Transport and test trolley for moving, adjusting and / or testing stacked assemblies of electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell components, associated stations

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transport and test trolley (1) for moving, adjusting and / or testing stacked assemblies of components of electrolytic cells and / or fuel cells, the trolley enabling the immediate removal of stacks at the end of in-zone production, e.g., in-line production, and direct transport of them to an adjustment and / or test station, and enabling one or more adjustment and / or test processes of the stacks to be carried out directly on the trolley without handling them prior to the process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of fuel cells and electrolyzers comprising one or more stacks of individual electrochemical cells.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to the field of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), the field of high-temperature electrolysis, and to the high-temperature co-electrolysis of carbon dioxide CO2 and water H2O as well as to the CO2 electrolysis of carbon dioxide CO2 using also solid oxides (SOEC, the initials of Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (solid oxide electrolysis cell)).

[0003] The present invention more particularly relates to a novel system for the management of stacks at the end of the manufacturing and assembly process.

[0004] Although the present invention is mainly described with respect to high-temperature applications, the present invention also applies to any type of stack of electrochemical cells for fuel cells and / or for electrolyzers, whatever the number of cells.

Background Art

[0005] An SOFC fuel cell or an SOEC electrolyzer is an electrochemical device consisting of a stack of a plurality of elementary units (elementary unit) comprising solid oxide electrochemical cells (solid oxide electrochemical cell) in which an anode layer / electrolyte layer / cathode layer are superposed on one another.

[0006] ]> In addition, in order to ensure the passage of current and the circulation of gases (steam injected and hydrogen and oxygen produced in the SOEC electrolyzer, air and hydrogen injected and water produced in the SOFC cell) in the vicinity of each cell, and in order to separate the fuel compartment and the air compartment which are the circulation compartments of the gases, interconnectors are arranged between the cells.

[0007] To perform high-temperature SOEC electrolysis (typically 600-950°C) of water vapor, H2O vapor is injected into the fuel compartment. Under the influence of the current applied to the cell, dissociation of water molecules in vapor occurs at the interface between the hydrogen electrode and the electrolyte, generating dihydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen ions. This dihydrogen is recovered and removed at the outlet of the hydrogen compartment. Oxygen ions O 2- The oxygen moves through the electrolyte and, by receiving electrons from the fuel side via an external power source, recombines as dioxygen (O2) at the interface between the electrolyte and the oxygen electrode. The resulting oxygen is removed at the outlet of the air compartment.

[0008] To ensure the function of the SOFC fuel cell, air (oxygen) is injected into the air compartment and hydrogen is injected into the fuel compartment. Hydrogen H2 is H + It is converted into ions, and then releases electrons which are captured by the fuel electrode.

[0009] On the air side, oxygen O2 is O 2- It changes into H, and it moves through the electrolyte to the fuel side, where they become H + It combines with ions to form H2O vapor. The released electrons move from the fuel to the air electrode through an external load, generating a direct electric current from the hydrogen / oxygen reaction.

[0010] In the case of SOEC electrolysis, it is known to stack several elementary electrochemical cells on top of each other, separated by interconnectors, in order to increase the amount of hydrogen and oxygen produced, or in the case of SOFC fuel cells, to increase the power supply. The resulting assembly is placed between two end connection plates that support the power supply and gas supply / recovery of the SOEC electrolyzer or SOFC fuel cell.

[0011] Furthermore, in order to improve the quality of the electrical contact established between the interconnector and the phase electrode, and consequently improve the performance of the electrochemical device described above, electrical contact members are individually interposed on the electrodes. Nickel grids are conventionally used for contact with the hydrogen electrode, while Crofer grids are used for the air electrode.

[0012] The stacks currently in use generally employ seals at each stage that must ensure leak-proof airtightness between the single stack layers described above. Advantageous seals are described in European Patent No. EP3078071B1.

[0013] These seals are characterized by requiring thermal and mechanical treatment to remain effective for the entire lifespan of the SOEC electrolytic cell and SOFC fuel cell stacks. The above treatment is typically called "stack sintering" because the stack layers are sintered for a permanent and irreparable connection.

[0014] During the sintering process described above, the stack of the electrochemical devices is typically reduced in size by several centimeters.

