Sealing Frame Porosity and Flow Resistance in Redox-Flow Battery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Redox flow batteries face challenges with sealing frames that are prone to manufacturing tolerances, leading to membrane distortion, inability to adjust to local conditions, and inefficiencies due to flow resistance and pressure issues, requiring sealing frames with long-term stability and resistance to vibrations and pressure oscillations.

Innovation Solution

The electrode module is designed with a sealing frame that maintains high porosity of the electrode, using a mechanical connection that does not impair porosity, incorporating a multi-lip seal, conically converging channels, and clawing elements to secure the electrode, along with acid-resistant materials and integrated channels for electrolyte flow and filtration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a seal is compressed from both sides onto a thin membrane to achieve sealing action, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the membrane can be permanently damaged due to seal offsets and unintended distortion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidmembrane damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing frame is divided into multiple segments or zones with different sealing mechanisms. The seal is not applied uniformly across the entire membrane but is segmented into specific regions, allowing differential pressure distribution that prevents membrane distortion while maintaining sealing effectiveness in critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing frame incorporates local variations in sealing pressure and seal profile configuration. Different portions of the seal have different compression forces applied to them based on local requirements, with higher compression in areas needing stronger sealing and lower compression in areas sensitive to membrane damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the seal is made rigid to maintain positioning accuracy, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the seal cannot adjust to varied local circumstances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal positioning accuracyVSAvoidadjustment to local conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing frame incorporates dynamic elements that allow the seal to adjust its position and compression force in response to local variations in the membrane or assembly conditions. The seal can dynamically adapt its configuration while maintaining overall positioning accuracy through controlled flexibility in specific zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the electrode is highly porous to ensure good flow homogeneity and reduce pressure drop, then fluid flow efficiency is improved, but the electrode structure becomes weaker and more difficult to secure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow efficiencyVSAvoidelectrode structural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode structure incorporates local variations in porosity and mechanical reinforcement. High-porosity regions are positioned in areas requiring optimal fluid flow, while locally reinforced zones with higher structural strength are positioned where mechanical support and securing are critical, creating a functionally graded structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If the sealing frame is designed for long-term stability and resistance to vibrations and pressure oscillations, then durability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelong-term stabilityVSAvoidsealing frame structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing frame utilizes composite material structures that combine different materials with complementary properties. This allows simultaneous achievement of vibration resistance, pressure oscillation tolerance, and long-term stability without requiring overly complex geometries, as the material composition itself provides the necessary mechanical performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 efficient electrolyte flow, maintains electrode porosity, and provides long-term stability, reducing flow resistance and enhancing the battery's power charging and discharging capacity while preventing electrolyte bypass, thus improving the overall efficiency and durability of the redox flow cell.

Implementation Method 1

incorporating a multi-lip seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

conically converging channels for electrolyte flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 3

clawing elements to secure the electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical connection: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 4

maintains high porosity of the electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Implementation Method 5

acid-resistant materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical resistance:

Data Source

PatentUS10283787B2Sealing frame for a redox-flow battery electrode module

Publication Date: 2019.05.07 CARL FREUDENBERG KG

AI summary

An electrode module for a redox flow battery, includes an electrode (1) and a sealing frame (2), mechanically connected so that the electrode module that results therefrom can be used with no problems in redox flow cells.