Method for producing a membrane / seal assembly for an electrochemical cell, corresponding cell element, and electrolysis system
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-30
Smart Images
Figure EP2025086323_30072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] 2024PF00604
[0002] Description
[0003] Method for manufacturing a membrane sealing arrangement for an electrochemical cell, corresponding cell element and electrolysis system
[0004] The present invention relates to a method for producing a membrane sealing arrangement for an electrochemical cell, in particular an electrolysis cell. Furthermore, a cell element, a corresponding membrane sealing arrangement, a method for producing a cell stack, and a corresponding electrolyzer are specified.
[0005] The electrolysis of water is a completely climate-friendly and sustainable process for producing hydrogen (H2) using renewable electricity. Hydrogen can be used as an energy carrier, fuel, or fuel additive, and therefore plays a crucial role in future energy technologies. The potential to produce H2 in large quantities in a climate-neutral way and / or to store or transport it "carbon-free" using hydrogen carriers such as ammonia offers promising solutions for the success of the energy transition in sectors such as transportation, the chemical industry, and the steel industry.
[0006] In particular, PEM water electrolysis (PEM stands for "polymer electrolyte membrane" or "proton exchange membrane") is gaining increasing importance in the industrial production of green hydrogen from renewable energy, due in part to its partial load capability and low operating costs.
[0007] Even though most hydrogen is still produced conventionally today, for example through steam reforming of methane or coal gasification, aggressive investments and subsidies will foreseeably lead to a 2024PF00604
[0008] 2
[0009] bring about a clear trend towards regenerative hydrogen production, be it via PEM, alkaline electrolysis or AEM electrolysis technology (“Anion Exchange Membrane”).
[0010] In the PEM electrolysis cell, for example, the membrane has a catalyst layer on each of its opposite surfaces. Gas diffusion layers, which serve, among other things, for electrical contact, typically border the catalyst layers. Preferably, the gas diffusion layers (GDL) are also designed to enable the necessary mass or fluid transport during the intended operation of the electrolysis cell. Furthermore, the gas diffusion layer provides the necessary electrical conductivity to electrically couple the contact plates and the catalyst layers. This allows the desired electrochemical reaction to be realized in the region of the catalyst layers. On both sides of the respective electrolysis cell (on both half-cells, i.e.,The gas diffusion layers (anode and cathode) are in turn often adjacent to electrically conductive bipolar or media distribution plates.
[0011] In cell stacks, such as those found in fuel cells or electrolyzers, cells are stacked on top of each other to increase usable voltage or media throughput. Such stacks consist alternately of the active component, often called a "MEA" (membrane electrode assembly) or "membrane electrode assembly" in an electrolysis cell stack, and the bipolar plate.
[0012] The fluid to be electrochemically distributed and processed can be, in particular, a gas and / or a liquid, an electrolyte, a catalyst, an analyzer, or a reactant for the operation of the electrochemical cell in question. 2024PF00604
[0013] Hydrogen is produced electrolytically from water as a reactant. This is an electrochemical process in which water is separated into its chemical components, oxygen (O2) and hydrogen. The electrochemical cell reactions can be described and differentiated as follows:
[0014]
[0015] The two partial reactions are spatially separated by a membrane that conducts ions. In particular, a flow of protons (H+) through the membrane ultimately creates an ion current from one half-cell to the other, generating hydrogen or oxygen at the respective electrodes.
[0016] Using PEM water electrolysis as an example, various subcomponents are already combined in cells during manufacturing and these are repeatedly assembled into a stack or connected in series. The components are initially separate and must be connected, arranged, fixed, and / or joined, which leads to the technical problems described below.
[0017] With regard to cell design, a large number of different and initially individually available elements or subcomponents generally results in a limitation in the selection of components due to their individual (material) properties and assembly capability.
[0018] Furthermore, the assembly of the components becomes more difficult with an increasing number of individual parts due to the risk of individual components slipping when inserted into a structure or cell frame. Additionally, the susceptibility of the 2024PF00604 increases.