[0015] After sintering, the stack must undergo conditioning treatment. This electrochemical conditioning process is essential to ensure the quality of the stack and its conformity to expected specifications. This conditioning process consists of at least one reduction heat treatment step to convert the fuel side of the electrochemical cell from its original oxidizing state to a reducing state.

[0016] This reduction process can be a thermomechanical cycle in a gaseous atmosphere, i.e., with a reducing gas at the hydrogen electrode and air or a neutral gas at the oxygen electrode.

[0017] A specific heat treatment process is described in European Patent No. EP2870650B1.

[0018] Moreover, once the assembly by the stack of the fuel cell or the electrolytic cell is completed, it needs to be tested before its operation. This test stage consists of checking whether the seal and / or the actual electricity and / or gas generation are as expected.

[0019] The adjustment process and the test process of the stack as described above take time.

[0020] As an example, one cycle can be composed of several sections, for example, heating, sintering, reduction, testing, and cooling.

[0021] A long cycle time can be a problem in the manufacturing process, especially in mass production.

[0022] In fact, the manufacturing process of the stack of the fuel cell and / or the electrolytic cell has already been planned as in-line production.

[0023] And it is not compatible in terms of time and / or location to perform the test and / or adjustment in situ, that is, directly at the end of the continuous flow manufacturing. That is, implementing in the production line and / or installing the adjustment device reduces the production speed and / or requires a large dedicated space for such a device. Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0024] Therefore, there is a need to find a solution that enables the test and / or adjustment of the fuel cell and the electrolytic cell without affecting the manufacturing process at the end of the continuous flow manufacturing.

[0025] The present invention aims to address all or part of these needs. Means for Solving the Problems

[0026] The subject of the present invention is, among other aspects, a transport and testing trolley for moving, conditioning and / or testing stacked assemblies of components of electrolyzers and / or fuel cells, a movable frame intended to be moved from a manufacturing zone of at least one stacked assembly of components of an electrolyzer and / or fuel cell to a conditioning and / or testing station not included in the manufacturing zone; a support mounted on or integral with the movable frame, having at least one upper surface region accessible from the outside by an operator and / or a robot and intended to support the at least one stacked assembly of components of an electrolyzer and / or fuel cell; at least one electrical connector mounted on the movable frame so as to provide an external electrical connection to the at least one stacked assembly of components of an electrolyzer and / or fuel cell; at least one fluid manifold mounted on the movable frame so as to supply and / or recover external gas and / or gas from the outside to and / or from the stacked assembly of components of at least one electrolyzer and / or fuel cell; the above transport and testing trolley comprising the same.

[0027] "Production zone" must be understood in the context of the present invention to mean an in-line production zone or a research and development zone (R&D) or more generally any area where the stack to be tested is manufactured and assembled.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the trolley comprises at least one heating coil arranged around each upper surface region of the support.

[0029] In another preferred embodiment, the trolley comprises at least one mechanical load, preferably a pneumatic cylinder, located within the movable frame, wherein the mechanical load is movable between an extended position in which the at least one stacked assembly is accessible by an operator and can be positioned or removed from the upper region, and a retracted position in which the cylinder applies a mechanical load to the stacked assembly.

[0030] According to this embodiment, the mechanical load can be applied from below while one or more stacks are compressed from above (and from below by the support), or from above while one or more stacks are compressed from below by the support.

[0031] Existing technical solutions for applying mechanical loads risk non-vertical load application due to geometric stack distortion and / or end plate displacement of the stack, which can be caused by temperature differences between the core and outer furnace during one or more adjustment and / or test processes.

[0032] In the solution according to the present invention, a load can be applied perpendicularly to the stacked assembly from the top side of the stack, connected to a force introduction ball at the top of the stack and at least two compression plates above and below the force introduction ball. While the lower compression plate lies on the surface of the components of the stacked assembly, the upper compression plate is pulled down by at least two rods along the side of one or more stacks connected to a mechanical load system installed in a movable cart below the at least one stacked assembly of electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell components. Alternatively, the compression plate can be pulled down to a certain position, and after the compression plate has been lowered and fixed in a certain position, the stack is raised to the position in which the compression plate was fixed. According to another variation, the at least one stacked assembly of electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell components can be raised up to the compression plate.

