Battery System and Hull Assembly

Abstract

A battery system for a marine vessel is disclosed, the marine vessel including a hull, the battery system including a flow battery including an ion exchange element, and a first ballast tank disposed within the hull and defining a first ballast tank chamber for storing an electrolyte for the flow battery.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a marine battery system, a hull assembly and a method for changing the attitude of a marine vessel. [Background technology]

[0002] Ships, such as container ships, have systems that consume electrical energy, such as the ship's control systems, engine management systems, heating and lighting systems, and fluid systems including hydraulic pumps, such as fuel systems for the ship's engines. Power for such systems is typically provided by the ship's generators, and in some embodiments by consuming fuel, or by the power grid or an external generator, for example during port stays. Summary of the Invention

[0003] A first aspect of the present invention provides a battery system for a marine vessel including a hull, the battery system including a flow battery including an ion exchange element, and a first ballast tank disposed within the hull and defining a first ballast tank chamber for storing an electrolyte for the flow battery.

[0004] By storing electrolyte for the flow battery in ballast tanks for placement within the ship's hull, the flow battery may reduce the physical footprint within the ship since additional storage space for the electrolyte may not be required. In this manner, larger flow batteries may be installed. The battery system may also keep the ship's weight low since the electrolyte may replace ballast water that may otherwise be stored within the ship. This may allow the ship to carry more cargo, reduce the ship's operating costs, and / or reduce emissions from the ship. This may be particularly advantageous during port stays, where electrical energy stored in the battery system may be used to power the ship's electrical systems without the need to operate the ship's engines.

[0005] Optionally, the first ballast tank includes an electrically insulating interior defining a first ballast tank chamber for storing electrolyte. Optionally, the electrically insulating interior of the first ballast tank is a polymer interior or an electrically insulating interior coating of the first ballast tank. In this manner, a risk of corrosion of the interior of the first ballast tank in the presence of electrolyte stored in the first ballast tank chamber during use may be reduced.

[0006] Optionally, the battery system comprises a first supply conduit through which electrolyte can flow from the first ballast tank compartment to the ion exchange element.

[0007] That is, the first supply conduit may be fluidly connected or connectable between the first ballast tank compartment and the ion exchange element or a portion thereof.

[0008] Optionally, the battery system includes a second ballast tank disposed in the hull and defining a second ballast tank chamber for storing electrolyte for the flow battery, and a first conduit arrangement through which electrolyte can flow from the first ballast tank chamber to the second ballast tank chamber.

[0009] In this way, the flow battery can be used to store and supply electrical energy for use on the vessel, as well as to control the attitude or stability of the vessel by pumping electrolyte from a first ballast tank compartment to a second ballast tank compartment. That is, the battery system can serve two purposes and partially replace the vessel's water ballast system. In this way, the battery system can provide the benefits of an electrical energy storage system without significantly impacting the vessel's weight.

[0010] Optionally, the second ballast tank includes an electrically insulating interior defining a second ballast tank chamber for storing the electrolyte. Optionally, the electrically insulating interior of the second ballast tank is a polymer interior or an electrically insulating interior coating of the second ballast tank.

[0011] Optionally, the first conduit arrangement includes a first supply conduit and a second supply conduit, and the ion exchange element is fluidly connected or connectable to the first ballast tank compartment and the second ballast tank compartment by the respective first supply conduit and second supply conduit.

[0012] Optionally, the ion exchange element is fluidly connected or connectable to the first and second supply conduits such that electrolyte can flow from one of the first and second ballast tank chambers to the other of the first and second ballast tank chambers through the ion exchange element.

[0013] Optionally, the ion exchange element includes a first ion exchange chamber and a second ion exchange chamber separated from each other by an ion exchange interface, and the first ion exchange chamber is fluidly connected or connectable to a first ballast tank chamber and a second ballast tank chamber by respective first and second supply conduits.

[0014] In this manner, electrolyte may be flowable through the first ion exchange chamber from one or both of the first ballast tank chamber and the second ballast tank chamber, thereby charging or discharging the electrolyte stored in each of the first ballast tank chamber and the second ballast tank chamber.

[0015] Optionally, the first conduit arrangement includes a first transfer conduit configured to allow electrolyte to flow from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment without passing through the ion exchange element.

