Abstract: A multi-walled tubing assembly includes an outer corrugated tube and an inner tube received in the outer tube, and may receive an insert. The inner tube is made from a resilient material. The outer tube is structurally rigid. The insert may be plain and used in conjunction with one or more adhesives. The insert may include a section with barbs or teeth which, once inserted into the inner tube, engage with the corrugations of the outer tube. Some embodiments result in a good seal and mechanically fix the tubing assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring energy storage devices is disclosed. A monitoring system that monitors an energy storage device collects and stores operating data from the device and relays that data through a communications system to one or more servers. The servers can store the operating data from each of the monitored energy storage devices.

Abstract: A start-up plating process for a flow cell battery is disclosed. Upon start-up of the flow-cell stack, catalysts may have deplated from the electrodes. The catalyst is replated to the electrode by application of currents to the stack prior to circulating electrolyte fluids.

Abstract: A redox flow cell is presented that utilizes a porous membrane separating a first half cell and a second half cell. The porous membrane is chosen to have a figure of merit (FOM) is at least a minimum FOM. A method of providing a porous membrane for a flow cell can include determining a figure of merit; determining a first parameter from a pore size or a thickness for the porous membrane; determining a second parameter from the pore size or the thickness that is not the first parameter for the porous membrane, based on the figure of merit; and constructing a porous membrane having the pore size and the thickness.

Abstract: A flow battery with thermal management is presented. The flow battery is housed in an enclosure where fluid is uniformly circulated about holding tanks of electrolyte to control the temperature inside the enclosure.

Abstract: Methods for determining the state of charge of an electrolyte solution in a redox battery by optical absorption spectrophotometry are disclosed. The state of charge thus obtained may serve as a gauge for the amount of electro-chemical energy left in the system.

Abstract: A method for preparing a redox flow battery electrolyte is provided. In some embodiments, the method includes the processing of raw materials containing sources of chromium ions in a high oxidation state. In some embodiments, a solution of the raw materials in an acidic aqueous solution is subjected to a reducing process to reduce the chromium in a high oxide state to an aqueous electrolyte containing chromium (III) ions. In some embodiments, the reducing process is electrochemical process. In some embodiments, the reducing process is addition of an inorganic reductant. In some embodiments, the reducing process is addition of an organic reductant. In some embodiments, the inorganic reductant or the organic reductant includes iron powder.

Abstract: A redox flow cell is presented that utilizes a porous membrane separating a first half cell and a second half cell. The porous membrane is chosen to have a figure of merit (FOM) is at least a minimum FOM. A method of providing a porous membrane for a flow cell can include determining a figure of merit; determining a first parameter from a pore size or a thickness for the porous membrane; determining a second parameter from the pore size or the thickness that is not the first parameter for the porous membrane, based on the figure of merit; and constructing a porous membrane having the pore size and the thickness.

Abstract: A battery charging system according to some embodiments includes a plurality of power modules coupled to a backplane, each of the plurality of power modules providing an electrical indication of type of power module to the backplane, the power modules of each type providing an electrical function associated with charging a battery consistent with the type of power module; and a controller that determines the number of power modules of a particular type and supplies control signals that allocate to each of the power modules of the particular type a portion of the electrical function.