Ion-Conducting Membrane Washing Sequence for Faster Impurity Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing ion-conducting membranes require multiple immersions in treatment solutions, leading to prolonged processing times and increased tank sizes, which in turn increase the amount of treatment solution needed, thereby hindering cost-effective production.
Innovation Solution
A method involving multiple liquid treatment steps with progressively shorter durations and smaller subsequent treatment tanks to reduce impurity ions in ion-conducting membranes, allowing for a more efficient and downsized production process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a sintered board is used as a support during ion-conducting membrane production, then the membrane can be formed on a flat surface, but the membrane contacts the sintered board and inherits its unevenness, reducing manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 1:
A new intermediary support structure is introduced between the ion-conducting membrane and the sintered board. This support includes a porous plate with through-holes that prevents direct contact between the membrane and the uneven sintered board surface, while still providing necessary support during the forming process. The porous structure allows fluid passage while the plate itself provides a smoother contact surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into multiple components: the sintered board (base support), the porous plate (intermediate support), and the spacers (positioning elements). This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the sintered board provides structural support, the porous plate provides a smoother contact surface, and the spacers maintain proper spacing.
2Ease of manufacture
If the membrane is formed directly on the sintered board, then the production process is simple, but the membrane surface becomes uneven due to contact with the sintered board
Solution Approach 1:
The porous plate acts as an intermediary component that is relatively simple to implement. It can be a standard porous plate component that fits between the sintered board and the membrane, adding minimal complexity to the production process while significantly improving surface uniformity.
3Manufacturing precision
If spacers are used to prevent membrane contact with the sintered board, then surface uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers are integrated with the porous plate to form a combined support assembly. The spacers are positioned on the porous plate and work together with it to maintain the membrane at the correct distance from the sintered board, while the porous plate itself provides the smooth contact surface. This merging reduces the number of separate components.
4Device complexity
If the membrane is positioned too close to the sintered board, then the support structure is simple, but the membrane surface becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The porous plate serves as a mediator that enforces proper spacing between the membrane and sintered board. Its physical presence as an intermediate layer ensures the membrane cannot contact the sintered board directly, maintaining the necessary distance for uniform surface formation.
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 approach enables the production of ion-conducting membranes with reduced impurity ions in a shorter time, while downsizing the production device and reducing the amount of treatment solution used, thereby improving efficiency and lowering costs.
Implementation Method 1
a porous plate and a plurality of spacers are used as a support for the ion-conducting membrane being formed so as to prevent contact between the ion-conducting membrane and the sintered board and to ensure that the ion-conducting membrane is at a predetermined distance from the sintered board
Implementation Method 2
When a membrane formation device is used to form an ion-conducting membrane on a sintered board, an uneven surface is sometimes observed on the membrane
Data Source
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AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a production method for producing an ion-conducting membrane with reduced impurities in a short time. A further purpose is to provide a more compact ion-conducting membrane production device which can reduce the amount of treatment solution used. In order to achieve this purpose, this production method has the following configuration. This method, for producing an ion-conducting membrane that contains a polymer having an ionic group, involves multiple liquid treatment steps in which a precursor membrane is brought into contact with an acid treatment solution or an alkali treatment solution, said precursor membrane containing a polymer in a state in which the aforementioned ionic group forms a salt with an impurity ion, wherein the liquid treatment time in the second and subsequent liquid treatment steps of the multiple liquid treatment steps is shorter than the liquid treatment time in the initial liquid treatment step.