[0016] In this manner, the battery system can be operated to change the vessel's attitude, such as by redistributing the electrolyte between the first and second ballast tank compartments and its weight, without also operating the flow battery to charge and / or discharge the electrolyte.

[0017] Optionally, the battery system includes a first flow transfer device operable to transfer electrolyte from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment along the first conduit arrangement.

[0018] Optionally, the first flow transfer device is operable to reversibly transfer the electrolyte from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment along the first conduit device In this manner, the battery system may reversibly change the attitude of the vessel and / or pass the electrolyte back and forth through the ion exchange element multiple times to charge and / or discharge the electrolyte.

[0019] Optionally, the first conduit arrangement can be configured such that electrolyte is flowable from one of the first ballast tank chamber and the second ballast tank chamber through the ion exchange element to the other of the first ballast tank chamber and the second ballast tank chamber.

[0020] Optionally, the battery system includes a third ballast tank and a fourth ballast tank, each ballast tank disposed within the hull and defining a respective third ballast tank chamber and a fourth ballast tank chamber for storing an electrolyte for the flow battery. Optionally, the battery system includes a second conduit arrangement through which electrolyte can flow between the third ballast tank chamber and the fourth ballast tank chamber. Optionally, the second conduit arrangement includes a second communication conduit configured to allow electrolyte to flow between the third ballast tank chamber and the fourth ballast tank chamber without passing through an ion exchange element.

[0021] Optionally, the battery system includes a second flow transfer device operable to transfer electrolyte from the third ballast tank compartment to the fourth ballast tank compartment along the second transfer conduit.

[0022] Optionally, the second conduit arrangement includes a third supply conduit and a fourth supply conduit, and the ion exchange element is fluidly connected or connectable to the third and fourth ballast tank compartments by the respective third and fourth supply conduits. Optionally, the ion exchange element is fluidly connected or connectable to the third and fourth supply conduits such that electrolyte can flow from one of the third and fourth ballast tank compartments to the other of the third and fourth ballast tank compartments through the ion exchange element.

[0023] Optionally, the second ion exchange chamber is fluidly connected or connectable to a third ballast tank chamber and a fourth ballast tank chamber by respective third and fourth supply conduits.

[0024] A second aspect of the invention provides a hull assembly for a marine vessel comprising a hull and the battery system of the first aspect, with a first ballast tank disposed within the hull.

[0025] By storing the electrolyte in the hull rather than elsewhere, for example higher vertically on the vessel, the vessel may maintain a lower center of mass, thereby maintaining or improving the stability of the vessel.

[0026] Optionally, the battery system includes a second ballast tank, the second ballast tank being disposed within the hull, and the first ballast tank and the second ballast tank being disposed on opposite sides of the hull or at opposite longitudinal ends of the hull.

[0027] In this way, electrolyte may be moved from one side / end of the vessel to the opposite side / end of the vessel to redistribute the vessel's weight and control the vessel's attitude, for example to correct or set the vessel's trim while underway or during loading and / or unloading of cargo between port stays.

[0028] Optionally, the hull has inner and outer skins on either side / both ends thereof defining first and second hull spaces, and the first and second ballast tanks are located in the first and second hull spaces, respectively.

[0029] In this way, the first ballast tank and the second ballast tank may utilize space within the ship's hull that is not used for storing cargo, thereby allowing the ship to carry more cargo.

[0030] Optionally, the hull assembly includes one or more such flow batteries.

[0031] A third aspect of the present invention provides a marine vessel comprising a battery system according to the first aspect and / or a hull assembly according to the second aspect.

[0032] A fourth aspect of the invention provides a method of altering the attitude of a marine vessel, the marine vessel including a hull, a flow battery, and a first ballast tank compartment and a second ballast tank compartment within the hull, comprising moving an electrolyte for the flow battery from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment.

[0033] Optionally, the flow battery includes an ion exchange element. Optionally, the method includes discharging the flow battery by electrically connecting the ion exchange element to an electrical load, e.g., the vessel's electrical system. Optionally, the method includes charging the flow battery by electrically connecting the ion exchange element to a power source, e.g., a generator or a power grid of the vessel, e.g., in a port stay. Optionally, the ion exchange element includes electrodes, and the method includes connecting an electrical load and / or an electrical supply to the electrodes.