[0033] This approach ensures that the compressive load is applied at a precise 90° angle to the stacked assembly of the electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell components in order to achieve the optimal stack shape. In particular, it allows for adjustment to be the same height or different height for the stack to be tested and / or adjusted. In one possible configuration, the support comprises four upper regions arranged at 90° angles to each other when viewed from the front.

[0034] The movable frame preferably includes at least one condensate trap, preferably with a pump, located within the movable frame to collect all condensates arising from at least one stacked assembly of components of the electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell during their adjustment and / or testing.

[0035] In another preferred embodiment, the movable frame is provided with wheels and / or the movable frame is configured to house a mobile robot platform for the displacement of the trolley. Thus, the trolley can be easily and quickly moved directly from the downstream area of ​​the end of in-zone production of the stack to a stationing area waiting to test the transported stack, or to an adjustment and / or testing station.

[0036] The present invention also relates to a sintering, tune-up and / or testing station for sintering, tune-up and / or testing laminated assemblies of components for electrolytic cells and / or fuel cells, For example, at least one gantry to which at least one adjustment and / or test furnace is attached in the form of a hood that is fixed or movable between an extended position in which at least one transport and test trolley, e.g., the above-mentioned transport and test trolley, can be positioned or removed, and a retracted position in which the hood retrieves the trolley in the adjustment and / or test configuration; At least one fluid and electrical control box for supplying and / or recovering gas and supplying and / or recovering electricity, the at least one fluid and electrical control box, when in the adjustment and / or test configuration, is intended to be connected to the fluid manifold and the electrical connector of a transport and test trolley, e.g., the at least one transport and test trolley described above, respectively. The above-mentioned adjustment and / or test station is equipped with the following:

[0037] A possible configuration would be that the station has a common gantry on which several adjustment and / or test furnaces are mounted, each in the form of a hood.

[0038] Preferably, each hood is moved vertically by translation along the gantry from the extended position to the retracted position and vice versa.

[0039] The adjustment and / or testing station may also be mounted to sinter the at least one laminated assembly of the electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell components.

[0040] The present invention also relates to a sintering, conditioned and / or testing apparatus for sintering, conditioning and / or testing laminated assemblies of components of an electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell, At least one trolley, for example, at least one of the trolleys mentioned above; At least one station, for example, at least one of the above-described stations, wherein either the trolley and / or the support and / or the hood is movable in the adjustment and / or test configuration to retrieve the trolley. Regarding the above adjustments and / or testing equipment.

[0041] In other words, the present invention essentially consists of a trolley for immediately receiving stacks at the end of in-zone production, e.g., in-line production, and transporting them directly to adjustment and / or testing stations, and for directly implementing one or more adjustment and / or testing processes of the stacks on the trolley without handling them before the process.

[0042] Within the framework of the present invention, the trolley and the equipment can be mounted to sinter a laminated assembly of an electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell.

[0043] The present invention also provides a stack load control station intended to cooperate with at least one trolley according to the present invention.

[0044] The present invention also relates to adjustment and / or testing equipment for adjusting and / or testing laminated assemblies of components of electrolytic cells and / or fuel cells, such as the adjustment and / or testing equipment described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0045] The present invention has several advantages over existing ones, including the following: Significantly improved downtime for adjusting and / or testing stacks for fuel cells or electrolytic cells directly at the exit of in-zone production, and finally preparing the stacks for sintering; Improving the efficiency of the stack testing and / or condition process; Improving the working conditions of operators at the exit of zone-based production; Optimization of the ground surface of plants that manufacture electrolytic cells and / or fuel cells; The trolley according to the present invention minimizes the handling of components (stacks), thus eliminating the risk of damage to such components (stacks); Excellent modularity that allows for easy adaptation to various in-zone production, various adjustment and / or test conditions, and laminated assemblies of various types of technologies (PEM, SOEC, SOFC, etc.); Using a common gas for all stacks makes it possible to place several stacks on separate conditioning and testing trolleys and facilities; The ability to simultaneously measure and evaluate multiple types of stacks; Possibility of arranging small stacks in series and / or large stacks in parallel on one or more trolleys for testing and / or adjustment.

