Immersed evaporator for flow battery system

Abstract

The utility model discloses an immersion type evaporator for a redox flow battery system, which comprises electrolyte storage tanks and evaporators, the evaporators are arranged in the anode electrolyte storage tank and the cathode electrolyte storage tank, and each evaporator consists of a refrigerant liquid inlet, a refrigerant liquid outlet, an evaporator structure, a reinforcing rib, a refrigerant capillary tube array and a structure supporting plate; a condenser is fixed at the upper end of the electrolyte outlet pool, a refrigerant inlet header pipe and a refrigerant return header pipe are arranged at the lower end of the condenser, the refrigerant inlet header pipe is connected with the refrigerant inlet, and the refrigerant outlet is connected with the refrigerant return header pipe. When the evaporator is used, a refrigerant medium refrigerated by the condenser enters the refrigerant liquid inlet header pipe and enters the refrigerant capillary tube nests through the refrigerant liquid inlet of the evaporator, and the refrigerant medium exchanges heat with electrolyte through the surrounding refrigerant capillary tube nests to take away the heat of the electrolyte or heat the electrolyte; and the refrigerant medium subjected to heat exchange flows back to the refrigerant liquid return header pipe through the refrigerant liquid outlet, finally enters the condenser, and is continuously circulated.

Description

An immersion evaporator for a flow battery system Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of flow battery technology, and in particular relates to an immersion evaporator for a flow battery system. Background Technology

[0002] A flow battery is a large-scale energy storage battery that uses electron transitions between ions of different valence states to achieve charging and discharging. Because flow battery systems generate significant heat during discharge, the electrolyte temperature rises considerably. Given the characteristic that ions of different valence states in the electrolyte easily crystallize or precipitate at high or low temperatures, the temperature of the electrolyte must be maintained within a certain range after activation, whether in charging / discharging or static states.

[0003] During battery system operation, it is necessary to cool the electrolyte in a timely manner to prevent precipitation or crystallization. Currently, shell-and-tube evaporators are commonly used in the flow battery field. These evaporators are located in the tubular system, but during system operation, the evaporator adds extra flow resistance to the tubular system, thereby increasing pump consumption. Furthermore, due to the material properties of the evaporator tubes being placed at the positive electrode, a significant temperature difference exists between the positive and negative electrodes during system operation, resulting in additional energy consumption during temperature control.

[0004] In addition, during long-term shutdown and maintenance of flow battery systems, it is difficult to effectively control and regulate the temperature of the positive and negative electrolytes separately.

[0005] Therefore, researching immersion evaporators installed within the capacity unit of flow batteries is of great significance for temperature control and reduction of system auxiliary power consumption during maintenance and repair.

[0006] To address the aforementioned issues, we propose an immersion evaporator for flow battery systems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide an immersion evaporator for a flow battery system. This solution installs the evaporator in the positive and negative electrolytes, which improves the heat exchange capacity between the electrolyte and the evaporator when the circulating system is under maintenance and stationary. At the same time, it can also reduce the auxiliary power consumption of the battery system and thus improve the system efficiency by reducing the temperature difference between the positive and negative electrolytes and reducing the flow resistance of the pipeline during system operation.

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0009] This utility model relates to an immersion evaporator for a flow battery system, comprising an electrolyte storage tank and an evaporator. The evaporator is installed in the positive and negative electrolyte storage tanks. The evaporator consists of a refrigerant inlet, a refrigerant outlet, an evaporator structure, several reinforcing ribs, refrigerant capillary tubes, and a structural support plate. The structural support plate is fixed to one side of the evaporator structure. Several reinforcing ribs are cross-fixed inside the evaporator structure. The refrigerant capillary tubes are installed around the center of the cross-refrigerant ribs, arranged in a ring from the inside out. The refrigerant inlet and refrigerant outlet are respectively installed on both sides of the upper surface of the evaporator structure, and the two ends of the refrigerant capillary tubes are connected to the refrigerant inlet and refrigerant outlet, respectively.

