Multistack Electrolysis Arrangement to Preserve Cell Active Area
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale electrolysis systems face challenges with increased demand for electrolyte and gas production, leading to enlarged distributors and collectors that reduce the active area of electrolysis cells, thereby decreasing capacity.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement comprises two electrolysis cells units with separate end plates and outlets for electrolysis products, connected to a shared power supply and separator, allowing for efficient distribution and collection of electrolyte and products, while maintaining a larger active area for electrolysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of electrolysis cells is increased to achieve large-scale electrolysis, then the production capacity increases, but the electrolyte distributor and collectors must be enlarged which reduces the active area of each electrolysis cell
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a large electrolysis system into multiple independent electrolysis cell stacks, each with its own distributor and collectors. This segmentation allows each stack to maintain compact distributor/collector dimensions while achieving large-scale production through parallel operation of multiple stacks, thus preserving active area while increasing overall capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single large-scale electrolysis system to a multi-stack configuration, adding the dimension of spatial arrangement. Multiple stacks are arranged in parallel, allowing the system to achieve large capacity without enlarging the distributor and collectors of individual cells, thereby maintaining optimal active area
2Productivity
If the electrolyte distributor and collectors are enlarged to handle increased electrolyte flow and gas production, then the production capacity increases, but the active area of electrolysis cells is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gas collection function into multiple separate collectors, one for each electrolysis cell stack. This allows each collector to be sized appropriately for its specific stack's gas production, avoiding the need for a single oversized collector that would encroach on active area while still achieving high overall gas production capacity
3Device complexity
If a single large electrolysis stack is used to reduce system complexity, then the number of components decreases, but the distributor and collectors become too large reducing active area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrolysis system into multiple standardizable modules (stacks), each with optimized-sized distributors and collectors. While this increases the number of stacks, it allows each module to maintain appropriate dimensions that preserve active area, and the modular design enables standardized manufacturing and assembly
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 increases electrolysis capacity by optimizing the distribution and collection of electrolyte and products, reducing the need for multiple systems and minimizing plot size and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
a power supply that is connected electrically to both electrolysis cells units for powering an electrolysis therein
Implementation Method 2
a first separator that is connected fluidly to the first outlets of both electrolysis cells units and to the second outlets of both electrolysis cells units, and that has a separator gas outlet and a separator liquid outlet
Data Source
AI summary
An electrolysis system (1) having:a first electrolysis cells unit (2) and a second electrolysis cells unit (3), each respectively having a first end plate (4), a second end plate (5) and a plurality of electrolysis cells (6) arranged adjacent to each other between the first end plate (4) and the second end plate (5), wherein each of the electrolysis cells (6) respectively has an anode space (13) with an anode (14), a cathode space (15) with a cathode (16) and a diaphragm (17) that separates the anode space (13) from the cathode space (15), anda first separator (18) that is connected fluidly to the first outlets (9) of both electrolysis cells units (2,3) and to the second outlets (10) of both electrolysis cells units (2,3), and that has a separator gas outlet (21) and a separator liquid outlet (22).