Alkaline Water Electrolyzer Gasket Structure for Diaphragm Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In alkaline water electrolyzers, excessive pressing surface pressure on the gasket can lead to damage to the gasket and diaphragm, while a thinner diaphragm increases electrolysis efficiency but reduces rupture strength, making it difficult to control the pressing surface pressure effectively.
Innovation Solution
The alkaline water electrolyzer design includes outer frames stacked to overlap partially in the circumferential direction, a gasket with a frame shape and a slit along the circumferential direction, and a diaphragm caught in the slit. The gasket has protrusion portions that change volume when pressed, allowing for controlled contact pressure between the gasket and diaphragm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pressing surface pressure of the gasket is increased to prevent leakage, then the effectiveness of preventing out-of-tank leakage and in-tank leakage is improved, but the gasket and diaphragm are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is designed with a protrusion portion that creates a localized high-pressure zone at the diaphragm contact position. This allows the pressing pressure to be concentrated where it is most needed (at the diaphragm edge) rather than distributed uniformly, improving leakage prevention while reducing the overall pressing force required and thus preventing damage to the gasket and diaphragm
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion portion is pre-formed in the gasket structure before assembly. When the electrolyzer is assembled and pressed, the protrusion portion automatically contacts the diaphragm first and establishes the optimal pressing pressure distribution from the beginning, preventing both leakage and damage without requiring additional adjustment or higher overall pressure
2Productivity
If the diaphragm thickness is reduced to increase electrolysis efficiency, then the electrolysis efficiency is improved, but the rupture strength of the diaphragm decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion portion creates a localized support structure that reinforces the diaphragm at the critical edge position where it contacts the gasket. This local reinforcement allows the diaphragm to be thinner in the central area (improving electrolysis efficiency) while maintaining sufficient strength at the vulnerable edge region through the concentrated support from the protrusion portion
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 reduces the possibility of out-of-tank and in-tank leakage while minimizing damage to the gasket and diaphragm, by maintaining an appropriate pressing surface pressure within a controlled range.
Implementation Method 1
a gasket sandwiched between two outer frames... having a first protrusion portion that protrudes over the entire circumferential direction at a position overlapping the slit... a volume ratio (B1/A1) of volume B1 of the first protrusion portion to volume A1 between a bottom of the slit and an end of the diaphragm, in a state of being released from being pressed
Data Source
AI summary
An alkaline water electrolyzer includes at least two outer frames, a gasket, and a diaphragm. The at least two outer frames are stacked so as to overlap at least in part in a circumferential direction. The gasket is sandwiched between the two outer frames. The gasket can be in contact with the outer frames over the entire circumferential direction. In an inner peripheral surface of the gasket, a slit is formed along the circumferential direction. The gasket has a first protrusion portion. The first protrusion portion protrudes over the entire circumferential direction at a position overlapping the slit when viewed from a thickness direction of the slit. A diaphragm is caught in the slit of the gasket. A volume ratio of volume of the first protrusion portion, to volume between a bottom of the slit and an end of the diaphragm, is between 0.5 and 100 inclusive.