Vanadium battery electrolyte anti-oxidation device
By using a combined gas and liquid sealing method, the problem of oxidation of the negative electrode electrolyte in vanadium redox flow batteries was solved, thereby improving the stability of the electrolyte and the battery life, and avoiding tank damage and gas waste.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520066596.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-27
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-01-13
AI Technical Summary
The negative electrode electrolyte of vanadium redox flow batteries is easily oxidized by air, which leads to a decrease in battery capacity and a shortened cycle life. Existing methods of isolating the battery from air have problems such as tank damage, contamination, or waste.
The system employs a combined protective gas and liquid sealing method. Protective gas is introduced into the negative electrode storage tank through the inlet and outlet pipes, while air is expelled. A U-shaped liquid seal pipe and an atmospheric pressure tank are used to achieve gas depressurization and liquid sealing, thus isolating the electrolyte from air and reducing the amount of protective gas used.
It effectively isolates air, improves electrolyte stability, reduces the use of protective gas, and enhances the performance and lifespan of vanadium battery electrolytes.
Smart Images
Figure CN223842897U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of flow battery technology, and in particular to an anti-oxidation device for vanadium battery electrolyte. Background Technology
[0002] Vanadium redox flow batteries, as an electrochemical energy storage technology with long storage time and long service life, mainly achieve energy storage and discharge conversion through the redox reaction of different vanadium ions in the positive and negative electrode electrolytes. However, because the vanadium ions in the negative electrode electrolyte have a low valence state, they are easily oxidized by oxygen in the air, which increases the combined valence state of vanadium ions in both the positive and negative electrodes, ultimately leading to a decrease in battery capacity and a shortened battery cycle life.
[0003] Currently, vanadium redox flow batteries mainly use the following methods to isolate the electrolyte from the air:
[0004] 1. A sealed storage tank is used to isolate air and electrolyte; however, during battery operation, thermal expansion and contraction, along with the release of gas, increase the pressure inside the storage tank, which can easily cause damage to the tank.
[0005] 2. Covering the surface of the electrolyte in the storage tank with a layer of vegetable oil to isolate the air from the electrolyte, but the electrolyte is easily contaminated by vegetable oil, which affects the use of the electrolyte and makes it inconvenient to recycle the electrolyte.
[0006] 3. Continuously introducing inert gas into the storage tank to isolate it from air will result in gas waste, increased reactive power loss, reduced efficiency of the vanadium battery system, and increased costs. Utility Model Content
[0007] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this utility model is to provide an anti-oxidation device for vanadium battery electrolyte, so as to improve the stability of vanadium battery electrolyte.
[0008] The technical solution adopted in this utility model is as follows:
[0009] An anti-oxidation device for vanadium battery electrolyte includes a negative electrode storage tank. The top side of the negative electrode storage tank is provided with an inlet pipe for introducing protective gas into the negative electrode storage tank and an exhaust pipe for discharging gas from the negative electrode storage tank. An inlet valve is provided on the inlet pipe. One end of the exhaust pipe is connected to the negative electrode storage tank, and the other end of the exhaust pipe is provided with a U-shaped liquid seal pipe and a first exhaust valve. An atmospheric pressure tank is provided at the end of the U-shaped liquid seal pipe away from the exhaust pipe, and a pressure relief hole is opened on the atmospheric pressure tank.
[0010] Open the inlet valve, the first exhaust valve, and the second exhaust valve. Protective gas enters the negative electrode storage tank through the inlet pipe, filling the tank and expelling the air from within through the exhaust pipe, thus isolating the electrolyte from the air. Add sealing fluid to the U-shaped liquid seal tube and close the first exhaust valve. When the gas pressure in the negative electrode storage tank exceeds the pressure of the liquid column in the U-shaped liquid seal tube, the gas in the negative electrode storage tank pushes the sealing fluid in the U-shaped liquid seal tube into the atmospheric pressure tank through the exhaust pipe. The gas then enters the air through the atmospheric pressure tank. During depressurization, the sealing fluid flows back into the U-shaped liquid seal tube. When the gas pressure in the negative electrode storage tank is equal to the pressure of the liquid column in the U-shaped liquid seal tube, the air inlet valve is closed. When the gas pressure in the negative electrode storage tank is less than or equal to -0.9 times the liquid column pressure, the air inlet valve is opened to introduce protective gas into the negative electrode storage tank. This electrolyte anti-oxidation device can isolate the electrolyte from the air and reduce the amount of protective gas introduced by using a combination of protective gas and liquid sealing, thereby improving the stability of the vanadium battery electrolyte.
[0011] Optionally, the negative electrode storage tank is equipped with an oxygen concentration detector and a pressure detector.
[0012] The oxygen concentration detector is used to detect the oxygen content in the negative electrode storage tank, and the pressure detector is used to detect the gas pressure in the negative electrode storage tank.
[0013] Optionally, a second exhaust valve is provided at one end of the exhaust pipe near the negative electrode storage tank.
