DE102022114702A1 - Electrochemical device and method for assembling a stack of electrochemical units of an electrochemical device - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to create an electrochemical device comprising a plurality of electrochemical units which follow one another along a stacking direction, each electrochemical unit comprising a bipolar plate and a sealing arrangement and each sealing arrangement comprising at least one elastomer element, in which a displacement of the components of the electrochemical units with one another during the assembly of the stack of electrochemical units and/or during the operation of the electrochemical device, it is proposed that at least one elastomer element of the sealing arrangement comprises at least one adhesive element which is in contact with a bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomer element .

Description

The present invention relates to an electrochemical device which comprises a plurality of electrochemical units which follow one another along a stacking direction, each electrochemical unit comprising a bipolar plate and a sealing arrangement and each sealing arrangement comprising at least one elastomer element.

Such an electrochemical device can be designed, for example, as a fuel cell device, in particular as a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell device.

For the precise positioning of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) or components of membrane electrode assemblies which have a sealing arrangement, during the assembly of a stack of electrochemical units of such an electrochemical device, relative movements between the bipolar plate and the sealing arrangement of an electrochemical unit or between the bipolar plate and a component of the electrochemical unit that carries the sealing arrangement.

If the sealing arrangement adheres or sticks to the surface of the bipolar plate, as can be the case, for example, with sealing arrangements formed from polyolefins, a membrane-electrode arrangement with a sealing arrangement molded onto it can be positioned very precisely on the bipolar plate and fixed to it.

However, sealing assemblies made of other materials, for example sealing assemblies molded from a silicone material, adhere less well to the surface of the bipolar plate and can therefore shift after being positioned on the bipolar plate during the assembly process, which then affects the accuracy of the positioning of the membrane-electrode assemblies relative to the bipolar plates become too imprecise. These inaccuracies in the positioning of the membrane electrode assemblies relative to the bipolar plates can lead to serious problems, including failure of the stack of electrochemical units.

It is known from the prior art to guide the bipolar plates and the sealing arrangements using stops. However, this comes with significant disadvantages. The metallic bipolar plates, which have a small thickness of typically only 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, can be deformed by such a stop, which then makes it impossible to guide the bipolar plate and also increases the risk of an electrical short circuit between adjacent electrochemical ones contains units. The sealing arrangements often have too little rigidity to be guided precisely by means of stops; If this is attempted anyway, the assembly process is subject to great positional inaccuracy.

Furthermore, particularly in the case of metallic bipolar plates, an offset of the bipolar plates within the stack of electrochemical units can occur relative to one another, whereby this offset can occur during the stacking of the electrochemical units and/or during the bracing of the electrochemical units of the stack against one another. Such an offset can be caused by slippage of the bipolar plates on the seal assemblies. If the metallic bipolar plates have a strong internal tension, which can cause the bipolar plates to warp, this makes it more difficult to stack the bipolar plates accurately and promotes the creation of an offset between the bipolar plates in the stack. Furthermore, when bracing the stack of electrochemical units, it can happen that the plates having a curvature fold over from a first curvature state into a second curvature state, which can induce an additional offset of the bipolar plates of the stack when the stack is braced.

The present invention is based on the object of creating an electrochemical device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which displacement of the components of the electrochemical units among one another is made more difficult or prevented during the assembly of the stack of electrochemical units and/or during operation of the electrochemical device.

This object is achieved according to the invention in an electrochemical device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 in that at least one elastomer element of the sealing arrangement comprises at least one adhesive element which is in contact with a bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomer element.

The solution according to the invention is based on the concept of achieving improved adhesion of the elastomer element to the adjacent bipolar plate by providing a locally or globally changed surface structure on the elastomer element.

This makes it possible to avoid a relative displacement of the elastomer element and the bipolar plate, even with elastomer elements made of materials that have little or no intrinsic adhesion to the material of the bipolar plates.

Due to the improved adhesion between the elastomer element and the bipolar plate, the bipolar plate and the sealing arrangement of the electrochemical unit, which can be designed as a separate sealing element or can be molded onto the membrane-electrode arrangement or onto a gas diffusion layer of the electrochemical unit, can be included the assembly of the stack of electrochemical units can be handled without changing the position of these components relative to one another.

In this way, positional tolerances of a few tenths of a millimeter can be maintained, and it is prevented that the stack of electrochemical units leads to the permissible tolerances being exceeded due to a movement of the components of the stack relative to one another during handling, stacking or clamping of the components, so that the stack of electrochemical units is then not functional or does not achieve the required service life.

In a special embodiment of the invention it is provided that the sealing arrangement is fixed to two adjacent bipolar plates by means of adhesive elements - if necessary after initially pressing the elastomer element of the sealing arrangement onto the adjacent bipolar plates - whereby several bipolar plates of the stack of electrochemical units, preferably all of them Bipolar plates of the stack of electrochemical units are fixed relative to one another, so that the bipolar plates can no longer slip relative to one another. This significantly simplifies the stacking process and makes it easier to maintain the positional tolerances between the components of the stack.

Sealing arrangements that are molded onto membrane-electrode arrangements or onto components of membrane-electrode arrangements, such as gas diffusion layers, typically include sealing lips which enclose the areas of an electrochemical unit to be sealed. These areas to be sealed are, for example, the electrochemically active area of the electrochemical device and the supply channels and the discharge channels for the operating media of the electrochemical units (anode gas, cathode gas and, if necessary, coolant). Those areas of a sealing arrangement which have sealing lips are often difficult to modify due to their functionality.

In addition, such a sealing arrangement usually also contains inactive areas without a sealing function, which connect the active areas to one another and hold them in position relative to one another. Furthermore, the sealing arrangement can comprise one or more elastomer structures in intermediate regions between the sealing lips or in an edge region of the sealing arrangement, which do not fulfill a sealing function, but have the purpose of filling a free volume in the stack of electrochemical units or if the elastomer structures protrude laterally over the bipolar plates to provide contact protection.

These inactive parts of the sealing arrangement are normally designed in such a way that no large proportion of the clamping force by means of which the components of the stack of electrochemical units are clamped against one another is absorbed there, but rather the bipolar plates adjacent to the sealing arrangement are merely touched. Alternatively, it can also be provided that only one of the adjacent bipolar plates is touched by the sealing arrangement and that a free volume in the form of a gap remains between the sealing arrangement and the other adjacent bipolar plate.

In the non-active areas of the sealing arrangement, that is to say in the areas without a sealing function, a modification of the design of the elastomer elements is often possible without disadvantages. It is therefore preferably provided that the at least one adhesive element of the elastomer element is arranged in such a non-sealing region of the elastomer element which has no sealing function.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the at least one adhesive element is fixed at least temporarily to the adjacent bipolar plate by the effect of a negative pressure.

Such a local formation of negative pressure fixes the elastomer element to the bipolar plate and prevents relative movement between the elastomer element and the bipolar plate.

In particular, it can be provided that the at least one adhesive element comprises a suction cup structure.

The suction cup structure can be formed by a local variation of the thickness of the elastomeric element, that is, the extent of the elastomeric element along the stacking direction of the electrochemical device.

At least one adhesive element can comprise a closed structure which includes at least one sealing lip.

The closed structure comprising a sealing lip can, for example, have the shape of a circle, an ellipse or a polygon.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one adhesive element has a knob structure and/or a lamellar structure. Such a structure can cause adhesion through negative pressure and/or van der Waals forces, such as in a so-called “gecko structure”.

If at least one adhesive element comprises a stamp structure, preferably in an interior of the adhesive element, compression of the area of the adhesive element can be ensured in this way. For example, tearing of the elastomer material of the elastomer element when pressed against the bipolar plate can be prevented.

The at least one adhesive element can also include one or more cavities.

A knob structure provided on the at least one adhesive element can have a suction cup-like geometry on its surface.

