Intermediate frame, electrochemical systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10847844-B2
Application number	US-201715498341-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2017
Priority date	Apr 26, 2016
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

Provided herein are intermediate frame systems and methods, comprising one or more arrays of channels on upper and/or lower edges of the intermediate frame wherein the channels are configured to provide a spatially uniform flow of electrolyte through the plane of the intermediate frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An intermediate frame in an electrochemical cell, comprising:
3-35 arrays of channels on upper and/or lower edges of the intermediate frame wherein the channels are configured to provide a spatially uniform flow of electrolyte through the plane of the intermediate frame and wherein the channels traverse in parallel fashion;
a distribution pocket located on the upper and/or the lower edges of the intermediate frame at an end of each of the 3-35 arrays of channels; and
an exterior manifold operably connected to the distribution pockets and located outside sealed volume of the intermediate frame at an end of the upper and/or the lower edges of the intermediate frame.

2. The intermediate frame of claim 1 , comprising between about 2-20 channels in each of the 3-35 arrays.

3. The intermediate frame of claim 1 , comprising between about 5-30 arrays of channels on each of the upper and/or lower edges of the intermediate frame.

4. The intermediate frame of claim 1 , wherein each of the channels has a depth of between about 0.25-10 mm.

5. The intermediate frame of claim 1 , wherein each of the channels is in a shape of a circle, semi-circle, rectangular, triangular, or trapezoidal.

6. The intermediate frame of claim 1 , wherein the distribution pockets are configured to distribute the electrolyte to the 3-35 arrays of channels.

7. The intermediate frame of claim 1 , wherein the distribution pockets are between about 6-70 mm wide.

8. The intermediate frame of claim 6 , further comprising a cap over each of the 3-35 arrays of channels and the corresponding distribution pocket configured to prevent the electrolyte from leaking.

9. The intermediate frame of claim 8 , further comprising a shim under the cap and is covering each of the 3-35 arrays of channels and the corresponding distribution pocket configured to prevent the cap from flowing into the channels.

10. The intermediate frame of claim 9 , wherein the shim has a thickness of between about 0.1-1 mm.

11. The intermediate frame of claim 8 , further comprising a reinforcement bar over a portion of the cap configured to prevent the cap from bulging out.

12. The intermediate frame of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the intermediate frame is between about 0.75-30 mm.

13. The intermediate frame of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer in an open area in middle of the intermediate frame.

14. The intermediate frame of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate frame is made of titanium or polymeric material.

15. An intermediate frame in an electrochemical cell, comprising:
3-35 arrays of channels on upper and/or lower edges of the intermediate frame wherein the channels are configured to provide a spatially uniform flow of electrolyte through the plane of the intermediate frame, wherein the channels traverse in parallel fashion, and wherein the intermediate frame comprises between about 2-20 channels in each of the arrays;
a distribution pocket located on the upper and/or the lower edges of the intermediate frame at an end of each of the 3-35 arrays of channels; and
an exterior manifold operably connected to the distribution pockets and located outside sealed volume of the intermediate frame at an end of the upper and/or the lower edges of the intermediate frame.

16. An electrochemical cell, comprising the intermediate frame of claim 1 .

17. The intermediate frame of claim 1 , wherein the exterior manifold is configured to provide the electrolyte to the distribution pockets.

Assignees

• Calera Corp

Inventors

• Miller John Hunter
• Mcwaid Thomas H
• Gilliam Ryan J

Classifications

• C25B15/08 Primary

  Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes · CPC title

• C25B9/19

  with diaphragms · CPC title

• C25B9/77

  having diaphragms · CPC title

• C25B9/73

  of the filter-press type · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title