Electrochemical Compressor Piston Grooves for Balanced Gas Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electrochemical compressors face issues with blockage of fluid paths, leading to uneven load distribution and imbalance in pressure application to cell units, which can cause the cells to open and disrupt the electrolysis process.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a piston structure with grooves that connect the high-pressure hydrogen flow path to recesses, allowing for even distribution of high-pressure gas and preventing blockage, ensuring proper pressure application to the cell units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If Belleville springs are disposed in the piston interior to generate elastic force, then the piston can press cell units with elastic force, but the Belleville spring and contact surface block the fluid path preventing high-pressure gas from flowing to the center
Solution Approach 1:
The piston interior is segmented into multiple fluid paths, with at least one fluid path positioned to allow high-pressure gas to flow around the Belleville spring contact surface. This segmentation ensures that the elastic force generation function is separated from the fluid flow path, preventing blockage while maintaining the pressing function.
2Force
If multiple spaces with Belleville springs are disposed in the piston interior, then the piston can distribute elastic force, but the blockage disrupts balance between amounts of high-pressure gas flowing into the spaces causing load imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the piston interior are designed with different fluid path configurations. Spaces with Belleville springs have dedicated fluid paths that bypass the spring contact surfaces, ensuring uniform gas distribution. This local quality adjustment maintains load balance while preserving elastic force distribution.
3Reliability
If the piston presses cell units with high load greater than the pressure of high-pressure gas, then stable electrolysis performance can be achieved, but breakage of components can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The piston utilizes high-pressure gas generated by the cell units themselves to assist in pressing the cells. The gas pressure acts on the piston surface to generate additional pressing force, reducing the reliance on purely mechanical elastic force from Belleville springs. This pneumatic assistance maintains stable electrolysis performance while reducing component load and preventing breakage.
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 configuration prevents blockage and ensures stable pressure application, maintaining load balance and preventing cell opening, thus enhancing the stability and efficiency of the electrochemical compressor.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic body exerts an elastic force in the direction in which the first member and the second member are pushed apart from each other
Implementation Method 2
the fluid chamber receives the boosted gas flowing thereinto, the fluid chamber allowing the boosted gas to apply a pressure in the direction in which the first member and the second member are pushed apart from each other
Implementation Method 3
The cell unit electrically converts hydrogen supplied to the anode-side electrode into hydrogen ions. The hydrogen ions move through the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and then, combine with electrons at the cathode-side electrode, whereby the hydrogen ions are converted into hydrogen
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is intended to prevent blockage of a path that allows a fluid to flow to a predetermined position where a pressure of the fluid is applied to a cell unit. An electrochemical compressor according to an embodiment includes first and second members, an elastic body, a fluid chamber, and a fluid path. The elastic body exerts an elastic force in a direction in which the first member and the second member are pushed apart from each other, and thereby presses a stack of electrochemical cells. The fluid chamber has the elastic body disposed therein and receives boosted gas flowing thereinto, the fluid chamber allowing the boosted gas to apply a pressure to push the first member and the second member apart from each other. The fluid path connects the fluid chamber to a flow path into which the boosted gas is discharged from the electrochemical cells.