Multistack electrolysis arrangement

Abstract

An electrolysis system ( 1 ) having: a first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) and a second electrolysis cells unit ( 3 ), each respectively having a first end plate ( 4 ), a second end plate ( 5 ) and a plurality of electrolysis cells ( 6 ) arranged adjacent to each other between the first end plate ( 4 ) and the second end plate ( 5 ), wherein each of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) respectively has an anode space ( 13 ) with an anode ( 14 ), a cathode space ( 15 ) with a cathode ( 16 ) and a diaphragm ( 17 ) that separates the anode space ( 13 ) from the cathode space ( 15 ), and a first separator ( 18 ) that is connected fluidly to the first outlets ( 9 ) of both electrolysis cells units ( 2,3 ) and to the second outlets ( 10 ) of both electrolysis cells units ( 2,3 ), and that has a separator gas outlet ( 21 ) and a separator liquid outlet ( 22 ).

1 . An electrolysis system ( 1 ) comprising:
 a first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) and a second electrolysis cells unit ( 3 ), each respectively having a first end plate ( 4 ), a second end plate ( 5 ) and a plurality of electrolysis cells ( 6 ) arranged adjacent to each other between the first end plate ( 4 ) and the second end plate ( 5 ), a first inlet ( 7 ) for introducing an electrolyte, a first outlet ( 9 ) arranged in the first end plate ( 4 ) for discharging a first electrolysis product and a second outlet ( 10 ) arranged in the second end plate ( 5 ) for discharging the first electrolysis product, wherein each of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) respectively has an anode space ( 13 ) with an anode ( 14 ), a cathode space ( 15 ) with a cathode ( 16 ) and a diaphragm ( 17 ) that separates the anode space ( 13 ) from the cathode space ( 15 ),   a first separator ( 18 ) that is connected fluidly to the first outlets ( 9 ) of both electrolysis cells units ( 2 , 3 ) and to the second outlets ( 10 ) of both electrolysis cells units ( 2 , 3 ), and that has a separator gas outlet ( 21 ) and a separator liquid outlet ( 22 ),   a power supply ( 23 ) that is connected electrically to both electrolysis cells units ( 2 , 3 ) for powering an electrolysis therein.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolysis system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first outlet ( 9 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected fluidly to the anode spaces ( 13 ) of some of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) and the second outlet ( 10 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 6 ) is connected fluidly to the anode spaces ( 13 ) of some of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) or
 wherein the first outlet ( 9 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected fluidly to the cathode spaces ( 15 ) of some of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) and the second outlet ( 10 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 6 ) is connected fluidly to the cathode spaces ( 15 ) of some of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ).   
     
     
         3 . The electrolysis system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first outlet ( 9 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected fluidly to the anode spaces ( 13 ) of a first group ( 24 ) of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) and the second outlet ( 10 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected fluidly to the anode spaces ( 13 ) of a second group ( 25 ) of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) or
 wherein the first outlet ( 9 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected fluidly to the cathode spaces ( 15 ) of a first group ( 24 ) of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) and the second outlet ( 10 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected fluidly to the cathode spaces ( 15 ) of a second group ( 25 ) of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ).   
     
     
         4 . The electrolysis system ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the first group ( 24 ) of electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is arranged between the first end plate ( 4 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) and the second group ( 25 ) of electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ), and wherein the second group ( 25 ) of electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is arranged between the first group ( 24 ) of electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) and the second end plate ( 5 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . The electrolysis system ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first group ( 24 ) of electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) form a first electrolysis stack ( 26 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ), and wherein the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the second group ( 25 ) of electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) form a second electrolysis stack ( 27 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ). 
     
     
         6 . The electrolysis system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the power supply ( 23 ) has a first terminal ( 28 ) that is connected electrically to a central plate ( 30 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) arranged between the first end plate ( 4 ) and the second end plate ( 5 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ), wherein the power supply ( 23 ) has a second terminal ( 29 ) that is connected electrically to a central plate ( 30 ) of the second electrolysis cells unit ( 3 ) arranged between the first end plate ( 4 ) and the second end plate ( 5 ) of the second electrolysis cells unit ( 3 ), wherein the first end plate ( 4 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected electrically to the first end plate ( 4 ) of the second electrolysis cells unit ( 3 ), and wherein the second end plate ( 5 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected electrically to the second end plate ( 5 ) of the second electrolysis cells unit ( 3 ). 
     