[0019] 4
[0020] Components are susceptible to damage if they are installed incorrectly or even just within certain tolerances, but are nevertheless not adequately supported mechanically or are subjected to excessive stress. All these technical difficulties run counter to the manufacturing requirement of increasing the integration density of the cells (smaller footprint).
[0021] The assembly or assembly of individual cells into a cell stack therefore largely requires manual assembly, especially with regard to the membranes and seals. Manual assembly, however, is costly, time-consuming, slow, and incompatible with the desired digital and automated assembly, testing, and quality assurance concepts.
[0022] For example, with the conventional assembly and stacking of electrochemical cells, a fluid leak test is disadvantageously only possible after the stack is completely assembled. The same applies to an electrical short-circuit test and the general functional test of the stack, which, due to the technical difficulties outlined, implies complete assembly.
[0023] So far, these problems have only been partially solved or circumvented by, for example, making a complex selection of a cell design as well as suitable materials and components according to the respective boundary conditions.
[0024] As already mentioned, the following cell components are inherently separate due to a lack of integration and automation concepts. This applies in particular to the membrane of the respective electrochemical cell.
[0025] Membrane electrode unit and the catalyst layers to be arranged on it (“catalyst layer”), porous transport layers (“porous transport layer” (PTL)) or
[0026] Gas diffusion layers (GDL) .2024PF00604
[0027] Other necessary functions and components of the cell are also affected, namely gaskets, any substitute gaskets (subgaskets), and the cell frame or support. The aforementioned substitute gasket can, in addition to its sealing function, also have an electrically insulating function within the cell assembly and is therefore often referred to as an insulating intermediate layer.
[0028] Specifically, in the state of the art or in known approaches, there are already several possibilities to connect individual components before the actual stack assembly and then install them as a multi-component solution.
[0029] In this way, the membrane can be combined with the catalyst layers to form a catalyst-coated membrane (“catalyst-coated membrane”, CCM).
[0030] Furthermore, a connection of the catalyst layer with the porous transport layers or gas diffusion functions to form porous transport layer electrodes (“porous transport electrode”, PTE) or
[0031] Gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) are possible.
[0032] Alternatively, a membrane coated on one side with a catalyst, combined with a porous transport layer, might also be suitable.
[0033] Offer gas diffusion on only one side of the cell (half-cell).
[0034] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means by which the technical problems described above can be addressed and solved. In particular, the invention is intended to introduce an advantageous degree of prefabrication of electrochemical cell components, which facilitates the production of corresponding 2024PF00604
[0035] 6
[0036] Cell components have been significantly improved, and even the possibility of automated manufacturing has been largely opened up.
[0037] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims.
[0038] One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for providing a membrane sealing arrangement for an electrochemical cell. The method can also refer synonymously to the electrochemical cell itself, which comprises the corresponding membrane sealing arrangement.
[0039] The electrochemical cell in question is preferably a PEM electrolysis cell; although the advantages of the invention, without limiting the generality, may also extend to fuel cells, alkaline electrolysis cells, AEM technology, or even partially to neighboring technology fields such as liquid batteries (redox flow batteries) or other wet cells.
[0040] The method comprises providing a membrane or a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) or a corresponding diaphragm, comprising electrode layers applied to the membrane, the MEA or the diaphragm, which, during operation of the cell, serve as anodes or electrodes.
[0041] They serve as cathode catalysts.
[0042] The method further comprises providing a seal, wherein the seal is designed or configured to seal an anode compartment or a cathode compartment during operation of the electrochemical cell. This seal can advantageously be used to seal a fluid channel between the membrane and, for example, an adjacent bipolar plate or a current distribution plate. In addition, the seal can also reliably prevent an electrical short circuit between individual cell components. 2024PF00604
[0043] 7
[0044] The process also includes the material-bonded joining or bonding of the membrane or membrane electrode unit and the seal to form a prefabricated assembly. This combination of membrane or membrane electrode unit and the presented seal, in particular, advantageously simplifies assembly in manufacturing, as a prefabricated component assembly can be positioned and processed much more easily.
