EP4291696A1

EP4291696A1 - Method for sealing an electrolysis cell

Info

Publication number: EP4291696A1
Application number: EP22703894.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wiebke Lüke
Original assignee: WEW GmbH
Current assignee: WEW GmbH
Priority date: 2021-02-11
Filing date: 2022-01-19
Publication date: 2023-12-20
Also published as: WO2022171411A1; US20240117508A1; CN116710598A; DE102021103185A1; CA3206468A1; AU2022220640A1; AU2024205497A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for sealing and electrically insulating electrolysis cells. According to the method, an electrically insulating plastic material is introduced in the sealing surface between the two half-cells of the device.

Description

Method of sealing an electrolytic cell

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is in the field of electrolysis technology and relates to a method for sealing and electrical insulation of electrolytic cells, corresponding electrolytic cells and the use of certain plastics for sealing.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

An economy without greenhouse gases within the next 30 years - that is the declared goal of Europe to stop climate change. Renewable energies are to replace fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. In the course of the sustainable transformation of energy supply, hydrogen will play an important role.

For clean mobility, the efficient supply of electricity and heat, as a storage medium to compensate for fluctuating renewable energies, as a basis for alternative fuels or as a process gas in industry - hydrogen is a very versatile energy source, can be used across sector boundaries, offers great Synergy potential and, in terms of mass, contains three times the energy density of petrol.

Sustainably and economically produced hydrogen is therefore a central building block in order to massively reduce emissions, especially of the harmful greenhouse gas CO2, in the areas of energy, transport and industry and thereby counteract climate change. At the same time, the development of a cross-sector and, if possible, global hydrogen economy opens up enormous opportunities for new technologies and business models, because the possible uses of hydrogen are diverse. Hydrogen-powered gas turbines are currently being researched for industry. It can be used in fuel cells for automobiles or buses. With hydrogen, you can not only drive without emissions, but, in contrast to electrically powered vehicles, you can also cover long distances and refuel vehicles quickly.

From an environmental point of view, the production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water is of particular interest; In this context, one therefore also speaks of "green hydrogen". The process is carried out in coupled electrolysis cells, so-called electrolyzers, as are also known from chlor-alkali electrolysis. RELEVANT PRIOR ART

An electrolytic cell is already known from US Pat. No. 5,599,430 B (DOW), which comprises a housing containing at least one pair of electrodes, namely a cathode and an anode, a current collector and a membrane. Also included is an electrically conductive, hydraulically permeable resilient mattress that is substantially coplanar with and contacts the current collector on one side and also coplanar with and contacts an electrode on the other side.

EP 1451389 B1 (UHDENORA) describes a current collector for electrochemical cells, consisting of a "sandwich" of compressible and elastic layers of metal wires, which imparts a predetermined mechanical load in a wide compression range.

The subject matter of EP 1766104 B1 (UHDENORA) relates to a conventional electrolytic cell with a sealing system consisting of individual elements, each of which contains two electrodes which are separated from one another by membranes and the proportion of the inactive membrane surface is minimized by a flange, see above that the ratio between the area of the flange of a half-shell and the active membrane area can be adjusted to less than 0.045.

According to EP 1882758 A1 (TOAGOSEI), the elastic pressure in an electrolysis cell is transmitted using coils or woven nickel mats or resistant nickel alloys Layers gradually from top to bottom, so that finally a pressure profile is established which is at least similar to the hydrostatic pressure on the anode side, which increases in the same direction.

[0010] EP 2356266 B1 (UHDENORA) describes an electrolysis cell provided with a separator, which has a flat, flexible cathode, which is held in contact with the separator by an elastic, conductive element pressed by a current distributor becomes. The cell also contains an anode consisting of a stamped sheet metal or grid supporting the separator. The cell can be used in a modular arrangement to form an electrolyser, the end cells of which are connected only to the electrical power supply. Electrical continuity between adjacent cells is ensured by conductive contact strips attached to the outer anodic walls of the shells delimiting each cell, the rigidity of the cathode current distributor and the anodic structure and the elasticity of the conductive element cooperating to ensure a uniform To maintain cathode-to-separator contact with a homogeneous pressure distribution while at the same time ensuring adequate mechanical loading of the contact strips. By using the Elastikelemen TES so a spacing of the electrodes is avoided.

The EP 2734658 B1 (NEW NEL HYDROGEN) comprises a module for an electrolyser from the filter press type, which comprises at least one closed frame, the at least defines a first opening, wherein the module presents a sealing and electrically insulating material, and this material at least partially covers the surface of the frame.

In EP 2746429 A1 (UHDENORA), an electrolytic cell is proposed which contains an anode space with an anode and a cathode gas space with a gas diffusion ka method, both electrodes being separated from one another by an ion exchange membrane, and a metallic elastic element which is under compression is clamped between the rear wall of the cathode gas space and the gas diffusion cathode, said elastic element being clamped into the cathode gas space in such a way that the distance between the element and the rear wall increases in the direction of gravity.

