Rebalancing cell system for redox flow battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024063416-A1
Application number	US-202217821400-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 22, 2022
Priority date	Aug 22, 2022
Publication date	Feb 22, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for rebalancing cells in a redox flow battery. In one example, a rebalancing cell system includes a first rebalancing cell in series fluidic communication with a second rebalancing cell and a hydrogen source, the first rebalancing cell includes a first electrode assembly stack with hydrogen flow paths extending therethrough and having a higher pressure than an electrolyte in the first electrode assembly stack. Further, the second rebalancing cell includes a second electrode assembly stack with hydrogen flow paths that extend therethrough and have a higher pressure than an electrolyte in the second electrode assembly stack.

First claim

1 . A rebalancing cell system for a redox flow battery, comprising:
a first rebalancing cell in series fluidic communication with a second rebalancing cell and a hydrogen source; wherein the first rebalancing cell includes a first electrode assembly stack with hydrogen flow paths extending therethrough and having a higher pressure than an electrolyte in the first electrode assembly stack; and wherein the second rebalancing cell includes a second electrode assembly stack with hydrogen flow paths extending therethrough and having a higher pressure than an electrolyte in the second electrode assembly stack.

2 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first rebalancing cell includes:
a first hydrogen gas inlet port in fluidic communication with the hydrogen source; and
a first hydrogen gas outlet port and/or a first hydrogen gas relief port; and
the second rebalancing cell includes:
a second hydrogen gas inlet port in fluidic communication with one of the first hydrogen gas outlet port and the first hydrogen gas relief port; and
a second hydrogen gas outlet port and/or a second hydrogen gas relief port in fluidic communication with the hydrogen source.

3 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 2 , wherein the second hydrogen gas inlet port is in fluidic communication with the first hydrogen gas outlet port.

4 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 2 , wherein the first hydrogen gas relief port is in fluidic communication with the second hydrogen gas inlet port.

5 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 2 , wherein the first hydrogen gas relief port and the first hydrogen gas outlet port are both in fluidic communication with the second hydrogen gas inlet port.

6 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 2 , wherein the hydrogen source includes a hydrogen tank fluidly coupled to a hydrogen flow generator in series.

7 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 6 , wherein the hydrogen flow generator is in fluidic communication with the first hydrogen gas inlet port.

8 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 6 , wherein the hydrogen flow generator is in fluidic communication with the second hydrogen gas relief port.

9 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 6 , wherein the hydrogen flow generator is a venturi injector or a hydrogen injector.

10 . A method for a rebalancing cell system, the method comprising:
flowing hydrogen gas from a hydrogen source into a first hydrogen gas inlet port in a first rebalancing cell; and flowing hydrogen gas from a first hydrogen gas outlet port or a first hydrogen gas relief port of the first rebalancing cell to a second hydrogen gas inlet port of a second rebalancing cell.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the hydrogen source includes a hydrogen flow generator.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the hydrogen source includes a hydrogen storage tank.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising flowing hydrogen gas in series between the hydrogen storage tank and the hydrogen flow generator.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising flowing hydrogen gas from one of a second hydrogen gas outlet port and a second hydrogen gas relief port to the hydrogen source.

15 . A rebalancing cell system for a redox flow battery, comprising:
a first rebalancing cell including:
a first hydrogen gas inlet port in fluidic communication with one of a hydrogen flow generator and a hydrogen storage tank; and
a first hydrogen gas outlet port and/or a first hydrogen gas relief port; and
a second rebalancing cell including:
a second hydrogen gas inlet port in fluidic communication with one of the first hydrogen gas outlet port and the first hydrogen gas relief port; and
a second hydrogen gas outlet port and/or a second hydrogen gas relief port in fluidic communication with one of the hydrogen flow generator and the hydrogen storage tank.

16 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 15 , wherein an outlet of the hydrogen flow generator is in series fluidic communication with an inlet of the hydrogen storage tank.

17 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 15 , wherein an outlet of the hydrogen storage tank is in series fluidic communication with an inlet of the hydrogen flow generator.

18 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 15 , wherein the hydrogen flow generator is a venturi injector.

19 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 15 , wherein the hydrogen flow generator is a hydrogen injector.

20 . The rebalancing cell system of claim 15 , wherein the first and the second rebalancing cells include stacks of electrode assemblies that are identical in layout.

Assignees

• Ess Technology Inc

Inventors

• Kissick Sean
• Song Yang
• Mcdonald Timothy J

Classifications

• H01M8/188 Primary

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

• H01M8/225 Primary

  Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising particulate active material in the form of a suspension, a dispersion, a fluidised bed or a paste · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title