Electrochemical device

Abstract

Electrochemical device (10), in particular electrolysis device, with a cell stack (11) comprising several cell stack elements (12), in particular several electrolysis cells, with a force application unit (13) comprising end plates (14, 15) and compression devices (16), wherein the cell stack (11) is arranged between the end plates (14, 15) and is compressed between the end plates (14, 15) by means of the compression devices (16), which have spring elements (20), and wherein the spring elements (20) of the compression devices (16) are arranged between the end plates (14, 15). Each of the crimping devices (16) has two U-shaped brackets (21a, 21b), wherein the respective spring element (20) of the respective crimping device (16) is arranged between the brackets (21a, 21b) of the respective crimping device (16) and together with the brackets (21a, 21b) between the end plates (14, 15).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electrochemical device designed in particular as an electrolysis device.

[0002] DE 10 2017 108 413 A1 discloses an electrochemical device designed as an electrolysis device with a cell stack composed of a plurality of cell stack elements. Furthermore, the electrolysis device known from this prior art comprises a force application unit, via which a force can be exerted on the cell stack in order to press the cell stack elements of the cell stack together in a fluid-tight manner. The force application unit comprises end plates between which the cell stack is arranged. Furthermore, the force application unit comprises pressing devices comprising spring elements and struts, wherein the spring force of the spring elements presses the end plates against one another, pressing the cell stack together.

[0003] According to DE 10 2017 108 413 A1, the spring elements of the force application unit are supported externally on an end plate, namely on a side of the respective end plate facing away from the cell stack. This not only complicates access to the connections of the electrochemical device located on this end plate, but also requires a relatively large amount of installation space.

[0004] DE 10 2014 114 201 A1 discloses an electrochemical device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] DE 10 2022 205 374 A1 discloses further prior art.

[0006] Based on this, the present invention is based on the object of creating a novel electrochemical device, particularly designed as an electrolysis device, which requires less installation space.

[0007] This object is achieved by an electrochemical device according to claim 1.

[0008] The spring elements of the pressing devices are arranged between the end plates. Because the spring elements in the electrochemical device according to the invention are arranged between the end plates and not on the outer side of the end plates, the electrochemical device requires less installation space. Furthermore, access to the electrochemical device's connections is facilitated.

[0009] According to the invention, each of the pressing devices has two U-shaped brackets, with the respective spring element of the respective pressing device being arranged between the brackets of the respective pressing device and, together with the brackets, between the end plates. This design is particularly preferred in order to reduce the space required for the electrochemical device and to facilitate access to its connections.

[0010] Preferably, the two brackets of the respective pressing device each have two legs and a connecting leg connecting the two legs at one end thereof. The two brackets are arranged relative to one another in such a way that, upon a translational relative movement between the brackets, the distance between the connecting legs of the same and the compression of the spring element arranged between the connecting legs change. This is also preferred in order to facilitate access to the connections of the electrochemical device while maintaining a small installation space.

[0011] Preferably, each clamp of the respective pressing device is coupled with a clamping screw and a nut extending through one of the end plates. This allows the pressing of the cell stack via the end plates to be adjusted particularly advantageously while maintaining a small installation space.

[0012] Preferably, the clamping screws are guided in insulating sleeves, which also extend through one of the end plates. Each insulating sleeve rests with a sleeve head on the outside of one of the end plates, on a side facing away from the cell stack. Each clamping screw rests with a screw head directly or indirectly on the sleeve head of the insulating sleeve in which the clamping screw is guided. The insulating sleeves advantageously allow the clamping screws to be electrically insulated from the end plates.

[0013] Preferred developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail, without being limited thereto, with reference to the drawings. Herein: Fig. 1: a perspective view of an electrochemical device according to the invention, Fig. 2 a perspective view of a pressing device of the electrochemical device according to the invention, Fig. 3 a cross-section through the pressing device of the Fig. 2.

[0014] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an electrochemical device 10, which is designed as an electrolysis device. In such an electrolysis device, hydrogen H2 and oxygen O2 are obtained from the water H2O by electrolysis of water H2O using electrical energy. Fig. The electrolysis device 10 shown in Figure 1 has a cell stack 11 composed of a plurality of cell stack elements 12, namely a plurality of electrolysis cells. The cell stack 11, composed of the plurality of cell stack elements 12, is pressed together in a fluid-tight manner by a force application unit 13. The force application unit 13 has end plates 14, 15 between which the cell stack 11 is arranged and pressed.

