Electrolyte Circulation Patents (Class 429/51)
  • Patent number: 11929528
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for determining the ratio of oxidized and reduced forms of a redox couple in solution, each method comprising: contacting first and second stationary working electrodes and first and second counter electrode to the solution; applying a first potential at the first stationary working electrode and a second potential at the second stationary working electrode relative to the respective counter electrodes and measuring first and second constant currents for the first and second stationary working electrodes, respectively; wherein the first and second constant currents have opposite signs and the ratio of the absolute values of the first and second constant currents reflects the ratio of the oxidized and reduced forms of the redox couple in solution. When used in the context of monitoring/controlling electrochemical cells, additional embodiments include those further comprising oxidizing or reducing the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Evan R. King, Kean Duffey, Adam Morris-Cohen, John Goeltz, Steven Y. Reece
  • Patent number: 11728520
    Abstract: The present invention provide a non-aqueous electrolyte for use in static or non-flowing rechargeable electrochemical cells or batteries, wherein the electrolyte comprises a first deep eutectic solvent comprises a zinc salt, a second deep eutectic solvent comprising one or more quaternary ammonium salts, and a hydrogen bond donor. Another aspect of the present invention also provides a non-flowing rechargeable electrochemical cell that employs the non-aqueous electrolyte of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Eos Energy Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Hertzberg
  • Patent number: 11631903
    Abstract: A zinc bromine electrochemical cell comprises an anode-side subassembly, an insulating porous separator, and a cathode-side subassembly. The anode-side subassembly comprises an anode current terminal, an anode current collector, an anode support, an anode sheet, and an anode insulating net. The cathode-side subassembly comprises a cathode insulating mesh, a cathode graphite felt, a cathode sheet, a cathode current collector, and a cathode current terminal. The anode-side subassembly and the cathode-side subassembly are separated by the insulating porous separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Science Cadets, Inc.
    Inventor: Saroj Kumar Sahu
  • Patent number: 11431010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a redox flow battery having at least one battery module which consists of a battery cell, an electrolyte tank, an electrolyte flow path, a fluid control unit, and a pressure generating unit, wherein each of the battery modules is charged and discharged by independently circulating an electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Standard Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Bugi Kim, Kihyun Kim, Bumhee Cho, Damdam Choi
  • Patent number: 11424471
    Abstract: Various embodiments include an electrically rechargeable redox flow battery comprising: a first chamber; a second chamber; a membrane separating the first chamber from the second chamber; a cathode in the first chamber; and an anode in the second chamber. At least one of the cathode and the anode comprises a first planar surface including elevations enlarging the surface area. The elevations form flow channels for an electrolyte. The at least one of the cathode and the anode further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: lead, bismuth, zinc, titanium, molybdenum, and tungsten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Robert Fleck, Barbara Schricker, Jochen Friedl, Holger Wolfschmidt, Matthäa Schwob, Ulrich Stimming
  • Patent number: 11380903
    Abstract: An integrated bipolar electrode includes a laminated structure and a bipolar plate. The laminated structure is formed by interconnecting an anode active material layer with a cathode active material layer. The bipolar plate is sandwiched in a hollow cavity of the laminated structure. Side surfaces of the laminated structure are provided with a sealing layer for mating with a bipolar electrode fixing frame to prevent an anolyte and a catholyte from permeating into each other. The anode active material layer and the cathode active material layer in the integrated bipolar electrode are directly connected. A contact resistance between the anode active material layer and the cathode active material layer is quite low, and a battery prepared finally has better performances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Suqin Liu, Xiugui Yuan
  • Patent number: 11342572
    Abstract: A redox flow battery includes: a membrane; and electrodes that are disposed in a compressed state on both sides of the membrane and sandwich the membrane. The thickness x (?m) of the membrane and the compression ratio y (%) of the electrodes satisfy the following relation A or B: (A) when the electrodes are formed from carbon felt, y<x+60, 30?y?85, and 5?x?60 hold; (B) when the electrodes are formed from carbon cloth or carbon paper, y<1.2x+42, 10?y?85, and 5?x?60 hold, where y={1?(the thickness during compression/the thickness before compression)}×100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke Shiraki, Takashi Kanno
  • Patent number: 11309530
