Proton exchange membrane automatic compensation pressure feeding device

Abstract

The utility model relates to proton exchange membrane coating technical field, especially in kind of proton exchange membrane automatic compensation pressure feed arrangement. The problem of uneven coating thickness caused by the internal pressure fluctuation of die in prior art because of liquid level change is solved. Including: base, motor is set up on the base, and its output end connects the lead screw, sealed pressure tank is connected with the lead screw thread, and the lifting operation is driven under the lead screw, feed tank body is set up in the sealed pressure tank, feed inlet is opened in the tank top and is connected with the feed tank body and external feed source through the feed pipe, discharge port is opened in the tank top and is connected with the feed tank body and coating die through the discharge pipe, compressed air inlet is opened in the tank top, and the compressed air is imported into the tank, and the coating material is exported discharge port through the discharge pipe, liquid level feedback control unit, the liquid level state or material output state in the feed tank body is monitored in real time, and the control signal is generated to compensate the pressure fluctuation caused by the liquid level change.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of proton exchange membrane coating technology, and in particular to an automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes. Background Technology

[0002] In the proton exchange membrane coating industry, the pressure feed tank is one of the core pieces of equipment for achieving precise coating delivery and ensuring the stable operation of the coating process. Its feeding stability directly determines the coating quality and performance consistency of the proton exchange membrane.

[0003] Currently, traditional pressure feeding tanks used in the industry suffer from significant feeding instability in practical applications. The core issue lies in the difficulty of eliminating the pressure difference generated by dynamic changes in the liquid level within the tank. Specifically, when the feeding tank continuously discharges material, causing the liquid level to gradually decrease, the pressure exerted by the coating on the outlet decreases as the liquid level drops, resulting in a pressure difference of up to 12 kPa. This pressure difference directly affects the flow rate and flow stability of the coating. According to industry practice data, a pressure difference of only 10 kPa can cause fluctuations of 4–10 μm in the dry film thickness of proton exchange membrane coatings.

[0004] Such thickness fluctuations severely affect the microstructural uniformity of the proton exchange membrane, which in turn adversely affects key performance indicators such as ion conduction efficiency and electrochemical reactivity of subsequent hydrogen energy membrane modules. This not only increases the product defect rate but may also lead to decreased operational stability and shortened lifespan of downstream hydrogen energy application equipment (such as fuel cells). Furthermore, traditional pressure feeding tanks lack an active adjustment mechanism for liquid level changes and cannot compensate for pressure loss through their own structure or control logic. They can only rely on intermittent manual feeding or pressure parameter adjustments, which is cumbersome and difficult to achieve in real-time precise control, further limiting the automation level and large-scale production efficiency of the proton exchange membrane coating process. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes. By using a closed-loop pressure compensation system, it solves the technical problems of pressure fluctuation inside the die head and uneven coating thickness caused by liquid level changes in the prior art, and achieves high-precision control of coating dry film thickness of ±1µm.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows: This utility model provides an automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes, comprising: Base; An electric motor is mounted on the base, and the output end of the motor is connected to a lead screw. A sealed pressure tank is threadedly connected to a lead screw, and is lifted and lowered under the drive of the lead screw. The feeding tank body is disposed inside the sealed pressure tank; The inlet is located at the top of the sealed pressure tank and is connected to the feed tank body and an external feed source via a feed pipe. The discharge port is located at the top of the sealed pressure tank and is connected to the feeding tank body and the coating die head through a discharge pipe. A compressed air inlet is provided at the top of the sealed pressure tank to introduce compressed air into the sealed pressure tank so that the coating material in the feeding tank body is discharged from the discharge port through the discharge pipe. The liquid level feedback control unit is used to monitor the liquid level or material output status in the feeding tank body in real time and generate control signals to compensate for pressure fluctuations caused by changes in liquid level.

[0007] Furthermore, it also includes a feeding tank fixture, which is disposed inside the sealed pressure tank, and the feeding tank body is disposed inside the feeding tank fixture and fixedly connected to the feeding tank fixture.