[0013] EP 2872675 B1 (UHDENORA) proposes an insulating frame for electrolytic cells which has a geometric shape with corners, the frame being flat and having an anode side and a cathode side as well as an outer and an inner end face . The insulating frame has an edge region directly adjoining the inner end face, which has recesses in the form of cutouts in the region of the corners.

[0014] According to JP 2003 041388 A1 (ASFPONC), the cell is stabilized by a metallic zigzag profile that is built into the cathode gas space. However, this embodiment of the electrolytic cell entails a problem: physics actually requires that the hydrostatic pressure in the anode space is not constant in the direction of gravity, but rather increases. It would therefore be desirable and, in terms of the objective to be achieved, entirely sufficient for the pressure exerted by the elastic components to adapt to the hydrostatic pressure, i.e. increase in the direction of gravity.

TASK TO BE SOLVED

An electrolytic cell consists schematically of an anode and a cathode chamber (AR, KR), each containing the anode (A) and the cathode (K). The two electrodes are separated from one another by a diaphragm or separator membrane (S) and fixed in the corresponding housing parts (“half cells”) with the aid of an elastic or rigid spacer (X1, X2), as shown schematically Figure 1. The figure also shows the seal (D) that separates the two electrode spaces in the perimeter and seals them from the outside.

The anode and cathode spaces must be electrically isolated from one another so that a short circuit does not occur. For optimum performance, it is also necessary that the electrodes lie flat over their entire surface - ie without any gaps - on the separator membrane. This is realized by one or more elastic spacers (X1, X2) inside the cell. In addition, the electrolytic cell is subjected to a slight overpressure atmosphere, which means the seal must be both chemical and pressure resistant.

As explained above, structurally very complex solutions are proposed for this purpose in the sealing area to the outside, but also between the half-shells that form the electrode chambers. For example, a seal and an insulating body are used for the individual elements in the perimeter. These are pressed together by an external force, resulting in a frictional connection. Alternatively, sealing and insulation can be achieved using elastomers that are compressed under force. The force is introduced through a structure similar to a filter press and is distributed both to the seal and to the internal components if they have elastic spacers inside. In addition to the technical effort, there is also the disadvantage that unequal forces act on the elastomer and the internal pressure of the cell reduces the force acting on the elastomer seals.

The object of the present invention was therefore to provide an alternative method for sealing electrolytic cells that is associated with less technical effort, avoids a frictional connection and also fully meets the following requirement profile:

• Reliable insulation and sealing of anode and cathode or anode and cathode space through material connection;

• compressive strength;

• High mechanical stability;

• High chemical stability; and

• Thermal cycling stability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment, the invention relates to a method for sealing and electrically insulating electrolytic cells, comprising or consisting of the following steps:

(a) providing an electrolytic cell containing or consisting of:

(a1) two metallic half-cells that form the anode and cathode compartments,

(a2) in each case an anode and a cathode arranged therein,

(a3) a separator membrane, which separates the two electrodes from one another, and

(a4) if necessary, spacers that position the two electrodes in their respective electrode spaces, (a5) where the two half-cells are separated by a gap across their perimeter, and

(b) Introducing an electrically insulating plastic into the sealing surface between the two half-cells.

[0020] Surprisingly, it was found that the profile of requirements described at the outset can be fully met in this way. The introduction of the plastic mass is much easier and faster than the previously known measures from the prior art, in particular an external force can be dispensed with. In concrete terms, a material connection is created between the insulating plastic as a sealing compound and the metallic half-cells. Instead of a pure frictional connection, a much more stable connection is achieved. The seal has proven to be pressure-resistant, thermally and chemically stable, mechanically stable and ensures perfect electrical insulation even over long periods or cell cycles. In addition, the alternative according to the invention is significantly more cost-effective.

Sealing of the electrolytic cell

Figure 2 shows schematically a cross section of the perimeter (P) over which the sealant (D) is distributed; the separator membrane (S) can be seen in the middle, the ends of which are also enclosed by the sealing compound. In this way, the membrane is fixed and stabilized in the cell at the same time.

The half-cells are preferably made of stainless steel, nickel or titanium and appropriate alloys, which may also contain other foreign metals such as vanadium.

