Metal-Air Battery Separator Sealing for Bubble Flow Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage technologies face challenges in providing increased availability, reliability, and reduced costs for long-duration energy storage systems, particularly in metal-air batteries, where gas management and electrode separation are critical issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an ionically conductive and electrically insulative separator with strategically placed standoffs and filaments, forming liquid-tight seals and channels to manage gas bubbles and maintain electrode separation, enhances the performance of metal-air batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separator is used to maintain electrode separation and provide ionic conductivity, then electrode separation and ionic conduction are improved, but gas bubble management becomes problematic due to potential gas permeation
Solution Approach 1:
The separator incorporates localized gas management features such as gas permeable regions or channels at specific locations where gas accumulation is most problematic, while maintaining ionic conductivity in other regions. This allows different parts of the separator to have different functions - some areas for ion transport and others for gas escape.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator acts as an intermediary component between the electrodes and the electrolyte, mediating both ionic transport and gas management. By incorporating gas-permeable pathways or hydrophobic/hydrophilic regions, the separator intermediates the conflicting requirements of maintaining electrical isolation while allowing controlled gas 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
This configuration improves the reliability and efficiency of metal-air batteries by effectively managing gas bubbles and maintaining electrode separation, thereby enhancing the durability and performance of long-duration energy storage systems.
Implementation Method 1
a separator, the separator ionically conductive and electrically insulative
Implementation Method 2
a separator, the separator ionically conductive and electrically insulative
Implementation Method 3
the at least one first standoff penetrating the separator at discontinuities and forming at least a portion of respective liquid tight seals with the separator at the discontinuities
Implementation Method 4
the plurality of first standoffs define at least one channel, between the OEE and the anode, along which bubbles from the anode are flowable
Implementation Method 5
each one of the plurality of bosses is heat staked on a respective one of the plurality of washers with the separator sandwiched between the respective one of the plurality of washers and the elongate body
Implementation Method 6
the at least one first standoff, the at least one second standoff, and the separator may be mechanically coupled to one another at a plurality of ultrasonic welds
Data Source
AI summary
An electrochemical cell may include an anode, a gas diffusion electrode (GDE), an oxygen evolution electrode (OEE); a vessel, a separator, and at least one standoff. The vessel may define a volume in which the OEE, the GDE, and the anode are each at least partially disposed with the OEE between the anode and the GDE. The separator may be ionically conductive and electrically insulative and disposed between the anode and the OEE. The at least one standoff may space the OEE from the anode, the at least one standoff penetrating the separator at discontinuities and forming at least a portion of respective liquid tight seals with the separator at the discontinuities.