Battery unit, electric pile and single flow battery
By forming a three-dimensional porous electrode structure with foam cylindrical current collectors and conductive mesh columns and combining it with a magnetic stirrer, the problems of complex flow battery design and solution cross-contamination are solved, and the structure is simplified and the energy density is improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422481721.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-16
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-10-14
AI Technical Summary
Traditional flow batteries are complex in design, require multiple components, are difficult to optimize in structure and performance, and have problems with solution cross-contamination and high assembly difficulty.
A three-dimensional porous electrode structure is formed by using foam cylindrical current collectors and conductive mesh columns to simplify the battery cell design, and a magnetic stirrer is used to improve the fluidity of the electrolyte to avoid cross-contamination of the solution.
The structural design of the flow battery is simplified, the energy density is improved, the assembly difficulty and cost are reduced, and the safety and cycle life of the battery are enhanced.
Smart Images
Figure CN223347791U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of liquid flow batteries, and in particular to a battery cell, a battery stack and a single liquid flow battery. Background Art
[0002] A flow battery is a new type of battery, an electrochemical conversion device that uses the energy difference between the oxidation states of metal elements to store or release energy.
[0003] However, in traditional technologies, the design of flow batteries is relatively complex and usually requires multiple components to ensure the structure and performance of the battery. Utility Model Content
[0004] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a battery cell, a battery stack and a single flow battery to solve the above technical problems.
[0005] The first aspect of the present application provides a battery cell, which includes: a shell, in which an electrolyte is provided; a foam cylindrical current collector, which is arranged in the shell, and a hollow cavity is provided in the foam cylindrical current collector, and a positive electrode layer is provided on the cavity wall of the hollow cavity; a conductive mesh column, which is arranged in the hollow cavity, and the conductive mesh column is spaced apart from the cavity wall of the hollow cavity.
[0006] In some embodiments, the shell includes: a shell body; an upper end cover and a lower end cover respectively arranged at both ends of the shell body; wherein a accommodating space is formed between the shell body, the upper end cover and the lower end cover, and the foam cylindrical current collector, the conductive mesh column and the electrolyte are all arranged in the accommodating space.
[0007] In some embodiments, a positive electrode tab is provided on the positive electrode layer, a negative electrode tab is provided on the conductive mesh column, and the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab are passed through the upper end cover.
[0008] In some embodiments, the battery unit further includes: a magnetic stirrer disposed at the lower end cover of the shell, and a stirring magnet that cooperates with the magnetic stirrer is provided in the accommodating space.
[0009] In some embodiments, the foam cylindrical current collector is selected from any one of a foam nickel cylinder, a foam copper cylinder, and a foam aluminum cylinder.
[0010] In some embodiments, the conductive mesh column is a wound punched steel strip, and a metal layer is provided on the wound punched steel strip.
[0011] A second aspect of the present application provides a battery stack, which includes the battery cells provided by the first aspect, wherein the plurality of battery cells are connected in series.
[0012] A third aspect of the present application provides a single-flow battery, which includes the battery cell provided by the first aspect or the battery stack provided by the second aspect.
[0013] In some embodiments, the single-flow battery further includes a liquid storage tank connected to the battery cell or the battery stack, and the liquid storage tank is used to store electrolyte.
[0014] In some embodiments, a fluid infusion tube for the flow of electrolyte is provided between the fluid storage tank and the battery cell or the battery stack, and a centrifugal pump is provided on the fluid infusion tube to control the flow direction of the electrolyte.
[0015] Compared with traditional technologies, this application has at least the following beneficial effects:
[0016] The battery cell provided in the present application is constructed by arranging a positive electrode layer on the cavity wall of the hollow cavity of the foam cylindrical current collector as the positive electrode of the battery cell, and arranging a conductive mesh column in the hollow cavity of the foam cylindrical current collector as the negative electrode of the battery cell. An electrolyte is provided in the shell, which together constitute a small liquid flow battery cell, simplifies the structural design of the liquid flow battery, and reduces the assembly difficulty and cost of the liquid flow battery.
[0017] In addition, the foam cylindrical current collector and the conductive mesh pillars form a three-dimensional porous electrode structure that can be used in single-flow batteries. Compared with traditional planar electrodes or bipolar plate designs for dual-flow batteries, the surface area of the electrode is increased, and the energy density of the flow battery is improved. Moreover, the three-dimensional porous electrode structure for single-flow batteries uses a single electrolyte, avoiding the cross-contamination of solutions in dual-flow batteries. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a single flow battery in one embodiment of the present application.
[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the production of the foam cylindrical current collector in Example 1 of the present application.
[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the fabrication of the conductive mesh column in Example 1 of the present application.
