Systems and methods for selective cell and/or stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery

• US 7,939,190 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Largo Clean Energy Corporation (Largo Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Premium Power Corporation
• Inventors: Colello, Gary M., Darcy, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): APICELLA, KARIE O
• Application Number:
  US10/886,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20050084745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,497 Days
• Field of Search: 429/61, 429/149, 429/81, 700/297
• US Class Current: 429/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04679 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The invention provides in various embodiments methods and systems relating to controlling energy storage units in flowing electrolyte batteries.

Claims

1. A system for individual stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery, the system comprising:

a stack controller for operable interconnection with at least one of a plurality of battery cell stacks in a flowing electrolyte battery;

a sensor input in communication with the stack controller for providing information regarding an operating condition of the at least one battery cell stack; and

a control output in communication with the stack controller for individually controlling a charging condition in the at least one battery cell stack based at least in part on the information regarding the operating condition,

wherein the operating condition includes electrode plating rate in the at least one stack.

2. A system for individual stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery, the system comprising:

a stack controller for operable interconnection with at least one of a plurality of battery cell stacks in a flowing electrolyte battery;

a sensor input in communication with the stack controller for providing information regarding an operating condition of the at least one battery cell stack; and

a control output in communication with the stack controller for individually controlling a charging condition to prevent charging in the at least one battery cell stack based at least in part on the information regarding the operating condition;

wherein the operating condition includes voltage of the at least one stack.

3. A system for individual stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery, the system comprising:

a stack controller for operable interconnection with at least one of a plurality of battery cell stacks in a flowing electrolyte battery;

a sensor input in communication with the stack controller for providing information regarding an operating condition of the at least one battery cell stack; and

a control output in communication with the stack controller for individually controlling a charging condition to prevent charging in the at least one battery cell stack based at least in part on the information regarding the operating condition;

wherein the operating condition includes a present charged capacity of the at least one stack.

4. A system for individual stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery, the system comprising:

a stack controller for operable interconnection with at least one of a plurality of battery cell stacks in a flowing electrolyte battery;

a sensor input in communication with the stack controller for providing information regarding an operating condition of the at least one battery cell stack; and

a control output in communication with the stack controller for individually controlling a charging condition to prevent charging in the at least one battery cell stack based at least in part on the information regarding the operating condition;

wherein the operating condition includes a temperature of at least a portion of the at least one stack.

5. A system for individual stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery, the system comprising:

a stack controller for operable interconnection with at least one of a plurality of battery cell stacks in a flowing electrolyte battery;

a sensor input in communication with the stack controller for providing information regarding an operating condition of the at least one battery cell stack; and

a control output in communication with the stack controller for individually controlling a charging condition in the at least one battery cell stack based at least in part on the information regarding the operating condition,

wherein the operating condition includes a load demand for a load for which the system is tasked with providing power.

6. A system for individual stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery, the system comprising:

a stack controller for operable interconnection with at least one of a plurality of battery cell stacks in a flowing electrolyte battery;

a sensor input in communication with the stack controller for providing information regarding an operating condition of the at least one battery cell stack; and

a control output in communication with the stack controller for individually controlling a charging condition in the at least one battery cell stack based at least in part on the information regarding the operating condition,

wherein the operating condition includes a state of a primary power source to a load for which the system is tasked with providing power.

7. A system for individual stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery, the system comprising:

a stack controller for operable interconnection with at least one of a plurality of battery cell stacks in a flowing electrolyte battery;

a sensor input in communication with the stack controller for providing information regarding an operating condition of the at least one battery cell stack; and

a control output in communication with the stack controller for individually controlling a charging condition in the at least one battery cell stack based at least in part on the information regarding the operating condition,

wherein the operating condition includes stack weight for the at least one stack.

8. A system for individual stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery, the system comprising:

a stack controller for operable interconnection with at least one of a plurality of battery cell stacks in a flowing electrolyte battery;

a sensor input in communication with the stack controller for providing information regarding an operating condition of the at least one battery cell stack; and

a control output in communication with the stack controller for individually controlling a charging condition to prevent charging in the at least one battery cell stack based at least in part on the information regarding the operating condition;

wherein the stack controller includes a bidirectional dc/dc converter for providing charging current to the at least one battery cell stack and for providing current from the at least one battery cell stack to a load.

9. A system for individual stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery, the system comprising:

a stack controller for operable interconnection with at least one of a plurality of battery cell stacks in a flowing electrolyte battery;

a sensor input in communication with the stack controller for providing information regarding an operating condition of the at least one battery cell stack;

a control output in communication with the stack controller for individually controlling a charging condition to prevent charging in the at least one battery cell stack based at least in part on the information regarding the operating condition; and

a master controller connected to the stack controller, for controlling an interface between the flowing electrolyte battery and an external application powered by the flowing electrolyte battery.

10. A system for individual stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery, the system comprising:

a first stack controller for operable interconnection with at least one stack of a plurality of battery cell stacks in a flowing electrolyte battery;

a sensor input for providing information regarding an operating condition of the at least one stack, the operating condition selected from the group consisting of an electrolyte flow to at least one cell of the at least one stack, a chemical composition of an electrolyte available to the at least one stack, an electrode plating rate in the at least one stack, an electrolyte leak status of the at least one stack, a weight in the at least one stack, a load demand for a load for which the system is tasked with providing power, and a state of a primary power source to a load for which the system is tasked with providing power; and

a control output from the first stack controller for individually controlling at least one charging condition in the at least one stack, based at least in part on the operating condition.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a second stack controller, and wherein the first stack controller is capable of stripping a first stack while the second stack controller is charging a second stack of the plurality of battery cell stacks.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first stack controller includes a plurality of local controllers, each associated with one of the plurality of battery cell stacks, for controlling the associated battery cell stack.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein controlling includes altering a charging condition of the associated battery cell stack independently from operation of others of the plurality of battery cell stacks.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first stack controller further comprises a bidirectional dc-dc converter.