[0045] Furthermore, a higher degree of automation in assembly is achieved, which advantageously allows individual process steps to be carried out more easily and / or quickly; the component assembly can be guided and positioned, particularly by robots. The component assembly is also potentially more rigid and can therefore be handled and processed more easily by a robot.
[0046] Further advantages arise with regard to quality assurance. Leakage, short-circuit, and functional tests of the assembly can be efficiently performed at the component level, thus eliminating the need for testing only after the entire cell stack has been assembled.
[0047] This saves on assembly effort, as leaks, short circuits or other malfunctions can be detected and corrected at the cell level; without further cells having to be assembled in the meantime.
[0048] Overall, this minimizes rejects and additional effort during assembly, functional testing, and quality assurance, thus avoiding the repair effort for defective cells, e.g., in an already manufactured cell stack or electrolysis system.
[0049] It is also evident that positioning individual cell components, such as the membrane, the subgasket and the main gasket 2024PF00604
[0050] This simplifies the process and allows it to be completed definitively during pre-assembly. This, in turn, prevents (later) slippage during subsequent assembly processes.
[0051] According to an advantageous embodiment, the membrane or membrane electrode unit is first joined with a, preferably similar, additional seal (subgasket) or a corresponding insulating or sealing intermediate layer before being bonded together.
[0052] The material is bonded in a coherent manner. This advantageously makes it possible to utilize the benefits of the present invention also with regard to the additional seal, and thus to prevent subsequent slippage or damage to the delicate membrane, for example due to insufficient mechanical support at critical points.
[0053] In this context, a "material bond" is understood to mean, in particular, connecting the components to be joined at the atomic or molecular level in such a way that separation is only possible by destroying the components or a bonding agent. Both constituent and foreign additive materials or bonding agents can be used in the bonding process. The bonding method selected according to the invention...
[0054] The fabric end advantageously enables the reliable mutual fixing of the components to be joined or connected in the further assembly process.
[0055] The membrane or membrane electrode assembly can advantageously be bonded to the described seal on both sides, i.e., facing an anodic and a cathodic half-cell. Thus, the assembly prefabricated according to the invention can advantageously be provided with a sealing function for both the anode and cathode compartments of the membrane. 2024PF00604
[0056] 9
[0057] The materially bonded composite according to the invention can be produced or joined in particular by gluing, laminating, hot pressing, heat treatment and / or, for example, by ultrasonic joining or ultrasonic welding.
[0058] The joining process can be carried out discontinuously using a so-called batch process (see also "batch process") or in batch production. Alternatively, joining via the roll-to-roll process (R2R process) is also possible and particularly well-suited for cost-effective and time-efficient manufacturing.
[0059] In one embodiment of the method, the seal or the aforementioned additional seal has a metallic base body, which can serve as a mechanical reinforcement of the seal. Furthermore, the seal or the additional seal can have an elastic sealing element, particularly one connected to the metallic base body, which is, for example, bonded to the edges of the metallic base body.
[0060] According to one embodiment, the elastic sealing element can therefore be applied to the metallic base body or support at the edge or as an edge-bonded seal, wherein the elastic sealing element preferably defines a fluid channel or a fluid inlet or outlet opening during operation of the cell.
[0061] The elastic sealing element of the gasket or auxiliary seal can comprise polymeric and / or elastomeric materials, in particular PEN, PPS, PTFE, PEEK, FKM, and / or EPDM, or consist of a combination of these materials. The aforementioned materials have proven to be particularly durable and functional for fluids used in electrolysis or similar applications. Furthermore, they are compatible with, for example, the common 2024PF00604
[0062] 10
[0063] Membrane materials for fuel cells or electrolysis applications, which often involve PFSA or hydrocarbon-based polymers.
[0064] The options presented allow for the advantageous provision of a so-called metal elastomer seal.
[0065] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a membrane sealing arrangement, in particular as it can be manufactured or produced according to the described method.
