Thin Metal Electrolytic Cell for Hydrogen Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrolytic cells are heavy and rigid due to thick metal sheets for stability, making them difficult to install and costly, while prior solutions fail to adapt hydrostatic pressure uniformly across the anode compartment.
Innovation Solution
Electrolytic cells are constructed using thin metal sheets (0.05-0.15 mm thick) with resilient spacers and a sealing composition for electrical insulation, allowing for vacuum-stiffening and easy stacking, and incorporating thin metal foils like stainless steel, nickel, or titanium alloys with optional foreign metals, and using spacers like coils, rings, or foams to ensure electrode flatness and pressure adaptation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If thick metal sheets are used for half-cells to ensure stability, then structural stability is improved, but weight and cost increase, and ease of installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thin metal sheets (0.05-0.15 mm) instead of thick metal sheets to construct half-cells. These thin sheets are sufficient to provide the necessary structural stability while dramatically reducing weight and material costs. The thin metal sheets maintain their structural integrity through proper design and support structures within the electrolytic cell assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the wall thickness parameter from conventional thick metal sheets to thin metal sheets within the range of 0.05-0.15 mm. This parameter change reduces the mass and cost of the half-cells while maintaining adequate structural stability through optimized design, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and weight.
2Stability of the object's composition
If thick metal sheets are used for half-cells to ensure stability, then structural stability is improved, but ease of installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thin metal sheets used in the patent are more flexible and easier to handle during installation compared to thick metal sheets. The reduced weight and increased flexibility allow for simpler installation procedures, better transportability, and easier adjustment during assembly, while the sheets still provide sufficient structural stability when properly supported.
3Stress or pressure
If resilient spacers are used to adapt pressure, then pressure distribution uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient spacers are designed to automatically adapt to pressure variations and maintain uniform pressure distribution across the electrodes without requiring external control systems. The spacers self-adjust their compression force based on the operating conditions, eliminating the need for complex active pressure control mechanisms while achieving uniform pressure distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses resilient spacers with varying degrees of compression to adapt the pressure distribution. By carefully selecting the material properties and initial compression levels of the spacers, the system achieves uniform pressure distribution across the electrode surfaces without requiring complex active control systems, thus resolving the contradiction between pressure uniformity and 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 solution enables lightweight, flexible electrolytic cells that can be easily transported and stacked, maintaining stability and uniform pressure distribution, reducing material costs and facilitating efficient hydrogen production.
Implementation Method 1
for transmitting elastic pressure, a resilient spacer is used, which is pressed by the half-cell against the electrode and the separator membrane
Implementation Method 2
The electrolytic cells can be vacuum-stiffened and thus easily transported and stacked
Implementation Method 3
the production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrolytic cell comprising or consisting of (i) two metal half-cells which form the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, (ii) an anode and a cathode arranged in the anode chamber and cathode chamber respectively, (iii) a separator membrane, which separates the two electrodes from one another; (iv) for each half-cell at least one inflow and one outflow for reactant and product; and (v) optionally spacers which position the two electrodes in their respective electrode chambers, the two half-cells being connected over their perimeters, but electrically isolated from one another and having a wall thickness of 0.5 to 0.15 mm.