Methods and systems for redox flow battery electrolyte hydration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11594750-B2
Application number	US-201815965671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2018
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Feb 28, 2023
Grant date	Feb 28, 2023

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for transporting and hydrating a redox flow battery system with a portable field hydration system. In one example, the redox flow battery system may be hydrated with the portable field hydration system in a dry state, in the absence of liquids. In this way, a redox flow battery system may be assembled and transported from a battery manufacturing facility to an end-use location off-site while the redox flow battery system is in the dry state, thereby reducing shipping costs, design complexities, as well as logistical and environmental concerns.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of operating a redox flow battery system, the redox flow battery system including first and second electrolyte chambers fluidly coupled to a redox flow battery cell, the method comprising:
during a first condition as determined by a controller, including when the redox flow battery system is in a dry state without water and liquid solvents,
adding first and second amounts of dry electrolyte precursor to the first and second electrolyte chambers, respectively, the first and second amounts corresponding to a desired concentration of first and second electrolytes in the first and second electrolyte chambers during an operating mode, including when the redox flow battery system is being charged or discharged,
fluidly coupling the redox flow battery system to a field hydration system, the field hydration system detachably fluidly coupled to the first and second electrolyte chambers of the redox flow battery system and including a water supply pump detachably fluidly coupled to a water source,
supplying water from the field hydration system to the redox flow battery system, wherein the redox flow battery system would remain in the dry state without the water from the field hydration system,
stopping, via the controller of the redox flow battery system controlling one or more actuators, a supply of water from the field hydration system to the redox flow battery system in response to a conductivity of the supplied water increasing above a threshold conductivity as determined by the controller, the conductivity determined using signals received from a conductivity sensor of the field hydration system, and

operating the redox flow battery system, wherein operating the redox flow battery system includes both charging and discharging via oxidation and reduction of the first and second electrolytes; and
during a second condition as determined by the controller, including when the redox flow battery system is in a wet state with greater than a threshold amount of water therein,
directing, via the controller, the water to the first electrolyte chamber, and in response to a first electrolyte chamber liquid level reaching a first threshold level as determined by the controller and before operating the redox flow battery, raising a temperature of the first electrolyte chamber to a first threshold temperature via the controller, the first threshold temperature being greater than an ambient temperature, and
in response to the first electrolyte chamber liquid level reaching the first threshold level as determined by the controller, recirculating, via the controller controlling the one or more actuators, the first electrolyte with a circulation pump fluidly coupled to the first electrolyte chamber, and in response to the first electrolyte chamber liquid level reaching a second threshold level as determined by the controller, stopping, via the controller controlling the one or more actuators, the supply of water to the first electrolyte chamber and deactivating, via the controller, the circulation pump, wherein the second threshold level is higher than the first threshold level and lower than an upper threshold level of the first electrolyte chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the field hydration system is detachably fluidly coupleable to the redox flow battery system by way of one or more inlets and outlets to and from the first and second electrolyte chambers, each of the first and second electrolyte chambers comprising negative and positive electrolyte chambers, respectively, wherein the field hydration system comprises one or more components configured to prepare electrolytes for both positive and negative terminals of the redox flow battery, the one or more components including the water supply pump for supplying water from a supply source, a filtration system, and bypass and diverter valves for directing water to drain and to the negative and positive electrolyte chambers, wherein the redox flow battery system is configured to be dry-assembled at a battery manufacturing facility different from an end-use location without filling and hydrating the redox flow battery system before delivery of the redox flow battery system to the end-use location, wherein the end-use location corresponds to a location where the redox flow battery system is to be installed and utilized as a fixed location, non-portable, on-site energy storage, and wherein the field hydration system permits automated and controlled hydration of the redox flow battery system once in the end-use location.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, during the second condition as determined by the controller, in response to the first electrolyte chamber liquid level reaching the second threshold level as determined by the controller, directing, via the controller, water to the second electrolyte chamber, the second electrolyte chamber being in the dry state prior to the first electrolyte chamber liquid level reaching the second threshold level.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the redox flow battery system comprises a multi-chamber storage tank,
the multi-chamber storage tank including the first and second electrolyte chambers, and
the supply of water to the first electrolyte chamber is stopped, via the controller, until a second electrolyte chamber liquid level reaches a fill height of the multi-chamber storage tank, as determined by the controller, that is even with the second threshold level of the first electrolyte chamber.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising maintaining, via the controller, a pressure difference between the first and second electrolyte chambers less than a threshold pressure difference as determined by the controller.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising, during the second condition as determined by the controller, in response to a second electrolyte chamber liquid level reaching a third threshold level as determined by the controller and before operating the redox flow battery, raising, via the controller, a temperature of the second electrolyte chamber to a second threshold temperature as determined by the controller, the second threshold temperature being greater than the ambient temperature.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, during the second condition as determined by the controller, in response to the second electrolyte chamber liquid level reaching a fourth threshold level as determined by the controller, stopping, via the controller controlling the one or more actuators, the supply of water to the second electrolyte chamber, wherein the fourth threshold level is greater than the third threshold level and less than an upper threshold level of the second electrolyte chamber.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising, during the second condition as determined by the controller, in response to the second electrolyte chamber liquid level reaching the fourth threshold level as determined by the controller, and before operating the redox flow battery, maintaining, via the controller, the first and second electrolyte chambers at the first and second threshold temperatures for a threshold duration, where the threshold duration is determined by the controller.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, in response to the threshold duration expiring as determined by the controller, filling to the respective upper threshold levels, via the controller controlling the one or more actuators, the first and second electrolyte chambers with the water.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, during the first condition, prior to coupling the redox flow battery system to the field hydration system, assembling the redox flow battery system and transporting the assembled red

Assignees

• Ess Technology Inc

Inventors

• Song Yang
• Fisher Kenneth Kiyoshi
• Mcdonald Timothy

Classifications

• H01M8/188 Primary

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

• H01M8/04225

  during start-up · CPC title

• H01M8/04283

  Supply means of electrolyte to or in matrix-fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04119

  with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying · CPC title

• H01M2004/8684

  Negative electrodes · CPC title