Environment control system utilizing an electrochemical cell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current environment control systems for enclosures lack efficient, durable, quiet, and precise control over oxygen and humidity levels, often leading to inadequate preservation of valuables and produce due to limitations in independent control and high energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
An electrochemical system utilizing oxygen and humidity control devices, including oxygen depletion and increase electrolyzer cells, dehumidification and humidification devices, and a controller to manage voltage and current, allowing independent control of oxygen and humidity levels within enclosures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional environment control systems are used for enclosures, then basic control is provided, but energy consumption is high and control precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical HVAC-based environment control with electrochemical electrolyzer cells that directly manipulate oxygen and humidity through electrochemical reactions. This substitution enables more precise control with potentially lower energy consumption by targeting specific parameters directly at the molecular level rather than through bulk air handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system independently controls multiple environmental parameters (oxygen concentration and humidity) simultaneously using separate electrochemical cells tuned to specific operating conditions. Each cell operates at optimized voltage and current densities to achieve precise control of its target parameter while minimizing energy consumption.
2Productivity
If oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell operates at high current density to quickly reduce oxygen, then productivity is improved, but device durability decreases due to increased stress
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a controller to dynamically adjust the operating parameters (voltage, current density) of the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell based on real-time oxygen concentration measurements and device performance feedback. This dynamic control allows the system to operate at high productivity when needed while reducing stress to maintain durability over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors and controllers that monitor oxygen concentration, humidity, and device operating conditions, providing feedback to adjust the electrolyzer cell operation. This feedback mechanism enables the system to optimize the balance between productivity (oxygen reduction rate) and durability by preventing excessive current density that would damage the cell while maintaining effective oxygen control.
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 system effectively reduces or increases oxygen and humidity levels independently, providing efficient and precise environment control, thereby enhancing the preservation of artifacts, food, and other sensitive items while being energy-efficient and quiet.
Implementation Method 1
an oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell that reduces the oxygen concentration in an enclosure... a power source is coupled with the anode and cathode to provide an electrical potential across the anode and the cathode to initiate electrolysis of water
Implementation Method 2
The cathode is in fluid communication with the enclosure and a power source is coupled with the anode and cathode to provide an electrical potential across the anode and the cathode to initiate electrolysis of water. Water is reacted to form oxygen and protons on the anode and the protons are transported across the ionomer, or cation conducting material, to the cathode
Implementation Method 3
wherein the anode and cathode are configured on opposing sides of the ionomer... the protons react with oxygen at the cathode to form water, thereby depleting oxygen on the cathode side
Data Source
AI summary
An environment control system utilizes oxygen and humidity control devices that are coupled with an enclosure to independently control the oxygen concentration and the humidity level within the enclosure. An oxygen depletion device may be an oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell that reacts with oxygen within the cell and produces water through electrochemical reactions. A desiccating device may be g, a dehumidification electrolyzer cell, a desiccator, a membrane desiccator or a condenser. A controller may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of oxygen reduction and may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the dehumidification electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of humidity reduction. The oxygen level may be determined by the measurement of voltage and a limiting current of the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell. The enclosure may be a food or artifact enclosure.