CN1206505A - Method for fabrication of electrochemical cells - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of fabricating an electrochemical or galvanic cell comprising a plurality of electrochemical components, which electrochemical components are joined together in a cell stack, which method comprises: i) providing a first component (1) formed from a deformable polymeric material with at least one substantially continuous groove (2) comprising an opening having a width of w and a depth of h; ii) providing a second component (3) with at least one substantially continuous upstand (4) having a width of more than w and a height of less than h; iii) pressing the first and second components together in order to provide an integral seal between the upstand on the second component and the opening in the first component, with the seal between the parts being provided by sealing engagement of the sides of the upstand with the sides of the openings; and iv) joining a plurality of first and second components together to form a stack.

Description

Make the method for electrochemical cell

The present invention relates to make the method for electrochemical cell, particularly make and have by many parts the link together industrial electrolysis pond of electricity (separating) the pond group that constitutes or the method for galvanic cell.

Industrial electrolysis pond or galvanic cell, for example secondary cell, fuel cell and electrolytic cell are generally made by assembly, and each assembly comprises the parts many laminations, stratiform of formation electricity (separating) pond group that is clamped together.For example in the redox flow type secondary cell, these parts generally are made of the electric insulation framework that flows, and contain an electrode in each framework, and many this kind frameworks and other parts for example barrier film and net are superimposed together.The secondary cell of this type is known for those skilled in the art.

With this assembly of its component-assembled the time, most important condition is:

ⅰ) be spaced from each other and preserved well and seldom leakage only arranged in order to ensure the liquid of electricity (separating) Chi Zuzhong, need for example make each electrode frame seal on every side providing satisfactory sealing between the independent floor of electricity (separating) pond group and between each chamber in the group of electricity (separating) pond;

ⅱ) each component layer of this electricity (separating) pond group should accurately be located with adjacent component; And

ⅲ) when the remainder of making this electricity (separating) pond group with when carrying out the unit sealing, should be kept perfectly and maintain the original state with electrode, barrier film and the net of lamination setting.Some barrier films may be torn, fold, folding or perforation and/or may be for the local pressure tool hypersensitivity of water.

Usually, liquid seal can be with for example adopting elastic sealing device such as O shape ring or flat gasket to realize between each mobile framework.The location of available routine and fixture make independent chamber with respect to its location, adjacent chamber, then it are installed to make sub-component.Yet, when this electricity (separating) pond group is made of a large amount of parts, be difficult to the reliable assembling of acquisition electricity (separating) pond group with many O shape rings, and this assembling to expend a large amount of labours.For corrosivity electrolyte chemicals, the cost of elastomeric material with chemical resistance is very high, and accounts for this major part of this modular assembly.And required O shape circular groove groove can be unfavorable for easily and reliably other function of implementation framework such as the liquid distributions of liquid electrolyte, particularly for the electricity with thin framework (separating) pond group, for example the thickness when framework approaches＜electricity (separating) the pond group of the thickness of 2.5 times electrolyte delivery chute.

Be inconvenience and the cost of avoiding assembling O shape ring, also proposed this layer welded together and realized fluid seal, for example adopt the sealing of friction welding implementation framework and framework, and/or with the sealing of laser welding realization electrode and framework.The defective of this method is, the barrier film that may destroy accurate location and fix owing to the mobile and/or heating in framework-frame seal process, need can success the compatible material that welds together, the measure that can not dismantle and need to guarantee soldering reliability.

The sealing device of another kind of type has been proposed, wherein a kind of sealing mechanism is inserted in the framework that flows and wherein flex-wing be installed in and be in particular in the dedicated slot that realizes sealing and be provided with.The sealing device of this type is disclosed among the US-A-4640876.Yet realize that the used flex-wing of sealing is difficult to make, thereby and because it is easy to deflection for environment and mechanical damage sensitivity.

FR-A-2292345 discloses tongue piece and the groove device that a kind of frame parts that is used for the electricity groove links together.Tongue piece on a framework matches with the respective groove of adjacent frame, and this framework is fixed together by adhesive, solvent or ultra-sonic welded.

FR-A-2700639 discloses and has a kind ofly formed sealing by clamping tongue piece relative in position on the adjacent frame and the thin flat sheet of metal between the groove, and this sheet is compressed under the device effect of the element that compresses electricity (separating) pond group.Sealing between the adjacent frame realizes by compressing this thin flat sheet of metal.

