Abstract: A self-healing battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules connected in series. When a faulty battery module is detected, an electrical protective device connected in parallel with the faulty battery is caused to operate and thereby bypass the faulty battery module. The self-healing battery pack can additionally report the detection of the faulty battery module. When maintenance is scheduled to replace the faulty battery module, the self-healing battery pack can receive instructions to adjust a state-of-charge of the battery modules to reduce an equalization period.

Abstract: A battery module assembly includes a first battery cell and a second battery cell. The first battery cell includes a rear surface, a side surface, and a top surface. A second battery cell also includes a front surface, a side surface, and a top surface. The front surface of the second battery cell contacts the rear surface first battery cell. A barrier contacts the side surfaces of both the first battery cell and the second battery cell.

Abstract: A battery module includes features to optimize cooling while providing electrical isolation and cell gas-venting channels. The battery module can include the integration of a heatsink in order to improve thermal performance. Thermally conductive pads can be provided to create an electrically isolated interface between a plurality of series-connected battery-cell lead plates, at different potentials, and the heatsink. Optimization, by stacking thin and thick thermally conductive pads, allows for creation of gas-venting channels along the positive cell terminal locations. In some arrangements, a plurality of fluid paths are disposed between the inlet and the outlet of the battery module to provide heat convective airflow through the battery module.

Abstract: A battery module includes features to optimize cooling while providing electrical isolation and cell gas-venting channels. The battery module can include the integration of a heatsink in order to improve thermal performance. Thermally conductive pads can be provided to create an electrically isolated interface between a plurality of series-connected battery-cell lead plates, at different potentials, and the heatsink. Optimization, by stacking thin and thick thermally conductive pads, allows for creation of gas-venting channels along the positive cell terminal locations. In some arrangements, a plurality of fluid paths are disposed between the inlet and the outlet of the battery module to provide heat convective airflow through the battery module.

Abstract: A battery module includes features to optimize cooling while providing electrical isolation and cell gas-venting channels. The battery module can include the integration of a heatsink in order to improve thermal performance. Thermally conductive pads can be provided to create an electrically isolated interface between a plurality of series-connected battery-cell lead plates, at different potentials, and the heatsink. Optimization, by stacking thin and thick thermally conductive pads, allows for creation of gas-venting channels along the positive cell terminal locations. In some arrangements, a plurality of fluid paths are disposed between the inlet and the outlet of the battery module to provide heat convective airflow through the battery module.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a heating element, which can be an electric ribbon-type heating element. The heating element can be switched on when pack temperatures are near or fall below the minimum discharge or charge operating temperatures. The heating element can simultaneously function to heat the battery cells and as a separator for a group of cells bound together to form a lightweight battery pack. With such a configuration, the disclosed ribbon-type heater is less prone to damage due to vibration of the battery pack. The heating element can be self-powered by the battery pack cells with DC power or can be externally AC or DC powered. The disclosed heating element is self-contained and controlled by the battery pack BMS. In installations where heating elements are not desired, inactive separator elements can be alternatively provided, thereby reducing costs and avoiding the need to reconfigure other components of the battery pack.

Abstract: A battery module includes features to optimize cooling while providing electrical isolation and cell gas-venting channels. The battery module can include the integration of a heatsink in order to improve thermal performance. Thermally conductive pads can be provided to create an electrically isolated interface between a plurality of series-connected battery-cell lead plates, at different potentials, and the heatsink. Optimization, by stacking thin and thick thermally conductive pads, allows for creation of gas-venting channels along the positive cell terminal locations. In some arrangements, a plurality of fluid paths are disposed between the inlet and the outlet of the battery module to provide heat convective airflow through the battery module.

Abstract: A method for joining incompatible materials is provided that includes the steps of welding a first component formed of a thermoplastic material and a second component of a porous material to one another to form a subassembly and optionally molding a third component around the subassembly. The method enables the incompatible first component and the third component to be joined to one another, such as to form an electrolyte battery flow frame around an ion exchange material and/or microporous separator material in order to form a separator for an electrolyte flow battery.

Abstract: Plastic preforms are introduced into a blow mold and are expanded by applying a flowable medium thereto, which is introduced into the internal space of the plastic preforms, wherein the blow mold includes at least two lateral parts which form a cavity during the expansion of the plastic preforms, within which the plastic containers are expanded. The lateral parts are respectively provided on lateral part carriers that are moved relative to each other for opening and closing the blow mold. At least one arrangement of a lateral part carrier and the lateral part provided thereon has an expansion element that can have a gaseous medium applied thereto. The expansion element ensures, when the gaseous medium is applied thereto, that one lateral part is moved towards the other lateral part. During the expansion of the plastic preforms, at least two different pressure levels are applied.

Abstract: A method for joining incompatible materials is provided that includes the steps of welding a first component formed of a thermoplastic material and a second component of a porous material to one another to form a subassembly and optionally molding a third component around the subassembly. The method enables the incompatible first component and the third component to be joined to one another, such as to form an electrolyte battery flow frame around an ion exchange material and/or microporous separator material in order to form a separator for an electrolyte flow battery.

Abstract: An electrolyte system is provided for a rechargeable electrode zinc-halogen flow battery that utilizes a highly similar or identical electrolyte positioned on both sides of an ion-conducting membrane. The electrolyte system containing zinc salts, electrolyte conductivity enhancer, and an appropriate amount of bromine complexing agent achieves significant improvements on battery energy efficiency, self-discharge rate, and electrolyte level cycle stability over the prior art electrolyte systems.

