A flow battery system and method of controlling the same

Abstract

The application provides a flow battery system and a control method thereof, and relates to the technical field of electric pile equipment. The flow battery system comprises an electric pile, a liquid tank, an adjusting barrel, a heat exchange assembly and a driving assembly. The electric pile is located outside the liquid tank, and the liquid tank is connected with a liquid inlet of the electric pile. The adjusting barrel is arranged in the liquid tank and comprises a liquid containing barrel with an upper opening and an annular cylinder penetrating through the adjusting barrel in an up-down direction. A sealing sleeve, which can move up and down, is arranged outside the liquid containing barrel, and the upper end of the annular cylinder is not lower than the upper end of the liquid containing barrel. The adjusting barrel is connected with a liquid outlet of the electric pile. A first liquid storage area is formed between the adjusting barrel and the liquid tank, and a second liquid storage area is formed in the adjusting barrel. The lower part of the heat exchange assembly is located in the adjusting barrel, and the upper part of the heat exchange assembly is located above the annular cylinder. The driving assembly is connected with the annular cylinder and is arranged to drive the annular cylinder to move up and down under control, so as to adjust the contact area of the heat exchange assembly and electrolyte in the second liquid storage area, and the temperature of the electrolyte in the flow battery system is adjusted to a suitable range.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of stack equipment, in particular to a flow battery system and a control method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] As an indispensable link in the new clean energy industry, the flow battery system is an important bridge for photovoltaic and wind power to undertake the power grid and user end. With the construction of new power systems, more and more flow battery systems will be used in the power grid and user end in the future.

[0003] However, a large amount of heat will be generated during the charging and discharging process of the flow battery system, which will cause the temperature of the electrolyte to rise. When the temperature of the electrolyte is too high, the high temperature will cause damage to the electrolyte. SUMMARY

[0004] The embodiment of the present application provides a flow battery system, which comprises: a stack; a liquid tank, wherein the stack is located outside the liquid tank, the liquid tank is in communication with the liquid inlet of the stack, and is arranged to contain electrolyte and supply electrolyte to the stack; an adjusting barrel, which is arranged in the liquid tank and comprises a liquid containing barrel with an upper opening and an annular cylinder penetrating upward and downward, a seal sleeve capable of moving upward and downward is arranged outside the liquid containing barrel, the upper end of the annular cylinder is not lower than the upper end of the liquid containing barrel, the adjusting barrel is in communication with the liquid outlet of the stack, a first liquid storage area is formed between the adjusting barrel and the liquid tank, and a second liquid storage area is formed in the adjusting barrel; a heat exchange assembly, wherein the lower part of the heat exchange assembly is located in the adjusting barrel, and the upper part of the heat exchange assembly is located above the annular cylinder; and a driving assembly, which is connected with the annular cylinder and is arranged to drive the annular cylinder to move upward and downward under control, so as to adjust the height of the second liquid storage area.

[0005] In some example embodiments, the driving assembly comprises: a cylinder device, which is connected with the annular cylinder and is arranged to drive the annular cylinder to move upward and downward; and a gas supply device, which is connected with the cylinder device and is arranged to drive the cylinder device to stretch and contract.

[0006] In some example embodiments, the cylinder device comprises a cylinder barrel, a piston and a connecting rod, the cylinder barrel is located above the annular cylinder, the piston is located in the cylinder barrel and forms a gas containing cavity with the lower part of the cylinder barrel, the gas containing cavity is provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet, the connecting rod is sealingly arranged through the bottom wall of the gas containing cavity and connects the piston and the annular cylinder; the gas supply device comprises a gas supply machine and a first switch valve, the gas supply machine is in communication with the gas inlet, and the first switch valve is arranged at the gas outlet.

[0007] In some example embodiments, the cylinder device further comprises an elastic member, which is located in the gas-containing cavity, and the connecting rod is connected to the piston through the elastic member.

[0008] In some example embodiments, the gas supplier is a nitrogen generator, and a one-way valve is arranged between the nitrogen generator and the gas inlet.

[0009] In some example embodiments, the cylinder seal is arranged in the top wall of the liquid tank, the gas supplier, the gas inlet and the gas outlet are all located outside the liquid tank, the gas inlet is located below the gas outlet, the outlet of the first switch valve is connected to the liquid tank, and a breather valve and a hydrogen discharge valve are further arranged on the top of the liquid tank.

