Electrochemical system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021075050-A1
Application number	US-201816955731-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2018
Priority date	Dec 20, 2017
Publication date	Mar 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electrochemical system having two metallic separator plates, an electrochemical cell arranged between the separator plates and sealed by at least one sealing element, and fixing elements for fixing the separator plates. The fixing elements comprise at least two fixing elements which are designed as integral with the first or with the second separator plate, which differ from the at least one sealing element, are spaced apart from the at least one sealing element parallel to the plate planes of the separator plates, and project at least in sections beyond the plate planes of the separator plates in a stacking direction. The first fixing element is thereby supported on the second fixing element in such a way that the second fixing element prevents a displacement of the first separator plate relative to the second separator plate.

First claim

1 . An electrochemical system comprising:
a first metallic separator plate and a second metallic separator plate which each define a plate plane and are stacked in a stacking direction perpendicular to the plate planes; a membrane arranged between the separator plates, the membrane comprising an electrolytic membrane or a water exchange membrane, to form an electrochemical cell between the separator plates; at least one sealing element for sealing the electrochemical cell; and fixing elements for fixing the separator plates with respect to displacements of the separator plates relative to one another parallel to the plate planes of the separator plates; wherein the fixing elements comprise at least one first fixing element, which is designed to be integral with the first separator plate, is different from the at least one sealing element, is spaced apart from the at least one sealing element in a plane parallel to the plate planes of the separator plates, and projects at least in sections beyond the plate plane of the first separator plate in the stacking direction; wherein the fixing elements comprise at least one second fixing element, which is designed to be integral with the second separator plate, is different from the at least one sealing element, is spaced apart from the at least one sealing element in a plane parallel to the plate planes of the separator plates, and projects at least in sections beyond the plate plane of the second separator plate in the stacking direction; and wherein the first fixing element is supported on the second fixing element in such a way that the second fixing element prevents a displacement of the first separator plate relative to the second separator plate in at least one of two opposite directions along an axis or straight line aligned parallel to the plate planes.

2 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the first fixing element and/or the second fixing element project in the stacking direction beyond the at least one sealing element or beyond at least one of the at least one sealing elements.

3 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one section of the membrane or at least one section of a frame connected to the membrane and enclosing the membrane is accommodated between the first fixing element and the second fixing element.

4 . The electrochemical system according to claim 3 , wherein said membrane section or frame section is accommodated and arranged between the first fixing element and the second fixing element in such a way that it electrically insulates the first fixing element and the second fixing element from one another.

5 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the first fixing element and/or the second fixing element has/have an electrically insulating coating for electrically insulating the first fixing element from the second fixing element.

6 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing elements are each arranged on a side of the at least one sealing element facing away from the electrochemical cell sealed by the at least one sealing element.

7 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing elements are elastic at least in areas so that they are configured to follow a change of a certain distance of the separator plates from one another along the stacking direction by changing their form and/or their alignment.

8 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the separator plates are each formed from a metal sheet, preferably from a stainless steel sheet.

9 . The electrochemical system according to claim 8 , wherein the first fixing element is molded into the first separator plate and/or that the second fixing element is molded into the second separator plate, namely in each case preferably by embossing or deep drawing.

10 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sealing element comprises at least one first sealing element, which is designed to be integral with the first separator plate, and that the at least one sealing element comprises at least one second sealing element, which is designed to be integral with the second separator plate.

11 . The electrochemical system according to claim 10 , wherein the first sealing element comprises a first sealing bead molded into the first separator plate, and that the second sealing element comprises a second sealing bead molded into the second separator plate, wherein the first sealing bead and the second sealing bead mutually support one another, preferably while accommodating, at least in sections, the membrane or a frame connected to the membrane and enclosing the membrane between the first sealing bead and the second sealing bead.

12 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the first fixing element is designed as an extension of the first separator plate angled at least in sections relative to the plate plane of the first separator plate, and that the second fixing element is designed as an extension of the second separator plate angled at least in sections relative to the plate plane of the second separator plate, wherein the first fixing element and the second fixing element are arranged nested in one another at least in areas.

13 . The electrochemical system according to claim 12 , wherein the angle, which the first fixing element and the second fixing element define with the plate plane of the respective separator plate or with a plane parallel to the plate plane of the respective separator plate is in each case between 91 degrees and 135 degrees at least in sections, preferably between 100 degrees and 120 degrees at least in sections.

14 . The electrochemical system according to claim 12 , wherein the extensions are arranged in a corner area of the respective separator plate and are designed in such a way that their cross section takes on the shape of a curved line, for example, the shape of a circular arc line or an elliptical arc line, at least in sections in a plane parallel to the plate plane.

15 . The electrochemical system according to claim 12 , wherein the extensions forming the first and the second fixing elements have a U- or V-shaped cross section, at least in one section along the stacking direction, in a plane aligned perpendicular to the plate planes of the separator plates and are arranged nested in one another in a positive locking way.

16 . The electrochemical system according to claim 12 , wherein the extensions each have a bead-like depression for increasing their stiffness, said depression is aligned preferably along the section of the respective extension angled relative to the plate plane.

17 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the separator plates each comprise two individual plates, which are materially connected to one another, preferably by welded connections, particularly preferably by laser welded connections.

18 . The electrochemical system according to claim 17 , wherein in each case precisely only one of the individual plates of each of the separator plates has at least one fixing element in the form of at least one extension of this individual plate.

19 . The electrochemical system according to claim 17 , wherein both of the individual plates of each of the separator plates has at least one fixing element in the form in each case of at least one extension of the respective individual plate.

20 . The electrochemical system according to claim 1 , wherein the fir

Assignees

• Reinz Dichtungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Stoehr Thomas
• Speidel Andre
• Glueck Rainer

Classifications

• H01M8/2465 Primary

  Details of groupings of fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/2404

  Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/0206 Primary

  Metals or alloys · CPC title

• H01M8/0247

  characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258) · CPC title