Bipolar plate and redox flow cell comprising same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018331373-A1
Application number	US-201715773241-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 21, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Nov 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bipolar plate with fibrous conductive materials inserted into the flow path and a redox flow battery including the bipolar plate.
It is possible to realize the redox flow battery having an excellent energy efficiency while improving the charging/discharging capacity and efficiency regardless of the flow rate of the electrolyte solution, by increasing the retention time of the electrolyte solution in the flow path by the fibrous conductive materials to increase the chance of reaction with the electrode layer.

First claim

1 . A bipolar plate for a redox flow battery comprising a body in the form of plate; and a flow path formed at the center of the body to allow the electrolyte solution to move, wherein the fibrous conductive materials are inserted into the flow path.

2 . The bipolar plate for the redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrous conductive materials are in the form of at least one fabric selected from the group consisting of carbon felt, graphite felt, carbon cloth, carbon paper, metal cloth, metal felt and foam metal.

3 . The bipolar plate for the redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrous conductive materials have a porosity of 10 to 99% and a bulk density of 0.05 to 0.2 g/cm 3 .

4 . The bipolar plate for the redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrous conductive materials further include at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon-based conductive materials and metal particles.

5 . The bipolar plate for the redox flow battery according to claim 4 , wherein the carbon-based conductive materials include at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon paper, carbon fiber, carbon black, acetylene black, activated carbon, fullerene, carbon nanotube, carbon nanowire, carbon nano-horn and carbon nanoring.

6 . The bipolar plate for the redox flow battery according to claim 4 , wherein the metal particles include at least one selected from the group consisting of Na, Al, Mg, Li, Ti, Zr, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Ru, Pd, Rd, Pt, Ag, Au, W, Ni and Fe.

7 . The bipolar plate for the redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrous conductive materials are filled at a volume ratio of 10 to 100% with respect to the flow path volume (flow path channel width*flow path channel depth*partition wall length).

8 . The bipolar plate for the redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein the depth X of the channel of the flow path relative to the thickness Y of the fibrous conductive materials satisfies the relation of formula 1<Y/X≤2.5.

9 . The bipolar plate for the redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein the bipolar plate includes
an inlet at one side of the body for introducing the electrolyte solution; An outlet for discharging the electrolyte solution through the flow path; an electrode layer in which the flow path is formed so that the electrolyte solution moves and contacts the electrode plate; A supply flow path located between the inlet and the electrode layer for uniform distribution of the electrolyte solution; and A discharge flow path located between the outlet and the electrode layer for uniform distribution of the electrolyte solution.

10 . The bipolar plate for the redox flow battery according to claim 1 , wherein the flow path includes at least one pattern selected from the group consisting of parallel, serpentine, semi-serpentine, zigzag, interdigitated and pin forms.

11 . A unit cell for the redox flow battery comprising,
an ion exchange membrane; electrode layers disposed respectively on both sides of the ion exchange membrane; and bipolar plates disposed respectively on one side of the electrode layers, wherein the bipolar plates are the bipolar plates according to claim 1 .

12 . The unit cell for the redox flow battery according to claim 11 , wherein the electrode layers include at least one material selected from the group consisting of carbon felt, graphite felt, carbon cloth, carbon paper, metal cloth, metal felt and foam metal.

13 . The unit cell for the redox flow battery according to claim 11 , wherein the electrode layers are formed by laminating one layer or two or more layers of carbon material.

14 . The unit cell for the redox flow battery according to claim 11 , wherein electrode layers are in the form where one or more layers of carbon material are laminated.

15 . A redox flow battery comprising,
a battery module formed by disposing unit modules on the sides of each other, which include unit stacks for generating electric currents, and electrically connecting them; electrolyte solution tanks for supplying the electrolyte solution to the battery modules and storing the electrolyte solution flowing out of the modules; and electrolyte solution pumps for circulating the electrolyte solution between the module and the electrolyte solution tanks, wherein the unit stacks include a plurality of connected unit cells for the redox flow battery of claim 11 .

Assignees

• Lg Chemical Ltd

Inventors

• Byun Sujin
• Noh Tae Geun
• Lee Jeongbae

Classifications

• H01M4/96

  Carbon-based electrodes · CPC title

• H01M8/0234

  Carbonaceous material · CPC title

• H01M8/04276

  Arrangements for managing the electrolyte stream, e.g. heat exchange · CPC title

• H01M8/188 Primary

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

• H01M8/0258 Primary

  characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant · CPC title