[0008] Furthermore, a guide frame is provided on the base, and the guide frame slides in cooperation with the side wall of the sealed pressure tank to provide guidance for the lifting and lowering operation of the sealed pressure tank.

[0009] Furthermore, a pressure relief port is provided on the top of the sealed pressure tank, which is used to relieve pressure on the sealed pressure tank.

[0010] Furthermore, the sealed pressure vessel has a volume of 20~1000L and a maximum pressure of 0.8Mpa.

[0011] Furthermore, a liquid inlet valve is provided on the feed pipe, which is used to control the feed flow on and off the feed pipe.

[0012] Furthermore, the feeding tank body has a tapered structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom.

[0013] Furthermore, a proportional pressure regulating valve is provided at the compressed air inlet to adjust the pressure inside the sealed pressure tank.

[0014] Furthermore, the liquid level feedback control unit is an ultrasonic liquid level meter, which is installed inside the sealed pressure tank to monitor the liquid level height inside the feeding tank body and control the operation of the motor based on the change in liquid level height.

[0015] Furthermore, the liquid level feedback control unit is a gravity sensor, which is installed on the guide frame to detect the total weight change of the feeding tank body and the material inside it to indirectly reflect the liquid level state inside the feeding tank body, and control the operation of the motor based on the weight change.

[0016] Furthermore, the liquid level feedback control unit is an output monitor used to monitor the output rate of the coating material in the discharge pipe in real time. The change in the output rate indirectly provides feedback on the liquid level in the feeding tank. When the output rate decreases, a signal is transmitted to the motor, which drives the lead screw to raise and lower the sealed pressure tank to adjust the pressure and ensure a stable output rate.

[0017] Due to the application of the above technical solution, this utility model has the following advantages compared with the prior art: This invention relates to an automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes. Through a liquid level feedback control unit, it monitors the changes in liquid level or the output status of materials in the feeding tank in real time. Combined with a mechanical compensation mechanism that uses a motor-driven screw to raise and lower a sealed pressure tank, a closed-loop pressure regulation system is formed. This system can accurately offset the pressure difference caused by liquid level fluctuations, control the coating pressure fluctuations within a very small range, and ultimately achieve high-precision dry film thickness control of ±1µm. This solves the problem of uneven proton exchange membrane thickness caused by unstable pressure in traditional equipment.

[0018] Furthermore, three optional liquid level feedback control methods are provided: direct measurement by ultrasonic level gauge, indirect measurement by gravity sensor, and feedback control by output monitor. These methods can be flexibly selected according to actual application scenarios and accuracy requirements, thereby enhancing the applicability and reliability of the device.

[0019] Furthermore, the feeding tank body adopts a tapered structure design that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. Combined with the compressed air pushing method inside the sealed pressure tank, it can minimize the amount of material residue in the tank, reduce material loss during the production process, and improve material utilization.

[0020] Furthermore, the fixing effect of the feeding tank fixture on the feeding tank body, and the guiding and limiting effect of the guide frame on the lifting and lowering of the sealed pressure tank, effectively prevent the shaking and deviation during equipment operation and ensure the stability of the overall structure; at the same time, the setting of the pressure relief port can release pressure in time when the pressure inside the tank is abnormal, improving the safety of equipment operation. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The following sections will describe some specific embodiments of the present invention in a detailed manner by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts or components. Those skilled in the art should understand that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings: Figure 1This is a front view schematic diagram of the automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes provided by this utility model; Figure 2 This is a side view of the automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes provided by this utility model. Figure 3 This is a frontal planar structural disassembly diagram of the automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes provided by this utility model; Figure 4 This is a side view of the exploded structure of the automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes provided by this utility model. The reference numerals in the attached figures are explained as follows: 1. Base; 2. Electric motor; 3. Lead screw; 4. Sealed pressure tank; 40. Pressure relief port; 5. Feed tank body; 6. Feed inlet; 7. Feed pipe; 70. Liquid inlet valve; 8. Discharge port; 9. Discharge pipe; 10. Compressed air inlet; 100. Proportional pressure regulating valve; 11. Ultrasonic level gauge; 12. Feed tank fixture; 13. Guide frame. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solution of this utility model will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this utility model. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0023] See Figures 1 to 4 This example provides an automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes. Through the coordinated operation of mechanical structure and automatic control, the device achieves high-precision pressure compensation and stable feeding of coating materials, effectively solving the problem of uneven coating thickness caused by liquid level changes and pressure fluctuations in traditional feeding equipment, and significantly improving the consistency of membrane electrode products.

