Abstract: Designs of redox flow battery arrays and methods for balancing state of charge within the arrays are disclosed. Flow battery unit strings in the arrays which comprise strings of flow battery units (in which units share a common electrolyte pair) are balanced by measuring the states of charge of the common electrolyte pairs and appropriately regulating flow in one or more of the associated anolyte and catholyte circuits so as to balance the state-of charge in the flow battery unit strings. The apparatus required, i.e. state-of-charge measuring device, flow regulator, and controller, represents a substantial simplification to state of the art approaches.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for a flow battery is disclosed comprising a porous electrode material, a frame surrounding the porous electrode material, at least a distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an inlet for supplying electrolyte to the porous electrode material and at least another distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an outlet for discharging electrolyte out of the porous material. The walls of the distributor tubes are preferably provided with holes or pores for allowing a uniform distribution of the electrolyte within the electrode material. The distributor tubes provide the required electrolyte flow path length within the electrode material to minimize shunt current flowing between the flow cells in the battery stack.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for a flow battery is disclosed comprising a porous electrode material, a frame surrounding the porous electrode material, at least a distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an inlet for supplying electrolyte to the porous electrode material and at least another distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an outlet for discharging electrolyte out of the porous material. The walls of the distributor tubes are preferably provided with holes or pores for allowing a uniform distribution of the electrolyte within the electrode material. The distributor tubes provide the required electrolyte flow path length within the electrode material to minimize shunt current flowing between the flow cells in the battery stack.

Abstract: Designs of redox flow battery arrays and methods for balancing state of charge within the arrays are disclosed. Flow battery unit strings in the arrays which comprise strings of flow battery units (in which units share a common electrolyte pair) are balanced by measuring the states of charge of the common electrolyte pairs and appropriately regulating flow in one or more of the associated anolyte and catholyte circuits so as to balance the state-of charge in the flow battery unit strings. The apparatus required, i.e. state-of-charge measuring device, flow regulator, and controller, represents a substantial simplification to state of the art approaches.