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CN-122029309-A - Flow divider configured for uniform distribution of reactants into an electrolyzer, electrolyzer pole frame comprising same and electrolyzer comprising same

CN122029309ACN 122029309 ACN122029309 ACN 122029309ACN-122029309-A

Abstract

A flow divider (FD 1) for an electrolysis cell, the flow divider (FD 1) comprising a Distribution Chamber (DC), an inner wall (InW) for separating the Distribution Chamber (DC) from an Active Area (AA) of the electrolysis cell and comprising a plurality of Channels (CH) for flowing reactants from the Distribution Chamber (DC) to the Active Area (AA), the Distribution Chamber (DC) being interposed between an outer wall of the flow divider and the inner wall (InW), and a conduit (DUC) for carrying reactants through the outer wall to the Distribution Chamber (DC), the flow divider (FD 1) comprising a flow director (IND) extending from the inner wall (InW) to an inner portion of the conduit (DUC), separating the Distribution Chamber (DC) into a left-hand distribution chamber (LHS-DC) and a right-hand distribution chamber (RHS-DC) and forming a wall separating the conduit (DUC) into two sides (S-DUC, RHS-LHC).

Inventors

  • M. Neiben
  • F. M. Fero
  • S.S. Hussein
  • A. Biancini
  • F. Balduzi

Assignees

  • 约翰考克利尔氢气法国公司
  • 佛罗伦萨大学

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20241009
Priority Date
20231013

Claims (7)

  1. 1. A flow divider (FD 1 ), the flow divider (FD 1 ) being configured as part of an electrolysis cell (Ec), the flow divider comprising: -an elongated Dispensing Chamber (DC); -an inner wall (InW), the inner wall (InW) being configured for separating the Distribution Chamber (DC) from an Active Area (AA) of the electrolyzer (Ec), the inner wall (InW) comprising a plurality of Channels (CH) configured for flowing some reactants from the distribution chamber to the Active Area (AA); -an outer wall (OutW), said Distribution Chamber (DC) being interposed between this outer wall (OutW) and said inner wall (InW), and A conduit (DUC) configured for bringing reactants to the Distribution Chamber (DC) through the outer wall (OutW), The flow divider (FD 1 ) further comprises a flow divider (IND) extending from the inner wall (InW) to an inner portion of the pipe (DUC), dividing the Distribution Chamber (DC) into a left-hand distribution chamber (LHS-DC) and a right-hand distribution chamber (RHS-DC), and forming a wall dividing the pipe (DUC) into two sides (RHS-DUC, LHS-DUC).
  2. 2. The shunt (FD 1 ) according to claim 1, Wherein the conduit (DUC) comprises a first portion (SP 1), a second portion (SP 2) and a curved portion (BP), the second portion (SP 2) being a straight portion ending in the Distribution Chamber (DC), the curved portion (BP) connecting the first portion (SP 1) with the second portion (SP 2), and Wherein the deflector extends through the second portion (SP 2) and the curved portion (BP) to the first portion (SP 1).
  3. 3. The shunt (FD 1 ) according to claim 2, Wherein the first portion (SP 1) is a straight portion.
  4. 4. The shunt (FD 1 ) according to claim 2, Wherein the first portion (SP 1) is oriented so as to cause some of the reactant to flow in a direction that drives the reactant away from the Distribution Chamber (DC) towards the outer wall (OutW).
  5. 5. An electrolyzer pole frame (CF) configured as part of an electrolyzer (Ec), the electrolyzer pole frame (CF) comprising: -an opening (Op) for forming an inlet manifold (In-M 1 ), and A distribution channel (DistCh 1 ), said distribution channel (DistCh 1 ) being configured for carrying some of the reactants from said inlet manifold (In-M 1 ) to the Inner Periphery (IP) of said electrolyzer polar frame (CF), The electrolyzer pole frame (CF) is equipped with a flow divider (FD 1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, arranged so as to bring the reactants from the distribution channel (DistCh 1 ) to the Distribution Chamber (DC) through the Duct (DUC).
  6. 6. The electrolyzer pole frame (CF) of claim 5 wherein said distribution channel (DistCh 1 ) is formed at a given depth within said electrolyzer pole frame (CF).
  7. 7. An electrolyzer (ELEC) comprising a stack of cells (Ec), each cell having a cell pole frame (CF) according to claim 5 or claim 6.

