A high power density flow battery system
The flow battery system, with its multi-stage heat dissipation modules and modular design, solves the thermal management problem of traditional flow battery energy storage systems, achieving efficient heat dissipation and simplified structure, facilitating maintenance and capacity expansion, and improving the system's reliability and safety.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HAICHU TESTING (DALIAN) CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
AI Technical Summary
Traditional flow battery energy storage systems are difficult to manage thermally, have low heat dissipation efficiency, and the complexity of the piping increases under high power density requirements, affecting system reliability and maintenance costs.
The system employs a multi-stage heat dissipation module and modular design, separating the electrolyte supply pipeline and distribution device from the capacity tank and power tank, and combining them with a fan and heat exchanger for heat dissipation, simplifying the internal structure and facilitating maintenance and capacity expansion.
It improves heat dissipation efficiency, reduces maintenance difficulty and cost, extends equipment life, supports rapid expansion and modular construction, and enhances the system's operational reliability and security.
Smart Images
Figure CN224355235U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of energy storage technology, specifically to a high power density flow battery system. Background Technology
[0002] Flow batteries possess advantages such as high safety, long lifespan, and complete decoupling of capacity and power units, making them promising candidates for large-scale energy storage technologies. Furthermore, flow batteries directly regulate power output through electrochemical reactions within the stack, allowing for flexible adjustment of maximum output power to meet the instantaneous power demands of frequency regulation. Their short charge / discharge state switching time enables rapid response to grid frequency fluctuations, giving them a promising future in the power system frequency regulation market.
[0003] Traditional containerized flow battery energy storage systems do not utilize pipe arrays and fan cooling structures for heat dissipation, resulting in consistently high thermal management challenges. When thermal management fails, it can not only cause active material precipitation and reduce system efficiency, but more seriously, it may force the entire system to shut down, severely impacting operational reliability. Existing technologies also employ a two-stage cooling mechanism consisting of a fan array and a condenser for heat dissipation in flow battery energy storage systems. For example, Chinese patent CN114335811A discloses a containerized energy storage battery cooling system, including an energy storage container body, on which a first-stage cooling mechanism, a second-stage cooling mechanism, a detection mechanism, and a control module are installed.
[0004] Although it improves heat dissipation through a two-stage cooling mechanism, the existing patented flow battery still adopts the traditional containerized flow battery structure. This means that the electrolyte supply lines, electrolyte distribution system, and coolant circulation lines are still integrated into the power unit, and the capacity unit and power unit are not physically decoupled. While this structure reduces the footprint of the flow battery system, it also increases the complexity of the piping layout inside the container. This reduces the efficiency of convective heat dissipation between the container and the outside environment and makes the placement of thermal management components such as temperature sensors more difficult, resulting in higher maintenance costs.
[0005] Moreover, with this arrangement, when the power density needs to be increased, the diameter of the liquid supply pipeline and the pumping power must be increased significantly. The internal piping layout of the capacity tank and power tank, especially the power tank, will inevitably be more complex and occupy more installation space. This further exacerbates the heat dissipation difficulty of the containerized flow battery system, requiring the existing heat dissipation mechanism to increase its heat dissipation power and consume more energy to maintain the flow battery system temperature at a suitable operating temperature.
[0006] This shows that existing technologies still have certain shortcomings. Utility Model Content
[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a high power density flow battery system. By setting up a multi-stage heat dissipation module, the heat dissipation capacity and efficiency are improved. At the same time, by setting up a delivery and distribution box, the electrolyte supply pipeline, the second-stage heat dissipation module and at least part of the electrolyte distribution device are separated from the power box and capacity box, simplifying the pipeline structure in the power box and capacity box, reducing the heat dissipation difficulty of the capacity box and power box, and improving thermal management efficiency.
[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:
[0009] A high power density flow battery system includes a capacity tank, a power tank, and a delivery and distribution tank, which are independently arranged. The capacity tank contains an electrolyte storage tank, the power tank contains a battery stack, and the delivery and distribution tank contains an electrolyte supply pipeline and at least a portion of an electrolyte distribution device. The electrolyte supply pipeline is connected to the electrolyte storage tank, and the electrolyte supply pipeline is connected to the battery stack through the electrolyte distribution device.
[0010] It also includes a first-stage heat dissipation module and a second-stage heat dissipation module. The first-stage heat dissipation module is installed in the power box, and the conveying and distribution box is equipped with the second-stage heat dissipation module.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the first-stage heat dissipation module includes a fan, and a vent is provided on the side wall of the power box, with the fan located at the vent.
