A magnesium fuel cell

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of fuel cell. Specifically, it is a kind of magnesium fuel cell, comprising: a single cell or multiple single cells;Single cell, comprising: single cell shell, cell anode, cell cathode, electrolyte cavity, transition layer assembly, regeneration liquid cavity and electrode accommodating cavity;Single cell shell is provided with electrode accommodating cavity at the middle position, and cell anode is arranged in electrode accommodating cavity, and two groups of cell cathodes are symmetrically arranged on electrode accommodating cavity;The side wall of the electrode accommodating cavity where the two groups of cell cathodes are located is coplanar with the front and rear surface of the corresponding single cell shell;Transition layer assembly is horizontally fixed between the bottom surface of electrode accommodating cavity and the inner wall of single cell shell bottom;The top surface of transition layer assembly and the inner wall of single cell shell form electrolyte cavity, and the bottom surface of transition layer assembly and the inner wall of single cell shell form regeneration liquid cavity;Electrolyte is arranged in electrolyte cavity;Regeneration liquid is arranged in regeneration liquid cavity;Electrolyte cavity and electrode accommodating cavity are communicated. The present application significantly improves the long-term use feasibility of magnesium fuel cell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fuel cells, and more specifically to a magnesium fuel cell. Background Technology

[0002] Magnesium fuel cells possess numerous advantages, including high theoretical energy density, good safety, no pollution from reactants and products, quiet and discreet operation, long dry-state storage time, and continuous and stable power supply. Integrated magnesium-air fuel cells have broad application prospects in mobile power fields such as communication power, field emergency power, and storage power, while magnesium-seawater fuel cells have broad application prospects in the field of marine equipment power. Taking the magnesium / air battery as an example, its theoretical energy density reaches as high as 3910Wh / kg. The electrode reactions and overall battery reactions of the magnesium / air battery are as follows:

[0003] Anode electrode reaction: -2.69V (1)

[0004] Cathode electrode reaction: +0.4V (2)

[0005] Overall battery reaction: +3.09V (3)

[0006] As shown in the above formula, magnesium / air batteries consume metallic magnesium, oxygen from the air, and water during the reaction process, producing magnesium hydroxide. After a period of reaction, the metallic anode is gradually consumed, and the product magnesium hydroxide gradually accumulates in the electrolyte. The poorly soluble magnesium hydroxide not only affects the ion conduction rate in the electrolyte and increases polarization, but also causes the single cell to easily crack and break due to expansion several times in volume from agglomeration. Current conventional battery structures have only one electrolyte chamber to accommodate the product. Even if the electrolyte chamber is increased by reducing the specific energy of a single cell, it cannot support long-term discharge lasting several days. Some manufacturers have proposed replacing the electrolyte periodically (every few hours) to clean the product, but this increases the difficulty of use and hinders its commercialization. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a magnesium fuel cell that overcomes the shortcomings of the aforementioned magnesium / air batteries.

[0008] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to achieve the above objectives is: a magnesium fuel cell, comprising: one or more single cells;

[0009] The single cell includes: a single cell casing, a cell anode, a cell cathode, an electrolyte chamber, a transition layer assembly, a regeneration liquid chamber, and an electrode accommodating chamber;

[0010] An electrode receiving cavity is provided in the middle of the single battery housing. The electrode receiving cavity contains the battery anode, and two sets of battery cathodes are symmetrically arranged on the electrode receiving cavity. The sidewalls of the electrode receiving cavity where the two sets of battery cathodes are located are coplanar with the front and rear sides of the corresponding single battery housing.

[0011] The transition layer assembly is horizontally fixed between the bottom surface of the electrode accommodating cavity and the bottom inner wall of the single battery casing; the top surface of the transition layer assembly and the inner wall of the single battery casing form an electrolyte cavity, and the bottom surface of the transition layer assembly and the inner wall of the single battery casing form a regeneration fluid cavity.

[0012] The electrolyte chamber contains electrolyte; the regeneration chamber contains regeneration liquid; the electrolyte chamber is connected to the electrode accommodating chamber.

[0013] The transition layer assembly includes: a movable component A and a fixed component B;

[0014] The movable part A is a rubber elastic element. The movable part A is attached to the top surface of the fixed part B, and the edge of the movable part A is fixedly connected to the fixed part B.

