Stack compression fixture

Abstract

Apparatuses having a support frame, a hydraulically actuated cylinder with at least a portion below the support frame, and (i) a pull plate below support frame and coupled to hydraulically actuated cylinder or (ii) a movable push plate above support frame and coupled to hydraulically actuated cylinder.

Description

STACK COMPRESSION FIXTUREINCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0001] A PCT Request Form is filed concurrently with this specification as part of the present application. Each application that the present application claims benefit of or priority to as identified in the concurrently filed PCT Request Form is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes.FIELD

[0002] Certain aspects generally pertain to apparatus for facilitating assembly of electrolyzer stacks.BACKGROUND

[0003] Electrochemical cells may generate electrical energy from the chemical reactions occurring in those cells, or use electrical energy supplied to them to facilitate chemical reactions in them. Examples of electrochemical cells may include electrolyzer cells and fuel cells. Electrolyzer cells offer a potential route for converting or reducing COXgas, e.g., CO or CO2, into one or more desired carbon-based products, such as industrial chemicals or fuels, thereby allowing for waste COXgas that would normally be released into the atmosphere to instead be converted into industrially useful products.

[0004] Background and contextual descriptions contained herein are provided solely for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Much of this disclosure presents work of the inventors, and simply because such work is described in the background section or presented as context elsewhere herein does not mean that such work is admitted prior art.SUMMARY

[0005] Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

[0006] Certain embodiments pertain to apparatuses having a support frame, a hydraulically actuated cylinder, and a pull plate coupled to the hydraulically actuated cylinder. The support frame has a horizontal element with a first surface and a plurality of holes in the horizontalelement. At least a portion of the hydraulically actuated cylinder is located below the support frame. The pull plate is located below the support frame. The pull plate has a plurality of holes aligned with the plurality of holes of the support frame.

[0007] Certain embodiments pertain to apparatuses having a support frame, a hydraulically actuated cylinder coupled to the support frame, and a movable push plate located above the support frame and having a plurality of holes. At least a portion of the hydraulically actuated cylinder is located below the support frame. The support frame has a horizontal element with a first surface and plurality of holes in the horizontal element. The movable push plate is configured to move in a first direction substantially normal to the first surface of the support frame. The hydraulically actuated cylinder is coupled to the movable push plate.

[0008] These and other aspects are described further below with reference to the drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0009] FIG. 1A depicts a side view of an example of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus, according to embodiments.

[0010] FIG. IB depicts a side view of the apparatus in FIG. 1A after compression of the multicell COXelectrolyzer stack, according to embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 2 depicts a side view of the apparatus in FIG. IB after attaching additional tensioning members, according to embodiments.

[0012] FIG. 3 depicts the side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 after forming a precompressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer, according to embodiments.

[0013] FIG. 4 depicts a side view of an example of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus, according to an embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 5 depicts a side view of an example of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus, according to an embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an example of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus, according to an embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 7 depicts an isometric view of an example of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus with an alignment assembly having a pivot assembly in a first position, according to an embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 8 depicts an enlarged view of a portion of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 7.

[0018] FIG. 9 depicts another side view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 7.

[0019] FIG. 10 depicts the side view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 9 that has loaded an example of a multi-cell electrolyzer stack before compression.

[0020] FIG. 11 depicts the side view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 9 that has loaded the multi-cell electrolyzer stack after compression.

[0021] FIG. 12 depicts another side view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 7.

[0022] FIG. 13 depicts the isometric view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 7 with the pivot assembly in a second position.

[0023] FIG. 14 depicts a plan view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 7 illustrating movement of components of the pivot assembly from the first position to the second position.

[0024] FIG. 15A depicts a plan view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 7 showing components of the pivot assembly in the first position.

[0025] FIG. 15B depicts a plan view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 7 showing components of the pivot assembly in the second position.

[0026] FIG. 16 depicts an exploded view of an example of a COXelectrolyzer cell, according to embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 17 depicts an isometric view of an example of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer, according to embodiments.

[0028] FIG. 18 depicts an exploded view of an example multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack, according to embodiments.

[0029] FIG. 19 depicts a perspective view of the example multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack of FIG. 18.

[0030] FIG. 20 depicts a cross-sectional view of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus at an instance during an insertion sequence of a tensioning member, according to embodiments.

[0031] FIG. 21 depicts a cross-sectional view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 20 at a different instance during the insertion sequence.

[0032] FIG. 22 depicts a cross-sectional view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 20 at a different instance during the insertion sequence.

[0033] FIG. 23 depicts a cross-sectional view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 20 at a different instance during the insertion sequence.

[0034] FIG. 24 depicts a cross-sectional view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 20 at a different instance during the insertion sequence.

[0035] FIG. 25 depicts a cross-sectional view of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus in FIG. 20 at a different instance during the insertion sequence.

[0036] The figures and components therein may not be drawn to scale.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the presented embodiments. The disclosed embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process operations have not been described in detail to not unnecessarily obscure the disclosed embodiments. While the disclosed embodiments will be described in conjunction with the specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the disclosed embodiments.

[0038] Electrolyzers are typically assembled in a stack compression fixture by sequentially stacking multiple, e.g., tens or hundreds, of thin electrolyzer cells on top of each other such that each cell is aligned with the cell below it. The electrolyzer cells are stacked between end plates. The stacked cells are then compressed by applying force to the end plates prior to installing hardware such as, e.g., tie rods, to the end plates that maintain that compressive preload (or most of it) through the stacked cells once the assembled electrolyzer stack is removed from the fixture. As the cells are loaded into, and compressed by, the stack compression fixture, the cell and end plate alignment should be maintained.

[0039] Once the cells are compressed and the hardware assembled with the end plates, the assembled electrolyzers are removed from the stack compression fixture. The assembled units can be quite heavy and typically require a crane or lift access to be removed from the fixture post-assembly. Access to the assembled units from above can help facilitate removal from the fixture. Also, clearance from the fixture is needed for removal.I. Stack Compression FixtureA. Compressive Pre-load

[0040] FIG. 1A depicts a side view of an example of an apparatus (also sometimes referred to herein as a “multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus” or a “stack compression fixture”) for facilitating assembly of a pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 100, according to embodiments. In FIG. 1A, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 is shown at an instant in time during a compression procedure in which a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A is being compressed by employing a plurality of first tensioning members 160. The first tensioning members 160 may be considered temporary in that they are in place during assembly of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack and not a part of the assembled electrolyzer. FIG. IB depicts a side view of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 after the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A in FIG. 1A has been compressed forming a pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101B. FIG. 2 depicts a side view of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 at an instant in which a plurality of second tensioning members 162 have been employed to maintain the compressive preload on the pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101B. FIG. 3 depicts a side view of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 after first tensioning members 160 have been replaced with additional second tensioning members 162 forming a pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 101B. The second tensioning members 162 may remain and be part of the assembled electrolyzer.

[0041] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 includes a first end plate 120, a second end plate 124, and a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A located in an interior space between first end plate 120 and second end plate 124. First and second end plates 120 and 124 may be formed of any suitable material, such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium, steel, metal alloys (such as of the previous elemental metals), and other like materials. Multi-cell COx electrolyzer stack 101A and first and second end plates 120, 124, may be generally rectangular in planform shape. In other examples, the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A and first and second end plates 120, 124 may be other polygonal shapes such as hexagonal, diagonal, etc. or may be other shapes that include one or more curved sides such as circular, oval, etc. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A includes a first conductor plate 104 (e.g., a cathode or anode conductor plate), a second conductor plate 106 (e.g., an anode or cathode conductor plate), electrically insulating material layers 108 and 109, and a plurality 102 of N COx electrolyzer cells 103(1), 103(2),..., 103(N) sequentially stacked one on top of another between first conductor plate 104 and second conductor plate 106. N can be any suitable number (e.g., 50, 100, etc.). In one implementation, each of the COXelectrolyzer cells 103(1), 103(2),..., 103(N) in FIG. 1A is similar in overall construction to cell 1300 of FIG. 13. First conductor plate 104 and second conductor plate 106 may be formed of any suitable conductive material, such as, e.g., copper, steel, or aluminum. Electrically insulating material layers 108 and 109 may be formed of any suitable material, such as, e.g., plastic or fiberglass.

[0042] In certain implementations, a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus (e.g., multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100, multi-cell COXelectrolyzerstack compression apparatus 200, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 300, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 400, or multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500) also includes an alignment assembly (e.g., alignment assembly 770 in FIG. 7) with alignment datum (e.g., slidable alignment plates 780, 781 and stationary alignment plates 786 in FIG. 7) for aligning the layers of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101 and / or alignment datum for aligning first and second end plates 120, 124 (e.g., columns 772, 774, 776 in FIG. 7) as the layers and plates are loaded into the interior space and to maintain alignment as the layers and plates as elements move during compression.

[0043] Returning to FIG. 1A, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 includes a support frame 140 (e.g., table) having a horizontal member 141 with a first surface 144 and a second surface 145. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 also includes a pull plate 152 and a hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 (e.g., a hydraulic ram) coupled to pull plate 152. The hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 is configured to be able to be actuated to move the pull plate 152 downward relative to the horizontal member 141, thereby placing the first tensioning members 160 under tensile loading and pulling the second end plate 124 downward, towards the first end plate 120. Hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 can be actuated to transition between at least two configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the pull plate 152 is at a first distance from the support frame 140 and in the second configuration, the pull plate 152 is at a second distance from the support frame 140, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. Pull plate 152 may be formed of any suitable material, such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium, steel, metal alloys (such as of the previous elemental metals), and other like materials.

[0044] While the pull plate 152 is discussed above as being acted upon by the hydraulically actuated cylinder 150, the present disclosure is not limited to hydraulic actuation. Rather, it is contemplated that, in some embodiments, the hydraulically actuated cylinder of certain illustrated examples (e.g., hydraulically actuated cylinder 150, hydraulically actuated cylinder 450, hydraulically actuated cylinder 551, hydraulically actuated cylinder 651, hydraulically actuated cylinder 750, hydraulically actuated cylinder 2050) may be replaced by a pneumatically actuated cylinder, an electric linear actuator, an electric cylinder, or other device that can apply a suitable force.