The use of a knobbed structure can save material. Furthermore, the knob structure is permeable to a flow of an operating medium of the electrochemical device in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the electrochemical device.

In a particular embodiment of the invention it is provided that at least one adhesive element comprises a stiffening structure.

The purpose of such a stiffening structure is to mechanically stiffen the elastomer material of the elastomer element in the area of the adhesive element in order to thereby generate a higher negative pressure in an interior of the adhesive element and thus to be able to achieve better adhesion of the adhesive element to the bipolar plate.

Such a stiffening structure is preferably arranged on the side of the elastomer element facing away from the adjacent bipolar plate.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one elastomer element of the sealing arrangement comprises at least a first adhesive element, which is in contact with a first bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomer element, and at least one second adhesive element, which is in contact with a second bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomer element.

In this way, both bipolar plates adjacent to the elastomeric element can be fixed at least temporarily relative to the elastomeric element and thus relative to each other, if necessary after the bipolar plates have been initially pressed against the respectively assigned adhesive element of the elastomeric element.

The first adhesive element and the second adhesive element can each be designed like the single adhesive element in an embodiment in which the elastomer element only adheres to an adjacent bipolar plate by means of an adhesive element.

After the bipolar plates have been stacked on top of one another and pressed against the elastomer element arranged in between, no relevant displacement of the bipolar plates relative to one another can then occur.

If this process is carried out repeatedly during the assembly of the stack of electrochemical units, a stack is obtained in which all bipolar plates are fixed in their position relative to one another.

In this way, even a displacement of adjacent bipolar plates relative to one another during the process in which the electrochemical units of the stack are clamped against one another can be avoided, thereby achieving a significant improvement in the position tolerances of the fully assembled stack.

The at least one first adhesive element and the at least one second adhesive element can be formed directly opposite one another on the elastomer element.

In principle, however, it would also be possible for the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element to be arranged offset from one another on the elastomer element in an offset direction aligned perpendicular to the stacking direction of the electrochemical device.

In a special embodiment of the invention it is provided that at least one first th adhesive element and at least one second adhesive element are formed essentially mirror-symmetrically to one another on the elastomer element.

The plane of symmetry is preferably aligned perpendicular to the stacking direction of the electrochemical device.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one first adhesive element and at least one second adhesive element are connected to one another through an opening provided on the elastomer element.

This makes it possible to increase the free volume enclosed by the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element, in which a negative pressure can be generated, through which the elastomer element adheres to the two adjacent bipolar plates. This means that longer adhesion can be achieved between the elastomer element and the adjacent bipolar plates.

Furthermore, such a breakthrough can facilitate the positioning of the elastomer element relative to at least one of the two adjacent bipolar plates.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that at least one adhesive element comprises a force transmission structure which is in contact with a second adjacent bipolar plate, which is on the side of the elastomer element facing away from the first adjacent bipolar plate, which is the back of the elastomer element can be viewed, is arranged.

Such a force transmission structure serves to direct the force to the area in which the adhesive element is formed on the elastomer element when the elastomer element and the bipolar plate are pressed together.

Such a force transmission structure can, for example, include a local thickening of the elastomer element in the area of the adhesive element.

Alternatively or in addition to this, the force transmission structure can comprise a stamp projecting from the back of the elastomeric element, with which the elastomeric element can be supported, for example, on a second bipolar plate arranged on the side of the elastomeric element facing away from the first bipolar plate.

Preferably, at least one adhesive element is temporarily in contact with the adjacent bipolar plate in an assembled state during the assembly of the stack of electrochemical units and is no longer in contact with the adjacent bipolar plate in the operating state of the electrochemical device. In this case, the at least one adhesive element only performs its adhesive function during the assembly process of the electrochemical device.

The at least one adhesive structure can also be an area of increased surface roughness formed on the elastomer element. Such an increase in surface roughness can be achieved, for example, by appropriately structuring the surface of an injection molding tool that is used to produce the elastomer element. By increasing the surface roughness, better adhesion between the elastomer element and the adjacent bipolar plate is achieved.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one adhesive element at least temporarily comprises water, a liquid other than water or an adhesive. The water or the liquid other than water can only be present temporarily and then disappear, for example through evaporation. The adhesive can be hardened, vulcanized or dried on the elastomer element.

The adhesion of the elastomer element to the adjacent bipolar plate can also be temporarily or permanently improved by applying water, a liquid other than water or an adhesive as an adhesive element.

In order to achieve better absorption of the water, the non-water liquid or the adhesive on the elastomeric element, part of the surface of the elastomeric element can be made porous or with one or more cavities that can absorb a liquid or an adhesive , be provided.

Alternatively or in addition to this, it can be provided that an area of the elastomer element is treated in such a way that its wettability with water, a liquid other than water or with adhesive is improved. Such a treatment can be, for example, a plasma treatment or a corona treatment.

Preferably, at least one adhesive element is arranged in a non-sealing region of the elastomer element, which has no sealing function.

If the elastomer element is provided with a sealing line, at least one adhesive element is preferably arranged outside the area of the elastomer element enclosed by the sealing line in question.

According to the invention, the sealing arrangement is provided with at least one adhesive element, through which the adhesion of the elastomer element to at least one bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomer element is improved or brought about in the first place.

The sealing arrangement can be, for example, as an individual part manufactured separately from other components of an electrochemical unit, as a sealing arrangement (“Seal-on-GDL”) that is materially connected to a gas diffusion layer (GDL) of an electrochemical unit, or as a materially connected to another component of a membrane. Electrode arrangement of the electrochemical unit can be formed sealing arrangement connected.

The ability to handle the elastomeric element of the seal assembly and the adjacent bipolar plate as a unit offers a great advantage in terms of reducing positional tolerances compared to the prior art, according to which these components must be handled individually, particularly when there is no intrinsic adhesion of the material of the elastomeric element to the material of the bipolar plate.

The elastomeric material may include, for example, a silicone material. In particular, it can be provided that the elastomer material is formed essentially entirely from a silicone material.

The present invention further relates to a method for assembling a stack of electrochemical units of an electrochemical device, wherein the electrochemical units follow one another along a stacking direction and each of the electrochemical units comprises a bipolar plate and a sealing arrangement which comprises at least one elastomer element.

The present invention is based on the further object of creating such a method for assembling a stack of electrochemical units of an electrochemical device, in which a displacement of the components to be assembled relative to one another during the assembly process is made more difficult or prevented.

• Andrücken mindestens eines Haftelements eines Elastomer-Elements einer Dichtungsanordnung an eine benachbarte Bipolarplatte, um das Haftelement zumindest zeitweise an der benachbarten Bipolarplatte zu fixieren.
• Besondere Ausgestaltungen eines solchen erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens sind bereits vorstehend im Zusammenhang mit besonderen Ausgestaltungen der erfindungsgemäßen elektrochemischen Vorrichtung erläutert worden.
• Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren eignet sich insbesondere zum Assemblieren eines Stapels aus elektrochemischen Einheiten der erfindungsgemäßen elektrochemischen Vorrichtung.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method for assembling a stack of electrochemical units of an electrochemical device, which comprises the following:

• Pressing at least one adhesive element of an elastomer element of a sealing arrangement onto an adjacent bipolar plate in order to at least temporarily fix the adhesive element to the adjacent bipolar plate.
• Special embodiments of such a method according to the invention have already been explained above in connection with special embodiments of the electrochemical device according to the invention.
• The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for assembling a stack of electrochemical units of the electrochemical device according to the invention.

• Die Dichtungsanordnung einer elektrochemischen Einheit umfasst jeweils ein an eine Gasdiffusionslage angespritztes Elastomer-Element.
• Das Elastomer-Element weist zwei Haftelemente auf, welche an einer einer ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte zugewandten Vorderseite des Elastomer-Elements angeordnet sind.
• Diese Haftelemente können jeweils eine Saugnapfstruktur umfassen.
• Die Membran-Elektroden-Anordnung einer elektrochemischen Einheit, welche das Elastomer-Element der Dichtungsanordnung umfasst, wird von einem Vakuumgreifer aufgenommen, es wird eine optische Positionskontrolle der Membran-Elektroden-Anordnung auf dem Greifer durchgeführt, und die Membran-Elektroden-Anordnung wird entsprechend präzise auf einer Bipolarplatte abgelegt.