    Abstract: The current invention includes an additive manufactured electrode that may be used for a flow battery system. In some embodiments, the electrode may include a composite material and/or at least one flow channel to direct, or at least influence, flow of electrolyte. The flow channel can be formed onto a surface and/or within a body of the electrode, and may be used to generate fluid pathways that cause the electrolyte to flow in a certain manner. The composite material may include a rigid core and a flexible compressible outer layer that may improve reactions zones, enhance mechanical properties, and/or provide low-pressure paths for electrolyte to flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Concurrent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel R. Markiewicz, Michel J. McCluskey, Timothy Allen Kennedy, Paul John Brezovec, Michael L. Tims
  • Patent number: 11223061
    Abstract: A redox flow battery is described that does not include ion-exchange resin such as an expensive proton exchange membrane but rather uses immiscible catholyte and anolyte liquids in contact at a liquid-liquid interface. Solvents and electrochemically active components of the anolyte and catholyte would not cross the liquid-liquid interface between the anolyte and catholyte, but certain ions in each of the anolyte and catholyte would cross the interface during charging and discharging of the redox flow battery. Suitable chemical options are described along with system options for utilizing immiscible phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: PHILLIPS 66 COMPANY
    Inventors: Neal McDaniel, Hongjin Tan, James Anthony Suttil, Sharmila Samaroo, Jeffrey H. Drese, Reed J. Eisenhart
  • Patent number: 11056698
    Abstract: A redox flow battery includes first and second cells. Each cell has electrodes and a separator layer arranged between the electrodes. A first circulation loop is fluidly connected with the first electrode of the first cell. A polysulfide electrolyte solution has a pH 11.5 or greater and is contained in the first recirculation loop. A second circulation loop is fluidly connected with the second electrode of the second cell. An iron electrolyte solution has a pH 3 or less and is contained in the second circulation loop. A third circulation loop is fluidly connected with the second electrode of the first cell and the first electrode of the second cell. An intermediator electrolyte solution is contained in the third circulation loop. The cells are operable to undergo reversible reactions to store input electrical energy upon charging and discharge the stored electrical energy upon discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael L. Perry
  • Patent number: 11050079
    Abstract: An e-fuel energy storage system and method are provided. The e-fuel energy storage system comprises e-fuel, an e-fuel charger, and an e-fuel cell, wherein the component such as an electrode and membranes, material, and design configured to charge the e-fuel are independent and different from the component such as an electrode and membranes, material, and design configured to discharge the e-fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Tianshou Zhao
  • Patent number: 10991960
    Abstract: A flow battery system has an electrolyte storage tank, a flow battery, and a box-type flow battery system. A circular pipe I and a circular pipe II are provided in the electrolyte storage tank; the circular pipe II is communicated with an electrolyte return opening; the circular pipe I is communicated with an electrolyte delivery outlet; the annular perimeter of the circular pipe I is not equal to the annular perimeter of the circular pipe II. The multi-layer circular pipe structure in the storage tank reduces the flowing dead zone of electrolyte in the storage tank. Moreover, The reduction in the longitudinal distance between the electrolyte delivery outlet and the electrolyte return opening also reduced the problem of SOC lag so that the SOC monitoring accuracy of the flow battery is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: DALIAN RONGKEPOWER CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jingbo Wu, Huamin Zhang, Xiangkun Ma, Hongbo Wang, Ying Quan, You Wang, Xi Han, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 10903528
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell including: a negative electrode including calcium and an alkali metal; a positive electrode including one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Zn, Ga, Ge, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Te, Bi, Pb, Sb, Zn, Sn and Mg; and an electrolyte including a salt of calcium and a salt of the alkali metal. The electrolyte is configured to allow the cations of the calcium and alkali metal to be transferred from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharging and to be transferred from the positive electrode to the negative electrode during charging. The electrolyte exists as a liquid phase and one or both of the negative electrode and the positive electrode exists as liquid or partially liquid phases at operating temperatures of the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Takanari Ouchi, Hojong Kim, Donald R. Sadoway
  • Patent number: 10826077