[0024] The device specifically includes a base 1, a motor 2, a lead screw 3, a sealed pressure tank 4, a feeding tank body 5, a feed inlet 6, a feed pipe 7, a discharge outlet 8, a discharge pipe 9, a compressed air inlet 10, and an ultrasonic level gauge 11. All components work together to achieve a high-precision pressure-compensated feeding function. In this example, the sealed pressure tank 4 has a volume of 20~1000L and a maximum pressure resistance of 0.8Mpa.

[0025] Specifically, base 1 supports the aforementioned components. Motor 2 is mounted on base 1, and its output end is connected to lead screw 3. More specifically, the output end of motor 2 is rigidly connected to lead screw 3 via a coupling. The other end of lead screw 3 forms a precision threaded engagement with a threaded hole at the bottom of the sealed pressure tank 4. When motor 2 starts operating, it can drive lead screw 3 to rotate synchronously via forward and reverse rotation, thereby causing the sealed tank 4 to rise and fall smoothly in the vertical direction. This allows for precise adjustment of the relative height of the sealed pressure tank 4 through mechanical displacement, indirectly compensating for pressure differences caused by changes in material level, and laying the foundation for the stability of subsequent pneumatic feeding.

[0026] The feeding tank body 5, used to hold the coating material, is located inside the aforementioned sealed pressure tank 4. When the sealed pressure tank 4 is raised or lowered, the feeding tank body 5 also rises or falls accordingly. In this example, the feeding tank body 5 has a tapered structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. The upper diameter is slightly larger to increase storage capacity, while the lower part tapers in a cone shape, thereby effectively reducing material residue.

[0027] In addition, to ensure the feed tank body 5 is stably placed in the sealed pressure tank 4 and to prevent tipping, a feed tank fixture 12 is installed inside the sealed pressure tank 4 in this example. The feed tank body 5 is placed inside the feed tank fixture 12 and the two are fixedly connected to secure it. The feed tank fixture 12 adopts a groove-type design that matches the shape of the feed tank body 5, and the inner wall is fitted with an anti-slip rubber pad. This ensures that the feed tank body 5 does not shake or tip over during the lifting and lowering of the sealed pressure tank 4, and also buffers the vibration from interfering with the material level.

[0028] The top of the aforementioned sealed pressure tank 4 integrates multiple functional interfaces, forming a systematic material and air pressure control channel. Specifically, the top is provided with a feed inlet 6, a discharge outlet 8, a compressed air inlet 10, and a pressure relief outlet 40.

[0029] Specifically, the feed inlet 6 is connected to an external material supply source and the feed tank body 5 via the feed pipe 7, thereby allowing external coating materials to be introduced into the feed tank body 5. The feed tank 7 is equipped with a liquid inlet valve 70, which is connected to the aforementioned liquid level feedback control unit. The valve can be opened and closed according to the monitoring signal of the liquid level feedback control unit to control the feeding flow on the feed pipe 7.

[0030] The discharge port 8 is connected to the feeding tank body 5 and the coating die head through the discharge pipe 9, thereby conveying the coating material in the feeding tank body 5 to the proton exchange membrane coating operation site through the discharge pipe 9.

[0031] The delivery of coating material from the feed tank body 5 to the coating operation area is achieved through the aforementioned compressed air inlet 10. External compressed air is introduced into the sealed pressure tank 4 via the compressed air inlet 10. The pressure of the compressed air forces the material out of the feed tank body 5 through the discharge pipe 9 and delivers it to the coating die head. Furthermore, a proportional pressure regulating valve 100 is installed at the compressed air inlet 10 to adjust the pressure of the compressed air entering the sealed pressure tank 4.