We have worked out a kind of improving one's methods of electrochemical cell that be used to make now, this electrochemical cell comprises electricity (separating) the pond group that many electrochemistry parts link together, and location that wherein should electricity (separating) pond group parts, sealing and safety can be by simple integral sealing means acquisitions.

Therefore, the invention provides the method that a kind of manufacturing comprises the electrochemical cell or the galvanic cell of many electrochemistry parts, electrochemistry parts wherein link together and constitute electricity (separating) pond group, and this method comprises:

ⅰ) provide a kind of first parts of being made by the deformable polymer material, these parts have a continuous basically groove at least, and the notch width of this groove is that the w and the degree of depth are h;

ⅱ) provide a kind of second parts, these parts have a continuous basically boss, the width＞w of this boss and height＜h at least;

ⅲ) first and second parts are pressed together so that boss on second parts and the integral sealing between the recess on first parts to be provided, the sealing between these parts is provided by the sealed engagement of boss sidewall and recess sidewall; And

ⅳ) a plurality of first and second parts are linked together constitute electricity (separating) pond group.

In order to implement method of the present invention, first parts when first and second parts link together, can be obtained suitable deformation and distribute like this by a kind of deformable polymer material preparation, to reach the sealing between required first and second parts.Be suitable for preparing the polymeric material of first parts, can comprise that those can bear continuous tension stress and also can provide local compression strength and the badly damaged material does not take place, particularly semi-crystalline polymer for example many grades polyethylene, polypropylene and both are mixed and copolymer, acetal, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, poly-vinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer, poly-fluorine acyl ammonia, chlorination polyformaldehyde and many other polymer of obtaining.For making first parts have desirable profile, these polymeric materials can use machine work, injection molding, pressing mold or other method to be shaped.

Preparing the used material of second parts can be the deformable polymer material, although second parts are not must be by the deformable polymer material preparation, it can be by for example identical with first parts polymeric material preparation.Other material that can be used for preparing second parts is the relatively poor material of anti-lasting tension force, for example is the intensive filling level material that can prepare first parts, and non-crystalline polymer such as polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate and Merlon.In addition, consider that also second parts can be metal electrode or carbon, titanium dioxide or ceramic component.

In an embodiment preferred of the present invention, continuous substantially recess on first parts have perpendicular to or be basically perpendicular to the sidewall on the first parts plane, and the continuous substantially boss on second parts also have perpendicular to or be basically perpendicular to the sidewall on the second parts plane.Should be understood that Sealing Method of the present invention can in any direction carry out, this depends on the direction of the parts that will be joined together.Seal although be preferably vertically or substantially vertically, if wish that sealing also can be carried out up to about 45.

Preferably have constant substantially cross section although will be understood that sealing device of the present invention, if wish, this cross section also can change along the length direction of sealing device.

The a large amount of parts that will be understood that the electrochemistry galvanic cell link together according to this kind method.Therefore, when first and second parts are when being prepared by polymeric material, common second parts not only are provided with from least one of its first surface projection continuous substantially boss, but also its second surface is provided with at least one continuous substantially recess usually, so that be connected with another parts.Should be able to understand any jagged parts to be set,, also must prepare by deformable material even also be provided with boss.When second parts are, can be combined in order to make many parts when making by non deformable material (for example metal), need a kind of different structure.Usually on first and second surfaces of second parts, boss is set all, is arranged on boss on the second surface and is used for having the groove that can cooperate with it with another and being connected by the parts that deformable material is made.

When first and second parts are linked together, thereby interact between the sidewall of the sidewall of recess and boss, be generally 10-100MN/m at its contact position generation stress to a certain degree ², the deformation that this stress produced is enough to make between them and closely cooperates.The shape of boss and recess combines with closely cooperating of having obtained, so that this stress maintains certain level, is generally 1-10MN/m ², the stress when this stress is enough to resist the electrochemical cell use is generally 10-1000KN/m ², and keep sealing.The surface finish during by the mechanical performance of the material of making them, tolerance and manufacturing of interactional degree of boss and recess and true form, and the easy degree of desirable assembly and disassembly determines.Will be understood that if there is internal pressurization,, then also need to prepare end plate and bracket in order to keep the globality in this pond.

