Composite Electrolyte Membrane Reinforcement for Humid High-Pressure Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrolyte membranes used in electrochemical hydrogen pumps and water electrolysis apparatuses suffer from reduced mechanical strength under high humidity and high pressure conditions due to increased water content, leading to insufficient performance.
Innovation Solution
A composite electrolyte membrane composed of a mesh fabric made from liquid crystal polyester or polyphenylene sulfide fibers with a fiber diameter of 50 µm or less, combined with a polymer electrolyte containing ionic groups such as sulfonic acid groups, which maintains mechanical strength and chemical resistance under high humidity and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a polymer electrolyte membrane is used to provide proton conductivity, then ionic conductivity is improved, but the membrane becomes susceptible to mechanical degradation and chemical attack
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a polymer electrolyte membrane with a porous substrate to create a composite membrane structure. The polymer electrolyte layer provides ionic conductivity while the porous substrate provides mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between improving ionic conductivity and maintaining mechanical strength.
2Productivity
If the membrane thickness is reduced to improve fuel cell performance, then activation overpotential is reduced, but the membrane becomes more prone to pinhole formation and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure with porous substrate provides mechanical reinforcement that prevents pinhole formation even when the polymer electrolyte layer is made thin. This allows the membrane to achieve low activation overpotential while maintaining integrity and reliability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a porous substrate is added to provide mechanical support, then structural stability is improved, but the overall membrane complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is segmented into two functional layers: a polymer electrolyte layer for ionic conduction and a porous substrate layer for mechanical support. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall design compared to attempting to create a single-material solution.
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
The composite electrolyte membrane exhibits excellent chemical resistance and mechanical strength, ensuring durability and performance in electrochemical hydrogen pumps and water electrolysis apparatuses even under challenging operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a porous substrate is provided and a polymer electrolyte is disposed on the porous substrate
Implementation Method 2
proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been drawn much attention as a potential power source for portable and transportation applications
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a composite electrolyte membrane which has excellent chemical resistance and can maintain sufficient mechanical strength even under conditions of high humidity and high pressure, which are the operating conditions for electrochemical hydrogen pumps and water electrolyzers. This composite electrolyte membrane, which is for achieving said purpose, has a composite layer obtained by combining a polyelectrolyte with a mesh woven material that satisfies (1) and (2) and comprises liquid crystal polyester fibers or polyphenylene sulfide fibers. (1): Mesh thickness (µm)/fiber diameter (µm)<2.0. (2): Opening (µm)/fiber diameter (µm)>1.0.