[0012] The second-stage heat dissipation module includes a heat exchanger and a coolant supply device connected to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is located inside the delivery and distribution box and is connected to the electrolyte supply pipeline.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment of this application, at least one fan is provided, and the first-stage heat dissipation module further includes a pipe array structure, which is configured in a one-to-one correspondence with the fan.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment of this application, at least a portion of the fan is embedded in the vent, and a rain shield is provided on the upper side of the vent.
[0015] As a preferred embodiment of this application, it also includes a monitoring module and a control module. The monitoring module includes a temperature detection device for monitoring the temperature of the electrolyte entering and leaving the fuel cell stack, the temperature of the fuel cell stack, the internal temperature of the power box, the internal temperature of the conveying and distribution box, and the external ambient temperature; a flow monitoring device for monitoring the electrolyte flow rate and the coolant flow rate; and a wind speed monitoring device for monitoring the wind speed at the vent.
[0016] The control module is connected to the monitoring module, the first-level heat dissipation module, and the second-level heat dissipation module, respectively.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the electrolyte supply pipeline includes an inlet pipeline and a return pipeline; the temperature detection device includes a first temperature detection device disposed on the inlet pipeline, a second temperature detection device disposed on the return pipeline, a third temperature detection device disposed on the fuel cell stack, a fourth temperature detection device disposed inside the power box, a fifth temperature detection device disposed inside the delivery and distribution box, and a sixth temperature detection device disposed outside the delivery and distribution box and / or the power box; the flow monitoring device includes a first flow meter disposed on the inlet pipeline and / or the return pipeline and a second flow meter disposed on the coolant supply device.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the capacity box and the power box are provided with a first quick-connect module, and the conveying and distributing box is provided with a second quick-connect module corresponding to the first quick-connect module.
[0019] As a preferred embodiment of this application, it further includes a valve assembly, which includes a first control valve disposed on the electrolyte supply pipeline and a second control valve disposed on the electrolyte distribution device pipeline; it also includes a fluid drive component disposed on the electrolyte supply pipeline and the coolant supply device pipeline.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the electrolyte supply pipeline is further provided with a filter for filtering the electrolyte.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the valve assembly, the fluid drive, and the filter are electrically connected to the control module.
[0022] The beneficial effects achieved by adopting the above technical solution are as follows:
[0023] 1. In the above scheme, the heat dissipation efficiency and heat dissipation capacity of the high power density flow battery are improved by setting two-stage heat dissipation modules. Furthermore, the cooperation between the two-stage heat dissipation modules can reduce the load on the heat dissipation modules, which is conducive to extending the service life of the equipment and reducing maintenance difficulty and maintenance costs.
[0024] 2. In the above scheme, by setting up a separate delivery and distribution box, the electrolyte supply pipeline, electrolyte primary distribution system, coolant circulation pipeline, heat exchanger, and corresponding valve components, temperature sensors, and other structures are separated from the capacity tank and power tank of the flow battery. This setting simplifies the internal structure of the capacity tank and power tank, reduces structural obstacles to convective heat dissipation, and is particularly convenient for heat dissipation in the power tank. It also reduces the space occupied inside the power tank, making it easier for maintenance personnel to enter the power tank for inspection and maintenance of the battery stack. At the same time, the delivery and distribution box is free from the structural constraints of the electrolyte storage tank and battery stack, which facilitates the layout and installation of the above pipelines and corresponding supporting components. It also makes it easier for maintenance personnel to enter the delivery and distribution box to inspect and maintain the pipelines and other structural components.
[0025] 3. By adopting the above scheme, the power box and the capacity box are physically decoupled, which facilitates the modular installation of heat dissipation devices such as fans and heat exchangers, as well as other components of the flow battery such as electrolyte supply pipelines and electrolyte primary distribution systems. This facilitates the modular construction of the entire flow battery energy storage system, which helps to shorten the construction cycle of the flow battery energy storage system and supports the rapid expansion of the flow battery energy storage system. Attached Figure Description
[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain the present invention and do not constitute an undue limitation thereof. In the drawings:
[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a high-power-density flow battery system as an example.
[0028] List of components and reference numerals:
[0029] 1. Capacity tank; 2. Conveying and distributing tank; 3. First control valve; 4. Electrolyte supply pipeline; 5. Temperature sensor; 6. Electrolyte primary distribution system; 7. Second control valve; 8. Fan; 9. Pipeline structure; 10. Power tank; 11. Ventilation outlet; 12. Heat exchanger; 13. Filter; 14. Magnetic pump. Detailed Implementation
[0030] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of this utility model, a detailed description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0031] It should be noted that many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.
