A proton exchange membrane membrane-forming slurry preparation device
By integrating stirring and grinding functions into the film-forming slurry preparation device, the problem of soft agglomeration of perfluorosulfonic acid resin was solved, achieving uniformity and particle refinement of the slurry, and improving the proton conductivity and stability of the membrane material.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SUZHOU KERUN NEW MATERIALS CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-07
AI Technical Summary
In the existing film-forming slurry process, it is difficult to completely break down the soft agglomerates of perfluorosulfonic acid resin, resulting in uneven slurry, large fluctuations in proton conductivity, and the appearance of resin-rich and resin-poor regions after film formation.
A proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device, including a mixing tank and a grinding chamber, is adopted. Through the combined use of the stirring mechanism and the grinding mechanism, the perfluorosulfonic acid resin is fully mixed and refined. The mixing and grinding functions are integrated into the mixing tank, reducing the material conveying links.
This achieves greater uniformity and finer particle size in proton exchange membrane slurry, reduces material loss and contamination risk, and improves the uniformity and performance stability of the membrane material.
Smart Images
Figure CN224465014U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of proton exchange membrane technology, and in particular to a proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device. Background Technology
[0002] The performance of the proton exchange membrane directly determines the energy conversion efficiency and system stability. In fuel cells, it is the core barrier for achieving selective proton transport and isolating hydrogen and oxygen. Currently, perfluorosulfonic acid resins dominate the proton exchange membrane material market due to their excellent chemical stability and proton conductivity. The sulfonic acid groups (-SO3H) in their molecular chains are the active sites for proton transport, which can form continuous proton transport channels in the hydrated state.
[0003] The preparation of perfluorosulfonic acid resin film-forming slurry is the foundation of the film-forming process, and its quality directly affects the microstructure and macroscopic properties of the final film material. Existing slurry preparation processes include: dispersing perfluorosulfonic acid resin particles in a mixed solvent (such as an ethanol / water / DMSO system); initially swelling the resin through mechanical stirring; then using high-pressure homogenization to break up the entanglement and aggregation between resin molecular chains, forming a uniform dispersion with a solid content of 10%-30% and a viscosity of 500-5000 cP; finally, degassing and filtration to remove impurities and bubbles, yielding a slurry suitable for casting film formation.
[0004] In the preparation of membranes for fuel cells, the particle size distribution and viscosity stability of the slurry are crucial to ensuring membrane thickness uniformity. Traditional mixing equipment in existing membrane slurry processes struggles to completely break down the "soft agglomerates" (formed by molecular chain entanglement) of perfluorosulfonic acid resin, leading to large localized resin concentration deviations in the slurry. This results in uneven proton exchange membrane slurry preparation, and the appearance of irregular "resin-rich" and "resin-poor" regions within the membrane after formation, causing proton conductivity fluctuations exceeding the preset range. Utility Model Content
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device to address the aforementioned shortcomings in the prior art.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:
[0007] A proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device includes a raw material storage unit, a mixing unit, a homogenizing unit, and a post-processing unit connected in sequence. The raw material storage unit includes at least two storage tanks. The mixing unit's stirring mechanism includes a mixing tank with a feed inlet connected to the storage tank. The mixing tank contains a mixing chamber and a grinding chamber, connected by a communication port with a discharge control valve. A stirring mechanism is located within the mixing chamber, and a stirring drive unit is located at the top of the mixing tank. The stirring mechanism is driven by the stirring drive unit and can rotate within the mixing chamber. A grinding mechanism is located within the grinding chamber, comprising a grinding drive unit and a grinding assembly connected to the grinding drive unit.
[0008] The above-mentioned proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device includes an upper mixing chamber and a lower mixing chamber arranged sequentially, wherein the size of the upper mixing chamber is larger than the size of the lower mixing chamber.
[0009] The above-mentioned proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device includes a stirring mechanism comprising a first stirring component and a second stirring component. The upper mixing chamber and the lower mixing chamber are provided with the same stirring shaft. Both the first stirring component and the second stirring component are mounted on the stirring shaft. The first stirring component is located in the upper mixing chamber, and the second stirring component is located in the lower mixing chamber.