The method according to the invention for assembling a stack of electrochemical units of an electrochemical device can be carried out, for example, as follows:

• The sealing arrangement of an electrochemical unit each comprises an elastomer element molded onto a gas diffusion layer.
• The elastomer element has two adhesive elements, which are arranged on a front side of the elastomer element facing a first adjacent bipolar plate.
• These adhesive elements can each include a suction cup structure.
• The membrane-electrode arrangement of an electrochemical unit, which includes the elastomer element of the sealing arrangement, is picked up by a vacuum gripper, an optical position control of the membrane-electrode arrangement on the gripper is carried out, and the membrane-electrode arrangement is adjusted accordingly placed precisely on a bipolar plate.

By pressing when putting down the membrane-electrode arrangement, the membrane-electrode arrangement is temporarily fixed on the bipolar plate. The bipolar plate with the membrane-electrode arrangement adhering to it can now be handled and stacked with further identical units to form the stack of electrochemical units of the electrochemical device.

The alignment of the units, each consisting of a bipolar plate and a membrane-electrode arrangement, relative to other such units can be done using stops, since no relative movement can occur between a bipolar plate and the elastomer element fixed to it. This makes it possible to achieve significantly better positioning accuracy of the electrochemical units within the stack than would be the case without adhesion between the membrane-electrode arrangement on the one hand and the bipolar plate on the other.

• In diesem Fall umfasst die Membran-Elektroden-Anordnung eine Dichtungsanordnung, welche ein an eine Gasdiffusionslage angespritztes Elastomer-Element umfasst.
• Das Elastomer-Element weist in einem nicht-abdichtenden Bereich desselben ein erstes Haftelement und ein zweites Haftelement auf, welche an einander entgegengesetzten Seiten des Elastomer-Elements (einer Vorderseite und einer Rückseite des Elastomer-Elements) angeordnet sind.
• Die Einheit aus Dichtungsanordnung und Gasdiffusionslage wird mittels eines Vakuumgreifers aufgenommen und nach einer optischen Positionskontrolle präzise auf einer Randplatte, die auf einer Endplatte der elektrochemischen Vorrichtung, beispielsweise auf einer Anoden-Endplatte, liegt, abgelegt und an dieselbe angedrückt.

Another embodiment of the method according to the invention for assembling a stack of electrochemical units of an electrochemical device is carried out as follows:

• In this case, the membrane-electrode arrangement comprises a sealing arrangement which comprises an elastomer element molded onto a gas diffusion layer.
• The elastomeric element has, in a non-sealing region thereof, a first adhesive element and a second adhesive element, which are arranged on opposite sides of the elastomeric element (a front and a back of the elastomeric element).
• The unit consisting of sealing arrangement and gas diffusion layer is picked up by means of a vacuum gripper and, after an optical position control, is placed precisely on an edge plate which lies on an end plate of the electrochemical device, for example on an anode end plate, and is pressed against it.

Such an edge plate corresponds geometrically to a bipolar plate of the electrochemical device with the difference that the flow field of the edge plate facing the end plate of the electrochemical device has closed feed openings and is therefore not supplied with operating media of the electrochemical device.

The membrane-electrode arrangement, which includes the sealing arrangement and the gas diffusion layer, is now temporarily fixed to the edge plate.

After optical position control, a bipolar plate is placed precisely on the elastomer element of the sealing arrangement of the membrane-electrode arrangement and pressed against it, so that the bipolar plate, the membrane-electrode arrangement and the edge plate are now firmly connected to one another.

Now the next membrane-electrode arrangement is stacked, using the same procedure as for the first membrane-electrode arrangement.

The described processes of placing and pressing on the membrane-electrode arrangement comprising the elastomer element on the one hand and of placing and pressing on a bipolar plate on the other hand are repeated until the desired number of electrochemical units in the stack of electrochemical units of the electrochemical device is reached .

The assembly process then concludes with the placement of another edge plate and another end plate of the electrochemical device (for example the cathode end plate).

The stack of electrochemical units is then braced.

Due to the mechanical integrity of the stack of electrochemical units, which results from the mechanical connection of the elastomer elements and the bipolar plates via the adhesive elements designed as suction cups, the stack of electrochemical units can be moved without shifting the bipolar plates and the elastomer elements of the sealing arrangements relative to one another. preferably with a minimum of guidance. The resulting offset of the individual bipolar plates and membrane electrode arrangements relative to one another is significantly smaller than would be possible without the adhesive elements on the elastomer elements.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the elastomer seal or a gas diffusion layer and/or a membrane Electrode arrangement, which is provided with such an elastomer seal, can be temporarily firmly connected to a bipolar plate by simply pressing on it.

This is also possible if the elastomeric seal is formed from a material that does not intrinsically adhere to the material of the bipolar plate.

If adhesive elements are installed on both sides of the elastomer seal, a stack can be built up from several bipolar plates and membrane-electrode arrangements, which ensures a high level of mechanical integrity even before the electrochemical units are braced against one another has, so that when stacking the components and during bracing, a displacement of the components of the stack relative to one another can be avoided or at least reduced.

Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the graphic representation of exemplary embodiments.

