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DE-102024132770-A1 - Cell stacking module for an electrolysis device, electrolysis device and method for assembling and disassembling the electrolysis device

DE102024132770A1DE 102024132770 A1DE102024132770 A1DE 102024132770A1DE-102024132770-A1

Abstract

Cell stack module (10) for an electrolysis device (11) configured for producing hydrogen from water using electric current, comprising a cell stack (12) made up of several cell stack elements (13) forming electrolysis cells, wherein the cell stack (12) made up of the cell stack elements (13) is arranged between plates (14, 15) of the cell stack module (10), with receiving elements (21) arranged on sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) of the plates (14, 15), which are designed to receive clamping elements (22) by means of which the cell stack (12) made up of the several cell stack elements (13) can be pressed between the plates (14, 15), wherein the receiving elements (21) are arranged on opposite sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) of the plates (14, 15) in the longitudinal extension of the opposite sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) of the plates (14, 15), 17, 18, 19) are seen at different positions on the respective sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19).

Inventors

  • Nils Mantai
  • Tobias Kessler
  • Frank Allebrod

Assignees

  • QUEST ONE GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241111

Claims (12)

  1. Cell stack module (10) for an electrolysis device (11) configured for producing hydrogen from water using electric current, comprising a cell stack (12) made up of several cell stack elements (13) forming electrolysis cells, wherein the cell stack (12) made up of the cell stack elements (13) is arranged between plates (14, 15) of the cell stack module (10), with receiving elements (21) arranged on sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) of the plates (14, 15), which are designed to receive clamping elements (22) by means of which the cell stack (12) made up of the several cell stack elements (13) can be pressed between the plates (14, 15), characterized in that the receiving elements (21) are arranged on opposite sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) of the plates (14, 15) in the longitudinal extension of the opposite sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) are seen at different positions on the respective sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19).
  2. Cell stack module (10) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the receiving elements (21) formed on opposite sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) of the plates (14, 15) are offset from each other in such a way that, when the same clamping elements (22) are engaged, the clamping elements (22) acting on the sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) are offset from each other in the longitudinal extension of the opposite sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19).
  3. Cell stack module (10) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the receiving elements (21) formed on opposite sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) have a different distance to a respective corner (20) of the plate (14, 15) when viewed along the longitudinal extension of the opposite sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19).
  4. Cell stack module (10) after Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that the receiving elements (21) formed on opposite sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) have a different distance in the longitudinal extension of the opposite sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) to the sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) of the plate (14, 15) which extend between the opposite sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19).
  5. Cell stack module (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that tab-like projections (32) are formed on the sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) of the plates (14, 15), on which the receiving elements (21), which are designed as slotted eyelets, are formed.
  6. Cell stack module (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the clamping elements (21) are designed as threaded pins.
  7. Electrolysis device (11) for producing hydrogen from water using electric current, with at least two stacked cell stack modules (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , wherein cell stack modules (10) stacked directly on top of each other are arranged rotated 180° relative to each other about an axis extending perpendicular to the plates of the cell stack modules (10), with a force application unit (29) having end plates (27, 28) and pressing devices (30), wherein the at least two cell stack modules (10) are pressed between the end plates (27, 28) of the force application unit (29).
  8. Electrolysis device (10) according to Claim 7 , characterized by alignment elements that align cell stack modules (10) stacked directly on top of each other and engage in recesses (31) of opposing plates (14, 15) of cell stack modules (10) stacked directly on top of each other.
  9. Method for assembling an electrolysis device (11) according to Claim 7 or 8 , with the following steps: Provisioning at least two cell stack modules (10) after one of the Claims 1 until 6 , wherein clamping elements (22) engage the sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) of the plates (14, 15) of the respective cell stack module (10), via which the cell stack (12) of the respective cell stack module (10) is pressed between the plates (14, 15) of the respective cell stack module (10), providing a force application unit (29) having end plates (27, 28) and pressing devices (29), stacking the at least two cell stack modules (10) and pressing them between the end plates (27, 28) of the force application unit (29) via the pressing devices (30) of the force application unit (29), wherein the cell stack modules (10) are stacked such that cell stack modules (10) stacked directly on top of each other are rotated about an axis extending perpendicular to the plates (14, 15) are rotated 180° relative to each other.
  10. Procedure according to Claim 9 , characterized in that after pressing the stacked cell stack modules (10) between the end plates (27, 28) of the force application unit (29) the clamping elements (22) are removed from the individual cell stack modules (10).
  11. Procedure according to Claim 9 or 10 , characterized in that when stacking the cell stack module (10), cell stack modules (10) stacked directly on top of each other are aligned to each other by means of alignment elements which are inserted into recesses (31) of opposing plates (14, 15) of cell stack modules (10) stacked directly on top of each other.
  12. Method for dismantling an electrolysis device (11) according to Claim 7 or 8 , with the following steps: Attaching clamping elements (22) to the sides or edges (16, 17, 18, 19) of the plates (14, 15) of the cell stack modules (10) of the electrolysis device (11) to be dismantled, in order to individually press the cell stacks (12) of all cell stack modules (10) between the plates (14, 15) of the respective cell stack module (10), releasing the pressing devices (39) of the force application unit (29), unstacking the cell stack modules (10).