[0015] A needle-shaped tube for connecting the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration chamber is inserted at the center of the fixing component B, and the four edges of the fixing component B are sealed to the inner wall of the single battery casing.

[0016] When the moving part A is squeezed by the products generated by the electrolyte reaction in the electrolyte chamber, the needle-shaped tube of the fixed part B penetrates the moving part A, making the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration chamber connected.

[0017] The transition layer assembly includes: a movable component A, a fixed component B, and a control unit;

[0018] The four edges of the fixing component B are sealed to the inner wall of the single battery casing.

[0019] The fixed component B is provided with a liquid hole that connects the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration liquid chamber, and the bottom surface of the movable component A abuts against the liquid hole;

[0020] The movable component A is controlled by the control unit through a drive motor to directly drive the movable component A, or by the control unit through a drive electrode to drive any one of the following mechanisms: linkage, rope, chain, or belt. The movable component A moves away from the liquid hole of the fixed component B, and the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration liquid chamber are connected.

[0021] The control unit includes a timing control device, a force change control device, a magnetic change control device, an electric field change control device, a temperature change control device, and a capacity control device.

[0022] The timing control device, according to a preset time, controls the drive device to move the movable part A after the preset time is reached after startup;

[0023] The force change control device monitors the magnitude of the gravity change inside the single battery during the discharge process using a gravity sensor located at the bottom of the single battery. When the gravity change reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A.

[0024] The magnetic change control device detects the change in the magnetic field inside the battery during discharge by using a fluxmeter, impact galvanometer, Hall effect magnetometer, or magnetic potential meter installed inside the battery. When the change reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A.

[0025] The electric field change control device detects the magnitude of the change in the internal electric field of the battery during the discharge process by an electric field strength meter installed inside the battery. When the value reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A.

[0026] The temperature change control device detects the magnitude of the internal temperature change of the battery during the discharge process by a temperature sensor installed inside the single battery. When the temperature reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A.

[0027] The capacity control device monitors the actual discharge capacity of the battery pack through a current sensor installed in the battery circuit. When the rated capacity of the battery pack is reached, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A.

[0028] The battery anode is made of metallic magnesium or a magnesium alloy; the battery anode is arranged parallel to the sidewall of the electrode accommodating cavity.

[0029] The air cathode is embedded in the two side walls corresponding to the electrode cavity; the air cathode is arranged parallel to the battery anode.

[0030] The distance between the air cathode and the battery anode is 1mm to 30mm.

[0031] The regenerated solution is one or two of the following: sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, gluconic acid, formic acid, lactic acid, acrylic acid, acetic acid, or propionic acid.

[0032] The single battery casing material is made of one or more of the following: ABS plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), modified polystyrene, polyoxymethylene (POM), polyphenylene ether (PPO), polyimide (PI), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), ethylene, nylon (PA), or polysulfone (PSF).

[0033] The present invention has the following beneficial effects and advantages:

[0034] 1. The battery structure of the present invention is simple. It only requires the addition of a transition layer and a regeneration liquid chamber to achieve the elimination of single-cell products and maintenance-free operation during long-term discharge.

[0035] 2. This invention significantly improves the feasibility of long-term use of magnesium fuel cells.

[0036] 3. This invention is implemented using three methods. According to the working principle, the needle tip on the fixed part B physically pierces the moving part A by squeezing through the moving part A. The principle is simple, and there are no many requirements for the selection of the transition layer component.

[0037] 4. In another embodiment of the present invention, the movable part A is separated from the fixed part B by means of control, so that the liquid hole on the fixed part B is exposed. The principle is simple and the selection of the transition layer component does not require too many requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the single-cell structure of a magnesium fuel cell in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0039] Among them, 1 is the single battery casing, 2 is the battery anode, 3 is the battery cathode, 4 is the electrolyte chamber, 5 is the moving part A, 6 is the fixed part B, 7 is the regeneration liquid chamber, and 8 is the control unit.

[0040] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the single-cell structure of a magnesium fuel cell in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 3 This is a single-cell discharge voltage curve diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 4 This is a single-cell discharge voltage curve diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0043] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0044] The present invention provides a magnesium fuel cell, comprising: a single cell or a battery pack;

[0045] The battery pack is a circuit consisting of two or more single cells connected in series, in parallel, or in a mixed series-parallel configuration.