• 1 einen ausschnittsweisen Längsschnitt durch ein Elastomer-Element einer Dichtungsanordnung einer elektrochemischen Einheit einer elektrochemischen Vorrichtung, in welcher mehrere elektrochemische Einheiten längs einer Stapelrichtung aufeinander folgen, und durch eine dem Elastomer-Element benachbarte Bipolarplatte, wobei das Haftelement zumindest zeitweise durch die Wirkung eines Unterdrucks an der benachbarten Bipolarplatte fixiert ist und wobei das Haftelement eine Saugnapfstruktur umfasst, welche eine ringförmig geschlossene Dichtlippe umfasst;
• 2 einen Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche zwischen dem Haftelement und der Bipolarplatte mit Draufsicht auf die der Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 2 - 2 in 1;
• 3 einen der 1 entsprechenden ausschnittsweisen Längsschnitt durch eine zweite Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem Haftelement, das in Kontakt mit einer benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, wobei das Haftelement eine Stempelstruktur umfasst, welche im Innenraum der Saugnapfstruktur angeordnet ist;
• 4 einen der 2 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das Haftelement in Kontakt mit der Bipolarplatte steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 3 dargestellten zweiten Ausführungsform, längs der Linie 4 - 4 in 3;
• 5 einen der 1 entsprechenden ausschnittsweisen Längsschnitt durch eine dritte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem Haftelement, wobei das Haftelement eine ringförmig geschlossene Dichtlippe umfasst und in dem von der Dichtlippe umschlossenen Bereich im Wesentlichen eben ausgebildet ist;
• 6 einen der 2 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das Haftelement mit der Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 5 dargestellten dritten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 6 - 6 in 5;
• 7 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine vierte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem Haftelement, das in Kontakt mit einer Bipolarplatte steht, wobei das Haftelement zwei konzentrisch zueinander angeordnete ringförmig geschlossene Dichtlippen umfasst;
• 8 einen der 2 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das Haftelement mit der Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 7 dargestellten vierten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 8 - 8 in 7;
• 9 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine fünfte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem Haftelement, das mit einer benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, wobei das Haftelement zwei konzentrisch zueinander ausgebildete ringförmig geschlossene Dichtlippen und eine im Innenraum der inneren Dichtlippe angeordnete Stempelstruktur umfasst;
• 10 einen Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das Haftelement in Kontakt mit der benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 9 dargestellten fünften Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 10 - 10 in 9;
• 11 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine sechste Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem Haftelement, das mit einer benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, wobei das Haftelement eine Noppenstruktur umfasst, welche eine Mehrzahl von Noppen mit kreisförmigem Querschnitt umfasst;
• 12 einen Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das Haftelement in Kontakt mit der benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 11 dargestellten sechsten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 12 - 12 in 11;
• 13 einen Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das Haftelement in Kontakt mit der benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei einer siebten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, bei welcher die Noppen der Noppenstruktur des Haftelements jeweils einen quadratischen Querschnitt aufweisen, längs der Linie 12 - 12 in 11;
• 14 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine achte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem Haftelement, das mit einer benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, wobei das Haftelement eine Noppenstruktur umfasst und wobei die Noppen der Noppenstruktur jeweils eine saugnapfartige Geometrie aufweisen;
• 15 einen Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das Haftelement in Kontakt mit der benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 14 dargestellten achten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 15 - 15 in 14;
• 16 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine neunte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem Haftelement, das mit einer ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, wobei das Haftelement eine Saugnapfstruktur umfasst, welche eine ringförmig geschlossene Dichtlippe umfasst, und das Haftelement ferner eine Versteifungsstruktur umfasst, welche an der der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte abgewandten Seite des Elastomer-Elements ausgebildet ist und einen oder mehrere, vorzugsweise sich kreuzende, Stege umfasst, welche mit einer zweiten benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt stehen, die auf einer der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte abgewandten Seite des Elastomer-Elements angeordnet ist;
• 17 einen der 2 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das Haftelement in Kontakt mit der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 16 dargestellten neunten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 17 - 17 in 16;
• 18 einen Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher die Versteifungsstruktur des Haftelements in Kontakt mit der zweiten benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der zweiten benachbarten Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in den 16 und 17 dargestellten neunten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 18 - 18 in 16;
• 19 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine zehnte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem ersten Haftelement, das in Kontakt mit einer ersten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, und mit einem zweiten Haftelement, das in Kontakt mit einer zweiten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, wobei das erste Haftelement und das zweite Haftelement einander direkt gegenüberliegend an dem Elastomer-Element ausgebildet sind, wobei das erste Haftelement und das zweite Haftelement spiegelsymmetrisch zueinander an dem Elastomer-Element ausgebildet sind und wobei das erste Haftelement und das zweite Haftelement jeweils eine Saugnapfstruktur umfassen, welche eine ringförmig geschlossene Dichtlippe umfasst;
• 20 einen der 2 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das erste Haftelement in Kontakt mit der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 19 dargestellten zehnten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 20 - 20 in 19;
• 21 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine elfte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem ersten Haftelement, das mit einer ersten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, und mit einem zweiten Haftelement, das mit einer zweiten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, wobei das erste Haftelement und das zweite Haftelement einander direkt gegenüberliegend an dem Elastomer-Element ausgebildet sind, wobei das erste Haftelement und das zweite Haftelement im Wesentlichen spiegelsymmetrisch zueinander an dem Elastomer-Element ausgebildet sind und wobei das erste Haftelement und das zweite Haftelement jeweils zwei konzentrisch zueinander ausgebildete ringförmig geschlossene Dichtlippen aufweisen;
• 22 einen der 2 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das erste Haftelement in Kontakt mit der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 21 dargestellten elften Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 22 - 22 in 21;
• 23 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine zwölfte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem ersten Haftelement, das in Kontakt mit einer ersten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, und mit einem zweiten Haftelement, das in Kontakt mit einer zweiten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte steht, wobei das erste Haftelement und das zweite Haftelement einander direkt gegenüberliegend an dem Elastomer-Element ausgebildet sind, wobei das erste Haftelement und das zweite Haftelement im Wesentlichen spiegelsymmetrisch zueinander an dem Elastomer-Element ausgebildet sind, wobei das erste Haftelement und das zweite Haftelement jeweils zwei konzentrisch zueinander ausgebildete ringförmig geschlossene Dichtlippen umfassen und wobei das erste Haftelement und das zweite Haftelement durch einen an dem Elastomer-Element vorgesehenen Durchbruch miteinander verbunden sind;
• 24 einen der 2 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das erste Haftelement mit der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomerelements, bei der in 23 dargestellten zwölften Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 24 - 24 in 23;
• 25 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine dreizehnte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem Haftelement, das mit einer dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, wobei das Haftelement eine Saugnapfstruktur umfasst, welche eine ringförmig geschlossene Dichtlippe umfasst, und wobei das Haftelement eine Kraftübertragungsstruktur umfasst, welche mit einer zweiten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, wobei die Kraftübertragungsstruktur auf der der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte abgewandten Seite des Elastomer-Elements angeordnet ist und die beim Zusammendrücken der Bipolarplatten und des dazwischen angeordneten Elastomer-Elements erzeugte Kraft gezielt auf die Saugnapfstruktur des Haftelements lenkt;
• 26 einen der 2 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das Haftelement mit der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 25 dargestellten dreizehnten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 26 - 26 in 25;
• 27 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine vierzehnte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem Haftelement, das mit einer ersten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, wobei das Haftelement eine Saugnapfstruktur umfasst, welche eine ringförmig geschlossene Dichtlippe umfasst, und wobei das Haftelement eine Kraftübertragungsstruktur umfasst, welche mit einer zweiten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, die auf der der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte abgewandten Seite des Elastomerelements angeordnet ist, wobei durch die Kraftübertragungsstruktur eine beim Zusammendrücken der beiden Bipolarplatten und des dazwischen angeordneten Elastomer-Elements erzeugte Kraft in die Saugnapfstruktur des Haftelements gelenkt wird, wobei die Kraftübertragungsstruktur eine - von der zweiten benachbarten Bipolarplatte aus gesehen - konvex gewölbte Kuppe aufweist;
• 28 einen der 2 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher die Haftstruktur mit der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 27 dargestellten vierzehnten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 28 - 28 in 27;
• 29 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine fünfzehnte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem Haftelement, das mit einer ersten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, wobei das Haftelement eine Saugnapfstruktur umfasst, welche eine - von der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte aus gesehen - konkav gewölbte Vertiefung umfasst, und wobei das Haftelement eine Kraftübertragungsstruktur umfasst, welche mit einer zweiten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, wobei die Kraftübertragungsstruktur einen - von der zweiten benachbarten Bipolarplatte aus gesehen - konvex gewölbten Vorsprung umfasst, wobei die Dicke des Elastomer-Elements im Bereich des Haftelements gleich groß ist wie in dem an das Haftelement angrenzenden Bereich des Elastomer-Elements;
• 30 einen der 2 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das Haftelement mit der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 29 dargestellten fünfzehnten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 30 - 30 in 29;
• 31 einen der 1 entsprechenden Längsschnitt durch eine sechzehnte Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements mit einem Haftelement, das mit einer ersten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, wobei das Haftelement eine Saugnapfstruktur umfasst, welche eine ringförmig geschlossene Dichtlippe umfasst, und wobei das Haftelement eine Kraftübertragungsstruktur umfasst, welche mit einer zweiten dem Elastomer-Element benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, die auf der der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte abgewandten Seite des Elastomer-Elements angeordnet ist, wobei die Kraftübertragungsstruktur eine zylindrische Vertiefung umfasst, in welcher ein - von der zweiten benachbarten Bipolarplatte aus gesehen - konvex gekrümmter Vorsprung angeordnet ist, welcher die zweite benachbarte Bipolarplatte berührt, wobei die Dicke des Elastomer-Elements im Bereich des Haftelements gleich groß ist wie in dem das Haftelement umgebenden Bereich des Elastomer-Elements; und
• 32 einen der 2 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kontaktfläche, an welcher das Haftelement mit der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte in Kontakt steht, mit Draufsicht auf die der ersten benachbarten Bipolarplatte zugewandte Seite des Elastomer-Elements, bei der in 31 dargestellten sechzehnten Ausführungsform eines Elastomer-Elements, längs der Linie 32 - 32 in 31.

