An electrode frame for a hydrogen electrolyzer, and the hydrogen electrolyzer itself.

Abstract

This application belongs to the field of hydrogen electrolyzers, specifically relating to an electrode frame and a hydrogen electrolyzer for use in a hydrogen electrolyzer. The electrode frame includes an electrode frame body with multiple main channel holes circumferentially formed on its body. Each main channel hole on the electrode frame body has a slot near its center, and an insert is disposed within the slot. The insert has multiple small flow channel holes. By embedding the insert with small flow channel holes into the slot inside the main channel holes of the electrode frame body, the traditional welded thin-plate structure is replaced, fundamentally avoiding plating damage and welding defects caused by welding after electroplating, and significantly improving corrosion resistance and structural reliability. At the same time, the insert, as an independently molded component, can be pre-optimized in terms of thickness and strength, effectively resisting the pressing force of the electrolyzer without deformation, ensuring unobstructed flow channel cross-section and uniform distribution of alkali and bubbles, thereby reducing local overheating and voltage loss, and improving electrolysis efficiency and operational stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of hydrogen electrolyzers, specifically relating to an electrode frame and a hydrogen electrolyzer for use in hydrogen electrolyzers. Background Technology

[0002] The electrode frame is a ring-shaped frame structure sandwiched between the bipolar plate (or end plate) and the electrode. Its main functions are to seal the electrolysis chamber, isolate the gas, form a flow channel, and position the electrode and the diaphragm.

[0003] Currently, the mainstream alkaline electrolytic cell electrode frame structure in the industry typically adopts the following manufacturing process: First, flow channels are machined into the metal electrode frame substrate to guide the flow of alkaline solution and gas-alkali mixture; then, the entire electrode plate (including the electrode frame) is electroplated with nickel to enhance its corrosion resistance in a strongly alkaline high-temperature environment; finally, metal pressure plates with a thickness of less than 1 mm are welded to specific positions in the flow channels using resistance spot welding. These pressure plates mainly support the diaphragm and prevent it from collapsing or deforming due to pressure during the electrolytic cell assembly process, thereby ensuring the sealing integrity of the electrolysis chamber.

[0004] However, the aforementioned traditional structures and manufacturing processes have many technical defects, which seriously restrict the further improvement of electrolytic cell performance and its large-scale application: The manufacturing process is complex and inefficient: pressing and welding are required after nickel plating, and the electrode plates need to be flipped multiple times during the process. This not only increases labor and time costs, but also easily introduces assembly errors, affecting product consistency.

[0005] Welding damages the plating and poses a high risk of corrosion: The localized high temperatures generated during resistance spot welding can easily damage the nickel plating on the electrode surface, exposing the base metal in the welded area. Under strong alkaline, high-temperature, and high-pressure conditions, this metal corrodes rapidly, not only shortening the lifespan of the electrode frame but also potentially causing safety hazards such as leaks or short circuits. Furthermore, poor contact during welding can easily lead to "weld explosions," creating uncontrollable defects such as holes and cracks, severely impacting structural strength and sealing.

[0006] The tableting structure is weak, which affects the flow channel performance. Under the overall pressing force of the electrolytic cell, it is very easy to undergo plastic deformation or even local collapse. This not only weakens its supporting function for the diaphragm, but also partially blocks the flow channel cross-section, reduces the effective flow area, and leads to uneven distribution of alkali solution and poor gas bubble discharge, which in turn causes problems such as local overheating, voltage rise and efficiency decline. Utility Model Content

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide an electrode frame and a hydrogen electrolyzer for a hydrogen production electrolyzer, which solves the technical problems of plating damage, welding defects and tablet deformation that are easy to occur in the prior art, and improves the overall reliability of the electrolyzer.

[0008] In a first aspect, this application provides an electrode frame for a hydrogen production electrolyzer, including an electrode frame body, wherein a plurality of main channel holes are formed on the electrode frame body along its own circumference, and a slot is formed on the side of each main channel hole near the center of the electrode frame body, wherein an insert is provided in the slot, and a plurality of small chamber flow channel holes are formed on the insert for connecting the main channel hole and the electrolysis chamber.

[0009] Optionally, the two sides of the insert are welded and fixed to the two side boundaries of the slot, and the two sides of the insert are flush with the part connected to the pole frame body.

[0010] Optionally, the two sides of the slot are wedge-shaped structures, and the wedge-shaped structures and the sides of the insert form a wedge-shaped gap for filling with solder to enhance the connection strength between the insert and the pole frame body.