[0032] Firstly, referring to Figure 1 As shown, this application provides a high power density flow battery system, which includes a capacity tank 1, a power tank 10, and a delivery and distribution tank 2, which are independently arranged. Figure 1 The capacity tank 1 contains an electrolyte storage tank. Figure 1 The power box 10 contains a fuel cell stack. Figure 1 The conveying and distributing box 2 is equipped with an electrolyte supply pipeline 4 and at least a portion of the electrolyte distribution device. Figure 1 Electrolyte supply line 4 and Figure 1 Connected to the electrolyte storage tank, Figure 1 Electrolyte supply line 4 passes through Figure 1 Electrolyte distribution device and Figure 1 The stack is connected and also includes a first-stage heat dissipation module and a second-stage heat dissipation module. Figure 1 The first-stage heat dissipation module is set at... Figure 1 Power box 10, Figure 1 Conveying and distributing box 2 is equipped with Figure 1 The second-stage heat dissipation module improves the heat dissipation efficiency and capacity of the high-power-density flow battery. Furthermore, the cooperation between the two stages reduces the load on the heat dissipation modules, thus extending the equipment's lifespan and lowering maintenance difficulty and costs.
[0033] In one example, continue to refer to Figure 1 As shown, the first-stage heat dissipation module includes a fan 8, and a vent 11 is provided on the side wall of the power box 10, with the fan 8 located at the vent 11. The second-stage heat dissipation module includes a heat exchanger 12 and a coolant supply device connected to the heat exchanger 12. The heat exchanger 12 is located inside the conveying and distribution box 2 and is connected to the electrolyte supply pipeline 4. Preferably, the first-stage heat dissipation module in this application also includes a pipe array structure 9, which is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the fan 8. By setting the pipe array structure 9, the gas flow inside the power box 10 can be guided, which is beneficial to improving the efficiency of convective heat transfer. As a preferred embodiment of this application, refer to... Figure 1As shown, the vent 11 is located on the side of the power box 10 facing the conveyor and distribution box 2. This arrangement utilizes the shielding effect of the conveyor and distribution box 2 to reduce the entry of rain, snow, dust, and other debris into the power box 10 through the vent 11. Preferably, at least a portion of the fan 8 is embedded in the vent 11, and a rain shield is also provided on the upper side of the vent 11. The rain shield further reduces the probability of rain, snow, dust, and other debris entering the vent 11, and also reduces the erosion of the fan 8 and the pipe structure 9 by rain and snow, which helps to extend the service life of the fan 8 and the pipe structure. Of course, a filter screen or other filtration device can also be added inside the pipe structure to further prevent debris from entering the power box 10 through the vent 11 and the pipe structure.
[0034] It should be noted that the arrangement of the fan 8, the pipe array and the vent 11 in this application is not limited to the above example. The above example is only a preferred example of this application. Other different arrangements and dustproof and rainproof structures can also be adopted. This application does not limit these.
[0035] Continue to refer to Figure 1 As shown, the delivery and distribution box 2 integrates the electrolyte supply pipeline 4 and the primary electrolyte distribution system 6. This arrangement separates the electrolyte supply pipeline 4 and the primary electrolyte distribution system 6 from the capacity tank 1 and the power tank 10, greatly simplifying their internal structures. This reduces structural obstruction during convective heat dissipation, particularly facilitating heat dissipation in the power tank 10. It also reduces the space occupied inside the power tank 10, making it easier for maintenance personnel to access the power tank 10 for inspection and maintenance. Furthermore, this arrangement eliminates the structural limitations imposed by the electrolyte storage tank and the power tank on pipeline layout and the installation of other supporting components. This facilitates the layout and installation of the electrolyte supply pipeline 4, coolant circulation pipeline, heat exchanger 12, and related supporting components. It also makes it easier for maintenance personnel to access the delivery and distribution box 2 to inspect and maintain these structures and components, thus reducing the overall difficulty and cost of maintaining the flow battery.