In the drawings show:

• 1 a partial longitudinal section through an elastomer element of a sealing arrangement of an electrochemical unit of an electrochemical device, in which several electrochemical units follow one another along a stacking direction, and through a bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomer element, the adhesive element being held at least temporarily by the effect of a negative pressure on the adjacent bipolar plate is fixed and wherein the adhesive element comprises a suction cup structure which comprises an annularly closed sealing lip;
• 2 a section through the contact surface between the adhesive element and the bipolar plate with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the bipolar plate, along the line 2 - 2 in 1 ;
• 3 one of the 1 corresponding partial longitudinal section through a second embodiment of an elastomer element with an adhesive element which is in contact with an adjacent bipolar plate, the adhesive element comprising a stamp structure which is arranged in the interior of the suction cup structure;
• 4 one of the 2 corresponding section through the contact surface on which the adhesive element is in contact with the bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the bipolar plate, in which in 3 illustrated second embodiment, along the line 4 - 4 in 3 ;
• 5 one of the 1 corresponding partial longitudinal section through a third embodiment of an elastomer element with an adhesive element, the adhesive element comprising an annularly closed sealing lip and being essentially flat in the area enclosed by the sealing lip;
• 6 one of the 2 corresponding section through the contact surface on which the adhesive element is in contact with the bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the bipolar plate, in which in 5 illustrated third embodiment of an elastomer element, along the line 6 - 6 in 5 ;
• 7 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through a fourth embodiment of an elastomer element with an adhesive element which is in contact with a bipolar plate, the adhesive element comprising two annularly closed sealing lips arranged concentrically to one another;
• 8th one of the 2 corresponding section through the contact surface on which the adhesive element is in contact with the bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the bipolar plate, in which in 7 illustrated fourth embodiment of an elastomer element, along the line 8 - 8 in 7 ;
• 9 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through a fifth embodiment of an elastomer element with an adhesive element which is in contact with an adjacent bipolar plate, the adhesive element comprising two concentrically formed annularly closed sealing lips and a stamp structure arranged in the interior of the inner sealing lip;
• 10 a section through the contact surface on which the adhesive element is in contact with the adjacent bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the bipolar plate, in which in 9 illustrated fifth embodiment of an elastomer element, along the line 10 - 10 in 9 ;
• 11 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through a sixth embodiment of an elastomeric element with an adhesive element which is in contact with an adjacent bipolar plate, the adhesive element comprising a knob structure which comprises a plurality of knobs with a circular cross section;
• 12 a section through the contact surface on which the adhesive element is in contact with the adjacent bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the bipolar plate, in which in 11 illustrated sixth embodiment of an elastomer element, along the line 12 - 12 in 11 ;
• 13 a section through the contact surface on which the adhesive element is in contact with the adjacent bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the bipolar plate, in a seventh embodiment of an elastomer element, in which the knobs of the knob structure of the adhesive elements each have a square cross section, along the line 12 - 12 in 11 ;
• 14 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through an eighth embodiment of an elastomer element with an adhesive element which is in contact with an adjacent bipolar plate, wherein the adhesive element comprises a knob structure and wherein the knobs of the knob structure each have a suction cup-like geometry;
• 15 a section through the contact surface on which the adhesive element is in contact with the adjacent bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the bipolar plate, in which in 14 illustrated eighth embodiment of an elastomer element, along the line 15 - 15 in 14 ;
• 16 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through a ninth embodiment of an elastomer element with an adhesive element which is in contact with a first adjacent bipolar plate, the adhesive element comprising a suction cup structure which comprises an annularly closed sealing lip, and the adhesive element further comprising a stiffening structure which is attached to the is formed on the side of the elastomer element facing away from the first adjacent bipolar plate and comprises one or more, preferably intersecting, webs which are in contact with a second adjacent bipolar plate which is arranged on a side of the elastomer element facing away from the first adjacent bipolar plate;
• 17 one of the 2 corresponding section through the contact surface on which the adhesive element is in contact with the first adjacent bipolar plate, with a plan view of the side of the elastomer element facing the first adjacent bipolar plate, in which in 16 illustrated ninth embodiment of an elastomer element, along the line 17 - 17 in 16 ;
• 18 a section through the contact surface on which the stiffening structure of the adhesive element is in contact with the second adjacent bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the second adjacent bipolar plate, in which in the 16 and 17 illustrated ninth embodiment of an elastomer element, along the line 18 - 18 in 16 ;
• 19 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through a tenth embodiment of an elastomeric element with a first adhesive element which is in contact with a first bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, and with a second adhesive element which is in contact with a second bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, wherein the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element are formed directly opposite one another on the elastomeric element, wherein the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element are formed mirror-symmetrically to one another on the elastomeric element and wherein the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element each comprise a suction cup structure, which comprises an annularly closed sealing lip;
• 20 one of the 2 corresponding section through the contact surface on which the first adhesive element is in contact with the first adjacent bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the first adjacent bipolar plate, in which 19 illustrated tenth embodiment of an elastomer element, along the line 20 - 20 in 19 ;
• 21 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through an eleventh embodiment of an elastomeric element with a first adhesive element which is in contact with a first bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, and with a second adhesive element which is in contact with a second bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, wherein the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element are formed directly opposite one another on the elastomeric element, wherein the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element are formed essentially mirror-symmetrically to one another on the elastomeric element and wherein the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element are each two concentric to one another have formed annularly closed sealing lips;
• 22 one of the 2 corresponding section through the contact surface on which the first adhesive element is in contact with the first adjacent bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the first adjacent bipolar plate, in which 21 illustrated eleventh embodiment of an elastomer element, along the line 22 - 22 in 21 ;
• 23 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through a twelfth embodiment of an elastomer element with a first adhesive element which is in contact with a first bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomer element, and with a second adhesive element which is in contact with a second bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomer element, wherein the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element are formed directly opposite one another on the elastomeric element, wherein the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element are formed essentially mirror-symmetrically to one another on the elastomeric element, the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element each being two concentric include mutually formed annularly closed sealing lips and wherein the first adhesive element and the second adhesive element are connected to one another by an opening provided on the elastomer element;
• 24 one of the 2 corresponding section through the contact surface on which the first adhesive element is in contact with the first adjacent bipolar plate, with a plan view of the side of the elastomer element facing the first adjacent bipolar plate, in which in 23 illustrated twelfth embodiment of an elastomer element, along the line 24 - 24 in 23 ;
• 25 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through a thirteenth embodiment of an elastomeric element with an adhesive element which is in contact with a bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, wherein the adhesive element comprises a suction cup structure which comprises an annularly closed sealing lip, and wherein the adhesive element comprises a force transmission structure which is in contact with a second bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, wherein the force transmission structure is arranged on the side of the elastomeric element facing away from the first adjacent bipolar plate and the force generated when the bipolar plates and the elastomeric element arranged between them are compressed is directed specifically to the suction cup structure of the Adhesive element steers;
• 26 one of the 2 corresponding section through the contact surface on which the adhesive element is in contact with the first adjacent bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the first adjacent bipolar plate, in which in 25 thirteenth embodiment of an elastomeric element shown, along the line 26 - 26 in 25 ;
• 27 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through a fourteenth embodiment of an elastomeric element with an adhesive element which is in contact with a first bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, wherein the adhesive element comprises a suction cup structure which comprises an annularly closed sealing lip, and wherein the adhesive element comprises a force transmission structure, which is in contact with a second bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, which is arranged on the side of the elastomeric element facing away from the first adjacent bipolar plate, a force generated by the force transmission structure when the two bipolar plates and the elastomeric element arranged between them are compressed into the suction cup structure of the adhesive element is steered, the force transmission structure having a convexly curved dome as seen from the second adjacent bipolar plate;
• 28 one of the 2 corresponding section through the contact surface on which the adhesive structure is in contact with the first adjacent bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the first adjacent bipolar plate, in which in 27 illustrated fourteenth embodiment of an elastomeric element, along the line 28 - 28 in 27 ;
• 29 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through a fifteenth embodiment of an elastomeric element with an adhesive element which is in contact with a first bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, the adhesive element comprising a suction cup structure which comprises a concavely curved recess as seen from the first adjacent bipolar plate , and wherein the adhesive element comprises a force transmission structure which is in contact with a second bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, wherein the force transmission structure comprises a - as seen from the second adjacent bipolar plate - convexly curved projection, the thickness of the elastomeric element being in the range the adhesive element is the same size as in the area of the elastomer element adjacent to the adhesive element;
• 30 one of the 2 corresponding section through the contact surface on which the adhesive element is in contact with the first adjacent bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the first adjacent bipolar plate, in which 29 shown fifteenth embodiment of an elastomeric element, along the line 30 - 30 in 29 ;
• 31 one of the 1 corresponding longitudinal section through a sixteenth embodiment of an elastomeric element with an adhesive element which is in contact with a first bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, the adhesive element being a suction cup structure, which comprises an annularly closed sealing lip, and wherein the adhesive element comprises a force transmission structure which is in contact with a second bipolar plate adjacent to the elastomeric element, which is arranged on the side of the elastomeric element facing away from the first adjacent bipolar plate, wherein the Force transmission structure comprises a cylindrical recess in which a convexly curved projection - as seen from the second adjacent bipolar plate - is arranged, which touches the second adjacent bipolar plate, the thickness of the elastomer element in the area of the adhesive element being the same as in which the adhesive element surrounding area of the elastomer element; and
• 32 one of the 2 corresponding section through the contact surface on which the adhesive element is in contact with the first adjacent bipolar plate, with a top view of the side of the elastomer element facing the first adjacent bipolar plate, in which 31 illustrated sixteenth embodiment of an elastomeric element, along the line 32 - 32 in 31 .

