Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
  • H01M8/2465—Details of groupings of fuel cells
  • H01M8/247—Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks
  • H01M8/248—Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25B1/00—Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
  • C25B1/01—Products
  • C25B1/02—Hydrogen or oxygen
  • C25B1/04—Hydrogen or oxygen by electrolysis of water
  • C25B1/042—Hydrogen or oxygen by electrolysis of water by electrolysis of steam
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
  • C25B9/60—Constructional parts of cells
  • C25B9/67—Heating or cooling means
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
  • C25B9/70—Assemblies comprising two or more cells
  • C25B9/73—Assemblies comprising two or more cells of the filter-press type
  • C25B9/75—Assemblies comprising two or more cells of the filter-press type having bipolar electrodes
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
  • C25B9/70—Assemblies comprising two or more cells
  • C25B9/73—Assemblies comprising two or more cells of the filter-press type
  • C25B9/77—Assemblies comprising two or more cells of the filter-press type having diaphragms
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
  • F16F1/00—Springs
  • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
  • F16F1/04—Wound springs
  • F16F1/042—Wound springs characterised by the cross-section of the wire
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
  • F16F2222/00—Special physical effects, e.g. nature of damping effects
  • F16F2222/02—Special physical effects, e.g. nature of damping effects temperature-related
  • F16F2222/025—Cooling
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
  • H01M2008/1293—Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/36—Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of clamping devices and in particular to clamping devices for electrochemical stacks.
• Said electrochemical stacks considered are in particular stacks of the SOEC or SOFC type capable of operating at temperatures above 700° C.
• the invention relates in particular to a clamping device provided with a helical spring intended to exert a force leading to the clamping, or even to the crushing, of the electrochemical stack.
• the helical spring according to the terms of the present invention, is in particular provided with thermalization means, and more particularly with a fluid circulation channel in which a cooling fluid is capable of flowing in order to maintain said spring in a range temperatures for which the force exerted by said spring varies little.
• FIG. 1 represents an electrochemical device 100 known from the state of the art and described in document FR 3 045 215 cited at the end of the description.
• the electrochemical device comprises a stack 200 of solid oxides operating at high temperature clamped between two clamping plates 300 and 310 able to operate either in electrolyser mode or in fuel cell mode. Clamping rods, extending between the two clamping plates, are also implemented in order to maintain the clamping of the stack by the clamping plates.
• the electrochemical device 100 is generally referred to by one or other of the acronyms "SOEC” ("Solid Oxide Electrolyser Cell”) or “SOFC” (“Solid Oxide Full Cell”) when it operates, respectively, in electrolyser mode or in fuel cell mode.
• SOEC Solid Oxide Electrolyser Cell
• SOFC Solid Oxide Full Cell
• the stack 200 comprises a stack 200 of elementary electrochemical cells 210 between which are interposed interconnectors 230 intended to ensure electrical contact between the elementary electrochemical cells.
• interconnectors also comprise channels allowing the evacuation and/or the distribution of gas at the level of the elementary cells.
• Each elementary electrochemical cell comprises an electrolyte 210e interposed between an anode 210a and a cathode 210c.
• anode By “anode”, “cathode” and “electrolyte” is meant elements of generally planar shape, for example in the form of a layer, which comprise two essentially parallel main faces and connected by an outline.
• the anode and the cathode of each elementary electrochemical cell generally comprise a porous layer, while the electrolyte forms a dense and tight layer.
• Each interconnector disposed on either side of an electrochemical cell forms, respectively, with the anode an anode compartment 230a for gas distribution and collection, and with the cathode a cathode compartment 230c for gas distribution and collection.
• the anode and the cathode are the site of electrochemical reactions, while the electrolyte allows the transport of ions from the cathode to the anode, or vice versa depending on whether the electrochemical device operates in electrolyser mode or in battery mode. fuel.
• the cathode compartment allows a supply of water vapor and an evacuation of the water reduction products, in particular hydrogen, while the anode compartment ensures, via a draining gas, the evacuation of the dioxygen produced from the oxidation of O 2- ions migrating from the cathode to the anode.
• the oxygen thus formed is evacuated by the draining gas circulating in the anode compartment.
• Electrolysis of water vapor responds to the following reaction: [Chem 3] 2 H 2 O -> 2 H 2 + O 2 .