[0045] In certain examples described herein, the hydraulically actuated cylinder is located on an opposite side of a support frame from where the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack is located and being compressed. For instance, in the illustrated example shown in FIGS. 1-3, hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 is located such that a first surface 144 of support frame 140faces the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A and such that a second surface 145 on an opposing side of the support frame 140 faces towards the hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 (e.g., hydraulic ram located underneath a table). Similarly, in the illustrated example shown in FIG. 10, hydraulically actuated cylinder 750 is located such that a first surface 744 faces multicell COx electrolyzer stack 701A and such that a second surface 745 faces towards the hydraulically actuated cylinder 750. Also, in the illustrated example show in FIG. 4, hydraulically actuated cylinder 450 is located such that a first surface 444 faces multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 401 and such that a second surface 445 faces towards the hydraulically actuated cylinder 750. In the illustrated example show in FIG. 5, hydraulically actuated cylinder 551 is located such that a first surface 544 faces multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 501 and such that a second surface 545 faces towards the hydraulically actuated cylinder 550. In the illustrated example shown in FIG. 6, hydraulically actuated cylinder 651 is located such that a first surface 644 faces multi-cell COXelectrolyzed stack 601 and such that a second surface 645 faces towards the hydraulically actuated cylinder 650. This positioning may be advantageous by allowing for (i) the ability to assemble at least a large number of cells such as at least 50, 75, 100, 125, or more cells, (ii) a more open work area, (iii) improved compression pressure control from hydraulics, (iv) open overhead space above the stack compression fixture for improved access (e.g., for an overhead gantry) to lift out the formed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer from the stack compression fixture, and (v) an ergonomically desirable work area wherein much of the work takes place at a convenient distance from the floor due to the positioning of the actuator near the floor level. The ability to assemble a large number of cells may allow for all cells of an electrolyzer to be assembled before a compression procedure which may allow for a more consistent compression applied and pre-load established at each cell. This positioning is advantageous over a fixture with a hydraulic ram mounted above the support frame (so that it pushes downward on the upper end plate) in that it allows for the overhead space above the electrolyzer stack to be free of heavy structural features needed to support a top-mounted hydraulic ram (the electrolyzer interposed between the support frame and the ram). This allows for stacks having a large variety of sizes to be assembled without requiring reconfiguration / repositioning of the ram and corresponding support structure. The arrangement of certain embodiments of the present disclosure also allows for free access to the top of the assembled electrolyzer stack such that a crane or other lifting system may be easily attached to the electrolyzer stack to facilitate removal of the electrolyzer stack from the support frame.

[0046] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 also includes a plurality of side support blocks 130 in contact with and / or coupled to support frame 140. In addition, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 includes a center support block 132 lying on support frame 140 at this instant in time. Center support block 132 is in contact with first end plate 120. In one example, center support block 132 may include a load cell element in contact with first end plate 120 for measuring applied compression force. A first end of the hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 is coupled to pull plate 152 and the center support block 132 e.g., with the load cell element, is coupled to a second end of the hydraulically actuated cylinder 150. In this example, center support block 132, e.g., with the load cell element, and hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 are floating with respect to (not fixed to) support frame 140 such that an upward force from piston rod 151 of hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 pushes upward on first end plate 120. In this example, heavy-duty structural members may not be needed to support the compressive load such as structure for holding the hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 and for restraining the stack from vertical upward movement. In another implementation, the piston rod 151 at the second end of the hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 is directly coupled to support frame 140 or coupled to support frame 140 via the center support block 132.

[0047] First end plate 120 is in contact with or coupled to side support blocks 130 and center support block 132 for support. A gap between first end plate 120 and first surface 144 of support frame 140 may provide access to an underside of first end plate 120 to, for example, allow fasteners 161 to be threaded onto ends 163 of a plurality of second tensioning members 162 that protrude from the underside of the first end plate 120, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0048] In FIGS. 1A and IB, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 includes first tensioning members 160 (e.g., anchors, bolts, studs, tie rods, etc.) extending in the axial direction parallel to an x-axis. In FIG. 2, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 includes first tensioning members 160 and second tensioning members 162 (e.g., anchors, bolts, studs, tie rods, etc.) extending in the axial direction parallel to the indicated x-axis (the x-axis may, in this example, be vertical or near-vertical). In FIG. 3, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 includes second tensioning members 162 extending in the axial direction parallel to an x-axis. Support frame 140 and pull plate 152 include respective pluralities of tensioning member holes 143 and 153 defined therein, through which first tensioning members 160 may pass as depicted in FIGS. 1A, IB and 2. First end plate 120 and second end plate 124 include respective pluralities of tensioning member holes 121 and 125 defined therein, through which first tensioning members 160 and / orsecond tensioning members 162 (as depicted along sides of first end plate 120 and second end plate 124 in FIGS. 2 and 3 and as depicted at comers of first end plate 120 and second end plate 124 in FIG. 2) may pass. In some embodiments, tensioning member holes 121 and 125 are arranged about corresponding peripheral regions of first and second end plates 120, 124. The peripheral regions generally lie outside the interior space in which multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101 A is assembled. In the illustrated example, the tensioning member holes 121 and 125 are located along the sides or along the sides and corners of first and second end plates 120, 124. In other examples, tensioning member holes 121 and 125 are only at respective comers of the first and second end plates 120, 124. Second tensioning members 162 may be shorter in length than first tensioning members 160 and may be connected after execution of the compression procedure to maintain the compression preload on pre-compressed multi-cell COx electrolyzer stack 101B.

[0049] In FIGS. 1A and IB, four first tensioning members 160 are employed during a compression procedure (two of which are visible due to the side view in these figures). In FIG. 2, one of the four first tensioning members 160 is positioned at each of the corners of first end plate 120 and second end plate 124 and four second tensioning members 162 are positioned along each of the four sides of first end plate 120 and second end plate 124. The second tensioning members 162 are depicted as being employed to maintain a compression pre-load on pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101B. Accordingly, the first tensioning members 160 may be used in the imparting of the compression pre-load and the second tensioning members 162 may be employed to maintain the compression pre-load. In FIG. 3, the four first tensioning members 160 are replaced with four additional second tensioning members 162 at the comers of first end plate 120 and second end plate 124 forming a multicell COx electrolyzer 301. In other implementations, the four first tensioning members 160 are removed and not replaced with second tensioning members 162 at all (i.e., the holes through which the first tensioning members 160 were inserted would not be used for additional tensioning members in the assembled electrolyzer stack). Other numbers and locations of tensioning members may be employed according to other implementations.

[0050] In FIGS. 1A, IB and 2, the second end plate 124 and pull plate 152 may be coupled to one another via first tensioning members 160. In FIGS. 2 and 3, respective first end plate 120 and second end plate 124 may be coupled to one another via second tensioning members 162. Ends of first tensioning members 160 and second tensioning members 162 may be at least partially threaded to respectively engage with, for instance, threaded fasteners 161 (e.g., nuts, etc.). In the illustrated example, washers (e.g., lock washers or washers integrated withfasteners, such as in the case of flanged nuts) are disposed between threaded fasteners 161 and second end plate 124, pull plate 152, and first end plate 120. In other examples, the washers may be omitted.

[0051] In FIG. 1A, a clamping load extending in a direction parallel to the depicted x-axis may be applied by hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 to multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A via the conjunction of first and second end plates 120, 124, first tensioning members 160, and pull plate 152. First and second end plates 120, 124 may generally serve to act as load- spreading members that distribute the clamping load relatively evenly over the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A. First end plate 120 is stationary and second end plate 124 is movable. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 may apply compressive force to multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A to form pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101B by, for example, causing relative displacement Ax (depicted by solid arrows alongside second end plate 124 in FIG. IB) between stationary first end plate 120 and movable second end plate 124 via a pull load applied by hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 to pull plate 152. In FIG. 1A, hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 is in the first configuration. In FIG. IB, hydraulically actuated cylinder 150 is in the second configuration. In the first configuration, pull plate 152 is at a first distance from the support frame 140 and in the second configuration, the pull plate 152 is at a second distance from the support frame 140, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. In FIG. 2, second tensioning members 162 and associated fasteners 161 have been installed such that when the first tensioning members 160 are unloaded, e.g., by removing the compressive force applied by the hydraulically actuated cylinder 150, the load extending in a direction parallel to the x-axis and applied to multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A via the conjunction of first and second end plates 120, 124 is transferred to second tensioning members 162. A gap between first end plate 120 and first surface 144 of support frame 140, e.g., as provided by the support blocks 130, may provide access to the underside of first end plate 120 to attach fasteners 161 to the ends 163 of second tensioning members 162. In FIG. 3, first tensioning members 160 shown in FIG. 2 may be replaced with additional second tensioning members 162 and associated fasteners 161 may be coupled to ends of the additional second tensioning members 162 to at least substantially maintain the clamping load at the corners via the conjunction of first and second end plates 120, 124, and second tensioning members 162. In such an operation in which the first tensioning members are removed after compression and replaced with second tensioning members, the added second tensioning members are manually tensioned by the operator up toa torque similar to the torque measured on the other second tensioning members after removing the compressive force applied by the hydraulically actuated cylinder 150.

[0052] In certain embodiments, when the layers of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101 are loaded into the internal space between first conductor plate 104 and second conductor plate 106, electrically insulating material layer 108 and first conductor plate 104 may be placed on top of first end plate 120. COXelectrolyzer cells 103(1), 103(2),..., 103(N) may then be sequentially stacked one on top of another over first conductor plate 104. The second end plate 124, electrically insulating material layer 109, and second conductor plate 106 may then be placed (in reverse order) on top of COXelectrolyzer cells 103(1), 103(2),..., 103(N). In one aspect, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101 and / or multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 301 may have additional or different layers. For example, in one embodiment multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 301 may be similar in overall construction to multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1700 in FIG. 17.

[0053] In certain embodiments, the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus may be used to perform compression operations of a compression process to form a precompressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack. For example, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 may perform one or more compression operations of a compression process to form pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101B. For instance, multicell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 may apply compressive force to multicell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A by, for example, causing relative motion between first and second end plates 120 and 124 to form pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101B. The relative motion is caused by a pulling force on second end plate 124 from first tensioning members 160 that are in tension due to a downward pulling force on pull plate 152 via hydraulically actuated cylinder 150. In some embodiments, one compression cycle is performed. In some implementations, multiple compression cycles are performed in a compression procedure, such as 2 cycles to 10 cycles, e.g., 3 cycles to 7 cycles, for instance, 6 cycles to 8 cycles, such as 4 cycles, 5 cycles, or 9 cycles. To this end, compressive force of each cycle may be applied (e.g., progressively applied) to multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A in any suitable fashion, e.g., linearly, stepwise, exponentially, or according to any other technique to produce a suitable pressure gradient within the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101 A. For example, compressive force may be progressively applied to generate pressures from 0 psi to between about 100 psi and about 150 psi, between about 200 psi and about 250 psi. For instance, pressure may be progressively applied from 0 psi to about 400 psi. According to various embodiments, the maximum load of each compression cycle may be applied tomulti-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101A for a total of between about 5 minutes and about 30 minutes.

[0054] FIG. 4 depicts another implementation. FIG. 4 is a side view of an example of a multicell COx electrolyzer stack compression apparatus 400, according to an embodiment. Some of the elements shown in FIG. 4 are similar or analogous to elements shown in FIG. 1A. For the sake of brevity, the prior discussion of such similar or analogous elements with regard to FIG. 1A may be assumed to be equally applicable, unless indicated otherwise in the following discussion, to the similar or analogous counterparts of those elements in FIG. 4 that share the same last two digits in their respective callouts as in FIG. 1A.