[0034] Optionally, the method includes transferring electrolyte from one or both of the first and second ballast tank compartments to the ion exchange element and back to one or both of the first and second ballast tank compartments, which may be for charging and / or discharging the flow battery.

[0035] Optionally, the mobile electrolyte for the flow battery from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment includes transferring the electrolyte from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment through a transfer conduit configured to allow the electrolyte to flow from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment without passing through an ion exchange element, for example with a first flow transfer device. Optionally, the mobile electrolyte for the flow battery from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment includes transferring the electrolyte from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment through an ion exchange element.

[0036] Optionally, the method includes bunkering and / or debunkering electrolyte from the first ballast tank compartment and / or the second ballast tank compartment.

[0037] Optionally, the method includes any of the operations described above performed with respect to the battery system of the first aspect. Optionally, the battery system is the battery system of the first aspect. Optionally, the hull is a hull included in the hull assembly of the second aspect. Optionally, the marine vessel is a marine vessel of the third aspect.

[0038] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a vessel; [Diagram 2] 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a marine vessel. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary battery system. [Figure 4] 1 shows a schematic flow diagram of an exemplary method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] 1 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of a vessel 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the vessel 10 is a container ship. In other embodiments, the vessel 10 is another type of cargo vessel, such as a tanker, a dry bulk carrier or a reefer ship, or a passenger ship. In other embodiments, the vessel is any other water-operating vessel, such as a tugboat, or a recreational boat, such as a yacht.

[0041] The ship 1 includes a hull 10 and a battery system 100 in the hull 10. The hull 10 and the battery system 100 together form at least a part of a hull assembly. The battery system 100 includes a flow battery 110 and a plurality of ballast tanks 30a to 30b arranged in the hull 10. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the battery system 100 includes first to fourth ballast tanks 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d. The first ballast tank 30b and the third ballast tank 30d are arranged at the bow (front end) of the hull 10, and the second ballast tank 30c and the fourth ballast tank 30e are arranged at the stern (rear end) of the hull 10. In other words, in the illustrated embodiment, the battery system 100 includes the ballast tanks 30a to 30d arranged at both ends of the hull 10 in the longitudinal direction of the hull 10.

[0042] Ballast tanks 30a-30d are each fluidly connected or connectable to a flow battery 110. As described in more detail below with reference to Figures 3 and 4, battery system 100 is configured to store electrical energy in the form of charged electrolyte contained within ballast tanks 30a-30d. The charged electrolyte is flowable through flow battery 110, specifically through an ion exchange element (described in more detail below) of flow battery 110, to provide electrical energy for the electrical system of vessel 1.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, the first ballast tank 30a is fluidly connected or connectable to the second ballast tank 30b, such that electrolyte can flow between the first ballast tank 30a and the second ballast tank 30b. Similarly, the third ballast tank 30c is fluidly connected or connectable to the fourth ballast tank 30d, such that electrolyte can flow between the third ballast tank 30c and the fourth ballast tanks 30c-30d. In this manner, electrolyte can pass between each of the ballast tanks 30a-30d to control the stability of the vessel 1, for example, the stability in changing attitude.

[0044] Specifically, in this embodiment, the electrolyte can be passed between the first ballast tank 30a and the second ballast tank 30b, and / or between the third ballast tank 30c and the fourth ballast tank 30d to move the electrolyte in the fore-aft direction of the ship 1. In this manner, the battery system 100 can be used to control the pitch of the ship 1. In other embodiments, the electrolyte is stored in ballast tanks located on opposite sides of the hull 10, and can be passed between the ballast tanks. In this manner, the battery system 100 can be used to control the heel of the ship 1. That is, in some embodiments, the battery system 100 is used to trim the ship 1 by passing the electrolyte between the ballast tanks 30a-30d on the opposite sides and / or longitudinal sides of the hull 20 to control the pitch and / or heel of the ship 1.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-section of the vessel 1 along the dashed line labeled AA in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the hull 10 includes a cargo space 200 for accommodating cargo. In the illustrated embodiment, the hull 10 includes a double hull structure including an inner skin 21 and an outer skin 22. The inner skin 21 and the outer skin 22 together define a plurality of ballast or void spaces within the hull. Specifically, the hull 10 in this embodiment includes a port ballast space 23 on the port side of the hull 10 and a starboard ballast space 24 on the starboard side of the hull 10. The hull 10 also includes a port double ballast space 25 and a starboard double ballast space 26 on the lower side of the hull, and a port upper void space 27 and a starboard upper void space 28 on the upper side of the hull 10. Void spaces 27, 28 in some embodiments are not otherwise occupied by ballast tanks, cargo or components of ship 1, but in other embodiments are void spaces in the ship that may contain ballast tanks or to which ballast tanks may be retrofitted.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the vessel hull 10 includes a cofferdam 29 that separates a port double ballast space 25 and a starboard double ballast space 26. In some embodiments, the cofferdam 29 contains components of the vessel vessel 1, such as components of the flow battery 110, such as fluid conduits, filters, pumps, and / or other components for moving electrolyte between the ballast tanks 30a-30d, as described below.

