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

• US 9,325,021 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2014
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Largo Clean Energy Corporation (Largo Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vionx Energy Corp.
• Inventors: Colello, Gary M., Darcy, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): APICELLA, KARIE O
• Application Number:
  US14/252,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20140227563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 429/51
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method for individual stack control in a flowing electrolyte battery including at least a first battery cell stack and a second battery cell stack interconnected with each other and sharing a common flowing electrolyte, the method comprising the steps of:

individually controlling a charging condition of the first battery cell stack, at least by regulating a duty cycle of a first control signal to one or more first switches, based at least in part on information regarding an operating condition of the first battery cell stack; and

individually controlling a charging condition of the second battery cell stack, at least by regulating a duty cycle of a second control signal to one or more second switches, based at least in part on information regarding an operating condition of the second battery cell stack.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of individually controlling the charging condition of the first battery cell stack comprises increasing the charging condition of the first battery cell stack;

the step of individually controlling the charging condition of the second battery cell stack comprises decreasing the charging condition of the second battery cell stack while continuing to charge the second battery cell stack; and

the steps of individually controlling the charging condition of the first battery cell stack and individually controlling the charging condition of the second battery cell stack are performed simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of individually controlling the charging condition of the first battery cell stack comprises holding the charging condition of the first battery cell stack substantially constant;

the step of individually controlling the charging condition of the second battery cell stack comprises changing the charging condition of the second battery cell stack; and

the steps of individually controlling the charging condition of the first battery cell stack and individually controlling the charging condition of the second battery cell stack are performed simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of individually controlling the charging condition of the first battery cell stack comprises stripping the first battery cell stack;

the step of individually controlling the charging condition of the second battery cell stack comprises controlling the charging condition of the second battery cell stack without stripping the second battery cell stack; and

the steps of individually controlling the charging condition of the first battery cell stack and individually controlling the charging condition of the second battery cell stack are performed simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating condition of the first battery cell stack is selected from the group consisting of current flow in the first battery cell stack, voltage of the first battery cell stack, present charge capacity of the first battery cell stack, temperature of at least a portion of the first battery cell stack, an internal resistance of the first battery cell stack, and electrolyte leak information regarding the first battery cell stack.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating condition of the first battery cell stack includes electrode plating rate in the first battery cell stack.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating condition of the first battery cell stack includes a load demand for a load for which the flowing electrolyte battery is tasked with providing power.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating condition of the first battery cell stack includes a state of a primary power source to a load for which the flowing electrolyte battery is tasked with providing power.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating condition of the first battery cell stack includes a status of electrolyte flow to the first battery cell stack.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating condition of the first battery cell stack includes a chemical composition of an electrolyte available to the first battery cell stack.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating condition of the first battery cell stack includes stack weight for the first battery cell stack.