[0055] The implementation of FIG. 4, however, is different from the implementation of FIG. 1A in at least some regards. For example, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 400 in FIG. 4 includes a press plate 490 in contact with second end plate 424, whereas multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 in FIG. 1A does not. As another example, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 400 in FIG. 4 includes first tensioning rods 460 passing through press plate 490, support frame 440, and pull plate 452 and not passing through first end plate 420 and second end plate 424, whereas in FIG. 1A, first tensioning rods 160 pass through first end plate 120, second end plate 124, and pull plate 152. These and other differences are discussed below.

[0056] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 400 is shown at an instant in time during a compression procedure in which a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 401 is being compressed by employing a plurality of first tensioning member 460. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 401 includes a first conductor plate 404 (e.g., a cathode or anode conductor plate), a second conductor plate 406 (e.g., an anode or cathode conductor plate), electrically insulating material layers 408 and 409, and a plurality 402 of N COXelectrolyzer cells 403(1), 403(2),.. ,,403(N) sequentially stacked one on top of another between first conductor plate 404 and second conductor plate 406. In this example, tensioning members passing through a first end plate 420 and a second end plate 424 are not being employed at least during the compression procedure. After the compression procedure, in certain implementations, second tensioning members (e.g., second tensioning members 162 in FIG. 1) passing through first end plate 420 and second end plate 424 may be employed to maintain the pressure pre-load on the compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack.

[0057] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 400 also includes a pull plate 452 and a hydraulically actuated cylinder 450 coupled to pull plate 452. The hydraulically actuated cylinder 450 is configured to be able to be actuated to move the pull plate 452downward relative to the horizontal member 441, thereby placing the first tensioning members 460 under tensile loading and pulling the press plate 490 and second end plate 424 downward, towards the first end plate 420. In some cases, hydraulically actuated cylinder 450 can be actuated to transition between at least two configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the pull plate 452 is at a first distance from the support frame 440 and in the second configuration, the pull plate 452 is at a second distance from the support frame 440, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

[0058] In FIG. 4, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 400 includes first tensioning members 460 extending in a direction parallel to the x-axis. Support frame 440, press plate 490, and pull plate 452 include respective pluralities of tensioning member holes 443, 491, and 453 defined therein, through which first tensioning members 460 may pass. Tensioning member holes 443, 491, and 453 are arranged to lie outside of the outer edge of first and second end plates 420, 424 and tensioning member holes 491 lie at respective comers of pull plate 452. First end plate 420 and second end plate 424 also include tensioning member holes 421 and 425 defined therein, through which second tensioning members (e.g., second tensioning members 162 in FIG. 3) may pass and be threaded with fasteners in order to maintain preload compression on multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 401 after a compression procedure. These second tensioning members may be in place during the compression procedure or may be introduced after the compression procedure. For example, second tensioning members passing through holes 425 and at least partially through the holes 421, and with fasteners threaded onto ends (e.g., ends 163 of second tensioning member 162 in FIGS. 2 and 3), may be in place during the compression procedure. During compression of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 401, the second tensioning members may be pushed downward such that ends (e.g., ends 163 of second tensioning members 162 in FIGS. 2 and 3) protrude from beneath first end plate 420 so that fasteners 461 may be threaded onto the ends of the second tensioning members. Press plate 490 also includes cutouts 492 for, e.g., access from above second end plate 424 to fasteners threaded onto the ends of the second tensioning members.

[0059] In FIG. 4, four first tensioning members 460 are depicted as being employed during a compression procedure. Other numbers and locations of tensioning members may be employed according to other implementations.

[0060] In FIG. 4, respective press plate 490 and pull plate 452 may be coupled to one another via first tensioning members 460. Ends of first tensioning members 460 may be at least partially threaded to respectively engage with, for instance, threaded fasteners 461. In the illustratedexample, washers are disposed between threaded fasteners 461 and press plate 490 and pull plate 452.

[0061] In FIG. 4, a clamping load extending in a direction parallel to a depicted x-axis may be applied by hydraulically actuated cylinder 450 to multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 401 via the conjunction of press plate 490, tensioning members 460, and pull plate 452. First and second end plates 420, 424 may generally serve to act as load-spreading members that distribute the clamping force relatively evenly over the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 401. Hydraulically actuated cylinder 450 may apply a pull load to pull plate 452 that causes compression of multicell COXelectrolyzer stack 401 by, for example, relative displacement between first end plate 420 and second end plate 424.

[0062] FIG. 5 depicts a side view of an example of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500, according to embodiments. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500 is shown at an instant in time during a compression procedure in which a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 501 is being compressed by employing a plurality of tensioning members 560. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 501 includes a first conductor plate 504 (e.g., a cathode or anode conductor plate), a second conductor plate 506 (e.g., an anode or cathode conductor plate), electrically insulating material layers 508 and 509, and a plurality 502 of N COXelectrolyzer cells 503(1), 503(2),..., 503(N) sequentially stacked one on top of another between first conductor plate 504 and second conductor plate 506.

[0063] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500 includes a first end plate 520, a second end plate 524, and a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 501 located in an interior space between first end plate 520 and second end plate 524. First end plate 520, second end plate 524, and multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 501 are similar or analogous to counterparts of elements shown in FIG. 1 that share the same last two digits in their respective callouts as in FIG. 4. For the sake of brevity, the prior discussion of such similar or analogous elements with regard to FIG. 1 may be assumed to be equally applicable, unless indicated otherwise.

[0064] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500 also includes a support frame 540 (e.g., table) having a horizontal member 541 with a first surface 544 and a second surface 545. In addition, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500 includes a movable push plate 554 and alignment guides 555. Push plate 554 includes holes 556 defined therein, through which alignment guides 555 slide during movement of push plate 554 in an axial direction. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500 also includes a hydraulically actuated cylinder 551 (e.g., a hydraulic ram) coupled to support frame 540. Push plate 554 may be formed of any suitable material, such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium,steel, metal alloys (such as of the previous elemental metals), and other like materials. Hydraulically actuated cylinder 551 includes a piston rod 552 in contact with push plate 554 to apply a push load while second end plate 524 may remain stationary. Hydraulically actuated cylinder 550 is configured to be able to be actuated to translate movable push plate 554 upward relative to a horizontal member 541 of support frame 540, thereby placing first tensioning members 560 under tensile loading and pushing the first end plate 524 upward, towards the second end plate 520. In some cases, hydraulically actuated cylinder 550 can be actuated to transition between at least two configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, movable push plate 554 is at a first distance from the support frame 540 and in the second configuration, movable push plate 554 is at a second distance from the support frame 540, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

[0065] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500 also includes a plurality of side support blocks 530 in contact with and / or coupled to support frame 540. In addition, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500 includes a center support block 532 in contact with and / or coupled to movable push plate 554. In one example, center support block 532 may include a load cell element in contact with first end plate 520 for measuring applied compression load. First end plate 520 is in contact with or coupled to side support blocks 530 and center support block 532 for support. A gap between first end plate 520 and first surface 544 of support frame 540 may provide access to an underside of first end plate 520 to, for example, allow fasteners 561 to be threaded onto ends of tensioning members (e.g., ends 163 of second tensioning members 162 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) passing through first end plate 520 and second end plate 524.

[0066] In FIG. 5, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500 includes first tensioning members 560 extending in a direction parallel to an x-axis. Four first tensioning members 560 are being employed in this example. Support frame 540 and push plate 554 include respective pluralities of tensioning member holes 543 and 557 defined therein, through which first tensioning members 560 may pass. First end plate 520 and second end plate 524 include respective pluralities of tensioning member holes 521 and 525 defined therein, through which first tensioning members 560 and second tensioning members (e.g., second tensioning members 162 in FIG. 1) may pass. For example, after compressing the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 501, second shorter tensioning members may be added and fasteners 561 may be threaded onto ends of the second tensioning members from above second end plate 524 and from beneath the first end plate 520 to maintain preload compression on the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 501. The first tensioning members 560 may then be removed. In one instance, the first tensioning members 560 are replaced with second tensioning members.

[0067] In some embodiments, tensioning member holes 521 and 525 are arranged about corresponding peripheral regions of first and second end plates 520 and 524 and tensioning member holes 543 and 557 are arranged in corresponding regions of support frame 540 and push plate 554. The peripheral regions of first and second end plates 520 and 524 generally lie outside the interior space in which multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 501 is assembled. In the illustrated example, tensioning member holes 523 and 525 are arranged at respective corners of the first and second end plates 520 and 524. In other examples, the tensioning member holes523 and 525 may be located along the sides or along the sides and corners of first and second end plates 520 and 524.

[0068] In FIG. 5, second end plate 524 and support frame 540 may be coupled to one another via first tensioning members 560. Ends of first tensioning members 560 may be at least partially threaded to respectively engage with, for instance, threaded fasteners 561. In the illustrated example, washers are disposed between threaded fasteners 561 and second end plate 524 and support frame 540. In other examples, the washers may be omitted.

[0069] In FIG. 5, a clamping load extending in a direction parallel to the depicted x-axis may be applied by hydraulically actuated cylinder 551 to multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 501 via the conjunction of first and second end plates 520 and 524, first tensioning members 560, push plate 554, and support frame 540. First and second end plates 520, 524 may generally serve to act as load- spreading members that distribute the clamping force relatively evenly over the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 501. Second end plate 524 is stationary and first end plate 520 and push plate 554 are moved together. During compression, first end plate 520 moves upward toward second end plate 524 while first tensioning members 560 hold the second end plate 524 in place. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500 may apply compressive force to multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 501 to form a pre-compressed multicell COXelectrolyzer stack (e.g., pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101B in FIG. 3) by, for example, causing relative displacement between stationary second end plate524 and first end plate 520 via hydraulically actuated cylinder 551. A gap between first end plate 520 and first surface 544 of support frame 540 may provide access to the underside of first end plate 520 to, for example, attach fasteners 561 to ends of additional tensioning members.

[0070] FIG. 6 depicts another implementation. FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an example of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus for 600. Some of the elements shownin FIG. 6 are similar or analogous to elements shown in FIG. 5. For the sake of brevity, the prior discussion of such similar or analogous elements with regard to FIG. 5 may be assumed to be equally applicable, unless indicated otherwise in the following discussion, to the similar or analogous counterparts of those elements in FIG. 6 that share the same last two digits in their respective callouts as in FIG. 5.

