Fuel system using redox flow battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9583780-B2
Application number	US-201615045718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2016
Priority date	Apr 6, 2009
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

An automotive or other power system including a flow cell, in which the stack that provides power is readily isolated from the storage vessels holding the cathode slurry and anode slurry (alternatively called “fuel”) is described. A method of use is also provided, in which the “fuel” tanks are removable and are separately charged in a charging station, and the charged fuel, plus tanks, are placed back in the vehicle or other power system, allowing fast refueling. The technology also provides a charging system in which discharged fuel is charged. The charged fuel can be placed into storage tanks at the power source or returned to the vehicle. In some embodiments, the charged fuel in the storage tanks can be used at a later date. The charged fuel can be transported or stored for use in a different place or time.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bipolar electrochemical cell, comprising:
an end anode current collector;
a first ion-permeable membrane spaced from the end anode current collector and at least partially defining a first anode;
a bipolar electrode including an anode current collector and a cathode current collector, the bipolar electrode spaced from the first ion-permeable membrane and at least partially defining a first cathode between the first ion-permeable membrane and the cathode current collector of the bipolar current collector;
a second ion-permeable membrane spaced from the bipolar electrode and at least partially defining a second anode between the second ion-permeable membrane and the anode current collector of the bipolar current collector; and
an end cathode current collector spaced from the second ion-permeable membrane and at least partially defining a second cathode between the end cathode current collector and the second ion-permeable membrane,
wherein at least one of the first anode, the second anode, the first cathode, and the second cathode includes a semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox composition, and
wherein the semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox composition is capable of taking up or releasing ions, and remains substantially insoluble during operation of the cell.

2. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox composition includes an active material.

3. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 2 , wherein a volume percentage of the active material is between 20% and 70%.

4. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 2 , wherein the semi-solid or condensed liquid ion storing redox composition includes a conductive additive.

5. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the bipolar electrochemical cell is a flow cell.

6. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first anode, the second anode, the first cathode, and the second cathode includes the semi-solid ion-storing redox composition, the semi-solid ion-storing redox composition comprising a slurry.

7. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first anode, the second anode, the first cathode, and the second cathode includes the semi-solid ion-storing redox composition, the semi-solid ion-storing redox composition comprising a particle suspension.

8. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first anode, the second anode, the first cathode, and the second cathode includes the semi-solid ion-storing redox composition, the semi-solid ion-storing redox composition comprising a colloidal suspension.

9. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first anode, the second anode, the first cathode, and the second cathode includes the semi-solid ion-storing redox composition, the semi-solid ion-storing redox composition comprising an emulsion.

10. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first anode, the second anode, the first cathode, and the second cathode includes the semi-solid ion-storing redox composition, the semi-solid ion-storing redox composition comprising a micelle.

11. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the bipolar electrode includes an insulator disposed between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector.

12. A bipolar electrochemical cell, comprising:
an end anode current collector;
a first ion-permeable membrane spaced from the end anode current collector and at least partially defining a first anode;
a bipolar electrode including an anode current collector and a cathode current collector, the bipolar electrode spaced from the first ion-permeable membrane and at least partially defining a first cathode between the first ion-permeable membrane and the cathode current collector of the bipolar current collector;
a second ion-permeable membrane spaced from the bipolar electrode and at least partially defining a second anode between the second ion-permeable membrane and anode current collector of the bipolar current collector; and
an end cathode current collector spaced from the second ion-permeable membrane and at least partially defining a second cathode between the end cathode current collector and the second ion-permeable membrane,
wherein at least one of the first anode, the second anode, the first cathode, and the second cathode includes a semi-solid electrode, the semi-solid electrode including a conductive additive in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte.

13. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 12 , wherein the semi-solid electrode includes a suspension of an active material.

14. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 13 , wherein a volume percentage of the active material is between 20% and 70%.

15. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 12 , wherein the bipolar electrochemical cell is a flow cell.

16. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 12 , wherein the bipolar electrode includes an insulator disposed between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector.

17. A bipolar electrochemical cell, comprising:
an end anode, an end cathode, and at least one bipolar electrode disposed between the end anode and the end cathode,
the bipolar electrode including an anode current collector, and a cathode current collector opposite the anode current collector;
a first ion-permeable membrane disposed between the end anode and the cathode current collector of the bipolar electrode; and
a second ion-permeable membrane disposed between the end cathode and the anode current collector of the bipolar electrode,
wherein at least one of the end anode, the end cathode and the at least one bipolar electrode includes a semi-solid electrode, the semi-solid electrode including a suspension of an active material and a conductive additive in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte.

18. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 17 , wherein the active material is an active solid phase materials.

19. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 18 , wherein a volume percentage of the active solid phase material is between 20% and 70%.

20. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 17 , wherein the bipolar electrochemical cell is a flow cell.

21. The bipolar electrochemical cell of claim 17 , wherein the bipolar electrode includes an insulator disposed between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector.

Assignees

• 24M Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Chiang Yet-Ming
• Bazzarella Ricardo

Classifications

• H01M8/04208

  Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs · CPC title

• H01M8/04626

  of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors · CPC title

• H01M2250/30

  Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop · CPC title

• H01M8/04753

  of fuel cell reactants · CPC title

• B60L53/14

  Conductive energy transfer · CPC title