Distribution structure for electrochemical cells, electrolyser and power-to-X system

Abstract

The invention relates to a distribution structure for an electrochemical cell for supplying a cell element with a fluid medium (M). The distribution structure comprises a fluid inlet, which branches into a number of N distribution stages, wherein a distribution channel is divided into two channels of smaller cross section in the main flow direction(S) from one stage (K) to the next stage (K+1), and wherein the distribution channels of the N-th stage of the distribution structure are configured so that the fluid medium (M) is distributed evenly over a width of the cell element. The invention further relates to an electrolyser or a corresponding component lighting system comprising the distribution structure.

1 . A distribution structure for an electrochemical cell for supplying a cell element with a fluid medium (M), comprising a fluid inlet, which branches into a number of N distribution stages, wherein a distribution channel divides in the main flow direction(S) from one stage (K) to the next stage (K+1) into two channels of smaller cross section, and wherein the distribution channels of the Nth stage of the distribution structure are configured to distribute the fluid medium (M) uniformly over a width (B) of the cell element. 
     
     
         2 . The distribution structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein distribution channels of one stage substantially have the same channel length. 
     
     
         3 . The distribution structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein distribution channels of one stage substantially have equal channel widths (B). 
     
     
         4 . The distribution structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the distribution structure is designed symmetrically from its second stage. 
     
     
         5 . The distribution structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein distribution channels from a second stage are arranged distributed uniformly over the cell width (B). 
     
     
         6 . The distribution structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a channel course of the distribution structure, after the branching of one stage (K≥2) to the next stage (K+1), is aligned back in the direction of the main flow direction(S). 
     
     
         7 . The distribution structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a height (H) of the distribution structure is less than half the width of the cell element. 
     
     
         8 . The distribution structure as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein a relative standard deviation of a fluid speed distribution in the intended operation of the distribution structure is less than 0.15. 
     
     
         9 . The distribution structure as claimed in  claim 1 , which, in the higher stages, has connection channels, extending substantially perpendicularly to the main flow direction(S), between channel branches of the same stage, which are configured to homogenize a distribution of the fluid medium (M) between the channel branches. 
     
     
         10 . The distribution structure as claimed in  claim 1 , which is configured to supply a liquid electrolyte as a fluid medium to the cell element. 
     
     
         11 . The distribution structure as claimed in  claim 1 , which is configured to supply water as a fluid medium to the cell element for water electrolysis. 
     
     
         12 . The distribution structure as claimed in  claim 1 , which is produced by an additive production method. 
     
     
         13 . An electrolyzer, comprising a distribution structure as claimed in  claim 1  for supplying the fluid medium (M) into the cell element and an equivalently designed outlet structure for discharging the fluid medium (M). 
     
     
         14 . A power-to-X system comprising an electrolyzer as claimed in  claim 13 .