# US 2023/0407493 A1 · Sealing coupling between at least two pipes of an electrolysis system that can be mounted on one another, and use thereof

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- Number: US 2023/0407493 A1
- Document ID: US20230407493A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/241,723
- Filed: 2023-09-01
- Published: 2023-12-21
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-28
- Assignees: thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA
- Applicants: thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA
- Inventors: Jörg KOLBE; Dmitri DONST; Sebastian AUSTENFELD; Peter TOROS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230407493A1

## CPC

- C25B 9/60: Constructional parts of cells
- C25B 1/34: Simultaneous production of alkali metal hydroxides and chlorine, oxyacids or salts of chlorine, e.g. by chlor-alkali electrolysis
- C25B 9/70: Assemblies comprising two or more cells
- C25B 15/08: Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
- F16L 25/10: Sleeveless joints between two pipes, one being introduced into the other
- F16L 25/14: Joints for pipes of different diameters or cross-section
- F16L 37/04: with an elastic outer part pressing against an inner part by reason of its elasticity (with locking members F16L37/08)
- F16L 47/24: for joints between metal and plastics pipes
- F16L 51/00: Expansion-compensation arrangements for pipe-lines (telescopic pipes F16L27/12)
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

An electrolysis facility having a sealed coupling between at least two pipes may be mountable on one another. The sealed coupling may be formed on at least one overlapping pipe pair by lateral surfaces abutting one another. The pipes may be mounted/mountable one inside the other in a floating manner relative to one another in an axial direction. A deformation point may be formed at a circumferential position having an axial length on a free end of the outer pipe in the overlap region. The deformation point may define a region for deformation of the outer pipe. A lateral surface of an inner lateral surface of the outer pipe and an outer lateral surface of the inner pipe may define a sealing surface that overlaps the deformation point in the axial direction. In addition to high operational reliability, this also enables a simplification of the installation procedure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrolysis facility comprising:
a cell;
a discharge pipe that is connected to the cell, the discharge pipe being comprised of plastic, wherein the discharge pipe is an exterior overlapping discharge pipe;
a collecting pipe that is comprised of metal, wherein the collecting pipe is an interior overlapping collecting pipe; and
a sealed coupling that connects the discharge pipe to the collecting pipe,
wherein the discharge pipe has slotted deformation points, is mounted in an axially floating manner on a conical sealing surface of the collecting pipe in an overlap region, and is sealed by surface pressure,
wherein the discharge and collecting pipes form the sealed coupling that permits relative axial displacement between the pipes while maintaining the seal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrolysis facility of claim 1 wherein the discharge pipe is an integral single-piece construction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electrolysis facility of claim 1 wherein the discharge pipe is free of a clamp that surrounds the discharge pipe at the seal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electrolysis facility of claim 1 wherein an outer wall of the collecting pipe is free of a radially-outward protruding rib that is configured to mate with a circumferential recess of an inner wall of the discharge pipe.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electrolysis facility of claim 1, wherein the sealed coupling is formed on the at least two pipes in an overlap region of the at least two pipes by lateral surfaces abutting one another, wherein an inner pipe of the at least two pipes is mounted inside an outer pipe of the at least two pipes in an axial floating manner, forming a seal between the at least two pipes in an axial direction that is capable of and configured in a mounted state to permit relative axial displacement between the inner and outer pipes caused by changes in temperature while maintaining the seal, with the outer pipe being an integral single-piece construction that is free of a clamp that surrounds the outer pipe at the seal, wherein a deformation point is disposed at a predefined circumferential position having an axial length on a free end of the outer pipe in the overlap region.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electrolysis facility of claim 1, wherein the discharge pipe and the collecting pipe are configured to carry liquids and gasses.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electrolysis facility of claim 1, comprising at least one cell having at least one sealed coupling.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electrolysis facility of claim 1, wherein the sealed coupling comprising two pipes that are coupled at free ends thereof on lateral surfaces abutting one another, wherein the two pipes are mounted in an axial floating manner relative to one another by way of the sealed coupling, which enables relative axial displacement between the two pipes caused by changes in temperature while maintaining a seal formed between the at least two pipes, wherein the sealed coupling is in an overlap region of the two pipes, wherein a deformation point is disposed on at least one predefined circumferential position having a predefined axial length in the overlap region, by way of which the deformation point abutting of the lateral surfaces on one another to form a seal is ensured with approximately uniform axial pre-tension force on the overlap region in an event of axial displacement of the two pipes relative to one another, wherein an outer pipe of the at least two pipes is an integral single-piece construction, wherein the outer pipe and at least a majority of the deformation point, which is disposed on the outer pipe, are exposed at the sealed coupling.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electrolysis facility of claim 1, wherein the sealed coupling is formed on the at least two pipes in an overlap region of the at least two pipes by lateral surfaces abutting one another, wherein an inner pipe of the at least two pipes is either mounted or mountable inside an outer pipe of the at least two pipes in a floating manner to form a seal between the at least two pipes in an axial direction, wherein a deformation point is disposed at a predefined circumferential position having an axial length on a free end of the outer pipe in the overlap region.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The electrolysis facility of claim 1, wherein the sealed coupling includes two pipes that are coupled at free ends thereof on lateral surfaces abutting one another, wherein the two pipes are mounted in a floating manner relative to one another by way of the sealed coupling, wherein the sealed coupling is in an overlap region of the two pipes, wherein a deformation point is disposed on at least one predefined circumferential position having a predefined axial length in the overlap region, by way of which the deformation point abutting of the lateral surfaces on one another to form a seal is ensured with approximately uniform axial pre-tension force on the overlap region in an event of axial displacement of the two pipes relative to one another.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electrolysis facility of claim 1, wherein the sealed coupling is tolerant of thermal expansion, between a first pipe comprised of metal and a second pipe comprised of plastic in an electrolysis facility, wherein the first pipe is an interior overlapping collecting pipe and the second pipe is an exterior overlapping discharge pipe, wherein the second pipe has slotted deformation points, is axially mounted in a floating manner on a conical sealing surface of the first pipe in an overlap region, and is sealed by surface pressure.