Separator Flow-Channel Blocking Walls to Limit Gas Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separators in electrochemical cells face challenges in effectively managing gas accumulation in flow-channel grooves, leading to side reactions and deterioration of separating membranes due to hydrogen peroxide generation, which affects the efficiency and longevity of the cells.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a separator design with flow-channel grooves featuring blocking walls that partially close off the latter half of the grooves, reducing gas accumulation by altering fluid flow-ability and preventing gas from accumulating in the grooves, while maintaining efficient fluid distribution across the electrode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional separators without blocking walls are used, then fluid distribution is simple, but gas accumulates in flow-channel grooves causing side reactions and membrane deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The flow-channel groove is segmented by introducing blocking walls that divide the groove into multiple sections. This segmentation prevents gas accumulation in specific regions while maintaining overall fluid distribution, directly addressing the membrane durability issue without requiring a complete redesign of the separator structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Blocking walls are strategically placed in specific regions of the flow-channel groove where gas accumulation is most problematic. This local modification approach targets the specific issue of gas accumulation without altering the entire separator structure, balancing reliability improvement with minimal complexity increase.
2Reliability
If blocking walls are added to flow-channel grooves to prevent gas accumulation, then membrane deterioration is reduced, but pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely blocking the flow-channel groove, partial blocking walls are introduced that close off only the portions where gas accumulation occurs. This partial action is sufficient to prevent gas accumulation and protect the membrane while leaving enough open space to maintain acceptable fluid flow and minimize pressure loss.
3Reliability
If blocking walls close off the latter half of flow-channel grooves, then gas accumulation is reduced, but fluid distribution efficiency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
Blocking walls are positioned to close off the latter half of flow-channel grooves where gas accumulation is most likely to occur during operation. This preliminary structural arrangement proactively prevents gas accumulation before it can cause side reactions or membrane deterioration, while the former half remains open to maintain fluid distribution efficiency.
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 design effectively suppresses pressure loss and reduces gas accumulation, minimizing side reactions and membrane deterioration, thereby enhancing the performance and durability of electrochemical cells.
Implementation Method 1
reducing gas accumulation by altering fluid flow-ability and preventing gas from accumulating in the grooves
Data Source
AI summary
A separator including a flow channel 10 comprising a first flow-channel wall, a second flow-channel wall, a first flow-channel groove between the first flow-channel wall and the second flow-channel wall, and one or more first blocking walls in the first flow-channel groove. The first blocking walls close off a portion of the latter half of the first flow-channel groove.