Water electrolysis hydrogen production bipolar plate capable of being rapidly aligned and installed and electrolytic bath

Abstract

The utility model discloses a water electrolysis hydrogen production bipolar plate capable of being rapidly aligned and installed and an electrolytic bath. The water electrolysis hydrogen production bipolar plate comprises a bipolar plate body and an insulating frame which is arranged on the outer edge of the bipolar plate body in a wrapping mode in the circumferential direction of the bipolar plate body. The insulating frame is provided with an upper positioning end face and a lower positioning end face which are located on the upper side and the lower side respectively, at least one positioning clamp assembly is arranged on the lower positioning end face of the insulating frame, and positioning notches matched with positioning clamps are formed in the outer edges of the insulating frame respectively. Adjacent stacked bipolar plates are positioned and matched through matched connection between the positioning clip assemblies and the positioning notches. Positioning matching between the bipolar plates and between the bipolar plates and the proton exchange membrane unit in the stacking direction is provided through the upper positioning end face and the lower positioning end face of the insulating frame, and the distance between the outlet of the jet hole and the proton exchange membrane is controlled; and by utilizing the matching between the positioning clip assembly and the positioning notch, the rapid alignment assembly between the bipolar plates can be realized in the bipolar plate assembly process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of hydrogen production equipment, specifically relating to a bipolar plate and electrolyzer for water electrolysis hydrogen production that can be quickly aligned and installed. Background Technology

[0002] PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) water electrolysis for hydrogen production utilizes a polymer electrolyte membrane to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen, offering advantages such as high efficiency, compact design, and rapid response. The PEM bipolar plates are a crucial component of the proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, supporting current transmission and the water electrolysis reaction. They are typically made of titanium alloys or other corrosion-resistant metals, possessing good electrical conductivity and mechanical strength.

[0003] Patent document CN223738158U discloses an electrolyzer bipolar plate with microporous channels and an electrolyzer. This bipolar plate improves hydrogen production efficiency by setting a microporous channel network on the anode side surface and using a large number of jet holes distributed on the microporous channel network to spray towards the proton exchange membrane unit. This bipolar plate with microporous channels is relatively thin, the micropores require high alignment accuracy of the bipolar plate, and the three-dimensional microstructures arranged on the anode and cathode sides pose significant challenges to the rapid positioning and assembly of the bipolar plate in the electrolyzer. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a bipolar plate and electrolyzer for hydrogen production by water electrolysis that can be quickly aligned and installed, so as to solve the problem of positioning and assembly of bipolar plates with microporous channels.

[0005] This utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] A bipolar plate for hydrogen production by water electrolysis that can be quickly aligned and installed includes a bipolar plate body and an insulating frame that surrounds the outer edge of the bipolar plate body circumferentially.

[0007] The insulating frame has an upper positioning end face and a lower positioning end face located on the upper and lower sides respectively. At least one set of positioning clip assemblies is provided on the lower positioning end face of the insulating frame. The positioning clip assembly includes two positioning clips arranged opposite each other near the two ends of the insulating frame. Positioning notches that cooperate with the positioning clips are respectively provided on the outer edge of the insulating frame. Positioning grooves that can cooperate with the latches of the positioning clips are provided in the positioning notches, so that the latches can be engaged and fall into the positioning grooves. When the positioning clips are engaged with the positioning notches, the two positioning clips in the same set of positioning clip assemblies provide two elastic forces in opposite directions to the bipolar plates by their elastic deformation. This allows the adjacent stacked bipolar plates to achieve positioning and engagement through the engagement between the positioning clip assemblies and the positioning notches.

[0008] In some embodiments of this utility model, a first guide surface extending into the positioning groove is provided within the positioning notch, and the first guide surface is inclined outward.

[0009] In some embodiments of this utility model, the positioning clip is inclined outward.

[0010] In some embodiments of this utility model, the tilt angle of the positioning clip is not greater than the tilt angle of the first guide surface.

[0011] In some embodiments of this utility model, the latch is a cylindrical structure and the positioning groove is a matching arc-shaped cross-section groove.

[0012] In some embodiments of this utility model, the positioning clip and the positioning notch are matched in the width direction, and both have a trapezoidal structure that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom in the width direction.

[0013] In some embodiments of this utility model, the positioning clip assembly is provided in at least two sets, with at least one set of positioning clip assembly provided along the length direction and the width direction of the insulating frame, respectively.

[0014] In some embodiments of this utility model, the insulating frame is integrally injection molded on the outer edge of the bipolar plate body, and the positioning clip assembly, positioning notch and insulating frame are integrally molded structures.