[0010] The above-mentioned proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device includes a first stirring component comprising a first stirring blade, which is spaced apart along the axial direction of the stirring shaft.
[0011] In the above-mentioned proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device, the second stirring component includes spiral stirring blades, which are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the stirring shaft.
[0012] In the aforementioned proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device, a heating jacket is provided on the side wall of the lower mixing chamber, and a heating component is provided inside the heating jacket.
[0013] The above-mentioned proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device includes a grinding mechanism comprising cylindrical grinding bodies arranged in sequence, with at least two cylindrical grinding bodies, each of which is connected to the grinding drive unit via a transmission connection.
[0014] The aforementioned proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device includes a cylindrical grinding body comprising a first grinding body, a second grinding body, and a third grinding body arranged sequentially. A first grinding gap is formed between the first grinding body and the second grinding body, and a second grinding gap is formed between the second grinding body and the third grinding body. The rotation direction of the second grinding body is different from the rotation directions of the first grinding body and the third grinding body.
[0015] The aforementioned proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device further includes grinding blocks, wherein the first grinding body, the second grinding body, and the third grinding body are each provided with the grinding blocks in sequence along the circumferential direction.
[0016] In the above technical solution, the proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device provided by this utility model includes a raw material storage unit, a mixing unit, a homogenizing unit, and a post-processing unit connected in sequence. The mixing unit includes a mixing tank, the inlet of which is connected to the storage tank. The mixing tank contains a mixing chamber and a grinding chamber. A stirring mechanism is installed in the mixing chamber, and a stirring drive unit is installed at the top of the mixing tank. The stirring mechanism is driven by the stirring drive unit and can rotate within the mixing chamber. A grinding mechanism is installed in the grinding chamber. During the slurry preparation process, the storage tank of the raw material storage unit transports perfluorosulfonic acid resin particles and mixed solvent to the mixing chamber through the discharge pipe. The stirring drive unit is activated, and the stirring mechanism rotates to fully mix the raw materials to form a preliminary slurry. The preliminary slurry enters the grinding chamber through the connecting port. After being processed by the grinding mechanism, it enters the homogenizing unit through the discharge pipe of the grinding chamber. In the homogenizing chamber, it is further refined by impact and other actions. This makes the prepared proton exchange membrane slurry more uniform and the particles finer. Furthermore, the mixing and grinding functions are integrated into the mixing tank, reducing material transport links between equipment and lowering material loss and contamination risks. Attached Figure Description
[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.
[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device provided in this embodiment of the utility model;
[0019] Figure 2 A perspective view of the mixing tank provided for an embodiment of this utility model;
[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the mixing tank provided in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0022] 1. Raw material storage unit; 11. Storage tank; 12. Homogenization unit; 13. Post-processing unit; 2. Mixing unit; 21. Mixing tank; 211. Feed inlet; 22. Mixing chamber; 221. Upper mixing chamber; 222. Lower mixing chamber; 23. Grinding chamber; 24. Connecting port; 241. Discharge control valve; 25. Heating jacket; 3. Stirring mechanism; 31. Stirring drive unit; 32. First stirring assembly; 321. First stirring blade; 33. Second stirring assembly; 331. Spiral stirring blade; 34. Stirring shaft; 4. Grinding mechanism; 41. Grinding drive unit; 42. Grinding assembly; 421. First grinding body; 422. Second grinding body; 423. Third grinding body; 424. Grinding block. Detailed Implementation
[0023] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of this utility model, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0024] like Figure 1-3 As shown, this utility model provides a proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device, including a raw material storage unit 1, a mixing unit 2, a homogenization unit 12, and a post-processing unit 13 connected in sequence. The raw material storage unit 1 includes at least two storage tanks 11. The mixing unit 2 includes a mixing tank 21 with an inlet 211 connected to the storage tank 11. The mixing tank 21 has a mixing chamber 22 and a grinding chamber 23 inside. A connecting port 24 is provided between the mixing chamber 22 and the grinding chamber 23. A discharge control valve 241 is provided on the connecting port 24. A stirring mechanism 3 is provided in the mixing chamber 22. A stirring drive unit 31 is provided on the top of the mixing tank 21. The stirring mechanism 3 is driven by the stirring drive unit 31 and can be selected within the mixing chamber 22. A grinding mechanism 4 is provided in the grinding chamber 23. The grinding mechanism 4 includes a grinding drive unit 41 and a grinding assembly 42 connected to the grinding drive unit 41.
