Electrolysis Cell Mesh Electrode Web Rib Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrolysis cells for chlor-alkali and alkaline water electrolysis face a trade-off between achieving homogeneous reaction conditions and maintaining mechanical stiffness, as efficient electrodes with fine mesh structures compromise on mechanical strength.
Innovation Solution
The electrolysis cell design incorporates an electrode made from a metallic mesh supported by a grid of webs and ribs, which provides additional mechanical support without reducing the distance between the webs, thus maintaining efficient electrolyte flow and reaction conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electrodes with fine mesh structures are used to increase reaction surface area, then energy efficiency and material usage are improved, but mechanical stiffness of the electrode is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into a grid of webs and ribs that divide the electrode into multiple supported regions. This segmentation allows the use of fine mesh electrodes while the grid structure provides distributed mechanical support across the electrode surface, preventing collapse while maintaining the fine mesh structure's high surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The web-rib grid structure acts as an intermediary between the fine mesh electrode and the rigid back wall. This intermediate support system provides the necessary mechanical stiffness without directly constraining the fine mesh structure, allowing the electrode to maintain its high surface area while gaining structural support.
2Stability of the object's composition
If distance between webs is reduced to increase mechanical support, then electrode stability is improved, but flow characteristics of electrolyte/gas mixtures are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure uses local reinforcement at strategic positions with ribs extending between webs. This creates zones of enhanced support where needed while maintaining larger open spaces in other areas, providing electrode stability locally without compromising overall flow characteristics through the electrode chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure transitions from a single-plane web system to a three-dimensional web-rib grid system. The ribs add a second dimension of support perpendicular to the webs, enhancing electrode stability without requiring reduced web spacing, thereby preserving flow pathways in the original web directions.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrolysis cell for chlor-alkali or alkaline water electrolysis comprises two cell elements each defining an electrode chamber by providing a back wall and sidewalls of the electrode chambers, an electrode accommodated in each of the electrode chambers, and a sheet-like separator extending in a height direction and a width direction of the electrolysis cell, the separator being interposed in a joint between the two cell elements and providing a separating wall between the electrode chambers, wherein at least one of the electrodes is made from a sheet of metallic mesh, which is supported by a plurality of webs attached to the back wall of the respective electrode chamber, the webs extending in the height direction of the electrolysis cell, and wherein a plurality of ribs extending in the width direction of the electrolysis cell is carried by the webs, wherein the electrode is disposed on the plurality of ribs.