[0015] On the other hand, this utility model also provides an electrolyzer, including the aforementioned bipolar plate for hydrogen production by water electrolysis;

[0016] Multiple bipolar plates are stacked sequentially, and proton exchange membrane units are respectively arranged between adjacent bipolar plates. The adjacent bipolar plates are positioned and coordinated through the cooperation between positioning clip components and positioning notches.

[0017] In some embodiments of this utility model, a clearance notch is provided on the outer edge of the proton exchange membrane unit to cooperate with the positioning clip, and a transition part is provided at the connection position between the positioning clip and the insulating frame, the transition part having an arc surface that cooperates with the clearance notch.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, this utility model has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0019] This invention addresses the problems encountered during the assembly of bipolar plates with microporous channels. An insulating frame is installed on the outer edge of the bipolar plate body. The upper and lower positioning end faces of the insulating frame provide positioning and fit between bipolar plates and between the bipolar plate and the proton exchange membrane unit in the stacking direction, and control the distance between the jet outlet and the proton exchange membrane. Furthermore, the cooperation between the positioning clip assembly and the positioning notch achieves horizontal positioning and fit between the bipolar plates. This enables rapid alignment and assembly of the bipolar plates during assembly, resulting in a simple structure, convenient operation, and guaranteed assembly efficiency and quality. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the accompanying drawings in the embodiments will be briefly described below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this utility model and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a front view of the bipolar plate for hydrogen production via water electrolysis in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the bipolar plate for hydrogen production via water electrolysis in an embodiment of this utility model, showing its positioning and fit.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the bipolar plate positioning and fitting state in an embodiment of the present invention for hydrogen production via water electrolysis.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the anode side structure of the bipolar plate for hydrogen production via water electrolysis in this embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the cathode side structure of the bipolar plate for hydrogen production via water electrolysis in this embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the electrolytic cell in its decomposition state in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning clip transition section in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0028] in:

[0029] 10. Bipolar plate;

[0030] 11. Bipolar plate body; 111. Inlet; 112. Outlet; 113. Hydrogen outlet; 114. Microporous flow channel network; 115. Gas flow network.

[0031] 12. Insulating frame; 121. Positioning clip; 1211. Clip tongue; 1212. Transition part; 122. Positioning notch; 1221. Positioning groove; 1222. First guide surface;

[0032] 20. Proton exchange membrane unit; 201. Displacement notch;

[0033] 30. Bottom plate. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are some embodiments of this utility model, but not all embodiments.

[0035] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 This invention is a further improvement on the bipolar plate structure with microporous flow channels. In view of the problems existing in the assembly and installation of such bipolar plates, a bipolar plate for hydrogen production by water electrolysis is proposed, which can achieve rapid alignment and installation.

[0036] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments of this utility model, the bipolar plate 10 includes a bipolar plate body 11 and an insulating frame 12 that is disposed around the outer edge of the bipolar plate body in the circumferential direction.

[0037] The bipolar plate body 11 is provided with an inlet 111, an outlet 112, and a hydrogen outlet 113. A microporous flow channel network 114 is provided on the anode side of the bipolar plate body 11, and a gas flow network 115 is provided on the cathode side of the bipolar plate body 11. The jet holes on the microporous flow channel network 114 cover the entire active area on the anode side, enabling the bipolar plate to have higher hydrogen production efficiency. The gas flow network 115 adopts a three-dimensional fishbone-microrib structure, which plays a role in guiding the hydrogen gas outflow and realizing hydrogen discharge under low pressure.

[0038] The microporous flow channel network covering the anode side of the bipolar plate places high demands on the positioning accuracy of the bipolar plate. Furthermore, the structural precision of the microporous flow channel network and the three-dimensional fishbone-microrib structure must be ensured to prevent damage or crushing during assembly. The jet outlet needs to maintain a stable distance from the carbon paper of the proton exchange membrane unit. All of these factors place high demands on the positioning and assembly accuracy between the bipolar plates.

[0039] The insulating frame 12 is injection molded on the outer edge of the bipolar plate body. The insulating frame can be made of similar insulating materials such as polymers, such as PPS-GF40, PPA-GF50, LCP-GF30, etc., which are corrosion-resistant and have certain structural strength and rigidity.