[0014] Optionally, the negative electrode storage tank is equipped with a control system, which is electrically connected to an air inlet valve, a first exhaust valve, a second exhaust valve, an oxygen concentration detector, and a pressure detector.
[0015] The oxygen concentration detector and pressure detector transmit the oxygen concentration and pressure information in the negative electrode storage tank to the control system, so that the control system can open or close the intake valve, the first exhaust valve and the second exhaust valve in a timely manner.
[0016] Optionally, the oxygen concentration detector is provided with a first detection valve, and the pressure detector is provided with a second detection valve.
[0017] The first and second detection valves facilitate the disassembly and assembly of the oxygen concentration detector and pressure detector by staff, thereby improving the stability of the vanadium battery electrolyte.
[0018] Optionally, the height of the sealing fluid inside the U-shaped liquid seal tube is less than 1 / 2 of the height of the U-shaped liquid seal tube.
[0019] Optionally, the volume of the atmospheric pressure tank is larger than the volume of the liquid inside the U-shaped liquid seal pipe.
[0020] Optionally, the sealing fluid is one of water, salt water, alkaline water or oil.
[0021] Optionally, the protective gas is one of nitrogen, argon, or helium.
[0022] Optionally, the top of the negative electrode storage tank is provided with a liquid inlet for adding electrolyte.
[0023] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: the control system opens the inlet valve, the first exhaust valve, and the second exhaust valve, and the protective gas enters the negative electrode storage tank through the inlet pipe. The protective gas fills the negative electrode storage tank and discharges the air in the negative electrode storage tank through the exhaust pipe, thus isolating the electrolyte from the air. The outlet of the exhaust pipe is sealed by a U-shaped liquid seal pipe. This electrolyte anti-oxidation device can isolate the electrolyte from the air and reduce the amount of protective gas entering by means of a combined sealing of protective gas and liquid, thereby improving the stability of the vanadium battery electrolyte. Attached Figure Description
[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model.
[0025] The labels and names in the diagram correspond as follows: 1. Negative electrode storage tank; 2. Inlet pipe; 21. Inlet valve; 3. Exhaust pipe; 31. Second exhaust valve; 32. T-connector; 41. U-shaped liquid seal pipe; 42. Atmospheric pressure tank; 51. First exhaust valve; 52. Outlet pipe; 6. Oxygen concentration detector; 61. First detection valve; 7. Pressure detector; 71. Second detection valve; 8. Liquid filling port. Detailed Implementation
[0026] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0027] Please see Figure 1 This utility model provides a technical solution:
[0028] An anti-oxidation device for vanadium battery electrolyte includes a negative electrode storage tank 1. The top side of the negative electrode storage tank 1 is provided with an inlet pipe 2 for introducing protective gas into the negative electrode storage tank 1 and an exhaust pipe 3 for discharging gas from the negative electrode storage tank 1. The protective gas is one of nitrogen, argon or helium. In this embodiment, the protective gas is nitrogen. The top of the negative electrode storage tank 1 is provided with a liquid inlet 8 for adding electrolyte, and a sealing valve is provided on the liquid inlet 8.
[0029] One end of the air inlet pipe 2 is sealed to the top of the negative electrode storage tank 1, and the other end of the air inlet pipe 2 is equipped with an air inlet valve 21. One end of the exhaust pipe 3 is sealed to the top of the negative electrode storage tank 1, and the other end of the exhaust pipe 3 is sealed to a three-way connector 32. The top of the three-way connector 32 is sealed to an exhaust pipe 52. The end of the exhaust pipe 52 away from the three-way connector 32 extends vertically upward, and the top of the exhaust pipe 52 is connected to the atmosphere. A first exhaust valve 51 is provided on the exhaust pipe 52 to facilitate the control of gas discharge from the negative electrode storage tank 1. A second exhaust valve 31 is provided on the end of the exhaust pipe 3 near the negative electrode storage tank 1. A U-shaped liquid seal pipe 41 is provided on the three-way connector 32. One end of the U-shaped liquid seal pipe 41 is sealed to the bottom end of the three-way connector 32, and the other end of the U-shaped liquid seal pipe 41 is sealed to an atmospheric pressure tank 42, and a pressure relief hole is provided on the top of the atmospheric pressure tank 42.
[0030] The U-shaped liquid seal tube 41 contains a sealing fluid. The height of the sealing fluid inside the U-shaped liquid seal tube 41 is less than half the height of the U-shaped liquid seal tube 41. A liquid column line is set at half the height of the U-shaped liquid seal tube 41 to facilitate the operator to control the amount of sealing fluid added to the U-shaped liquid seal tube 41. The sealing fluid is one of water, brine, alkaline water or oil. In this embodiment, the sealing fluid is water. The height of the U-shaped liquid seal tube 41 is 0.1-15m. The volume of the atmospheric pressure tank 42 is greater than the volume of the sealing fluid inside the U-shaped liquid seal tube 41. The atmospheric pressure tank 42 is set in an inverted conical, cylindrical or square shape. In this embodiment, the atmospheric pressure tank 42 is set in an inverted conical shape.
