Patents by Inventor Craig E. Evans

Craig E. Evans has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11527771
    Abstract: A method of rebalancing electrolytes in a redox flow battery system comprises directing hydrogen gas generated on the negative side of the redox flow battery system to a catalyst surface, and fluidly contacting the hydrogen gas with an electrolyte comprising a metal ion at the catalyst surface, wherein the metal ion is chemically reduced by the hydrogen gas at the catalyst surface, and a state of charge of the electrolyte and pH of the electrolyte remain substantially balanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans
  • Publication number: 20220352536
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery is adapted with an additive included in a battery electrolyte and an anion exchange membrane separator dividing positive electrolyte from negative electrolyte. An overall system cost of the battery system may be reduced while a storage capacity, energy density and performance may be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans
  • Publication number: 20220285717
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery is adapted with an additive included in a battery electrolyte and an anion exchange membrane separator dividing positive electrolyte from negative electrolyte. An overall system cost of the battery system may be reduced while a storage capacity, energy density and performance may be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans
  • Patent number: 11424470
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery is adapted with an additive included in a battery electrolyte and an anion exchange membrane separator dividing positive electrolyte from negative electrolyte. An overall system cost of the battery system may be reduced while a storage capacity, energy density and performance may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans
  • Publication number: 20220231309
    Abstract: A redox flow battery may include: a membrane interposed between a first electrode positioned at a first side of the membrane and a second electrode positioned at a second side of the membrane opposite to the first side; a first flow field plate comprising a plurality of positive flow field ribs, each of the plurality of positive flow field ribs contacting the first electrode at first supporting regions on the first side; and the second electrode, including an electrode spacer positioned between the membrane and a second flow field plate, the electrode spacer comprising a plurality of main ribs, each of the plurality of main ribs contacting the second flow field plate at second supporting regions on the second side, each of the second supporting regions aligned opposite to one of the plurality of first supporting regions. As such, a current density distribution at a plating surface may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Craig E. Evans, Sean Casey, Yang Song
  • Patent number: 11374236
    Abstract: A redox flow battery may include: a membrane interposed between a first electrode positioned at a first side of the membrane and a second electrode positioned at a second side of the membrane opposite to the first side; a first flow field plate comprising a plurality of positive flow field ribs, each of the plurality of positive flow field ribs contacting the first electrode at first supporting regions on the first side; and the second electrode, including an electrode spacer positioned between the membrane and a second flow field plate, the electrode spacer comprising a plurality of main ribs, each of the plurality of main ribs contacting the second flow field plate at second supporting regions on the second side, each of the second supporting regions aligned opposite to one of the plurality of first supporting regions. As such, a current density distribution at a plating surface may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Craig E. Evans, Sean Casey, Yang Song
  • Publication number: 20220149417
    Abstract: A method of cleansing a redox flow battery system may include operating the redox flow battery system in a charge, discharge, or idle mode, and responsive to a redox flow battery capacity being less than a threshold battery capacity, mixing the positive electrolyte with the negative electrolyte. In this way, battery capacity degradation following cyclic charging and discharging of the redox flow battery system can be substantially reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans
  • Patent number: 11296347
    Abstract: A method of cleansing a redox flow battery system may include operating the redox flow battery system in a charge, discharge, or idle mode, and responsive to a redox flow battery capacity being less than a threshold battery capacity, mixing the positive electrolyte with the negative electrolyte. In this way, battery capacity degradation following cyclic charging and discharging of the redox flow battery system can be substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans
  • Patent number: 11264631
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for manufacturing a bipolar plate for a redox flow battery. In one example, the bipolar plate is fabricated by a roll-to-roll process. The bipolar plate includes a non-conductive substrate that is coupled to a negative electrode on a first surface and coupled to a positive electrode on a second surface, the first surface opposite of the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventor: Craig E. Evans
  • Publication number: 20210359328
    Abstract: A redox flow battery and battery system are provided. In one example, the redox flow battery includes a cell stack assembly interposed by two endplates and comprising a plurality of mated membrane frame plates and bipolar frame plates forming, at a mated interface, a plurality of negative and positive flow channels configured to distribute negative and positive electrolyte into a plurality of bipolar plates. In the battery a membrane is coupled to each of the plurality of membrane frame plates and positioned sequentially between two of the bipolar plates included in the plurality of bipolar plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Craig E. Evans, Sean Casey, Thiago Groberg, Yang Song
  • Publication number: 20210359327