[0046] A single cell includes: a single cell casing, a cell anode, a cell cathode, an electrolyte chamber, a transition layer assembly, a regeneration liquid chamber, and an electrode housing chamber;

[0047] An electrode receiving cavity is provided in the middle of the single battery casing, and the battery anode is provided in the electrode receiving cavity. Two sets of battery cathodes are symmetrically arranged on the electrode receiving cavity. The side walls of the electrode receiving cavities where the two sets of battery cathodes are located are coplanar with the front and rear sides of the corresponding single battery casing.

[0048] The transition layer assembly is horizontally fixed between the bottom surface of the electrode accommodating cavity and the bottom inner wall of the single cell housing; the top surface of the transition layer assembly and the inner wall of the single cell housing form an electrolyte cavity, and the bottom surface of the transition layer assembly and the inner wall of the single cell housing form a regeneration fluid cavity.

[0049] The electrolyte chamber contains electrolyte; the regeneration chamber contains regeneration liquid; the electrolyte chamber is connected to the electrode accommodating chamber.

[0050] The battery anode is made of metallic magnesium or a magnesium alloy; the battery anode is arranged parallel to the sidewall of the electrode accommodating cavity.

[0051] The battery cathode is a multi-plate-shaped air cathode, which is embedded in the two side walls corresponding to the electrode housing cavity.

[0052] Multiple air cathodes are arranged in an array, and the air cathodes are arranged parallel to the battery anode; the total area of ​​any side of the multiple air cathodes is equal to the area of ​​the opposite side of the battery anode.

[0053] The distance between the air cathode and the battery anode is 1mm to 30mm.

[0054] The regeneration solution is one or two of the following: sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, gluconic acid, formic acid, lactic acid, acrylic acid, acetic acid, or propionic acid.

[0055] The single battery casing is made of one or more of the following materials: ABS plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), modified polystyrene, polyoxymethylene (POM), polyphenylene ether (PPO), polyimide (PI), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), ethylene, nylon (PA), or polysulfone (PSF).

[0056] like Figure 2 The diagram shown is a schematic of the structure of a single magnesium fuel cell in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The transition layer assembly includes: a movable part A and a fixed part B.

[0057] The transition layer assembly consists of a movable part A and a fixed part B. The fixed part B is sealed to the single battery casing by means of bonding, welding, mechanical fastening, etc.

[0058] The movable part A is a rubber elastic element. The movable part A is attached to the top surface of the fixed part B, and the edge of the movable part A is fixedly connected to the fixed part B.

[0059] A needle-shaped tube is inserted at the center of the fixing component B so that the electrolyte chamber is connected to the regeneration liquid chamber through the needle tube; and the four edges of the fixing component B are sealed to the inner wall of the single battery casing.

[0060] When the moving part A is squeezed by the products generated by the electrolyte reaction in the electrolyte chamber, the needle-shaped tube of the fixed part B penetrates the moving part A, making the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration chamber connected.

[0061] like Figure 2 As shown, in another embodiment of the present invention, the transition layer assembly includes: a movable component A and a fixed component B;

[0062] The fixed component B is provided with a one-way valve connecting the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration chamber, and has an opening with an area smaller than that of the fixed component B. The four edges of the fixed component B are sealed to the inner wall of the single battery casing.

[0063] The inlet of the one-way valve is connected to the regeneration liquid chamber, and the outlet is connected to the electrolyte chamber.

[0064] The movable part A is a rubber elastic element. The movable part A is located inside the opening of the fixed part B, and the edge of the movable part A is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the opening of the fixed part B.

[0065] When the moving part A is squeezed by the products generated by the electrolyte reaction in the electrolyte chamber, the moving part A in the fixed part B squeezes the regenerated liquid in the regenerated liquid chamber, and the one-way valve is opened under pressure, allowing the regenerated liquid to enter the electrolyte chamber.

[0066] like Figure 1 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of the structure of a magnesium fuel cell single cell in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The transition layer assembly includes: a moving part A, a fixed part B, and a control unit.

[0067] The four edges of the fixing component B are sealed to the inner wall of the single battery casing;

[0068] The fixed component B is provided with a liquid hole that connects the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration liquid chamber, and the bottom surface of the movable component A abuts against the liquid hole;

[0069] The movable part A is directly driven by the control unit through the drive motor, or the control unit drives any one of the following mechanisms (linkage, rope, chain, belt) through the drive electrode to control the position change of the movable part A. The movable part A moves away from the liquid hole of the fixed part B, and the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration liquid chamber are connected.

