Perforated Ribs for Electrolysis Mixing and Airlift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrolysis devices face challenges in achieving sufficient mixing in both longitudinal and vertical directions while maintaining the airlift pump effect, leading to non-uniform current distribution and potential membrane damage due to insufficient brine supply.
Innovation Solution
The electrolysis device features webs or ribs that extend in both the height and transverse directions, with a solid lower region for unobstructed airlift pump effect and a upper region with holes or cutouts for longitudinal mixing, optimizing the distribution of electrolyte and preventing membrane damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If solid ribs or webs are used to subdivide the electrolysis cell, then the cell structure is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but the supply of brine to the membrane becomes insufficient leading to membrane damage
Solution Approach 1:
The ribs or webs are provided with holes or cutouts, transforming them from solid structures to porous/open structures. This allows brine to pass through the ribs via capillary action and pressure gradients, ensuring sufficient supply to the membrane while maintaining the structural subdivision function. The porous design resolves the contradiction by enabling both structural integrity and adequate fluid supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The ribs are segmented into different regions: a lower solid region for structural support and an upper region with holes for fluid distribution. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function - the solid lower part provides mechanical strength while the perforated upper part ensures brine supply to the membrane, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and membrane reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If holes or cutouts are provided over the entire height of the ribs to improve longitudinal mixing, then mixing performance is enhanced, but the airlift pump effect is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The ribs are divided into two distinct regions: a lower solid region without holes that maintains the airlift pump effect for vertical mixing and productivity, and an upper region with holes that enables longitudinal mixing. This segmentation allows both contradictory requirements to be satisfied in different spatial zones of the same structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the rib structure have different properties - the lower region is solid to preserve the airlift pump effect, while the upper region has holes for longitudinal mixing. This local differentiation of structure and function resolves the contradiction between maintaining productivity through airlift pump effect and achieving homogeneity through longitudinal mixing.
3Productivity
If the membrane is positioned very close to the electrodes to improve current distribution, then electrical efficiency is improved, but brine supply to the membrane becomes insufficient causing blister formation
Solution Approach 1:
The perforated ribs provide capillary channels and pressure-driven flow paths that ensure sufficient brine supply to the membrane even when positioned close to the electrodes. The holes in the ribs create multiple flow paths and reduce flow resistance, maintaining both high electrical efficiency through close membrane-electrode spacing and membrane integrity through adequate brine supply.
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 ensures optimal mixing and brine transport across the cell height and width, preventing membrane damage and maintaining efficient electrolysis performance even at high current densities.
Implementation Method 1
a certain natural mixing occurs in the vertical direction owing to the buoyancy effect of the chlorine gas
Implementation Method 2
Since gas bubbles form in the electrolyte during electrolysis and then ascend upwards in the liquid, the airlift pump effect occurs here, as a result of which vertical mixing of the electrolyte is realized
Data Source
AI summary
An electrolysis device for the electrolytic treatment of liquids has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber which are separated from one another via an ion exchange membrane. The chambers are provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the flowing electrolyte, each with one electrode. The inner space of the anode chamber and/or of the cathode chamber are/is subdivided by webs or ribs extending transversely with respect to the electrodes. The webs or ribs are provided at least regionally with holes or cut outs. The webs or ribs include at least one lower region free of holes or cut outs. The electrolysis device provides sufficient mixing in the upper foam phase in the longitudinal direction and also at the same time the airlift pump effect is maintained by way of ascending gas bubbles in the lower region.