[0010] In some example embodiments, the heat exchange assembly comprises a mounting member fixed in the liquid tank, and a heat pump system having heat exchange pipes, which are arranged around the mounting member, and the lower part of the heat exchange pipes is located in the liquid tank and the upper part of the heat exchange pipes is located above the annular cylinder.

[0011] In some example embodiments, the liquid flow battery system further comprises a hole plate fixed in the liquid tank and sleeved outside the adjusting barrel, and the hole plate is provided with a plurality of liquid leakage holes arranged in a scattered manner.

[0012] In some example embodiments, the liquid tank comprises a first liquid tank and a second liquid tank, the adjusting barrel comprises a first adjusting barrel and a second adjusting barrel, the heat exchange assembly comprises a first heat exchange assembly and a second heat exchange assembly, the hole plate comprises a first hole plate and a second hole plate, the first adjusting barrel, the first heat exchange assembly and the first hole plate are arranged in the first liquid tank, the second adjusting barrel, the second heat exchange assembly and the second hole plate are arranged in the second liquid tank, the liquid inlet of the electric pile comprises a first liquid inlet and a second liquid inlet, the liquid outlet of the electric pile comprises a first liquid outlet and a second liquid outlet, the first liquid tank is connected to the first liquid inlet, the first adjusting barrel is connected to the first liquid outlet, the second liquid tank is connected to the second liquid inlet, and the second adjusting barrel is connected to the second liquid outlet.

[0013] The example embodiments of the present application further provide a control method of a liquid flow battery system, comprising:

[0014] obtaining the temperature T of the electrolyte contained in the liquid tank;

[0015] based on T≥the first temperature threshold T1, controlling the driving assembly to drive the annular cylinder to move upward;

[0016] based on T≤the first temperature threshold T2, controlling the driving assembly to drive the annular cylinder to move downward;

[0017] Wherein, T1>T2.

[0018] In some example embodiments, the step of controlling the driving assembly to drive the annular cylinder to move upward includes: controlling the air supplier to operate, and controlling the first switch valve to close.

[0019] In some example embodiments, the step of controlling the driving assembly to drive the annular cylinder to move downward includes: controlling the air supplier to stop, and controlling the first switch valve to open.

[0020] The liquid flow battery system provided by the embodiments of the present application has the electrolyte in the liquid tank, the liquid level of the electrolyte in the liquid tank is lower than the upper end of the annular cylinder, during the operation of the liquid flow battery system, the electrolyte flowing out of the liquid outlet of the electric pile is supplied into the second liquid storage area, after the second liquid storage area is filled with the electrolyte, the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area will overflow from the upper end of the annular cylinder to the first liquid storage area, during the process, the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area exchanges heat with the part of the heat exchange assembly located in the adjusting barrel, the part of the heat exchange assembly located in the adjusting barrel concentrates the cooling of the high-temperature electrolyte flowing back from the liquid outlet of the electric pile, so that the cooling effect of the high-temperature electrolyte flowing back from the liquid outlet of the electric pile is better.

[0021] When the temperature of the electrolyte in the liquid tank is not lower than the first temperature threshold, the temperature of the electrolyte is too high, at this time, the driving assembly is controlled to drive the annular cylinder to move upward, so as to increase the height of the second liquid storage area, so that the liquid storage capacity of the second liquid storage area increases, the part of the heat exchange assembly located in the adjusting barrel increases, and the part of the heat exchange assembly located outside the adjusting barrel decreases, so that the contact area of the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area with the heat exchange assembly increases, and the cooling effect of the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area is further improved, so as to realize the cooling of the electrolyte in the first liquid storage area and the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area to below the first temperature threshold.