Abstract: An improved electrolyte battery is provided that includes a tank assembly adapted to hold an amount of an anolyte and a catholyte, a number of cell stacks operably connected to the tank assembly, each stack formed of a number of flow frames disposed between end caps and a number of power converters operatively connected to the cell stacks. The cell stacks are formed with a number of flow frames each including individual inlets and outlets for anolyte and catholyte fluids and a separator disposed between flow frames defining anodic and cathodic half cells between each pair of flow frames. The power converter is configured to connect the battery with either forward or reverse polarity to a DC power source, such as a DC bus. The anodic and cathodic half cells switch as a function of the polarity by which the battery is connected to the Dc power source.

Abstract: Plastic preforms are introduced into a blow mould and are expanded by applying a flowable medium thereto, which is introduced into the internal space of the plastic preforms, wherein the blow mould includes at least two lateral parts which form a cavity during the expansion of the plastic preforms, within which the plastic containers are expanded. The lateral parts are respectively provided on lateral part carriers that are moved relative to each other for opening and closing the blow mould. At least one arrangement of a lateral part carrier and the lateral part provided thereon has an expansion element that can have a gaseous medium applied thereto. The expansion element ensures, when the gaseous medium is applied thereto, that one lateral part is moved towards the other lateral part. During the expansion of the plastic preforms, at least two different pressure levels are applied.

Abstract: Disclosed is method for enhancing electrolyte flowing mechanism within electrodes in flow battery cells by employing half-cell spacer screens that may be welded to at least one surface of each electrode sheet. Half-cell spacer screens may provide a constant gap thickness between electrode sheet and micro-porous separator membrane. Half-cell spacer screens may be made of a bromine inert thermoplastic such as polypropylene or polyethylene and may include at least one thin layer of strands. Additionally, the disclosed half-cell spacer screens may exhibit diamond pattern netting or any other suitable pattern. The inclusion of half-cell spacer screens may allow an improved distribution of electrolyte throughout the surface of electrode sheet, thereby improving performance flow batteries.

Abstract: An improved chemical composition and manufacturing process for a battery electrode are disclosed. This battery electrode may be later arranged in flowing electrolyte battery cells. Battery electrode material formulation may include a mixture of polypropylene, carbon black, graphite, bonding additives and other substances in different concentrations. The inclusion of graphite may reduce the amount of carbon black in the mixture, thereby reducing the swelling of the battery electrode in the presence of bromine. Moreover, material formulation may reduce warpage caused by the swelling of electrode material, and may additionally improve the performance and properties of flowing electrolyte batteries. An extrusion molding process may be employed in order to fabricate the disclosed battery electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are formulation components for the manufacturing of a flow frame structure that can be integrated in flowing electrolyte batteries. These formulation components for manufacturing flow frames may include, but are not limited to, polypropylene, glass fiber, a coupling agent and an elastomer. A mixing and extrusion process may be employed to formulate the material and produce pre-formulated pellets for the manufacturing of flow frames. As flow frames may be integrated with electrodes (or membranes), the disclosed flow frame formulation may achieve a desired Melt Flow Index (MFI) range and may allow an improved bonding between electrodes (or membranes) and flow frame, therefore, simplifying manufacturing process and achieving higher performance and longer lifetime of flowing electrolyte batteries.

Abstract: An improved electrolyte battery is provided that includes a tank assembly adapted to hold an amount of an anolyte and a catholyte, a number of cell stacks operably connected to the tank assembly, each stack formed of a number of flow frames disposed between end caps and a number of power converters operatively connected to the cell stacks. The cell stacks are formed with a number of flow frames each including individual inlets and outlets for anolyte and catholyte fluids and a separator disposed between flow frames defining anodic and cathodic half cells between each pair of flow frames. The power converter is configured to connect the battery with either forward or reverse polarity to a DC power source, such as a DC bus. The anodic and cathodic half cells switch as a function of the polarity by which the battery is connected to the Dc power source.

Abstract: Containers containing a mixture of acceptable and unacceptable bottles are conveyed to a removal station in the path of movement of a carrier head that has at least one group of gripping elements that are adapted to selectively grip and remove acceptable bottles and at least another group of gripping elements that are adapted to grip and remove unacceptable bottles. In one implementation, the carrier head picks up the acceptable bottles from incoming containers and simultaneously picks up unacceptable bottles from containers from which acceptable bottles have been removed and transfers the respective groups of bottles to individual outfeed conveyors.

Abstract: A street sweeping apparatus with a sweeping device (10), a sweepings container (6) and a pickup device (2) for feeding the sweepings from the street into the sweepings container (6). The street sweeping apparatus is characterized in that the sweeping device (10) and the pickup device (6) are parts of vehicle (1) suitable for use in normal traffic and the pickup device (2) is an independent unit, which can be detachably joined to the vehicle (1) for travel therewith. The intake opening of the housing (11) of the pickup device (2) is at the level of the street at the rear of the sweeping device (1) and the transfer opening of this housing (11) is connected in a dust-tight manner with the intake opening of the sweepings housing (6). Sweeping rollers (12 and 13) which mesh with each other in the manner of gear wheels are rotatably supported in the housing (11) to take up the sweepings and feed them to the sweepings container ( 6).