Membrane fixation to cassette for electrolyzer

Abstract

A membrane assembly for an electrolyzer cassette (1) includes a membrane (4) and a gasket arrangement including a first gasket part (13) and a second gasket part (14). The membrane (4) is arranged between the first gasket part (13) and the second gasket part (14), and the gasket arrangement includes a locking arrangement (15, 16) for fixating the first gasket part (13), the membrane (4) and the second gasket part (14) relative to each other. The disclosure further discloses an electrolyzer cassette (1) including such a membrane assembly and a method for assembling such a membrane assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A membrane assembly for an electrolyzer cassette, the membrane assembly comprising:
 a membrane, and   a gasket arrangement comprising a first gasket part and a second gasket part,   
       wherein the membrane is arranged between the first gasket part and the second gasket part, and wherein the gasket arrangement comprises a locking arrangement for fixating the first gasket part, the membrane and the second gasket part relative to each other. 
     
     
         2 . The membrane assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is provided with at least one through-going hole, wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least one locking hole formed on the first gasket part and at least one protruding locking part formed on the second gasket part, and wherein each protruding locking part of the second gasket part extends through a through-going hole of the membrane and into a locking hole of the first gasket part, thereby fixating the first gasket part, the membrane and the second gasket part relative to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The membrane assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking arrangement further comprises at least one locking hole formed on the second gasket part and at least one protruding locking part formed on the first gasket part, and wherein each protruding locking part of the first gasket part extends through a through-going hole of the membrane and into a locking hole of the second gasket part. 
     
     
         4 . The membrane assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one protruding locking part comprises an outer part with a larger diameter than a diameter of the corresponding through-going hole of the membrane. 
     
     
         5 . The membrane assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first gasket part is made from a first material and the second gasket part is made from a second material, and wherein the second material differs from the first material. 
     
     
         6 . The membrane assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises a plurality of locking parts distributed along a circumference of the membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The membrane assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first gasket part and the second gasket part are arranged along a circumference of the membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The membrane assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is formed as a porous foil. 
     
     
         9 . The membrane assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is made from an electrically insulating material. 
     
     
         10 . An electrolyzer cassette for an electrolyzer, the electrolyzer cassette comprising at least one electrolyte plate and at least one membrane assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrolyte plate is arranged adjacent to the at least one membrane assembly in such a manner that the first gasket part or the second gasket part is arranged between the membrane and the electrolyte plate. 
     
     
         11 . The electrolyzer cassette according to  claim 10 , wherein the electrolyzer cassette comprises at least two electrolyte plates, and wherein the at least two electrolyte plates are arranged adjacent to the at least one membrane assembly in such a manner that the first gasket part is arranged between the membrane and a first electrolyte plate and the second gasket part is arranged between the membrane and a second electrolyte plate. 
     
     
         12 . The electrolyzer cassette according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one electrolyte plate comprises a porous area, the porous area being arranged in contact with the membrane of the at least one membrane assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The electrolyzer cassette according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one electrolyte plate comprises at least one electrolyte fluid inlet for an electrolyte fluid to pass the electrolyte plate, and at least one gas outlet for a gas to pass the electrolyte plate, and wherein the porous area is formed between the at least one electrolyte fluid inlet and the at least one gas outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The electrolyzer cassette according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one electrolyte plate is provided with a groove configured to receive at least a portion of the first gasket part or the second gasket part. 
     
     
         15 . A method for assembling a membrane assembly for an electrolyzer cassette, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a membrane and a gasket arrangement, the gasket arrangement comprising a first gasket part, a second gasket part and a locking arrangement,   arranging the first gasket part adjacent to the membrane, at a first side of the membrane,   arranging the second gasket part adjacent to the membrane, at a second side of membrane opposite to the first side, and   fixating the first gasket part, the membrane and the second gasket part relative to each other by means of the locking arrangement.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of fixating the first gasket part, the membrane and the second gasket part relative to each other comprises passing at least one protruding locking part formed on the first gasket part and/or on the second gasket part through at least one through-going hole formed in the membrane and into at least one locking hole formed on the second gasket part and/or on the first gasket part.