[0036] Furthermore, the above-described structural arrangement achieves physical decoupling between the capacity tank 1 and the power tank 10, effectively realizing a modular design for the flow battery system. This facilitates the modular and standardized production of the capacity tank 1 and the power tank 10, and also facilitates the modular installation of other components of the flow battery, such as the fan 8, heat exchanger 12, electrolyte supply pipeline 4, and electrolyte primary distribution system 6. Preferably, the capacity tank 1 and the power tank 10 are equipped with a first quick-connect module, and the delivery and distribution tank 2 is equipped with a second quick-connect module corresponding to the first quick-connect module. Here, the first and second quick-connect modules are equipped with standardized interfaces, and this application does not specifically limit the specific structure of the first and second quick-connect modules. The electrolyte supply pipeline 4 and the primary electrolyte distribution system 6 in the delivery and distribution box 2 can be quickly installed and disassembled with the electrolyte storage tank in the capacity box 1 and the stack in the power box 10 through the cooperation between the second quick-connect module and the first quick-connect module. Delivery and distribution boxes 2 of the same specification can also be quickly installed and disassembled through the docking of the second quick-connect modules, thereby realizing the modular construction of the entire flow battery energy storage system. This is conducive to shortening the construction cycle of the flow battery energy storage system, and the adoption of this modular structure can also support the rapid expansion of the flow battery energy storage system.
[0037] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1As shown, the high power density flow battery system in this application also includes a monitoring module, a valve assembly, and a control module. The monitoring module includes temperature sensors for monitoring the electrolyte temperature entering and leaving the stack, the stack temperature, the internal temperature of the power box 10, the internal temperature of the delivery and distribution box 2, and the external ambient temperature; flow sensors for monitoring the electrolyte flow rate and the coolant flow rate; and wind speed sensors for monitoring the wind speed at the vent 11. The control module is connected to the monitoring module, the valve assembly, the first-stage heat dissipation module, and the second-stage heat dissipation module, respectively. Specifically, the electrolyte supply line 4 includes an inlet line and a return line; the temperature detection devices include a first temperature detection device on the inlet line, a second temperature detection device on the return line, a third temperature detection device on the fuel cell stack, a fourth temperature detection device inside the power box 10, a fifth temperature detection device inside the delivery and distribution box 2, and a sixth temperature detection device outside the delivery and distribution box 2 and / or the power box 10; the flow monitoring devices include a first flow meter on the inlet line and / or the return line and a second flow meter on the coolant supply device; the valve assembly includes a first control valve 3 on the electrolyte supply line 4 and a second control valve 7 on the electrolyte distribution device; it also includes fluid drive components on the electrolyte supply line 4 and the coolant supply device; and a filter 13 for filtering the electrolyte is also provided on the electrolyte supply line 4. By setting up the aforementioned monitoring components, the various operating parameters of the flow battery system can be monitored in real time. In conjunction with the control unit and valve components, the flow rate and speed of the electrolyte, coolant, and fan speed can be adjusted to ensure heat dissipation efficiency and keep the flow battery at the most suitable operating temperature.
[0038] It should be noted that this application does not specifically limit the types or models of the first to sixth temperature sensors, the first flow meter, the second flow meter, the first control valve 3, the second control valve 7, the fluid drive component, and the filter 13. Existing commercially available products that meet the usage and cost requirements can be selected based on actual application needs. In one example, the first control valve 3 is a butterfly valve, the second control valve 7 is a ball valve, and the fluid drive component is a magnetic pump 14. Butterfly valves and ball valves are simple in structure, easy to use, and reliable, while the magnetic pump 14 has the advantages of being completely leak-free, highly efficient and energy-saving, highly corrosion-resistant, and low in maintenance costs, making it suitable for electrolyte delivery. Of course, the above example is only a illustrative example of this application, and other different configurations can be adaptively adopted according to actual installation needs and the limitations of the actual installation environment.
[0039] Secondly, this application also provides a thermal management method for the aforementioned high-power-density flow battery system, which mainly includes the following steps:
[0040] Step 1: Establish a system heat generation model for a high-power-density flow battery and analyze the composition of heat generation in the high-power-density flow battery system;
[0041] Step 2: Establish a formula for calculating the system heat generation of a high-power-density flow battery over future periods and calculate the heat generation over future periods;
[0042] Step 3: Establish a system heat dissipation model for the high power density flow battery and analyze the components of heat dissipation in the high power density flow battery system;
[0043] Step 4: Establish the system heat dissipation calculation formula for high power density flow battery, and calculate the real-time heat dissipation requirements of high power density flow battery system by combining the heat generation in the future time period obtained in Step 2.
[0044] Step 5: Based on the real-time heat dissipation requirements obtained in Step 4 and the heat dissipation components of the high-power-density flow battery system obtained in Step 3, dynamically adjust the output of each heat dissipation component to ensure that the system temperature of the high-power-density flow battery meets the preset temperature conditions.