The introduction of the plastic mass can be done according to the usual methods of Kunstver processing, so for example by thermal direct joining, gluing, hot melt or lamination. Thermal joining is particularly preferred because of its low technical requirements. It works very similar to the injection molding process: the plastic is liquefied and injected into the sealing surface. There, the polymer goes back into the solid state as it cools and seals the two half-cells. In principle, thermoplastics can be considered as suitable electrically insulating plastics, with perfluoroalkoxy polymers (PFA) and polyphenylene sulfides (PPS) being preferred because of their high chemical resistance.

inlet and outlet connections

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, inlet and outlet connections are introduced into the joints between the two half-cells. In particular, such connections come into consideration that come from the food industry well-known in the industry, such as the weld-in spouts made of injection-mouldable plastic as shown in Figure 3. Corresponding connections or spouts are the subject of EP 2644530 A1 (POPPELMANN), whose teaching as far as the nature of the spout is concerned is included by reference. The connections or pouring spouts have a neck (3) provided with a pouring channel (2) having a vertical longitudinal center axis (1) and two outer side surfaces connected thereto, preferably provided with welding lines (4), which are used for welding to the Sealing of the electrolytic cell are provided and on the inside of the associated side walls a plurality of stiffening webs are arranged.

As a rule, the drains or spouts mentioned have a base, also known as a “boat”, the side walls of which have outer side surfaces which merge into one another in their end areas. The side surfaces are connected, especially welded, to and between the two foil walls of a container. A collar-like area is typically integrally formed on the boat or the side surfaces, which merges into a neck having a pouring channel having a vertical longitudinal center axis. Such a bag is often provided with a thread on the outside in order to secure a filled film bag with a closure before it is emptied through the pouring channel. Alternatively, the neck can at least partially merge directly into the boat. The side surfaces of the boat can be flat, roughened, with or without ribs and/or provided with welding lines. In addition, the neck can have guide webs that can be used for guidance in a bottling or sealing system.

[0026] According to the teaching of EP 2644530 A1, the connections or spouts are usually connected to the seal by ultrasonic welding. In this invention, weld-in spouts are preferably incorporated directly into the joining process.

electrolytic cell

Another object of the invention relates to an electrolytic cell which has been sealed according to the method according to the invention. Specifically claimed is an electrolytic cell comprising or consisting of

(i) two metallic half-cells forming the anode and cathode chambers,

(ii) an anode and a cathode arranged therein,

(iii) a separator membrane, which separates the two electrodes from one another, as well as

(iv) spacers, if any, that position the two electrodes in their respective electrode spaces,

(v) the two half-cells being separated by a gap across their perimeter, and

(vi) the sealing surface between the two half-cells is adhesively bonded by an electrically insulating plastic material. The anode and cathode are preferably arranged in the cell as shown schematically in FIG. 1, namely in such a way that the two electrodes are positioned flat and gap-free relative to one another over their entire surface, with only the separator membrane making direct contact. The spacers can be coils, rings, foams, mattresses, or rigid structures as initially discussed in the prior art acknowledgment. They can be static or elastic, it being preferable to equip at least one electrode space with elastic spacers. To ensure that the electrodes will lie flat. The individual electrolytic cells can be combined into groups (“electrolysers”) and used, for example, in chlorine-alkaline electrolysis, but the preferred application is the production of hydrogen by water electrolysis.

COMMERCIAL APPLICABILITY

Another object of the invention relates to the use of electrically insulating plastics, preferably thermoplastics and in particular perfluoroalkoxy polymers (PFA) or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) for sealing and electrical insulation of electrolytic cells, sealing for example by thermal direct joining, gluing , Hotmelt or lamination can be done.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Method for sealing and electrical insulation of electrolytic cells, comprising or consisting of the following steps:

(a) providing an electrolytic cell containing or consisting of:

(a1) two metallic half-cells that form the anode and cathode chambers,

(a2) in each case an anode and a cathode arranged therein,

(a3) a separator membrane that separates the two electrodes from each other and

(a4) if necessary, spacers that position the two electrodes in their respective electrode spaces,

(a5) where the two half-cells are separated by a gap across their perimeter, and

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing is carried out adhesively by direct thermal joining, gluing, hotmelt or lamination.

3. The method according to claims 1 and / or 2, characterized in that half-cells are used, which consist of stainless steel, nickel or titanium and corresponding alloys, which may also contain other foreign metals such as vanadium.

4. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one uses electrically insulating plastics from the group of thermoplastics.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that thermoplastics are used which are selected from the group of perfluoroalkoxy polymers (PFA) and polyphenyl sulfides (PPS).

6. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the seal also encloses the ends of the separator membrane and fixes them in the cell.

7. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that inlet and outlet connections are introduced into the joint between the two half-cells.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that weld-in spouts are used as inlet and outlet connections.

9. Electrolytic cell comprising or consisting of

(i) two metallic half-cells forming the anode and cathode chambers,

(ii) an anode and a cathode arranged therein,

(v) the two half-cells being separated by a gap at their perimeter, and (vi) the sealing surface between the two half-cells being adhesively connected by an electrically insulating plastic.

10. Use of electrically insulating plastics for sealing and electrical insulation of electrolytic cells.