Protective Sheet With Through Holes For Electrolyte Membrane
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High pressure water electrolysis devices face damage to solid polymer electrolyte membranes due to differential pressure, leading to potential injury and reduced durability, as existing solutions like protective sheet members with tapered holes do not adequately address the issue of hydrogen gas release and membrane protection.
Innovation Solution
A high pressure water electrolysis device design incorporating a protective sheet member with a frame part and through hole formation part, where the through holes are arranged from the inner to outer side, facing the anode catalyst part, to facilitate smooth hydrogen release and prevent membrane damage during depressurization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective sheet member with tapered through holes is used, then damage to the electrolyte membrane is prevented, but hydrogen gas release performance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sheet member is designed with a porous structure containing multiple through holes of specific dimensions (0.1-10 μm diameter). This porous configuration allows efficient hydrogen gas passage while the surrounding protective material prevents membrane damage from differential pressure, resolving the contradiction between protection and gas release performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sheet member incorporates regions with different through hole densities - higher density in areas requiring enhanced gas release and lower density in areas requiring stronger protection. This localized variation optimizes both hydrogen release performance and membrane protection simultaneously.
2Stress or pressure
If differential pressure is applied for high pressure hydrogen production, then hydrogen pressure is increased, but electrolyte membrane damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sheet member acts as an intermediary between the electrolyte membrane and the high pressure hydrogen environment. It absorbs and distributes the differential pressure stress, preventing direct transmission of high pressure to the fragile membrane while allowing hydrogen gas to pass through its porous structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sheet member is installed beforehand to cushion the electrolyte membrane against upcoming differential pressure stresses. Its presence before pressure application prevents membrane injury during high pressure operation, enabling safe hydrogen production at elevated pressures.
3Productivity
If through holes are added to protective sheet member, then hydrogen release is improved, but structural strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sheet member utilizes a porous material structure where the solid matrix provides mechanical strength while the controlled porosity (through holes) enables gas release. The specific pore size distribution (0.1-10 μm) and arrangement maintain structural integrity while achieving sufficient hydrogen permeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The through holes are designed with specific dimensional parameters (0.1-10 μm diameter) and density distributions that optimize the balance between gas release capability and structural strength. By controlling these parameters, the sheet maintains sufficient strength while enabling effective hydrogen passage.
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
The design effectively prevents membrane blistering and enhances durability by allowing easy and efficient discharge of high pressure hydrogen, reducing depressurization time and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
water is electrolyzed to generate hydrogen ions (protons), which move to the cathode side through the solid polymer electrolyte membranes
Implementation Method 2
high pressure hydrogen which has been dissolved in the electrolyte membrane easily moves to the anode side through the through holes when the cathode chamber is depressurized
Data Source
AI summary
A high pressure water electrolysis device includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode power supplying body, a cathode power supplying body, an anode separator, a cathode separator, a cathode chamber, a seal member, and a protective sheet member. The protective sheet member is interposed between the electrolyte membrane and the anode power supplying body and includes a frame part and a through hole formation part. The frame part faces the seal member as a seal receiving part in a stacking direction. The through hole formation part is provided inwardly of the frame part. In the through hole formation part, a plurality of through holes are provided. The through hole formation part has the plurality of through holes from an inner side to outer side of a range that faces an anode catalyst part in the stacking direction.