Capacitive Deionization Tray Alignment for Stack Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for manufacturing capacitive deionization apparatuses face challenges in achieving precise alignment and uniform compression of electrodes and spacers, which affects the desalination performance and manufacturability.
Innovation Solution
The use of trays to hold and position stacks of electrodes and spacers within a housing, allowing for easier alignment and uniform compression, ensuring consistent performance across all stacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If electrodes and spacers are assembled separately in the housing, then the apparatus structure is flexible, but alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces trays as intermediary components that hold multiple electrode-spacer assemblies. These trays serve as mediating structures that pre-position the electrodes and spacers with precise alignment before insertion into the housing, thereby achieving both assembly flexibility and high alignment precision simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the electrode assembly system into modular segments (individual electrode-spacer units) that are organized within trays. This segmentation allows each unit to be independently assembled and positioned, improving both flexibility and alignment precision through standardized modular components.
2Strength
If compressive force is applied during manufacturing, then electrode contact is improved, but uniformity across stacks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electrode-spacer assemblies into stacked configurations within single trays, allowing uniform compressive force to be applied to all assemblies simultaneously. This ensures consistent contact pressure across all electrodes in the stack, improving both electrode contact and compression uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray structure provides a uniform compression interface that distributes compressive force evenly across all electrode assemblies in the stack, creating equipotential compression conditions that ensure consistent contact pressure and performance across all stacks.
3Manufacturing precision
If alignment features are added to trays, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric alignment features (such as positioning protrusions and corresponding recesses) on the trays. These asymmetric geometric features provide precise positioning and orientation of electrode assemblies without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, achieving high positioning accuracy with relatively simple structural additions.
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 simplifies the manufacturing process, ensures accurate alignment and uniform compression, leading to improved desalination performance and manufacturability of capacitive deionization apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
The charge barrier is often made from an ion exchange material. A charge barrier may allow an increase in ionic efficiency, which in turn allows energy efficient ion removal.
Implementation Method 2
The term charge barrier refers to a layer of material which is permeable or semi-permeable for ions and is capable of holding an electric charge. Ions with opposite charge as the charge barrier charge can pass the charge barrier material, whereas ions of similar charge as the charge of the charge barrier cannot pass the charge barrier material.
Implementation Method 3
By charging electrodes, ions are removed from an electrolyte and are held in electric double layers at the electrodes. The electrodes can be (partially) electrically regenerated to desorb such previously removed ions without adding chemicals.
Implementation Method 4
The electrodes are provided with current collectors or backing layers and a high surface area material, e.g. carbon, which may be used to store removed ions.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus to remove ions from water. The apparatus may include a stack having a first electrode including a first current collector, a spacer on top of the first electrode, and a second electrode on top of the spacer. The stack may have a tray to hold and position the stack within a housing of the apparatus and thus may improve the manufacturability of the apparatus.