     
         7 . The electrolysis system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the electrolysis cells units ( 2 , 3 ) respectively further has a third outlet ( 11 ) arranged in the first end plate ( 4 ) for discharging a second electrolysis product and a fourth outlet ( 12 ) arranged in the second end plate ( 5 ) for discharging the second electrolysis product, and wherein the arrangement ( 1 ) further comprises a second separator ( 19 ) that is connected fluidly to the third outlets ( 11 ) of both electrolysis cells units ( 2 , 3 ) and to the fourth outlets ( 12 ) of both electrolysis cells units ( 2 , 3 ), and that has a separator gas outlet ( 21 ) and a separator liquid outlet ( 22 ). 
     
     
         8 . The electrolysis system ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the third outlets ( 11 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) are connected fluidly to the cathode spaces ( 15 ) of some of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ), and wherein the fourth outlets ( 12 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) are connected fluidly to the cathode spaces ( 15 ) of some of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . The electrolysis system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first inlet ( 7 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is arranged in the first end plate ( 4 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ), and wherein the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) further has a second inlet ( 8 ) arranged in the second end plate ( 5 ) of the first electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) for introducing the electrolyte,
 and/or   wherein the first inlet ( 7 ) of the second electrolysis cells unit ( 3 ) is arranged in the first end plate ( 4 ) of the second electrolysis cells unit ( 3 ), and wherein the second electrolysis cells unit ( 3 ) further has a second inlet ( 8 ) arranged in the second end plate ( 5 ) of the second electrolysis cells unit ( 3 ) for introducing the electrolyte.   
     
     
         10 . An electrolysis system ( 1 ) comprising:
 an electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) having a first end plate ( 4 ), a second end plate ( 5 ), and a plurality of electrolysis cells ( 6 ) arranged adjacent to each other between the first end plate ( 4 ) and the second end plate ( 5 ), a first inlet ( 7 ) for introducing an electrolyte, a first outlet ( 9 ) arranged in the first end plate ( 4 ) for discharging a first electrolysis product and a second outlet ( 10 ) arranged in the second end plate ( 5 ) for discharging the first electrolysis product, wherein each of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) respectively has an anode space ( 13 ) with an anode ( 14 ), a cathode space ( 15 ) with a cathode ( 16 ) and a diaphragm ( 17 ) that separates the anode space ( 13 ) from the cathode space ( 15 ),   a separator ( 18 ) that is connected fluidly to the first outlet ( 9 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) and to the second outlet ( 10 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ), and that has a separator gas outlet ( 21 ) and a separator liquid outlet ( 22 ),   a power supply ( 23 ) that is connected electrically to the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) for powering an electrolysis therein.   
     
     
         11 . The electrolysis system ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first outlet ( 9 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected fluidly to the anode spaces ( 13 ) of a first group ( 24 ) of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) and the second outlet ( 10 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected fluidly to the anode spaces ( 13 ) of a second group ( 25 ) of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 )   or   wherein the first outlet ( 9 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected fluidly to the cathode spaces ( 15 ) of a first group ( 24 ) of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) and the second outlet ( 10 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) is connected fluidly to the cathode spaces ( 15 ) of a second group ( 25 ) of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ),   and further wherein a conduit ( 32 ) is provided that is connected with a first end to the first outlet ( 9 ) and with a second end to the second outlet ( 10 ), wherein a plugging element ( 33 ) is provided within the conduit ( 32 ) between the first group of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) and the second group ( 25 ) of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ).   
     
     
         12 . The electrolysis system ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein the power supply ( 23 ) has a first terminal ( 28 ) that is connected electrically to a central plate ( 30 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ) arranged between the first end plate ( 4 ) and the second end plate ( 5 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ), and wherein the power supply ( 23 ) has a second terminal ( 29 ) that is connected electrically to both end plates ( 4 , 5 ) of the electrolysis cells unit ( 2 ). 
     
     
         13 . The electrolysis system ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein the first inlet ( 7 ) is connected fluidly to the anode spaces ( 13 ) of a first group ( 24 ) of the electrolysis cells ( 6 ), and wherein for the electrolysis cells ( 6 ) of the first group ( 24 ) the respective anode space ( 13 ) is connected fluidly to the respective cathode space ( 7 ).