[0066] According to one embodiment, the seal or the additional seal of the described membrane sealing arrangement is a ring or flat seal.
[0067] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a cell element for an electrochemical cell, in particular an electrolysis cell, such as a PEM electrolysis cell. The cell element particularly features the membrane sealing arrangement as described above, wherein the cell element is preferably provided with the seal or a similar additional seal on both sides of the membrane. This allows the aforementioned advantages to be realized.
[0068] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a cell stack comprising a plurality of such electrochemical cell elements. In addition to the respective membrane sealing arrangements (of each cell), the cell stack expediently includes corresponding current distributors and
[0069] Gas diffusion layer en .
[0070] Another aspect of the present invention relates to an electrolyzer or an electrolysis system, in particular a PEM electrolysis system, comprising a plurality of such cell stacks, wherein each cell stack advantageously comprises a plurality of electrochemical cell elements and 2024PF00604
[0071] 11
[0072] may include further energy-related supporting components and auxiliary systems (“Balance of Plant”).
[0073] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing a cell stack from a plurality of cell elements for an electrolyzer or other electrochemical application. The method comprises the described production of the membrane seal assembly, wherein the membrane or membrane electrode assembly of each cell preferably comprises the seal on both membrane sides, i.e., facing an anodic and a cathodic half-cell. The method further comprises the repeated stacking of the plurality of cell elements to form the cell stack.
[0074] Designs, features and / or advantages relating to the manufacturing process or the membrane sealing arrangement also apply to the cell element, cell stack or electrolyzer in question, and vice versa.
[0075] The expression “and / or” or “respectively” used here, when used in a series of two or more elements, means that each of the listed elements can be used alone; or any combination of two or more of the listed elements can be used.
[0076] Further details of the invention are described below with reference to the figures. These figures show, schematically and in a highly simplified manner,
[0077] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of individual components to be added for an electrochemical cell;
[0078] Figure 2 shows a schematic flowchart
[0079] The inventive procedure step e; 2024PF00604
[0080] 12
[0081] Figure 3 shows an electrolysis cell with a membrane sealing arrangement in a first embodiment;
[0082] Figure 4 shows an electrolysis cell with a membrane sealing arrangement in a second embodiment;
[0083] Figure 5 shows an electrolysis cell with a membrane sealing arrangement in a further embodiment;
[0084] Figure 6 shows an electrolysis cell with a membrane sealing arrangement, indicating further details.
[0085] In the exemplary embodiments and figures, identical or equivalent elements may be designated with the same reference numerals. The depicted elements and their relative sizes are generally not to be considered to scale; rather, individual elements may be exaggeratedly thick or large for clarity and / or better understanding.
[0086] Figure 1 describes, using a simplified diagram, individual components of an electrochemical cell, and in particular represents an electrolysis cell. In the upper left, a gasket or subgasket 23' (English "subgasket") in the form of a simple frame is shown in a top view. Directly below it is a membrane 9 or a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which already provides the membrane 9 with applied electrode layers. Inside the rectangularly depicted membrane 9, an active cell area 10 is highlighted in dark, which is intended to represent, in particular, a deposited anode or cathode catalyst. In reality, such precious metal catalysts often comprise iridium (Ir or "Ir black" at the anode), ruthenium (Ru), platinum (Pt or "Pt black"), or platinum group metals, which are applied to the membrane 9 in the form of a black paste or powder coating. 2024PF00604
[0087] 13
[0088] Membrane 9, on the other hand, often consists of a PFSA or hydrocarbon-based polymer.
[0089] The membrane and membrane electrode assembly are referred to synonymously by reference numeral 9. Another common term for a catalyst-coated membrane is "CCM".
[0090] The inner recess, which is shown above in the frame of the intermediate seal 23 ', is slightly larger than the active cell area 10 of the corresponding electrochemical cell, which is said to be in particular a PEM electrolysis cell 1 .