[0045] Specifically, in the aforementioned thermal management method, by accurately predicting the future heat generation of the flow battery and calculating the heat dissipation capabilities of the first-stage and second-stage heat dissipation modules, the future output strategies of these modules can be accurately predicted and adjusted in real time. This achieves precise heat dissipation of the flow battery system, reducing energy consumption and costs associated with heat dissipation. Furthermore, the coordination between the first-stage and second-stage heat dissipation modules reduces the load on these modules, extending equipment lifespan and reducing maintenance difficulty and costs. The heat dissipation capacity of the first-stage heat dissipation module can be adjusted by changing the fan speed and / or the cross-sectional area of the tube openings, while the heat dissipation capacity of the second-stage heat dissipation module can be adjusted by changing the flow rate and / or the flow rate and / or the electrolyte flow rate and / or the coolant flow rate.
[0046] In summary, compared with traditional system structures and thermal management methods, the solution proposed in this application can improve heat dissipation capacity and efficiency through multi-stage heat dissipation modules. It can also adjust the output strategy in advance based on the heat generation trend of the flow battery, shortening the heat dissipation response time. This eliminates or reduces the lag in the adjustment of the flow battery heat dissipation module, allowing the flow battery to adapt to higher ambient temperatures while ensuring the flow battery stack operates at a suitable temperature. This improves the safety and stability of the flow battery operation while further reducing the load on the heat dissipation module and lowering energy consumption.
[0047] The technical solutions protected by this utility model are not limited to the above embodiments. It should be noted that any combination of the technical solutions of any embodiment with one or more other embodiments is within the protection scope of this utility model. Although this utility model has been described in detail above with general descriptions and specific embodiments, some modifications or improvements can be made to it, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, all such modifications or improvements made without departing from the spirit of this utility model are within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.
Claims
1. A high power density flow battery system, characterized in that, The device includes a capacity tank, a power tank, and a delivery and distribution tank, which are independently configured. The capacity tank contains an electrolyte storage tank, the power tank contains a fuel cell stack, and the delivery and distribution tank contains an electrolyte supply pipeline and at least a portion of an electrolyte distribution device. The electrolyte supply pipeline is connected to the electrolyte storage tank, and the electrolyte supply pipeline is connected to the fuel cell stack through the electrolyte distribution device. It also includes a first-stage heat dissipation module and a second-stage heat dissipation module. The first-stage heat dissipation module is installed in the power box, and the conveying and distribution box is equipped with the second-stage heat dissipation module.
2. The high power density flow battery system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first-stage heat dissipation module includes a fan, and the power box has a vent on its side wall, with the fan positioned at the vent. The second-stage heat dissipation module includes a heat exchanger and a coolant supply device connected to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is located inside the delivery and distribution box and is connected to the electrolyte supply pipeline.
3. The high power density flow battery system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, At least one fan is provided, and the first-stage heat dissipation module also includes a pipe array structure, which is configured in a one-to-one correspondence with the fan.
4. The high power density flow battery system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, At least a portion of the fan is embedded in the vent, and a rain shield is provided on the upper side of the vent.
5. The high power density flow battery system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a monitoring module and a control module. The monitoring module includes a temperature detection device for monitoring the temperature of the electrolyte entering and leaving the fuel cell stack, the temperature of the fuel cell stack, the internal temperature of the power box, the internal temperature of the conveying and distribution box, and the external ambient temperature; a flow monitoring device for monitoring the electrolyte flow rate and the coolant flow rate; and a wind speed monitoring device for monitoring the wind speed at the vent. The control module is connected to the monitoring module, the first-level heat dissipation module, and the second-level heat dissipation module, respectively.
6. The high power density flow battery system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The electrolyte supply pipeline includes an inlet pipeline and a return pipeline. The temperature detection devices include a first temperature detection device disposed on the inlet pipeline, a second temperature detection device disposed on the return pipeline, a third temperature detection device disposed on the fuel cell stack, a fourth temperature detection device disposed inside the power box, a fifth temperature detection device disposed inside the delivery and distribution box, and a sixth temperature detection device disposed outside the delivery and distribution box and / or the power box. The flow monitoring devices include a first flow meter disposed on the inlet pipeline and / or the return pipeline and a second flow meter disposed on the coolant supply device.
7. The high power density flow battery system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The capacity box and the power box are equipped with a first quick-connect module, and the conveying and distribution box is equipped with a second quick-connect module corresponding to the first quick-connect module.
8. The high power density flow battery system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a valve assembly, which includes a first control valve disposed on the electrolyte supply pipeline and a second control valve disposed on the electrolyte distribution device pipeline; it also includes a fluid drive component disposed on the electrolyte supply pipeline and the coolant supply device pipeline.
9. The high power density flow battery system as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The electrolyte supply pipeline is also equipped with a filter for filtering the electrolyte.
10. The high power density flow battery system as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The valve assembly, the fluid drive, and the filter are electrically connected to the control module.