[0025] Specifically, the raw material storage unit 1 is used to store the raw materials required for film-forming slurry. The raw material storage unit 1 includes storage tanks 11, at least two of which store different raw materials. The mixing unit 2 receives the raw materials from the raw material storage unit 1 and mixes them. The homogenizing unit 12 includes a high-pressure homogenizer. The mixing unit 2 inputs the semi-finished slurry processed by the mixing and shearing unit into the high-pressure homogenizer. Under high pressure, the perfluorosulfonic acid resin molecular chains are further de-entangled and uniformly dispersed under cavitation, collision, and shearing effects. The slurry processed by the high-pressure homogenizer is then transported to the post-processing unit 13. The post-processing unit 13 includes a viscosity control mechanism, a vacuum degassing mechanism, and a filtration mechanism, thereby achieving the ideal viscosity of the slurry and enabling the removal of air bubbles and impurities through filtration. The high-pressure homogenizer, viscosity control mechanism, vacuum degassing mechanism, and filtration mechanism can employ existing equipment; their structure and principles are not detailed here.
[0026] In this embodiment, the mixing unit 2 includes a mixing tank 21. The top of the mixing tank 21 is provided with a feed inlet 211. There is at least one feed inlet 211. The feed inlet 211 is used to transport the raw materials to be mixed into the interior of the mixing tank 21. The mixing tank 21 is provided with a mixing chamber 22 and a grinding chamber 23. The mixing chamber 22 and the grinding chamber 23 are separated from each other by a partition structure. A connecting port 24 is provided on the partition structure, which allows the mixing chamber 22 and the grinding chamber 23 to communicate with each other. A discharge control valve 241 is provided on the connecting port 24. The discharge control valve 241 can open or close the connecting port 24. When the connecting port 24 is open, the slurry in the mixing chamber 22 can be transported from the connecting port 24 to the grinding chamber 23. A stirring mechanism 3 is installed inside the mixing chamber 22, and a stirring drive unit 31 is installed on the top of the mixing tank 21. The stirring mechanism 3 is connected to the stirring drive unit 31, which drives the stirring mechanism 3 to rotate within the mixing chamber 22, thus thoroughly mixing the materials inside. A grinding mechanism 4 is installed inside the grinding chamber 23. The grinding mechanism 4 includes a grinding drive unit 41 and a grinding assembly 42. The grinding assembly 42 is located inside the grinding chamber 23 and grinds and mixes the materials inside, resulting in a uniform output slurry.
[0027] The proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device provided by this utility model includes a raw material storage unit 1, a mixing unit 2, a homogenization unit 12, and a post-processing unit 13 connected in sequence. The mixing unit 2 includes a mixing tank 21, the inlet 211 of which is connected to the storage tank 11. The mixing tank 21 is provided with a mixing chamber 22 and a grinding chamber 23. A stirring mechanism 3 is provided in the mixing chamber 22, and a stirring drive unit 31 is provided on the top of the mixing tank 21. The stirring mechanism 3 is driven by the stirring drive unit 31 and can be selected within the mixing chamber 22. A grinding mechanism 4 is provided in the grinding chamber 23. During the slurry preparation process, the storage tank 11 of the raw material storage unit 1 transports perfluorosulfonic acid resin particles and mixed solvent to the mixing chamber 22 through the discharge pipe. The stirring drive unit 31 is activated, and the stirring mechanism 3 rotates to fully mix the raw materials to form a preliminary slurry. The initial slurry enters the grinding chamber 23 through the connecting port 24. After being processed by the grinding mechanism 4, it enters the homogenization unit 12 through the discharge pipe of the grinding chamber 23. In the homogenization chamber, it is further refined by impact and other actions. This makes the prepared proton exchange membrane slurry more uniform and the particles finer. Moreover, the mixing and grinding functions are integrated into the mixing tank 21, which reduces the material transportation links between equipment and reduces material loss and pollution risk.
