Systems and methods for redox flow battery scalable modular reactant storage

• US 8,709,629 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VRB Enery Inc.
• Original Assignee: JD Holding Inc.
• Inventors: Vincent, Colin Earl MacKenzie, Lepp, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruddock, Ula C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARROW, AMANDA J
• Application Number:
  US12/975,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20120164498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 429/51, 429/63, 429/70, 429/72, 429/80, 429/101, 429/105, 429/163, 429/454, 429/455, 429/456, 429/462, 429/507, 137/260
• US Class Current: 429/80
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/188 by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4757 Battery or electrolytic cell replenishment

Abstract

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of redox flow battery systems having modular reactant storage capabilities. Accordingly to various embodiments, a redox flow battery system may include an anolyte storage module configured to interface with other anolyte storage modules, a catholyte storage module configured to interface with other catholyte storage modules, and a reactor cell having reactant compartments in fluid communication with the anolyte and catholyte storage modules. By utilizing modular storage modules to store anolyte and catholyte reactants, the redox flow battery system may be scalable without significantly altering existing system components.

Claims

1. A redox flow battery system comprising:

a first anolyte storage module, the first anolyte storage module comprising;

a first anolyte reservoir;

a first anolyte reservoir interface configured to provide fluid communication between the first anolyte reservoir and a second anolyte reservoir included in a second anolyte storage module, wherein the first anolyte reservoir interface is located for direct coupling with a second anolyte reservoir interface included in the second anolyte storage module, and wherein the first anolyte reservoir interface is directly coupled to the second anolyte reservoir interface; and

an enclosure comprising a mechanical interface, wherein the first anolyte reservoir is disposed within the enclosure, and wherein the mechanical interface secures the first anolyte storage module directly to the second anolyte storage module;

a first catholyte storage module, the first catholyte storage module comprising a first catholyte reservoir and a first catholyte reservoir interface configured to provide fluid communication between the first catholyte reservoir and a second catholyte reservoir included in a second catholyte storage module, wherein the first catholyte reservoir interface is directly coupled to a second catholyte reservoir interface included in the second catholyte storage module; and

a cell comprising a negative compartment in fluid communication with the first anolyte reservoir and a positive compartment in fluid communication with the first catholyte reservoir,

wherein the first and second anolyte storage modules are configured to be interchangeable modular components and the first and second catholyte storage modules are configured to be interchangeable modular components.

2. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the second anolyte storage module and the first and second catholyte storage modules each comprise an enclosure, the second anolyte reservoir and the first and second catholyte reservoirs being disposed within the respective enclosure.

3. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure of the first anolyte storage module comprises a rigid frame.

4. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure of the first anolyte storage module comprises an intermodal container.

5. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure of the first anolyte storage module comprises an intermodal container frame.

6. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the redox flow battery system is a vanadium redox flow battery system.

7. The redox flow battery system of claim 2, wherein the enclosure of the first anolyte storage module is configured to be stackable with the enclosure of the second anolyte storage module.

8. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the first anolyte storage module comprises first modular distribution piping configured to provide fluid communication between the first anolyte reservoir and the negative compartment.

9. The redox flow battery system of claim 8, wherein the first anolyte storage module comprises a first pump and valve system configured to control fluid communication between the first anolyte reservoir and the negative compartment.

10. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the second anolyte storage module comprises second modular distribution piping configured to provide fluid communication between the second anolyte reservoir and the first anolyte reservoir via the first and second anolyte reservoir interfaces.

11. The redox flow battery system of claim 10, wherein the second anolyte storage module comprises a second pump and valve system configured to control fluid communication between the second anolyte reservoir and the first anolyte reservoir.

12. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the first catholyte storage module comprises third modular distribution piping configured to provide fluid communication between the first catholyte reservoir and the positive compartment.

13. The redox flow battery system of claim 12, wherein the first catholyte storage module comprises a third pump and valve system configured to control fluid communication between the first catholyte reservoir and the positive compartment.

14. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the second catholyte storage module comprises fourth modular distribution piping configured to provide fluid communication between the second catholyte reservoir and the first catholyte reservoir via the first and second catholyte reservoir interfaces.

15. The redox flow battery system of claim 14, wherein the second catholyte storage module comprises a fourth pump and valve system configured to control fluid communication between the second catholyte reservoir and the first catholyte reservoir.

16. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the first and second anolyte storage modules and the first and second catholyte storage modules each comprise a thermal management system.

17. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the first and second anolyte storage modules and the first and second catholyte storage modules each comprise a spill containment system.

18. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises the second catholyte storage module, wherein the second catholyte reservoir of the second catholyte storage module is configured to be in fluid communication with the first catholyte reservoir via the first and second catholyte reservoir interfaces.

19. The redox flow battery system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises the second anolyte storage module, wherein the second anolyte reservoir of the second anolyte storage module is configured to be in fluid communication with the first anolyte reservoir via the first and second anolyte reservoir interfaces.