[0091] A composite of both components shown on the left in Figure 1 is shown together in a top view on the right, with the intermediate seal 23' (centrally) depicted on or below the membrane 9 and thus representing at least a partially prefabricated component. In other words, the membrane 9 can (according to the invention) be materially bonded to the intermediate seal 23'. By way of example, in the outer area of the top view, a part of the membrane 9 or the CCM can be connected to a
[0092] , subgasket ' 23 ' can be connected either on one or both sides.
[0093] These (individual) components can therefore be combined to form a cell or a corresponding prefabricated assembly. Several cells are then – as will be explained in more detail below – expediently stacked on top of each other in a repeating pattern to form a stack.
[0094] Figure 2 illustrates the process steps according to the invention using a schematic flowchart. The process is a method for manufacturing a membrane sealing arrangement for an electrochemical cell, 2024PF00604
[0095] 14
[0096] in particular an electrolysis cell, similar to the situation shown in Figure 1.
[0097] The method includes in particular steps S1, providing a membrane 9 or a membrane electrode assembly 21, comprising electrode layers applied to the membrane 9, which serve as an anode or cathode catalyst in the operation of the cell 1, and S2, providing a seal, wherein the seal is designed to seal an anode compartment or a cathode compartment in the operation of the electrochemical cell.
[0098] Furthermore, the procedure in step S3 includes the
[0099] Material coherent connection or joining of the membrane 9 or
[0100] Membrane electrode assembly and the seal to form a prefabricated assembly (hereinafter also designated by reference numeral 1).
[0101] Part of the presented invention is also a method for producing a cell stack 40 from a plurality of cell elements 1 for an electrolyzer 50 (see schematic representation of Figure 6 below). The manufacturing method for the cell stack 40 comprises the described production of the membrane-seal assembly 21, wherein the membrane or membrane electrode unit of each cell element comprises the seal 23 on both sides of the membrane 9. Furthermore, in step S4, the method comprises the repeated stacking of the plurality of cell elements to form the cell stack 40.
[0102] Figure 3 and the following figures describe in more detail aspects of the present invention according to the invention, in particular with regard to the manufacture of the membrane sealing arrangement 21 or a corresponding electrolysis cell, by means of a sectional view.
[0103] Typically, the setup shown resembles a PEM electrolysis cell, but can be adapted without restriction to the 2024PF00604
[0104] 15
[0105] The generality of the concept is also significant and applicable to a fuel cell or other electrochemical applications.
[0106] An anode compartment with an anode 5 and a cathode compartment with a cathode 7 are separated by a membrane 9, for example, a proton-conducting polymer membrane, forming a cathodic half-cell 25A and an anodic half-cell 25B. The cathodic half-cell 25A and the anodic half-cell 25B are each delimited and electrically contacted by a current distributor 11. The current distributor 11 is also referred to as a bipolar plate and may be adjacent to a gas diffusion layer or a porous transport layer (not explicitly indicated).
[0107] Figure 3 shows in particular a near-edge section of a corresponding electrolysis cell 1 with a membrane sealing arrangement 21 in a decompressed state, i.e. in particular before final assembly.
[0108] The electrolysis cell 1 has stacked seals manufactured according to the invention, which enclose a proton-conducting membrane 9. Thus, the arrangement of the seals also fulfills or provides the function of a surrounding frame, clamping frame, or cell frame for the membrane 9.
[0109] According to the cell concept of the invention, the membrane sealing arrangements 21 can have several seals 23.
[0110] As shown in Figure 3, four seals 23 and 23' are depicted as part of a membrane sealing assembly 21 (membrane sealing assembly). According to the invention, the outer main seals 23, one of which is located on the anode side of the membrane 9 and one on the cathode side below the membrane 9, are bonded to the membrane 9 in a material-bonded manner. The same applies analogously to the inner replacement or additional seals 23'. 2024PF00604
[0111] 16
[0112] According to one embodiment of the invention, however, before the liquid material is used to join the membrane 9 to the seal 23, this membrane 9 can first be joined to an additional seal 23' in a material-locking manner, with the main seal 23 being added only afterwards. Alternatively, the
[0113] The material forms a liquid composite (see in particular Figures 5 and 6 below) and the material forms a coherent composite simultaneously.
