Segmented Frame Assembly for Flat Redox Flow Battery Stacks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current redox flow battery technologies face issues with membrane fouling, cross-contamination of electrolyte solutions, electrical shunt paths, and increased fluid resistance, which hinder efficiency and manufacturing cost reduction.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a redox flow battery with a cell plate and frame assembly that forms a frame plate assembly, allowing for increased flatness and reduced manufacturing tolerances, enabling more efficient stacking and improved thermal management, and the use of manifold inserts for electrolyte solution circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-piece frame is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but flatness and manufacturing tolerances deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple frame segments that can be manufactured separately with relaxed tolerances and then assembled together to form the complete frame assembly, achieving both ease of manufacture and improved flatness
2Ease of manufacture
If fewer frame plate assemblies are stacked, then manufacturing is easier, but cell stack density and thermal management deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into multiple components that can be easily assembled and disassembled, facilitating the stacking of more frame plate assemblies while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular construction
3Manufacturing precision
If manufacturing tolerances are reduced, then frame flatness improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the frame into multiple segments, each segment can be manufactured with standard tolerances, and the segmentation itself provides the flatness needed for proper stacking without requiring complex high-precision manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple frame segments are assembled together to form the complete frame assembly, combining individually manufactured components into a unified structure that achieves the required flatness and tolerances
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 enhances cell stack efficiency, density, and thermal management, reducing cross-contamination and manufacturing costs while maintaining robust sealing and fluidic coupling.
Implementation Method 1
the membrane allows for proton exchange between the anolyte solution and the catholyte solution
Implementation Method 2
the current collector (e.g., an electrode) transfers the energy associated with the electron exchange between the anolyte and the catholyte
Data Source
AI summary
A segmented frame plate is provided, which may be used in a frame plate assembly of a redox flow battery cell stack. A plurality of segmented frame plates may couple together around a perimeter of a cell plate. Each segmented frame plate may provide fluidic communication from/to a redox flow reservoir and/or another frame plate assembly to a cell plate of the frame plate assembly.