[0022] When the temperature of the electrolyte in the liquid tank is not higher than the second temperature threshold (the second temperature threshold is less than the first temperature threshold), the temperature of the electrolyte is relatively low, at this time, the driving assembly is controlled to drive the annular cylinder to move downward, so as to reduce the height of the second liquid storage area, so that the liquid storage capacity of the second liquid storage area decreases, the part of the heat exchange assembly located in the adjusting barrel decreases, and the part of the heat exchange assembly located outside the adjusting barrel increases, so that the contact area of the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area with the heat exchange assembly decreases, and the cooling effect of the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area becomes worse, so as to realize the heating of the electrolyte in the first liquid storage area and the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area to above the second temperature threshold. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1A structural schematic diagram of a liquid flow battery system in one use state according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0024] Figure 2 For Figure 1 A structural schematic diagram of a liquid flow battery system in another use state according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0025] Figure 3 For Figure 1 A structural schematic diagram of a middle hole plate;

[0026] Figure 4 For Figure 1 A structural schematic diagram of an assembled middle cylinder device, heat exchange assembly and annular cylinder;

[0027] Figure 5 A flow chart of a control method of a liquid flow battery system according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0028] Figure 6 A flow chart of a control method of a liquid flow battery system according to some other embodiments of the present application.

[0029] In the drawings, the components represented by the numbers are listed as follows:

[0030] 100 stack, 200 liquid tank, 210 first liquid storage area, 310 liquid containing barrel, 320 annular cylinder, 330 second liquid storage area, 410 second switch valve, 420 liquid pump, 430 flow regulating valve, 440 breathing valve, 450 hydrogen discharge valve, 500 heat exchange assembly, 510 mounting piece, 520 heat exchange pipe, 610 cylinder device, 611 cylinder, 612 piston, 613 connecting rod, 614 elastic piece, 615 gas containing cavity, 621 gas supply machine, 622 first switch valve, 623 one-way valve, 700 hole plate, 710 liquid leakage hole, 720 through hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The principles and features of the present application are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the examples are only used to explain the present application and not to limit the scope of the present application.

[0032] The liquid flow battery system provided by the embodiments of the present application, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the liquid flow battery system comprises: a stack 100; a liquid tank 200, the stack 100 is located outside the liquid tank 200, the liquid tank 200 is connected with the liquid inlet of the stack 100, and the liquid tank 200 is configured to store electrolyte and supply electrolyte to the stack 100; an adjusting barrel, the adjusting barrel is arranged in the liquid tank 200 and comprises a liquid storage barrel 310 with an upper opening and an annular cylinder 320 penetrating through the liquid storage barrel 310, the annular cylinder 320 is movably sealed outside the liquid storage barrel 310, and the upper end of the annular cylinder 320 is not lower than the upper end of the liquid storage barrel 310, the adjusting barrel is connected with the liquid outlet of the stack 100, a first liquid storage area 210 is formed between the adjusting barrel and the liquid tank 200, and a second liquid storage area 330 is formed in the adjusting barrel; a heat exchange assembly 500, the lower part of the heat exchange assembly 500 is located in the adjusting barrel, and the upper part of the heat exchange assembly 500 is located above the annular cylinder 320; and a driving assembly, the driving assembly is connected with the annular cylinder 320 and is configured to drive the annular cylinder 320 to move up and down under control, so as to adjust the height of the second liquid storage area 330.

[0033] In the liquid flow battery system, the liquid tank 200 stores electrolyte, the liquid level of the electrolyte stored in the liquid tank 200 is lower than the upper end of the annular cylinder 320, and the liquid flow battery system is running. When the electrolyte flows out of the liquid outlet of the stack 100, the electrolyte is supplied into the second liquid storage area 330. After the second liquid storage area 330 is filled with electrolyte, as the electrolyte continues to be supplied into the second liquid storage area 330 from the liquid outlet of the stack 100, the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area 330 will overflow from the upper end of the annular cylinder 320 to the first liquid storage area 210. During this process, the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area 330 exchanges heat with the part of the heat exchange assembly 500 located in the adjusting barrel. The part of the heat exchange assembly 500 located in the adjusting barrel can effectively cool the high-temperature electrolyte flowing back from the liquid outlet of the stack 100, so that the cooling effect of the high-temperature electrolyte flowing back from the liquid outlet of the stack 100 is better.