[0040] The insulating frame 12 has an upper positioning end face and a lower positioning end face located on the upper and lower sides respectively. At least one set of positioning clip assemblies is provided on the lower positioning end face of the insulating frame. The positioning clip assembly includes two positioning clips 121 arranged opposite to each other near the two ends of the insulating frame. Positioning notches 122 that cooperate with the positioning clips are respectively provided on the outer edge of the insulating frame 12. Positioning grooves 1221 that can cooperate with the latches 1211 of the positioning clips are provided in the positioning notches, so that the latches can be engaged and fall into the positioning grooves. When the positioning clips are engaged with the positioning notches, the two positioning clips in the same set of positioning clip assemblies provide two elastic forces in opposite directions to the bipolar plates by their elastic deformation. This allows the adjacent stacked bipolar plates 10 to achieve positioning and engagement through the engagement between the positioning clip assemblies and the positioning notches.

[0041] In this embodiment, an insulating frame 12 is provided on the outer edge of the bipolar plate body 11. The upper and lower positioning end faces of the insulating frame provide positioning and cooperation between the bipolar plates and between the bipolar plates and the proton exchange membrane unit in the stacking direction, and control the distance between the jet outlet and the proton exchange membrane.

[0042] Taking a set of positioning clips arranged along the length as an example, when two positioning clips arranged opposite each other are engaged in the positioning groove on another bipolar plate, the two positioning clips apply two inward elastic forces to the bipolar plate by utilizing the cooperation between the two positioning clips and the positioning notch, thereby achieving the positioning and cooperation of the two bipolar plates in the horizontal direction. Moreover, this cooperation method makes the installation and disassembly of the bipolar plates more convenient.

[0043] In some embodiments, a first guide surface 1222 is provided within the positioning notch 122, and the first guide surface 1222 is inclined outward. The first guide surface within the positioning notch, and its inclined arrangement, serves to guide the assembly of the positioning clip and allows the positioning clip to open outward and undergo elastic deformation. The positioning clip provides an elastic force in the opposite direction to the bipolar plates, adjusting and coordinating the positions of the bipolar plates during the layer-by-layer assembly process.

[0044] In some embodiments, the positioning clip 121 is configured to be tilted outwards to better match the first guide surface disposed within the positioning notch.

[0045] In some embodiments, the tilt angle of the positioning clip 121 is not greater than the tilt angle of the first guide surface 1222. For example, the tilt angle of the positioning clip is set to 25° and the tilt angle of the first guide surface is set to 35°. When the positioning clip is engaged in the positioning notch, the positioning clip undergoes elastic deformation. The relatively positioned positioning clips provide elastic force in the relative direction to the bipolar plates, adjusting and coordinating the position between the bipolar plates to achieve rapid alignment and assembly between the bipolar plates.

[0046] In some embodiments, the latch 1211 is a cylindrical structure, and the positioning groove 1221 is a mating arc-shaped cross-section groove. During the process of the latch being inserted into the positioning groove, it forms a sliding contact with the first guide surface through the arc surface, which facilitates the latch being inserted into the positioning groove; the latch 1211 and the positioning groove 1221 are mated through the arc surface, so that the latch can be better disengaged from the positioning groove when the bipolar plate is disassembled, thereby facilitating the disassembly of the bipolar plate.

[0047] In some embodiments, the positioning clip 121 and the positioning notch 122 are engaged in the width direction, and both have a trapezoidal structure that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom in the width direction, which facilitates the engagement between the positioning clip and the positioning notch, and the positioning engagement between the bipolar plates in the width direction is achieved through the engagement between the two in the width direction.

[0048] In some embodiments, at least two sets of positioning clip assemblies are provided, with at least one set along the length and width directions of the insulating frame. For example, two sets of positioning clip assemblies are provided along the length direction of the insulating frame, and one set is provided along the width direction of the insulating frame. The bipolar plate is positioned and assembled in the length and width directions using three sets of positioning clip assemblies. Correspondingly, positioning notches that cooperate with the positioning clips are provided at corresponding positions on the insulating frame.

[0049] The positioning notch is designed to accommodate the positioning clip within the outer contour of the insulating frame, so that when the positioning clip is placed in the positioning notch, it will not protrude outside the insulating frame; similarly, the positioning groove is located near the center of the positioning notch, so that when the latch is placed in the positioning groove, the positioning clip will not protrude outside the insulating frame, thus avoiding interference with the assembly between the bipolar plates.

[0050] In some embodiments, the positioning clip assembly, the positioning notch 122, and the insulating frame are integrally formed, making the processing and molding of the bipolar plate more convenient. The positioning notch is set as an open structure located on the outer edge of the insulating frame, which further facilitates the integral injection molding of the positioning notch on the insulating frame.

