Double-stack redox flow battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025046849-A1
Application number	US-202418922195-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 21, 2024
Priority date	May 15, 2020
Publication date	Feb 6, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery system has a first redox flow battery and a second redox flow battery, stacked above and in contact with the first redox flow battery along a vertical axis of the redox flow battery system. The second redox flow battery may be coupled to the first redox flow battery via nesting detents. Furthermore, operation of the first redox flow battery and the second redox flow battery may be adjustable according to a power demand.

First claim

1 . A redox flow battery system, comprising:
a first cell stack including a first negative current collector and first positive current collector; a sub-stack separator adjacent to the first negative current collector; and a second cell stack including a second negative current collector and second positive current collector, wherein the second negative current collector is also adjacent to the sub-stack separator.

2 . The redox flow battery system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first cell stack, second cell stack and sub-stack separator are positions between a first pressure plate and a second pressure plate.

3 . The redox flow battery system of claim 1 , wherein the first cell stack further includes a first end plate and the first positive current collector is arranged adjacent to the first end plate.

4 . The redox flow battery system of claim 1 , wherein the first cell stack further includes a second end plate and the first negative current collector is arranged between the second end plate and the sub-stack separator.

5 . The redox flow battery system of claim 1 , wherein each positive electrode of each cell of the first cell stack is electrically coupled to the first positive current collector and each negative electrode of each cell of the first cell stack is electrically coupled to the first negative current collector.

6 . The redox flow battery system of claim 1 , wherein the first negative current collector, first positive current collector, second negative current collector, and second positive current collector are each formed of a conductive material.

7 . An all iron redox flow battery system, comprising:
a first cell stack including a first negative current collector and first positive current collector; a second cell stack including a second negative current collector and second positive current collector; and a sub-stack separator arranged between the first cell stack and the second cell stack, wherein the first cell stack and second cell stack are configured to be individual electrical circuits electrically insulated from one another by the sub-stack separator.

8 . The all iron redox flow battery system of claim 7 , wherein the sub-stack separator is a solid plate and blocks flow of electrolyte between the first cell stack and the second cell stack.

9 . The all iron redox flow battery system of claim 7 , wherein the first negative current collector and the second negative current collector are adjacent to opposite sides of the sub-stack separator.

10 . The all iron redox flow battery system of claim 7 , wherein the first cell stack and second cell stack are both sandwiched between a first pressure plate and a second pressure plate.

11 . The all iron redox flow battery system of claim 10 , wherein the first pressure plate and second pressure plate each include positive electrolyte ports and negative electrolyte ports extending through a thickness of first pressure plate and second pressure plate respectively.

12 . The all iron redox flow battery system of claim 10 , wherein the first pressure plate includes positive electrolyte ports and negative electrolyte ports and wherein the sub-stack separator includes openings to allow electrolyte flow between the first cell stack and the second cell stack.

13 . The all iron redox flow battery system of claim 7 , wherein the first cell stack and second cell stack each include end plates, wherein the end plates are solid end walls and seal fluids inside the first cell stack and the second cell stack.

14 . A redox flow battery system, comprising:
a first cell stack including a first negative current collector and first positive current collector; a second cell stack including a second negative current collector and second positive current collector, wherein the first cell stack and second cell stack are arranged on either side of a sub-stack separator; and a controller configured to deactivate the first cell stack to supply power by the second cell stack or to activate both the first cell stack and the second cell stack to increase an amount of power delivered by the redox flow battery system.

15 . The redox flow battery system of claim 14 , wherein the sub-stack separator is a solid plate and blocks flow of electrolyte between the first cell stack and the second cell stack.

16 . The redox flow battery system of claim 14 , wherein the controller further deactivates the first cell stack by deactivating a first electrolyte pump configured to drive electrolyte through the first cell stack.

17 . The redox flow battery system of claim 14 , wherein both a first electrolyte pump and a second electrolyte pump are activated by the controller to deliver electrolyte to both the first cell stack and second cell stack.

18 . The redox flow battery system of claim 14 , the first cell stack, sub-stack separator, and second cell stack are positioned between a first pressure plate and a second pressure plate.

19 . The redox flow battery system of claim 14 , wherein each of the first cell stack and the second cell stack is formed from a plurality of cells and wherein each cell of the plurality of cells includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a bipolar plate, and a membrane separator.

20 . The redox flow battery system of claim 19 , wherein each cell of the plurality of cells in each of the first cell stack and the second cell stack is supported within a frame plate.

Assignees

• Ess Technology Inc

Inventors

• Casey Sean
• Evans Craig

Classifications

• H01M8/188 Primary

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

• H01M8/2465

  Details of groupings of fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/2455

  with liquid, solid or electrolyte-charged reactants · CPC title

• H01M8/242

  comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets (H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/248 Primary

  Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks · CPC title