[0114] For a material-bonded connection, the individual components can be joined together in a joining process, e.g. by gluing, laminating, (hot) pressing, heat treatment or ultrasonic welding.
[0115] The seals 23 and / or the additional seals 23 ' can, according to this design, be configured in particular as a ring seal or ring-like seal or as a flat seal or O-ring .
[0116] The space indicated by reference numeral 29 is intended to represent a fluid channel for a fluid F to be conducted or guided through the electrochemical cell 1, against which the described seals reliably seal the cell (both half-cells).
[0117] In this process, an opening in a metal carrier, for example in the metal sheet of a bipolar plate, can be punched or realized as a bore or slot. A respective metallic, flat current distributor 11 – also referred to as a bipolar plate – delimits and encloses the anode and cathode compartments of the electrolysis cell 1, while simultaneously providing electrical contact and connection options on both sides.
[0118] The bead-shaped or raised design of the seals 23 and 23' advantageously allows for assembly tolerance and automatic compensation or alignment of the 2024PF00604
[0119] 17
[0120] Components during assembly; thus promoting automation in manufacturing.
[0121] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention with a membrane sealing arrangement 21, which is designed as a metal-elastomer seal. This seal has a metallic support or base body 23A and an elastic sealing element 23B. The metallic support 23A advantageously assumes the role of mechanical reinforcement during operation of the cell 1. It can also be seen that the elastic sealing element 23B is applied to both sides of the metallic base body 23A, and that the elastic sealing element 23B defines and seals the fluid channel 29 during operation of the cell 1.
[0122] The elastic sealing element 23 is preferably made of a polymeric and / or elastomeric material, e.g., PEN, PPS, PTFE, PEEK, FKM, EPDM, or of a similar material.
[0123] Material combination. A fluororubber (FKM) compound is preferably considered as the elastomer. This refers to a whole group of different synthetic polymer compounds whose common characteristic is the monomer VDF (vinylidene difluoride). The material belongs to the M-group of rubbers, which are characterized by a saturated carbon main chain. The material is of very high quality and exhibits excellent properties, so that the material is considered an "all-round" elastomer.
[0124] This is due to the combination of good heat and ozone resistance with resistance to a wide variety of chemicals.
[0125] This membrane sealing assembly 21 is preferably (also possible in the embodiment shown in Figure 3) arranged such that the membrane electrode unit 9 is sealed against the bipolar plate 11 by the sealing element 23B in a floating or sliding manner. A gap 33 is formed here by the beaded or raised shape of the sealing element 2024PF00604
[0126] 18
[0127] 23B ensures that, even in the assembled state, the metal support 23A is spaced away from the power distributor 11 via the gap 33 and can be held and positioned rubber-elastically solely by means of the sealing element 23B.
[0128] In contrast to Figure 3, the concept according to the invention
[0129] Figure 4 also shows a close-up section of a corresponding electrolysis cell 1, but here in its fully assembled state.
[0130] By virtue of the concepts according to the invention, a novel cell construction can be provided which significantly reduces the number of individual and mutually movable components. This fixes, aligns, and simultaneously protects the entire electrolysis cell 1, including the membrane 9 and the entire membrane electrode assembly. Furthermore, the concept according to the invention advantageously enables a compact design with a reduced cell height h.
[0131] Figures 5 and 6 further describe the present invention by means of schematic sectional views of a corresponding electrolysis cell 1 with a metal-elastomer sealing concept 21.
[0132] Figure 5, in contrast to the representations in Figures 3 and 4, illustrates the materially coherent connection (cf. ).
[0133] Reference numeral 35) between the membrane 9 and the seals 23 and 23' respectively. Figure 5 thus shows a schematic representation of the cell according to the invention with a material bond between the membrane 9 and the substitute seal 23' and between the membrane and the main seal 23, wherein the material bonding has been carried out separately or sequentially or individually. This is indicated by the separate areas of the material bonding 35.
