Concentric Metal-Air Cell Electrodes for Electrolyte Circulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing metal-air battery systems face challenges in efficiently storing and supplying electrolyte solution in circulation, leading to potential zinc pellet flow and difficulty in modifying the system to enhance charging and discharging efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A metal-air battery system with a concentric arrangement of electrodes, including a negative electrode, charging positive electrode, and discharging positive electrode, where electrolyte solution flows between the outer peripheral surfaces of these electrodes, facilitating circulation and reducing resistance loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If electrolyte solution is supplied in circulation to enable electricity storage, then electricity storage capability is improved, but zinc pellets may flow away along with the electrolyte solution
Solution Approach 1:
A flow rate control unit is introduced as an intermediary device to regulate the electrolyte solution flow rate. This mediator ensures that the flow rate remains below a predetermined threshold, preventing zinc pellets from being carried away while still enabling electricity storage through electrolyte circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring the flow rate of electrolyte solution and adjusting it to maintain operation below a critical threshold. This feedback mechanism ensures that zinc pellets are retained while still achieving the desired electricity storage function through controlled circulation.
2Productivity
If concentric electrode arrangement is used to reduce current density and resistance, then charging/discharging efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by arranging electrodes in a concentric configuration where the first electrode is positioned inside the second electrode, which is inside the third electrode. This nested arrangement creates natural radial current paths that reduce current density and resistance, improving charging/discharging efficiency while utilizing compact space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar electrode arrangement to a three-dimensional concentric configuration. By utilizing radial and axial dimensions simultaneously, the system achieves reduced current density and resistance through the concentric geometry, improving efficiency without requiring larger planar areas.
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 configuration allows for efficient charging and discharging by reducing current density and resistance, enabling effective electricity storage and minimizing the risk of internal short circuits.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolyte solution flows at least between an outer peripheral surface of the first electrode and an inner peripheral surface of the third electrode
Implementation Method 2
it is possible to reduce a current density during operation of the electrodes arranged on the outer side compared to that of the central electrode. The resistance of the system can be reduced by utilizing this effect
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A metal-air battery system includes a cell including: a chamber; and an electrode device housed in the chamber. The electrode device includes: a first electrode; a tubular second electrode disposed so as to surround the first electrode on a radially outer side of the first electrode; and a tubular third electrode disposed so as to surround the second electrode on a radially outer side of the second electrode, and is configured such that an electrolyte solution flows at least between an outer peripheral surface of the first electrode and an inner peripheral surface of the third electrode. A combination of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode is a combination of a negative electrode containing metal, a charging positive electrode, and a discharging positive electrode.