[0046] Other advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily apparent by carefully reading the detailed description of examples of embodiments of the invention, which is provided for guidance purposes only and without intent to limit, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0047] The present invention can be better understood by reading the following description relating to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments and by examining the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0048] [Figure 1]Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustment and testing trolley according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which has a manually displaceable movable frame. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a side view of the trolley according to Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a top view of the trolley according to Figures 1 and 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of the trolley according to Figures 1 to 3, showing a force introduction ball with a mechanical load stroke and upper and lower pressure plates for applying load perpendicularly to each stack from above each stack. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view of the trolley according to Figures 1 to 3, showing the SOEC / SOFC stack positioned and supported on the upper surface region of a support attached to the movable frame of the trolley, with various elements surrounding each surface region. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a setup comprising an adjustment and test trolley positioned by an operator, electrically and fluidly connected to a complementary fixed station according to the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a side view of Figure 6. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing several adjustment and inspection trolleys equipped with complementary fixed stations that must be electrically and fluidly connected, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modified unit stack, which is stacked so as to be supported by one upper surface region of the support of the movable frame of the trolley according to the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a side view of an adjustment and test trolley according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which has a movable frame to be displaced by a mobile robot platform. [Figure 11]Figure 11 is a schematic top view of the SOEC / SOFC stack manufacturing zone, the ends of which are surrounded on both sides of the manufacturing zone by several adjustment and test trolleys according to the second embodiment and their corresponding stations arranged parallel to each other. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0049] Throughout this application, the terms “vertical,” “downward,” “upward,” “bottom,” “top,” “below,” and “up” should be understood in relation to a trolley according to the present invention having an SOEC / SOFC stack horizontally positioned on a support of the trolley’s movable frame.

[0050] Figures 1 to 5 show an example of a tuning and testing trolley according to a first embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 1.

[0051] This trolley 1 is intended to move, adjust, and / or test SOEC / SOFC laminated assemblies S1, S2, S3, and S4.

[0052] The trolley 1 is equipped with a movable frame 2 which is initially intended to move the stack from the manufacturing zone to an adjustment and / or testing station 10 not provided in the manufacturing zone, for example, the adjustment and / or testing station 10 described below.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the movable frame 2 is preferably a general form of a metal cube and is equipped with four wheels 20 for moving the trolley on the ground. Handlebars 21 are positioned on the sides of the frame 2 to facilitate handling from the manufacturing zone to the station 10 or vice versa.

[0054] The support 3 is mounted on or integrated with the movable frame 2. As shown in Figure 5, the support 3 comprises an electrically and thermally insulated peripheral region 30 and four upper regions 31, 32, 33 and 34 that are externally accessible by an operator and / or robot.

[0055] Each top region 31, 32, 33, and 34 is intended to support one of the stacked assemblies S1, S2, S3, and S4. In the illustrated embodiment, the four top regions 31, 32, 33, and 34 are arranged at 90° angles to each other when viewed from the front. Each top region 31, 32, 33, and 34 is configured to ensure an area around each stack S1, S2, S3, and S4 that is free of any elements.

[0056] The upper regions 31-34 are surrounded by a common cooling element 4 that can be operated during one or more adjustment and / or testing processes. This cooling element 4 allows for accelerated cooling control of the furnace at the end of the sintering, adjustment and / or testing cycle.

[0057] The heating coils 51, 52, 53, and 54 are positioned around the respective upper regions 31, 32, 33, and 34 of the support. These heating coils 51-54 can passively heat the gas supplied during one or more adjustment and / or testing steps.

[0058] During the process of adjusting and / or testing an SOEC / SOFC stack, it is generally necessary to apply compressive force to the stack.

[0059] To directly apply this compressive force into the trolley 1, the trolley 1 is equipped with at least one mechanical load system 61, 62, and 64, preferably a pneumatic cylinder, located within the movable frame 3 for each stack S1 to S4.

[0060] In the embodiment shown, the mechanical load strokes 61-64 apply a load perpendicular to the stacks S1-S4 from the top side through at least one plate 71, 72, 73 and 74 that forms a mass whose surface is at least the surface of the stacks S1-S4.

