thickness direction, the first frame is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with one of the bipolar plates, the second frame is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the other bipolar plate, and the third frame is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the membrane electrode.
[0017] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: In the frame assembly, the first frame and the third frame are sealed together with sealant, and the second frame and the third frame are also connected with sealant to form two soft-sealed areas. The first frame and the third frame are connected by a first protrusion, and the second frame and the third frame are connected by a second protrusion to form a hard-sealed area. The combination of the soft-sealed area and the hard-sealed area can improve the sealing reliability of the frame assembly and reduce the risk of leakage from the electrolytic cell. At the same time, the first protrusion and the second protrusion can also play a limiting role, reducing the risk of seal failure due to excessive compression of the two sealants, further improving the sealing reliability. Attached Figure Description
[0018] Figure 1This is a partial structural diagram of the border component provided in this application in one specific embodiment, wherein the border is not locked;
[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The front view;
[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the frame component in a locked state;
[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first border in the middle;
[0022] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the second border in the middle.
[0023] 100-Border component;
[0024] 1-First border;
[0025] 11-First protrusion;
[0026] 111 - First sealing tooth;
[0027] 2-Second border;
[0028] 21-Second protrusion;
[0029] 211 - Second sealing tooth;
[0030] 3-Third border;
[0031] 4-First sealant;
[0032] 5-Second sealant;
[0033] 10-First Zone;
[0034] 20 - Second Region;
[0035] 30 - Third Region. Detailed Implementation
[0036] To better understand the technical solution of this application, the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0037] It should be understood that the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments in this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0038] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0039] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.
[0040] This application provides an electrolytic cell comprising a stacked membrane electrode and bipolar plates, with bipolar plates on both sides of the membrane electrode along its thickness direction. The electrolytic cell also includes a frame assembly that forms a receiving cavity, within which the membrane electrode and bipolar plates are housed.
[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, a frame assembly 100 includes a first frame 1, a third frame 3, and a second frame 2 stacked along the thickness direction, with the third frame 3 located between the first frame 1 and the second frame 2 along the thickness direction. One of the two bipolar plates on both sides of the membrane electrode is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the first frame 1, the other of the two bipolar plates on both sides of the membrane electrode is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the second frame 2, and the membrane electrode is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the third frame 3.
[0042] It should be noted that in some embodiments, the border component 100 is generally in the form of a rectangular ring structure. Figure 1 Only a partial structure of the border component 100 is shown.
[0043] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the first frame 1 and the third frame 3, as well as the second frame 2 and the third frame 3, are sealed together with sealant. Specifically, the first frame 1 and the third frame 3 are sealed together with first sealant 4, and the second frame 2 and the third frame 3 are sealed together with second sealant 5. Normally, the first sealant 4 and the second sealant 5 are elastically deformable.
[0044] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, at least one of the first frame 1 and the third frame 3 has a first protrusion 11, and the first frame 1 and the third frame 3 are connected by the first protrusion 11. At least one of the second frame 2 and the third frame 3 has a second protrusion 21, and the second frame 2 and the third frame 3 are connected by the second protrusion 21. Both the first protrusion 11 and the second protrusion 21 are rigid structures.
[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure when the first frame 1, second frame 2, and third frame 3 are not locked is shown. At this time, the first sealant 4 and the second sealant 5 are in their natural state (uncompressed). In this state, the first frame 1 and the third frame 3 are not connected by the first protrusion 11, and the second frame 2 and the third frame 3 are not connected by the second protrusion 21. Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure when the first frame 1, second frame 2, and third frame 3 are locked is shown. At this time, the first frame 1 and the third frame 3 are close to each other, compressing the first sealant 4. The second frame 2 and the third frame 3 are close to each other, compressing the second sealant 5. At this time, the first sealant 4 and the second sealant 5 are in a compressed state. The area where the first sealant 4 is located is the first region 10, and the area where the second sealant 5 is located is the second region 20. In the first region 10, the first frame 1 and the third frame 3 are sealed by the first sealant 4. In the second region 20, the second frame 2 and the third frame 3 are sealed by the second sealant 5. Since both the first sealant 4 and the second sealant 5 can be elastically deformed, the first region 10 and the second region 20 are soft sealing regions of the frame assembly 100.
