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KR-102962794-B1 - Electrolyzer having multi-cell elements

KR102962794B1KR 102962794 B1KR102962794 B1KR 102962794B1KR-102962794-B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrolytic cell (1), wherein the electrolytic cell comprises an electrolytic stack (3) comprising a plurality of panel-type electrolytic cells (4) arranged in parallel and electrically interconnected in series, each electrolytic cell (4) comprising an anode chamber in which an anode is disposed inside and a cathode chamber in which a cathode is disposed inside, and the anode chamber and the cathode chamber are separated from each other by a sheet-type separator. The electrolytic cell further comprises means (10) for mechanically fixing the electrical interconnection portion of the electrolytic stack (3). A stack (3) comprises at least two multi-cell elements (11), each multi-cell element comprises a plurality of electrolytic cells (4) and a mechanical compression means (12), the electrolytic cells (4) of each multi-cell element (11) are held together in a sealed manner by the mechanical compression means (12), and the means (10) is configured to mechanically fix the electrical interconnects of the multi-cell elements (11), and the means (10) for mechanically fixing the electrical interconnects of the electrolytic stack (3) is arranged to interact with the outermost electrolytic cells (4) of the stack (3) to apply a limited compressive force to the stack (3), or is attached to at least two adjacent multi-cell elements (11) to provide contact pressure to adjacent multi-cell elements (11).

Inventors

  • 클링크 슈테판
  • 토로스 페터
  • 브링크만 요나스
  • 아우슈텐펠트 세바슈티안
  • 스칸넬 로베르트

Assignees

  • 티센크루프 누세라 아게 운트 콤파니 카게아아

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20220630
Priority Date
20210708

Claims (12)

  1. As an electrolytic cell, An electrolytic stack (3) comprising a plurality of panel-type electrolytic cells (4) arranged in parallel and electrically interconnected in series, wherein each electrolytic cell (4) comprises an anode chamber (5) in which an anode (6) is disposed internally and a cathode chamber (7) in which a cathode (8) is disposed internally, and wherein the anode chamber (5) and the cathode chamber (7) are separated from each other by a sheet-type separator (9), and It includes means (10) for mechanically fixing the electrical interconnection portion of the above electrolytic stack (3), and The stack (3) comprises at least two multi-cell elements (11), each multi-cell element comprises a plurality of electrolytic cells (4) and a mechanical compression means (12), the electrolytic cells (4) of each multi-cell element (11) are held together in a sealed manner by the mechanical compression means (12), and the means (10) is configured to mechanically fix the electrical interconnects of the multi-cell elements (11). The means (10) for mechanically fixing the electrical interconnection portion of the electrolytic stack (3) is arranged to interact with the outermost electrolytic cells (4) of the stack (3) to apply a limited compressive force to the stack (3), or The means (10) for mechanically fixing the electrical interconnection of the electrolytic stack (3) is attached to at least two adjacent multi-cell elements (11) to provide contact pressure to adjacent multi-cell elements (11), electrolytic cell.
  2. In claim 1, the electrolytic cell is configured to have a maintenance state, in which the means (10) for mechanically fixing the electrical interconnects of the electrolytic stack (3) is in a loose state, while the mechanical compression means (12) is in a fastened state, and the multi-cell elements (11) are individually replaceable in the maintenance state of the electrolytic cell.
  3. In claim 1 or 2, the electrolytic cell, wherein each of the multi-cell elements (11) comprises 3 to 50 electrolytic cells (4).
  4. An electrolytic cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the multi-cell elements (11) have outer back walls (back walls: 13) providing contact surfaces for electrical connection with adjacent multi-cell elements (11).
  5. An electrolytic cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the multi-cell elements (11) each comprise two end portions (14, 15) comprising an anode chamber (5) and a cathode chamber (7) of the outermost electrolytic cells (4) of the multi-cell element (11), a plurality of intermediate portions (16) comprising a cathode chamber (7) and an anode chamber (5) of adjacent inner electrolytic cells (4) are electrically connected to each other by a shared bipolar partition (17), and sheet separators (9) are interposed between any two adjacent portions (14, 15, 16) of the end portions (14, 15) and the intermediate portions (16).
  6. In claim 5, the anode chamber (5) and/or cathode chamber (7) of the outermost electrolytic cells (4) of the multi-cell element (11) has a volume 1.1 to 2 times larger than the respective volumes of the cathode chambers (7) and anode chambers (5) of the inner electrolytic cells (4).
  7. An electrolytic cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mechanical compression means (12) comprises tie rods (18) extending outwardly across the electrolytic cells (4) of the multi-cell element (11), and end parts (19) of the multi-cell element (11), the end parts (19) being coupled with the tie rods (18) to apply a compression sealing force to the electrolytic cells (4) of the multi-cell element (11).
  8. In claim 1 or 2, the mechanical compression means (12) is At least two shell portions (20, 21) in which the electrolytic cells (4) of each multi-cell element (11) are disposed internally, wherein each of the shell portions (20, 21) includes a circumferential flange portion (22, 23), and The bolts (25) are positioned to compress the electrolytic cells (4) within the shell portions (20, 21) when the bolts (25) are fastened. Electrolyzer including
  9. In claim 8, the mechanical compression means (12) further comprises at least one gasket (24) disposed between the flange portions (22, 23) of the shell portions (20, 21), and the gasket (24) is compressed when the bolts (25) are fastened, in an electrolytic cell.
  10. In claim 5, the mechanical compression means (12) comprises circumferential outer flange portions (26, 27) attached to the end portions (14, 15) and the intermediate portions (16) of the multi-cell element (11), and bolts (28) connecting the flange portions (26, 27) of adjacent end portions (14, 15) and/or intermediate portions (16) to each other, an electrolytic cell.
  11. An electrolytic cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the multi-cell element (11) comprises at least one internal manifold for collecting product gases and/or electrolyte from the electrolytic cells (4) of the multi-cell element (11) or for distributing the electrolyte.
  12. The electrolytic cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrolytic cell further comprises a cell rack (2), and the cell rack (2) is equipped with means (10) for mechanically fixing the electrolytic cells (4) of the electrolytic stack (3) and/or the electrical connections of the electrolytic stack (3).