[0070] The control unit includes a timing control device, a force change control device, a magnetic change control device, an electric field change control device, a temperature change control device, and a capacity control device.

[0071] The timing control device, based on a preset time, controls the drive device to move the movable part A after the preset time is reached upon startup;

[0072] The force change control device monitors the magnitude of the gravity change inside the single battery during the discharge process using a gravity sensor located at the bottom of the single battery. When the gravity change reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A.

[0073] The magnetic change control device detects the change in the magnetic field inside the battery during discharge by using a fluxmeter, impact galvanometer, Hall effect magnetometer or magnetic potential meter installed inside the battery. When the change reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the moving part A.

[0074] The electric field change control device detects the magnitude of the change in the internal electric field of the battery during the discharge process by an electric field strength meter installed inside the battery. When the value reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A.

[0075] The temperature change control device detects the change in internal temperature of the battery during discharge by a temperature sensor installed inside the single battery. When the temperature reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A.

[0076] The capacity control device monitors the actual discharge capacity of the battery pack through a current sensor installed in the battery circuit. When the rated capacity of the battery pack is reached, the control drive device moves the movable part A.

[0077] Example 1:

[0078] like Figure 1 As shown, the single cell consists of a cathode, an anode, and a transition layer assembly. The anode is made of AZ91 magnesium alloy with an electrode size of 100mm*100mm*5mm. The cathode is a self-made air cathode with a size of 100mm*100mm*2mm. The distance between the anode and cathode is 5mm. The electrolyte used in the single cell reaction is a 3.5% sodium chloride aqueous solution.

[0079] Fixed component B has a liquid orifice. A control unit, via a timer, moves movable component A, causing it to move away from the liquid orifice blocking fixed component B, thus connecting the electrolyte chamber and the regenerated liquid chamber. A certain amount of regenerated liquid enters the single cell. When the single cell is discharged at a constant current of 1 mA / cm², the discharge voltage curve of the single cell is recorded. Figure 3 As shown. After approximately 30 hours of discharge, the products within the single cell did not show significant expansion, and the battery performance remained stable.

[0080] Example 2:

[0081] like Figure 1As shown, the single cell consists of a cathode, anode, a transition layer moving part A, and a transition layer fixed part B. AZ91 magnesium alloy is used as the anode, with electrode dimensions of 100mm*100mm*5mm. A self-made cathode is used, with cathode dimensions of 100mm*100mm*2mm. The distance between the anode and cathode electrodes is 5mm. The electrolyte used in the single cell reaction is a 3.5% sodium chloride aqueous solution. The transition layer moving part A is an elastomer (rubber), and the transition layer fixed part B is a needle-shaped tube. As the reaction proceeds, the products accumulate and expand. After the transition layer moving part A deforms, the fixed part B is subjected to pressure from the moving part A. The needle-shaped tube of the fixed part B pierces the moving part A, allowing the regenerated liquid to enter the electrolyte chamber through the needle-shaped tube. As the products are removed, the transition layer moving part A is no longer compressed and returns to its original position. The transition layer fixed part B then seals, and the diffusion supply of the regenerated liquid stops. When the single cell is discharged at a constant current of 10mA / cm², the discharge voltage curve of the single cell is recorded. Figure 4 As shown. After approximately 30 hours of discharge, the products within the single cell did not show significant expansion, and the battery performance remained stable.

[0082] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, extensions, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A magnesium fuel cell, characterized in that, include: One or more single cells; The single cell includes: a single cell casing, a cell anode, a cell cathode, an electrolyte chamber, a transition layer assembly, a regeneration chamber, and an electrode accommodating chamber; An electrode receiving cavity is provided in the middle of the single battery housing. The electrode receiving cavity contains the battery anode, and two sets of battery cathodes are symmetrically arranged on the electrode receiving cavity. The sidewalls of the electrode receiving cavity where the two sets of battery cathodes are located are coplanar with the front and rear sides of the corresponding single battery housing. The transition layer assembly is horizontally fixed between the bottom surface of the electrode accommodating cavity and the bottom inner wall of the single battery casing; the top surface of the transition layer assembly and the inner wall of the single battery casing form an electrolyte cavity, and the bottom surface of the transition layer assembly and the inner wall of the single battery casing form a regeneration fluid cavity. The transition layer assembly includes: a movable component A and a fixed component B; The movable part A is a rubber elastic element. The movable part A is attached to the top surface of the fixed part B, and the edge of the movable part A is fixedly connected to the fixed part B. A needle-shaped tube for connecting the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration chamber is inserted at the center of the fixing component B, and the four edges of the fixing component B are sealed to the inner wall of the single battery casing. When the moving part A is squeezed by the products generated by the electrolyte reaction in the electrolyte chamber, the needle-shaped tube of the fixed part B penetrates the moving part A, so that the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration chamber are connected. The electrolyte chamber contains electrolyte; the regeneration chamber contains regeneration liquid; the electrolyte chamber is connected to the electrode accommodating chamber; The regenerated solution is one or two of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, gluconic acid, formic acid, lactic acid, acrylic acid, acetic acid, or propionic acid.