    Abstract: A redox flow battery and battery system are provided. In one example, the redox flow battery includes a cell stack assembly interposed by two endplates, the cell stack assembly includes a plurality of mated membrane frame plates and bipolar frame plates. For each pair of mated membrane and bipolar frame plates a negative shunt channel and a positive shunt channel are formed and the negative and positive shunt channels are in fluidic communication with a plurality of inlet and outlet distribution channels that are in fluidic communication with at least one bipolar plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Craig E. Evans, Sean Casey, Thiago Groberg, Yang Song
  • Publication number: 20210359329
    Abstract: A redox flow battery and battery system are provided. In one example, the redox flow battery includes a cell stack assembly having a plate assembly positioned on a lateral side of the cell stack assembly and comprising an elastic flange including a recess mated with a section of a conductive plate and compliant in at least one of a lateral direction and a vertical direction, and a plate frame coupled to the elastic flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Craig E. Evans, Sean Casey, Thiago Groberg, Yang Song
  • Publication number: 20210313589
    Abstract: An electrode for use in an all-iron redox flow battery is provided. In one example, the electrode may include a plastic mesh; and a coating on the plastic mesh. The coating may be a hydrophilic coating or a conductive coating and the electrode may have an electrode reaction potential is less than 0.8V. Further, a method of manufacturing a coated plastic mesh electrode for use in an all-iron redox flow battery is provided. In one example method, the steps include fabricating a plastic mesh, treating the plastic mesh by applying a solvent treatment or a plasma treatment or a mechanical abrasion treatment; coating the plastic mesh with a material selected from: carbon inks, metal oxides, and hydrophilic polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Craig E. Evans, Yang Song, Jeffrey Chen
  • Publication number: 20210242483
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for manufacturing a bipolar plate for a redox flow battery. In one example, the bipolar plate is fabricated by a roll-to-roll process. The bipolar plate includes a non-conductive substrate that is coupled to a negative electrode on a first surface and coupled to a positive electrode on a second surface, the first surface opposite of the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventor: Craig E. Evans
  • Patent number: 11043679
    Abstract: An electrode for use in an all-iron redox flow battery is provided. In one example, the electrode may include a plastic mesh; and a coating on the plastic mesh. The coating may be a hydrophilic coating or a conductive coating and the electrode may have an electrode reaction potential is less than 0.8V. Further, a method of manufacturing a coated plastic mesh electrode for use in an all-iron redox flow battery is provided. In one example method, the steps include fabricating a plastic mesh, treating the plastic mesh by applying a solvent treatment or a plasma treatment or a mechanical abrasion treatment; coating the plastic mesh with a material selected from: carbon inks, metal oxides, and hydrophilic polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Craig E. Evans, Yang Song, Jeffrey Chen
  • Publication number: 20210143455
    Abstract: A rebalancing reactor for a redox flow battery system may include a plurality of reactor vessels arranged in stages, each vessel of the plurality of reactor vessels housing a catalyst bed. In one example, the rebalancing reactor is fluidly coupled to an electrolyte storage tank and configured to flow electrolyte through the plurality of reactor vessels, enabling a chemical rebalancing of electrolyte in the redox flow battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans, Timothy J. McDonald, Kenneth Fisher, Sean Kissick
  • Publication number: 20210143463
    Abstract: A method of rebalancing electrolytes in a redox flow battery system comprises directing hydrogen gas generated on the negative side of the redox flow battery system to a catalyst surface, and fluidly contacting the hydrogen gas with an electrolyte comprising a metal ion at the catalyst surface, wherein the metal ion is chemically reduced by the hydrogen gas at the catalyst surface, and a state of charge of the electrolyte and pH of the electrolyte remain substantially balanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans
  • Publication number: 20210135269
    Abstract: A method for a redox flow battery may include, interrupting cycling of the redox flow battery, including charging the redox flow battery to a threshold charge condition, draining positive and negative electrolyte from the redox flow battery, circulating a wash solution through the redox flow battery, and returning the positive and negative electrolyte to the redox flow battery, and resuming cycling of the redox flow battery. In this way, contamination of the redox flow battery system can be reduced, thereby prolonging the life and increasing performance of the redox flow battery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans, Brady Thompson
  • Patent number: 10923753
    Abstract: A method of rebalancing electrolytes in a redox flow battery system comprises directing hydrogen gas generated on the negative side of the redox flow battery system to a catalyst surface, and fluidly contacting the hydrogen gas with an electrolyte comprising a metal ion at the catalyst surface, wherein the metal ion is chemically reduced by the hydrogen gas at the catalyst surface, and a state of charge of the electrolyte and pH of the electrolyte remain substantially balanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans
  • Patent number: 10777913
    Abstract: A leaf spring compression system comprising a mechanical assembly for securing a plurality of leaf springs on a battery cell stack of a flow battery system is disclosed. The cell stack may, comprise: a plurality of cells stacked together to form a flow battery; and a compression system comprising at least two tie rods extending through the plurality of cells clamping a spring acting at opposite ends to compress the cells together, the spring contacting at least two fulcrum elements positioned between the tie rods. In this way, the compression system may exert uniform loading on the battery cell stack, while minimizing deflection of pressure plates attached to the cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Craig E. Evans, Sean Casey