[0071] The implementation of FIG. 6, however, is different from the implementation of FIG. 5 in at least some regards. For example, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 600 in FIG. 6 includes a press plate 690 in contact with second end plate 624, whereas multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 500 in FIG. 5 does not. As another example, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 600 in FIG. 6 includes first tensioning rods 660 passing through press plate 690, push plate 654, and support frame 640 and not passing through first end plate 620 and second end plate 624, whereas in FIG. 5, first tensioning rods 560 pass through first end plate 520, second end plate 524, push plate 554, and support frame 540. These and other differences are discussed below.

[0072] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 600 is shown at an instant in time during a compression procedure in which a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 601 is being compressed by employing a plurality of first tensioning members 660. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 601 includes a first conductor plate 604 (e.g., a cathode or anode conductor plate), a second conductor plate 606 (e.g., an anode or cathode conductor plate), electrically insulating material layers 608 and 609, and a plurality 602 of N COXelectrolyzer cells 603(1), 603(2),...,603(N) sequentially stacked one on top of another between first conductor plate 604 and second conductor plate 606. In this example, tensioning members passing through a first end plate 620 and a second end plate 624 are not being employed at least during the compression procedure. After the compression procedure, in certain implementations, second tensioning members (e.g., second tensioning members 162 in FIG. 1) passing through first end plate 620 and second end plate 624 may be added to maintain the pressure pre-load on the compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack.

[0073] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 600 includes a movable push plate 654 and alignment guides 655. Push plate 654 includes holes 656 defined therein, through which alignment guides 655 slide during upward movement of push plate 654 in a direction parallel to the x-axis. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 600 also includes a hydraulically actuated cylinder 651 (e.g., a hydraulic ram) coupled to support frame 640. Hydraulically actuated cylinder 651 is also in contact with push plate 654 to apply an upward push force. Push plate 654 may be formed of any suitable material, such as aluminum,magnesium, titanium, steel, metal alloys (such as of the previous elemental metals), and other like materials. Hydraulically actuated cylinder 651 includes a piston rod 652 in contact with push plate 654 to apply the push force to move push plate 654 and first end plate 620 upward while second end plate 624 may remain stationary. The hydraulically actuated cylinder 450 is configured to be able to be actuated to translate movable push plate 654 and first end plate 620 relative to a horizontal member 641 of support frame 640, thereby placing first tensioning members 460 under tensile loading and pushing push plate 654 and first end plate 620 upward, towards the second end plate 624. In some cases, hydraulically actuated cylinder 650 can be actuated to transition between at least two configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the movable push plate 654 is at a first distance from the surface 644 of support frame 640 and in the second configuration, the movable push plate 654 is at a second distance from the support frame 640, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

[0074] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 600 includes first tensioning members 660 extending in a direction parallel to x-axis. Support frame 640, push plate 654, and press plate 690 include respective pluralities of tensioning member holes 643, 656, and 691 defined therein, through which first tensioning members 660 may pass. Tensioning member holes 643, 656, and 691 are such that first tensioning members 660 lie outside the interior space in which multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 601 is assembled. In the illustrated example, tensioning member holes 691 are arranged at respective corners of press plate 690. First end plate 620 and second end plate 624 also include tensioning member holes 621 and 625 through which second tensioning members (e.g., second tensioning members 162 in FIG. 3) may pass and be threaded with fasteners in order to maintain preload compression on multicell COXelectrolyzer stack 601 after a compression procedure. These second tensioning members may be in place during the compression procedure or may be introduced after the compression procedure. Press plate 690 also includes cutouts 692 for, e.g., access from above second end plate 624 to fasteners threaded onto ends (e.g., ends 163 in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the second tensioning members (e.g., second tensioning members 162 in FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0075] In FIG. 6, four first tensioning members 660 are depicted as being employed during a compression procedure. Other numbers and locations of tensioning members may be employed according to other implementations.

[0076] In FIG. 6, respective press plate 690 and support frame 640 may be coupled to one another via first tensioning members 660. Ends of first tensioning members 660 may be at least partially threaded to respectively engage with, for instance, threaded fasteners 661. In theillustrated example, washers are disposed between threaded fasteners 661 and support frame 640 and press plate 690.

[0077] In FIG. 6, a clamping load extending in a direction parallel to the depicted x-axis (sometimes referred to herein as “axial direction”) may be applied by hydraulically actuated cylinder 650 to multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 601 via the conjunction of first and second end plates 620, 624, tensioning members 660, push plate 654, and press plate 690. First and second end plates 620, 624 may generally serve to act as load-spreading members that distribute the clamping force relatively evenly over the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 601. During a compression procedure, press plate 690 and second end plate 624 remain stationary while push plate 654 and first end plate 620 move together in the axial direction caused by a push load from hydraulically actuated cylinder 651 applied to push plate 654. Hydraulically actuated cylinder 650 may apply force to a push plate 654 that causes compression of multicell COXelectrolyzer stack 601 by, for example, relative displacement between stationary second end plate 624 and movable first end plate 620.B. Alignment

[0078] The above examples and Figures have examined different systems for imparting a compressive pre-load on a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack prior to installing the tensioning members that will ultimately hold the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack together. Such implementations may be configured to include various datum features that may assist in multicell COXelectrolyzer stack assembly operations. Examples of such datum features are discussed below.

[0079] FIG. 7 depicts an isometric view of an example of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 with an alignment assembly 770, according to embodiments. The alignment assembly 770 includes alignment datum for aligning the layers of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 101, for aligning first and second end plates as the layers and end plates are loaded into the interior space, and to maintain their alignment as elements move during compression. FIG. 8 depicts an enlarged view A of a portion of apparatus 700 in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 depicts a side view of apparatus 700 in FIG.7. FIG. 12 depicts another side view of apparatus 700 in FIG. 7.

[0080] As shown in FIGS. 7, 9, and 12, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 includes a support frame 740 with a horizontal member 741 having a first surface 744. Support frame 740 and pull plate 752 include respective first pluralities of tensioning member holes 743 and 753 defined therein, through which tensioning members may pass. For example, first tensioning members 760 may pass as depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12 through firstpluralities of tensioning member holes 743 and 753 and through tensioning member holes (e.g., 121 and 125 in FIG. 1A) at the comers of first end plate 720 and second end plate 724. Support frame 740 and pull plate 752 also include respective second pluralities of tensioning member holes 746 and 754 defined therein, through which other tensioning members may pass. For example, as depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12 second tensioning members 762 may pass through the second pluralities of tensioning member holes 746 and 754 and also through tensioning member holes (e.g., 121 and 125 in FIG. 1A) at the sides of first end plate 720 and second end plate 724.

[0081] The horizontal member 741 also includes four elongated slots 742 defined therein, through which one or more tensioning members (e.g., first tensioning members 760 and / or second tensioning members 762) may pass. In the illustrated example, the elongated slots 742 are located in a center portion of a side of the horizontal member 2041 near the pivot assembly 790. For example, a tensioning member may be inserted into one of the elongated slots 742 during an insertion procedure (e.g., the insertion procedure depicted in FIGS. 20-25). The elongated slots 760 are located and have dimensions (width, length, and depth) that allow one or more tensioning members to pass through from the topside of support frame 740 and allow the tensioning members to rotate to an angle. This positioning allows the one or more tensioning members to be inserted through the underside of top end plate 720 which may be advantageous in that it can avoid the need for high overhead space above the stack compression fixture to be able to insert the tensioning members from above the stack. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 also includes a pull plate 752 and a hydraulically actuated cylinder 750 coupled at a first end to pull plate 752. Hydraulically actuated cylinder 750 includes a piston rod at a second end that is coupled to support frame 740.

[0082] FIG. 10 depicts the side view of apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 9 with apparatus 700 loaded with an example of a multi-cell electrolyzer stack 701A in an interior space between a first end plate 720 and a second end plate 724 at an instant in time during a compression procedure in which the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701 A is being compressed by employing a plurality of first tensioning members 760 passing through holes in pull plate 752 and second end plate 724. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701A includes a first conductor plate 704 (e.g., a cathode or anode conductor plate), a second conductor plate 706 (e.g., an anode or cathode conductor plate), electrically insulating material layers 708 and 709, and a plurality 702 of N COXelectrolyzer cells 703(1), 703(2), ... ,703(N) sequentially stacked one on top of another between first conductor plate 704 and second conductor plate 706.

[0083] FIG. 11 depicts the side view of apparatus 700 in FIG. 9 after compression of the multicell electrolyzer stack forming a pre-compressed multi-cell electrolyzer stack 701B. Multi-cell COx electrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 in FIG. 11 is depicted at an instant in which a plurality of second tensioning members 162 have been employed to maintain compression preload on the pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701B with a plurality 702B of N pre-compressed COXelectrolyzer cells. As shown in FIG. 10, hydraulically actuated cylinder 750 may be located below support frame 740 and multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701A may be located above support frame 740 during compression. Hydraulically actuated cylinder 750 is configured to be able to be actuated to move the pull plate 752 downward relative to horizontal member 741, thereby placing the first tensioning members 760 under tensile loading and pulling the second end plate 724 downward, towards the first end plate 720. Hydraulically actuated cylinder 750 may apply a load in a direction parallel to the x-axis. In some cases, hydraulically actuated cylinder 750 can be actuated to transition between at least two configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration. FIG. 10 depicts hydraulically actuated cylinder 750 in an example of a first configuration and FIG. 11 depicts hydraulically actuated cylinder 750 in an example of a second configuration. In the first configuration, pull plate 752 is at a first distance from support frame 740 and in the second configuration, pull plate 752 is at a second distance from support frame 740, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. Also, in the first configuration, second end plate 724 is at a third distance from the support frame 740 and in the second configuration, the second end plate 724 is at a fourth distance from the support frame 740, wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance.

[0084] Referring back to FIG. 10, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 may include first tensioning members 760 (e.g., anchors, bolts, studs, tie rods, etc.) extending in a direction parallel to the x-axis. In FIG. 10, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 is shown at an instant in time during a compression procedure in which a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701 A is being compressed via hydraulically actuated cylinder 750 by employing the first tensioning members 760. Referring to FIG. 11, multi-cell COx electrolyzer stack compression apparatus 100 may also include second tensioning members 762 (e.g., anchors, bolts, studs, tie rods, etc.) extending in the axial direction parallel to an x-axis. Second tensioning members 762 are shorter in length than first tensioning members 760. In FIG. 11, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 is shown at an instant in which a pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 700B has been formed and second tensioning members 762 are installed along the sides to maintain acompression preload on the pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701B. First tensioning members 760 may be removed before the assembled electrolyzer is removed from the apparatus 700.

[0085] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 also includes a plurality of side support blocks 730 in contact with and / or coupled to support frame 740. In addition, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 includes a center support block 732 in contact with and / or coupled to support frame 740. First end plate 720, second end plate 724, pull plate 752, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701 A, pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701B, support blocks 730, and center support block 732 are similar or analogous to counterparts of elements shown in FIG. 1 that share the same last two digits in their respective callouts as in FIG. 7. For the sake of brevity, the prior discussion of such similar or analogous elements with regard to FIG. 1 may be assumed to be equally applicable, unless indicated otherwise.