[0047] The port ballast space 23 and the starboard ballast space 24 each define a ballast chamber 23a, 24a. In other words, the walls of the port ballast space 23 and the starboard ballast space 24 in this embodiment define respective ballast tanks 23, 24 surrounding the respective ballast tank chambers 23a, 24a. In other embodiments, not shown here, the port ballast space 23 and the starboard ballast space 24 each include a separate ballast tank disposed therein that defines a respective ballast tank chamber 23a, 24a. Similarly, port double ballast space 25 and starboard double ballast space 26 define or include respective port double ballast tank chambers 25a and starboard double ballast tank chambers 26a, defining respective port and starboard double ballast tanks. In some embodiments, port void 27 and starboard void 28 include respective port ballast tanks and starboard upper ballast tanks defining respective port ballast chambers 27a and starboard upper ballast chambers 27a.

[0048] It is understood that any one of the ballast chambers 23a-28a shown and described in Figure 2 may be fluidly connected or connectable to any other one of the ballast chambers 23a-28a. It is also understood that in some embodiments, the battery system 100 includes any one of the ballast tanks 23a-28a shown and described in Figure 2. For example, the first ballast tank 30a and the third ballast tank 30c may alternatively or additionally be defined by or located in one of the port and starboard ballast spaces 23, 24, and the second ballast tank 30b and the fourth ballast tank 30d may alternatively or additionally be defined by or located in the other one of the port ballast space 23 and the starboard ballast space 24. In other embodiments, any one of the first through fourth ballast tanks 30a-30d is defined by or located within any one of the port double ballast space 25 and the starboard double ballast space 26 or the port void 27 and the starboard void 28. In other embodiments, the hull 10 includes a forward ballast space (not shown) at the bow (forward end) of the hull 10, the forward ballast space defining and / or including the first ballast tank 30a and the third ballast tank 30c. In some such embodiments, the hull 10 includes an aft ballast space (not shown) at the stern (aft end) of the hull 10, the aft ballast space defining and / or including the second ballast tank 30b and the fourth ballast tank 30d. In other words, the ballast tanks 30a-30d of the battery system 100 may be located in any suitable part of the hull 10 to achieve the desired stability and / or attitude control of the vessel 1.

[0049] An exemplary configuration of the battery system 100 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the battery system 100. The ballast tanks 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of the battery system 100 define respective ballast tank chambers 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b. Specifically, the first ballast tank 30a defines the first ballast tank chamber 121a, the second ballast tank 30b defines the second ballast tank chamber 121b, the third ballast tank 30c defines the third ballast tank chamber 131a, and the fourth ballast tank 30d defines the fourth ballast tank chamber 131b. In some embodiments, the first through fourth ballast tank chambers 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b may be any one of the ballast tank chambers 23a-26a shown and described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0051] The electrolyte stored in the first to fourth ballast tank chambers 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b during use includes vanadium, such as vanadium in sulfuric acid solution. Thus, each ballast tank 30a-30d includes an electrically insulating interior defining the respective ballast tank chamber 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b for storing the electrolyte. This may reduce the risk of charge generation between the electrolyte and the interior of each ballast tank 30a-30d and / or reduce the risk of corrosion of the interior of each ballast tank 30a-30d. In this embodiment, the electrically insulating interior of each ballast tank 30a-30d is a polymer interior. In particular, each ballast tank 30a-30d is constructed from a polymer material and is located in one of the ballast spaces 23-26 or void spaces 27-28 described above with reference to FIG. 2. In another embodiment, each ballast tank 30a-30d is defined by a respective ballast space 23-26, and the ballast spaces 23-26 include an electrically insulating inner coating, such as an epoxy coating or any other suitable coating. In another embodiment, each of the ballast tanks 30a-30d includes an electrically conductive inner surface. In another embodiment, the electrolyte is any other electrolyte suitable for a flow battery, such as a zinc and / or bromine based electrolyte.