Identical or functionally equivalent elements are designated with the same reference numerals in all figures.

One in the 1 and 2 Electrochemical unit 100, shown in detail, of an electrochemical device (not shown as a whole), which comprises a plurality of such electrochemical units 100, which follow one another along a stacking direction 102, comprises a bipolar plate 104 and a sealing arrangement 106, the sealing arrangement 106 having at least one in the 1 and 2 elastomer element 108 shown includes.

How best to look 1 As can be seen, the elastomeric element 108 of the sealing arrangement 106 comprises at least one adhesive element 110, which is in contact with the bipolar plate 104 adjacent to the elastomeric element 108 in the assembled state of the electrochemical device and/or in an intermediate state during the assembly of the electrochemical device .

The adhesive element 110 is preferably arranged in a non-sealing area of the elastomer element 108, which has no sealing function.

In particular, it can be provided that the adhesive element is arranged in a region of the elastomer element 108, which is located outside a region of the elastomer element 108 enclosed by at least one sealing line.

If several sealing lines are provided on the elastomeric element 108, the adhesive element 110 is preferably arranged in an area of the elastomeric element 108 which is located outside of all sealing lines formed on the elastomeric element 108.

At the in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment of an elastomer element 108 with an adhesive element 110, the adhesive element 110 comprises a suction cup structure 112, which includes a closed structure 114 which includes a sealing lip 116.

The sealing lip 116 is designed to be closed in a ring shape.

In particular, it can be provided that the sealing lip 116 is essentially circular.

The suction cup structure 112 described above creates a negative pressure in the interior 118 of the adhesive element 110, which is enclosed by the sealing lip 116, when the adhesive element 110 is in contact with the bipolar plate 104 adjacent to the elastomer element 108, so that the adhesive element 110 is at least temporarily is fixed to the bipolar plate 104 adjacent to the elastomer element 108 by the effect of the negative pressure which prevails in the interior 118.

As a result, the assembly consisting of the bipolar plate 104 and the elastomeric element 108 fixed to the bipolar plate 104 by means of the at least one adhesive element 110 can be handled as a unit without the position of the bipolar plate 104 and the elastomeric element 108 changing relative to one another.

This fixation of the relative position of bipolar plate 104 and elastomer element 108 is of great importance, since the positioning tolerance of these components to one another is only a few tenths of a millimeter and without fixing the relative position of these components, a movement of these components relative to one another during handling, when stacking the electrochemical units 100 of the electrochemical device on one another and/or when clamping the electrochemical units 100 in the stack of electrochemical units 100 of the electrochemical device against one another could lead to the permissible tolerances being exceeded, so that the stack of electrochemical units 100 would then not be usable or at least not would achieve the required service life.

One in the 3 and 4 The second embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment in that the adhesive element 110 provided on the elastomer element 108 comprises, in addition to the suction cup structure 112, a stamp structure 120, which is arranged in the interior of the suction cup structure 112, which is enclosed by the annularly closed sealing lip 116.

The stamp structure 120 comprises, for example, a substantially cylindrical stamp 122, which extends from a base body 124 of the elastomer element 108 into the interior 118 of the adhesive element 110 and ends in a relaxed rest state of the sealing arrangement 106 at a distance from the bipolar plate 104.

If the area of the elastomer element 108 provided with the adhesive element 110 is compressed along the stacking direction 102 during the assembly of the electrochemical device or during operation of the electrochemical device, the end face 126 of the stamp 122 facing the bipolar plate 104 comes into contact with the bipolar plate 104 and then prevents a further deformation of the adhesive element 110.

In this way, damage to the adhesive element 110 when the elastomer element 108 is compressed is avoided. For example, in this way, tearing of the elastomeric material from which the elastomeric element 108 is formed can be prevented in the area of the adhesive element 110 during such a compression process in which the elastomeric element 108 is pressed against the bipolar plate 104.

Incidentally, that is correct 3 and 4 illustrated second embodiment of an electrochemical device with the in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 5 and 6 The third embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 1 and 2 illustrated embodiment in that the adhesive element 110 comprises an annularly closed sealing lip 128 instead of a suction cup structure 112 and is essentially flat in the area 130 enclosed by the sealing lip 128.

The sealing lip 128 can be wider in this third embodiment than in the one in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment, so that in the third embodiment the adhesive element 110 is preferably in contact with the bipolar plate 104 along a strip-shaped contact surface 132.

In contrast to this, the sealing lip 116 of the suction cup structure 112 of the adhesive element 110 is in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment is preferably designed so thin that the adhesive element 110 preferably rests along a substantially linear contact line 134 on the bipolar plate 104 adjacent to the elastomer element 108.

A negative pressure can also be generated in the interior 118 of the adhesive element 110 enclosed by the annularly closed sealing lip 128 of the adhesive element 110 in the third embodiment, by means of which the elastomer element 108 is fixed at least temporarily to the adjacent bipolar plate 104.

Incidentally, that is correct 5 and 6 illustrated third embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 7 and 8th The fourth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 5 and 6 illustrated third embodiment in that the adhesive element 110 of the elastomer element 108 not only comprises an annularly closed sealing lip 128, but two annularly closed sealing lips 128 and 128 '.

The second sealing lip 128' is preferably designed and arranged in such a way that it is completely enclosed by the sealing lip 128.

It is particularly favorable if the two sealing lips 128 and 128 'are arranged concentrically to one another.

Incidentally, that is correct 7 and 8th Illustrated fourth embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of production with that in the 5 and 6 illustrated third embodiment, to the above description of which reference is made.

One in the 9 and 10 The fifth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from the to the 7 and 8th illustrated fourth embodiment in that the adhesive element 110 of the elastomer element 108 comprises a stamp structure 120 in addition to the two annularly closed sealing lips 128 and 128 '.