[0034] When the temperature of the electrolyte stored in the liquid tank 200 is not lower than the first temperature threshold, the temperature of the electrolyte is too high. At this time, the driving assembly is controlled to drive the annular cylinder 320 to move upwards, so as to increase the height of the second liquid storage area 330 (as shown in Figure 1 When the temperature of the electrolyte stored in the liquid tank 200 is not lower than the first temperature threshold, the temperature of the electrolyte is too high. At this time, the driving assembly is controlled to drive the annular cylinder 320 to move upwards, so as to increase the height of the second liquid storage area 330 (as shown in

[0035] When the temperature of the electrolyte contained in the liquid tank 200 is not higher than the second temperature threshold (the second temperature threshold is lower than the first temperature threshold), the temperature of the electrolyte is relatively low, at this time, the control driving assembly drives the annular cylinder 320 to move downward, so as to reduce the height of the second liquid storage area 330 (as shown in Figure 2 Fig. 2), so that the liquid storage capacity of the second liquid storage area 330 is reduced, the part of the heat exchange assembly 500 located inside the adjusting barrel is reduced, the part of the heat exchange assembly 500 located outside the adjusting barrel is increased, so that the contact area between the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 and the heat exchange assembly 500 is reduced, and the cooling effect of the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 is poor, so as to realize the temperature of the electrolyte inside the first liquid storage area 210 and the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 is increased to above the second temperature threshold.

[0036] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the second switch valve 410 and the liquid pump 420 are arranged between the liquid tank 200 and the liquid inlet of the stack 100, the second switch valve 410 is located between the liquid pump 420 and the liquid tank 200, when the liquid pump 420 is damaged, the second switch valve 410 is closed, so that the liquid pump 420 can be repaired or replaced, so that the electrolyte contained in the liquid tank 200 cannot leak out of the liquid inlet, and the second switch valve 410 can be selected. Electric control valve. The flow regulating valve 430 for regulating the flow is arranged between the liquid outlet and the adjusting barrel, and the flow regulating valve 430 can be selected. Electric ball valve.

[0037] In some examples, as shown in Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 , the driving assembly includes: a cylinder device 610, the cylinder device 610 is connected with the annular cylinder 320, and the cylinder device 610 is arranged to drive the annular cylinder 320 to move up and down; and a gas supply device, the gas supply device is connected with the cylinder device 610, and the gas supply device is arranged to drive the cylinder device 610 to extend and retract. When the gas supply device drives the cylinder device 610 to extend, the cylinder device 610 drives the annular cylinder 320 to move downward, so as to reduce the cooling effect of the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330; when the gas supply device drives the cylinder device 610 to retract, the cylinder device 610 drives the annular cylinder 320 to move upward, so as to improve the cooling effect of the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330.

[0038] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the cylinder device 610 includes a cylinder barrel 611, a piston 612 and a connecting rod 613, the cylinder barrel 611 is located above the annular barrel 320, the piston 612 is located in the cylinder barrel 611 and forms a gas cavity 615 with the lower part of the cylinder barrel 611, the gas cavity 615 is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet, the connecting rod 613 is sealedly penetrated through the bottom wall of the gas cavity 615 and connects the piston 612 and the annular barrel 320; the gas supply device includes a gas supply machine 621 and a first switch valve 622, the gas supply machine 621 is in communication with the air inlet, and the first switch valve 622 is arranged at the air outlet.

[0039] When the first switch valve 622 is closed and the gas supply machine 621 is running, the gas supply machine 621 supplies gas from the air inlet to the gas cavity 615, at this time, under the action of gas pressure, the piston 612, the connecting rod 613 and the annular barrel 320 move upward (as shown in Figure 1 ), so as to realize the cooling effect of lifting the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area 330; when the first switch valve 622 is opened and the gas supply machine 621 is stopped, the gas supply machine 621 no longer supplies gas from the air inlet to the gas cavity 615, at this time, under the action of gravity, the piston 612, the connecting rod 613 and the annular barrel 320 move downward (as shown in Figure 2 ), so as to realize the cooling effect of lowering the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area 330. The first switch valve 622 can be an electrically controlled valve.

[0040] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the cylinder device 610 further includes an elastic member 614, the elastic member 614 is located in the gas cavity 615, the connecting rod 613 is connected to the piston 612 through the elastic member 614, and the elastic member 614 is used to reduce the movement speed of the annular barrel 320, prolong the movement time of the annular barrel 320, realize slow and delayed upward movement and slow and delayed downward movement of the annular barrel 320; the gas supply machine 621 is a nitrogen generator, and a one-way valve 623 is arranged between the nitrogen generator and the air inlet, the one-way valve 623 is arranged to be conductive from the nitrogen generator to the air inlet.