[0061] Each mechanical load stroke 61-64 is independently movable between an extended position, as shown in Figure 4, where the stacks S1-S4 can be accessed by an operator and positioned or removed from the upper area, and a retracted position, where the stroke applies a mechanical load to the stacks S1-S4. The applied mechanical load may differ for each stack assembly, i.e., up to four different loads may be applied to the stack assemblies S1-S4.

[0062] During one or more adjustment and / or test processes, the trolley 1 is equipped with a connector system 8 to supply and / or directly collect electrically and different gases, such as H2, O2, and ultimately exhaust gases, from and to different stacks S1-S4. As shown in Figure 2, the connector system 8 is individually mounted on the side of the movable frame 3 as a fluidic and electrical feedthrough to supply and / or collect gases to and from stacks S1-S4, and to provide external electrical connections to stacks S1-S4.

[0063] More precisely, the connector system 8 comprises at least one electrical connector 80 and at least four fluid manifolds 81 (gas, cooling fluid, water condensate). Fluid lines and electrical cables between the connector 80 and the manifolds 81, upper regions 31-34, and different components (cooling element 4, heating coils 51-54, pneumatic cylinders 61-64, stacks S1-S4) are not shown. They are arranged within the movable frame 3 in an optimized routing configuration.

[0064] Preferably, the connector 80 and manifold 81 are configured to enable automatic quick connection of the fluidic and electrical connection between the trolley 1 and the complementary station 10.

[0065] In a preferred modification, at least one condensate trap (not shown) with a pump can be placed on the movable frame to collect all condensates coming from stacks S1-S4 during the adjustment and / or testing of stacks S1-S4.

[0066] A setup comprising a trolley 1 and its complementary station 10 is shown in Figures 6 and 7. In Figures 6 and 7, the trolley 1 is configured to be fluidly and electrically connected to the station 10 and is ready to begin one or more adjustment and / or testing processes of stacks S1 to S4 loaded by the trolley 1.

[0067] The fixed station 10 mainly comprises a connecting base 11 on which the trolley 1 is parked, a gantry 12 located in front of and above the connecting base 11, a hood-shaped furnace 13 slidably mounted on the gantry 12, and an electrical and fluid control cabinet / box 14, which is located behind the connecting base 13 and is electrically and fluidly connected to the latter.

[0068] More specifically, the connecting base 11 has a general U-shape that allows the trolley 1 to be introduced to the electrical and fluid connection between the connecting system 8 and a complementary connecting system (not shown) implemented within the base 11.

[0069] The furnace hood 13 is slidably mounted on the gantry 12 so as to be movable between an extended position in which the trolley 1, for example, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, can be positioned or removed, and a retracted position in which the connecting base 11 retrieves the trolley 1 in adjustment and test configuration. More precisely, the hood 13 is mounted on the gantry 12 so as to be movable vertically by translation along the gantry from the extended position to the retracted position and vice versa. When in its retracted position, the hood 13 can contact the upper end of the support 3.

[0070] An electric motor 120, located at the top of the gantry 12, may be implemented to slide the hood 13 from its extended position to its retracted position.

[0071] The fluid and electrical control cabinet 14 is configured, when in adjustment and test configuration, to supply and / or recover gas, and to supply and / or recover electricity intended to be connected to the fluid manifold and electrical connector of the transport and test trolley 1, respectively. For example, the gas and fluid may be cooling water and water condensate.

[0072] A control and command unit for managing adjustment and / or test cycles may be housed in one of the multiple cabinets 14.

[0073] Here, the installation order is briefly explained.

[0074] Process a / : Operator O handles trolley 1 on the upper surface area where stacks S1 and S4 are placed until trolley 1 is parked inside the base 11 of station 10.

[0075] Preferably, the fluid and electrical connections between the connection system 8 and one of the bases 11 are made simultaneously and automatically when the trolley 1 is parked.

[0076] Step b: Operator O checked all stacks S1-S4 and their fluid and electrical connections.

[0077] Process c / : Operator O activates the control and command units to initiate one or more adjustment and / or test processes of stacks S1 to S4.

[0078] Process d / : The furnace hood 13 is slid to reach its retracted position. Alternatively, the furnace hood 13 can be fixed in place, and the support 3 that supports the trolley 1 itself and / or the stacks S1-S4 can be raised.

