Self-Sealing Flow Frame for Redox Battery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flow battery systems rely on separate seals like rubber O-rings, which degrade and increase system failures and manufacturing costs due to the complexity of additional parts.

Innovation Solution

A self-sealing flow frame with a tongue-and-groove configuration that forms a tessellation engagement when assembled, eliminating the need for separate seals by compressing and sandwiching cell components to create a fluid seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate seals like rubber O-rings are used to prevent electrolyte leakage, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase due to additional parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is merged with the flow frame structure itself. The tongue-and-groove configuration integrates the sealing mechanism into the frame components, eliminating the need for separate seal elements. The groove receives and retains the electrolyte while the tongue provides the sealing surface, combining structural support and sealing functions in a single integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The separate seal components (O-rings, gaskets) are extracted and removed from the system. The invention eliminates these additional parts by using the flow frame's own geometric features (tongue-and-groove configuration) to provide sealing, thereby reducing part count and simplifying the overall device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If separate seals are used to contain electrolytes, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing costs increase due to additional parts and assembly steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrolyte containmentVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If separate seals are used to prevent leakage, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but system reliability decreases due to seal degradation and failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidseal lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The flow frame structure serves its own sealing function through its geometric configuration. The tongue-and-groove design allows the frame itself to create the seal without requiring external seal materials, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the degradation issues associated with separate seal components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If tongue-and-groove configuration is used to create self-sealing, then device complexity is reduced by eliminating separate seals, but manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper engagement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of partsVSAvoidtessellation engagement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9728791B2Self-sealing flow frame for flow battery stack

Publication Date: 2017.08.08 CONCURRENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP

AI summary

A self-sealing flow frame is provided having a first frame component and a second frame component. Each frame component is provided with a tongue-and-groove configuration that when assembled forms a tessellation engagement, which creates the seal. When each frame component is assembled into a flow frame, with the inner surfaces facing towards each other, the tongue-and-groove arrangements create a seal profile that circumscribe constituent parts of a device within which the self-sealing flow frame is being employed. As the frame components are compressively secured and fastened together, a tessellation engagement of the seal profile forms the fluid seal. Fluids of the device are prevented from exfiltrating the device, and are contained within the self-sealing flow frame by the fluid seal.