Air-Zinc Fuel Cell With Fluidised Bed Zinc Oxide Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing zinc-air fuel cells with packed-bed configurations suffer from inefficiencies due to the formation of a zinc oxide layer on particle surfaces, leading to reduced efficiency over time, and require intermittent electrolyte flow reversals that disrupt continuous operation.
Innovation Solution
A zinc-air fuel cell with a boiling fluidised bed configuration featuring coaxial electrolyte inlet conduits and diffuser channels with varying diameters, promoting turbulent electrolyte flow to uniformly engage all zinc particles, erode the zinc oxide layer, and ensure continuous particle exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If zinc particles are used in a packed-bed configuration, then the surface area for reaction is increased compared to zinc plates, but a zinc oxide layer forms on the particle surfaces over time, reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful zinc oxide layer into a beneficial erosive mechanism. By introducing a fluidized bed configuration with upward electrolyte flow, the accumulated zinc oxide layers on particle surfaces are continuously eroded and removed, transforming the harmful accumulation into a self-cleaning mechanism that maintains high reaction efficiency over time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static packed-bed configuration to a dynamic fluidized bed configuration. The electrolyte flow rate is controlled to fluidize the zinc particles, creating continuous motion and suspension that prevents zinc oxide layer accumulation and maintains consistent reaction surface area, thereby improving reliability over time
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrolyte flow is reversed to unload zinc particles, then particle exchange is enabled, but continuous operation is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by eliminating the need for flow reversal. Instead of reversing flow to unload particles, the system uses controlled upward flow to continuously fluidize and transport particles through the cell in a single direction, enabling continuous operation without interruption while maintaining particle exchange capability
3Productivity
If zinc particles corrode and are discharged, then the fuel cell generates electricity continuously, but the zinc oxide layer formation reduces the active surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful zinc oxide layer into a beneficial erosive mechanism. By introducing a fluidized bed configuration with upward electrolyte flow, the accumulated zinc oxide layers on particle surfaces are continuously eroded and removed, transforming the harmful accumulation into a self-cleaning mechanism that maintains high reaction efficiency over time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous maintenance of active surface area through the fluidized bed mechanism. The continuous electrolyte flow continuously erodes zinc oxide layers and refreshes the particle surfaces, ensuring that the corrosion-discharge process continues without interruption and active surface area is constantly renewed, maintaining continuous electricity generation at high efficiency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Maintains high efficiency by continuously eroding the zinc oxide layer and facilitating uniform electrolyte distribution, ensuring continuous operation and maximized electrical energy generation.
Implementation Method 1
a boiling fluidised bed cell, i.e., with turbulent motion of the electrolyte within the cell chamber
Implementation Method 2
boiling fluidised bed configuration
Implementation Method 3
causing continuous rubbing of the zinc particles against each other, so as to erode the zinc oxide layer
Implementation Method 4
Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy using only an electrochemical reaction
Data Source
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AI summary
A zinc-air fuel cell (10) of the fluidised bed type is described, in which the flow of electrolyte is sufficient to make the fluidised bed boil, i.e., to continuously stir the zinc particles, so as to promote the surface erosion of the zinc oxide layer that is deposited on all the particles during normal operation of the cell. The cell comprises a main body (12) and a pair of plates (14, 16), anode and cathode respectively, attached to a pair of opposite first faces (12a) of the main body (12). The main body (12) encloses a chamber (18) suitable to be supplied with an electrolyte and zinc particles. The main body (12) is provided with a feeding conduit (22) for supplying zinc particles to the cell (10), a pair of inlet conduits (24) for supplying the electrolyte to the cell (10), and a discharge conduit (30) for discharging from the cell (10) the electrolyte and zinc particles consumed during operation of the cell (10). The inlet conduits (24) are arranged coaxially to each other on a pair of opposite second faces (12b) of the main body (12), below a bottom wall (18a) of the chamber (18). The main body (12) also has a plurality of diffuser channels (28) communicating with inlet conduits (24) and flowing out at the bottom wall (18a) of the chamber (18) to diffuse the electrolyte fed to the cell (10) through the inlet conduits (24) into the chamber (18).