[0086] In FIGS. 10 and 11, second end plate 724 and pull plate 752 may be coupled to one another via first tensioning members 760. In FIG. 11, first end plate 720 and second end plate 724 may be coupled to one another via second tensioning members 762. Ends of first tensioning members 760 and second tensioning members 762 may be at least partially threaded to engage with, for instance, threaded fasteners. In FIG. 10, a clamping load extending in a direction parallel to the depicted x-axis may be applied by hydraulically actuated cylinder 750 to multicell COXelectrolyzer stack 701A via the conjunction of first and second end plates 720, 724, first tensioning members 760, and pull plate 752. First end plate 720 may be stationary and second end plate 724 may be movable. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 may apply compressive load to multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701 A to form pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701B by, for example, causing relative displacement between stationary first end plate 720 and movable second end plate 724 via load applied by hydraulically actuated cylinder 750. In FIG. 11, second tensioning members 762 and associated fasteners have been installed to maintain the pre-load compression on the precompressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701B.

[0087] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 also includes an alignment assembly 770 for aligning the layers of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701A and the first and second end plates 720, 724. Alignment assembly 770 may facilitate alignment of these elements as they are loaded into the interior space. Additionally, alignment assembly 770 may facilitate maintaining alignment of these elements during a compression procedure as one or more of these elements move. Alignment assembly770 includes a first column 772, a second column 774, and a third column 776 oriented parallel to an x-axis. Second column 774 and third column 776 extend through horizontal member 741 and couple at their proximal ends to support frame 740. A proximal end of first column 772 terminates at, and is coupled to, horizontal member 741 of support frame 740 to allow for rotation of first column 772 from, for example, a first position depicted in FIG. 7 to a second position depicted in FIG. 13. Columns 772, 774, and 776 include respective rails 777, 778, and 779 that extend along at least a portion of the lengths of the respective columns 772, 774, and 776. Rails 777, 778, and 779 may be integral to columns 772, 774, and 776 or may be separate components attached to columns 772, 774, and 776. Columns 772, 774, and 776 may be formed of any suitable material, such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium, steel, metal alloys (such as of the previous elemental metals), and other like materials. Alignment assembly 770 may also include a support bar 788 coupled to a distal end 775b of the second column 774, a distal end 775c of the third column 774 and a block 789 that is coupled to a distal end 775a of the first column 772. The block 789 may include a rotational element such as a rotating pin that can rotate within a slot in support bar 788. Support bar 788 may be formed of any suitable material, such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium, steel, metal alloys (such as of the previous elemental metals), and other like materials.

[0088] Referring to FIG. 8, columns 772, 774, and 776 also include plate contact edges 785 configured for contacting surfaces of first and second end plates 720, 724 that face towards respective columns 772, 774, and 776 during, for example, a compression procedure. Each column 772, 774, 776 also includes a first slidable alignment plate 780 and a second slidable alignment plate 781 slidably attached to respective rails 777, 778, and 779 of corresponding columns 772, 774, and 776. In other implementations, alignment assembly 770 may include fewer or more slidable alignment plates. Each of first and second slidable alignment plates 780, 781 may include one or more carriages 782 configured to engage in a slidable manner with respective rails 777, 778, and 779. In the illustrated example, each of first and second slidable alignment plates 780, 781 includes two carriages 782 which may facilitate rotational stability. In other implementations, fewer or more carriages may be employed.

[0089] As shown in FIGS. 8, 10, and 11, each of first slidable alignment plates 780 and second slidable alignment plates 781 includes a (first) stack alignment edge 783 that is configured to contact a peripheral edge of the layers of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701A to facilitate alignment of the layers during loading and / or during compression. Referring to FIG. 8, first slidable alignment plates 780 also include a (second) plate contact edge 784 configured for contacting a surface of the second end plate 724 that faces towards the first end plate 720 (orconfigured to contact a surface of the first end plate 720 that faces towards the second end plate 724) during, for example, a compression procedure. Each of stationary alignment plates 786 also includes a stack alignment edge 787 that is configured to contact a peripheral edge of the layers of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701A to facilitate alignment of the layers during loading and compression.

[0090] Alignment assembly 770 also includes a plurality of first tension mechanisms 799 (e.g., pulleys, springs, etc.) coupled to carriages 782 of respective first slidable alignment plates 780 to apply an upward force to move first slidable alignment plates 780 to facilitate making contact with second end plate 724 at plate contact edges 784. Second slidable alignment plates 781 may slide downwards during assembly of layers of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701 A to rest on an upper surface of the first end plate 720 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Set screws may be used to secure second slidable alignment plates 781 in place during compression.

[0091] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, first tension mechanisms 799 may apply upward forces on first slidable alignment plates 780 that move them upward to position the plate contact edges 784 in contact with second end plate 724. During a compression procedure, second end plate 724 may be pulled downward due to tension loads from tensioning members 760 as applied by the hydraulically actuated cylinder 750. The second end plate 724 may apply a downward force to plate contact edges 784 of the first slidable alignment plates 780, thereby pushing them downward as second end plate 724 moves downward. This coordinated movement of the second end plate 724 with the first slidable alignment plates 780 may facilitate maintaining contact between the stack alignment edges 783 and peripheral edges of the layers of the multicell COXelectrolyzer stack 701 A, which may facilitate maintaining alignment of the layers of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701A during compression. Referring to FIG. 8, the stack alignment edges 783 of first slidable alignment plates 780 and second slidable alignment plates 781 and stack alignment edge 787 of stationary alignment plates 786 of column 774 and column 776 may lie in a common plane providing a continuous datum for layers in the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701A. Accordingly, alignment of the layers of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701A may be established during assembly, may be maintained during compression, and / or may be maintained following introduction of the second tensioning members 762.

[0092] After the layers of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701A are assembled and compressed forming pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701B, second tensioning members 762 are employed to maintain preload compression on the layers as shown in FIG. 11. Subsequently, the first tensioning members 760 may be removed. The assembled compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701B, end plates 720, 724, and second tensioningmembers 762 may be removed from the fixture using a crane, lift access, or other like heaving lifting equipment. To remove the assembled stack from the fixture, heavy lifting equipment may be employed to move the assembled stack slightly upward in a direction parallel to the x- axis, and then move it horizontally in a direction parallel to the z-axis away from the fixture. To help prevent colliding the slidable alignment plates 780, 782 and stationary alignment plates 786 with the second tensioning members 762, apparatus 700 may include a pivot assembly that can rotate at least one of the columns with slidable and stational alignment plates attached thereon. Rotating the column or columns moves the slidable and stationary alignment plates away from the assembled stack providing clearance to facilitate removal from the fixture.

[0093] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 includes a pivot assembly 790 for rotating column 772 to, for example, move first slidable alignment plate 780, second slidable alignment plate 781, and stationary alignment plates 786 attached to the column 772 away from pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 700B to facilitate removal of pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1101 from multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression assembly 700.

[0094] FIG. 7 depicts the pivot assembly 790 in a first rotational position. FIG. 13 depicts an isometric view of apparatus 700 in FIG. 7 with pivot assembly 790 in a second rotational position. A thick solid arrow depicts rotation from the first position to the second position. FIG. 14 depicts a plan view of apparatus 700 in FIG. 7 illustrating rotation of components of pivot assembly 790 from the first position to the second position. FIG. 15A depicts a plan view of apparatus 700 in FIG. 7 showing components of pivot assembly 790 in the first position. FIG. 15B depicts a plan view of apparatus 700 in FIG. 7 showing components of pivot assembly 790 after rotation to the second position.

[0095] Pivot assembly 790 includes a pivot plate 791 coupled to the proximal end of column 772 for rotating column 772. Pivot plate 791 may be of any suitable shape such as triangular, rectangular, cylindrical, etc. For example, column 772 can be rotated to move first slidable alignment plate 780, second slidable alignment plate 781, and stationary alignment plates 786 attached thereto from a first position to a second position as depicted by the dashed curved arrow in FIG. 14. FIG. 15A shows first slidable alignment plate 780, second slidable alignment plate 781, and stationary alignment plates 786 in the first position and FIG. 15B shows first slidable alignment plate 780, second slidable alignment plate 781, and stationary alignment plates 786 in the second position. As shown in FIG. 15B, when first slidable alignment plate 780, second slidable alignment plate 781, and stationary alignment plates 786 are in the second position, there is a clearance gap between the pre-compressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack701B and the first slidable alignment plate 780, second slidable alignment plate 781, and stationary alignment plates 786. The clearance gap may be large enough to allow the precompressed multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 701B with end plates 720, 724, and second tensioning members 762 to translate along the z-axis without colliding with first slidable alignment plates 780, second slidable alignment plates 781, and stationary alignment plates 786. Pivot plate 791 includes a handle 792 for moving pivot plate 791 to rotate column 772. Pivot assembly 790 also includes an anti-rotation post 793 that can resist or prevent movement of pivot plate 791 and thus resist rotation of column 772 in a clockwise direction (as depicted in FIGS. 15A and 15B) beyond anti-rotation post 793. Pivot assembly 790 also includes a locking element (e.g., a retractable pin) that can lock rotation of column 772 in either of the two rotational positions shown.Tensioning Member Insertion Procedure

[0096] FIGS. 20-25 depict a cross-sectional view of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 2000 during an insertion sequence of a first tensioning member 2060a, according to embodiments. A similar insertion sequence can be used to install one or more additional or alternate tensioning members according to other implementations. Some of the elements shown in FIGS. 20-25 are similar or analogous to elements shown in FIGS. 7 and 11. For the sake of brevity, the prior discussion of such similar or analogous elements with regard to FIGS. 7 and 11 may be assumed to be equally applicable, unless indicated otherwise in the following discussion, to the similar or analogous counterparts of those elements in FIGS. 20-25 that share the same last two digits in their respective callouts as in FIGS. 7 and 11.

[0097] The implementation of FIGS. 20-25 however, is different from the implementation of FIGS. 7 and 11 in at least some regards. For example, the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 2000 in FIGS. 20-25 depicts first tensioning members 2060a-t passing through sides and comers of the first end plate 2020, sides and comers of the second end plate 2024, support frame 2040, and pull plate 2052, whereas multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 700 in FIG. 11 includes second tensioning rods 762 passing through sides of first end plate 720, sides of second end plate 724 and not passing through support frame 740 or pull plate 752. These and other differences are discussed below.