2. A magnesium fuel cell, characterized in that, include: One or more single cells; The single cell includes: a single cell casing, a cell anode, a cell cathode, an electrolyte chamber, a transition layer assembly, a regeneration chamber, and an electrode accommodating chamber; An electrode receiving cavity is provided in the middle of the single battery housing. The electrode receiving cavity contains the battery anode, and two sets of battery cathodes are symmetrically arranged on the electrode receiving cavity. The sidewalls of the electrode receiving cavity where the two sets of battery cathodes are located are coplanar with the front and rear sides of the corresponding single battery housing. The transition layer assembly is horizontally fixed between the bottom surface of the electrode accommodating cavity and the bottom inner wall of the single battery casing; the top surface of the transition layer assembly and the inner wall of the single battery casing form an electrolyte cavity, and the bottom surface of the transition layer assembly and the inner wall of the single battery casing form a regeneration fluid cavity. The transition layer assembly includes: a movable component A, a fixed component B, and a control unit; The four edges of the fixing component B are sealed to the inner wall of the single battery casing. The fixed component B is provided with a liquid hole that connects the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration liquid chamber, and the bottom surface of the movable component A abuts against the liquid hole; The movable part A is directly driven by the control unit through the drive motor, or the control unit drives any one of the following mechanisms (linkage, rope, chain, belt) through the drive electrode to control the position change of the movable part A. The movable part A moves away from the liquid hole of the fixed part B, and the electrolyte chamber and the regeneration liquid chamber are connected. The electrolyte chamber contains electrolyte; the regeneration chamber contains regeneration liquid; the electrolyte chamber is connected to the electrode accommodating chamber; The regenerated solution is one or two of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, gluconic acid, formic acid, lactic acid, acrylic acid, acetic acid, or propionic acid.

3. A magnesium fuel cell according to claim 2, characterized in that, The control unit includes a timing control device, a force change control device, a magnetic change control device, an electric field change control device, a temperature change control device, and a capacity control device. The timing control device, according to a preset time, controls the drive device to move the movable part A after the preset time is reached after startup; The force change control device monitors the magnitude of the gravity change inside the single battery during the discharge process using a gravity sensor located at the bottom of the single battery. When the gravity change reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A. The magnetic change control device detects the change in the magnetic field inside the battery during discharge by using a fluxmeter, impact galvanometer, Hall effect magnetometer, or magnetic potential meter installed inside the battery. When the change reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A. The electric field change control device detects the magnitude of the change in the internal electric field of the battery during the discharge process by an electric field strength meter installed inside the battery. When the value reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A. The temperature change control device detects the magnitude of the internal temperature change of the battery during the discharge process by a temperature sensor installed inside the single battery. When the temperature reaches a set value, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A. The capacity control device monitors the actual discharge capacity of the battery pack through a current sensor installed in the battery circuit. When the rated capacity of the battery pack is reached, the device controls the drive to move the movable part A.

4. A magnesium fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery anode is made of metallic magnesium or a magnesium alloy; the battery anode is arranged parallel to the sidewall of the electrode accommodating cavity. The battery cathode is embedded in the two side walls corresponding to the electrode accommodating cavity; The battery cathode and battery anode are arranged in parallel relative to each other.

5. A magnesium fuel cell according to claim 4, characterized in that, The distance between the cathode and anode of the battery is 1mm to 30mm.

6. A magnesium fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The single battery casing material is made of one or more of the following: ABS plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyphenylene ether (PPO), polyimide (PI), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), nylon (PA), or polysulfone (PSF).

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