• SOFC fuel cell
• Operation in fuel cell mode allows the production of an electric current.
• the stack comprises a number of elementary electrochemical cells exceeding 25, the latter is liable to exhibit an expansion at high temperature which is difficult to predict, and consequently makes the dimensioning of the rods and clamping plates complicated.
• the object of the invention is therefore to propose a clamping device for clamping an electrochemical stack making it possible to accommodate a large number, for example greater than 25, of elementary electrochemical cells.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping device whose expansion remains limited when it is subjected to high temperatures and in particular temperatures above 700° C.
• the invention also aims to propose an assembly which comprises the clamping device and an electrochemical stack.
• a clamping device for an electrochemical stack said device comprises:
• At least one coil spring arranged to clamp the two clamping plates against an electrochemical stack capable of being clamped between said clamping plates, said at least one coil spring is provided with at least one continuous fluid circulation formed in its volume and which traverses each of the turns of the at least one helical spring;
• At least one holding means intended to maintain the clamping, imposed by the at least one helical spring on the clamping plates.
• the at least fluid circulation channel comprises at least two channels, separated by at least one central core, and which extend parallel and continuously in each of the turns.
• the imprint formed by the at least two channels and the at least one central web along a cutting plane passing through an axis of revolution of the spring is limited by a circle, the at least a central core comprising two mutually parallel walls.
• the indentations of the two walls along the cutting plane are parallel to the axis of revolution.
• the at least one fluid circulation channel comprises at least four channels, separated two by two by one of four central cores arranged substantially in the form of a cross in section, and which are 'extend in a parallel and continuous manner in each of the turns.
• the at least one holding means comprises a base plate, and the at least one helical spring is arranged between the upper clamping plate and the base plate, said base plate being opposite by a internal face with an external upper face of the upper clamping plate and opposite to the internal upper face, the base plate being arranged to impose a compression on the at least one helical spring making it possible to maintain the clamping plates clamped against an electrochemical stack capable of being clamped between said clamping plates.
• the at least one holding means further comprises at least two tie rods arranged to adjust the distance between the base plate and the lower clamping plate in order to impose compression on the at least one coil spring.
• the at least two tie rods are pivotally mounted, by a first end, on a peripheral contour of the lower clamping plate, while the base plate comprises notches intended to be crossed by the tie rods, each tie rod comprises a thread which extends from a second end, opposite the first end and cooperating with a nut.
• the at least one spring comprises a single spring.
• said device comprises as many tie rods as springs, each tie rod passing through openings made in the clamping plates and the base, as well as one of the springs.
• said device further comprises two levers, said respectively, upper lever and lower lever, supported by, respectively, a first upper end and first lower end, against, respectively the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate, the helical spring being mechanically linked to one and the other of the levers so that a tensile force of the helical spring translates into a clamping of the clamping plates, by said levers, against an electrochemical stack capable of being clamped between the two clamping plates.
• an intermediate lever is in pivot connection by each of its ends with a second end, opposite the first end, of one and the other of the upper and lower levers.
• the invention also relates to an electrochemical assembly which comprises:
• an upper end plate and a lower end plate are inserted between the stack and, respectively, the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate.
• FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, an electrochemical device known to the state of the art (document FR 3 045 215), and on which the present invention is likely to be implemented;
• FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of a stack of two elementary electrochemical cells known from the state of the art and capable of being implemented within the scope of the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the principle of operation of an elementary electrochemical cell in high temperature solid oxide electrolyser (SOEC) mode, the arrows represent the circulation of gases at the level of the electrodes, in particular the arrows in solid lines represent the circulation of reactive gases or reaction products, while the arrow in broken lines represents the circulation of draining gas;
• SOEC solid oxide electrolyser
• FIG. 4 is a schematic representation according to a front view of a clamping device clamping an electrochemical stack, according to a first variant of a first embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 5 is a schematic representation according to a perspective view of a clamping device clamping an electrochemical stack, according to a second variant of a first embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 6 is a schematic representation according to a side view of a clamping device clamping an electrochemical stack, according to a second embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 7a is a view along a section plane P passing through the axis of revolution XX' of a helical spring capable of being implemented within the scope of the present invention
• FIG. 7b is a detail of the section of the spring of FIG. 7a along the section plane P;
• FIG. 7c is a variant embodiment of FIG. 7b
• FIG.8 is a graphical representation of the force (E in N on the vertical axis) exerted by a coil spring as a function of crushing (D in mm, on the horizontal axis) of an electrochemical stack 25 elementary cells;
• FIG. 9a is a schematic representation according to a front view of a clamping device clamping an electrochemical stack, in particular, in this representation, the tie rods pass through the notches made in the base plate;
• FIG. 9b is a schematic representation of the clamping device of FIG. 9a according to a perspective view
• FIG. 10 is a schematic representation in perspective of a one-piece assembly formed by the upper clamping plate, the base plate and the coil spring;
• FIG. lia and FIG. 11b are schematic representations of two compression phases of an electrochemical stack with the clamping device according to the present invention.