[0046] like Figure 3 As shown, after the first frame 1, the second frame 2, and the third frame 3 are locked, the first frame 1 and the third frame 3 are connected by the first protrusion 11, and the second frame 2 and the third frame 3 are connected by the second protrusion 21. Since the first protrusion 11 and the second protrusion 21 are rigid structures, the area where the projections of the first protrusion 11 and the second protrusion 21 in the thickness direction overlap is the third region 30. In the third region 30, the first frame 1 and the third frame 3 are connected by the first protrusion 11, and the second frame 2 and the third frame 3 are connected by the second protrusion 21.
[0047] in, Figure 3 The three regions are indicated by dashed lines.
[0048] Therefore, in this embodiment, the first sealant 4 in a compressed state can form a reliable seal between the first frame 1 and the third frame 3. The first protrusion 11 can limit the distance between the first frame 1 and the third frame 3, preventing the first sealant 4 between the first frame 1 and the third frame 3 from being over-compressed. The first protrusion 11 also bears the load between the first frame 1 and the third frame 3, further reducing the creep caused by over-compression of the first sealant 4 and lowering the risk of damaging the membrane electrode. Similarly, the second sealant 5 in a compressed state can form a reliable seal between the second frame 2 and the third frame 3. The second protrusion 21 can limit the distance between the second frame 2 and the third frame 3, preventing the second sealant 5 between the second frame 2 and the third frame 3 from being over-compressed. The second protrusion 21 also bears the load between the second frame 2 and the third frame 3, further reducing the creep caused by over-compression of the second sealant 5 and lowering the risk of damaging the membrane electrode. Moreover, the first protrusion 11 and the second protrusion 21 can also withstand the thermal stress during the operation of the electrolytic cell, thereby enabling the electrolytic cell to better adapt to the thermal cycles and pressure fluctuations during operation.
[0049] In addition, in this embodiment, the sealing area of the frame assembly 100 includes the above three areas, which can significantly improve the sealing reliability of the frame assembly 100, reduce the risk of leakage in the electrolytic cell, and improve the safety of the electrolytic cell.
[0050] Specifically, the first frame 1 has a first protrusion 11, which presses against the third frame 3. The second frame 2 has a second protrusion 21, which presses against the third frame 3. This allows the force between the first frame 1 and the second frame 2 to be borne by the first protrusion 11, and the force between the second frame 2 and the third frame 3 to be borne by the second protrusion 21, preventing the first sealant 4 and the second sealant 5 from being over-compressed.
[0051] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the height of the first protrusion 11 is the same as the height of the first sealant 4 after compression, and the height of the second protrusion 21 is the same as the height of the second sealant 5 after compression. This allows the first frame 1 and the third frame 3 to be connected by the first sealant 4 and the first protrusion 11, and the second frame 2 and the third frame 3 to be connected by the second sealant 5 and the second protrusion 21. This makes the force between the first frame 1 and the third frame 3 and the force between the second frame 2 and the third frame 3 evenly distributed, further improving the sealing reliability and reducing the risk of damaging the membrane electrode and the two sealants.
[0052] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3As shown, in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction, the first sealant 4 and the second sealant 5 are staggered, that is, the first region 10 and the second region 20 of the frame assembly 100 are staggered. In other words, the two soft sealing regions of the frame assembly 100 are staggered. Compared with the two sealants being arranged opposite each other, the staggered arrangement can reduce the influence of shear force and improve the safety of the third frame 3.
[0053] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the first frame 1 has a first protrusion 11, that is, the first protrusion 11 protrudes relative to the first frame 1 in the direction toward the third frame 3, meaning the first protrusion 11 can be integrally formed with the first frame 1. Figure 5 As shown, the second frame 2 has a second protrusion 21, which protrudes relative to the second frame 2 toward the third frame 3, that is, the second protrusion 21 can be integrally formed with the second frame 2.
[0054] In other embodiments, the first protrusion 11 and the second protrusion 21 may also be integrally formed with the third frame 3. This application does not specifically limit the setting position of the first protrusion 11 and the second protrusion 21.
[0055] Specifically, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the first protrusion 11 also has a protruding first sealing tooth 111, and the second protrusion 21 also has a protruding second sealing tooth 211. The first sealing tooth 111 and the second sealing tooth 211 are interference-fitted with the third frame 3. Please refer to... Figure 3 When the first frame 1, the second frame 2, and the third frame 3 are locked together, the first protrusion 11 and the second protrusion 21 both abut against the third frame 3. At the same time, the first sealing tooth 111 provided on the first protrusion 11 is in interference fit with the third frame 3, and the second sealing tooth 211 provided on the second protrusion 21 is in interference fit with the third frame 3. This allows the interference fit to also play a sealing role, further improving the sealing reliability of the frame assembly 100 and further reducing the risk of leakage from the electrolytic cell.
