Conical Electrode Layout for Compact Electrochemical Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrochemical energy storage devices face challenges in achieving high power and capacity while minimizing volume, with issues of inhomogeneous metal deposits leading to reduced performance and potential short circuits due to metal dendrite formation, and existing designs requiring large reactor volumes.
Innovation Solution
An electrochemical device with a reactor featuring alternately arranged cone and truncated cone electrodes, where the flared part of each electrode is directed towards the reactor walls, and the tops of the cones define an axis passing through open areas, allowing for efficient electrolyte circulation and metal deposition, reducing turbulence and enhancing homogeneity of metal deposits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional electrolysis devices are used to store large amounts of electrical energy, then the power and capacity can be increased, but the reactor volume becomes very large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs conical and truncated conical electrode geometries instead of conventional flat or cylindrical shapes. The curved conical surfaces increase the effective surface area for electrochemical reactions within a compact volume, allowing higher energy storage capacity without proportionally increasing reactor volume. The cones are arranged with their bases facing each other, creating an efficient space-utilizing configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional flat electrode arrangements to three-dimensional conical structures. By stacking multiple pairs of conical and truncated conical electrodes alternately, the design creates a multi-layered three-dimensional architecture that maximizes the use of available reactor volume, thereby increasing energy storage capacity without linearly increasing the reactor's external dimensions.
2Power
If conventional electrode arrangements are used for high power applications, then the power output can be increased, but the metal deposits become inhomogeneous and dendrites form causing short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates locally optimized conditions at each electrode surface through the specific conical geometry and alternate arrangement. The curved conical surfaces promote uniform current distribution across different regions of the electrode, preventing localized high-current-density zones that would otherwise cause dendrite formation. Each electrode experiences optimized local conditions for homogeneous metal deposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses asymmetric conical and truncated conical shapes rather than symmetric flat or cylindrical electrodes. This asymmetry in geometry creates favorable fluid dynamics and current distribution patterns during electrolysis, leading to more uniform metal deposits. The alternating arrangement of different conical configurations further enhances this effect by creating varied flow paths and current densities across the electrode stack.
3Device complexity
If conventional electrode geometries are used, then the device structure can be simple, but the metal deposits are inhomogeneous reducing electrochemical performance
Solution Approach 1:
The conical and truncated conical electrode geometries with their curved surfaces naturally promote uniform current and fluid flow distribution during electrolysis. This curvature effect, combined with the alternating arrangement, creates inherently more homogeneous metal deposits compared to flat electrodes, improving manufacturing precision of the deposited metal layers without requiring additional complex control systems.
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 enables efficient and compact storage of large quantities of electrical energy with reduced reactor volume, improved metal deposit homogeneity, and minimized risk of short circuits, while allowing for reversible operation and efficient energy recovery.
Implementation Method 1
The invention relates to an electrochemical device for the storage of electrical energy... the electrolysis of metals with high energy content such as zinc or manganese
Implementation Method 2
provide electrical energy to reduce the metal ions on the electrodes of the electrochemical device, so as to form a metal electrolyzable cell
Implementation Method 3
allowing for efficient electrolyte circulation and metal deposition, reducing turbulence and enhancing homogeneity of metal deposits
Implementation Method 4
the technology is simple and cheap: it would therefore be interesting to be able to operate such electrolysis in a reversible way
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Electrochemical device for storing electrical power comprising: a reactor (1) equipped with a sidewall (2), a top wall (3), a bottom wall (5), an electrolyte inlet (7), an electrolyte outlet (8), and a plurality of electrodes Ex, where x is an integer ranging from 1 to n, said electrodes being placed in the reactor (1), the electrodes taking the form of cones and conic frustums placed in alternation and arranged so that the wider portion of each electrode is directed toward the top wall (3) or bottom wall (5) of the reactor (1), the conic frustums making contact with the sidewall (2) and the apexes of the cones defining an axis passing through the open zones of the conic frustums.