[0032] For pressure relief port 40, when the pressure inside the tank exceeds the safety threshold or the equipment stops, the pressure relief port can be opened to ensure operational safety and avoid the impact of sudden pressure rise on material properties.

[0033] In addition, to improve the stability of the sealed pressure tank 4 during the lifting process, guide frames 13 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the base 1. The guide frames 13 slide in cooperation with the side wall of the sealed pressure tank 4, thereby providing guidance for the lifting operation of the sealed pressure tank 4. When the sealed pressure tank 4 is lifted and lowered under the drive of the lead screw 3, the guide frames 13 can effectively limit its horizontal deviation and avoid pressure fluctuations caused by mechanical shaking.

[0034] In this example, a liquid level feedback control unit is installed inside the sealed pressure tank 4 to achieve real-time monitoring and closed-loop control of the material level. Its function is to monitor the liquid level or material output status within the feeding tank body 5 in real time and transmit control signals to the motor 2 and the inlet valve 70, ultimately compensating for pressure fluctuations caused by changes in liquid level. Depending on the needs of different application scenarios, this unit provides three optional implementation schemes: The first solution uses an output monitor (not shown in the figure). This monitor is installed on the discharge pipe 9 and has a built-in flow sensor and velocity sensor. The flow sensor monitors the instantaneous flow rate of the material through the principle of electromagnetic induction, while the velocity sensor detects the flow rate of the material in the pipe through laser Doppler technology. The data from the two devices corroborate each other and can reflect the material output status in real time. When the output rate is detected to decrease beyond the preset value, it indicates that the liquid level in the feed tank body 5 has dropped, resulting in insufficient pressure. The output monitor immediately sends a signal to the motor 2 to drive the sealed pressure tank 4 to rise and increase the feed pressure until the output rate returns to a stable range. This solution is particularly suitable for scenarios where the material viscosity is high and direct liquid level monitoring is difficult.

[0035] The second approach uses an ultrasonic level gauge 11, which is fixed to the top inner wall of the sealed pressure tank 4 by a bracket. Its probe is positioned directly over the internal liquid surface of the feeding tank body 5. The ultrasonic level gauge 11 emits high-frequency ultrasonic waves to the liquid surface. After the ultrasonic waves are reflected by the liquid surface, they are received by the probe. By calculating the propagation time of the ultrasonic waves, the liquid level height inside the feeding tank body 5 can be directly calculated with a measurement accuracy of ±1mm. When the liquid level height is detected to drop below a preset threshold, the ultrasonic level gauge 11 immediately sends a signal to the motor 2 to drive the sealed pressure tank 4 to rise. The pressure difference is compensated by increasing the relative height of the feeding tank body 5. The height adjustment accuracy of the motor 2 for the feeding tank body 5 is also ±1mm. At the same time, the inlet valve 70 can be opened to replenish the material until the liquid level returns to the normal range.

[0036] The third scheme uses a gravity sensor (not shown in the figure). This sensor is fixed to the top support platform of the guide frame 13 by bolts, and its force-bearing surface is in contact with the bottom of the sealed pressure tank 4. It can detect the total weight change of the feeding tank body 5 and the material inside in real time. Since the material weight is linearly positively correlated with the liquid level (the material density and the cross-sectional area of ​​the tank are known), the liquid level status can be indirectly reflected by converting the weight data. When the total weight drop corresponds to a liquid level drop exceeding the threshold, the gravity sensor 14 transmits a control signal to the motor 2 to adjust the height of the sealed pressure tank 4 to achieve pressure compensation. This scheme is suitable for scenarios with high requirements for liquid level monitoring accuracy and stable material viscosity.

[0037] In addition, the inlet valve 70 on the feed pipe 7 is linked with the liquid level feedback control unit: when any liquid level monitoring scheme detects that the liquid level is lower than the minimum working liquid level, the inlet valve 70 automatically opens to replenish the material from the external material source into the feed tank body 5; when the liquid level rises back to the maximum working liquid level, the inlet valve 70 automatically closes, realizing automatic material replenishment and reducing manual intervention.