[0079] Process e / : Through the operation of the pneumatic cylinders 61-64, a mechanical load is applied from above to each stack S1-S4 by the plates 71-74.

[0080] Process f / : Temperature and / or pressure cycles are applied to stacks S1-S4 by the control and command unit according to the specifications of the adjustment and / or test conditions.

[0081] Process g / : Once the cycle is complete and the temperature has decreased, the furnace hood 13 can be slid to its deployed position. It should be noted that the furnace hood 13 can be moved without restriction and without interfering with load compression during active load compression.

[0082] Next, trolley 1 can be moved directly to a dedicated packaging zone for stacks S1 to S4, which are to be transported from the production plant to the outside.

[0083] In an advantageous equipment configuration, multiple unit stations can be arranged parallel to each other in a dedicated test zone. An example of such a configuration is shown in Figure 8, where four stations 10.1 to 10.4 are arranged side by side, each station configured to park trolleys 1.1 to 1.4. One operator O may handle all of these trolleys and perform one or more adjustment and / or test processes. It can be foreseen that all stations 10.1 to 10.4 have a common control and command unit.

[0084] Another advantageous modification is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. Instead of having only one stack for each surface region 31-34, several stacks S11-Sn;S21-Sp can be pre-stacked themselves to constitute pre-assembled modules M1;M2 to be placed on each surface region 31-34. More precisely, in the shown embodiment, module M1 is a pre-assembly of three stacks S11, S12, S13...Sn of electrochemical cells having interconnectors, where the bottom stack S11 is sandwiched between two end plates 35 and 36, the middle stack S12 is sandwiched between two end plates 36 and 37, and the top stack S13 is sandwiched between two end plates 3n and 3n-1. For example, module M1 has n × 25 electrochemical cells, where stacks S11-Sn typically have 25 electrochemical cells. Each module M1 and M2 can be adjusted and / or tested on a given surface area 31 and 32.

[0085] To displace the trolley 1 according to the present invention, another embodiment may be envisioned instead of the simple wheel 20. Thus, a mobile robot platform 9 may be positioned beneath the movable frame 2 of the trolley 1, for example, as shown in Figure 10. This robot platform 9 can be controlled and commanded in an autonomous manner to displace one or more trolleys 1 from the stack manufacturing zone to a station 10 for adjusting and / or testing the assembled stacks.

[0086] A favorable configuration of the manufacturing zone, with adjustment and / or test trolleys and stations arranged around it, is shown in Figure 11. In this configuration, eight stations 10.1 to 10.8 are arranged along each longitudinal direction on both sides of the manufacturing zone 100. From this zone, the manufactured and assembled stacks are transported, for example, to trolley 1.1 by an automated lifting robot. Once the stacks S1 to S4 are loaded onto the upper regions 31 to 34 of the movable frame 2, the mobile robot platform 9 can be displaced from its charging position, i.e., near zone 100, to a connection position with a dedicated station 10.1 located in an optimized location. This configuration 11 allows for the complete automation of the manufacturing, adjustment, and / or test installation of SOEC / SOFC stacks.

[0087] Other modifications and extensions can be provided without departing in any way from the framework of the present invention.

[0088] For example, if the illustrated embodiment shows four regions on the support top of a unique trolley, each intended to support one stack, then of course only one or more of four regions can be foreseen.

[0089] In the illustrated embodiment, the furnace hood is mounted on the gantry so as to be able to slide vertically from its extended position to its retracted position. Other displacement mechanisms for the hood, such as a rotational mechanism, can be envisioned.

[0090] Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the furnace hood is movable to retrieve the trolley in the adjustment and / or test configuration. However, while it may have a fixed furnace hood, the trolley and / or support may be movable upward to achieve the adjustment and / or test configuration, and also movable downward once one or more adjustment and / or test steps have been performed. It may also be assumed that both the movable furnace hood and trolley are movable to achieve the adjustment and / or test configuration.

[0091] It is also conceivable to mechanically connect several trolleys according to the present invention and optimize their displacement according to specifications.