    Abstract: A hybrid solid fuel battery system includes a power module having a module housing that stores reactive fuel plates, insulating separators and cathode rings. The reactive fuel plates are stacked together and electrically coupled together within the module housing. Each reactive fuel plate is partially covered by a non-reactive layer to form an exposed bottom portion. Each reactive fuel plate in the power module is separated from an adjacent reactive fuel plate by one of the insulating separators. Each cathode ring is secured around one of the reactive fuel plates within the module housing. A container storing an electrolyte solution is connected to the power module by a pipe. A controller connected to the container permits the electrolyte solution to flow to the interior of the module housing. This facilitates an interaction between the electrolyte solution and exposed bottom portions of the stacked reactive fuel plates, thereby generating electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Inventor: Christopher Marshall Goggin
  • Patent number: 10777836
    Abstract: A system includes a redox flow battery system that includes an anolyte having chromium ions in solution, a catholyte having iron ions in solution, a first half-cell having a first electrode in contact with the anolyte, a second half-cell having a second electrode in contact with the catholyte, and a first separator separating the first half-cell from the second half-cell. The system also includes a balance arrangement that includes a balance electrolyte having vanadium ions in solution, a third half-cell having a third electrode in contact with the anolyte or the catholyte, a fourth half-cell having a fourth electrode in contact with the balance electrolyte, and a reductant in the balance electrolyte or introducible to the balance electrolyte for reducing dioxovanadium ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: CREEK CHANNEL INC.
    Inventors: Kui Wei, Liyu Li
  • Patent number: 10593964
    Abstract: A bipolar plate is a bipolar plate for a battery, the bipolar plate having a positive electrode disposed on a first surface side thereof and a negative electrode disposed on a second surface side thereof, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is provided with a flow path through which an electrolyte flows. The flow path includes an introduction port for the electrolyte, a discharge port for the electrolyte, and a groove section which is located between the introduction port and the discharge port and guides the electrolyte to a predetermined route. The groove section includes a plurality of vertical groove sections which extend in a vertical direction and are arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction when the bipolar plate is placed at a predetermined position in the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Fujita, Hideyuki Yamaguchi, Takashi Kanno, Takefumi Ito, Masahiro Kuwabara, Kiyoaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10581104
    Abstract: Electrolyte solution circulation rates in a flow battery can impact operating performance. Although adjusting the circulation rates can allow improved performance to be realized, it can be difficult to levelize circulation rates over multiple electrochemical cells of an electrochemical cell stack due to a non-uniform pressure drop that occurs at an outlet of each electrochemical cell. Accordingly, flow batteries capable of realizing improved operating performance can include: an electrochemical cell stack containing a plurality of electrochemical cells in electrical communication with one another; an inlet manifold containing an inflow channel fluidically connected to an inflow side of each of the electrochemical cells; an outlet manifold containing an outflow channel fluidically connected to an outflow side of each of the electrochemical cells; and an insert disposed in the outflow channel. The insert has a variable width along a length of the outflow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Melough, Jeremy Loretz, Srivatsava Venkataranga Puranam
  • Patent number: 10547077
    Abstract: A flow battery includes a first liquid containing a first electrode mediator dissolved therein, a first electrode immersed in the first liquid, a first active material immersed in the first liquid, and a first circulation mechanism that circulates the first liquid between the first electrode and the first active material, wherein the first electrode mediator includes a tetrathiafulvalene derivative, and the tetrathiafulvalene derivative has a ring-forming substituent at positions 4,4? and 5,5? of a tetrathiafulvalene skeleton thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Honami Nariyama, Yu Otsuka
  • Patent number: 10519555
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catalytic assembly comprising a porous electrically conductive substrate, and a porous metallic composite coating the substrate, where the catalytic assembly has a three dimensional interpenetrating porous structure, where the substrate has a three dimensional interpenetrating porous structure having a first average pore diameter (PDSUB), and the porous metallic composite is amorphous and has a three dimensional interpenetrating porous structure having a second average pore diameter (PDPMC), the PDPMC being sufficiently smaller than the PDSUB to allow the porous metallic composite to coat substrate surfaces throughout the substrate including surfaces of pores in the substrate. The catalytic assembly may be suitable for use as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: NewSouth Innovation Pty Limited
    Inventors: Chuan Zhao, Xunyu Lu
  • Patent number: 10511061
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a molten metal battery of liquid bismuth and liquid tin electrodes and a eutectic electrolyte. The electrodes may be coaxial and coplanar. The eutectic electrolyte may be in contact with a surface of each electrode. The eutectic electrolyte may comprise ZnCl2:KCl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Cameron A. Lippert, Kunlei Liu, James Landon, Susan A. Odom, Nicolas E. Holubowitch