The stamp structure 120 includes a stamp 122, which is preferably designed and arranged so that it is completely enclosed by the inner sealing lip 128 'of the adhesive element 110.

The stamp structure 120 has the same function in the adhesive element 110 of the fifth embodiment as in the adhesive element 110 in the 3 and 4 illustrated second embodiment of an electrochemical device.

In a relaxed state of the seal assembly 106, which is in the 9 and 10 is shown, an end face 126 of the stamp 122 facing the bipolar plate 104 is spaced from the bipolar plate 104.

If the area of the elastomer element 108 provided with the adhesive element 110 is compressed along the stacking direction 102 during the assembly of the electrochemical device or during operation of the electrochemical device, the end face 126 of the stamp 122 facing the bipolar plate 104 comes into contact with the bipolar plate 104 and This prevents further deformation of the adhesive element 110.

In this way, damage to the adhesive element 110 when the elastomer element 108 is compressed is avoided. For example, in this way, tearing of the elastomeric material from which the elastomeric element 108 is formed can be prevented in the area of the adhesive element 110 during such a compression process in which the elastomeric element 108 is pressed against the bipolar plate 104.

Incidentally, that is correct 9 and 10 Illustrated fifth embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of production with that in the 7 and 8th illustrated fourth embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 11 and 12 The sixth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment in that the adhesive element 110 of the elastomer element 108 comprises a knob structure 136 instead of a suction cup structure 112, the knob structure 136 in turn comprising a plurality of knobs 138.

How best to look 12 As can be seen, the knobs 138 preferably each have a circular cross section (taken perpendicular to the stacking direction 102).

Because the knobs 138 of the knob structure 136 are spaced apart from one another in directions perpendicular to the stacking direction 102, a material saving is achieved and a lateral permeability of the knob structure 136 for fluid media is achieved.

Incidentally, that is correct 11 and 12 illustrated sixth embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in 13 The seventh embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 11 and 12 illustrated sixth embodiment in that the knobs 138 of the knob structure 136 of the adhesive element 110 of the elastomer element 108 have a rectangular, preferably substantially square, cross-section (taken perpendicular to the stacking direction 102) instead of a circular cross-section.

Incidentally, the in 13 Illustrated seventh embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 11 and 12 illustrated sixth embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 14 and 15 The eighth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 11 and 12 illustrated sixth embodiment in that the knobs 138 of the knob structure 136 of the adhesive element 110 of the elastomer element 108 each have a suction cup-like geometry 140 on their end face facing the bipolar plate 104, which improves the adhesion of the knobs 138 to the bipolar plate 104 in contact with the same .

Each of these suction cup-like geometries 140 can in particular include an annularly closed sealing lip 142 which encloses a recess 144.

The knobs 138 of the knob structure 136 of the adhesive element 110 of the elastomer element 108 in the in 13 The seventh embodiment shown can be provided with such a suction cup-like geometry 140.

Incidentally, that is correct 14 and 15 illustrated eighth embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 11 and 12 illustrated sixth embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 16 until 18 The ninth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment in that the adhesive element 110 of the elastomer element 108 not only comprises a suction cup structure 112, which comprises an annularly closed sealing lip 116, but additionally comprises a stiffening structure 146, which is on the side of the elastomer element facing away from the first adjacent bipolar plate 104 108 is designed and serves to mechanically stiffen the elastomer element 108 in the area of the adhesive element 110 in order to achieve a higher negative pressure in the interior 118 of the suction cup structure 112 and thus a better adhesion of the adhesive element 110 to the bipolar plate 104.

When the electrochemical device is assembled, the stiffening structure 146 is in contact with a second bipolar plate 148 adjacent to the elastomeric element 108, which is arranged on the side of the elastomeric element 108 facing away from the first bipolar plate 104.

The stiffening structure 146 comprises, for example, one or more webs 150, two in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing, which cross a recess 152 on the back 154 of the elastomer element 108 facing away from the first bipolar plate 104.

The recess 152 can, for example, be designed essentially in the shape of a spherical section.

The webs 150 of the stiffening structure 146 can cross each other, with the crossing webs 150 preferably being aligned at an angle of 90° relative to one another.

The contact line 134, along which the adhesive element 110 is in contact with the first bipolar plate 104, is in 17 shown.

The intersecting contact surfaces 156 of the webs 150 of the stiffening structure 146, with which the stiffening structure 146 rests on the second bipolar plate 148, are in 18 shown.

Incidentally, that is correct 16 until 18 illustrated ninth embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 19 and 20 The tenth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment in that the elastomer element 108 not only comprises a first adhesive element 110, which is in contact with the first bipolar plate 104 adjacent to the elastomer element 108, but additionally a second adhesive element 110 ', which is in contact with the second Elastomer element 108 adjacent bipolar plate 148 stands.

The first adhesive element 110 and the second adhesive element 110' are preferably formed directly opposite one another on the elastomer element.

It is particularly preferred if the first adhesive element 110 and the second adhesive element 110 'are formed on the elastomer element 108 essentially mirror-symmetrically to one another.

In particular, it can be provided that the first adhesive element 110 and the second adhesive element 110 'each comprise a suction cup structure 112, each of the suction cup structures 112 each comprising an annularly closed sealing lip 116, like the suction cup structure 112 of the adhesive element in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment.

The fact that in the tenth embodiment of an electrochemical device both a first adhesive element 110 is present, through which the first bipolar plate 104 is at least temporarily fixed relative to the elastomer element 108, and an additional second adhesive element 110 'is provided, through which the second bipolar plate 148 is fixed at least temporarily relative to the elastomer element 108, if necessary after an initial pressing of the bipolar plates 104 and 148 on the elastomer element 108, two bipolar plates 104, 148 following one another in the stacking direction 102 can be in their position relative to one another be fixed so that after stacking and pressing the bipolar plates 104 and 148 no relevant displacement of the bipolar plates 104 and 148 relative to each other can occur more.

If this is carried out during the formation of the stack of electrochemical units 100 with all of the bipolar plates 104, 148 added, a stack of electrochemical units 100 is obtained in which all of the bipolar plates 104, 148 of the stack are fixed in their position relative to one another.

In this way, displacement of bipolar plates 104, 148 adjacent to one another in the stack can even be avoided relative to one another during the clamping process of the stack of electrochemical units 100, which leads to a significant improvement in the position tolerances of the fully assembled stack of electrochemical units 100.

At the in the 19 and 20 In the tenth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in FIG 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment; that is, both adhesive elements 110 and 110 'each include a suction cup structure 112.

Incidentally, that is correct 19 and 20 illustrated tenth embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 21 and 22 The eleventh embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 19 and 20 illustrated tenth embodiment in that the first adhesive element 110 and the second adhesive element 110 'each have two concentrically formed annularly closed sealing lips 128 and 128'.

The first adhesive element 110 and the second adhesive element 110 'are therefore both essentially designed in the same way as the (only) adhesive element 110 of the elastomer element 108 in the 7 and 8th fourth embodiment shown.

Incidentally, that is correct 21 and 22 illustrated eleventh embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 19 and 20 illustrated tenth embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 23 and 24 The twelfth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 21 and 22 illustrated eleventh embodiment in that the first adhesive element 110 and the second adhesive element 110 'of the elastomer element 108 are connected to one another by a breakthrough 158 provided on the elastomer element 108.

Through the breakthrough 158, an increase in the air volume enclosed by the adhesive elements 110 and 110' is achieved. This extends the potential adhesion time during which the first adhesive element 110 adheres to the first bipolar plate 104 and/or the potential adhesion time during which the second adhesive element 110′ adheres to the second bipolar plate 148.

In addition, such a perforated structure can facilitate the positioning of the elastomeric element 108 on the first bipolar plate 104 and/or on the second bipolar plate 148.

