Patents by Inventor Timothy J. McDonald

Timothy J. McDonald 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).

  • Publication number: 20240063416
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for rebalancing cells in a redox flow battery. In one example, a rebalancing cell system includes a first rebalancing cell in series fluidic communication with a second rebalancing cell and a hydrogen source, the first rebalancing cell includes a first electrode assembly stack with hydrogen flow paths extending therethrough and having a higher pressure than an electrolyte in the first electrode assembly stack. Further, the second rebalancing cell includes a second electrode assembly stack with hydrogen flow paths that extend therethrough and have a higher pressure than an electrolyte in the second electrode assembly stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Sean Kissick, Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20240055642
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing health of electrolytes of redox flow battery system. Components of the system may include a redox rebalancing cells and a gas storage system. The redox rebalancing cell may be operated by plating iron on a plating electrode, treating a negative electrolyte of the redox flow battery system with the plated iron and returning the negative electrolyte to an electrolyte tank. The gas storage system may include a set of expandable gas storage tanks coupled to at least one electrolyte storage tank and an electrolyte rebalancing system of the redox flow battery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Sean Kissick, Timothy J. McDonald, Yang Song
  • Publication number: 20240055643
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing health of electrolytes of redox flow battery system. Components of the system may include a redox rebalancing cells and a gas storage system. The redox rebalancing cell may be operated by plating iron on a plating electrode, treating a negative electrolyte of the redox flow battery system with the plated iron and returning the negative electrolyte to an electrolyte tank. The gas storage system may include a set of expandable gas storage tanks coupled to at least one electrolyte storage tank and an electrolyte rebalancing system of the redox flow battery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Sean Kissick, Timothy J. McDonald, Yang Song
  • Publication number: 20230378505
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a rebalancing reactor of a flow battery system. In one example, a pH of a battery electrolyte may be maintained by the rebalancing reactor by applying a negative potential to a catalyst bed of the rebalancing reactor. A performance of the rebalancing reactor may further be maintained by treating the catalyst bed with deionized water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Alexandria Behr
  • Publication number: 20230361331
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for iron preformation in a redox flow battery. In one example, a method may include, in a first condition, discharging and then charging the redox flow battery, and in a second condition, charging the redox flow battery including preforming iron metal at a negative electrode of the redox flow battery, and thereafter entering an idle mode of the redox flow battery including adjusting one or more electrolyte conditions. In some examples, each of preforming the iron metal and adjusting the one or more electrolyte conditions may increase a battery charge capacity to greater than a threshold battery charge capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Yang Song, Brady Thompson, Timothy J. McDonald
  • Patent number: 11811110
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an electric energy storage device are described. The systems and methods may generate a state of charge estimate that is based on negative electrode plating. An overall state of charge may be determined from the state of charge estimate that is based on negative electrode plating and a state of charge estimate that is not based on negative electrode plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Thiago Groberg
  • Publication number: 20230299318
    Abstract: A method for a redox flow battery system may include flowing an electrolyte from an electrolyte storage tank to a multi-stage rebalancing reactor, the multi-stage rebalancing reactor comprising reactor vessels grouped to form stages. Hydrogen gas may be injected into the electrolyte upstream of the multi-stage rebalancing reactor via a gas line and a metal ion of the electrolyte may be chemically reduced by oxidizing the hydrogen gas at a catalyst bed of each of the reactor vessels to maintain a charge balance of the electrolyte and a pH of the electrolyte within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans, Timothy J. McDonald, Kenneth Fisher, Sean Kissick
  • Publication number: 20230297485
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a system for generating performance monitoring data in a computing system. The system includes a unit level counter with a set of counters, where each counter increments during each clock cycle in which a corresponding electronic signal is at a first state, such as a high or low logic level state. Periodically, the unit level counter transmits the counter values to a corresponding counter collection unit. The counter collection unit includes a set of counters that aggregates the values of the counters in multiple unit level counters. Based on certain trigger conditions, the counter collection unit transmits records to a reduction channel. The reduction channel includes a set of counters that aggregates the values of the counters in multiple counter collection units. Each virtual machine executing on the system can access a different corresponding reduction channel, providing secure performance metric data for each virtual machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Pranav VAIDYA, Alan MENEZES, Siddharth SHARMA, Jin OUYANG, Gregory Paul SMITH, Timothy J. MCDONALD, Shounak KAMALAPURKAR, Abhijat RANADE, Thomas Melvin OGLETREE