[0031] The negative electrode storage tank 1 is equipped with an oxygen concentration detector 6 and a pressure detector 7 to detect the oxygen concentration and pressure inside the negative electrode storage tank 1. In order to facilitate the disassembly and assembly of the oxygen concentration detector 6 and the pressure detector 7, the oxygen concentration detector 6 is equipped with a first detection valve 61, the pressure detector 7 is equipped with a second detection valve 71, and the exhaust pipe 3 is equipped with a second exhaust valve 31.
[0032] A control system is installed on the negative electrode storage tank 1. The control system is electrically connected to the air inlet valve 21, the first exhaust valve 51, the second exhaust valve 31, the oxygen concentration detector 6, and the pressure detector 7. Electrolyte enters the negative electrode storage tank 1 through the liquid inlet 8. The sealing valve is closed, and the first detection valve 61, the second detection valve 71, the air inlet valve 21, the first exhaust valve 51, and the second exhaust valve 31 are opened. Protective gas enters the negative electrode storage tank 1 and exhausts air through the exhaust pipe 3 and the air outlet pipe 52. When the oxygen concentration detector 6 detects that the oxygen concentration in the negative electrode storage tank 1 is 0, sealing liquid is added from the opening of the atmospheric pressure tank 42 into the U-shaped liquid seal pipe 41 until it reaches 1 / 2 of the U-shaped liquid seal pipe 41. The control system closes the first exhaust valve 51.
[0033] When the gas pressure in the negative electrode storage tank 1 is greater than the pressure of the liquid column in the U-shaped liquid seal tube 41, the gas in the negative electrode storage tank 1 pushes the sealing liquid in the U-shaped liquid seal tube 41 into the atmospheric pressure tank 42 through the exhaust pipe 3. The gas then enters the air through the atmospheric pressure tank 42 to release pressure. After the pressure is released, the sealing liquid flows back into the U-shaped liquid seal tube 41. When the pressure detector 7 detects that the gas pressure in the negative electrode storage tank 1 is equal to the pressure of the liquid column in the U-shaped liquid seal tube 41, the control system closes the air inlet valve 21, and the protective gas stops entering the negative electrode storage tank 1. When the gas pressure in the negative electrode storage tank 1 is less than or equal to -0.9 times the liquid column pressure, the control system opens the air inlet valve 21 to introduce protective gas into the negative electrode storage tank 1. This electrolyte anti-oxidation device, through the combined sealing of protective gas and liquid, can isolate the electrolyte from the air and reduce the amount of protective gas introduced, thereby improving the stability of the vanadium battery electrolyte.
[0034] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model and is not intended to limit the utility model. Although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.
Claims
1. A vanadium battery electrolyte anti-oxidation device, comprising a negative electrode storage tank (1), characterized in that, The top side of the negative electrode storage tank (1) is provided with an air inlet pipe (2) for introducing protective gas into the negative electrode storage tank (1) and an exhaust pipe (3) for discharging gas from the negative electrode storage tank (1). An air inlet valve (21) is provided on the air inlet pipe (2). One end of the exhaust pipe (3) is connected to the negative electrode storage tank (1). The other end of the exhaust pipe (3) is provided with a U-shaped liquid seal pipe (41) and a first exhaust valve (51). An atmospheric pressure tank (42) is provided at the end of the U-shaped liquid seal pipe (41) away from the exhaust pipe (3), and a pressure relief hole is provided on the atmospheric pressure tank (42).
2. The vanadium battery electrolyte anti-oxidation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The negative electrode storage tank (1) is equipped with an oxygen concentration detector (6) and a pressure detector (7).
3. The vanadium battery electrolyte anti-oxidation device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The exhaust pipe (3) is equipped with a second exhaust valve (31) at one end near the negative electrode storage tank (1).
4. The vanadium battery electrolyte anti-oxidation device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The negative electrode storage tank (1) is equipped with a control system, which is electrically connected to the air inlet valve (21), the first exhaust valve (51), the second exhaust valve (31), the oxygen concentration detector (6), and the pressure detector (7).
5. The vanadium battery electrolyte anti-oxidation device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The oxygen concentration detector (6) is equipped with a first detection valve (61), and the pressure detector (7) is equipped with a second detection valve (71).
6. The vanadium battery electrolyte anti-oxidation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The height of the sealing fluid inside the U-shaped liquid seal tube (41) is less than 1 / 2 the height of the U-shaped liquid seal tube (41).
7. The vanadium battery electrolyte anti-oxidation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The volume of the atmospheric pressure tank (42) is greater than the volume of the sealing liquid inside the U-shaped liquid seal pipe (41).
8. The vanadium battery electrolyte anti-oxidation device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The sealing fluid is one of water, salt water, alkaline water, or oil.
9. The vanadium battery electrolyte anti-oxidation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protective gas is one of nitrogen, argon, or helium.
10. The vanadium battery electrolyte anti-oxidation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the negative electrode storage tank (1) is provided with a liquid inlet (8) for adding electrolyte.