[0021] Description of Reference Numerals
[0022] 1. Single flow battery;
[0023] 10. Battery unit;
[0024] 11. Shell; 111. Shell body; 112. Upper end cover; 113. Lower end cover; 114. Accommodation space;
[0025] 12. Foam cylindrical current collector; 121. Hollow cavity; 122. Positive electrode layer; 123. Positive electrode tab;
[0026] 13. Conductive grid column; 131. Negative electrode tab;
[0027] 20. Liquid storage tank;
[0028] 30. Infusion tube; 31. Centrifugal pump. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the specific embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description sets forth many specific details to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.
[0030] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. appear, the orientation or position relationship indicated by these terms is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application.
[0031] In addition, if the terms "first" or "second" appear, these terms are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In the description of this application, if the term "plurality" appears, "plurality" means at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.
[0032] In this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "connected," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, these terms may refer to fixed connections, removable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediary; and internal communication between two components or interaction between two components, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.
[0033] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, if a first feature is described as being "above" or "below" a second feature, or similar descriptions, this may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, when a first feature is described as being "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is described as being "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.
[0034] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be an intermediate element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. If any, the terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only embodiment.
[0035] Unless otherwise specified, the terms "include" and "comprising" used in this application may be open-ended or closed-ended. For example, "include" and "comprising" may mean that other components not listed may also be included or that only the listed components are included.
[0036] Unless otherwise specified, the term "or" is used in this application to be inclusive. For example, the phrase "A or B" means "A, B, or both A and B." More specifically, the condition "A or B" is satisfied if any of the following conditions are met: A is true (or exists) and B is false (or does not exist); A is false (or does not exist) and B is true (or exists); or both A and B are true (or exist).
[0037] See also Figure 1 As shown, the first aspect of the present application provides a battery cell 10, which includes a housing 11, a foam cylindrical current collector 12, and a conductive mesh post 13. The housing 11 contains an electrolyte. The foam cylindrical current collector 12 is disposed within the housing 11. A hollow cavity 121 is defined within the foam cylindrical current collector 12, and a positive electrode layer 122 is disposed on the cavity wall of the hollow cavity 121. The conductive mesh post 13 is disposed within the hollow cavity 121, and is spaced apart from the cavity wall of the foam cylindrical current collector 12.
[0038] The battery cell 10 provided in the present application comprises a positive electrode layer 122 disposed on the wall of the hollow cavity 121 of the foam cylindrical current collector 12 as the positive electrode of the battery cell 10, and a conductive mesh column 13 disposed within the hollow cavity 121 of the foam cylindrical current collector 12 as the negative electrode of the battery cell 10. An electrolyte is disposed within the housing 11, and together these components form a small flow battery cell 10. This simplifies the structural design of the single-flow battery 1 and reduces the assembly difficulty and cost of the single-flow battery 1. Furthermore, the foam cylindrical current collector 12 and the conductive mesh column 13 form a three-dimensional porous electrode structure that can be used in the single-flow battery 1. Compared to conventional planar electrodes or bipolar plate designs used in dual-flow batteries, this increases the surface area of the electrode and improves the energy density of the single-flow battery 1. Furthermore, the three-dimensional porous electrode structure used in the single-flow battery 1 uses a single electrolyte, avoiding cross-contamination of the solutions present in dual-flow batteries.
[0039] It is understandable that the porous structure of the conductive mesh pillars 13 allows metal to be deposited not only on the electrode surface, but also in the pores of the electrode material, thereby providing more space for metal deposition, increasing the area capacity of the electrode, and thus increasing the energy density of the single-flow battery 1. In addition, the battery cell 10 provided in the present application forms an annular flow channel between the cavity wall of the hollow cavity 121 and the conductive mesh pillars 13, thereby optimizing the flow path of the electrolyte, improving convection within the electrolyte, thereby reducing concentration polarization of the electrolyte, inhibiting the growth of metal dendrites (such as zinc dendrites), reducing the occurrence of short circuits, and improving the cycle life of the battery.
[0040] In some embodiments, the housing 11 includes a housing body 111 and an upper end cap 112 and a lower end cap 113 respectively disposed at both ends of the housing body 111. A receiving space 114 is formed between the housing body 111, the upper end cap 112, and the lower end cap 113. The foam cylindrical current collector 12, the conductive mesh column 13, and the electrolyte are all disposed in the receiving space 114.
[0041] The battery cell 10 of the present application comprises a housing 11 comprising a housing body 111, an upper end cap 112, and a lower end cap 113, with a housing space 114 formed therebetween to accommodate a foam cylindrical current collector 12, a conductive mesh post 13, and an electrolyte. The foam cylindrical current collector 12, the conductive mesh post 13, and the electrolyte form the battery cell 10 of the single-flow battery 1. The housing 11 provides a structurally stable and well-sealed container environment, preventing electrolyte leakage and enhancing the safety and reliability of the battery.
