Electrochemical Cell Gas Sealing Structure for Backflow Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
The efficiency of gas supply to the first electrode layer in electrochemical cells is low due to gas flowing back from the side surface, leading to reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a gas sealing layer with a porosity of 5% or less around the current collector layer, surrounded by a frame body with insulating properties, to prevent gas backflow and enhance bonding, using materials with matching thermal expansion coefficients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas flows into the first electrode layer from the space on the first electrode layer side, then gas supply to the first electrode layer is achieved, but gas returns to the space on the hydrogen electrode side from the side surface of the first electrode layer, reducing gas supply efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful gas backflow path by introducing a gas sealing layer that surrounds the side periphery of the current collector layer. This layer specifically removes the unwanted gas return path while preserving the necessary gas supply path to the electrode layer, thereby improving gas supply efficiency and preventing energy loss from backflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas sealing layer acts as an intermediary component between the current collector layer and the surrounding frame body. It mediates gas flow by allowing controlled access to the electrode layer while blocking the harmful backflow path, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining gas supply and preventing gas loss.
2Productivity
If a gas sealing layer with low porosity (5% or less) is introduced to prevent gas backflow, then gas supply efficiency is improved, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cell structure by introducing a distinct gas sealing layer as a separate component with specific functional properties (porosity ≤5%). This segmentation allows the gas sealing function to be independently optimized and manufactured, reducing overall system complexity despite the added component.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas sealing layer is formed using composite materials containing both a first constituent element (from the current collector layer) and a second constituent element (from the frame body). This composite approach enables the layer to simultaneously achieve low porosity for gas sealing and compatibility with adjacent components, simplifying integration despite the functional requirements.
3Strength
If the gas sealing layer contains constituent elements from both the current collector layer and frame body, then bonding strength is enhanced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the porosity parameter of the gas sealing layer at 5% or less to achieve optimal gas sealing while maintaining bonding strength. By precisely controlling this key parameter along with the constituent element composition, the layer achieves both strong bonding and effective gas sealing without excessive manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas sealing layer exhibits local quality by having different porosity characteristics compared to other cell components. The low porosity (≤5%) is specifically localized to the gas sealing function, while other regions of the cell maintain their respective porosity requirements for gas flow and electrochemical reactions, allowing differentiated optimization of each 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
Improves gas supply efficiency by preventing gas backflow and enhancing structural integrity, thereby improving the overall performance of the electrochemical cell.
Implementation Method 1
a porosity of the gas sealing layer is 5% or less
Implementation Method 2
a coefficient of thermal expansion of the gas sealing layer is between a coefficient of thermal expansion of the current collector layer and a coefficient of thermal expansion of the frame body
Implementation Method 3
electrochemical cells each including an electrolyte layer disposed between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer
Data Source
AI summary
An electrochemical cell including a current collector layer, a gas sealing layer surrounding a side periphery of the current collector layer, a frame body surrounding a side periphery of the gas sealing layer, a first electrode layer disposed on the current collector layer, an electrolyte layer disposed on the first electrode layer; and a second electrode layer disposed on an opposite side to the first electrode layer with respect to the electrolyte layer.