Capillary Tube Cell Stack for Flowing Electrolyte Battery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flowing electrolyte batteries face challenges such as shunt currents, energy losses, and uneven electrolyte flow due to complex flow distribution zones and structural constraints, which increase manufacturing costs and reduce structural robustness, while existing solutions like coiled capillary tubes and elastomer connection tubes are difficult to manufacture and prone to damage.
Innovation Solution
A cell stack design featuring capillary tubes with U-shaped sections and a capillary tube bus plate, eliminating elastomer connection tubes and reducing critical welding seams, with flow distribution and collection zones aligned to ensure uniform electrolyte flow and reduce battery size and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coiled capillary tubes and elastomer connection tubes are used to connect cells, then electrolyte circulation is enabled, but manufacturing difficulty increases and structural robustness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the capillary tubes with the cell structure by integrating them directly into the electrode plates during the lamination process. This eliminates the need for separate elastomer connection tubes and external manifolds, reducing the number of components and connections while improving structural robustness and simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the elastomer connection tubes and external manifolds from the system by integrating the capillary tubes directly into the cell structure. This removal of unnecessary components reduces manufacturing complexity and improves reliability.
2Reliability
If complex flow distribution zones are defined to achieve uniform electrolyte flow, then flow uniformity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating flow distribution channels directly within the electrode plate structure at specific locations where flow control is needed. The capillary tubes are positioned to deliver electrolyte to specific flow distribution zones, achieving uniform flow without requiring complex external flow distribution apparatus.
3Loss of energy
If sufficiently long electrolyte circulation paths are defined between cells, then shunt currents are reduced, but cell stack length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the capillary tubes within the cell structure, with tubes extending through multiple cells in a hierarchical arrangement. This nested configuration allows the electrolyte circulation path to be sufficiently long to prevent shunt currents while maintaining a compact cell stack length by utilizing the internal space of the cells efficiently.
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 design enhances the structural robustness and efficiency of flowing electrolyte batteries by providing uniform electrolyte distribution, reducing manufacturing costs, and minimizing the number of critical welding seams, while maintaining high electrical resistance and efficient electrolyte circulation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one capillary tube positioned between the electrode plate and the adjacent separator plate... the capillary tube in each half cell enables electrolyte to circulate through the plurality of half cells
Data Source
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AI summary
A cell stack (700) as provided enables a flowing electrolyte battery to have a reduced size and weight. The cell stack (700) includes a casing having a positive polarity end and a negative polarity end. A plurality of half cells (805) are inside the casing, and each half cell (805) includes an electrode plate (705), an adjacent separator plate (715), and at least one capillary tube (727) positioned between the electrode plate (705) and the adjacent separator plate (715). The capillary tube (727) has a first end extending outside of the half cell (805) and a second end located inside the half cell (805). At least one manifold (530) is in hydraulic communication with a plurality of capillary tube ends including the first end of the capillary tube (727) in each half cell (805). The capillary tube (727) in each half cell (805) enables electrolyte to circulate through the plurality of half cells (805) via the at least one manifold (530).