Spring Component Gas Diffusion Layer for PEM Electrolyser
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas diffusion layers in electrochemical cells, particularly in PEM electrolytic cells, fail to effectively compensate for component tolerances and are limited by high production costs and distortion issues with large components, while also requiring optimal water distribution and gas removal.
Innovation Solution
A gas diffusion layer comprising at least two stacked layers, with one layer designed as a spring component exhibiting a progressive spring characteristic, ensuring consistent contact pressure and tolerance compensation, and comprising a contacting component, a diffusion component, and a spring component made of electrically conductive materials like stainless steel or titanium, which pre-distributes water and maintains contact pressure across varying component tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sintered metal discs are used as gas diffusion layer, then electrical conductivity and porosity requirements are met, but component tolerance compensation is not possible and production costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from sintered metal to resilient material (such as spring steel), fundamentally altering the physical properties to enable tolerance compensation while maintaining electrical conductivity through the resilient nature of the material
Solution Approach 2:
The gas diffusion layer is made dynamic through the resilient element that can deform elastically to compensate for tolerance variations in bipolar plates, transitioning from a rigid sintered metal disc to a flexible structure that adapts to dimensional variations
2Reliability
If sintered metal discs are used as gas diffusion layer, then electrical conductivity is maintained, but distortion problems arise with large components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid sintered metal to resilient material, fundamentally altering the mechanical properties to enable elastic deformation that compensates for dimensional variations in large components
Solution Approach 2:
The gas diffusion layer transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic resilient structure that can adapt its shape to accommodate tolerance variations, preventing distortion in large-scale components
3Adaptability or versatility
If a spring component with progressive spring characteristic is used, then component tolerance compensation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas diffusion layer is segmented into multiple functional layers including a resilient element layer and a gas diffusion layer, with the resilient element providing tolerance compensation and the gas diffusion layer maintaining its primary function, thereby managing complexity through functional separation
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient element serves multiple functions: it provides tolerance compensation for bipolar plates, maintains contact pressure, and ensures proper positioning of the gas diffusion layer, thereby reducing the need for additional separate components and managing overall device complexity
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
The progressive spring characteristic allows for large deformations within normal contact pressures, preventing excessive plastic deformation and ensuring uniform contact and efficient gas transport, while maintaining electrical conductivity and flexibility to compensate for component tolerances, thus enhancing the performance and durability of electrochemical cells.
Implementation Method 1
one of the layers being designed as a spring component with a progressive spring characteristic... large deformations of the spring component are achieved in the range of normal contact pressure
Implementation Method 2
Gas diffusion layer... efficient gas transport
Implementation Method 3
the spring component... pre-distributes water
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a gas diffusion layer (8) for arranging between a bipolar plate (10) and an electrode (6a, 6b) of an electrochemical cell (2) comprising at least two layers layered one over the other, wherein one of the layers is designed as a spring component (12a, 12b, 12c) having a progressive spring characteristic curve.