  • Patent number: 10312549
    Abstract: A bipolar battery plate for a bipolar battery is disclosed. The bipolar battery plate has a frame, a substrate positioned within the frame, a first lead layer positioned on one side of the substrate, a second lead layer positioned on another side of the substrate, a positive active material (PAM) positioned on a surface of the first lead layer, and a negative active material (NAM) positioned on a surface of the second lead layer. The substrate has a plurality of perforations, and a plurality of standoffs integrally formed on opposing side surfaces thereof. The first and second lead layers are electrically connected to each other through the plurality of perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: East Penn Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Stephen K. Fairchild, Kenneth R. Dengler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10297857
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery with high safety is provided. A lithium-ion battery 20 includes an electrode group 6, an electrolyte, and a battery container 5 that contains the electrode group 6 and the electrolyte. The electrode group 6 is formed by stacking a positive electrode and a negative electrode via a separator. The positive electrode contains a composite oxide of lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt as a main positive active material. The negative electrode contains amorphous carbon as a main negative active material. The lithium-ion battery 20 has a discharge capacity of 20 Ah or more. The ratio (the value of Y/X) of a volume Y occupied by the electrolyte to a volume X of a void space in the battery container 5 is 0.65 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI CHEMICAL COMPANY, LTD
    Inventors: Shingo Itoh, Manabu Ochida, Takanori Kajimoto, Youhei Itoh, Tadashi Yoshiura
  • Patent number: 10290836
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rechargeable battery comprising a battery housing which has a cell cavity, or several cell cavities separated by dividing walls. One or more of the cell cavities have at least one respective positive and negative electrode, separated from each other by at least one separator and a liquid electrolyte. One or more of the cell cavities have a respective wall element, which partitions the respective cell cavity into at least two volume chambers which communicate with one another. At least in the lower regions of the volume chambers, a communicating connection between the volume chambers for the liquid electrolytes is provided and in the upper region of the volume chambers, a pressure compensation connection between the volume chambers for assuring equal air pressure in the volume chambers communicating chambers is provided. Also disclosed is a wall element for such a rechargeable battery, and a battery housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Autobatterie GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Dirk Bremer, Peter Streuer
  • Patent number: 10050254
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to lead-acid batteries and the manufacture of lead-acid batteries containing acid pump devices to promote the circulation of electrolyte within the battery and/or battery cells to reduce acid stratification and improve battery performance. In various embodiments, battery cell components are assembled within an acid pump assembly that encloses the battery cell components on at least the bottom and ends. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the acid pumps may be integrally molded with or secured to various parts of the battery housing including the cover, side walls, and cell walls. In various embodiments; space for the acid pumps is created by varying the shape of the battery housing (e.g., the side walls or cell walls) and/or by modifying the shape, size, and or position of one or more of the battery electrodes or separators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Zoe H. Jin, Michael S. Baxa, William J. Wruck, Kenneth A. Adams, Lisa M. Franklin, Glenn W. Andersen, Edward N. Mrotek
  • Patent number: 10044059
    Abstract: An electrolyte-circulating battery in which the electrolyte temperature is easily controlled is provided. An electrolyte-circulating battery includes a battery cell and a circulation channel that circulates an electrolyte to the battery cell. The electrolyte-circulating battery comprises a heat exchanger installed in the circulation channel and configured to cool the electrolyte; a bypass flow channel that connects an electrolyte inflow side and an electrolyte outflow side of the heat exchanger to each other so as to bypass the heat exchanger; and a flow rate variable mechanism capable of varying a flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the heat exchanger and a flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the bypass flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiji Yano
  • Patent number: 10020529
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a redox flow battery stack including: an ion exchange membrane 180; and flow frames 160A and 160B disposed at both sides of the ion exchange membrane 180, respectively, in which semicircular grooves are provided on the flow frames 160A and 160B, and the semicircular grooves 161A and 162A of the flow frame 160A are fitted with the semicircular grooves 161B and 162B of the corresponding flow frame 160B during assembly to form at least one of an inlet port and an outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: H2, Inc.