[0098] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 2000 includes a support frame 2040 having a horizontal member 2041 and a pull plate 2052. Support frame 2040 includes a first plurality of tensioning member holes (e.g., 743 in FIG. 7) defined therein and a second plurality of tensioning member holes 2046, defined therein, through which tensioning members may pass. Pull plate 2052 includes a first plurality of tensioning member holes (e.g., 753 inFIG. 7) defined therein, at the corners, and a second plurality of tensioning member holes 2054 defined therein, at the sides, through which tensioning members may pass. In FIG. 25, first tensioning members 2060b-e, 2060h-k, and 2060m-t pass through the second plurality of tensioning member holes 2046 in support frame 2040 and second plurality of tensioning member holes 2054 at the sides of pull plate 2052. In FIG. 25, first tensioning members 2060a, 2060f, and 20601 pass through the first plurality of tensioning member holes in support frame 2040 and the first plurality of tensioning member holes 2054 at the comers of pull plate 2052.

[0099] Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 2000 also includes a hydraulically actuated cylinder 2050 coupled at a first end to pull plate 2052. Hydraulically actuated cylinder 2050 includes a piston rod at a second end that is coupled to support frame 2040. In addition, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 2000 includes a first slidable alignment plate 2080 and a second slidable alignment plate 2081 slidably attached to a rail 2077 coupled to a rotating column (e.g., rotating column 772 in FIG. 7). Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 2000 also includes a plurality of stationary alignment plates 2086 coupled to the rotating column. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 2000 also includes a pivot plate 2091 that can be moved to rotate the rotating column.

[0100] Electrolyzer stack compression apparatus 2000 also includes four elongated slots 2042 defined therein, through which one or more tensioning members may pass during, for example, the insertion procedure. The elongated slots 2042 are located in a center portion of a side of horizontal member 2041 near the pivot plate 2091. Additional or fewer elongated slots 2042 may be used according to other implementations. In the illustrated example, each elongated slot 2042 is located and has dimensions that allow a tensioning member to pass through and be rotated to an angle (e.g., angle a in FIG. 22) with respect to the upper surface (e.g., 744 in FIG. 7) of support frame 2040 to be able to insert a first end of the tensioning member through the underside of the top end plate 2020. This positioning may be advantageous in that it can simplify the assembly process and avoid the need for high overhead space above the stack compression fixture (e.g., sufficient overhead space to accommodate a length of the first tensioning member 2060). In the illustrated example, the elongated slots 2042 are only located at a center portion of a side of the horizontal member 2041. Other portions of the horizontal member 2041 that are close to peripheral edges may be able to use the space / clearance outside the peripheral edges to position a tensioning member at an angle without employing an elongated slot.

[0101] Electrolyzer stack compression apparatus 2000 also includes a first end plate 2020 and a second end plate 2024. FIG. 23 depicts an enlarged view B of a portion of second end plate 2024 and FIG. 23 depicts an enlarged view C of another portion of the second end plate 2024. As shown, second end plate 2024 has a plurality of tensioning member holes 2025 defined therein, at the sides and at the comers. Tensioning member holes 2025 have an obround opening at a first surface 2026 of second end plate 2024 and taper to a round opening at a second surface 2027 of second end plate 2024. This taper allows the second ends of tensioning members to be inserted at an angle into the obround opening and then rotated to be perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to first surface 2026 of horizontal member 2041. In other implementations, the one or more of tensioning member holes 2025 in second end plate 2024 may be elongated slots without a taper i.e., having an obround opening at the first surface 2026 and an obround opening at the second surface 2027.

[0102] In FIGS. 20-25, multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 2000 is shown loaded with an example of a multi-cell electrolyzer stack 2001 in an interior space between first end plate 2020 and second end plate 2024 at a sequence of instances during an insertion procedure in which a first tensioning member 2060a is installed. In this example, the other first tensioning members 2060b-t have already been installed into the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack compression apparatus 2000. After the insertion procedure, a compression procedure may take place in which multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 2001 is compressed by employing the installed first tensioning members 2060a-t. After the compression procedure, one or more of the first tensioning member 2060a-t may be removed or replaced with second tensioning members. A similar insertion procedure as depicted in FIGS. 20-25 may be used to insert one or more second tensioning members.

[0103] The insertion procedure begins with positioning first tensioning member 2060a above support frame 2040 to be able to insert a first end of first tensioning member 2060a through elongated slot 2042. In FIG. 20, first tensioning member 2060a is shown being moved (e.g., translated and / or rotated) from a first position (e.g., a resting position) to a second position above elongated slot 2042. In FIG. 21, the first end of the first tensioning member 2060a is inserted from the topside of support frame 2040 into elongated slot 2042.

[0104] In FIG. 22, first tensioning member 2060a is depicted as being rotated to an angle, a, with respect to an upper surface (e.g., 744 in FIG. 7) of horizontal member 2041 of support frame 2040. First tensioning member 2060a may be rotated to position first tensioning member 2060a at the angle, a, for insertion of a second end of first tensioning member 2060a into theobround opening of tensioning member hole 2025 at first surface 2026 of horizontal member 2041.

[0105] In FIG. 23, first tensioning member 2060a is depicted as being translated along an axis along the angle, a, and in the plane of the cross section. FIG. 23 depicts an enlarged view D of the portion of the second end plate 2024 shown in the enlarged view B. In the enlarged view D, the second end of the first tensioning member 2060a is shown as passing through the second end plate 2024 at the angle, a.

[0106] In FIG. 24, first tensioning member 2060a is depicted as being rotated such that a central axis of first tensioning member 2060a is perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the upper surface of support frame 2040. In this position, the first end of first tensioning member 2060a may be aligned for insertion into a tensioning member hole (e.g., 121 in FIG. 1A) at a comer of the first end plate 2020, a tensioning member hole 2046 in horizontal member 2041 of the support frame 2040, and a tensioning member hole 2054 at a side or a comer of pull plate 2052.

[0107] In FIG. 25, first tensioning member 2060a is depicted as being translated (lowered) to pass through respective tensioning member holes in first end plate 2020, support frame 2040, and pull plate 2052. Fasteners may then be threaded onto the ends of first tensioning member 2060a that protrude from the topside of first end plate 2029 and from the underside of pull plate 2052.II. Multi-cell COx electrolyzer

[0108] FIG. 16 depicts an exploded view of an example of a COXelectrolyzer cell 1600. Cell 1600 includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 1602, an anode porous transport layer (PTL) 1604 with an anode gasket 1605, a cathode gas diffusion layer (GDL) 1614 a cathode gasket 1615, an anode flow field 1606, and a cathode flow field 1616. The anode channels in anode flow field 1606 are depicted as dotted outlines, but would not actually be visible in this view since they are located on the side of anode flow field 1606 facing downward in the Figure.

[0109] FIG. 17 depicts an isometric view of an example of a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1700 including a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 1701 that includes a plurality of COXelectrolyzer cells 1703 stacked one on top of another between a common anode conductor plate 1708 and a common cathode conductor plate 1718. COXelectrolyzer cells 1703 are similar in construction to COXelectrolyzer cell 1600 in FIG. 16. Cell 1600 in FIG. 16 differs somewhat from cells 1703 in FIG. 17 in that the cells 1703 in FIG. 17 share anode conductor plate 1708, cathode conductor plate 1718, anode end plate 1710, and cathode end plate 1720, and layers of electrically insulating material (e.g., electrically insulating material not shown) disposedbetween anode conductor plate 1708 and anode end plate 1710 and another electrically insulating layer and between cathode end plate 1720 and cathode conductor plate 1718.

[0110] The cells 1703 being stacked one on top of another and sandwiched between anode conductor plate 1708 and cathode conductor plate 1718 allow an electrical potential to develop across multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 1701 when a voltage or current is applied to anode conductor plate 1708 and cathode conductor plate 1718. In effect, cells 1703 form an electrical circuit in which cells 1703 are arranged in series. At the same time, anode conductor plate 1708 and cathode conductor plate 1718 may, through compression provided by tightened threaded fasteners 1722 on tensioning members 1725, compress cells 1703, and anode conductor plate 1708 and the cathode conductor plate 1718 and layers of electrically insulating material (e.g., electrically insulating layer 108 and electrically insulating layer 109 in FIG. 1A) to cause entire multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 1701 to be clamped together, thereby causing the various layers to be sealed against one another and providing for a leak- tight assembly.

[0111] Fluids that are provided through the fluidic inlet port 1724 and another fluidic inlet port (not shown) may travel through the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 1701 via the plenum holes A and C in FIG. 16, respectively, before entering the anode flow fields 1606 and cathode flow fields 1616, respectively. Fluids that exit the anode flow fields 1606 and cathode flow fields 1616 may travel through the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 1701 via the plenum holes B and D, respectively, before exiting multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 1701 via a fluidic outlet port 1726 and another fluidic outlet port (not shown), respectively. It will be appreciated that other implementations may feature alternative arrangements for providing parallel fluid flow through the flow fields, e.g., fluids may be introduced into the flow fields via ports located on the sides of the flow fields via a plenum structure or structures that are attached to the side(s) of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack 1701.

[0112] FIG. 18 depicts an exploded view of an example multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800. FIG. 19 depicts a perspective view of the example multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800 of FIG. 18. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800 includes a plurality of COXelectrolyzer cells (or cells), such as cell 1801, formed by stacking a plurality of repeat units 1803 (individually referenced as repeat units 1803_l to 1803_n, where "n" is an integer greater than or equal to one) between cathode interface assembly 1805 of port side assembly 1807 and anode interface assembly 1809 of bladder side assembly 1811. In this manner, any given cell among the plurality of COx electrolyzer cells may be formed by the conjunction of 1) cathode interface assembly 1805 (which includes MEA and anode components of repeat unit 1803_l); 2) cathode components (which include MEA) of a first repeat unit (e.g., repeat unit 1803_l) and anode components ofa second repeat unit (e.g., repeat unit 1803_2) adjacent to the first repeat unit; or 3) cathode components of repeat unit 1803_n and anode interface assembly 1809. Accordingly, the MEA of any given cell among the plurality of COx electrolyzer cells may be configured to facilitate a COx reduction process. Multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800 includes a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack between end plates 1819 and 1825.

[0113] Port side assembly 1807 may include cathode interface assembly 1805, bus (or terminal) plate 1813, manifold assembly 1815, insulation plate 1817, and end plate 1819 sequentially stacked from a first side of the plurality of repeat units 1803 in a first direction, e.g., an axial direction, which may extend parallel to the z-axis direction. Among other functions, port side assembly 1807 may at least be configured to provide one or more reactants to the cells to feed the COx reduction process and output one or more carbon-based products from the cells in association therewith. Bladder side assembly 1811 may include anode interface assembly 1809, bus (or terminal) plate 1821, insulation plate 1823, and end plate 1825 sequentially stacked from a second side of the plurality of repeat units 1803 in a second direction opposite the first direction. Among other functions, bladder side assembly 1811 may be at least configured to constrain axial expansion of the cells during the COx reduction process in a manner that prevents or reduces the likelihood of the plurality of cells from being overly compressed, but maintains corresponding fluidic seals and electrical conductivity between associated components of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800.