[0028] In this embodiment, preferably, the mixing chamber 22 includes an upper mixing chamber 221 and a lower mixing chamber 222 arranged sequentially. The size of the upper mixing chamber 221 is larger than that of the lower mixing chamber 222. The stirring mechanism 3 includes a first stirring component 32 and a second stirring component 33. The same stirring shaft 34 is provided in the upper mixing chamber 22 and the lower mixing chamber 22. The stirring shaft 34 is connected to the stirring drive unit 31. The first stirring component 32 and the second stirring component 33 are both mounted on the stirring shaft 34. The first stirring component 32 is located in the upper mixing chamber 221, and the second stirring component 33 is located in the lower mixing chamber 222. The first stirring component 32 adopts multiple sets of horizontally distributed stirring blades. The length of the stirring blades is adapted to the inner diameter of the upper mixing chamber 221. When rotating, it can stir most of the area in the upper mixing chamber 221, quickly disperse and initially mix the newly entered resin particles and solvent. The initially mixed mixture is transported to the lower mixing chamber 222, where it is further mixed.
[0029] In this embodiment, preferably, the first stirring assembly 32 includes a first stirring blade 321. The first stirring blade 321 is arranged sequentially at intervals along the axial direction of the stirring shaft 34. There are two or more sets of the first stirring blade 321. The multiple sets of the first stirring blade 321 are arranged sequentially at intervals along the axial direction of the stirring shaft 34. Each set of the first stirring blade 321 has at least two blades. The first stirring blade 321 in each set is arranged sequentially at intervals along the circumference of the stirring shaft 34.
[0030] The second stirring assembly 33 includes spiral stirring blades 331, which are arranged sequentially along the axis of the stirring shaft 34. A certain distance is maintained between the spiral stirring blades 331, and a small gap is left between the edge of each spiral stirring blade 331 and the inner wall of the lower mixing chamber 222. This avoids friction between the spiral stirring blades 331 and the chamber wall during rotation, while ensuring that the material close to the chamber wall is fully stirred. During the stirring process, when the stirring shaft 34 drives the spiral stirring blades 331 to rotate, the spiral stirring blades 331 generate axial pushing force and radial shearing force on the material in the lower mixing chamber 222. As the spiral stirring blades 331 continue to rotate, the material is continuously pushed forward axially and subjected to radial shearing action from the spiral stirring blades 331, further breaking up any potential local agglomerations. This allows the material in the lower mixing chamber 222 to continuously tumble and mix, ensuring that the material reaches a more uniform state before entering the subsequent grinding chamber 23.
[0031] In this embodiment, preferably, a heating jacket 25 is provided on the side wall of the lower mixing chamber 222, and a heating component is provided inside the heating jacket 25. The heating jacket 25 forms a closed space, and the heating jacket 25 can heat the lower mixing chamber 222. In this way, heat is transferred to the material through the inner side wall of the lower mixing chamber 222, so that the material temperature is maintained within a suitable range. For the mixing system of perfluorosulfonic acid resin and mixed solvent, an appropriate temperature can promote the swelling and dispersion of resin molecules. Combined with the shearing action of the spiral stirring blades 331, the binding force between resin agglomerates can be further broken, thereby improving the mixing efficiency.
[0032] In this embodiment, preferably, the grinding mechanism 4 includes cylindrical grinding bodies arranged in sequence, with at least two cylindrical grinding bodies. Each cylindrical grinding body is connected to the grinding drive unit 41 in a transmission manner. The cylindrical grinding body includes a first grinding body 421, a second grinding body 422, and a third grinding body 423 arranged in sequence. A first grinding gap is formed between the first grinding body 421 and the second grinding body 422, and a second grinding gap is formed between the second grinding body 422 and the third grinding body 423. The dimensions of the first grinding gap and the second grinding gap are set as needed. The rotation direction of the second grinding body 422 is different from the rotation direction between the first grinding body 421 and the third grinding body 423.