[0041] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the cylinder barrel 611 is sealedly penetrated through the top wall of the liquid tank 200, the gas supply machine 621, the air inlet and the air outlet are all located outside the liquid tank 200, the air inlet and the air outlet are located on the peripheral wall of the gas cavity 615, and the air inlet is located below the air outlet, the outlet of the first switch valve 622 is in communication with the liquid tank 200, and the top of the liquid tank 200 is further provided with a breather valve 440 and a hydrogen discharge valve 450. The breather valve 440 is used to maintain the balance between the pressure inside the liquid tank 200 and the outside pressure, and the hydrogen discharge valve 450 is used to discharge the hydrogen generated in the energy storage process out of the liquid tank 200.

[0042] The first switch valve 622 is opened, and the air supplier 621 is stopped, so that the air supplier 621 no longer supplies air from the air inlet to the air cavity 615, at this time, under the action of gravity, the piston 612, the connecting rod 613 and the annular cylinder 320 move downward (as shown in Figure 2 ), until the piston 612 moves downward to completely close the air outlet, at this time, the air inlet is still in communication with the air cavity 615 because it is located below the air outlet, and in this process, the nitrogen gas discharged from the air cavity 615 is supplied to the liquid tank 200 from the first switch valve 622, so that the liquid level of the electrolyte in the liquid tank 200 can be more long-term sealed by nitrogen; the first switch valve 622 is closed, and the air supplier 621 is operated, at this time, the air supplier 621 can supply air (supply pressure gas) from the air inlet to the air cavity 615 through the one-way valve because the air inlet is in communication with the air cavity 615, and under the action of gas pressure, the piston 612, the connecting rod 613 and the annular cylinder 320 move upward (as shown in Figure 1 ).

[0043] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the heat exchange assembly 500 comprises a mounting member 510 fixed in the liquid tank 200, and a heat pump system having heat exchange pipes 520, the heat exchange pipes 520 are arranged outside the mounting member 510, and the lower part of the heat exchange pipes 520 is located in the liquid containing barrel 310 and the upper part is located above the annular cylinder 320, and the connecting rod 613 is vertically arranged between the mounting member 510 and one side of the heat exchange pipes 520 (as shown in Figure 4 ). The heat pump system is operated, the lower part of the heat exchange pipes 520 is in contact with the electrolyte in the adjusting barrel (i.e. in the second liquid storage area 330), absorbs the heat of the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area 330, and realizes heat exchange and cooling of the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area 330.

[0044] In some examples, as shown in Figures 1 to 3 , the liquid flow battery system further comprises a hole plate 700 fixed in the liquid tank 200 and sleeved outside the adjusting barrel, and a plurality of liquid leakage holes 710 are arranged on the hole plate 700, and a through hole 720 is arranged in the middle of the hole plate 700 (i.e. the annular cylinder 320 is located in the through hole 720 of the hole plate 700), the electrolyte flowing out of the upper end of the annular cylinder 320 falls on the hole plate 700, and then flows downward from the liquid leakage hole 710 on the hole plate 700 to the first liquid storage area 210 and mixes with the electrolyte in the first liquid storage area 210, so that the temperature uniformity of the electrolyte in the first liquid storage area 210 can be better improved. In the process of the annular cylinder 320 rising and falling, the position of the hole plate 700 does not change.

[0045] In some example embodiments, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the liquid tank 200 includes a first liquid tank and a second liquid tank, the adjusting barrel includes a first adjusting barrel and a second adjusting barrel, the heat exchange assembly 500 includes a first heat exchange assembly 500 and a second heat exchange assembly 500, the orifice plate 700 includes a first orifice plate and a second orifice plate, the first adjusting barrel, the first heat exchange assembly 500 and the first orifice plate are all arranged in the first liquid tank, the second adjusting barrel, the second heat exchange assembly 500 and the second orifice plate are all arranged in the second liquid tank, the liquid inlet of the stack 100 includes a first liquid inlet and a second liquid inlet, the liquid outlet of the stack 100 includes a first liquid outlet communicated with the first liquid inlet and a second liquid outlet communicated with the second liquid inlet, the first liquid tank is communicated with the first liquid inlet, the first adjusting barrel is communicated with the first liquid outlet, the second liquid tank is communicated with the second liquid inlet, and the second adjusting barrel is communicated with the second liquid outlet. The first liquid inlet is a positive electrode liquid inlet, the first liquid outlet is a positive electrode liquid outlet, the second liquid inlet is a negative electrode liquid inlet, the second liquid outlet is a negative electrode liquid outlet, the first liquid tank contains positive electrode electrolyte, and the second liquid tank contains negative electrode electrolyte.