[0011] Optionally, the extension direction of the small chamber flow channel hole is consistent with the radial direction of the pole frame body.

[0012] Optionally, the flow channel hole in the small chamber is a round hole or an oblong hole.

[0013] Optionally, the ratio of the size of the flow channel hole in the small chamber to the thickness of the insert is 1:4 to 6, and the thickness of the insert is 12mm to 16mm.

[0014] Optionally, the length of the insert is 70mm to 80mm, and the insert has 9 to 15 small chamber flow channel holes distributed in the length direction.

[0015] Optionally, the main channel hole is an oblong hole.

[0016] Optionally, the radius of the circular end of the main channel hole is 8mm to 12mm, and the length of the rectangular segment is the same as the length of the insert.

[0017] Secondly, this application provides a hydrogen production electrolyzer, comprising: The polar frame as described above; Bipolar plates are disposed within the inner ring of the polar frame.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this application are: The electrode frame for hydrogen production electrolyzer provided in the first aspect of this application replaces the traditional welded thin-plate structure by embedding a block with a small flow channel hole in the groove inside the main flow channel hole of the electrode frame body. This fundamentally avoids the problems of plating damage and welding defects caused by welding after electroplating, and greatly improves corrosion resistance and structural reliability. At the same time, the block, as an independently molded component, can be pre-optimized in terms of thickness and strength, effectively resisting the pressing force of the electrolyzer without deformation, ensuring unobstructed flow channel cross-section and uniform distribution of alkali and bubbles, thereby reducing local overheating and voltage loss, improving electrolysis efficiency and operational stability, and has comprehensive advantages such as simplified manufacturing process, high yield, and long service life.

[0019] The hydrogen electrolyzer provided in the second aspect of this application constructs a high-performance, high-reliability electrolysis unit by employing an electrode frame with optimized structure as described above and a bipolar plate arranged in the inner ring in synergy. The electrode frame replaces the traditional welded thin plate with its innovative block-type flow channel structure, fundamentally solving the problems of coating damage, welding defects and flow channel collapse. This ensures efficient, uniform, and low-resistance flow of alkali solution and gas between the main flow channel hole and the small flow channel hole. The overall structure not only significantly improves corrosion resistance, mechanical strength and sealing reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 A partial structural schematic diagram of the electrode frame for a hydrogen production electrolyzer provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of the image; Figure 3 This is a partial enlarged view of the pole frame before electroplating, provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 4 A partial enlarged view of the polar frame body provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a block structure provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another block structure provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0021] In the figure: 110, pole frame body; 111, main flow channel hole; 112, slot; 113, wedge structure; 120, insert; 121, small chamber flow channel hole; 130, solder. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0023] Firstly, such as Figures 1-6As shown, the present application provides an electrode frame for a hydrogen electrolyzer, including an electrode frame body 110. The electrode frame body 110 has a plurality of main channel holes 111 opened along its own circumference. Each main channel hole 111 on the electrode frame body 110 has a slot 112 opened on the side near the center. An insert 120 is disposed in the slot 112. The insert 120 has a plurality of small chamber flow channel holes 121 for connecting the main channel hole 111 and the electrolysis chamber.

[0024] The electrode frame for hydrogen production electrolyzer provided in the first aspect of this application replaces the traditional welded thin-plate structure by embedding a block 120 with a small chamber flow channel hole 121 in the groove 112 inside the main channel hole 111 of the electrode frame body 110. This fundamentally avoids the problems of plating damage and welding defects caused by welding after electroplating, and greatly improves corrosion resistance and structural reliability. At the same time, the block 120, as an independently molded component, can be pre-optimized in terms of thickness and strength, effectively resisting the pressing force of the electrolyzer without deformation, ensuring unobstructed flow channel cross-section and uniform distribution of alkali and bubbles, thereby reducing local overheating and voltage loss, improving electrolysis efficiency and operational stability, and has comprehensive advantages such as simplified manufacturing process, high yield, and long service life.

[0025] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the dashed line represents the boundary of the insert 120, which is not actually visible on the product surface. The two sides of the insert 120 are welded and fixed to the two side boundaries of the slot 112, and the two sides of the insert 120 are flush with the part connected to the pole frame body 110.

