Abstract: A heat transfer system is disclosed that includes a plurality of electrocaloric elements including an electrocaloric film, a first electrode on a first side of the electrocaloric film, and a second electrode on a second side of the electrocaloric film. A fluid flow path is disposed along the plurality of electrocaloric elements, formed by corrugated fluid flow guide elements.

Abstract: An elevator system includes at least one lithium-ion battery, a temperature sensor (56, 57) operatively coupled to the at least one lithium-ion battery (44), and a lithium-ion battery charging system (50) including a controller (30) having a central processing unit (CPU) (36) interconnected functionally via a system bus to the at least one lithium-ion battery (44) and the temperature sensor (56, 57). The controller (30) further includes at least one memory (38) device thereupon stored a set of instructions which, when executed by the CPU, causes the lithium-ion battery charging system (50) to determine an expected run mode for the elevator system, sense a temperature of the lithium-ion battery (44) through the temperature sensor (56, 57) establishing a sensed temperature, and establish a state of charge (SOC) for the lithium-ion battery based on the sensed temperature and expected run mode of the elevator system.

Abstract: A flow battery includes a cell that has first and second flow fields spaced apart from each other and an electrolyte separator layer. A supply/storage system is external of the cell and includes first and second vessels fluidly connected with the first and second flow fields, and first and second pumps configured to selectively move first and second fluid electrolytes between the vessels and the first and second flow fields. The flow fields each have an electrochemically active zone that is configured to receive flow of the fluid electrolytes. The electrochemically active zone has a total open volume that is a function of at least one of a power parameter of the flow battery, a time parameter of the pumps and a concentration parameter of the fluid electrolytes.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for regenerating an electrode of a flow battery. The method can be executed during shutdown of the flow battery from an active charge/discharge mode to an inactive, shut-down mode in which neither a negative electrolyte nor a positive electrolyte are circulated through at least one cell of the flow battery. The method includes driving voltage of the least one cell of the flow battery toward zero by converting, in-situ, the negative electrolyte in the at least one cell to a higher oxidation state. The negative electrolyte is in contact with an electrode of the at least one cell. The higher oxidation state negative electrolyte is used to regenerate, in-situ, catalytically active surfaces of the electrode of the at least one cell.

Abstract: A method for treating a liquid redox electrolyte solution for use in a flow battery includes feeding a liquid redox electrolyte solution into a first half-cell of an electrochemical cell and feeding a gaseous reductant into a second half-cell of the electrochemical cell, and electrochemically reducing at least a portion of the liquid redox electrolyte solution in the electrochemical cell using the gaseous reductant.

Abstract: A heat transfer system is disclosed that includes a plurality of electrocaloric elements (12) including an electrocaloric film (14), a first electrode (16) on a first side of the electrocaloric film, and a second electrode (18) on a second side of the electrocaloric film. A fluid flow path (20) is disposed along the plurality of electrocaloric elements, formed by corrugated fluid flow guide elements (19).

Abstract: A flow battery that includes an electrochemical cell having first and second half-cells and an ion-selective separator there between wherein a fluid pressure differential across the ion-selective separator for a controlled amount of time is selectively utilized to urge a concentration imbalance of the electrochemically active species between the first and second electrolytes toward a concentration balance.

Abstract: An elevator system includes at least one lithium-ion battery, a temperature sensor (56, 57) operatively coupled to the at least one lithium-ion battery (44), and a lithium-ion battery charging system (50) including a controller (30) having a central processing unit (CPU) (36) interconnected functionally via a system bus to the at least one lithium-ion battery (44) and the temperature sensor (56, 57). The controller (30) further includes at least one memory (38) device thereupon stored a set of instructions which, when executed by the CPU, causes the lithium-ion battery charging system (50) to determine an expected run mode for the elevator system, sense a temperature of the lithium-ion battery (44) through the temperature sensor (56, 57) establishing a sensed temperature, and establish a state of charge (SOC) for the lithium-ion battery based on the sensed temperature and expected run mode of the elevator system.

Abstract: A method for treating a liquid redox electrolyte solution for use in a flow battery includes feeding a liquid redox electrolyte solution into a first half-cell of an electrochemical cell and feeding a gaseous reductant into a second half-cell of the electrochemical cell, and electrochemically reducing at least a portion of the liquid redox electrolyte solution in the electrochemical cell using the gaseous reductant.

Abstract: A method of determining a distribution of electrolytes in a flow battery includes providing a flow battery with a fixed amount of fluid electrolyte having a common electrochemically active specie, a portion of the fluid electrolyte serving as an anolyte and a remainder of the fluid electrolyte serving as a catholyte. An average oxidation state of the common electrochemically active specie is determined in the anolyte and the catholyte and, responsive to the determined average oxidation state, a molar ratio of the common electrochemically active specie between the anolyte and the catholyte is adjusted to increase an energy discharge capacity of the flow battery for the determined average oxidation state.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for regenerating an electrode of a flow battery. The method can be executed during shutdown of the flow battery from an active charge/discharge mode to an inactive, shut-down mode in which neither a negative electrolyte nor a positive electrolyte are circulated through at least one cell of the flow battery. The method includes driving voltage of the least one cell of the flow battery toward zero by converting, in-situ, the negative electrolyte in the at least one cell to a higher oxidation state. The negative electrolyte is in contact with an electrode of the at least one cell. The higher oxidation state negative electrolyte is used to regenerate, in-situ, catalytically active surfaces of the electrode of the at least one cell.

Abstract: A flow battery that includes an electrochemical cell having first and second half-cells and an ion-selective separator there between wherein a fluid pressure differential across the ion-selective separator for a controlled amount of time is selectively utilized to urge a concentration imbalance of the electrochemically active species between the first and second electrolytes toward a concentration balance.

Abstract: A method of determining a distribution of electrolytes in a flow battery includes providing a flow battery with a fixed amount of fluid electrolyte having a common electrochemically active specie, a portion of the fluid electrolyte serving as an anolyte and a remainder of the fluid electrolyte serving as a catholyte. An average oxidation state of the common electrochemically active specie is determined in the anolyte and the catholyte and, responsive to the determined average oxidation state, a molar ratio of the common electrochemically active specie between the anolyte and the catholyte is adjusted to increase an energy discharge capacity of the flow battery for the determined average oxidation state.

Abstract: A flow battery includes a cell that has first and second flow fields spaced apart from each other and an electrolyte separator layer. A supply/storage system is external of the cell and includes first and second vessels fluidly connected with the first and second flow fields, and first and second pumps configured to selectively move first and second fluid electrolytes between the vessels and the first and second flow fields. The flow fields each have an electrochemically active zone that is configured to receive flow of the fluid electrolytes. The electrochemically active zone has a total open volume that is a function of at least one of a power parameter of the flow battery, a time parameter of the pumps and a concentration parameter of the fluid electrolytes.