[0046] This scheme controls the temperature of the positive electrode electrolyte in the first liquid tank and the negative electrode electrolyte in the second liquid tank, ensures that the temperature of the positive electrode electrolyte and the negative electrode electrolyte is between the second temperature threshold and the first temperature threshold, so that the energy storage effect of the flow battery system is better, and the service life of the positive electrode electrolyte and the negative electrode electrolyte is longer.

[0047] It can be, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 The nitrogen making machine is provided as one, that is, the two gas inlets of the two gas containing cavities 615 are communicated with the nitrogen making machine one by one; or the nitrogen making machine can be provided as two, that is, the two gas inlets of the two gas containing cavities 615 are communicated with the nitrogen making machine one by one, and the like; all of the above can achieve the purpose of the application, and the design idea is not deviated from the application, and will not be described here, and all should be within the protection scope of the application.

[0048] The control method of the flow battery system provided by the embodiment of the application, as shown in Figure 5 , includes:

[0049] obtaining the temperature T of the electrolyte contained in the liquid tank;

[0050] based on T≥the first temperature threshold T1, controlling the driving assembly to drive the annular barrel 320 to move upwards;

[0051] based on T≤the first temperature threshold T2, controlling the driving assembly to drive the annular barrel 320 to move downwards;

[0052] wherein T1>T2.

[0053] When T≥T1, the temperature of the electrolyte in the liquid tank is too high, at this time, the control driving assembly drives the annular cylinder 320 to move upwards, so as to increase the height of the second liquid storage area 330 (as shown in Figure 1 Fig. 2), so that the liquid storage capacity of the second liquid storage area 330 increases, the part of the heat exchange assembly 500 inside the adjusting barrel increases, and the part of the heat exchange assembly 500 outside the adjusting barrel decreases, so that the contact area of the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 with the heat exchange assembly 500 increases, and the cooling effect of the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 is further improved, so as to realize the cooling of the electrolyte inside the first liquid storage area 210 and the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 to below T1.

[0054] When T≤T2, the temperature of the electrolyte is low, at this time, the control driving assembly drives the annular cylinder 320 to move downwards, so as to reduce the height of the second liquid storage area 330 (as shown in Figure 2 Fig. 2), so that the liquid storage capacity of the second liquid storage area 330 decreases, the part of the heat exchange assembly 500 inside the adjusting barrel decreases, and the part of the heat exchange assembly 500 outside the adjusting barrel increases, so that the contact area of the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 with the heat exchange assembly 500 decreases, and the cooling effect of the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 becomes poor, so as to realize the heating of the electrolyte inside the first liquid storage area 210 and the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 to above T2.

[0055] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 6 Fig. 2, the step of controlling the driving assembly to drive the annular cylinder 320 to move upwards includes: controlling the air supplier 621 to operate, and controlling the first on-off valve 622 to close.

[0056] When the first on-off valve 622 is closed and the air supplier 621 operates, the air supplier 621 supplies air from the air inlet to the air containing cavity 615, and under the action of the gas pressure in the air containing cavity 615, the piston 612, the connecting rod 613 and the annular cylinder 320 move upwards, so as to increase the height of the second liquid storage area 330, so that the liquid storage capacity of the second liquid storage area 330 increases, the part of the heat exchange assembly 500 inside the adjusting barrel increases, and the part of the heat exchange assembly 500 outside the adjusting barrel decreases, so that the contact area of the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 with the heat exchange assembly 500 increases, and the cooling effect of the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 (i.e. the heat exchange efficiency of the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 with the heat exchange pipe 520) is further improved, so as to realize the cooling of the electrolyte inside the first liquid storage area 210 and the electrolyte inside the second liquid storage area 330 to below T1.

[0057] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 6 Fig. 2, the step of controlling the driving assembly to drive the annular cylinder 320 to move downwards includes: controlling the air supplier 621 to stop, and controlling the first on-off valve 622 to open.