Description

Electrolyzer having multi-cell elements The present invention relates to an electrolytic cell according to the preamble of claim 1. In the technical field of large-scale production of hydrogen and/or chlorine, for example, in the megawatt range, there are two main design categories of electrolyzers: The first design category is a so-called filter press design in which the electrolytic cell stack comprises two end sections connected to the poles of the power source and a number of bipolar plates. Adjacent end sections and bipolar plates are separated by separators, which are diaphragms or membranes, to form a number of electrolytic cells in series. Each cell is surrounded on the anode side by one bipolar plate and on the cathode side by another adjacent bipolar plate, and is divided into two half-shells by the separator. The bipolar plates can have any shape that serves to create the electrolytic cells. Mechanical integrity and sealing of the cell volume are provided by an external compression device, for example, a set of tie rods, which simultaneously compresses all the bipolar plates and separators of the stack. Leak-tightness is achieved only in the compressed state. Typically, such an electrolytic cell for large-scale electrolysis has a cell area of 2 to 4 square meters and contains 50 to 200 electrolytic cells in a single electrolytic stack. The total weight of such an electrolytic cell is typically tens of tons, and the sealing force supplied by the compression device is about 1 to 10 MPa. Depending on the sealing area, this results in a force of tens of tons. Examples of electrolytic cells in filter press designs are known, for instance, from US 2003/0155232 A1 and WO 2020/203319 A1. Filter press designs have the disadvantage that it is practically possible to replace these electrolytic cells or exchange their components only after the electrolytic cells have been opened on-site. Therefore, the assembly and maintenance of the electrolytic cells generally must be performed on-site, which results in long downtime for the related equipment. One way to avoid the aforementioned problems is to miniaturize the electrolyzers and use those with significantly smaller cell areas when used in smaller-scale electrolysis plants, such as for hydrogen production or kilowatt-range fuel cells. Due to their reduced size, these electrolyzer stacks are easier to handle, allowing them to be delivered pre-assembled and replaced entirely. However, for megawatt-range production, particularly large-scale production in the tens to hundreds of megawatts range, miniaturization requires a large number of individual electrolyzers, resulting in greater space requirements and increased maintenance costs. A second known design category is the single-element design, particularly as marketed by thissenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers. In this design, each electrolytic cell comprises two half-shells, namely an anode and a cathode half-shell, separated by a membrane or diaphragm acting as a separator. The two half-shells are connected to each other via a sealing system that isolates the anode and cathode half-shells from one another and prevents the leakage of electrolyte and/or gas to the outside. In this way, each cell forms an individually leak-proof single element and can be safely assembled, handled, and replaced on its own without affecting the entire electrolytic cell. The single-element cells are suspended within a rack formed by a steel frame and pressurized together to ensure good electrical conductivity between adjacent single elements in contact. Compared to filter press designs, where an external compression device must provide sealing force (and good conductivity) for all cells, the compression force required to ensure only good conductivity in a single-element design is orders of magnitude smaller. This type of electrolytic cell is known, for example, from DE 196 41 125 A1. This design has the disadvantage of requiring a large number of individual parts, such as two half-shells and a flanged frame instead of a single bipolar plate, requiring more base materials and more manufacturing steps, resulting in higher manufacturing effort and assembly costs. From US 2009/0308738 A1, an alkaline electrolytic cell is known having a high operating pressure capability of up to 200 bar and an active surface area of 108 in 2 (= 0.07 m 2 ). Tie rod fasteners are used with reinforcing bars to reinforce the outer half-shell sections against an internal pressure of up to 200 bar. Instead of individual tie rods for each cell, groups of six or more cells can be connected into larger modules by extended tie rods. Connection between individual cells is achieved by installing spanner tubes connecting opposing sets of banana jack connectors. In CN 106702421 A, a sodium chlorate electrolytic system having four columns of electrolytic cells is described, wherein the cells in each column are grouped into four groups of electrolytic cells, each having 1