Electrolyte Gas Filtration for Vehicle Capacitor Emissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrochemical storage devices in motor vehicles produce toxic and explosive gaseous decomposition products during their lifetime, which are difficult to manage effectively, as existing methods lack detailed solutions for safe emission reduction.
Innovation Solution
The method involves directing gaseous decomposition products from electrochemical storage devices to either an activated carbon filter for deposition or a molecular sieve for absorption, or to chemically reactive and catalytically active materials for conversion, ensuring nearly complete absorption or conversion of these products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gaseous decomposition products are discharged directly to the outside through a vent hose, then the storage device can release pressure buildup, but toxic and explosive decomposition products are emitted into the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (absorber material) between the decomposition products and the environment. This absorber material captures and binds the gaseous decomposition products, preventing their direct release while allowing pressure management. The intermediary transforms the harmful direct discharge into a controlled absorption process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful gaseous decomposition products into a beneficial state by having them absorbed and bound by the absorber material. The harmful emissions are transformed into a contained form that can be safely managed, effectively turning the emission problem into a controlled absorption benefit.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If absorber material is used to bind gaseous decomposition products, then emissions are reduced, but the absorber material becomes saturated over time and requires replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent acknowledges that the absorber material will eventually become saturated and requires replacement. This aligns with the discarding principle where the consumable absorber material is replaced periodically to maintain emission reduction effectiveness. The system accepts the need for periodic maintenance as a trade-off for continuous emission control.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the absorber material is designed with large dimensions to handle total decomposition products, then emission reduction is maintained throughout vehicle lifetime, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows for the absorber material to be sized appropriately for the expected decomposition products, potentially using multiple smaller units rather than one large unit. This partial action approach enables flexible configuration that achieves the required emission reduction without necessarily requiring a single excessively large component.
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
This approach effectively prevents the release of harmful decomposition products into the environment by utilizing activated carbon filters and molecular sieves for absorption and chemically reactive materials for conversion, ensuring safety and compliance with environmental regulations.
Implementation Method 1
the gaseous decomposition products are sent to an activated carbon filter and/or a molecular sieve for deposition of at least a portion of the decomposition products
Implementation Method 2
molecular sieves are natural or synthetic zeolites having a high absorption capacity for gases, vapors and dissolved substances
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for reducing emissions due to gaseous decomposition products of an electrolyte of electrochemical storage devices in a motor vehicle, preferably double-layer capacitors with organic solvents as the electrolyte. According to this invention, the gaseous decomposition products are sent to an activated carbon filter and/or a molecular sieve for deposition of at least a portion of the decomposition products and/or a chemically reactive material and/or a catalytically active material for conversion of at least a portion of the decomposition products. In addition, devices for implementing the inventive method are described.