[0051] Generally, the thickness of the bipolar plate body is 0.3-0.5mm, and the thickness of the insulating frame is set to 0.5-0.8mm.

[0052] On the other hand, this utility model also provides an electrolyzer, including the bipolar plate for hydrogen production by water electrolysis in the above embodiments;

[0053] Multiple bipolar plates 10 are stacked sequentially, and proton exchange membrane units 20 are respectively arranged between adjacent bipolar plates 10. The adjacent bipolar plates 10 are positioned and matched by the cooperation between the positioning clip assembly and the positioning notch.

[0054] like Figure 6 As shown, the bipolar plate 10 and the proton exchange membrane unit 20 are stacked sequentially with the bipolar plate 10. The bottom bipolar plate is placed on the bottom end plate 30. Correspondingly, a positioning notch is provided on the bottom end plate to cooperate with the positioning clips on the bipolar plate to adapt to the assembly of the bipolar plate.

[0055] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 7 A clearance notch 201 is provided on the outer edge of the proton exchange membrane unit to cooperate with the positioning clip. A transition portion 1212 is provided at the connection position between the positioning clip 121 and the insulating frame 12. The transition portion 1212 has an arc surface that cooperates with the clearance notch 201. By setting the transition portion as an arc surface, the cooperation between the arc surface and the clearance notch of the proton exchange membrane unit enables automatic adjustment and positioning of the proton exchange membrane unit during the assembly process.

[0056] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model in any way. Any simple modifications or equivalent changes made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present utility model shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An electrolytic water hydrogen generation bipolar plate which can be quickly aligned and installed, characterized by, The bipolar plate body and the insulating frame are coaxially arranged. The insulating frame has an upper positioning end face and a lower positioning end face on the upper side and the lower side respectively, at least one set of positioning clip assemblies is arranged on the lower positioning end face of the insulating frame, the positioning clip assembly comprises two positioning clips arranged opposite to each other near the two ends of the insulating frame, positioning notches matched with the positioning clips are arranged on the outer edge of the insulating frame respectively, positioning grooves matched with the latches of the positioning clips are arranged in the positioning notches, the latches can be matched and fallen into the positioning grooves, and when the positioning clips are matched with the positioning notches, the two positioning clips in the same set of positioning clip assemblies provide two elastic forces in opposite directions to the bipolar plate by elastic deformation, so that the bipolar plates arranged in the adjacent layers are positioned and matched by the matched connection between the positioning clip assemblies and the positioning notches.

2. The quickly alignable mounted hydrogen generation bipolar plate of electrolytic water according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first guide surface extending to the positioning groove is arranged in the positioning notch.

3. The quickly alignable mounted hydrogen generation bipolar plate of electrolytic water according to claim 2, characterized in that, The positioning clip is arranged obliquely towards the outside.

4. The quickly alignable mounted hydrogen generation bipolar plate of electrolytic water according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inclination angle of the positioning clip is not greater than the inclination angle of the first guide surface.

5. The quickly alignable mounted hydrogen generation bipolar plate of electrolytic water according to claim 1, characterized in that, The latch is in a cylindrical structure, and the positioning groove is in a matched arc-shaped cross-section groove.

6. The quickly alignable mounted hydrogen generation bipolar plate of electrolytic water according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning clip and the positioning notch are matched in the width direction and are both in a trapezoidal structure with the upper side larger and the lower side smaller in the width direction.

7. The quickly alignable mounted hydrogen generation bipolar plate of water electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning clip assembly is arranged in at least two sets, and at least one set of positioning clip assemblies is arranged in the length direction and the width direction of the insulating frame respectively.

8. The quickly alignable mounted hydrogen generation bipolar plate of electrolytic water according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insulating frame is integrally injection molded on the outer edge of the bipolar plate body, and the positioning clip assembly and the positioning notch are integrally formed with the insulating frame.

9. An electrolytic cell characterized in that, The electrolytic water hydrogen production bipolar plate comprises the electrolytic water hydrogen production bipolar plate according to any one of claims 1-8. A plurality of bipolar plates are arranged in sequence in layers, a proton exchange membrane unit is arranged between adjacent bipolar plates respectively, and the adjacent bipolar plates are positioned and matched by the matched connection between the positioning clip assembly and the positioning notch.

10. The electrolytic cell of claim 9, wherein, A yielding notch matched with the positioning clip is arranged on the outer edge of the proton exchange membrane unit, and a transition portion is arranged at the connection position between the positioning clip and the insulating frame, and the transition portion has a circular arc surface matched with the yielding notch.

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