System and method for optimizing efficiency and power output from a vanadium redox battery energy storage system

• US 9,853,306 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VRB Enery Inc.
• Original Assignee: JD Holding Inc.
• Inventors: Hennessy, Timothy David John
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruddock, Ula C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chmielecki, Scott J
• Application Number:
  US13/605,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20120328911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0432 Temperature; Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04328 of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04335 of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04365 of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04388 of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04395 of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04402 of anode exhausts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0441 of cathode exhausts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0444 Concentration; Density H01M8/04492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04552 of the individual fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04604 Power, energy, capacity or load
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• 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: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An energy storage system includes a vanadium redox battery that interfaces with a control system to optimize performance and efficiency. The control system calculates optimal pump speeds, electrolyte temperature ranges, and charge and discharge rates. The control system instructs the vanadium redox battery to operate in accordance with the prescribed parameters. The control system further calculates optimal temperature ranges and charge and discharge rates for the vanadium redox battery.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for controlling a vanadium redox battery energy storage system configured to couple to an electrical grid and operate responsive to the conditions of the electrical grid, comprising:

receiving signals indicative of an open-circuit voltage of a vanadium redox battery cell of the vanadium redox battery energy storage system;

receiving anolyte and catholyte solution temperature signals from the vanadium redox battery energy storage system;

calculating a state-of-charge for the vanadium redox battery cell based on the open-circuit voltage and anolyte and catholyte solution temperature signals;

calculating charge and discharge rates of the vanadium redox battery energy storage system;

calculating anolyte and catholyte pump speeds based on the state-of-charge, the charge and discharge rates, and grid conditions; and

generating anolyte and catholyte pump speed signals to transmit to the vanadium redox battery energy storage system to control anolyte and catholyte pump speeds.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving anolyte and catholyte pressure signals from the vanadium redox battery energy storage system, and

wherein calculating anolyte and catholyte pump speeds is further determined by the anolyte and catholyte pressure signals.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating an anolyte temperature range and a catholyte temperature range based on the state-of-charge and the anolyte and catholyte pump speeds; and

generating anolyte and catholyte temperature ranges to transmit to the vanadium redox battery energy storage system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an ambient temperature signal, and

wherein calculating the state-of-charge is further determined by the ambient temperature signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a hydrogen emission signal indicative of a quantity of hydrogen emissions generated by the vanadium redox battery energy storage system, and

wherein calculating anolyte and catholyte pump speeds is further determined by the quantity of hydrogen emissions.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating optimal charge and discharge rates derived from the charge and discharge rates.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a system efficiency for the vanadium redox battery energy storage system, and

wherein calculating anolyte and catholyte pump speeds is further determined by the system efficiency.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving anolyte and catholyte reservoir level signals; and

determining if equalization of the anolyte reservoir and catholyte reservoir is required.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a power factor derived from input voltage and input current to the vanadium redox battery energy storage system and output voltage and output current from the vanadium redox battery energy storage system.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing a method for controlling a vanadium redox battery energy storage system configured to couple to an electrical grid and operate responsive to the conditions of the electrical grid, the method comprising:

receiving signals indicative of an open-circuit voltage of a vanadium redox battery cell of the vanadium redox battery energy storage system;

receiving anolyte and catholyte solution temperature signals from the vanadium redox battery energy storage system;

calculating a state-of-charge for the vanadium redox battery cell based on the open-circuit voltage and anolyte and catholyte solution temperature signals;

calculating charge and discharge rates of the vanadium redox battery energy storage system;

calculating anolyte and catholyte pump speeds based on the state-of-charge, the charge and discharge rates, and grid conditions; and

generating anolyte and catholyte pump speed signals to transmit to the vanadium redox battery energy storage system to control anolyte and catholyte pump speeds.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving anolyte and catholyte pressure signals from the vanadium redox battery energy storage system, and

wherein calculating anolyte and catholyte pump speeds is further determined by the anolyte and catholyte pressure signals.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

calculating an anolyte temperature range and a catholyte temperature range based on the state-of-charge and the anolyte and catholyte pump speeds; and

transmitting the anolyte and catholyte temperature ranges to the vanadium redox battery energy storage system

13. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an ambient temperature signal; and

wherein calculating the state-of-charge is further determined by the ambient temperature signal.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a hydrogen emission signal indicative of a quantity of hydrogen emissions generated by the vanadium redox battery energy storage system; and

wherein calculating anolyte and catholyte pump speeds is further determined by the quantity of hydrogen emissions.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises calculating optimal charge and discharge rates derived from the charge and discharge rates.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

calculating a system efficiency for the vanadium redox battery energy storage system; and

wherein calculating anolyte and catholyte pump speeds is further determined by the system efficiency.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving anolyte and catholyte reservoir level signals; and

determining if equalization of the anolyte reservoir and catholyte reservoir is required.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises calculating a power factor derived from an input voltage and an input current to the vanadium redox battery energy storage system and an output voltage and an output current from the vanadium redox battery energy storage system.