[0010] A condenser is fixed at the upper end of the electrolyte outlet tank, and a refrigerant inlet main pipe and a refrigerant return main pipe are respectively provided at the lower end of the condenser. The refrigerant inlet main pipe is connected to the refrigerant inlet, and the refrigerant outlet is connected to the refrigerant return main pipe.

[0011] In one embodiment, a plurality of elliptical flow guide holes are evenly distributed on one surface of the structural support plate to facilitate electrolyte flow and increase convection and heat transfer effects; circular flow guide holes are provided on the side plate of the evaporator structure to avoid electrolyte stagnation affecting convection and heat transfer efficiency.

[0012] In one embodiment, the refrigerant in the refrigerant capillary tube is chilled water, or a mixture of water and alcohol in different proportions as the main components.

[0013] In one embodiment, the refrigerant capillary tubes are completely submerged below the surface of the electrolyte in the electrolyte storage tank.

[0014] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] This invention is applicable to electrolyte states with different valence states, is corrosion resistant, and can achieve simultaneous heat exchange between positive and negative electrolytes; it can enable temperature control of the electrolyte during battery system maintenance and repair; it can reduce the flow resistance of the flow battery pipeline system, thereby reducing system power consumption and improving system efficiency.

[0016] In use, the refrigerant after cooling by the condenser enters the refrigerant inlet manifold, and then enters the refrigerant capillary tube through the refrigerant inlet of the evaporator. The refrigerant exchanges heat with the electrolyte through the surrounding refrigerant capillary tube, carrying away the heat of the electrolyte or heating the electrolyte. After heat exchange, the refrigerant flows back to the refrigerant return manifold through the refrigerant outlet, and finally enters the condenser. This cycle continues continuously, thereby achieving heat exchange.

[0017] Of course, any product implementing this utility model does not necessarily need to achieve all of the advantages described above at the same time. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the group installation of the immersion evaporator in the flow battery system;

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an immersion evaporator for a flow battery system;

[0021] Figure 3 is a partial structural schematic diagram of an immersion evaporator for a flow battery system.

[0022] The attached diagram lists the components represented by each number as follows:

[0023] 1. Electrolyte storage tank; 2. Electrolyte; 3. Refrigerant inlet manifold; 4. Refrigerant return manifold; 5. Evaporator; 6. Condenser; 7. Refrigerant inlet; 8. Refrigerant outlet; 9. Evaporator structure; 10. Reinforcing ribs; 11. Refrigerant capillary tubes; 12. Structural support plate; 13. Flow guide hole. Detailed Implementation

[0024] 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.

[0025] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "middle", "outer", "inner", etc., which indicate orientation or positional relationship, are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the components or elements referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0026] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0027] Please refer to Figures 1-3. This utility model is an immersion evaporator for a flow battery system, including an electrolyte storage tank 1 and an evaporator 5. The evaporator 5 is installed in the positive and negative electrode electrolyte storage tank 1. The evaporator 5 is composed of a refrigerant inlet 7, a refrigerant outlet 8, an evaporator structure 9, several reinforcing ribs 10, refrigerant capillary tubes 11, and a structural support plate 12. The structural support plate 12 is fixed to one side of the evaporator structure 9. Several reinforcing ribs 10 are cross-fixed inside the evaporator structure 9. The refrigerant capillary tubes 11 are installed around the center of the cross of the reinforcing ribs 10, from the inside to the outside, in a ring arrangement. The refrigerant inlet 7 and the refrigerant outlet 8 are respectively installed on both sides of the upper surface of the evaporator structure 9. The two ends of the refrigerant capillary tubes 11 are respectively connected to the refrigerant inlet 7 and the refrigerant outlet 8.

[0028] A condenser 6 is fixed at the upper end of the electrolyte outlet tank 1. A refrigerant inlet main pipe 3 and a refrigerant return main pipe 4 are respectively installed at the lower end of the condenser 6. The refrigerant inlet main pipe 3 is connected to the refrigerant inlet port 7, and the refrigerant outlet port 8 is connected to the refrigerant return main pipe 4.