Like the one in the 21 and 22 Eleventh embodiment shown are in the 23 and 24 In the twelfth embodiment shown, the first adhesive element 110 and the second adhesive element 110 'are formed directly opposite one another on the elastomeric element 108, wherein the first adhesive element 110 and the second adhesive element 110' are formed essentially mirror-symmetrically to one another on the elastomeric element and two each are concentric include mutually formed annularly closed sealing lips 128 and 128 '.

The rest is also correct 23 and 24 twelfth embodiment shown in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 21 and 22 illustrated eleventh embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 25 and 26 The thirteenth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 16 until 18 illustrated ninth embodiment in that the adhesive element 110 instead of a stiffening structure 146 comprises a force transmission structure 160, which is in contact with the second bipolar plate 148 adjacent to the elastomer element 108.

The force transmission structure 160 directs the force by which the bipolar plates 104 and 148 and the elastomer element 108 arranged between them are compressed, specifically on the area of the elastomer element 108 which has the adhesive element 110.

At the in the 25 and 26 In the thirteenth embodiment shown, the force transmission structure 160 comprises a stamp 162 which projects from the back 154 of the elastomer element 108 facing the second bipolar plate 148 and which rests on the second bipolar plate 148, preferably flatly.

The stamp 162 can, for example, have a circular cross section - taken perpendicular to the stacking direction 102.

The presence of the stamp 162 causes the elastomer element 108 to have a greater thickness in the area of the force transmission structure 160, that is to say a greater extent along the stacking direction 102, than in an area adjacent to the force transmission structure 160.

Incidentally, that is correct 25 and 26 illustrated thirteenth embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 16 until 18 illustrated ninth embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 27 and 28 The fourteenth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 25 and 26 thirteenth embodiment shown in that the force transmission structure 160 has a dome 164 with a curved surface 166 instead of a substantially cylindrical stamp 162.

The surface 166 is - as seen from the second bipolar plate 148 adjacent to the elastomer element 108 - designed to be convexly curved and rests with its center on the side of the second bipolar plate 148 facing the elastomer element 108.

This dome 164 also causes the elastomer element 108 to thicken in the area of the force transmission structure 160 compared to an area of the elastomer element 108 adjacent to the force transmission structure 160.

Incidentally, that is correct 27 and 28 illustrated fourteenth embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 25 and 26 thirteenth embodiment shown, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 29 and 30 The fifteenth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 27 and 28 illustrated fourteenth embodiment in that the suction cup structure 112 of the adhesive element 110 does not comprise a sealing lip 116 projecting beyond a front side 168 of the elastomeric element 108 facing the first bipolar plate 104, but rather a concave one - seen from the first bipolar plate 104 adjacent to the elastomeric element 108 curved recess 170, which forms the interior 118 of the suction cup structure 112.

Preferably, the depth of the depression 170, that is, its extent along the stacking direction 102, is essentially the same size as the height of the peak 164 of the force transmission structure 160, that is, the extent of the peak 164 along the stacking direction 102, so that the elastomer element 108 is not thickened in the area of the force transmission structure 160, but has essentially the same material thickness as in an area of the elastomer element 108 adjacent to the force transmission structure 160.

The suction cup structure 112 of the adhesive element 110, which includes a recess 170, also exerts a suction effect on the first bipolar plate 104 adjacent to the elastomeric element 108, so that the elastomeric element 108 is held at least temporarily by means of the adhesive element 110 by the effect of a negative pressure on the first bipolar plate 104 is fixed.

Incidentally, that is correct 29 and 30 Illustrated fifteenth embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 27 and 28 illustrated fourth embodiment, to the above description reference is made in this respect.

One in the 31 and 32 The sixteenth embodiment of an electrochemical device shown in detail differs from that in the 29 and 30 shown fifteenth embodiment in that the adhesive element 110, as in the 27 and 28 illustrated fourteenth embodiment, comprises a suction cup structure 112, which comprises an annularly closed sealing lip 116, but the tip 164 of the force transmission structure 160 in a - preferably substantially cylindrical - recess 172 on the back 154 facing the second bipolar plate 148 of the elastomer element 108 is arranged so that the tip 164 does not protrude beyond this depression 172 to the second bipolar plate 148.

Also with the one in the 31 and 32 In the sixteenth embodiment shown, the elastomer element 108 therefore has no thickening in the area of the force transmission structure 160; Rather, the elastomer element 108 in the area of the force transmission structure 160 has essentially the same material thickness as in an area of the elastomer element 108 adjacent to the force transmission structure 160.

Incidentally, that is correct 31 and 32 illustrated sixteenth embodiment of an electrochemical device in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with that in the 29 and 30 illustrated fifteenth embodiment, to the above description of which reference is made.

Claims (16)

Electrochemical device comprising a plurality of electrochemical units (100) which follow one another along a stacking direction (102), each electrochemical unit (100) comprising a bipolar plate (104) and a sealing arrangement (106), each sealing arrangement (106) having at least one elastomer -Element (108), characterized in that at least one elastomeric element (108) of the sealing arrangement (106) comprises at least one adhesive element (110) which is in contact with a bipolar plate (104) adjacent to the elastomeric element (108). . Electrochemical device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one adhesive element (110) is fixed at least temporarily to the adjacent bipolar plate (104) by the effect of a negative pressure. Electrochemical device according to one of the Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that at least one adhesive element (110) comprises a suction cup structure (112). Electrochemical device according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that at least one adhesive element (110) comprises a closed structure (114) which comprises at least one sealing lip (116). Electrochemical device according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that at least one adhesive element (110) comprises a knob structure (136). Electrochemical device according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that at least one adhesive element (110) comprises a stamp structure (120). Electrochemical device according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that at least one adhesive element (110) comprises a stiffening structure (146). Electrochemical device according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that at least one elastomeric element (108) of the sealing arrangement (106) comprises at least one first adhesive element (110), which is in contact with a first bipolar plate (104) adjacent to the elastomeric element (108), and at least one second adhesive element (110 '), which is in contact with a second bipolar plate (104) adjacent to the elastomer element (108). Electrochemical device according to Claim 8 , characterized in that at least one first adhesive element (110) and at least one second adhesive element (110') are formed directly opposite one another on the elastomer element (108). Electrochemical device according to Claim 9 , characterized in that at least one first adhesive element (110) and at least one second adhesive element (110') are formed substantially mirror-symmetrically to one another on the elastomer element (108). Electrochemical device according to one of the Claims 9 or 10 , characterized in that at least one first adhesive element (110) and at least one second adhesive element (110') are connected to one another through an opening (158) provided on the elastomer element (108). Electrochemical device according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 , characterized in that at least one adhesive element (110) comprises a force transmission structure (160) which is in contact with a second adjacent bipolar plate (104), which is on the side of the elastomer element (108) facing away from the first adjacent bipolar plate (104). is arranged. Electrochemical device according to one of the Claims 1 until 12 , characterized in that at least one adhesive element (110) is temporarily in contact with the adjacent bipolar plate (104) in an assembled state during the assembly of the stack of electrochemical units (100) and in the operating state of the electrochemical mixing device is not in contact with the adjacent bipolar plate (104). Electrochemical device according to one of the Claims 1 until 13 , characterized in that at least one adhesive element (110) at least temporarily comprises water, a liquid other than water or an adhesive. Electrochemical device according to one of the Claims 1 until 14 , characterized in that at least one adhesive element (110) is arranged in a non-sealing area of the elastomer element (108), which has no sealing function. Method for assembling a stack of electrochemical units (100) of an electrochemical device, wherein the electrochemical units (100) follow one another along a stacking direction (102) and each of the electrochemical units (100) has a bipolar plate (104) and a sealing arrangement (106), which comprises at least one elastomeric element (108), the method comprising the following: Pressing at least one adhesive element (110) of an elastomer element (108) of a sealing arrangement (106) onto an adjacent bipolar plate (104) in order to at least temporarily fix the adhesive element (110) to the adjacent bipolar plate (104).

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