Description

The invention relates to a cell stacking module for an electrolysis device, an electrolysis device with at least two cell stacking modules, and methods for assembling and disassembling the electrolysis device. DE 10 2017 108 413 A1 Disclosed is an electrolysis device with a cell stack consisting of several cell stack elements. Furthermore, the electrolysis device known from this prior art includes a force application unit by which a force can be exerted on the cell stack to compress the cell stack elements of the cell stack in a fluid-tight manner. The force application unit has opposing end plates between which the cell stack is arranged and compressed. The force application unit also includes compression devices comprising spring elements and struts, wherein the spring force of the spring elements presses the end plates against each other, compressing the cell stack. Connections are provided on the end plates of the electrolysis device, namely water supply connections, water discharge connections, and hydrogen connections. Water is supplied to the electrolysis device via the water supply connections, and water and oxygen are discharged from the electrolysis device via the water discharge connections. The hydrogen connections serve to discharge or pass through the hydrogen obtained during electrolysis from the electrolysis device. In the electrolysis device according to DE 10 2017 108 413 A1 All cell stack elements of the electrolysis device are stacked in a common cell stack and pressed between the opposing end plates via the force application unit. WO 2023/ 285 751 A1 Disclosure reveals an electrochemical device with multiple cell stack modules pressed together via a force-applying unit, namely between the end plates of the force-applying unit. Each cell stack module has a cell stack pressed between the plates of the cell stack module. When several such cell stack modules are stacked on top of each other and pressed together between the end plates of a force-applying unit, a larger number of cell stack elements can be incorporated into an electrolysis device, thus enabling greater stack heights of cell stack elements. In the one from the WO 2023/285 751 A1 In known cell stack modules, projections are formed on the sides or edges of the plates between which the cell stack of the respective cell stack module is arranged and pressed. Clamping elements of the cell stack module engage with these projections. On opposite sides or edges of the plates, the clamping elements are positioned at identical locations along the longitudinal axis of the opposing sides or edges. Therefore, the clamping elements must not extend beyond the height of the cell stack modules. This complicates the handling of the cell stack modules, particularly during the assembly and disassembly of an electrolysis device. There is a need for a cell stacking module for an electrolysis device that facilitates easier handling of the cell stacking modules, particularly during assembly and disassembly. Furthermore, there is a need for an electrolysis device with at least two such cell stacking modules, as well as a method for assembling and disassembling the electrolysis device. Based on this, the invention aims to provide a corresponding cell stacking module for an electrolysis device, an electrolysis device with such cell stacking modules, and a method for assembling and disassembling such an electrolysis device. This problem is solved by a cell stacking module according to claim 1, an electrolysis device according to claim 7, a method for assembling the electrolysis device according to claim 9 and a method for disassembling the electrolysis device according to claim 12. In the cell stacking module according to the invention, the receiving elements, which are designed to receive clamping elements, are arranged at different positions along the longitudinal extent of the opposite sides or edges of the plates of the cell stacking module. This makes it possible to use clamping elements for clamping the cell stack of the cell stacking module that extend vertically above the cell stack. This allows for easier handling of the cell stacking module, particularly during the assembly and disassembly of an electrolysis device which, in its assembled state, comprises at least two cell stacking modules arranged one above the other according to the invention. Preferably, the receiving elements formed on opposite sides or edges have a different distance, viewed longitudinally along the opposite sides or edges, from the sides or edges of the plate that extend between the respective opposite sides or edges. Thus, the receiving elements formed on opposite sides or edges have a different distance, viewed longitudinally along the opposite sides or edges, from a respective corner of the plate. This is particularly advantageous for simplified handling of the cell stack module, especially during the assembly and disassembly of an electrolysis device. According to a pa