Polyarylene Sulfide Fluidic Members for Complex Electrolyzer Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fluidic members for electrolyzers, such as those made from silicone rubber or fluoropolymers, are difficult and costly to form into complex shapes required for electrolyzer systems, necessitating a more versatile and cost-effective material for fluid conveyance in electrolyzer systems.

Innovation Solution

The development of an electrolyzer system utilizing a polymer composition that includes polyarylene sulfide, which offers low melt viscosity, high complex viscosity, and enhanced mechanical properties, allowing for the creation of flexible and thermally resistant fluidic members suitable for complex shapes within electrolyzer systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional materials like silicone rubber or fluoropolymer are used for fluidic members, then chemical resistance is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to difficulty in forming complex shapes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of forming complex shapesVSAvoidchemical resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameters by selecting polyarylene sulfide with specific viscosity characteristics (low melt viscosity for ease of forming, high complex viscosity for structural integrity). This parameter optimization allows the material to be easily formed into complex shapes while maintaining the chemical resistance required for electrolyzer applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material strategy by using polyarylene sulfide as the base polymer and incorporating various additives including processing aids, stabilizers, and reinforcement materials. This composite approach enhances both the manufacturability (ease of forming) and reliability (chemical resistance and mechanical properties) of the fluidic members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If polyarylene sulfide is used to improve ease of manufacture and flexibility, then manufacturing cost and complexity decrease, but material properties must be maintained for thermal and chemical resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing cost and complexityVSAvoidthermal resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the polyarylene sulfide material parameters by controlling molecular weight, viscosity, and thermal stability characteristics. The material is selected to have low melt viscosity for easy processing at lower temperatures while maintaining high thermal resistance for service temperature requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and thermal resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adopts a cost-effective material approach by replacing expensive conventional materials (silicone rubber, fluoropolymer) with polyarylene sulfide that offers comparable or superior performance at lower manufacturing cost. The material provides sufficient service life for electrolyzer applications while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS20230383428A1Fluidic Member for Use in an Electrolyzer System

Publication Date: 2023.11.30 TICONA LLC

AI summary

An electrolyzer system comprising an electrochemical cell and an electrolyzer fluidic member utilized to supply a fluid to the electrochemical cell is provided. The electrolyzer fluidic member comprises a polymer composition that includes a polyarylene sulfide.