Because the deformation that misfit brought should be enough to make the surface that engages with convex-concave to change.The degree of misfit can produce 0.1-20% between the width of the width w of the recess of common first parts and the boss of second parts on the sealing surfaces of material, more preferably the stress deformation of 3-5%.

Although the width of the boss on second parts is bigger than the width w of the recess on first parts,, for other parts adjacent, there is reverse position with these parts so that they force contact along its sidewall.Importantly these other adjacent parts are in decompression state, so that the contact of the pressure between the parts is limited in its side-walls.Therefore the height of the depth ratio boss of recess root is big, and the width of recess opening is greater than the width of boss base portion.The opening of widening recess is used for also preventing that with the radius that reduces boss the sealing surfaces at assembling process is impaired.Therefore sealing of the present invention is engaged by the sidewall of the sidewall of boss and recess provides, and need not to form sealing or keep sealing with clamping electricity (separating) pond group.The power that sealing of the present invention produced is perpendicular to the pressure of the electrochemistry parts of electricity (separating) Chi Zuzhong.

Yet the shape of recess root must be tightly complementary with the shape of boss, with shape that keeps recess and the power of bearing two parts contact places generations.Similarly, the size of the material around the first parts recess must satisfy this purpose, generally the solid material around the recess is arranged on a distance, and this distance is not less than the degree of depth of recess.

Will be understood that these first parts can comprise many recesses, and these second parts can comprise boss equal number and that can cooperate with it, thereby two parts are sealed mutually in more than one position, and link together.On the other hand, these first parts can with the sealing of more than one second parts, thereby the recess number on first parts is equated with boss number on second parts.

Many electrochemistry parts can be joined together to form sub-component electricity (separating) pond group, for example contain sub-component electricity (separating) the pond group in 10 or more a plurality of whole electricity (separating) ponds.According to this kind setting, barrier film and other electricity (separating) pond parts are excessive pressurized not.This sub-component electricity (separating) pond group is in case form can be more durable and can be used as a unit and use.Then, can several sub-component electricity (separating) pond group be linked together so that desirable final assembly to be provided with known technology or with method of the present invention.For example 10 sub-electrical component (separating) pond group can be linked together, making the final assembly that contains more than 100 whole electricity (separating) pond, or the final assembly that more sub-component electricity (separating) pond group is linked together and contains hundreds of whole electric (separating) pond to make.

Adopt method of the present invention, can use least equipment, step and minimum cost and, produce electrochemical cell or galvanic cell with required tolerance with relative simple method.On the other hand importantly and since first and second parts between sealing provide by mechanical device, it can be used for the parts that different polymeric materials are made are connected, comprise in those this areas already used in solder technology inconsistent material.Another advantage of the inventive method is, can be with the parts dismounting to search and to repair damage, and these damage are not necessarily relevant with sealing mechanism, still may be the damages that is created on barrier film for example or the electrode.

Especially, method of the present invention can be used for the frame parts of electrochemical cell is connected with electrode, even also can use method of the present invention when the material of preparation framework and electrode is unsuitable for welding together.

The present invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1A is depicted as first parts and second parts press together schematic cross-section before;

Figure 1B is depicted as the schematic cross-section when first parts among Figure 1A and second parts press together;

Figure 2 shows that the schematic cross-section of the electrochemical cell of making according to method of the present invention; And

Fig. 3 A and 3B are depicted as another first parts and another second parts that cooperatively interact with it does not press together schematic cross-section before.

Referring to Figure 1A and 1B, first parts of being made by deformable thermoplastic material such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) 1 have groove 2, and its width is that w and its highly are h.Has boss 4 on second parts 3.Can find out that the width of boss is greater than w and highly less than h from the relative size of boss 4 and recess 2.

Parts 1 and 3 press together, and wherein boss 4 is pressed in the recess 2, and recess enough deformation takes place to contain boss.

Sealing between two parts is to be provided by the vertical sidewall of recess 2 with boss 4, shown in S and S ' among Figure 1B.

