CN-122029308-A - Tightening device, electrolysis device, method for closing/opening adjacent electrolysis cells, and method for retrospectively applying a tightening device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tightening device for selectively opening and closing respective adjacent electrolytic cells in an electrolysis device. The tightening device includes a movable member movable in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction being a direction in which the cells close to each other and the second direction being a direction opposite to the first direction, at least one actuator configured to selectively move the movable member in the first direction and the second direction, a pressure plate disposed on a first direction side with respect to the movable member, and a spacer disposed between the pressure plate and the movable member.

Inventors

• Bin Tiangang
• KAWANISHI KOJI
• IGUCHI YUKINORI
• TANAKA MAKOTO

Assignees

• 蒂森克虏伯新纪元股份有限及两合公司
• 东曹株式会社

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241001

Priority Date

20231005

Claims (17)

1. 1. A tightening device (50) for selectively opening and closing respective adjacent electrolytic cells (10) arranged in series in an electrolysis device (100), the tightening device (50) comprising: a movable member (52), the movable member (52) being movable in a first direction (L1) and a second direction (L2), the first direction (L1) being a direction in which the cells (10) close to each other, and the second direction (L2) being a direction opposite to the first direction (L1); -at least one actuator (54), the at least one actuator (54) being configured to selectively move the movable member (52) in the first direction (L1) and the second direction (L2); A pressure plate (56), the pressure plate (56) being arranged on the first direction (L1) side with respect to the movable member (52), and A spacer arranged between the pressure plate (56) and the movable member (52).
2. 2. Tightening device (50) according to claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises compressible means (60), Wherein the compressible means (60) is compressible by the movable member (52) by means of the at least one actuator (54) in order to accumulate pressure and thereby apply the pressure to the pressure plate (56).
3. 3. Tightening device (50) according to claim 2, wherein the compressible means (60) comprises a spring, preferably a belleville spring (60 a).
4. 4. A tightening device (50) according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a locking device (64) for holding the compressible device (60) during opening.
5. 5. The tightening device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a transmission (62), the transmission (62) being configured to transmit force from the movable member (52) to the spacer, Preferably, wherein the transmission (62) is detachably attached to the movable member (52).
6. 6. The tightening device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one actuator (54) comprises a hydraulic cylinder (54).
7. 7. The tightening device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising two actuators (54).
8. 8. Tightening device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a first end of the spacer is connected to the pressure plate (56) and/or a second end of the spacer is connected to the movable member (52).
9. 9. The tightening device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the movable member (52) has at least one opening through which at least one spacer extends.
10. 10. An electrolysis apparatus (100) comprising: a plurality of electrolytic cells (10) arranged in series, and Tightening device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the tightening device (50) being configured to apply pressure between respective adjacent electrolytic cells (10).
11. 11. The electrolysis device (100) according to claim 10, wherein the electrolysis cell (10) is a bipolar electrolysis cell, Preferably, wherein the electrolysis device (100) is a zero-gap electrolysis device in which the anode electrode and the cathode electrode are spatially separated only by a gas separator.
12. 12. A method of closing respective adjacent electrolytic cells (10) in an electrolysis device (100) using a tightening device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: -moving the pressure plate (56) and the movable member (52) in the first direction (L1) by means of the at least one actuator (54); -moving the movable member (52) in the second direction (L2) using the at least one actuator (54) such that a space is formed between the pressure plate (56) and the movable member (52); Interconnecting the pressure plate (56) and the movable member (52) with the spacer to maintain the formed space, and -Tightening the respective adjacent electrolytic cell (10) by moving the pressure plate (56) together with the movable plate (52) in the first direction (L1) via the spacer between the pressure plate (56) and the movable plate (52) by means of the at least one actuator (54).
13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein moving the pressure plate (56) comprises moving the pressure plate (56) to a position where the pressure plate (56) contacts a proximal cell of the electrolytic cell (10) but does not pressurize the proximal cell.
14. 14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the spacer comprises a compressible means (60), Wherein tightening the respective adjacent cells (10) comprises moving the movable member (52) in the first direction (L1) using the at least one actuator (54) while compressing the compressible means (60) such that the compressible means (60) accumulates pressure and thereby applies the pressure to the pressure plate (56), Preferably, the method further comprises maintaining the compressible device (60) in its compressed state.
15. 15. A method of opening adjacent cells (10) in an electrolysis device (100) using a tightening device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: interconnecting the pressure plate (56) and at least one electrolytic cell (10) with each other; -moving the movable member (52) in the second direction (L2) together with the pressure plate (56) and the at least one electrolytic cell (10) connected to the pressure plate (56) using the at least one actuator (54); Releasing or disabling the spacer between the pressure plate (56) and the movable member (52); -moving the movable member (52) in the first direction (L1) into contact with the pressure plate (56); interconnecting said pressure plate (56) and said movable member (52), and -Moving the pressure plate (56) together with the movable member (52) in the second direction (L2) using the at least one actuator (54).
16. 16. A method of retrospectively applying a tightening device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 to an existing filter-press type electrolysis device comprising an existing frame and an existing pressure plate, comprising: Extending the frame, and A body of the at least one actuator (54) is mounted on the extended frame section.
17. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The existing pressure plate is reused as a pressure plate (56) or a movable member (52) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