[0015] In order to press the cell stack 11 between the end plates 14, 15, the force application unit 13 further comprises pressing devices 16. The pressing devices 16 will be described with reference to Fig. 2, Fig. 3 in detail.

[0016] As already explained, the electrochemical device 10 is used to produce hydrogen H2 from water H2O. Oxygen O2 is also produced in the process. The electrochemical device 10 has water connections through which water H2O can be supplied to the electrochemical device 10 and from which water H2O can be removed from the electrochemical device 10. Fig. 1, water drainage connections 17 are shown in the area of ​​end plate 15, which serve to drain water (H2O) from electrochemical device 10. On the opposite end plate 14, preferably invisible water supply connections are provided, which serve to supply water (H2O) to electrochemical device 10. Gas connections are also shown in the area of ​​end plate 15, namely gas connections 18, 19 for the removal of hydrogen (H2). The oxygen (O2) is removed together with water (H2O) via the water drainage connections 18, so that no separate gas connections are required for the removal of oxygen (O2).

[0017] As already explained, the force application unit 13 has the two end plates 14, 15 as well as the pressing devices 16, wherein the end plates 14, 15 can be pressed together via the pressing devices 16 while pressing the cell stack 11 between the end plates 14, 15.

[0018] Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show one of the pressing devices 16 in detail, namely Fig. 2 a perspective view and Fig. 3 a cross section.

[0019] Each pressing device 16 has a spring element 20 arranged between the end plates 14, 15. In contrast to the prior art, the spring elements 20 of the pressing devices 16 are therefore not arranged on the outside of an end plate 14, 15, but rather between the end plates 14, 15. This not only reduces the installation space, but also facilitates access to the connections formed on the end plates 14, 15.

[0020] Each pressing device 16 has two U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b, wherein the spring element 20 is arranged between the U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b and together with the brackets 21a, 21b between the end plates 14, 15.

[0021] Each of the two U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b has two legs 22a, 23a and 22b, 23b, respectively, whereby the two legs 22a, 23a and 23b, 23b of the respective U-shaped bracket 21a, 21b are connected by a connecting leg 24a, 24b. The two U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b are twisted relative to each other and folded into each other in such a way that, upon a translational relative movement between the brackets 21a, 21b, the distance between the connecting legs 24a, 24b of the brackets 21a, 21b changes, thus increasing the compression of the spring element 20 arranged between the connecting legs 24a, 24b.

[0022] The legs 22a, 23a of the U-shaped bracket 21a extend between the legs 22b, 23b of the U-shaped bracket 21b and the legs 22b, 23b of the U-shaped bracket 21b extend between the legs 22a, 23a of the U-shaped bracket 21a.

[0023] The U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b therefore assume a relative position in the interlocked state in which they are rotated by 180° relative to each other with respect to the connecting legs 24a, 24b and by 90° relative to each other with respect to the legs 22a, 23a and 22b, 23b, respectively.

[0024] A clamping screw 25 extending through one of the end plates 14, 15 and a nut 26 cooperate with each of the U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b. The nuts 26 are preferably hammer nuts, with projections of the nuts 26 engaging in recesses 27 of the legs 22a, 23a, 22b, 23b of one of the U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b. Fig. 2 that a nut 26 designed as a hammer nut engages with its projections in the recesses 27 in the legs 22a, 23a of the bracket 21a and in the recesses 27 in the legs 22b, 23b of the bracket 21b. Preferably, one of the nuts 26 has a right-hand thread and the other of the nuts 26 has a left-hand thread.

[0025] The clamping screws 25 of the pressing device 16 protrude into a recess 28 in the respective spring element 20, wherein Fig. 3 the spring element 20 of several disc springs which form a disc spring package.

[0026] The clamping screws 25 are guided in insulating sleeves 29. The insulating sleeves 29, like the clamping screws 25, extend through the end plates 14, 15. Each of the insulating sleeves 29 is supported by a sleeve head 30 on the outside of one of the end plates 14, 15, specifically on a side of the respective end plate 14, 15 facing away from the cell stack 11.

