Electrochemical device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrochemical device (10), in particular an electrolysis device, having a cell stack (11) consisting of a plurality of cell stack elements (12), in particular a plurality of electrolysis cells; a force application unit (13) having end plates (14, 15) and pressing devices (16), wherein the cell stack (11) consisting of 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 (17), wherein the spring elements (17) of the pressing devices (16) are arranged between the end plates (14, 15).

Description

[0001] Electrochemistry device

[0002] The invention relates to an electrochemical device designed in particular as an electrolysis device.

[0003] 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.

[0004] 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.

[0005] 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.

[0006] This object is achieved by an electrochemical device according to claim 1. According to the invention, 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 an outer side of the end plates, the electrochemical device requires less installation space. Furthermore, access to the connections of the electrochemical device is facilitated.

[0007] Preferably, 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.

[0008] 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.

[0009] Preferably, each bracket of the respective pressing device is cooperated by 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 with minimal installation space requirements. Preferably, the clamping screws are guided in insulating sleeves, which also extend through one of the end plates, wherein each insulating sleeve is supported by a sleeve head on the outside of one of the end plates, on a side facing away from the cell stack, and wherein each clamping screw is supported by a screw head directly or indirectly on the sleeve head of the insulating sleeve in which the clamping screw is guided. The clamping screws can be advantageously electrically insulated from the end plates via the insulating sleeves.

[0010] 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 with reference to the drawings, without being limited thereto. Herein:

[0011] Fig. 1: a perspective view of an electrochemical device according to the invention,

[0012] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pressing device of the electrochemical device according to the invention,

[0013] Fig. 3 shows a cross section through the pressing device of Fig. 2.

[0014] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an electrochemical device 10 designed as an electrolysis device. In such an electrolysis device, hydrogen H2 and oxygen O2 are obtained from water H2O by electrolysis of the water H2O using electrical energy. The electrolysis device 10 shown in Fig. 1 has a cell stack 11 made up of a plurality of cell stack elements 12, namely a plurality of electrolysis cells. The cell stack 11 made up of the plurality of cell stack elements 12 is pressed together in a fluid-tight manner by a force application unit 13, wherein the force application unit 13 has end plates 14, 15, between which the cell stack 11 is arranged and pressed. In order to press the cell stack 11 between the end plates 14, 15, the force application unit 13 further has pressing devices 16. The pressing devices 16 will be discussed in detail with reference to Figs. 2 and 3.

[0015] 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 on the one hand and from which water H2O can be discharged from the electrochemical device 10 on the other. In Fig. 1, water discharge connections 17 are shown in the area of ​​the end plate 15, which serve to discharge water H2O from the electrochemical device 10. On the opposite end plate 14, water supply connections (preferably not visible) are provided, which serve to supply water H2O to the electrochemical device 10. Gas connections are also shown in the area of ​​the end plate 15, namely gas connections 18, 19 for discharging the hydrogen H2.The oxygen O2 is discharged together with water H2O via the water discharge connections 18, so that there are no separate gas connections for the discharge of the oxygen O2.

[0016] 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.

[0017] Fig. 2 and 3 show one of the pressing devices 16 in detail, namely Fig. 2 a perspective view and Fig. 3 a cross-section. Each pressing device 16 has a spring element 17 arranged between the end plates 14, 15. In contrast to the prior art, the spring elements 17 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 connections formed on the end plates 14, 15.

[0018] Each pressing device 16 has two U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b, wherein the spring element 17 is arranged between the U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b and together with the brackets 21a, 21b between the end plates 14, 15.

[0019] 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 17 arranged between the connecting legs 24a, 24b.

[0020] 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.

[0021] The U-shaped brackets 21a, 21b therefore assume a relative position in the nested state in which they are rotated 180° relative to each other with respect to the connecting legs 24a, 24b and 90° relative to each other with respect to the legs 22a, 23a and 22b, 23b, respectively. 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. Thus, it can be seen from 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.

[0022] The clamping screws 25 of the pressing device 16 protrude into a recess 28 in the respective spring element 17, wherein in Fig. 3 the spring element 17 is made up of several disc springs which form a disc spring package.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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. 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 the interposition of an insulating washer 32 and a washer 33. This ensures that forces are transmitted evenly from the respective screw head 31 to the sleeve head 30. 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 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 inserted into one another, between which a spring element 17, 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.

[0025] 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 17. Re-tensioning of the cell stack 11 is easily possible at any time.

[0026] The use of a lock nut can prevent unintentional twisting of the U-shaped brackets 21 a, 21 b.

[0027] List of reference symbols

[0028] 10 Electrochemical device

[0029] 11 cell stacks

[0030] 12 cell stack element

[0031] 13 Force application unit

[0032] 14 End plate

[0033] 15 End plate

[0034] 16 Pressing device

[0035] 17 Connection

[0036] 18 connection

[0037] 19 Connection

[0038] 20 spring element

[0039] 21a bracket

[0040] 21 b bracket

[0041] 22a Leg

[0042] 22b Leg

[0043] 23a Leg

[0044] 23b Leg

[0045] 24a connecting leg

[0046] 24b Connecting leg

[0047] 25 clamping screw

[0048] 26 Mother

[0049] 27 Recess

[0050] 28 recess

[0051] 29 Insulating sleeve

[0052] 30 sleeve head

[0053] 31 screw head

[0054] 32 insulating disc

[0055] 33 Washer

Claims

Claims 1. Electrochemical device (10), in particular an electrolysis device, with a cell stack (11) made up of a plurality of cell stack elements (12), in particular of a plurality of electrolysis cells, with a force application unit (13) having end plates (14, 15) and pressing devices (16), wherein the cell stack (11) made up of the cell stack elements (12) is arranged between the end plates (14, 15) via the pressing devices (16) which have spring elements (17), and is pressed between the end plates (14, 15), characterized in that the spring elements (17) of the pressing devices (16) are arranged between the end plates (14, 15).

2. Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the pressing devices (16) has two U-shaped brackets (21 a, 21 b), wherein the respective spring element (17) of the respective pressing device (16) is arranged between the brackets (21 a, 21 b) of the respective pressing device (16) and together with the brackets (21 a, 21 b) between the end plates (14, 15).

3. Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the two brackets (21 a, 21 b) 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 (21 a, 21 b) are arranged relative to one another in such a way that, upon a translational relative movement between the brackets (21 a, 21 b), 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.

4. Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a clamping screw (25) extending through one of the end plates (13, 14) and a nut (26) cooperate with each bracket (21 a, 21 b) of the respective pressing device (16).

5. Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that one of the nuts (26) has a right-hand thread and the other of the nuts (26) has a left-hand thread.

6. Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 4 or 5, 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 egg-shaped bracket (21a, 21b).

7. Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the clamping screws (25) are guided in insulating sleeves (29) which also extend through one of the end plates (14, 15).

8. Electrochemical device (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each insulating sleeve (29) is supported with 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 in that each clamping screw (25) is supported with 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.

9. Electrochemical device (10) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the clamping screws (25) of a pressing device (16) extend into a recess (28) in the spring element (17) of the respective pressing device (16).

10. Electrochemical device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the spring elements (17) of the pressing devices (16) are designed as disc spring assemblies.

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