Referring to Fig. 2, be depicted as the cross sectional representation of redox flowing battery 5.This battery comprises electricity (separating) the pond group that 12 bipolar electrodes 6 are formed, and its end is provided with electrical connector 7 and 8.This bipolar electrode is separated mutually by cation-exchange membrane 9, and each electrode links to each other with the mobile framework 10 of insulation.The mobile framework 10 of each insulation connects into electricity (separating) pond group by sealing and next framework between the parts of reference Figure 1A and 1B formation.Boss on the mobile framework 10 is by 4 expressions, and this boss extends or basic continuous the extension continuously along framework.Boss 4 is pressed in the continuous or continuous substantially groove that cooperates with it of adjacent flow framework.Electrode 6 seals mutually by proper device (not shown) and the mobile framework 10 of insulation.

Two kinds of electrolyte A and B are filled in the space between bipolar electrode 6 and barrier film 9 alternate sides.Be used to disperse the flow dispersion device of electrolyte A and B not shown.

The redox flowing battery has end plate 11 and 12, and this end plate shapes by this kind mode, so that it can be sealed to respectively on the mobile framework in top and under(-)chassis of electricity (separating) pond group.

Should be appreciated that if internal pressurization then needs to use bracket and end plate (not shown) to keep the globality in electricity (separating) pond.

With reference to Fig. 3 A and 3B, first parts 20 (having amplified 10 times in Fig. 3 A) are to be made by deformable thermoplastic material such as high density polyethylene (HDPE).These parts have recess 21, and it highly is h.The wall of recess has less the sloping inwardly that starts from an X.At the some X place that inwall begins to tilt, the width w of recess is 2.614mm and the width w ' of inwall inclined-plane termination is 2.358mm.

Second parts 23 (having amplified 10 times in Fig. 3 B) are made by polyethylene.These second parts have boss 24.The height H of this boss is littler than the height h of the recess among Fig. 3 A 21.Width W at its this boss of its maximum width at is 2.512mm, and is bigger than the width w of recess 21.

Parts 20 and 23 press together by boss 24 is pressed into recess 21, and the abundant deformation of this recess is to contain boss.Design as shown in Figure 3A and 3B, the sealing area between the parts 20 and 23 is little of minimum degree that can be practical, thus because the power that the power that this designing institute produces produces less than the designing institute that big sealing area is arranged is convenient to the assembling and the maintenance of parts.

Claims (10)

1, a kind of manufacturing comprises the method for the electrochemical cell or the galvanic cell of a plurality of electrochemistry parts, and electrochemistry parts wherein link together and constitute electricity (separating) pond group, and this method comprises:

ⅰ) provide a kind of first parts of being made by the deformable polymer material, these parts have a continuous basically groove at least, and the notch width of this groove is that the w and the degree of depth are h;

ⅱ) provide a kind of second parts, these parts have a continuous basically boss, the width＞w of this boss and height＜h at least;

ⅲ) first and second parts are pressed together so that boss on second parts and the integral sealing between the recess on first parts to be provided, the sealing between these parts is provided by the sealed engagement of boss sidewall and recess sidewall; And

ⅳ) many first and second parts are linked together constitute electricity (separating) pond group.

2, method according to claim 1, wherein the misfit degree between the width of the boss of the width w of the groove recess of first parts and second parts is the stress deformation that can produce 0.1-20%.

3, according to the method for claim 2, wherein stress deformation is 3-5%.

4, according to the described method of any one preceding claim, wherein first parts comprise a plurality of continuous substantially grooves, and second parts comprise equal number and the continuous substantially boss that cooperatively interacts with it.

5, according to the described method of any one preceding claim, wherein first parts are by polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene and polyacrylic copolymer, acetal, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, poly-vinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer, poly-fluorine acyl ammonia or chlorination polyformaldehyde.

6, according to the described method of any one preceding claim, wherein second parts are by the filling level material that can prepare first parts, or polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate.

7,, wherein many electrochemistry parts are linked together and make sub-component electricity (separating) pond group according to the described method of any one preceding claim.

8, method according to claim 7 wherein links together many sub-component electricity (separating) pond group and makes assembly.

9, method according to claim 8, wherein this assembly is made of hundreds of whole electricity (a separating) pond.

10, a kind of secondary cell, fuel cell or electrolytic cell are made with the described method of each preceding claim.

Images