Porous Transport Layer Support for Electrolyzer Flow Path Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The membrane electrode assembly in water electrolysis cells is prone to deformation and damage due to fastening pressure, leading to blocked fluid flow paths and increased differential pressure, which degrades fluidity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The electrochemical device incorporates a first porous transport layer supported by protrusion patterns on a separator, ensuring structural rigidity and guiding fluid flow through defined paths, while a sealing member maintains separation between the membrane electrode assembly and the separator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If fastening pressure is applied to the water electrolysis cell, then the cell structure is secured, but the membrane electrode assembly deforms and damages
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is divided into a first separator and a second separator that are stacked with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween. This segmentation distributes the fastening pressure across multiple components, preventing concentration of stress on the membrane electrode assembly and reducing deformation and damage.
2Shape
If the membrane electrode assembly deforms, then it blocks the through-hole, but fluid flow efficiency degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The first porous transport layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the membrane electrode assembly and the first separator. This porous layer acts as a mediator that supports the membrane electrode assembly, preventing it from deforming and blocking the through-hole, thereby maintaining fluid flow efficiency while still allowing reactant transport.
Solution Approach 2:
A first porous transport layer is disposed between the membrane electrode assembly and the first separator. The porous structure of this layer allows it to absorb and distribute mechanical stress, preventing deformation of the membrane electrode assembly while maintaining permeability for reactant transport, thus preventing through-hole blockage and maintaining fluid flow efficiency.
3Stress or pressure
If the through-hole is blocked by deformed membrane electrode assembly, then differential pressure increases, but the device reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The first porous transport layer serves as a protective intermediary that prevents the membrane electrode assembly from directly contacting and blocking the through-hole in the first separator. This intermediary layer maintains the open state of the through-hole, ensuring proper fluid flow paths and preventing abnormal differential pressure increases, thereby improving device reliability and stability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an electrochemical device including a membrane electrode assembly, a first separator including a manifold part through which a reaction fluid is introduced or discharged, a flow path part spaced apart from the manifold part, and a through-hole provided between the manifold part and the flow path part and configured to guide the reaction fluid, which has passed through the manifold part, to the flow path part, a first porous transport layer configured to entirely cover the flow path part and the through-hole and interposed between the membrane electrode assembly and the first separator, and a first protrusion pattern provided on the first separator, and configured to support the first porous transport layer on the first separator while defining a guide flow path configured to guide the reaction fluid, which has passed through the through-hole, to the flow path part.