[0134] In contrast, Figure 6 shows only an area of the material bond 35 at the connection points between the membrane 9 and the seals 23 and 23', respectively, which represents an integrated or 2024PF00604
[0135] 19
[0136] suggests the simultaneous connection of the corresponding components.
[0137] The assembly provides (essentially) a cell element 1 or an electrochemical cell, in particular an electrolysis cell 1, which comprises the seal 23 and / or a (similar) additional seal 23' on both sides of the membrane or membrane electrode assembly 9, i.e., facing an anodic and a cathodic half-cell. A cell stack 40 with a plurality of electrochemical cell elements 1, in particular electrolysis cells, is shown schematically and in a simplified manner in Figure 6 with reference numeral 40.
[0138] Figure 6 also shows an electrolyzer or...
[0139] Electrolysis system 50, in particular a PEM electrolyzer, is indicated, which is to comprise a plurality of cell stacks 40, each cell stack comprising a plurality of electrochemical cell elements. For the sake of simplicity, further energy-related supporting components or auxiliary systems of the electrolysis system 50 are not shown in the schematic view of Figure 6.
[0140] In other words, the invention can be summarized as follows: the membrane 9 is materially connected, if necessary, first to the subgasket 23 ' and then also to the seal 23; and is thus provided as a membrane-subgasket-gasket component ' (as a prefabricated assembly).
Claims
2024PF00604 20 Patent claims 1. Method for producing a membrane sealing arrangement (21) for an electrochemical cell (1), in particular an electrolysis cell, comprising the steps: - (Sl ) Providing a membrane or a membrane electrode assembly ( 9 ) comprising electrode layers (5, 7 ) applied to the membrane, which serve as an anode or cathode catalyst in the operation of the cell ( 1 ), - (S2) Providing a seal (23) wherein the seal is designed to seal an anode compartment or a cathode compartment (25A, 25B) during operation of the electrochemical cell (1), and - (S3) materially bonded joining of the membrane or membrane electrode assembly ( 9) and the seal (23) to form a prefabricated assembly, wherein the membrane or membrane electrode assembly ( 9) is first bonded to an additional seal (23 ' ) before the materially bonded joining (S3 ), also The material is coherent and connected.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the membrane or Membrane electrode assembly ( 9) on both sides, i.e. facing an anodic and a cathodic half-cell, is materially connected to a seal (23, 23 ' ).
3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (23, 23') comprises a metallic base body (23A) and an elastic sealing element (23B).
4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the elastic sealing element (23B) is applied to the edge of the metallic base body (23A), and wherein the elastic sealing element (23B) defines a fluid channel (29) during operation of the cell (1).
5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (23, 23') comprises PEN, PPS, PTFE, PEEK, FKM, and / or EPDM. 2024PF00604 21 6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the material-bonded joining is carried out, in particular by gluing, laminating, (hot) pressing, heat treatment and / or ultrasonic welding.
7. Method for producing a cell stack from a plurality of cell elements ( 1 ) for an electrolyzer (50) , comprising: - the manufacture of the membrane sealing arrangement (21) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the membrane or membrane electrode assembly (9) of each cell element (1) comprises the seal (23, 23') on both sides, and - (S4 ) recurring stacking of the plurality of cell elements ( 1 ) to form the cell stack (40) .
8. Membrane sealing arrangement (21) , in particular manufactured according to the method according to one of claims 1 to 6.
9. Membrane sealing arrangement (21) according to claim 8, wherein the seal is a ring or flat seal.
10. Cell element for an electrochemical cell ( 1 ), in particular an electrolysis cell, with a membrane sealing arrangement (21 ) according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the cell element comprises the seal (23, 23 ' ) on both sides of the membrane or membrane electrode assembly ( 9) , i.e. facing an anodic and a cathodic half-cell .
11. Cell stack (40) comprising a plurality of electrochemical cell elements, in particular electrolysis cells ( 1 ) , according to claim 10.
12. Electrolysis system (50), in particular a PEM electrolyzer, comprising a plurality of cell stacks (40) according to claim