Description

Tightening device, electrolysis device, method for closing/opening adjacent electrolysis cells, and method for retrospectively applying a tightening device Technical Field The present invention relates to a tightening device for selectively opening and closing adjacent cells arranged in series in an electrolysis device (electrolyser). The invention also relates to an electrolysis device comprising a plurality of electrolysis cells arranged in series and such a tightening device. The invention also relates to a method for closing/opening adjacent cells using a tightening device. The invention also relates to a method for retrospectively applying a tightening device to an existing filter-press electrolysis device. Background In recent years, there has been a significant increase in interest in using hydrogen as a secondary energy carrier. Among other things, this increased interest is based on the advantage that hydrogen can be readily produced from water using renewable primary energy sources, hydrogen is a non-toxic material with a relatively high mass-related energy density, and chemical energy stored in hydrogen can be readily converted back into electrical energy without releasing significant amounts of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. In addition, hydrogen can also be used as an educt in various chemical processes. An important way of generating hydrogen is by electrolysis of water using an electrolytic cell comprising a cathode compartment and an anode compartment. In this process, hydrogen is generated from an aqueous alkaline solution, an aqueous acidic solution or a neutral aqueous solution in the cathode compartment of the electrolytic cell. The cathode compartment and the anode compartment are typically separated from each other by a separator such as a membrane or diaphragm. Alkaline water electrolysis has proven to be the most promising process in particular in many applications. An electrolysis device for such a process is known to comprise a plurality of electrolysis unit cells (simply referred to as "cells" or "elements") arranged in series. Each cell defines an anode chamber and a cathode chamber that are physically separated by a dividing wall within the cell. A separator, such as an ion exchange membrane or diaphragm, is disposed between respective adjacent cells to electrochemically separate the anode and cathode chambers from each other. In order to establish a seal between adjacent cells, gaskets or the like are arranged on opposite sides of each cell, and the cells are tightened against each other in the cell stacking direction by means of tightening means according to the filter pressing technique. In EP 0505899 A1, a specific filter-press type electrolysis device is described in which a plurality of unit cells are stacked in series by means of cation exchange membranes arranged between respective adjacent unit cells. Currently, tie-rod tightening systems (tie-rod TIGHTENING SYSTEM) or hydraulic tightening systems are available. As shown in fig. 15, the tie rod tightening system 100 includes a plurality of tie rods 102 and tightening nuts 102a, the tie rods 102 extending between the pressure plates 104 and the support plates 106 at both ends of the electrolysis device and extending over a plurality of unit cells 108, each unit cell 108 having a membrane 108a, the tightening nuts 102a being attached to both ends of the tie rods 102. A belleville spring or washer spring 110 is also disposed between the outer wall of the pressure plate 104/support plate 106 and the cinch nut 102 a. EP4137610 A1 discloses an oil pressure tightening device comprising an oil pressure cylinder, a shut-off valve, a pressure reducing valve, an oil tank and a pump. JP 2021195596A teaches that the stack pressure of bipolar electrolytic elements is controlled by a hydraulic control mechanism. These conventional systems have several drawbacks. The tie rod tightening system shown in fig. 15 requires a large amount of manpower for manual tightening because the tie rod is long. Hydraulic tightening systems require large cylinders of sufficient extension to successfully cope with a reduced number of ponds. For example, if the number of cells is reduced in order to meet production targets or other requirements, the pressure plate needs to be pushed out farther. This not only requires more installation space for the long cylinders, but also results in higher costs. Furthermore, continuous compression by hydraulic cylinders is required. Also, in the case where the pressure in the cylinder cannot be maintained due to a power failure or the like, a hydraulic accumulator should be installed. It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate one or more of the above disadvantages. SUMMARY According to the present invention, a tightening device for selectively opening and closing respective adjacent electrolytic cells arranged in series in an electrolysis device is provided. The tightening device includes