Magnesium Fuel Element With Foldable Separators

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing magnesium air battery design limits the thickness of magnesium to about 100 μm, making it difficult to wind in a cylindrical form and restricts the use of thicker magnesium, which hinders the development of batteries with varied characteristics and continuous introduction and extraction of magnesium fuel elements.

Innovation Solution

A magnesium fuel element comprising multiple thin plates connected by foldable surface and back separators, allowing for accordion-like expansion and contraction, enabling continuous introduction and extraction of magnesium of any thickness, and an electrode system that includes an inlet and outlet for magnesium thin plates, a cathode, and an electrolyte hold-back agent for efficient ion exchange and electromotive force generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If magnesium film is wound on reels in a cylindrical form, then the battery structure is compact and manageable, but the thickness of magnesium is limited to about 100 μm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecylindrical winding structureVSAvoidmagnesium thickness range

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The magnesium fuel element is divided into multiple thin plates (first magnesium thin plate, second magnesium thin plate, etc.) stacked together. Each thin plate can be processed independently to precise thickness specifications, and the stack allows for variable total thickness by adjusting the number of plates, thereby overcoming the 100 μm thickness limitation of cylindrical winding while maintaining manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If magnesium thickness exceeds 100 μm, then batteries with varied characteristics can be developed, but it becomes difficult to wind magnesium in a cylindrical form

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery characteristics varietyVSAvoidcylindrical winding feasibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional cylindrical winding approach to a three-dimensional stacked plate structure. By stacking multiple thin plates in the vertical dimension, the system achieves variable thickness (and thus varied battery characteristics) without requiring cylindrical winding, thereby solving the manufacturing difficulty while enabling thickness flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If foldable separators are used to connect magnesium thin plates, then continuous introduction and extraction of magnesium is enabled, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous magnesium introduction and extractionVSAvoidseparator folding mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Foldable separators (first foldable separator, second foldable separator) are used to connect the magnesium thin plates. These flexible separators can be accordion-folded during the introduction and extraction processes, allowing continuous operation while maintaining structural integrity. The flexibility of thin film separators simplifies the overall mechanism compared to rigid connecting structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 allows for the continuous and flexible use of magnesium of any thickness, enhancing the battery's performance and capacity, enabling the construction of magnesium air batteries with diverse characteristics and efficient electromotive force generation.

Implementation Method 1

one of the plurality of magnesium thin plates inserted into said electrode, generates an electromotive force with such magnesium thin plates as a fuel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation reaction: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

At least one of said surface separator and said back separator may be formed from a transparent film which transmits ions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon transmission: Ion Exchange

Data Source

PatentUS10270144B2Magnesium fuel element, magnesium air battery, and electronics

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 MGR ENERGY LLP

AI summary

A magnesium fuel element (100) comprises the magnesium thin plate (101), the front surface separator (102), and the back separator (103), and functions as a fuel for the magnesium air battery. The front surface separator (102) and the back separator (103) are folded, and the plurality of magnesium thin plates (101) are arranged in a stacked manner. The front surface separator (102) and the back separator (103) will be expanded, if the magnesium thin plate (101) moves parallel to the front surface.