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DE-102024132870-A1 - Electrolysis device and method for assembling the electrolysis device

DE102024132870A1DE 102024132870 A1DE102024132870 A1DE 102024132870A1DE-102024132870-A1

Abstract

Electrolysis device (10) for producing hydrogen from water using electric current, comprising at least two stacked cell stack modules (11), each cell stack module (11) comprising a cell stack (16) of several cell stack elements (17) forming electrolysis cells, and each cell stack module (11) comprising plates (18, 19) between which the cell stack (16) of the respective cell stack module (11) is arranged, with a force application unit (14) having end plates (12, 13), wherein the at least two cell stack modules (11) are pressed between the end plates (12, 13) of the force application unit (14), wherein support elements (20) engage the plates (18, 19) of the cell stack modules (11) and are supported on guide elements (21) extending between the end plates (12, 13) of the force application unit (14).

Inventors

  • Nils Mantai
  • Tobias Kessler
  • Mirco Weber
  • Andreas Thun

Assignees

  • QUEST ONE GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241111

Claims (11)

  1. Electrolysis device (10) for producing hydrogen from water using electric current, comprising at least two stacked cell stack modules (11), each cell stack module (11) comprising a cell stack (16) of several cell stack elements (17) forming electrolysis cells, and each cell stack module (11) comprising plates (18, 19) between which the cell stack (16) of the respective cell stack module (11) is arranged, with a force application unit (14) having end plates (12, 13), wherein the at least two cell stack modules (11) are pressed between the end plates (12, 13) of the force application unit (14), characterized in that support elements (20) engage the plates (18, 19) of the cell stack modules (11), which extend onto guide elements (21) extending between the end plates (12, 13) of the force application unit (14). support.
  2. Electrolysis device (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the support elements (20) engage diagonally opposite corners (22, 23) of the plates (18, 19) of the cell stack modules (11).
  3. Electrolysis device (10) according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the support elements (20) act exclusively on two diagonally opposite corners (22, 23) of the plates (18, 19) of the cell stack modules (11).
  4. Electrolysis device (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the respective support element (20) engages the plate (18, 19) of the respective cell stack module (11) and the respective guide element (21) in a form-fitting manner.
  5. Electrolysis device (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that each of the support elements (20) engages with at least one projection (24) in a respective recess (25) of a plate (18, 19) of at least one cell stack module (11).
  6. Electrolysis device (10) according to Claim 5 , characterized in that each of the support elements (20) engages with projections (24) in recesses (25) of adjacent plates (18, 19) of cell stack modules (11) arranged directly above one another.
  7. Electrolysis device (10) according to Claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that each of the support elements (20) has a support contour (26) on a section opposite the at least one projection (24), with which the respective support element (20) is supported on one of the guide elements (21).
  8. Electrolysis device (10) according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the support contour (26) of the respective support element (20) is concavely contoured and is supported on a convex counter-counter of the respective guide element (21), or the support contour (26) of the respective support element (20) is convexly contoured and is supported on a concave counter-counter of the respective guide element (21).
  9. Electrolysis device (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 , characterized in that the respective guide element (21) is designed as a strut of a grouting device (15) of the force application unit (14).
  10. Electrolysis device (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the respective support element (20) consists of an electrically insulating material or is coated with such a material.
  11. Method for assembling an electrolysis device (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , with the following steps: providing at least two cell stack modules (11), wherein clamping elements (27) engage the plates (18, 19) of the respective cell stack module (11), via which the cell stack (16) of the respective cell stack module (11) is pressed between the plates (18, 19) of the respective cell stack module (11), providing support elements (20), providing a force application unit (14) having end plates (12, 13), stacking the at least two cell stack modules (11), wherein during stacking the support elements (20) are attached to the plates (18, 19) of the cell stack modules (11), pressing the at least two stacked cell stack modules (11) between the end plates (12, 13) of the force application unit (14), wherein during pressing the support elements (20) are supported on guide elements (21) which are located between the End plates (12, 13) of the force application unit (14) extend.

Description

The invention relates to an electrolysis device and a method for assembling 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 discloses an electrochemical device with several cell stack modules stacked on top of or above each other, which are pressed together via a force application unit. When an electrolysis device has several stacked cell stack modules, the cell stack modules can slip in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, especially if a pressing or clamping force is applied to the cell stack modules in the stacking direction via the force application unit of the electrolysis device. The cell stack modules can also slip in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction during operation of the electrolysis device. This is a disadvantage. Therefore, there is a need for an electrolysis device that reduces the risk of stacked cell modules slipping in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction during compression or operation of the electrolysis device. The object of the invention is therefore to create a corresponding electrolysis device and a method for assembling the electrolysis device. This problem is solved by an electrolysis device according to claim 1 and a method for assembling the electrolysis device according to claim 11. In the electrolysis device according to the invention, support elements engage the plates of the cell stack modules and are supported by guide elements extending between the end plates of the force application unit. According to the invention, these support elements, which engage the plates of the cell stack modules on one side and the guide elements on the other, prevent the cell stack modules from slipping perpendicular to their stacking direction both during assembly of the electrolysis device (i.e., when pressing the cell stack modules between the end plates of the force application unit) and during operation. Preferably, the respective support element engages the plate of the respective cell stack module and the respective guide element in a form-fitting manner. This is particularly preferred to prevent the cell stack modules of the electrolysis device from slipping. Preferably, each of the support elements engages exclusively at two diagonally opposite corners of the plates of cell stack modules, wherein each of the support elements engages with at least one projection in a respective recess of at least one cell stack module, and wherein each of the support elements has a support contour on a section opposite the at least one projection, with which the respective support element is supported against one of the guide elements. This prevents cell stack modules from unintentionally slipping perpendicular to their stacking direction and also avoids over-constraint of the cell stack modules when they are supported by the support elements. Preferably, the respective guide element is designed as a strut of a pressing device of the force application unit. This design is particularly preferred because separate guide elements can then be dispensed with. The inventive method for assembling an electrolysis device according to the invention comprises at least the following steps: Providing at least two cell stack modules, wherein clamping elements are attached to the plates of each cell stack module, via which the cell stack of the respective cell stack module is pressed between the plates of the respective cell stack module. Providing support elements. Providing a force application unit comprising end plates. After providing the above-mentioned assemblies, stack the at least two cell stack modules, attaching the support e