[0058] When the first switch valve 622 is opened and the gas supplier 621 is stopped, the gas supplier 621 no longer supplies the gas from the air inlet to the gas cavity 615, the piston 612, the connecting rod 613 and the annular cylinder 320 move downward, thereby reducing the height of the second liquid storage area 330, reducing the liquid storage capacity of the second liquid storage area 330, reducing the part of the heat exchange assembly 500 inside the adjusting barrel, and increasing the part of the heat exchange assembly 500 outside the adjusting barrel. Thus, the contact area between the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area 330 and the heat exchange assembly 500 is reduced, the cooling effect of the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area 330 (i.e., the heat exchange efficiency between the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area 330 and the heat exchange pipe 520) is reduced, and the electrolyte in the first liquid storage area 210 and the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area 330 are warmed to above T2.

[0059] In some embodiments, T1 can be set to about 34℃, and T2 can be set to about 27℃. When the temperature of the electrolyte in the flow battery system is in the range of T2~T1, the energy storage effect of the flow battery system is better, and the service life of the positive electrolyte and the negative electrolyte is longer.

[0060] In summary, the flow battery system provided by the embodiments of the present application has the following advantages. The liquid tank contains electrolyte, the liquid level of the electrolyte contained in the liquid tank is lower than the upper end of the annular cylinder, the flow battery system is running, the electrolyte flowing out of the liquid outlet of the stack is supplied to the second liquid storage area, and after the second liquid storage area is filled with electrolyte, the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area will overflow from the upper end of the annular cylinder to the first liquid storage area. During this process, the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area exchanges heat with the part of the heat exchange assembly inside the adjusting barrel. The high-temperature electrolyte flowing back from the liquid outlet of the stack is cooled by the part of the heat exchange assembly inside the adjusting barrel, so that the cooling effect of the high-temperature electrolyte flowing back from the liquid outlet of the stack is better.

[0061] When the temperature of the electrolyte contained in the liquid tank is not lower than the first temperature threshold, the temperature of the electrolyte is too high, and the driving assembly is controlled to drive the annular cylinder to move upward, thereby increasing the height of the second liquid storage area, increasing the liquid storage capacity of the second liquid storage area, increasing the part of the heat exchange assembly inside the adjusting barrel, and reducing the part of the heat exchange assembly outside the adjusting barrel. Thus, the contact area between the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area and the heat exchange assembly is increased, the cooling effect of the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area is further improved, and the electrolyte in the first liquid storage area and the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area are cooled to below the first temperature threshold.

[0062] When the temperature of the electrolyte in the liquid tank is not higher than the second temperature threshold (the second temperature threshold is less than the first temperature threshold), the temperature of the electrolyte is relatively low, at this time, the control driving assembly drives the annular barrel to move downward, so as to reduce the height of the second liquid storage area, so that the liquid storage capacity of the second liquid storage area is reduced, the part of the heat exchange assembly inside the adjusting barrel is reduced, and the part of the heat exchange assembly outside the adjusting barrel is increased, so that the contact area of the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area with the heat exchange assembly is reduced, and the cooling effect of the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area is poor, so as to realize the temperature of the electrolyte in the first liquid storage area and the electrolyte in the second liquid storage area is increased to above the second temperature threshold.

[0063] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present application.

[0064] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined with "first" and "second" can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features.

[0065] In the description of the present application, the meaning of "a plurality of" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited.

[0066] In the present application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mounting", "connection", "connection", "fixing" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be fixedly connected, or it can be detachably connected, or it can be integrated; it can be mechanically connected, or it can be electrically connected; it can be directly connected, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal communication of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise explicitly limited. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0067] In the present application, unless specifically stated and limited otherwise, a first feature "on" or "under" a second feature can be directly contacting the first and second features, or indirectly contacting the first and second features through an intermediate medium. Also, a first feature "over", "above" and "on top of" a second feature can be directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is horizontally higher than the second feature. A first feature "under", "below" and "underneath" a second feature can be directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is horizontally lower than the second feature.

[0068] In the description of the present application, the description of the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "an example", "a specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are contained in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In the present application, the illustrative description of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Also, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any appropriate manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, the person skilled in the art can combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in the present application and the features of the different embodiments or examples without contradiction.