[0027] Each of the clamping screws 25 is supported with a screw head 31 directly or indirectly on the sleeve head 30 of the respective insulating sleeve 29 in which the respective clamping screw 25 is guided, wherein in the exemplary embodiment shown the clamping screws 25 are supported with their screw heads 31 indirectly on the respective sleeve head 30, namely with an insulating washer 32 and a washer 33 arranged therebetween. This ensures that forces are transmitted evenly to the sleeve head 30 starting from the respective screw head 31.

[0028] The invention enables advantageous pressing of the cell stack 11 via the force application unit 13, which requires little installation space and allows unrestricted access to the connections of the electrochemical device 10. The force application unit 13 comprises the pressing elements 16, each pressing element 16 having two U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b that are folded one inside the other, between which a spring element 20, preferably designed as a disc spring assembly, is arranged. Clamping screws 25 of the pressing elements 16, which extend through the end plates 14, 15, cooperate with nuts 26, one nut 26 preferably having a left-hand thread and the other nut 26 preferably having a right-hand thread.

[0029] By turning one of the two U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b, the translational relative position between the U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b can be changed, thus altering the compression of the spring element 20. Re-tensioning of the cell stack 11 is easily possible at any time.

[0030] The use of a lock nut can prevent unintentional twisting of the U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b. List of reference symbols 10 Electrochemical device 11 cell stacks 12 cell stack element 13 Force application unit 14 End plate 15 End plate 16 Pressing device 17 Connection 18 connection 19 Connection 20 spring element 21a bracket 21b bracket 22a Leg 22b Leg 23a Leg 23b Leg 24a connecting leg 24b Connecting leg 25 clamping screw 26 Mother 27 Recess 28 recess 29 Insulating sleeve 30 sleeve head 31 screw head 32 insulating disc 33 Washer

Claims

[1] Electrochemical device (10), in particular electrolysis device, with a cell stack (11) comprising several cell stack elements (12), in particular several electrolysis cells, with a force application unit (13) having end plates (14, 15) and pressing devices (16), wherein the cell stack (11) comprising the cell stack elements (12) arranged between the end plates (14, 15) is pressed between the end plates (14, 15) via the pressing devices (16) which have spring elements (20), wherein the spring elements (20) of the pressing devices (16) are arranged between the end plates (14, 15). characterized by that each of the pressing devices (16) has two U-shaped brackets (21a, 21b), wherein the respective spring element (20) the respective pressing device (16) is arranged between the brackets (21a, 21b) of the respective pressing device (16) and together with the brackets (21a, 21b) between the end plates (14, 15). [2] Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the two brackets (21a, 21b) of the respective pressing device (16) each have two legs (22a, 23a, 22b, 23b) and a connecting leg (24a, 24b) connecting the two legs at one end, wherein the two brackets (21a, 21b) are arranged relative to one another in such a way that during a translational relative movement between the brackets (21a, 21b) the distance between the connecting legs (24a, 24b) of the same and the compression of the spring element (14) arranged between the connecting legs (24a, 24b) change. [3] Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized bythat a clamping screw (25) extending through one of the end plates (13, 14) and a nut (26) cooperate with each bracket (21a, 21b) of the respective pressing device (16). [4] Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 3, characterized by that one of the nuts (26) has a right-hand thread and the other of the nuts (26) has a left-hand thread. [5] Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 3 or 4, the nuts (26) are designed as hammer nuts, wherein projections of each nut (26) engage in recesses (27) of the legs (22a, 23a, 22b, 23b) of a respective U-shaped bracket (21a, 21b). [6] Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized by that the clamping screws (25) are guided in insulating sleeves (29), which also extend through one of the end plates (14, 15). [7] Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 6, characterized bythat each insulating sleeve (29) is supported by an end-side sleeve head (30) on one of the end plates (14, 15) on the outside, on a side facing away from the cell stack (11), and that each clamping screw (25) is supported by a screw head (31) directly or indirectly on the sleeve head (30) of the insulating sleeve (29) in which the clamping screw (25) is guided. [8] Electrochemical device (10) according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized by that the clamping screws (25) of a pressing device (16) extend into a recess (28) in the spring element (20) of the respective pressing device (16). [9] Electrochemical device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the spring elements (20) of the pressing devices (16) are designed as disc spring assemblies.

Images