Electrochemical Compressor Drain Path for Piston Water Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
The piston structure in existing electrochemical compressors is prone to water accumulation due to condensation of moisture in high-pressure gas, leading to corrosion of components like Belleville springs and reduced reaction efficiency of cell units.
Innovation Solution
An electrochemical compressor design that includes a housing chamber with a drain path to prevent water accumulation. The housing chamber houses an elastic body that presses an electrochemical cell, and the drain path allows liquids to be drained out, preventing corrosion and maintaining efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a piston structure with Belleville spring is used to press cell units, then the elastic force can be generated without high load clamping, but water accumulates in the recess and causes corrosion of the Belleville spring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element (water) from the housing chamber by introducing a drain path that leads to a water storage chamber. This allows accumulated water to be removed from the Belleville spring housing area, preventing corrosion while maintaining the elastic force generation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water storage chamber as an intermediary component between the housing chamber and the external environment. This mediator collects and isolates water in a dedicated space, protecting the Belleville spring from direct contact with water while allowing the pressurization function to continue.
2Reliability
If water accumulates in the housing chamber, then the Belleville spring and components are corroded, but adding drainage structure increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drainage function with the existing housing chamber structure by creating an integrated water storage chamber within the same component. This combination approach adds corrosion protection functionality without requiring completely separate drainage systems, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing chamber is designed to serve multiple functions: it houses the Belleville spring for pressurization and simultaneously contains the water storage chamber for corrosion protection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, keeping the overall device complexity manageable while improving reliability.
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 design effectively prevents water accumulation, reducing the risk of corrosion and ensuring stable and efficient operation of the electrochemical compressor by maintaining the integrity of the elastic components and enhancing reaction efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
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.
Implementation Method 2
a pressing force is applied in the stacking direction to overcome the increased pressure, so that stable electrolysis performance can be achieved
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is intended to provide an electrochemical compressor capable of preventing a liquid, such as water, from accumulating inside a piston. An electrochemical compressor according to an embodiment includes a housing chamber and a drain path. The housing chamber houses an elastic body that presses an electrochemical cell with its elastic force, and is configured to receive part of a gas compressed by the electrochemical cell, the part of the gas flowing into the housing chamber. In the electrochemical cell, the gas is supplied to an anode side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane as a partition wall, and is compressed by being moved by electricity to a cathode side opposite to the anode side. The drain path allows a liquid in the housing chamber to be drained out of the housing chamber.