Redox flow battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018048004-A1
Application number	US-201715796650-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 27, 2017
Priority date	Jun 23, 2015
Publication date	Feb 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A redox flow battery includes first and second electrodes, a separator separating the first and second electrodes, an active material, an electrolytic solution containing a redox species, and a circulation mechanism. The active material is insoluble in the electrolytic solution. The circulation mechanism circulates the electrolytic solution between the first electrode and the active material. The redox species performs oxidation and reduction at the first electrode and is oxidized and reduced by the active material. The circulation mechanism includes an electrolytic solution container containing the active material and a permeation preventing unit. The electrolytic solution is brought into contact with the active material in the electrolytic solution container, and the redox species is oxidized and reduced by the active material. The permeation preventing unit is disposed adjacent the outlet for the electrolytic solution of the electrolytic solution container and prevents permeation of the active material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A redox flow battery comprising:
a first electrode; a second electrode; a separator separating the first electrode and the second electrode; a first active material; a first electrolytic solution containing a first redox species; and a first circulation mechanism, wherein the first active material is insoluble in the first electrolytic solution; the first circulation mechanism circulates the first electrolytic solution between the first electrode and the first active material; the first redox species performs oxidation and reduction at the first electrode; the first redox species is oxidized and reduced by the first active material; the first circulation mechanism includes a first electrolytic solution container and a first permeation preventing unit; the first active material is contained in the first electrolytic solution container; the first electrolytic solution is brought into contact with the first active material in the first electrolytic solution container to oxidize and reduce the first redox species by the first active material; the first permeation preventing unit is disposed adjacent an outlet for the first electrolytic solution of the first electrolytic solution container; and the first permeation preventing unit prevents permeation of the first active material.

2 . The redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the redox potential region of the first redox species and the redox potential region of the first active material partially overlap each other.

3 . The redox flow battery according to claim 2 , wherein
the redox potential region of the first redox species has an upper limit higher than that of the redox potential region of the first active material; and the redox potential region of the first redox species has a lower limit lower than that of the redox potential region of the first active material.

4 . The redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the first redox species is an organic compound having oxidizing and reducing properties.

5 . The redox flow battery according to claim 4 , wherein
the first redox species is an organic compound having multiple redox potentials.

6 . The redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the first active material has properties of reversibly occluding and releasing an alkali metal ion or an alkaline earth metal ion.

7 . The redox flow battery according to claim 6 , wherein
the first active material has properties of reversibly occluding and releasing lithium ions.

8 . The redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the second electrode is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal.

9 . The redox flow battery according to claim 8 , wherein
the second electrode is lithium.

10 . The redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the first redox species is oxidized at the first electrode and is reduced by the first active material in a charged state; and the first redox species is reduced at the first electrode and is oxidized by the first active material in a discharged state.

11 . The redox flow battery according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second active material; a second electrolytic solution containing a second redox species; and a second circulation mechanism, wherein the second active material is insoluble in the second electrolytic solution; the second circulation mechanism circulates the second electrolytic solution between the second electrode and the second active material; the second redox species performs oxidation and reduction at the second electrode; and the second redox species is oxidized and reduced by the second active material.

12 . The redox flow battery according to claim 11 , wherein
the redox potential region of the second redox species and the redox potential region of the second active material partially overlap each other.

13 . The redox flow battery according to claim 12 , wherein
the redox potential region of the second redox species has an upper limit higher than that of the redox potential region of the second active material; and the redox potential region of the second redox species has a lower limit lower than that of the redox potential region of the second active material.

14 . The redox flow battery according to claim 11 , wherein
the second circulation mechanism includes a second electrolytic solution container; the second active material is contained in the second electrolytic solution container; and the second electrolytic solution is brought into contact with the second active material in the second electrolytic solution container to oxidize and reduce the second redox species by the second active material.

15 . The redox flow battery according to claim 14 , wherein
the second circulation mechanism includes a second permeation preventing unit; the second permeation preventing unit is disposed adjacent an outlet for the second electrolytic solution of the second electrolytic solution container; and the second permeation preventing unit prevents permeation of the second active material.

16 . The redox flow battery according to claim 11 , wherein
the second redox species is an organic compound having oxidizing and reducing properties.

17 . The redox flow battery according to claim 16 , wherein
the second redox species is an organic compound having multiple redox potentials.

18 . The redox flow battery according to claim 11 , wherein
the second active material has properties of reversibly occluding and releasing an alkali metal ion or an alkaline earth metal ion.

19 . The redox flow battery according to claim 18 , wherein
the second active material has properties of reversibly occluding and releasing lithium ions.

20 . The redox flow battery according to claim 11 , wherein
the second redox species is reduced at the second electrode and is oxidized by the second active material in a charged state; and the second redox species is oxidized at the second electrode and is reduced by the second active material in a discharged state.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hojo Nobuhiko

Classifications

• H01M8/18 Primary

  Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04283 Primary

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

• H01M8/188

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

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title