Water Electrolysis Separator Through-Hole Gas Flow Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water electrolysis apparatuses face challenges in allowing gas to flow smoothly from accommodating chambers to hydrogen communication holes without damaging seal members when the pressure is reduced, particularly when using non-porous materials.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a communication hole body with an inside member facing the hydrogen communication hole and an outside member with an accommodating chamber, featuring through holes that guide gas from the accommodating chamber to the hydrogen communication hole, preventing blockage and stress on seal members by ensuring the openings face away from the seal members during pressure reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a porous material is used to allow gas flow from accommodating chamber to hydrogen communication hole, then gas flow smoothness is improved, but material cost increases and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous material principles by forming through-holes in the inside member that connect the accommodating chamber to the hydrogen communication hole. These through-holes create flow paths that enable smooth gas movement without requiring the entire member to be made of expensive porous material, thus achieving gas flow smoothness while maintaining manufacturing feasibility with economical materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication hole body is divided into an inside member and an outside member, with the inside member containing through-holes for gas flow. This segmentation allows the gas flow function to be achieved in a specific region (through the holes in the inside member) rather than requiring the entire structure to use expensive porous material, resolving the contradiction between gas flow smoothness and manufacturing ease.
2Productivity
If the hydrogen communication hole is depressurized to allow hydrogen flow, then hydrogen flow rate improves, but seal member damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inside member with through-holes acts as an intermediary structure between the accommodating chamber and hydrogen communication hole. During depressurization, this intermediary structure guides the gas flow through controlled paths (the through-holes) rather than allowing direct pressure differential action on the seal member, thus enabling high hydrogen flow rate while protecting seal member integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The through-holes in the inside member are pre-configured to provide controlled flow paths before depressurization occurs. This beforehand preparation ensures that when the hydrogen communication hole is depressurized for hydrogen flow, the gas follows the pre-established through-hole paths rather than creating uncontrolled pressure shocks that could damage seal members.
3Ease of operation
If through holes are formed in the inside member to enable gas flow, then gas flow capability is improved, but risk of seal member blockage or stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The through-holes are strategically positioned and dimensioned in the inside member to create localized flow paths that guide gas away from seal member locations. This local quality design ensures gas flow capability through the holes while preventing the harmful effects of blockage or stress on seal members by controlling where the gas flows and how it interacts with surrounding components.
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 enables smooth gas flow to the hydrogen communication hole while preventing seal member damage, even when using non-porous, economically viable materials, by adjusting the through hole dimensions and flow rate to maintain effective sealing and prevent stress on seal members.
Implementation Method 1
when the hydrogen communication hole, which has been raised in pressure by introduction of hydrogen therein, is reduced in pressure (depressurized), the interiors of the accommodating chambers are also reduced in pressure. In order to allow the hydrogen to flow smoothly from the accommodating chambers to the hydrogen communication hole
Implementation Method 2
an accommodating chamber, which is interposed between the outside member and the inside member, and accommodates a seal member that seals the hydrogen communication hole and a side of the anode current collector
Implementation Method 3
a water electrolysis apparatus which generates hydrogen by electrolysis of water on a side of the cathode current collector
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen communication hole of a water electrolysis apparatus is formed to penetrate in a stacking direction through an anode separator, an electrolyte membrane, and a cathode separator. A communication hole body, which is disposed between an anode current collector and the hydrogen communication hole, includes an inside member facing toward the hydrogen communication hole, and an outside member facing toward the anode current collector. On the outside member, there are provided accommodating chambers in which seal members are accommodated, and an opposing surface that faces toward the inside member without the seal members being interposed therebetween. The accommodating chambers and the hydrogen communication hole communicate via through holes, which are formed in the inside member in a manner so that openings on one end thereof face toward the opposing surface, and openings on another end thereof face toward the hydrogen communication hole.