[0038] In summary, this automatic pressure-compensating proton exchange membrane feeding device, through a collaborative mechanism of "motor-driven lifting compensation + precise pressure control by proportional pressure regulating valve + real-time liquid level monitoring," controls the output pressure fluctuation of the coating material within ±0.5 kPa. Combined with the anti-residue structure of the feeding tank body 5 and the stable support design of the whole machine, it not only meets the stringent requirements of proton exchange membrane coating for material conveying accuracy (dry film thickness fluctuation can be controlled within ±1 µm), but also improves material utilization and equipment operation safety, providing reliable hardware support for the large-scale production of high-quality proton exchange membrane products.

[0039] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of this utility model. Their purpose is to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of this utility model and implement it accordingly. They should not be used to limit the protection scope of this utility model. All equivalent changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit and essence of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A proton exchange membrane automatic pressure compensation feeding device, characterized in that, include: Base (1); Motor (2), the motor (2) is mounted on the base (1), and the output end of the motor (2) is connected to the lead screw (3); A sealed pressure tank (4) is threadedly connected to the lead screw (3) and is lifted and lowered under the drive of the lead screw (3). The feeding tank body (5) is disposed inside the sealed pressure tank (4); The inlet (6) is located at the top of the sealed pressure tank (4) and is connected to the feed tank body (5) and the external feed source through the feed pipe (7); The discharge port (8) is located at the top of the sealed pressure tank (4) and is connected to the feed tank body (5) and the coating die head through the discharge pipe (9); Compressed air inlet (10) is located at the top of the sealed pressure tank (4) to introduce compressed air into the sealed pressure tank (4) so ​​as to output the coating material in the feed tank body (5) through the discharge pipe (9) to the discharge port (8). The liquid level feedback control unit is used to monitor the liquid level or material output status in the main body (5) of the feeding tank in real time, and generate control signals to compensate for pressure fluctuations caused by changes in liquid level.

2. The automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a feeding tank fixture (12), which is disposed inside the sealed pressure tank (4), and the feeding tank body (5) is disposed inside the feeding tank fixture (12) and fixedly connected to the feeding tank fixture (12).

3. The automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes according to claim 1, characterized in that, A guide frame (13) is provided on the base (1), and the guide frame (13) slides with the side wall of the sealed pressure tank (4) to provide guidance for the lifting and lowering operation of the sealed pressure tank (4).

4. The automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the sealed pressure tank (4) is also provided with a pressure relief port (40), which is used to relieve pressure on the sealed pressure tank (4).

5. The automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feed pipe (7) is provided with a liquid inlet valve (70), which is used to control the feed flow on and off of the feed pipe (7).

6. The automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body of the feeding tank (5) has a tapered structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom.

7. The automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes according to claim 1, characterized in that, A proportional pressure regulating valve (100) is provided at the compressed air inlet (10) to adjust the pressure inside the sealed pressure tank (4).

8. The automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid level feedback control unit is an ultrasonic liquid level meter (11), which is installed in the sealed pressure tank (4) to monitor the liquid level height in the feed tank body (5) and control the operation of the motor (2) based on the change in liquid level height.

9. The automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes according to claim 3, characterized in that, The liquid level feedback control unit is a gravity sensor, which is set on the guide frame (13) to detect the total weight change of the feeding tank body (5) and its internal materials to indirectly reflect the liquid level state in the feeding tank body (5) and control the operation of the motor (2) based on the weight change.

10. The automatic pressure compensation feeding device for proton exchange membranes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid level feedback control unit is an output monitor used to monitor the output rate of the coating material in the discharge pipe (9) in real time. The change in the output rate indirectly feeds back the liquid level in the feed tank body (5). When the output rate decreases, a signal is transmitted to the motor (2), and the motor (2) drives the lead screw (3) to raise and lower the sealed pressure tank (4) to adjust the pressure and ensure the output rate is stable.

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