Method and system for operating a flow battery system based on energy costs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10050297-B2
Application number	US-201414509685-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2014
Priority date	Feb 7, 2011
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

A method and system for storing and/or discharging electrical energy that has a cost, which method includes steps of: (a) providing a flow battery system comprising at least one flow battery cell and a controller; (b) operating the flow battery cell at a power density having a first value; and (c) changing the power density at which the flow battery cell is operated from the first value to a second value as a function of the cost of the electrical energy, wherein the power density is changed using the controller, and wherein the second value is different than the first value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flow battery system for at least one of storing and discharging electrical energy that has a cost, comprising
one or more flow battery cells, each adapted to operate at a power density; and
a controller programmed to change the power density at which the flow battery cells operate over a range between a first power density value and a second power density value as a function of the cost of the electrical energy,
wherein the second power density value is between ten and fifty times larger than the first power density value.

2. The flow battery system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to change the power density at which the flow battery cells are operated during an energy storage mode of operation by:
increasing the power density when the cost of the electrical energy is decreasing; and
decreasing the power density when the cost of the electrical energy is increasing.

3. The flow battery system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to change the power density at which the flow battery cells are operated during an energy discharge mode of operation by:
increasing the power density when the cost of the electrical energy is increasing; and
decreasing the power density when the cost of the electrical energy is decreasing.

4. The flow battery system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to change the power density from a third power density value to a fourth power density value when the cost of the electrical energy is one of greater than, equal to, and less than a certain predetermined value, wherein the third power density value is different than the fourth power density value.

5. The flow battery system of claim 1 , wherein
the controller is programmed to change the power density at which the flow battery cells are operated to a third power density value during peak hours; and
the controller is programmed to change the power density at which the flow battery cells are operated to a fourth power density value during nonpeak hours, wherein the fourth power density value is different than the third power density value.

6. The flow battery system of claim 1 , further comprising a power converter connected to the flow battery cells, wherein the controller is programmed to change the power density at which the flow battery cells are operated by controlling operation of the power converter.

7. The flow battery system of claim 1 , Wherein the first power density value is equal to 20 mW/cm 2 and the second power density value is equal to 1000 mW/cm 2 .

8. The flow battery system of claim 1 , Wherein the first power density value is equal to 20 mW/cm 2 and the second power density value is equal to 200 mW/cm 2 .

9. The flow battery system of claim 1 , wherein the first power density value is equal to 20 mW/cm 2 and the second power density value is equal to 400 mW/cm 2 .

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Pandy Arun
• Perry Michael L

Classifications

• H01M10/484

  for measuring electrolyte level, electrolyte density or electrolyte conductivity · CPC title

• H01M10/48

  Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) · CPC title

• H01M8/04925

  Power, energy, capacity or load · CPC title

• H01M8/04992

  characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence · CPC title

• H01M8/188 Primary

  by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries · CPC title