[0026] Specifically, the insert 120 is pre-fabricated as an independent component, and its external dimensions are precisely matched with the "slot 112" opened on the electrode frame body 110. This ensures that after insertion, the two side boundaries fit together and both sides (front and back) are completely flush with the surface of the electrode frame body 110. As a result, the surface of the insert 120 is flush with the electrode frame body 110 without steps, reducing fluid resistance and bubble retention, and improving electrolysis uniformity. The material of the insert 120 is preferably the same as that of the electrode frame body 110, such as carbon steel or stainless steel.

[0027] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 The two sides of the slot 112 are wedge-shaped structures 113. The wedge-shaped structures 113 and the side of the insert 120 form a wedge-shaped gap for filling with solder 130 to enhance the connection strength between the insert 120 and the pole frame body 110.

[0028] Specifically, the wedge structure 113 has a V-shaped or U-shaped cross-section, forming a wedge-shaped gap with the side of the insert 120. During assembly, the insert 120 is precisely embedded into the slot 112 and kept flush with the surface. Then, alkali-resistant solder 130 is filled into the wedge-shaped gap. Through brazing or automatic wire-filling welding processes, the solder 130 is fully wetted and cured under capillary action, forming a high-strength, high-sealing metallurgical bond. After welding, precision machining and electroplating are performed, which avoids welding heat damage to the electroplated layer and significantly improves the mechanical connection strength and long-term service reliability of the insert 120 and the pole frame.

[0029] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 6 As shown, the extension direction of the small chamber flow channel hole 121 is consistent with the radial direction of the pole frame body 110.

[0030] Specifically, when machining the chamber flow channel holes 121 on the insert 120, its axial direction is strictly extended along the radial direction of the electrode frame body 110 (i.e., from the outer edge of the electrode frame to the center or in the opposite direction). This ensures that when the alkali solution or gas-liquid mixture enters the electrolysis chamber from the main flow channel hole 111 through the chamber flow channel holes 121, the flow path is the shortest and the direction is consistent, reducing pressure loss and eddies caused by fluid turning. When assembling the insert 120, its radial orientation must be accurately aligned by positioning structures or tooling, so that all chamber flow channel holes 121 are evenly distributed in a fan shape. This optimizes the uniformity of reactant distribution in the electrolysis chamber, improves bubble discharge efficiency, and reduces local concentration polarization and voltage loss, ultimately enhancing the overall performance and operational stability of the electrolyzer.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the flow channel 121 of the small chamber is a round hole or an oblong hole.

[0032] Specifically, round holes are easy to process and have uniform stress distribution, which is conducive to mass production and ensuring structural strength; while elongated holes, while maintaining ease of processing, can be appropriately extended radially or circumferentially along the electrode frame to increase the flow cross-sectional area and reduce flow resistance, which is more conducive to uniform distribution of alkali solution and efficient removal of bubbles, reducing local stagnation and pressure drop, thereby improving the mass transfer efficiency in the electrolysis chamber, suppressing concentration polarization, reducing cell voltage, and improving hydrogen production efficiency.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the size of the small chamber flow channel hole 121 is in a ratio of 1:4 to 6 to the thickness of the insert 120, and the thickness of the insert 120 is 12 mm to 16 mm.

[0034] Specifically, the thickness of the insert 120 can be any typical but non-limiting point value or a range between any two points, such as 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, or 16mm. Meanwhile, the diameter of the flow channel hole 121 (or the minor axis dimension of the oblong hole) is set at a ratio of 1 / 4 to 1 / 6 of the thickness of the insert 120, i.e., the diameter is controlled within the range of 2mm to 4mm. In these cases, while ensuring sufficient flow cross-sectional area and reducing flow resistance, the mechanical strength of the insert 120 is avoided from being weakened due to excessively large openings, thus maintaining its effective support for the diaphragm and the stability of the flow channel structure.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the length of the insert 120 is 70mm to 80mm, and the insert 120 has 9 to 15 small chamber flow channel holes 121 distributed along its length. For example, the length of the insert 120 can be any typical but non-limiting point value or an interval value between any two points, such as 70mm, 72mm, 75mm, 77mm, 79mm, 80mm; the insert 120 can have 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 small chamber flow channel holes 121 evenly distributed along its length.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the main channel hole 111 is an oblong hole.

[0037] Specifically, the main channel holes 111 are arranged circumferentially along the pole frame body 110, and adopt an elongated hole structure (i.e., elliptical or racetrack-shaped holes). The long axis direction is basically consistent with the circumferential direction, which increases the docking area with external pipelines or adjacent pole frame flow channels, and optimizes the uniformity of alkali distribution in the circumferential direction. During manufacturing, the elongated holes can be efficiently formed by milling or stamping, which is more conducive to improving the flow capacity and reducing pressure drop in a limited space compared with circular holes. At the same time, its smooth transition contour avoids fluid separation and eddy current generation, reduces the risk of bubble retention, and improves gas-liquid separation efficiency.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the radius of the circular end of the main channel hole 111 is 8mm to 12mm, and the length of the rectangular segment is the same as the length of the insert 120.

