Flow Battery Frame Channels to Suppress Electrolyte Crossover
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Solution Overview
Problem
The crossover phenomenon in redox flow batteries, where metal ions and water pass through the separator during charging or discharging, leads to an imbalance of electrolytes, reducing battery performance and lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A battery design that includes a frame with inter-electrode communication parts, such as through-holes and channels, to balance the liquid electrodes and prevent crossover, using a separating membrane to manage hydrogen cations and prevent deformation, while allowing for the movement of cations through the separator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separator is used to prevent crossover of metal ions and water, then battery lifespan and performance are improved, but the separator may deform under operational stress, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is designed with predetermined deformation regions that can elastically deform to accommodate volume changes of liquid electrodes during charge-discharge cycles. This pre-planned flexibility cushioning prevents stress concentration on the separator, avoiding its deformation and maintaining battery reliability and lifespan.
2Strength
If the frame is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then mechanical strength is improved, but the frame cannot accommodate volume changes of liquid electrodes, causing separator deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into rigid regions for structural support and predetermined deformation regions for flexibility. This segmentation allows the frame to maintain overall structural integrity while specific regions can elastically deform to accommodate liquid electrode volume changes, preventing separator deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the frame have different mechanical properties: rigid regions provide structural integrity while predetermined deformation regions provide flexibility. This local quality differentiation allows the frame to simultaneously satisfy both structural strength and adaptability requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If the inter-electrode communication part is positioned off-center, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but liquid electrode balance is poor, reducing battery performance
Solution Approach 1:
The inter-electrode communication part is intentionally positioned asymmetrically (off-center) in the frame. This asymmetric positioning provides manufacturing flexibility and ease of assembly while the predetermined deformation regions compensate to maintain liquid electrode balance during operation.
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 design effectively balances the liquid electrodes, suppressing the release of dissolved gas and preventing deformation, thereby enhancing battery performance and extending its lifespan by mitigating the crossover phenomenon.
Implementation Method 1
a separating membrane disposed between the first electrode reservoir and the second electrode reservoir
Implementation Method 2
a first liquid electrode to undergo a first half reaction; a second liquid electrode to undergo a second half reaction
Data Source
AI summary
A battery can include a first liquid electrode to undergo a first half reaction; a second liquid electrode to undergo a second half reaction; a frame that forms a first electrode reservoir in which the first liquid electrode stored, and forms a second electrode reservoir in which the second liquid electrode stored; a separating membrane disposed between said first electrode reservoir and said second electrode reservoir; an inter-electrode through-hole formed at the frame in an out-of-plane direction; a first inter-electrode channel connecting the inter-electrode through-hole and the first electrode reservoir; and a second inter-electrode channel connecting the inter-electrode through-hole and the second electrode reservoir.