• the present invention relates to a clamping device provided with two clamping plates between which a stack, for example an electrochemical stack, is intended to be clamped.
• the device according to the present invention comprises a spring, in particular a helical spring, arranged to transmit a force to the clamping plates, in order to impose crushing on said electrochemical stack.
• the helical spring comprises a conduit for fluid circulation in its volume and which runs through all of the coils of the helical spring. This fluid circulation channel thus allows the circulation of a fluid in the volume of the spring so as to limit, or even prevent, the expansion of the coil spring when it is subjected to high temperatures, and in particular to temperatures above 700°C.
• the clamping device is advantageously implemented in an assembly which comprises an electrochemical stack sandwiched between the two clamping plates.
• FIGS 4 to 6 illustrate different modes of implementation of a clamping device 400 according to the present invention.
• the clamping device 400 is represented with a stack, and in particular an electrochemical stack 200, clamped between two clamping plates called, respectively, upper clamping plate 410 and lower clamping plate 420.
• clamp is meant a plate of generally flat shape, which comprises two main faces connected by an outline, and which when they are assembled in pairs are intended to maintain the cohesion of a stack, for example of an electrochemical stack.
• Electrochemical stack means a stack of elementary electrochemical cells.
• the upper clamping plate 410 comprises two main faces called, respectively, upper internal face 410a and an upper external face 410b essentially parallel and connected by an upper contour 410c.
• the lower clamping plate 420 comprises two main faces called, respectively, lower internal face 420a and a lower external face 420b essentially parallel and connected by a lower contour 420c.
• the upper clamping plate 410 and the lower clamping plate 420 are in particular arranged so that the upper internal face 410a and the lower internal face 420a face each other.
• the space delimited by the upper internal face 410a and the lower internal face 420a is intended to accommodate the stack, and more particularly the electrochemical stack 200.
• Clamping device 400 also includes at least one coil spring 500.
• clamping device 400 may include a single coil spring 500 ( Figures 4 and 6), or a plurality of coil springs, for example 4 coil springs 500a, 500b, 500c, 500d, ( Figure 5).
• the at least one helical spring 500 or 500a, 500b, 500c, 500d is arranged to exert a force which leads to the clamping of the electrochemical stack 200 by the upper clamping plate 410 and the lower clamping plate 420.
• helical spring is meant a coil wound in a helix. More particularly, the propeller is part of a cylinder of revolution which includes an axis of revolution XX'. Thus, throughout the description, the axis of revolution XX' of the cylinder is also assimilated to the axis of revolution XX' of the helical spring.
• the at least one coil spring 500 or 500a, 500b, 500c, 500d comprises at least one fluid circulation channel 510 (FIGS. 7a and 7b).
• This at least one fluid circulation channel 510 is notably formed in the volume of the helical spring.
• the at least one fluid circulation channel 510 is, moreover, continuous and thus runs through all of the turns of the at least one helical spring 500 or 500a, 500b, 500c, 500d.
• This arrangement thus makes it possible to impose the circulation of a fluid, from a first end 512a towards a second end 512b of the helical spring 500 in the at least one fluid circulation channel 510 for the purpose of thermalizing said helical spring (figure 4).
• the circulation of a cooling fluid in the at least one fluid circulation channel 510 can in particular be adapted to maintain the helical spring in a range of temperatures for which the mechanical properties undergo little or no variation.