    Inventors: Shin Han, Yujong Kim, Dongwan Seo
  • Patent number: 10003194
    Abstract: Apparatus for power conversion. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a battery unit, coupled to a power line, comprising (a) a plurality of power cells, wherein each power cell of the plurality of power cells comprises a battery cell coupled to a pico-converter, wherein the pico-converter is a bidirectional power converter; and (b) a master controller, coupled to each power cell of the plurality of power cells, for dynamically and individually controlling both an operating state and a power conversion direction for each power cell in the plurality of power cells to generate a predetermined power output from the battery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Fornage
  • Patent number: 9911978
    Abstract: An organic active material, having good energy density and electrochemical stability, for use in an electrochemical cell is disclosed. Electrochemical cells that employ the organic active material are also disclosed. The organic active material is a bridged-ring organic molecule having a nitroxy moiety, the nitroxy moiety being capable of two-electron oxidation/reduction through three distinct redox states. In different implementations, the organic active material can be incorporated in a solid electrode or can be employed as a fluid active material such as is useful for a flow cell. In different variations, the organic active material can be employed as a cathodic active material or as an anodic active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kensuke Takechi
  • Patent number: 9761890
    Abstract: A redox flow battery having reduced internal resistance is provided. The redox flow battery includes a membrane, a bipolar plate, an electrode disposed between the membrane and the bipolar plate, an inlet port for supplying an electrolyte to the electrode, and an outlet port for discharging the electrolyte from the electrode, and performs a charge-discharge reaction by allowing the electrolyte to flow in the electrode. The electrode includes an anisotropic electrode layer having different permeabilities between a direction A1 on a plane of the electrode and a direction A2 orthogonal to the direction A1 on the plane of the electrode. In the anisotropic electrode layer, a permeability K1 in the direction A1 is larger than a permeability K2 in the direction A2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Itou, Kei Hanafusa, Souichirou Okumura, Takemi Terao
  • Patent number: 9666895
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrochemical cell. The method includes generating spatial information including an anode geometry, a cathode geometry, a separator geometry, and one or more current collector geometries. The method also includes storing the spatial information including the anode geometry, the cathode geometry, the separator geometry, and the one or more current collector geometries into a database structure. In a specific embodiment, the method includes selecting one or more material properties from a plurality of materials and using the one or more material properties with the spatial information in a simulation program. The method includes outputting one or more performance parameters from the simulation program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Sakti3, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Wei Wang, Fabio Albano, Ann Marie Sastry
  • Patent number: 9476651
    Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes a thermally conductive enclosure bounding an interior cavity, a metallic cell wall structure disposed within the cavity, in thermal communication with the enclosure, and defining a plurality of cells, and a phase change material disposed within the cells and in thermal communication with the cell walls. The plurality of cells have a cell width less than about 5 millimeters, and the cell wall thickness of the cell wall structure is in a range from about 0.25 millimeter to about 1 millimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Naveenan Thiagarajan, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler
  • Patent number: 9476946
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a state-of-charge (SOC) of a battery, where the system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor provides a measurement signal that can track changes of a nominal volume of the battery by either measuring a size or pressure of the battery, where the nominal volume is the volume that the electrolyte, anode, cathode and current collectors would occupy if unconstrained. The controller is programmed to use a function to estimate the SOC from the measurement signal. The function can be established after constructing and finding a repeatable charging and discharging curve of the battery that graphs the measurement signal compared to the SOC of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Harald Schlag, Christoph Klunker, Matthias Hampel
  • Patent number: 9373861
    Abstract: Counter electrodes are used within the context of a flow cell to attract shunt current depositions during operation. The counter electrodes may be electrically connected with an anode of the flow cell to attract the depositions and then electrically connected with a cathode of the flow cell to remove the depositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: ViZn Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek C. Tarrant, Richard M. Bendert, Gerald P. Backer
  • Patent number: 9214686