[0056] More specifically, such as Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, in the thickness direction, the projection of the area where the first sealing tooth 111 is located coincides at least partially with the projection of the area where the second sealing tooth 211 is located, and the area where the first sealing tooth 111 and the second sealing tooth 211 are located is the third area 30 mentioned above, that is, the first sealing tooth 111 and the third frame 3 are interference-fitted, and the second sealing tooth 211 and the third frame 3 are interference-fitted to form the hard sealing area of the frame assembly 100.
[0057] In summary, the frame assembly 100 includes two soft sealing regions (first region 10 and second region 20) and one hard sealing region (third region 30), which can further improve the sealing reliability of the frame assembly 100.
[0058] More specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, the first sealing tooth 111 and the second sealing tooth 211 are located between the first sealant 4 and the second sealant 5. In other words, the hard sealing area (third area 30) is located between the two soft sealing areas (first area 10 and second area 20). The third area 30 forms a barrier between the first area 10 and the second area 20, further improving the sealing reliability of the frame assembly 100 and reducing the risk of leakage from the electrolytic cell.
[0059] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the first protrusion 11 is provided with two spaced-apart first sealing teeth 111, and the second protrusion 21 is provided with one second sealing tooth 211, combined with... Figure 2 It can be seen that the second sealing tooth 211 is located between the two first sealing teeth 111, so that the force exerted by the first sealing tooth 111 and the second sealing tooth 211 on the third frame 3 is more balanced, further reducing the risk of the membrane electrode being crushed.
[0060] In other embodiments, the first protrusion 11 may be provided with two or more first sealing teeth 111, and the second protrusion 21 may also be provided with two or more second sealing teeth 211, with the first sealing teeth 111 and the second sealing teeth 211 arranged at intervals.
[0061] In the above embodiments, as Figure 3 As shown, the projection of the first sealant 4 along the thickness direction falls within the projection range of the second protrusion 21, and the projection of the second sealant 5 along the thickness direction falls within the projection range of the first protrusion 11. This allows the external force between the first frame 1, the second frame 2, and the third frame 3 to be transmitted evenly, further reducing the risk of the three frames being crushed and reducing the risk of the first sealant 4 and the second sealant 5 failing to seal.
[0062] The above descriptions are merely specific implementations of the embodiments of this application, but the protection scope of the embodiments of this application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the embodiments of this application should be covered within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of the embodiments of this application should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A border component, characterized in that, The border assembly includes a first border, a third border, and a second border stacked along the thickness direction, wherein the third border is located between the first border and the second border along the thickness direction. The first frame and the third frame, as well as the second frame and the third frame, are sealed together with sealant. At least one of the first border and the third border has a first protrusion, and the first border and the third border are connected through the first protrusion. At least one of the second border and the third border has a second protrusion, and the second border and the third border are connected through the second protrusion.
2. The frame assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first frame has a first protrusion that presses against the third frame, and the second frame has a second protrusion that presses against the third frame.
3. The frame assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, A first sealant is provided between the first frame and the third frame, and a second sealant is provided between the second frame and the third frame; In a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction, the first sealant and the second sealant are staggered.
4. The frame assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The projection of the first sealant along its thickness direction falls within the projection range of the second protrusion, and the projection of the second sealant along its thickness direction falls within the projection range of the first protrusion.
5. The frame assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first protrusion also has a first sealing tooth, and the second protrusion also has a second sealing tooth. The first sealing tooth and the second sealing tooth are interference-fitted with the third frame.
6. The frame assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, In the thickness direction, the projection of the region where the first sealing tooth is located at least partially overlaps with the projection of the region where the second sealing tooth is located.
7. The frame assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first sealing tooth and the second sealing tooth are located between the first sealant and the second sealant.
8. The frame assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that, The first sealant and the second sealant are in a compressed state. The height of the first protrusion is the same as the height of the first sealant after compression, and the height of the second protrusion is the same as the height of the second sealant after compression.
9. An electrolytic cell, characterized in that, The electrolytic cell includes bipolar plates and membrane electrodes stacked along the thickness direction, and the electrolytic cell further includes a frame assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the stacked bipolar plates and membrane electrodes are located within the space enclosed by the frame assembly.
10. The electrolytic cell according to claim 9, characterized in that, The membrane electrode has bipolar plates on both sides along the thickness direction. The first frame is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with one of the bipolar plates. The second frame is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the other bipolar plate. The third frame is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the membrane electrode.