• the circulation of a cooling fluid in the at least one fluidic circulation channel 510 makes it possible to limit the variation of the force exerted by the helical spring when the latter is close to a source. heat.
• an electrochemical stack 200 with solid oxides of the SOEC/SOFC type is known to operate at high temperature, and in particular at temperatures above 700° C., and can, consequently, generate heating, by radiation or by conduction, of the coil spring.
• the at least one helical spring can advantageously comprise at least one of the alloys chosen from: 310s, Inconel 718, Inconel 625.
• Inconel 718 exhibits corrosion resistance and mechanical properties over a wide temperature range that make it the alloy of choice when the applications under consideration involve temperatures up to 700°C.
• At least one fluid circulation channel 510 which comprises two channels 510a and 510b, separated by a central core 510c (FIGS. 7a and 7b).
• the two channels 510a and 510b extend parallel and continuously in each of the turns.
• the two channels 510a and 510b can have essentially identical geometric and dimensional characteristics.
• the central core 510c can comprise two parallel walls 511a and 511b each delimiting, and in part, one and the other of the channels 510a and 510b.
• the intersection of the walls 511a and 511b with a section plane P passing through the axis of revolution XX' comprises two segments parallel with said axis of revolution XX'. This orientation of the walls 511a and 511b makes it possible to stiffen the coil spring.
• the intersection of the assembly formed by the two channels 510a, 510b and the central web 510c with the cutting plane P can be delimited by a circle C (FIG. 7b).
• the imprint of each channel 510a and 510b along the section plane is partly delimited by a section of the circle C and by the imprint of one of the walls 511a and 511b along this same section plane.
• FIG. 7c illustrates an alternative embodiment of FIG. 7b.
• four channels 510a, 510b, 510d, 510e are formed, which are separated two by two by one of four central cores 510c, 510f, 510g, 510h arranged substantially in the form of a cross in section.
• channels 510a and 510b are separated by a first core 510c
• channels 510d and 510e are separated by a second core 510f
• channels 510b and 510e are separated by a third core 510g
• channels 510a and 510d are separated by a fourth soul 510h.
• such a geometric configuration can also make it possible to form a heat exchanger. For example, it is possible to circulate a hot outgoing flow in the diagonally opposite channels 510a and 510e and a cold incoming flow in the other diagonally opposite channels 510b and 510d.
• Such a coil spring can be formed by an additive manufacturing technique, and in particular by 3D manufacturing.
• the helical spring is formed of an Inconel 718 coil with a diameter, called the outer diameter, equal to 18 mm.
• the diameter of the circle C can be equal to 10 mm, while the distance between the walls 511a and 511b (in a direction perpendicular to the axis of revolution XX') can be equal to 4 mm.
• the clamping device 400 also comprises at least one holding means 600 intended to maintain the clamping imposed by the at least one helical spring on the clamping plates.
• FIG. 4 illustrates in this respect a first variant of a first embodiment of the holding means 600 according to the present invention.
• the holding means 600 comprises at least two tie rods 610a and 610b, as well as a base plate 620.
• the base plate 620 is provided with two main faces called, respectively, internal face 620a and external face 620b and connected by an outline 620c. More particularly, the base plate 620 is facing the upper outer face 410b by its inner face 620a, and the coil spring 500 is located between the base plate 620 and the upper clamping plate 410, resting, respectively, against the face internal 620a and the upper external face 410b.
• the at least two tie rods 610a and 610b extend between the lower clamping plate and the base plate to allow said plates to be assembled and to adjust the distance which separates them. More particularly, this adjustment of the distance between the lower clamping plate and the base plate is intended to compress the coil spring 500 so that the latter exerts a force which results in the clamping of the electrochemical stack between the plates clamps 410 and 420.
• the at least two tie rods 610a and 610b can, according to a first aspect, pass through through openings made in these two plates and cooperate with clamping means, for example nuts, at the through openings.
• the at least two tie rods 610a and 610b can advantageously be pivotally mounted, via a first end, on the contour 420c of the lower clamping plate 420 (FIGS. 4, 9a and 9b).
• the base plate 620 comprises notches 612a and 612b intended to be crossed by the tie rods 610a and 610b.
• clamping means for example nuts, cooperate with the at least two tie rods at the notches 612a and 612b.