    Abstract: Counter electrodes are used within the context of a flow cell to attract shunt current depositions during operation. The counter electrodes may be electrically connected with an anode of the flow cell to attract the depositions and then electrically connected with a cathode of the flow cell to remove the depositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ViZn Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek C. Tarrant, Richard M. Bendert, Gerald P. Backer
  • Patent number: 9160025
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide for flow battery cells and systems containing a plurality of flow battery cells, and methods for improving metal plating within the flow battery cell, such as by flowing and exposing the catholyte to various types of cathodes. In one embodiment, a flow battery cell is provided which includes a cathodic half cell and an anodic half cell separated by an electrolyte membrane, wherein the cathodic half cell contains a plurality of cathodic wires extending perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to and within the catholyte pathway and in contact with the catholyte, and each of the cathodic wires extends parallel or substantially parallel to each other. In some examples, the plurality of cathodic wires may have at least two arrays of cathodic wires, each array contains at least one row of cathodic wires, and each row extends along the catholyte pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Wilson, Kyle M. Hanson
  • Patent number: 9147903
    Abstract: A separator for a redox flow battery and a redox flow battery including the same, and the separator includes a cation conductive film and an anion conductive film disposed on either side of the cation conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee-Tak Kim
  • Patent number: 9130217
    Abstract: A metal-halogen flow battery system includes a stack of flow cells, an electrolyte reservoir and one or more of a concentrated halogen return line fluidly connecting the stack to the reservoir, a venturi, a mixer, a concentrated halogen pump, or a concentrated halogen line heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: PRIMUS POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Russell Cole, Rick Winter, Jonathan Hall, Pallavi Pharkya, Gerardo Jose la O', Lauren Wessel Hart, Paul Kreiner, Peter Tennessen
  • Patent number: 9083019
    Abstract: A flow battery system includes a flow battery stack, a sensor and a coolant loop. The flow battery stack has an electrolyte solution flowing therethrough, and the sensor is in communication with the electrolyte solution. The coolant loop is in heat exchange communication with the electrolyte solution, wherein the heat exchange communication is selective based on an output from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Perry, Rachid Zaffou
  • Patent number: 9070936
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for methods and systems for implementing a thermal electrochemical cell. Some example electrochemical cells described herein may comprise a first container including a first electrode and an electrolyte effective to receive electrons from the first electrode. Some electrochemical cells may further comprise a second container including a second electrode and an aqueous suspension including zinc oxide nanoparticles. Some electrochemical cells may also further comprise a contact member in between the first container and the second container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Jadavpur University
    Inventors: Sukhen Das, Anindita Mondal, Papiya Nandy
  • Publication number: 20150086813
    Abstract: An energy generating system using capacitive electrodes and a method therefore are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes first electrode and a second electrode compartments. A number of electrolyte compartments are provided between the first and second compartments. The compartments are formed by a number of alternately provided cation exchange membranes and anion exchange membranes. In use, the electrolyte compartments are alternately filled with a high and low osmotic flow, such that the first and second electrodes are charged with positively or negatively charged ions. A circuit is connected to the at least first and second electrodes for collecting the generated energy; and a switching device is included for switching between the high and low osmotic flows such that the system switches from a first energy generating state to a second energy generating state with the first and second electrodes switching polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: David Arie Vermaas, Joost Veerman, Machiel Saakes
  • Patent number: 8980454
    Abstract: Various methods of rebalancing electrolytes in a redox flow battery system include various systems using a catalyzed hydrogen rebalance cell configured to minimize the risk of dissolved catalyst negatively affecting flow battery performance. Some systems described herein reduce the chance of catalyst contamination of RFB electrolytes by employing a mediator solution to eliminate direct contact between the catalyzed membrane and the RFB electrolyte. Other methods use a rebalance cell chemistry that maintains the catalyzed electrode at a potential low enough to prevent the catalyst from dissolving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Enervault Corporation
    Inventors: Ai Quoc Pham, On Kok Chang
  • Patent number: 8974939
