Electrochemical Cell With Segmented Electrolyte And Gas Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrochemical cells, the lack of dedicated areas for water or electrolyte and gas separation leads to reduced system efficiency due to thermal and diffusive effects, especially in alkaline and PEM electrolyzers, where external water separation is necessary to maintain electrolyte proportion, and in fuel cells, where gas predominates, requiring circulation for separation.
Innovation Solution
An electrochemical cell design with separate electrolyte and gas receiving areas, featuring a porous electrode structure and a control means to influence electrolyte behavior, enhancing contact between the electrode surface and electrolyte for improved gas formation or absorption, and using a membrane structure to regulate electrolyte supply and gas transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If external gas separation is used in alkaline and PEM electrolyzers, then electrolyte volume is minimized, but system efficiency deteriorates due to thermal and diffusion effects
Solution Approach 1:
The cell is divided into distinct compartments: an electrolyte receiving area, an electrode area with cavities, and a gas receiving area. This segmentation allows the electrolyte to be confined to specific regions while maintaining adequate volume in the electrode cavities for efficient electrochemical reactions, thereby resolving the contradiction between minimizing electrolyte volume and maintaining system efficiency.
2Volume of stationary object
If water or electrolyte compartment and gas compartment are separated with passive capillary supply, then electrolyte volume is reduced, but system efficiency deteriorates due to reduced electrolyte amount affecting thermal and diffusion effects
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode area is designed with cavities that provide localized electrolyte storage and reaction spaces. This local quality approach ensures that sufficient electrolyte is present at the electrode surfaces for efficient thermal and diffusion processes, while the overall electrolyte volume in the cell is minimized through the compact compartmentalized design.
3Productivity
If electrolyte is introduced directly into electrode-membrane-electrode assembly, then gas formation occurs in electrode cavities, but gas transport and electrolyte contact optimization is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
A control device is introduced as an intermediary element that actively manages electrolyte behavior within the electrode cavities. This control device optimizes both electrolyte contact with electrode surfaces for efficient gas formation and facilitates gas transport from cavities to the gas receiving area, thereby resolving the complexity of simultaneously optimizing these two functions.
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 design improves gas formation and absorption efficiency, expands the operating range, reduces the need for additional components and energy for circulation, and allows for weight savings and increased knowledge of the system's operating limits, leading to enhanced efficiency and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
allowing the electrodes to be passively supplied with water via capillary action
Implementation Method 2
a membrane structure to regulate electrolyte supply and gas transport
Implementation Method 3
contact between the electrolyte and an electrode surface within the cavities of the electrode region leads to the formation of a gas component
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrochemical cell (1) for providing or consuming a gas component (31, 32). The electrochemical cell (1) comprises an electrolyte receiving area (10), an electrode area (20), and a gas receiving area (30). The electrolyte receiving area (10) is configured to receive an electrolyte (13) including a reactant, such that the electrolyte (13) can be supplied to or discharged from the electrode area (20). The electrode area (20) has cavities (26) configured to receive electrolyte (13) supplied to or discharged from the electrolyte receiving area (10).Contact (14) between the electrolyte (13) and an electrode surface (27) within the cavities (26) of the electrode region (20) leads to the formation of a gas component (31, 32) that can be supplied to the gas receiving region (30) or to the consumption of a gas component (31, 32) that is discharged from the gas receiving region (30). The electrochemical cell (1) also includes a control device (40) designed to influence the electrolyte behavior within the cavities (26) of the electrode region (20). Furthermore, a method for providing a gas component (31, 32) is provided.