[0092] The movable frame of a trolley according to the present invention may accommodate any other components useful for one or more adjustment and / or testing processes to be directly mounted on the stacks on the trolley. For example, separate heat exchangers for the fuel side and / or air (oxygen) side may be incorporated into the movable frame for each stack on the trolley. Any sensors / detectors, such as pressure and temperature sensors, may also be incorporated into the frame.

[0093] The expression "possessing" should be understood as synonymous with "possessing at least one" unless otherwise specified.

Claims

1. A transport and test trolley (1) for moving, adjusting and / or testing stacked assemblies of components of an electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell, A movable frame (2) intended to be moved from a manufacturing zone to an adjustment and / or test station not included in the manufacturing zone for at least one stacked assembly of components of an electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell; A support (3) mounted on or integrated with the movable frame, the support (3) having at least one upper region (30) accessible from the outside by an operator and / or robot, and intended to support the at least one stacked assembly of components of an electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell; At least one electrical connector (80) mounted on the movable frame to provide external electrical connections for components of the electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell to the at least one stacked assembly; At least one fluid manifold (81) mounted on the movable frame to recover and / or supply gas to and / or from the external gas to and / or from the stacked assembly of components of at least one electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell. The transport and test trolley (1) is equipped with the following:

2. The transport and test trolley according to claim 1, further comprising at least one heating coil positioned around each upper surface region of the support.

3. The transport and test trolley according to claim 1, comprising at least one mechanical load, preferably a pneumatic cylinder, disposed within the movable frame, wherein the mechanical load is movable between an extended position in which the at least one stacked assembly is accessible by an operator and can be positioned in a certain location or removed from the upper region, and a retracted position in which the cylinder applies a mechanical load to the stacked assembly.

4. The transport and test trolley according to claim 3, wherein the mechanical load is applied perpendicularly to the laminated assembly from the top side of the laminated assembly using a force introduction ball located on the top side of the laminated assembly, the force introduction ball being connected to at least two pressure plates located above and below the force introduction ball.

5. The transport and test trolley according to claim 1, wherein the support comprises four upper regions arranged at 90° angles to each other when viewed from the front.

6. The transport and test trolley according to claim 1, comprising at least one condensate trap, preferably equipped with a pump, located within the movable frame, to collect all condensates arising from at least one stacked assembly of components of an electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell during their adjustment and / or testing.

7. The transport and test trolley according to claim 1, wherein the movable frame is provided with wheels, and / or the movable frame is configured to house a mobile robot platform for the displacement of the trolley.

8. A sintering and / or testing station for sintering, adjusting and / or testing laminated assemblies of components for electrolytic cells and / or fuel cells, For example, at least one gantry to which at least one adjustment and / or test furnace is attached in the form of a hood, wherein the hood is fixed or movable between an extended position in which at least one transport and test trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 7 can be positioned or removed, and a retracted position in which the hood retrieves the trolley in the adjustment and / or test configuration; At least one fluid and electrical control box for supplying and / or recovering gas and supplying and / or recovering electricity, the at least one fluid and electrical control box intended to be connected to the fluid manifold and the electrical connector of the transport and test trolley described in any one of claims 1 to 7, respectively, when in the adjustment and / or test configuration. The adjustment and / or testing station is equipped with the above.

9. The adjustment and / or testing station according to claim 8, comprising a common gantry on which several adjustment and / or testing furnaces are mounted, each in the form of a hood.

10. The adjustment and / or testing station according to claim 8, wherein each hood is mounted on the gantry so as to move vertically by translation along the gantry from the extended position to the retracted position and vice versa.

11. The adjustment and / or testing station according to claim 8, wherein the station is mounted for sintering the at least one laminated assembly of components of an electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell.

12. Adjustment and / or testing equipment for sintering, adjusting and / or testing laminated assemblies of components for electrolytic cells and / or fuel cells, At least one trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 7; At least one station according to claim 8, wherein either the trolley and / or the support and / or the hood is movable in the adjustment and / or test configuration to retrieve the trolley. The aforementioned adjustment and / or testing equipment.

13. A method of using the adjustment and / or testing equipment according to claim 12 for adjusting and / or testing a laminated assembly of components of an electrolytic cell and / or fuel cell.

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