Description

Flow divider configured for uniform distribution of reactants into an electrolyzer, electrolyzer pole frame comprising same and electrolyzer comprising same Technical Field The technical field of the present invention is devices designed for performing electrochemical reactions, such as alkaline water electrolysis for the production of hydrogen, and more particularly on the geometry of the flow divider through which the reactants are brought to the active area of the electrolyzer. Background Hydrogen (H 2) is an energy carrier that is receiving great attention due to its potential to be produced in an environmentally friendly manner and to support the advent of low carbon emission industrial processes and transportation modes. Electrochemical water splitting is a well known sustainable and pollution-free process for hydrogen production. This method can be achieved by alkaline water electrolysis, wherein electrolysis of water H 2 O is performed by flowing a direct current with electrons e - between An anode An and a cathode Ca immersed in An aqueous alkaline electrolyte, as illustrated in fig. 1, which shows the principle of using a conventional electrolytic cell Ec containing these elements in a tank Tnk. At the cathode, electrons provided by the direct current react with water to produce hydrogen and hydroxide ions according to the following reaction: at the anode, the hydroxyl ions release their excess electrons to produce water and oxygen according to the following reaction: the electrodes are separated by a thin porous foil (commonly referred to as a membrane sheet D), which is an electronically non-conductive separator that separates the product gas and passes hydroxyl ions (OH -) from the cathode side to the anode side. The ionic conductivity is provided by an aqueous alkaline electrolyte, which is typically an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH). As illustrated in fig. 1, in a conventional implementation of alkaline hydrolysis, two fluid circuits separated by a membrane sheet D are employed, one comprising An anode An and the other comprising a cathode Ca. The electrolyte impregnating the anode is referred to as "anolyte" (a-lyte in the figure), and the electrolyte impregnating the cathode is referred to as "catholyte" (C-lyte in the figure). In order to maintain the purity of the product gases O 2 and H 2 as much as possible, it is preferable to avoid mixing between the anolyte and catholyte. The mixture comprising anolyte a-lyte and the produced oxygen O 2 is pumped out of the cell and passed through a first gas-liquid separator Sep-O 2, where oxygen O 2 is separated from anolyte a-lyte. Then, oxygen is recovered separately and the anolyte is fed into anolyte tank a-Tnk before being recirculated through tank Tnk of electrolysis cell Ec. Symmetrically, a mixture comprising catholyte C-lyte and produced hydrogen H 2 is pumped out of the cell and passed through a second gas-liquid separator Sep-H 2, where hydrogen H 2 is separated from the catholyte C-lyte. Then, hydrogen gas is recovered separately and catholyte is fed into the catholyte tank C-Tnk, after which it is recycled through the tank Tnk of the electrolytic cell Ec again. For the production of hydrogen on an industrial scale, stacks Stck are used, which can be made up of hundreds of cells, the operation of which are similar to that of fig. 1. Fig. 2 illustrates an electrolyzer ELEC integrated with a stack Stck made up of a plurality of electrolytic cells Ec, each constituting a stack Stck. These cells Ec are stacked and sandwiched between two End plates end_pl, which are clamped by a plurality of bolts B mounted to threaded RODs ROD. Anolyte a-lyte and catholyte C-lyte will be input to the inlet main channel In-MC 1、In-MC2, respectively, while the output main channel InOut-MC 1 outputs anolyte a-lyte and oxygen O 2 and the output main channel Out-MC 2 outputs catholyte C-lyte and hydrogen H 2. Although not shown in fig. 2, a negative electrode current collector and a positive electrode current collector may be placed on respective sides of the stack Stck to electrically connect the stack to the outside. In this example of fig. 2, anolyte and catholyte are introduced at the level of the first End plate end_pl on one side of the stack Stck. Anolyte a-lyte and oxygen O 2 and catholyte C-lyte and hydrogen H are evacuated on the same side of the stack Stck. In this configuration, the second end plate or any interposed device is configured to fluidly connect the inlet main channel In-MC 1、In-MC2 of the last cell ECell with the outlet main channel InOut-MC 1、InOut-MC2 of that cell. In this configuration, the end plate is electrically grounded. Fig. 3 illustrates the construction of conventional cells Ec constituting the basic elements of the stack Stck of fig. 2, each cell Ec comprising, in addition to anode catalyst An, cathode catalyst Ca and membrane sheet D, a bipolar plate BP, a cell frame CF for holding th