[0042] Furthermore, the housing 11 is a cylindrical housing 11. Thus, the shape of the housing 11 is adapted to the shape of the foam cylindrical current collector 12, which is conducive to full utilization of space and improves the compactness of the device.
[0043] In some embodiments, a positive electrode tab 123 is provided on the positive electrode layer 122 , a negative electrode tab 131 is provided on the conductive mesh column 13 , and the positive electrode tab 123 and the negative electrode tab 131 are passed through the upper end cover 112 .
[0044] It is understandable that the positive electrode tab 123 and the negative electrode tab 131 are respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the electrical device, so that the battery unit 10 can provide electrical energy to the electrical device.
[0045] Furthermore, the positive electrode tab 123 , the negative electrode tab 131 and the upper end cover 112 are sealed and connected by using sealant.
[0046] In some embodiments, the battery unit 10 further includes a magnetic stirrer, which is disposed on the lower end cover 113 of the housing 11 , and a stirring magnet that matches the magnetic stirrer is disposed in the accommodating space 114 .
[0047] The battery cell 10 of the present application cooperates with the stirring magnet through the magnetic stirrer, so that the stirring magnet moves in the shell 11, thereby improving the fluidity of the electrolyte in the shell 11, improving the convection inside the electrolyte, and further reducing the concentration polarization phenomenon of the electrolyte, inhibiting the growth of metal dendrites, reducing the occurrence of short circuit phenomenon, and improving the cycle life of the battery.
[0048] In some embodiments, the foam cylindrical current collector 12 is selected from any one of a foam nickel cylinder, a foam copper cylinder, and a foam aluminum cylinder.
[0049] The battery cell 10 provided herein utilizes a foamed nickel cylinder, a foamed copper cylinder, or a foamed aluminum cylinder as the foamed cylindrical current collector 12, thereby providing excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. The porous metal material has high electrical conductivity, which helps improve the battery's current conduction efficiency. Furthermore, the porous structure of the foamed cylindrical current collector 12 increases the surface area of the electrode, thereby increasing the energy density of the single-flow battery 1.
[0050] In some embodiments, the conductive mesh post 13 is a wound punched steel strip, and a metal layer is provided on the wound punched steel strip.
[0051] The battery cell 10 provided in the present application uses a wound perforated steel strip as a conductive mesh column 13 and provides a metal layer on the perforated steel strip, so that the conductive mesh column 13 has both conductivity and corrosion resistance. The porous structure and winding design of the wound perforated steel strip increase the contact area between the electrode and the electrolyte, adjust the flow path of the electrolyte, and are beneficial to the deposition of metal, which not only improves the energy density of the single-flow battery 1, but also helps to inhibit the generation of metal dendrites, thereby improving the cycle life of the single-flow battery 1.
[0052] In some embodiments, the metal layer is selected from a nickel layer or a copper layer. The metal layer is selected from a nickel layer or a copper layer, which can provide excellent conductive properties.
[0053] A second aspect of the present application provides a battery stack, which includes the battery cell 10 provided in the first aspect, and a plurality of battery cells 10 are connected in series.
[0054] The battery stack provided in this application, by connecting multiple battery cells 10 in series, can flexibly adjust the battery capacity to adapt to different application requirements, thereby enhancing the flexibility and applicability of the battery design. In addition, because it includes battery cells 10, the battery stack has all the features and advantages of the battery cells 10 provided in the first aspect above, which will not be repeated here.
[0055] A third aspect of the present application provides a single-flow battery 1 , which includes the battery cell 10 provided in the first aspect or the battery stack provided in the second aspect.
[0056] The single flow battery 1 provided in the present application, because it includes the battery cell 10 provided in the first aspect or the battery stack provided in the second aspect, improves the energy density of the battery, simplifies the structural design of the single flow battery 1, and reduces the assembly difficulty and cost of the flow battery 1.
[0057] In some embodiments, the single flow battery 1 further includes a liquid storage tank 20. The liquid storage tank 20 is connected to the battery cell 10 or the battery stack and is used to store electrolyte.
[0058] In some embodiments, a fluid infusion pipe 30 for electrolyte flow is provided between the fluid storage tank 20 and the battery cell 10 or the battery stack. A centrifugal pump 31 is provided on the fluid infusion pipe 30 for controlling the flow direction of the electrolyte.
[0059] The single-flow battery 1 of the present application is provided with an infusion tube 30 for the flow of electrolyte between the liquid storage tank 20 and the battery cell 10 or the battery stack. The infusion tube 30 is provided with a centrifugal pump 31. The centrifugal pump 31 controls the flow direction of the electrolyte and transports the electrolyte from the liquid storage tank 20 to between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell 10 or the battery stack to maintain the flow circulation of the electrolyte.