• the base plate 620, the upper clamping plate 410 and the coil spring 500 can form a single piece.
• This one-piece piece can be obtained by a additive manufacturing process, and in particular by 3D manufacturing (figure 10).
• the first end 512a emerges from the upper clamping plate 510 at the contour 510c, while the second end 512b emerges from the base plate 620 at the contour 620c.
• a fluid, and in particular a cooling fluid can circulate in the at least one fluid circulation channel 510 of the helical spring 500, from the first end 512a towards the second end 5412b.
• the cooling fluid for example water
• This water vapor can advantageously be injected into the electrochemical stack or into any other system such as a turbine for example.
• the base plate comprises an orifice, called mounting orifice 630, in alignment with the axis of revolution XX' of the helical spring 500.
• This mounting orifice is in particular implemented for the crushing of the electrochemical stack 200.
• Figures 11a and 11b are illustrations of the assembly of an electrochemical stack 200 and the clamping device.
• This assembly comprises, initially, a phase of compression of the electrochemical stack 200 placed between the two clamping plates 410 and 420. Apply a force, for example 2000 N, against the upper outer face 410b so as to crush the electrochemical stack 200 (FIG. 11a).
• This compression phase may involve thermal cycles.
• the compression may initially take place at room temperature or at a temperature below 200°C.
• the assembly thus compressed can be heated, for example to a temperature above 700° C., then cooled to its initial temperature while maintaining the force exerted by the jack.
• the assembly also includes a second phase during which the tie rods 610a and 610b are positioned in the notches 612a and 612b so as to assemble the lower clamping plate 420 with the base plate 620.
• This second phase also includes the positioning of nuts 611a and 611b cooperating with the tie rods 610a and 610b at the upper outer face 610b so that the coil spring 500 applies the force initially exerted by the cylinder.
• the clamping device 400 according to the present invention thus makes it possible to exert a constant force on the electrochemical stack independently of the temperature of said stack.
• This device also makes it possible to envisage the stacking of a relatively large number, in particular greater than 25 or even greater than 50, of elementary electrochemical cells.
• the cooling liquid circulating in the fluid circulation channel may comprise water.
• the latter released in the form of water vapor at the level of the second end of the spring, can advantageously not be upgraded, and in particular be injected into the electrochemical stack as a reagent. This aspect contributes to improving the energy efficiency of the electrochemical stack.
• the invention also relates to a second variant of this first embodiment (FIG. 5).
• the clamping device 400 comprises 4 helical springs 500a, 500b, 500c, 500d.
• the clamping device 400 also comprises 4 tie rods 610a, 610b, 610c and 610d which each pass through and in order, through through openings, the lower clamping plate 420, the upper clamping plate 410 and the base plate 620.
• base plate 620 can take the form of a spider.
• each coil spring 500a, 500b, 500c, 500d, disposed between the upper clamping plate 410 and the base plate 620 is also traversed coaxially by one of the tie rods 610a, 610b, 610c and 610d.
• the invention also relates to a second embodiment (FIG. 6).
• the coil spring 500 no longer operates in compression but in tension and is offset laterally.
• the clamping device 400 further comprises two levers, said respectively, upper lever 900a and lower lever 900b, supported by, respectively, a first upper end 901a and first lower end 901b, against, respectively the upper clamping plate 410 and the lower clamping plate 420.
• the helical spring 500 is mechanically linked to one and the other of the levers 900a and 900b so that a tensile force of the helical spring results in a clamping of the clamping plates 410 and 420, by said levers, against a electrochemical stack 200.
• An intermediate lever 900c in pivot connection via each of its ends with a second end 902a and 902b, opposite the first end 901a and 901b, of one and the other of the upper 900a and lower 900b levers can also be considered.
• the invention also relates to an electrochemical assembly which comprises:
• the assembly can also comprise an upper end plate 240b and a lower end plate 240a which are inserted between the electrochemical stack 200 and, respectively, the upper clamping plate 410 and the lower clamping plate 420.

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• 2020
  • 2020-11-16 FR FR2011711A patent/FR3116387B1/fr active Active
• 2021
  • 2021-11-15 EP EP21823638.8A patent/EP4244922A1/de active Pending
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