[0033] The first grinding body 421, the second grinding body 422, and the third grinding body 423 are arranged horizontally and parallel to each other. Their axes are on the same horizontal plane, and their outer diameters are identical. Both ends of each cylindrical grinding body are fixed to the side wall of the grinding chamber 23 via bearing seats. The power from the grinding drive unit 41 is transmitted to the three grinding bodies via a transmission gear set, enabling them to rotate independently. During operation, the material processed by the lower mixing chamber 222 enters the grinding chamber 23 and flows to the first grinding gap and the second grinding gap. Because the rotation direction of the second grinding body 422 is opposite to that of the first grinding body 421, and also opposite to that of the third grinding body 423, the material is subjected to compression and shearing forces during the relative movement of the first grinding body 421 and the second grinding body 422, and the second grinding body 422 and the third grinding body 423, causing larger particle clusters to be initially broken up.
[0034] In this embodiment, preferably, it also includes grinding blocks 424. Grinding blocks 424 are sequentially arranged along the circumference of the first grinding body 421, the second grinding body 422, and the third grinding body 423. Each grinding block 424 is a block-shaped protrusion and is an integral structure with the grinding body. An arc-shaped groove is left between adjacent grinding blocks 424. The height of the grinding block 424 is slightly lower than the gap between the grinding body and adjacent grinding bodies to ensure that the grinding block 424 will not collide with other grinding bodies when rotating. By setting the grinding blocks 424, they can act on small particle clusters in the slurry, and in conjunction with the overall grinding action of the grinding body, the material refinement effect is more significant.
[0035] The foregoing description only illustrates certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Undoubtedly, those skilled in the art can modify the described embodiments in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the above drawings and descriptions are illustrative in nature and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.
Claims
1. A proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device, comprising a raw material storage unit, a mixing unit, a homogenizing unit, and a post-processing unit connected in sequence, characterized in that, The raw material storage unit includes at least two storage tanks, and the mixing unit includes a mixing tank. The mixing tank is provided with a feed inlet, which is connected to the storage tank. The mixing tank is provided with a mixing chamber and a grinding chamber inside, and a communication port is provided between the mixing chamber and the grinding chamber. A discharge control valve is provided on the communication port. A stirring mechanism is provided in the mixing chamber, and a stirring drive unit is provided on the top of the mixing tank. The stirring mechanism is driven by the stirring drive unit and can rotate in the mixing chamber. A grinding mechanism is provided in the grinding chamber, and the grinding mechanism includes a grinding drive unit and a grinding assembly connected to the grinding drive unit.
2. The proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mixing chamber includes an upper mixing chamber and a lower mixing chamber arranged sequentially, wherein the size of the upper mixing chamber is larger than the size of the lower mixing chamber.
3. The proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The stirring mechanism includes a first stirring component and a second stirring component. The same stirring shaft is provided in the upper mixing chamber and the lower mixing chamber. The first stirring component and the second stirring component are both mounted on the stirring shaft. The first stirring component is located in the upper mixing chamber and the second stirring component is located in the lower mixing chamber.
4. The proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first stirring assembly includes a first stirring blade, which is spaced apart along the axial direction of the stirring shaft.
5. The proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The second stirring assembly includes spiral stirring blades, which are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the stirring shaft.
6. The proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device according to claim 2, characterized in that, A heating jacket is provided on the side wall of the lower mixing chamber, and a heating component is provided inside the heating jacket.
7. The proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The grinding mechanism includes cylindrical grinding bodies arranged in sequence, with at least two cylindrical grinding bodies, each of which is connected to the grinding drive unit via a transmission.
8. The proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The cylindrical grinding body includes a first grinding body, a second grinding body, and a third grinding body arranged in sequence. A first grinding gap is formed between the first grinding body and the second grinding body, and a second grinding gap is formed between the second grinding body and the third grinding body. The rotation direction of the second grinding body is different from the rotation direction of the first grinding body and the third grinding body.
9. The proton exchange membrane slurry preparation device according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes grinding blocks, and the first grinding body, the second grinding body and the third grinding body are each provided with the grinding blocks in sequence along the circumferential direction.