Electrochemical Reactor Plate Stacking for NOx Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing electrochemical reactors, passages at the end positions lack either an anode or cathode layers, resulting in incomplete purification of NOx in exhaust gas, leading to a suboptimal purification rate.
Innovation Solution
The electrochemical reactor is designed with plate-shaped members arranged such that both anode and cathode layers face the passages, ensuring that all passages have both layers exposed, with the members angled and radially arranged to maximize surface contact and purification efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cells are arranged aligned in parallel with each other, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but passages at end positions are not faced by anode or cathode layers resulting in incomplete purification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a simple parallel arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration where plate-shaped members are stacked in multiple layers. This dimensional change allows passages to be faced by electrode layers from multiple perspectives, ensuring that end-position passages are also properly configured for purification while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular stacking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where multiple plate-shaped members are stacked within each other, with each member containing cells with anode and cathode layers. This nesting allows passages to be surrounded by electrode layers from multiple layers, ensuring complete purification coverage without complicating the basic modular structure.
2Device complexity
If cells are arranged aligned in parallel, then the device complexity is low, but the number of unpurified passages increases reducing purification efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a stacking dimension to the parallel arrangement, creating multiple layers of plate-shaped members. This increases device complexity slightly but ensures that passages are faced by electrode layers from multiple layers, eliminating unpurified passages and significantly improving purification rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple layers of plate-shaped members into a single integrated structure where the passages are collectively faced by anode and cathode layers from different layers. This combining approach ensures complete purification coverage while maintaining a unified device structure.
3Device complexity
If passages are not faced by both anode and cathode layers, then the structure is simpler, but exhaust gas purification is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests multiple plate-shaped members within each other, where each member contributes anode and cathode layers that face the passages. This nested configuration ensures that passages are comprehensively faced by electrode layers from multiple members, guaranteeing complete purification without excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dimensional stacking to ensure passages are faced by electrode layers from multiple layers, transitioning from a two-dimensional surface-facing problem to a three-dimensional solution where passages are surrounded by electrode layers from multiple perspectives.
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 significantly reduces unpurified passages, thereby enhancing the overall exhaust gas purification rate by ensuring that NOx and other pollutants are effectively treated across all flow paths.
Implementation Method 1
ion conducting solid electrolyte layer
Implementation Method 2
NOx is reduced to N2 on the cathode layers and purified
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrochemical reactor 45 includes a plurality of plate-shaped members 63 and a plurality of passages 64 defined by the plurality of plate-shaped members. Each plate-shaped member includes a cell including an ion conducting solid electrolyte layer, an anode layer arranged on a surface of the solid electrolyte layer, and a cathode layer arranged on a surface of the solid electrolyte layer at an opposite side to the surface at which the anode layer is arranged. The plate-shaped members are configured so that, for all of the passages, both of an anode layer of at least one plate-shaped member among the plurality of plate-shaped members defining the passages and a cathode layer of at least one other plate-shaped member among the plurality of plate-shaped members defining the passages face the passages.