[0029] Furthermore, a number of elliptical flow guide holes 13 are evenly distributed on one surface of the structural support plate 12 to facilitate the flow of electrolyte and increase the convection and heat transfer effects; circular flow guide holes are opened on the side plate of the evaporator structure 9 to avoid the stagnation of electrolyte affecting the convection and heat transfer efficiency.

[0030] Furthermore, the refrigerant inside the refrigerant capillary tube 11 is chilled water, or a mixture of water and alcohol in different proportions as the main components.

[0031] Furthermore, the refrigerant capillary tube 11 is completely submerged below the surface of the electrolyte 2 in the electrolyte storage tank 1.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 1. This embodiment describes the working mechanism of an immersion evaporator for a flow battery system: the refrigerant after cooling by the condenser 6 enters the refrigerant inlet manifold 3, and then enters the refrigerant capillary tube 11 through the refrigerant inlet 7 of the evaporator 5. The refrigerant exchanges heat with the electrolyte 2 through the surrounding refrigerant capillary tube 11, carrying away heat from the electrolyte 2 or heating the electrolyte 2. After heat exchange, the refrigerant flows back to the refrigerant return manifold 4 through the refrigerant outlet 8, and finally enters the condenser 6, and then the cycle continues.

[0033] It should be further noted that the main structure of the evaporator 5 is made of strong acid-resistant and insulating materials. The structural components are connected by welding or by plastic-coated bolts or other acid-resistant bolts. The refrigerant capillary tube 11 of the evaporator 5 is made of acid-resistant tubing. All of the above materials are resistant to strong acid-based (sulfuric acid-based, hydrochloric acid-based) electrolytes and are suitable for flow battery systems.

[0034] During battery system maintenance and repair, evaporator 5 can be operated independently by the chiller to achieve heat transfer inside the electrolyte and thus achieve effective temperature control of the electrolyte.

[0035] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "example," and "specific example" indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0036] The preferred embodiments of this utility model disclosed above are merely illustrative of the present utility model. These preferred embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the utility model to the specific implementations described. Clearly, many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of this specification. This specification selects and specifically describes these embodiments to better explain the principles and practical applications of this utility model, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize it. This utility model is limited only by the claims and their full scope and equivalents.

Claims

1. An immersion evaporator for a flow battery system, comprising an electrolyte storage tank (1) and an evaporator (5), wherein the evaporator (5) is installed in the positive and negative electrode electrolyte storage tank (1), characterized in that: The evaporator (5) consists of a refrigerant inlet (7), a refrigerant outlet (8), an evaporator structure (9), several reinforcing ribs (10), refrigerant capillary tubes (11), and a structural support plate (12). The structural support plate (12) is fixed to one side of the evaporator structure (9), and several reinforcing ribs (10) are cross-fixed inside the evaporator structure (9). The refrigerant capillary tubes (11) are installed around the center of the cross of the reinforcing ribs (10) from the inside out in a ring arrangement. The refrigerant inlet (7) The refrigerant inlet (7) and refrigerant outlet (8) are respectively installed on both sides of the upper surface of the evaporator structure (9). The two ends of the refrigerant capillary tube (11) are connected to the refrigerant inlet (7) and the refrigerant outlet (8) respectively. The upper end of the electrolyte outlet pool (1) is fixed with a condenser (6). The lower end of the condenser (6) is respectively provided with a refrigerant inlet main pipe (3) and a refrigerant return main pipe (4). The refrigerant inlet main pipe (3) is connected to the refrigerant inlet (7), and the refrigerant outlet (8) is connected to the refrigerant return main pipe (4).

2. The immersion evaporator for a flow battery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The structural support plate (12) has a plurality of elliptical guide holes (13) evenly distributed on one surface; the evaporator structure (9) has circular guide holes on its side plate.

3. The immersion evaporator for a flow battery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerant in the refrigerant capillary tube (11) is chilled water, or a mixture of water and alcohol in different proportions as the main components.

4. The immersion evaporator for a flow battery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerant capillary tube 11 is completely submerged below the surface of the electrolyte (2) in the electrolyte storage tank (1).

Images