[0069] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present application, and the person skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, replacements and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A flow battery system, characterized by, The system comprises: a stack; a liquid tank, wherein the stack is located outside the liquid tank, the liquid tank is connected with a liquid inlet of the stack, and is configured to store electrolyte and supply electrolyte to the stack; an adjusting barrel, which is arranged in the liquid tank and comprises a liquid storage barrel with an upper opening and an annular cylinder penetrating through the liquid storage barrel in an up-down direction, a sealing sleeve of the annular cylinder is movably arranged outside the liquid storage barrel, the upper end of the annular cylinder is not lower than the upper end of the liquid storage barrel, the adjusting barrel is connected with a liquid outlet of the stack, a first liquid storage area is formed between the adjusting barrel and the liquid tank, and a second liquid storage area is formed in the adjusting barrel; a heat exchange assembly, which is partially located in the adjusting barrel and partially located above the annular cylinder; and a driving assembly, which is connected with the annular cylinder and is configured to drive the annular cylinder to move up and down in a controlled manner to adjust the height of the second liquid storage area. The driving assembly comprises:

2. The flow battery system of claim 1, wherein, a cylinder device, which is connected with the annular cylinder and is configured to drive the annular cylinder to move up and down; and a gas supply device, which is connected with the cylinder device and is configured to drive the cylinder device to stretch and contract.

3. The flow battery system according to claim 2, wherein: the cylinder device comprises a cylinder, a piston and a connecting rod, the cylinder is located above the annular cylinder, the piston is located in the cylinder and forms a gas-containing cavity with the lower part of the cylinder, the gas-containing cavity is provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet, the connecting rod is sealingly arranged through the bottom wall of the gas-containing cavity and is connected with the piston and the annular cylinder; the gas supply device comprises a gas supply machine and a first switch valve, the gas supply machine is connected with the gas inlet, and the first switch valve is arranged at the gas outlet.

4. The flow battery system according to claim 3, wherein: the cylinder device further comprises an elastic member, the elastic member is located in the gas-containing cavity, and the connecting rod is connected with the piston through the elastic member; the gas supply machine is a nitrogen generator, and a one-way valve is arranged between the nitrogen generator and the gas inlet. The cylinder is sealingly arranged through the top wall of the liquid tank, the gas supply machine, the gas inlet and the gas outlet are located outside the liquid tank, the gas inlet is located below the gas outlet, the outlet of the first switch valve is connected with the liquid tank, and the top of the liquid tank is further provided with a breather valve and a hydrogen discharge valve.

5. The flow battery system of claim 3, wherein, The heat exchange assembly comprises:

6. The flow battery system of claim 1, wherein, a mounting member, which is fixed in the liquid tank; and a heat pump system comprising heat exchange pipes, the heat exchange pipes are arranged around the mounting member, and the lower part of the heat exchange pipes is located in the liquid storage barrel and the upper part of the heat exchange pipes is located above the annular cylinder. Further comprising:

7. The flow battery system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, a perforated plate, which is fixed in the liquid tank and is sleeved outside the adjusting barrel, and a plurality of liquid leakage holes are dispersedly arranged on the perforated plate. ​ 8. The flow battery system of claim 7, wherein, The liquid tank comprises a first liquid tank and a second liquid tank, the adjusting barrel comprises a first adjusting barrel and a second adjusting barrel, the heat exchange assembly comprises a first heat exchange assembly and a second heat exchange assembly, the orifice plate comprises a first orifice plate and a second orifice plate, the first adjusting barrel, the first heat exchange assembly and the first orifice plate are arranged in the first liquid tank, the second adjusting barrel, the second heat exchange assembly and the second orifice plate are arranged in the second liquid tank, the liquid inlet of the stack comprises a first liquid inlet and a second liquid inlet, the liquid outlet of the stack comprises a first liquid outlet and a second liquid outlet, the first liquid tank is in communication with the first liquid inlet, the first adjusting barrel is in communication with the first liquid outlet, the second liquid tank is in communication with the second liquid inlet, and the second adjusting barrel is in communication with the second liquid outlet.

9. A method of controlling a flow battery system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by, Comprise: Obtain the temperature T of the electrolyte contained in the liquid tank; Based on T≥the first temperature threshold T1, control the driving assembly to drive the annular barrel to move up; Based on T≤the first temperature threshold T2, control the driving assembly to drive the annular barrel to move down; Wherein, T1>T2.

10. The control method according to claim 9, characterized by The step of controlling the driving assembly to drive the annular barrel to move up comprises: Control the gas supplier to operate, and control the first on-off valve to close; the step of controlling the driving assembly to drive the annular barrel to move down comprises: Control the gas supplier to stop, and control the first on-off valve to open.

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