FLOW BATTERY SYSTEM WITH STANDBY MODE

• US 20130157087A1
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Pandy, Arun, Perry, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,231,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/51
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04179 by purging or increasing flow or pressure of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04225 during start-up
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04228 during shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04231 Purging of the reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04302 applied during start-up
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04303 applied during shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• 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: H01M 8/2459 Comprising electrode layers with interposed electrolyte compartment with possible electrolyte supply or circulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A flow battery system includes an ON mode, and OFF mode and a STANDBY mode. The ON mode enables access to a full energy capacity of the flow battery system with regard to an amount of electric power that can be drawn from or stored to the flow battery system. The OFF mode disables access to the full energy capacity and the STANDBY mode enables access to a portion of the full energy capacity.

Claims

1. A flow battery system comprising an ON mode, an OFF mode and a STANDBY mode, the ON mode enabling access to a full energy capacity of the flow battery system with regard to an amount of electric power that can be drawn from or stored to the flow battery system, the OFF mode disabling access to the full energy capacity and the STANDBY mode enabling access to a portion of the full energy capacity.

2. The flow battery system as recited in claim 1, including a liquid anolyte and a liquid catholyte.

3. The flow battery system as recited in claim 1, including an electrochemical cell, a first external storage portion and a second external storage portion for storing, respectively, a liquid anolyte and a liquid catholyte.

4. A flow battery system comprising:

a liquid anolyte and a liquid catholyte that define a full energy capacity with regard to an amount of electric power that can be drawn from or stored to the liquid anolyte and the liquid catholyte;

an electrochemical cell;

a first external storage portion and a second external storage portion each fluidly connected with the electrochemical cell for storing, respectively, the liquid anolyte and the liquid catholyte; and

a controller configured with an ON mode, an OFF mode and a STANDBY mode, wherein the ON mode enables access to the full energy capacity by circulating the liquid anolyte and the liquid catholyte from, respectively, the first external storage portion and the second external storage portion through electrochemical cell, the OFF mode disables access to the full energy capacity by substantially emptying at least one of the liquid anolyte or the liquid catholyte from the electrochemical cell and the STANDBY mode enables access to a portion of the full energy capacity without circulating the liquid anolyte or the liquid catholyte into the electrochemical cell by storing portions of the liquid anolyte and the liquid catholyte in the electrochemical cell.

5. The flow battery system as recited in claim 4, including feed lines connected, respectively, between the first external storage portion and the electrochemical cell and between the second external storage portion and the electrochemical cell, each feed line including a valve and a pump arranged in parallel.

6. A method for use with a flow battery system comprising a liquid anolyte and a liquid catholyte that define a full energy capacity with regard to an amount of electric power that can be drawn from or stored to the liquid anolyte and the liquid catholyte, an electrochemical cell and a first external storage portion and a second external storage portion that are each fluidly connected with the electrochemical cell for storing, respectively, the liquid anolyte and the liquid catholyte, the method comprising:

operating in an ON mode to enable access to the full energy capacity of the liquid anolyte and the liquid catholyte by circulating the liquid anolyte and the liquid catholyte from, respectively, the first external storage portion and the second external storage portion through electrochemical cell;

operating in an OFF mode to disable access to the full energy capacity by substantially emptying at least one of the liquid anolyte or the liquid catholyte from the electrochemical cell; and

operating in a STANDBY mode to enable access to a portion of the full energy capacity without circulating the liquid anolyte or the liquid catholyte into the electrochemical cell by storing portions of the liquid anolyte and the liquid catholyte in the electrochemical cell.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, including operating in the STANDBY mode in response to a forecast for a demand of the electric power.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, including operating in the STANDBY mode in response to a forecast for a storage of the electric power from an intermittent power source.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, including drawing electric power from or storing electric power to the liquid anolyte and the liquid catholyte while operating in the STANDBY mode.

10. The method as recited in claim 6, including operating in STANDBY mode with periodic replenishment by operating in ON mode.