[0039] Specifically, the radius of the circular end of the main channel orifice 111 can be any typical but non-limiting point value or a range between any two points, such as 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, or 12mm. The length of the rectangular segment precisely matches the length of the block 120 in the circumferential direction. In this case, the main channel orifice 111 and the block 120 are perfectly aligned in the circumferential direction, ensuring that the alkali solution or gas-liquid mixture can be efficiently and uniformly introduced radially from the main channel orifice 111 through the small chamber flow channel orifice 121 on the block 120 into the electrolysis chamber, avoiding fluid deviation or local blockage.

[0040] Secondly, this application provides a hydrogen production electrolyzer, comprising: an electrode frame as described above, and a bipolar plate disposed in the inner ring of the electrode frame.

[0041] The hydrogen electrolyzer provided in the second aspect of this application constructs a high-performance, high-reliability electrolysis unit by employing an electrode frame with optimized structure as described above and a bipolar plate arranged in the inner ring in synergy. The electrode frame replaces the traditional welded thin plate with its innovative block 120 flow channel structure, fundamentally solving the problems of plating damage, welding defects and flow channel collapse. This ensures efficient, uniform and low-resistance flow of alkali solution and gas between the main flow channel hole 111 and the small flow channel hole 121. The overall structure not only significantly improves corrosion resistance, mechanical strength and sealing reliability.

[0042] Those skilled in the art should understand that the discussion of any of the above embodiments is merely exemplary and is not intended to imply that the scope of protection of this application is limited to these examples; within the framework of this application, the technical features of the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations of different aspects of one or more embodiments of this application as described above, which are not provided in detail for the sake of brevity.

[0043] One or more embodiments in this application are intended to cover all such substitutions, modifications, and variations that fall within the broad scope of this application. Therefore, any omissions, modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of one or more embodiments in this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A pole frame for a hydrogen-producing electrolyzer, characterized by, The device includes a pole frame body (110), on which a plurality of main channel holes (111) are provided along its circumference. Each of the main channel holes (111) on the pole frame body (110) has a slot (112) on the side near the center. An insert (120) is provided in the slot (112). The insert (120) has a plurality of small chamber flow channel holes (121) for connecting the main channel hole (111) and the electrolysis chamber.

2. The pole frame for a hydrogen-producing electrolyzer of claim 1, wherein, The two sides of the insert (120) are welded and fixed to the two side boundaries of the slot (112), and the two sides of the insert (120) are flush with the part connected to the pole frame body (110).

3. The pole frame for a hydrogen-producing electrolyzer of claim 2, wherein, The two sides of the slot (112) are wedge-shaped structures (113), and the wedge-shaped structure (113) and the side of the insert (120) form a wedge-shaped gap for filling with solder (130) to enhance the connection strength between the insert (120) and the pole frame body (110).

4. The pole frame for a hydrogen-producing electrolyzer of claim 1, wherein, The extension direction of the small chamber flow channel hole (121) is consistent with the radial direction of the pole frame body (110).

5. The pole frame for a hydrogen-producing electrolyzer of claim 1, wherein, The small chamber flow channel hole (121) is a round hole or an oblong hole.

6. The pole frame for a hydrogen-producing electrolyzer of claim 1, wherein, The ratio of the size of the small chamber flow channel hole (121) to the thickness of the insert (120) is 1:4~6, and the thickness of the insert (120) is 12mm~16mm.

7. The polar frame for a hydrogen-producing electrolyzer of claim 6, wherein, The length of the insert (120) is 70mm~80mm, and the insert (120) has 9~15 small chamber flow channel holes (121) distributed in the length direction.

8. The pole frame for a hydrogen-producing electrolyzer of claim 1, wherein, The main channel hole (111) is an oblong hole.

9. The pole frame for a hydrogen-producing electrolyzer of claim 8, wherein, The radius of the circular end of the main channel hole (111) is 8mm~12mm, and the length of the rectangular segment is the same as the length of the insert (120).

10. A hydrogen-producing electrolyzer, characterized by, include: The polar frame as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; Bipolar plates are disposed within the inner ring of the polar frame.

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