[0114] Respective end plates 1819 and 1825 of port side assembly 1807 and bladder side assembly 1811 may be coupled to one another via a plurality of tensioning members 1827 (e.g., anchors, bolts, studs, tie rods, etc.) extending in the axial direction. As such, end plates 1819 and 1825 may include respective pluralities of fastener tensioning holes 1819h and 1825h through which tensioning members 1827 may pass. In some embodiments, fastener holes 1819h and 1825h may be respectively arranged about corresponding peripheral regions of end plates 1819 and 1825. It is also noted that end plates 1819 and 1825 may be formed of any suitable material, such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium, steel, metal alloys (such as of the previous elemental metals), and other like materials. Tensioning members 1827 may be at least partially threaded to respectively engage with, for instance, threaded fasteners 1829 (e.g., nuts, rivets, etc.). In this manner, a clamping load extending in the axial direction may be applied to the plurality of cells via the conjunction of end plates 1819 and 1825, tensioning members 1827, and threaded fasteners 1829. As such, end plates 1819 and 1825 may generally serve to act as load- spreading members that distribute a clamping load relatively evenly over the other elements of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800. In some instances, first washers 1831 may berespectively disposed between the heads of tensioning members 1827 and upper surface 1819a of end plate 1819, and second washers 1833 may be respectively disposed between lower surface 1825b of end plate 1825 and threaded fasteners 1829. It is contemplated that one or more of first washers 1831 may be formed as lock washers and / or respectively integrated with the heads of tensioning members 1827 such as in the case of flanged bolts. Similarly, one or more of second washers 1833 may be formed as lock washers and / or respectively integrated with threaded fasteners 1829 such as in the case of flanged nuts.

[0115] Bus plates 1813 and 1821 are respectively provided with terminal portions 1813t and 1821t protruding outwardly from corresponding peripheral surfaces and may be respectively connected to a power supply. In some cases, terminal portions 1813t and 1821t may have, for example, lugs, terminal blocks, and / or other electrical connection mechanisms to facilitate electrical connections between bus plates 1813 and 1821 and a corresponding positive or negative voltage or current source. For example, terminal portion 1813t on a cathode side of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800 may be connected to a negative electrode of the power supply, and terminal portion 1821t on an anode side of the multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800 may be connected to a positive electrode of the power supply. In this manner, bus plates 1813 and 1821 may provide common electrical connections for the plurality of cells of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800, such as cell 1801, and, thereby, enable an electrical potential or current to be generated across the plurality of cells of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800 that may drive the reduction and oxidation reactions within the plurality of cells. For instance, when an electrical potential difference is imposed on the plurality of cells of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800 through application of a voltage or current across bus plates 1813 and 1821, the resulting electrical potential difference may cause an oxidation reaction at the anode sides of the cells (e.g., oxidation of water to molecular oxygen) and a reduction reaction at the cathode sides of the cells, e.g., that converts the COx into carbon monoxide, a hydrocarbon, and / or other catalyst-specific products. As will become more apparent below, bus plate 1813 may be sized so as not to interfere with various fluidic passages through multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800.

[0116] According to various embodiments, bus plates 1813 and 1821 may be formed of a first electrically conductive material, e.g., aluminum, iron, nickel, lead, steel, zinc, and / or the like, and may be coated (or plated) with a second, more electrically conductive coating material, e.g., silver plating, gold plating, copper plating, or other material with relatively higher electrical conductivity, to provide a higher level of electrical conductivity between bus plates 1813 and 1821 and the corresponding flow fields (e.g., anode and cathode flow fields) of the respective cells of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800.

[0117] Bus plate 1813 may, for example, be electrically insulated from end plate 1819 by insulation plate 1817 and / or at least one other layer of electrically insulating material. As shown, insulation plate 1817 is disposed between the electrically conductive portion of bus plate 1813 and end plate 1819, and may include a plurality of fastener holes 1817h through which tensioning members 1827 may pass. In some cases, electrical insulation between bus plate 1813 and end plate 1819 may be additionally or alternatively provided by manifold assembly 1815 when, for instance, manifold assembly 1815 is formed of an electrically non- conductive material. Further, electrical insulation may be additionally or alternatively provided by forming (or bonding) electrically insulating material on (or to) a surface of bus plate 1813 facing end plate 1819, a surface of end plate 1819 facing bus plate 1813, or at least one surface of manifold assembly 1815 facing end plate 1819 or end plate 1825. Regardless of how such electrical insulation is provided, bus plate 1813 may be electrically insulated from end plate 1819. When, however, end plate 1819 is made of an electrically non-conductive material, or in which end plate 1819 is otherwise electrically isolated from, for example, bus plate 1821 and / or end plate 1825, insulation plate 1817 (or other electrically insulating material) may be omitted.

[0118] Similar to bus plate 1813, bus plate 1821 may be electrically insulated from end plate 1825 by insulation plate 1823 and / or at least one other layer of electrically insulating material that may act in a similar manner as insulation plate 1817 with respect to bus plate 1813 and end plate 1819, but with respect to end plate 1825 and bus plate 1821. Similar to insulation plate 1817, insulation plate 1823 may include a plurality of fastener holes 1823h through which tensioning members 1827 may pass. In some embodiments, electrical insulation may be additionally or alternatively provided by forming (or bonding) electrically insulating material on (or to) a surface of bus plate 1821 facing end plate 1825 and / or a surface of end plate 1825 facing bus plate 1821. In some implementations, insulation plate 1823 (or other electrically insulating material) may be omitted if end plate 1825 is otherwise electrically isolated from bus plate 1821. It is also contemplated that bus plate 1821 may be allowed to come into electrically conductive contact with end plate 1825 in those instances when the various components of the cells of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800 are otherwise configured to maintain electrical insulation between bus plates 1813 and 1821 other than a conductive path through the various MEAs of the plurality of cells. However, as will become more apparent below, insulation plate 1823 may be utilized in association with bus plate 1821 to constrain (e.g., actively constrain) axial expansion of the plurality of cells of multi-cell COXelectrolyzer 1800.

[0119] According to some embodiments, insulation plate 1823 may be coupled to end plate 1825 via a plurality of first fasteners 1835. Similarly, insulation plate 1817 may be coupled to end plate 1819 via a plurality of second fasteners 1837. Further, bus plate 1813 may be coupled to manifold assembly 1815 via a plurality of third fasteners 1839. First, second, and third fasteners 1835, 1837, and 1839 may be any suitable fastening mechanism, such as flathead machine screws, rivets, etc., but embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0120] First anode gasket 1813a of first anode gasket set 1813 may encircle an anode flow field. Second and third anode gaskets 1813b and 1813c of first anode gasket set 1813 may form fluidic seals with an adjacent repeat unit or cathode interface assembly 1805. It would be contemplated that the apparatuses discussed herein may also be used to facilitate the assembly and compression of other multi-cell reactor stacks such as water electrolyzers, fuel cells, and the like.Example Embodiments

[0121] Embodiment 1 : An apparatus comprising a support frame having a horizontal element with a first surface, wherein the support frame has a plurality of holes in the horizontal element; a hydraulically actuated cylinder, at least a portion of the hydraulically actuated cylinder located below the support frame; and a pull plate coupled to the hydraulically actuated cylinder, wherein the pull plate is located below the support frame, wherein the pull plate has a plurality of holes aligned with the plurality of holes of the support frame.

[0122] Embodiment 2: The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the support frame is configured to support the hydraulically actuated cylinder.

[0123] Embodiment 3: The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the hydraulically actuated cylinder is configured to transition between at least two configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the pull plate is at a first distance from the support frame and in the second configuration, the pull plate is at a second distance from the support frame, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

[0124] Embodiment 4: The apparatus of embodiment 1, further comprising a plurality of first tensioning members passing through the plurality of holes in the support frame and the plurality of holes in the pull plate.

[0125] Embodiment 5: The apparatus of embodiment 4, wherein the first tensioning members are threaded rods.

[0126] Embodiment 6: The apparatus of embodiment 4, wherein an end of each first tensioning member extends through a corresponding hole of the pull plate to receive a correspondingfastener thereon, and wherein the pull plate is positioned between the corresponding fastener and the horizontal element.

[0127] Embodiment 7: The apparatus of embodiment 1, further comprising: a stationary end plate; and a movable end plate.

[0128] Embodiment 8: The apparatus of embodiment 7, wherein the stationary end plate and the movable end plate are located above the support frame.

[0129] Embodiment 9: The apparatus of embodiment 7, the stationary end plate is disposed (i) on the first surface of the support frame or (ii) on a plurality of support blocks disposed on the first surface.

[0130] Embodiment 10: The apparatus of embodiment 7, further comprising an interior portion between the stationary end plate and the movable end plate, the interior portion configured to receive a chemical reactor stack.

[0131] Embodiment 11: The apparatus of embodiment 7, wherein the chemical reactor stack is a multi-cell COx electrolyzer stack.

[0132] Embodiment 12: The apparatus of embodiment 7, wherein the multi-cell COx electrolyzer stack comprises a plurality of COx electrolyzer cells interposed between two conductor plates.

[0133] Embodiment 13: The apparatus of embodiment 12, wherein the multi-cell COx electrolyzer stack further comprises two or more electrically insulating material layers.

[0134] Embodiment 14: The apparatus of embodiment 1, further comprising a plurality of first tensioning members, wherein the plurality of holes in the support frame comprises a plurality of first holes with the first tensioning members passing therethrough.

[0135] Embodiment 15: The apparatus of embodiment 7, further comprising a plurality of second tensioning members coupled to movable end plate and the stationary end plate.

[0136] Embodiment 16: The apparatus of embodiment 7, further comprising at least one center support block between the stationary end plate and the support frame, the at least one center support block including a load cell element for measuring compression load applied to second end plate.

[0137] Embodiment 17: The apparatus of embodiment 16, wherein the pull plate, the hydraulically actuated cylinder, and the load cell element are floating with respect to the support frame.

[0138] Embodiment 18: The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein a first end of the hydraulically actuated cylinder is coupled to the pull plate and a second end of the hydraulically actuated cylinder is coupled to the support frame.

[0139] Embodiment 19: The apparatus of embodiment 18, wherein a load cell element is located at the second end of the hydraulically actuated cylinder.

[0140] Embodiment 20: The apparatus of any one of embodiments 8 through 19, further comprising a press plate in contact with the movable end plate, the press plate having a plurality of holes.

[0141] Embodiment 21: The apparatus of embodiment 20, further comprising a plurality of first tensioning members, each first tensioning member passing through a corresponding one of the holes in the support frame, a corresponding one of the holes in the pull plate, and a corresponding one of the holes in the press plate.

[0142] Embodiment 22: The apparatus of embodiment 21, wherein the first tensioning members pass outside peripheral edges of the stationary end plate and the movable end plate.