[0060] Example 1
[0061] This embodiment provides a battery unit 10 and a single-flow battery 1 . The single-flow battery 1 is a Zn—Ni(OH) 2 single-flow battery 1 .
[0062] Battery Cell:
[0063] like Figure 1 As shown, the battery cell 10 includes a housing 11 , a foam cylindrical current collector 12 and a conductive mesh column 13 .
[0064] The shell 11 is a cylindrical shell 11. An electrolyte is provided in the shell 11, and the electrolyte is a mixed solution of K2Zn(OH)4 and LiOH.
[0065] The foam cylindrical current collector 12 is provided with a hollow cavity 121, and a positive electrode layer 122 is provided on the cavity wall of the hollow cavity 121. The positive electrode layer 122 is a Ni(OH)2 positive electrode film layer. The foam cylindrical current collector 12 is nickel foam, and the Ni(OH)2 positive electrode film layer includes the main material Ni(OH)2, and also includes a binder PTFE and a conductive agent graphite. Figure 2 As shown, the manufacturing process of the foam cylindrical current collector 12 is: first, the Ni(OH)2 positive electrode film layer is loaded onto the foam nickel welded with the positive electrode tab 123; then the foam nickel is wound to form a foam nickel cylinder, thereby obtaining the foam cylindrical current collector 12.
[0066] The conductive grid post 13 is arranged in the hollow cavity 121, and is spaced apart from the cavity wall of the foam cylindrical current collector 12. The conductive grid post 13 is a wound punched steel strip, and a nickel layer is provided on the wound punched steel strip. Figure 3 As shown, the manufacturing process of the conductive mesh column 13 is as follows: the negative electrode tab 131 is welded to the punched steel strip; and then the punched steel strip is wound to form a wound punched steel strip, thereby obtaining the conductive mesh column 13.
[0067] Single flow battery:
[0068] like Figure 1 As shown, the single flow battery 1 includes the above-mentioned battery unit 10 , a liquid storage tank 20 and a liquid delivery tube 30 .
[0069] The liquid storage tank 20 is connected to the battery cell 10 and is used to store electrolyte. A liquid infusion pipe 30 for electrolyte flow is provided between the liquid storage tank 20 and the battery cell 10. The liquid infusion pipe 30 is provided with a centrifugal pump 31 for controlling the flow direction of the electrolyte.
[0070] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.
[0071] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation methods of the present application. While the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present application. It should be noted that a person of ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and improvements without departing from the technical concept of the present application, and these modifications and improvements fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall be determined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A battery cell, characterized in that: include: A housing (11), wherein an electrolyte is provided in the housing (11); A foam cylindrical current collector (12) is disposed in the housing (11), a hollow cavity (121) is provided in the foam cylindrical current collector (12), and a positive electrode layer (122) is provided on the cavity wall of the hollow cavity (121); and A conductive mesh post (13) is arranged in the hollow cavity (121), and the conductive mesh post (13) is spaced apart from the cavity wall of the hollow cavity (121).
2. The battery cell according to claim 1, wherein: The housing (11) comprises: a housing body (111); and An upper end cover (112) and a lower end cover (113) respectively arranged at both ends of the shell body (111); A receiving space (114) is formed between the shell body (111), the upper end cover (112) and the lower end cover (113), and the foam cylindrical current collector (12), the conductive mesh column (13) and the electrolyte are all arranged in the receiving space (114).
3. The battery cell according to claim 2, wherein: A positive electrode tab (123) is provided on the positive electrode layer (122), a negative electrode tab (131) is provided on the conductive mesh column (13), and the positive electrode tab (123) and the negative electrode tab (131) are passed through the upper end cover (112).
4. The battery cell according to claim 2, wherein: Also includes: A magnetic stirrer is arranged on the lower end cover (113) of the shell (11), and a stirring magnet matched with the magnetic stirrer is arranged in the accommodating space (114).
5. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The foam cylindrical current collector (12) is selected from any one of a foam nickel cylinder, a foam copper cylinder and a foam aluminum cylinder.
6. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The conductive mesh column (13) is a wound punched steel strip, and a metal layer is provided on the wound punched steel strip.
7. A fuel cell stack, characterized in that: The invention comprises a battery cell (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a plurality of the battery cells (10) are connected in series.
8. A single flow battery, characterized in that It comprises the battery cell (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or the battery stack according to claim 7.
9. The single flow battery according to claim 8, characterized in that Also includes: A liquid storage tank (20) is connected to the battery cell (10) or the battery stack, and the liquid storage tank (20) is used to store electrolyte.
10. The single flow battery according to claim 9, characterized in that A liquid infusion pipe (30) for the flow of the electrolyte is provided between the liquid storage tank (20) and the battery unit (10) or the battery stack. A centrifugal pump (31) is provided on the liquid infusion pipe (30). The centrifugal pump (31) is used to control the flow direction of the electrolyte.