  • Patent number: 11764380
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a rebalancing reactor of a flow battery system. In one example, a pH of a battery electrolyte may be maintained by the rebalancing reactor by applying a negative potential to a catalyst bed of the rebalancing reactor. A performance of the rebalancing reactor may further be maintained by treating the catalyst bed with deionized water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ESS Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Alexandria Behr
  • Patent number: 11749827
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for iron preformation in a redox flow battery. In one example, a method may include, in a first condition, discharging and then charging the redox flow battery, and in a second condition, charging the redox flow battery including preforming iron metal at a negative electrode of the redox flow battery, and thereafter entering an idle mode of the redox flow battery including adjusting one or more electrolyte conditions. In some examples, each of preforming the iron metal and adjusting the one or more electrolyte conditions may increase a battery charge capacity to greater than a threshold battery charge capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Brady Thompson, Timothy J. McDonald
  • Patent number: 11728497
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans, Timothy J. McDonald, Kenneth Fisher, Sean Kissick
  • Publication number: 20230253583
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, a method of operating a redox flow battery system includes, responsive to switching the redox flow battery system to an idle mode, initiating a first timer monitoring a first threshold period of time. An electrolyte pump may be activated when the first threshold period of time elapses, the electrolyte pump driving circulation of electrolytes through one or more electrode compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Kenneth Fisher
  • Publication number: 20230253584
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery system includes a power module, an electrolyte pump, and a power control system. The power control system may include instructions to switch the redox flow battery system to an idle mode, activate an electrolyte pump when a first threshold period of time elapses, deactivate the electrolyte pump when a second threshold period of time elapses, and drain, purge, and refill one or more electrode compartments when a third threshold period of time elapses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Kenneth Fisher
  • Publication number: 20230216072
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an electric energy storage device are described. The systems and methods may generate a state of charge estimate that is based on negative electrode plating. An overall state of charge may be determined from the state of charge estimate that is based on negative electrode plating and a state of charge estimate that is not based on negative electrode plating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Thiago Groberg
  • Patent number: 11664512
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, a method of operating a redox flow battery system includes switching the redox flow battery system to an idle mode and completely draining electrolytes from one or more electrode compartments of the redox flow battery system. The one or more electrode compartments may be purged with a gas and refilled with fresh electrolytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ESS Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Kenneth Fisher
  • Patent number: 11631872
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an electric energy storage device are described. The systems and methods may generate a state of charge estimate that is based on negative electrode plating. An overall state of charge may be determined from the state of charge estimate that is based on negative electrode plating and a state of charge estimate that is not based on negative electrode plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Thiago Groberg
  • Patent number: 11545688
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a rebalancing reactor of a flow battery system. In one example, a pH of a battery electrolyte may be maintained by the rebalancing reactor by applying a negative potential to a catalyst bed of the rebalancing reactor. A performance of the rebalancing reactor may further be maintained by treating the catalyst bed with deionized water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ESSTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Alexandria Behr
  • Publication number: 20220123339
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a rebalancing reactor of a flow battery system. In one example, a pH of a battery electrolyte may be maintained by the rebalancing reactor by applying a negative potential to a catalyst bed of the rebalancing reactor. A performance of the rebalancing reactor may further be maintained by treating the catalyst bed with deionized water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Alexandria Behr
  • Patent number: 11201343
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a rebalancing reactor of a flow battery system. In one example, a pH of a battery electrolyte may be maintained by the rebalancing reactor by applying a negative potential to a catalyst bed of the rebalancing reactor. A performance of the rebalancing reactor may further be maintained by treating the catalyst bed with deionized water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: ESS TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Alexandria Behr
  • Publication number: 20210359315
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, a method of operating a redox flow battery system includes switching the redox flow battery system to an idle mode and completely draining electrolytes from one or more electrode compartments of the redox flow battery system. The one or more electrode compartments may be purged with a gas and refilled with fresh electrolytes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Kenneth Fisher