[0143] Embodiment 23: An apparatus comprising: a support frame having a horizontal element with a first surface, wherein the support frame has a plurality of holes in the horizontal element; a hydraulically actuated cylinder coupled to the support frame, at least a portion of the hydraulically actuated cylinder located below the support frame; and a movable push plate located above the support frame and having a plurality of holes, the movable push plate configured to move in a first direction substantially normal to the first surface of the support frame, wherein the hydraulically actuated cylinder is coupled to the movable push plate.

[0144] Embodiment 24: The apparatus of embodiment 23, wherein the hydraulically actuated cylinder is configured to transition between at least two configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the movable push plate is at a first distance from the support frame and in the second configuration, the movable push plate is at a second distance from the support frame, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

[0145] Embodiment 25: The apparatus of embodiment 23, further comprising: a first end plate; and a second end plate.

[0146] Embodiment 26: The apparatus of embodiment 25, wherein the first end plate and the second end plate are located above the support frame.

[0147] Embodiment 27: The apparatus of embodiment 25, wherein the first end plate is disposed (i) on the first surface of the support frame or (ii) on a plurality of support blocks disposed on the first surface.

[0148] Embodiment 28: The apparatus of embodiment 25, further comprising an interior portion between the first end plate and the second end plate, the interior portion configured to receive a chemical reactor stack.

[0149] Embodiment 29: The apparatus of embodiment 28, wherein the chemical reactor stack is a multi-cell COx electrolyzer stack.

[0150] Embodiment 30: The apparatus of embodiment 29, wherein the multi-cell COx electrolyzer stack comprises a plurality of COx electrolyzer cells interposed between two conductor plates.

[0151] Embodiment 31: The apparatus of embodiment 30, wherein the multi-cell COx electrolyzer stack further comprises two or more electrically insulating material layers.

[0152] Embodiment 32: The apparatus of embodiment 25, further comprising a plurality of first tensioning members, each first tensioning member passing through a corresponding one of the holes in the support frame, a corresponding one of the holes in the movable push plate, and a corresponding one of the holes in the second end plate.

[0153] Embodiment 33: The apparatus of embodiment 32, wherein the first tensioning members are threaded rods.

[0154] Embodiment 34: The apparatus of embodiment 32, wherein an end of each first tensioning member extends through a corresponding hole in the horizontal element of the support frame to receive a corresponding fastener thereon, and wherein the horizontal element of the support frame is positioned between the corresponding fastener and the movable push plate.

[0155] Embodiment 35: The apparatus of embodiment 32, further comprising a plurality of second tensioning members coupled to the first end plate and the second end plate.

[0156] Embodiment 36: The apparatus of embodiment 23, further comprising a plurality of first tensioning members, wherein the plurality of holes in the support frame comprises a plurality of first holes with the first tensioning members passing therethrough and a plurality of second holes not having first tensioning members passing therethrough.

[0157] Embodiment 37: The apparatus of embodiment 25, further comprising at least one center support block between the first end plate and the support frame, the at least one center support block including a load cell element for measuring compression load applied to the second end plate.

[0158] Embodiment 38: The apparatus of embodiment 25, wherein a first end of the hydraulically actuated cylinder is coupled to the movable push plate and a second end of the hydraulically actuated cylinder is coupled to the second end plate.

[0159] Embodiment 39: The apparatus of embodiment 25, further comprising a press plate in contact with the second end plate, the press plate having a plurality of holes.

[0160] Embodiment 40: The apparatus of embodiment 39, further comprising a plurality of first tensioning members, each first tensioning member passing through a corresponding one of the holes in the support frame, a corresponding one of the holes in the press plate, and a corresponding one of the holes in the movable push plate.

[0161] Embodiment 41: The apparatus of embodiment 40, wherein the first tensioning members pass outside peripheral edges of the first end plate and the second end plate.

[0162] Embodiment 42: The apparatus of embodiment 1 or embodiment 23, further comprising: a plurality of columns oriented in a first direction substantially normal to the first surface of the support frame, the columns coupled at proximal ends to the support frame, each column comprising: (i) a first slidable alignment plate configured to move along that column, the first slidable alignment plate comprising a first edge parallel to the first direction and a second edge parallel to a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and (ii) one or more stationary alignment plates, each stationary alignment plate comprising a first edge parallel to the first direction.

[0163] Embodiment 43: The apparatus of embodiment 42, further comprising: a first end plate; and a second end plate.

[0164] Embodiment 44: The apparatus of embodiment 43, wherein the first end plate and the second end plate are located above the support frame.

[0165] Embodiment 45: The apparatus of embodiment 43, wherein the hydraulically actuated cylinder is configured to transition between at least two configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the second end plate is at a third distance from the support frame and in the second configuration, the second end plate is at a fourth distance from the support frame, wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance.

[0166] Embodiment 46: The apparatus of embodiment 43, wherein the hydraulically actuated cylinder is configured to transition between at least two configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the second end plate is at a third distance from the support frame and in the second configuration, the second end plate is at a fourth distance from the support frame, wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance.

[0167] Embodiment 47: The apparatus of embodiment 45, wherein the first slidable alignment plate of each column is configured to move along that column as the second end plate moves from the third distance from the support frame to the fourth distance from the support frame.

[0168] Embodiment 48: The apparatus of embodiment 46, further comprising a plurality of first mechanisms coupled to the first slidable alignment plates to maintain contact between the first slidable alignment plate of each respective column and the second end plate.

[0169] Embodiment 49: The apparatus of embodiment 47, wherein each of the first mechanisms comprises a pulley or a gas piston.

[0170] Embodiment 50: The apparatus of embodiment 46, each column further comprising a second slidable alignment plate configured to move along that column, the second slidable alignment plate comprising a first edge parallel to the first direction.

[0171] Embodiment 51: The apparatus of embodiment 49, further comprising a plurality of second mechanisms, coupled to respective second slidable alignment plates to maintain contact between the second slidable alignment plate of each respective column and the first end plate.

[0172] Embodiment 52: The apparatus of embodiment 42, wherein the first edge of each stationary alignment plate of each column is configured to contact layers of a chemical reactor stack.

[0173] Embodiment 53: The apparatus of embodiment 43, wherein each column includes an edge parallel to the first direction for contacting edges of the first end plate and second end plate to align the first end plate with the second end plate.

[0174] Embodiment 54: The apparatus of embodiment 42, wherein at least one of the columns is configured to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the first direction.

[0175] Embodiment 55: The apparatus of embodiment 42, wherein at least one of the columns is a pivoting column comprising a pivot plate; and further comprising an anti-rotation post extending from an upper surface of the support frame, wherein the anti-rotation post is configured to limit rotation of the pivot plate such that the anti-rotation post and pivot plate are together configured to limit rotation of the pivoting column.

[0176] Embodiment 56: The apparatus of embodiment 55, wherein the pivot plate is configured to move from a first position to a second position, wherein in the second position the pivot plate clears tensioning members of an electrolyzer when the electrolyzer is removed from the apparatus.

[0177] Embodiment 57: The apparatus of embodiment 55, wherein the pivot plate comprises a handle for rotating the pivoting column.

[0178] Embodiment 58: The apparatus of embodiment 42, wherein the first slidable alignment plate comprises one or more carriages slidably coupled to the respective column.

[0179] Embodiment 59: The apparatus of embodiment 58, wherein at least one of the carriages of the first slidable alignment plate in each column includes a set screw for holding that slidable alignment plate in place relative to that column.

[0180] Embodiment 60: The apparatus of embodiment 42, further comprising a support bar coupled to distal ends of the columns.

[0181] Embodiment 61: The apparatus of embodiment 42, wherein a length of the first edge of the first slidable alignment plate is greater than a length of the first edge of the one or more stationary alignment plates.

[0182] Embodiment 62: The apparatus of embodiment 42, wherein the plurality of columns includes three columns.

[0183] Embodiment 63: The apparatus of embodiment 42, wherein the plurality of columns includes two columns along one side of the apparatus and a third column along an adjoining side of the apparatus.

[0184] It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein.

[0185] It is to be further understood that the above disclosure, while focusing on a particular example implementation or implementations, is not limited to only the discussed example, but may also apply to similar variants and mechanisms as well, and such similar variants and mechanisms are also considered to be within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising: a support frame having a horizontal element with a first surface, wherein the support frame has a plurality of holes in the horizontal element; a hydraulically actuated cylinder, at least a portion of the hydraulically actuated cylinder located below the support frame; and a pull plate coupled to the hydraulically actuated cylinder, wherein the pull plate is located below the support frame, wherein the pull plate has a plurality of holes aligned with the plurality of holes of the support frame.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydraulically actuated cylinder is configured to transition between at least two configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the pull plate is at a first distance from the support frame and in the second configuration, the pull plate is at a second distance from the support frame, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of first tensioning members passing through the plurality of holes in the support frame and the plurality of holes in the pull plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first tensioning members are threaded rods.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein an end of each first tensioning member extends through a corresponding hole of the pull plate to receive a corresponding fastener thereon, and wherein the pull plate is positioned between the corresponding fastener and the horizontal element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a stationary end plate; and a movable end plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the stationary end plate and the movable end plate are located above the support frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the stationary end plate is disposed (i) on the first surface of the support frame or (ii) on a plurality of support blocks disposed on the first surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an interior portion between the stationary end plate and the movable end plate, the interior portion configured to receive a chemical reactor stack.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the chemical reactor stack is a multi-cell COXelectrolyzer stack.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of first tensioning members, wherein the plurality of holes in the support frame comprises a plurality of first holes with the first tensioning members passing therethrough.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of second tensioning members coupled to movable end plate and the stationary end plate.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one center support block between the stationary end plate and the support frame, the at least one center support block including a load cell element for measuring compression load applied to second end plate.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the pull plate, the hydraulically actuated cylinder, and the load cell element are floating with respect to the support frame.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first end of the hydraulically actuated cylinder is coupled to the pull plate and a second end of the hydraulically actuated cylinder is coupled to the support frame.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a load cell element is located at the second end of the hydraulically actuated cylinder.

17. The apparatus of any one of claims 7 through 16, further comprising a press plate in contact with the movable end plate, the press plate having a plurality of holes.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of first tensioning members, each first tensioning member passing through a corresponding one of the holes in the support frame, a corresponding one of the holes in the pull plate, and a corresponding one of the holes in the press plate.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first tensioning members pass outside peripheral edges of the stationary end plate and the movable end plate.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of columns oriented in a first direction substantially normal to the first surface of the support frame, the columns coupled at proximal ends to the support frame, each column comprising:(i) a first slidable alignment plate configured to move along that column, the first slidable alignment plate comprising a first edge parallel to the first direction and a second edge parallel to a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and(ii) one or more stationary alignment plates, each stationary alignment plate comprising a first edge parallel to the first direction.

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