    Abstract: An electrochemical device (such as a battery) includes at least one electrode having a fluid surface, which may employ a surface energy effect to maintain a position of the fluid surface and/or to modulate flow within the fluid. Fluid-directing structures may also modulate flow or retain fluid in a predetermined pattern. An electrolyte within the device may also include an ion-transport fluid, for example infiltrated into a porous solid support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey F. Deane, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K.Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Patent number: 8968903
    Abstract: An electrochemical device (such as a battery) includes at least one electrode having a fluid surface, which may employ a surface energy effect to maintain a position of the fluid surface and/or to modulate flow within the fluid. Fluid-directing structures may also modulate flow or retain fluid in a predetermined pattern. An electrolyte within the device may also include an ion-transport fluid, for example infiltrated into a porous solid support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey F. Deane, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 8945739
    Abstract: A metal-halogen flow battery system includes a stack of flow cells, an electrolyte reservoir and one or more of a concentrated halogen return line fluidly connecting the stack to the reservoir, a venturi, a mixer, a concentrated halogen pump, or a concentrated halogen line heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Primus Power Corporation
    Inventors: Russell Cole, Rick Winter, Jonathan Hall, Pallavi Pharkya, Gerardo Jose la O', Lauren W. Hart, Paul Kreiner, Peter Tennessen
  • Patent number: 8927125
    Abstract: A quencher for a flow cell battery is described. The quencher utilizes a quench solution formed from FeCl2 in a dilute HCl solution in order to quench chlorine emissions from the flow cell battery. A quench sensor is further described. The quench sensor monitors the concentration level of FeCl2 in the quench solution and may also monitor the level of the quench solution in the quencher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Imergy Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Keshavarz, Saroj Kumar Sahu, Ge Zu
  • Publication number: 20150004445
    Abstract: The present invention provides a regenerative fuel cell comprising a reversible hydrogen gas anode, in an anode compartment and a reversible cathode in a cathode compartment, wherein the redox reaction at the cathode is selected from formula (i), formula (ii) and formula (iii).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: IMPERIAL INNOVATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Nigel Brandon, Vladimir Yufit
  • Patent number: 8920986
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates generally to a system for providing a flow through battery cell and uses thereof. In one embodiment, the flow through battery cell includes an inlet for receiving a flow of water, a solid oxidizer coupled to the inlet for reacting with the flow of water to generate a catholyte, wherein the solid oxidizer comprises at least one of: an organic halamine, a succinimide or a hypochlorite salt, a galvanic module coupled to the solid oxidizer for receiving the catholyte and generating one or more effluents and an outlet for releasing the one or more effluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Andres M. Cardenas-Valencia, Lori Adornato, Robert T. Short, Larry C. Langebrake, Steven Crouch-Baker
  • Publication number: 20140375056
    Abstract: A method of operating a power generation system includes operating a power generation system to generate an electric power output. At least a portion of the electric power output is dissipated in a flow battery by charging the flow battery using the portion of the electric power output and self-discharging the flow battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Michael L. Perry
  • Publication number: 20140370335
    Abstract: A system for distributing energy among a plurality of power consumers may include a plurality of reaction cells configured to receive electrolytes and provide electric power. The system may also include a first tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including positively charged electrolytes and a second tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including negatively charged electrolytes. The system may also include at least one pump configured to pump fluid among the plurality of reaction cells and the first and second tanks. The system may include a controller configured to control operation of the at least one pump based on a desired power supply to at least one of the plurality of power consumers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Van Polen
  • Publication number: 20140363707
    Abstract: High performance flow batteries, based on alkaline zinc/ferro-ferricyanide rechargeable (“ZnFe”) and similar flow batteries, may include one or more of the following improvements. First, the battery design has a cell stack comprising a low resistance positive electrode in at least one positive half cell and a low resistance negative electrode in at least one negative half cell, where the positive electrode and negative electrode resistances are selected for uniform high current density across a region of the cell stack. Second, a flow of electrolyte, such as zinc species in the ZnFe battery, with a high level of mixing through at least one negative half cell in a Zn deposition region proximate a deposition surface where the electrolyte close to the deposition surface has sufficiently high zinc concentration for deposition rates on the deposition surface that sustain the uniform high current density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Grover GORDON, II, Alan J. GOTCHER, Godfrey SIKHA, Gregory J. WILSON