Electrochemical Hydrogen Pump Pressure Transfer for Low Contact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrochemical hydrogen pumps, the increase in contact resistance between the cathode separator and the cathode due to deformation under high gas pressure leads to efficiency decreases, as the cathode separator curves away from the end plate, creating gaps and increasing resistance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pressure transmitting member between the cathode separator and the cathode end plate to maintain contact and reduce deformation, ensuring consistent hydrogen pressure distribution across the cathode separator, thus preventing gaps and maintaining low contact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cathode separator is subjected to high gas pressure to improve hydrogen pumping performance, then the hydrogen pumping efficiency is improved, but the cathode separator deforms and curves away from the end plate, increasing contact resistance
Solution Approach 1:
A pressure transmitting member (such as a spring or elastic element) is introduced as an intermediary between the cathode separator and the end plate. This intermediary component transmits the high gas pressure from the cathode side to the anode side while maintaining continuous contact, preventing the separator from curving away and thus suppressing contact resistance increase
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure transmitting member changes its physical state (compression/extension) in response to pressure changes, allowing it to adaptively maintain contact between the separator and end plate under varying pressure conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between high pressure operation and contact stability
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 solution effectively suppresses the increase in contact resistance, maintaining efficient operation by ensuring continuous contact between the cathode separator and the cathode, even under high pressure conditions, thereby enhancing the electrochemical hydrogen pump's performance.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure transmitting member between the cathode separator and the cathode end plate to maintain contact and reduce deformation, ensuring consistent hydrogen pressure distribution across the cathode separator
Implementation Method 2
Electrochemical hydrogen pump... an electrochemical hydrogen pump in which an increase in contact resistance between a cathode separator and a cathode in a hydrogen pump unit can be appropriately suppressed
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An electrochemical hydrogen pump includes: at least one hydrogen pump unit including an electrolyte membrane, an anode, a cathode, an anode separator, and a cathode separator; an anode end plate disposed on the anode separator positioned in a first end in a stacking direction, the first end is one end and the second end is another end; a cathode end plate disposed on the cathode separator positioned in a second end in the stacking direction; a fixing member that prevents at least members from the cathode end plate to the cathode separator positioned in the second end from moving in the stacking direction; a first gas flow channel through which hydrogen generated in the cathode is supplied to a first space disposed between the cathode end plate and the cathode separator positioned in the second end; and a first pressure transmitting member disposed in the first space.