Flexible Biofuel Cell with Bending-Induced Solution Mixing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cells, including biofuel cells, face performance degradation over time due to fuel supply issues and pH gradients, requiring external power for solution stirring, which complicates the structure and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A flexible biofuel cell design featuring flexible materials for the cell sections and casing, including a pair of electrode sheets with immobilized oxidoreductase, a proton-permeable separator, and a fuel reservoir, allowing for easy deformation to stir the solution without electric power, such as through bending, and incorporating a gas-permeable membrane and bellows structure for enhanced air supply and structural flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid casing and hard materials are used for the cell structure, then structural strength and protection against fuel crossover are improved, but flexibility and ease of deformation for solution stirring are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible materials throughout the cell construction, including flexible electrodes, flexible electrolyte membranes, and flexible casings. This allows the entire cell structure to be deformable, enabling solution stirring through simple bending motions without requiring rigid components that would prevent flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cell structure is designed to be dynamically deformable rather than statically rigid. The flexible components allow the cell to change shape and bend, creating dynamic motion that stirs the solution internally. This transforms the cell from a fixed structure to one that can adapt its shape for functional purposes.
2Productivity
If electric power is supplied to stir the fuel solution, then solution mixing and cell performance restoration are improved, but power generation efficiency and structural simplicity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cell performs self-stirring through mechanical deformation of its flexible structure. By bending or deforming the flexible cell body, the solution inside is naturally stirred without requiring external power input. The system uses its own structural properties to achieve mixing, eliminating the need for separate stirring mechanisms powered by electricity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional electrically-powered stirring system with a mechanically-driven approach. Instead of using electric motors or pumps to stir the solution, the invention uses manual or external mechanical deformation of the flexible cell structure to create stirring motion, substituting electrical energy with mechanical energy input.
3Productivity
If electric power is supplied to stir the fuel solution, then solution mixing is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex electric stirring subsystem from the cell design. By eliminating motors, power connections, and control systems for stirring, the invention simplifies the overall device structure. The stirring function is achieved through the inherent flexibility of the cell structure rather than through separate mechanical components.
4Productivity
If the cell is deformed to stir the solution, then solution mixing and performance restoration are improved, but structural integrity and protection against damage are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite flexible materials that combine structural strength with deformability. The flexible electrodes, membranes, and casings are constructed from materials or material combinations that maintain integrity during bending and deformation while still allowing sufficient flexibility for stirring motions.
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 flexible design enables easy restoration of cell performance by dispelling concentration and pH gradients, simplifying the structure, and maintaining high efficiency while ensuring safety with a neutral aqueous solution, allowing for power generation even when folded or stacked.
Implementation Method 1
a separator which is disposed between the electrode sheets and which has a proton-permeable membrane
Implementation Method 2
an enzyme is used as a reaction catalyst
Implementation Method 3
an oxidation reaction of glucose proceeds and electrons are taken out at a negative electrode (anode)
Implementation Method 4
a gas-permeable membrane which is impermeable to liquid and is permeable only to gas is disposed between the sealing sheet and the electrode sheet constituting the cathode
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a flexible fuel cell including, one or a plurality of cell sections, and a sealing sheet covering the cell section or sections, wherein the cell section has, at least, a pair of electrode sheets which form an anode and a cathode and at least one of which is accompanied by an oxidoreductase present at a surface thereof, a separator which is disposed between the electrode sheets and which has a proton-permeable membrane, a pair of current collectors which are electrically conductively connected respectively to the electrode sheets with a conductive adhesive, and a fuel reservoir section which is provided at such a position as to make contact with the anode at least and in which a fuel solution containing a fuel component is reserved.