Redox Flow Battery Cell Frame With Return-Channel Electrolyte Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Redox flow batteries face challenges in achieving high power density due to non-uniform electrolyte flow through electrodes, leading to underutilization of the electrode surface area.
Innovation Solution
The design of a cell frame with a feed channel that includes a transport channel and a return channel, where the electrolyte flows alternately in two different main directions, allowing for varying flow distribution and increased interaction between the returned and incoming electrolytes, enhancing flow uniformity and electrode utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional feed channel design is used, then the structure is simple, but the electrolyte flow is non-uniform leading to underutilization of electrode surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The feed channel is segmented into a transport channel and a return channel with multiple openings, allowing the electrolyte to be distributed to multiple cell interiors simultaneously. This segmentation enables uniform flow distribution across multiple electrodes, increasing the effective utilization of electrode surface area and thus improving power density without excessive structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The feed channel extends in multiple spatial dimensions with openings facing different directions (front, rear, left, right sides). This multi-dimensional arrangement allows electrolyte to reach cell interiors from various directions, creating uniform flow distribution across the electrode surfaces and preventing dead spaces, thereby increasing power density
2Productivity
If the inlet opening is close to the cell interior, then the flow path is short, but dead spaces form and electrode surface is underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
The feed channel is divided into a transport channel portion and a return channel portion with multiple openings distributed along its length. This segmentation ensures that electrolyte is delivered to multiple cell interiors at different positions, preventing dead spaces and maximizing electrode surface utilization without requiring excessively long flow paths
Solution Approach 2:
The return channel acts as an intermediary structure that redirects electrolyte flow back toward the cell interiors. By positioning openings at strategic locations along the return channel, the design ensures comprehensive coverage of electrode surfaces and eliminates dead spaces while maintaining reasonable flow path lengths
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 results in a higher power density by preventing dead spaces and ensuring effective use of the electrode surface for electrochemical reactions, with alternating flow directions promoting more efficient energy extraction and storage.
Implementation Method 1
the electrolyte, when flowing through the transport channel, in particular the flow chamber, forms temporally alternately at least two different main flows into the direction of the outlet opening and, as a result of this, flows alternately in at least two different outlet directions out of the outlet opening into the cell interior
Implementation Method 2
The semipermeable membrane has the task of spatially and electrically separating the cathode and the anode of an electrochemical cell from one another. The semipermeable membrane must therefore be permeable to ions
Implementation Method 3
At both electrodes of the electrochemical cell, redox reactions take place, wherein electrons are released by the electrolytes at one electrode and electrons are accepted by the electrolytes at the other electrode. The metallic and/or non-metallic ions of the electrolytes form redox pairs and consequently generate a redox potential
Data Source
AI summary
Described and illustrated is a cell frame for forming an electrochemical cell, in particular of a redox flow battery, peripherally enclosing at least one cell interior and including at least one feed channel for feeding electrolyte into the cell interior, wherein the feed channel has an inlet opening, spaced from the cell interior, for the electrolyte to be fed and an outlet opening, adjacent to the cell interior, for the electrolyte to be fed to flow out into the cell interior. In order that the power density can be increased, it is provided that the feed channel has at least one transport channel, connecting at least in sections the inlet opening with the outlet opening, for transporting the electrolyte through the feed channel into the cell interior and at least one return channel for partially returning the electrolyte to be fed counter to the transport direction (T) of the electrolyte to be fed in the transport channel, in that the return channel is in fluid contact with the transport channel via in each case at least one entry opening for entry of the electrolyte to be returned and exit opening for exit of the electrolyte to be returned, spaced from one another in the transport direction (T) of the electrolyte to be fed.