Cascade Redox Flow Battery Systems

• US 20110223450A1
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EnerVault Corporation
• Original Assignee: EnerVault Corporation
• Inventors: Hickey, Darren B., Bose, Deepak, Sha, Jay E., Kinoshita, Kim, Horne, Craig R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,785,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/53 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/54 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/77 with external circulating path
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/188 Processes of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/188 by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/20 Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible H01M8/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A reduction/oxidation (“redox”) flow battery system includes a series of electrochemical cells arranged in a cascade, whereby liquid electrolyte reacts in a first electrochemical cell (or group of cells) before being directed into a second cell (or group of cells) where it reacts before being directed to subsequent cells. The cascade includes 2 to n stages, each stage having one or more electrochemical cells. During a charge reaction, electrolyte entering a first stage will have a lower state-of-charge than electrolyte entering the nth stage. In some embodiments, cell components and/or characteristics may be configured based on a state-of-charge of electrolytes expected at each cascade stage. Such engineered cascades provide redox flow battery systems with higher energy efficiency over a broader range of current density than prior art arrangements.

Claims

1. A redox flow battery energy storage system, comprising:

a plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks fluidically coupled together to form a reactant flow path,

wherein each of the redox flow battery cell blocks comprises a plurality of cells in which the cells are configured according to an expected state of charge of reactant in the cells.

2. The redox flow battery energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks are fluidically coupled together so that reactant flows through each of the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks one at a time.

3. The redox flow battery energy storage system of claim 2, wherein:

each of the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks comprises a plurality of cells; and

the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks are fluidically coupled together so that reactant separates to flow in parallel through the plurality of cells in each redox flow battery cell block and remixes between each of the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks.

4. The redox flow battery energy storage system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks further comprises a plurality of shunt breakers arranged between some of the plurality of cells in each redox flow battery cell block.

5. The redox flow battery energy storage system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of inter-stage components fluidically coupled between each of the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks.

6. The redox flow battery energy storage system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of inter-stage components comprises a plurality of shunt breakers configured to reduce shunt currents flowing the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks.

7. The redox flow battery energy storage system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of shunt breakers comprise a peristaltic pump.

8. The redox flow battery energy storage system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of inter-stage components comprises a plurality of sensors.

9. The redox flow battery energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of sensors includes sensors selected from the group comprising state-of-charge sensors, electrical current sensors, electrical resistance sensors, volt meters, density sensors, spectroscopic sensors, OCV sensors, reactant balance sensors, flow meters, and pressure sensors.

10. The redox flow battery energy storage system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of inter-stage components comprises a plurality of valves.

11. An electrical power system, comprising:

a source of electrical power

a redox flow battery system configured to receive electrical power from the source of electrical power and provide electrical power to an electrical load, the redox flow battery system comprising;

a plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks fluidically coupled together to form a reactant flow path,

wherein each of the redox flow battery cell blocks comprises a plurality of cells in which the cells are configured according to an expected state of charge of reactant in the cells.

12. The electrical power system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks are fluidically coupled together so that reactant flows through each of the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks one at a time.

13. The electrical power system of claim 12, wherein:

each of the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks comprises a plurality of cells; and

the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks are fluidically coupled together so that reactant separates to flow in parallel through the plurality of cells in each redox flow battery cell block and remixes between each of the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks.

14. The electrical power system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks further comprises a plurality of shunt breakers arranged between some of the plurality of cells in each redox flow battery cell block.

15. The electrical power system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of inter-stage components fluidically coupled between each of the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks.

16. The electrical power system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of inter-stage components comprises a plurality of shunt breakers configured to reduce shunt currents flowing the plurality of redox flow battery cell blocks.

17. The electrical power storage system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of shunt breakers comprise a peristaltic pump.

18. The electrical power system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of inter-stage components comprises a plurality of sensors.

19. The electrical power system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of sensors includes sensors selected from the group comprising state-of-charge sensors, electrical current sensors, electrical resistance sensors, volt meters, density sensors, spectroscopic sensors, OCV sensors, reactant balance sensors, flow meters, and pressure sensors.

20. The electrical power system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of inter-stage components comprises a plurality of valves.