[0052] 3, the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b are fluidly connected or connectable to the flow battery 110 by a first conduit arrangement 120. Similarly, the third ballast tank chamber 131a and the fourth ballast tank chamber 131b are fluidly connected or connectable to the flow battery 110 by a second conduit arrangement 130.

[0053] The flow battery 110 includes an ion exchange element 111 that includes a first ion exchange chamber 112a and a second ion exchange chamber 112b separated from each other by an ion exchange interface 113. In this embodiment, the ion exchange interface 113 is an ion exchange membrane configured to allow the flow of charged ions from an electrolyte in one of the first ion exchange chamber 112a and the second ion exchange chamber 112b to an electrolyte in the other of the first ion exchange chamber 112a and the second ion exchange chamber 112b used. In other embodiments, the ion exchange interface 113 is a fluid-fluid interface between two electrolytes that flow in a laminar flow regime through the ion exchange element 111.

[0054] In this embodiment, the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b contain a positively charged electrolyte, or “catholyte,” in use, and the third ballast tank chamber 131a and the fourth ballast tank chamber 131b contain a negatively charged electrolyte, or “anolyte,” in use. In another embodiment, the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b store anolyte, and the third ballast tank chamber 131a and the fourth ballast tank chamber 131b store catholyte.

[0055] Catholyte stored in the battery system 100 can flow through one of the first ion exchange chamber 112a and the second ion exchange chamber 112b, e.g., through one of the first conduit arrangement 120 and the second conduit arrangement 130, and anolyte stored in the battery system 110 can flow through the other of the first ion exchange chamber 112a and the second ion exchange chamber 112b, e.g., through the other of the first conduit arrangement 120 and the second conduit arrangement 130. As the positively and negatively charged electrolytes flow through the first ion exchange chamber 112a and the second ion exchange chamber 112b in use, ions from each electrolyte are exchanged across the ion exchange interface 113. The exchange of charged ions through the ion exchange interface 113 discharges the charged anolyte and catholyte, thereby generating power.

[0056] The ion exchange element 111 includes a first electrode 140a, such as a cathode, exposed to the catholyte used and a cathode housed in the first ion exchange chamber 112a, and a second electrode 140b, such as an anolyte, exposed to the second ion exchange chamber 112b used and an anolyte, housed in the second ion exchange chamber 112b. The first electrode 140a and the second electrode 140b are electrically connected or connectable to the electrical system of the vessel 1. In this way, the first electrode 140a and the second electrode 140b are configured to pass electrical energy generated by ion exchange across the ion exchange interface 113 to the electrical system. That is, the charged electrolyte stored in the battery system 100 can be discharged by the flow battery 110 to supply power to the electrical system. In other embodiments, electrodes 140a, 140b are configured to pass electrical energy in the other direction, such as by conduction from a power source connected to electrodes 140a, 140b to an uncharged or partially charged electrolyte passing through ion exchange element 111. In this manner, battery system 100, and particularly the electrolyte contained therein, may be charged and / or discharged by electrically connecting the ion exchange element to an electrical load and / or power source, respectively.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, the first conduit apparatus 120 and the second conduit apparatus 130 are mirror images. Accordingly, similar components of each of the first conduit apparatus 120 and the second conduit apparatus 130 are similarly numbered, except that the respective reference numbers of the second conduit apparatus 130 are ten higher than the corresponding reference numbers of the first conduit apparatus 120. As such, the battery system 100 will be described herein primarily with reference only to the first conduit apparatus 120, with the corresponding description also applying to the second conduit apparatus 120.

[0058] In the illustrated embodiment, the first conduit arrangement 120 includes a first connecting conduit 122c and a first valve 125a, which is fluidly connected to the first ion exchange chamber 112a via the first connecting conduit 122c. In other embodiments, the first valve 125a is provided immediately above the end of the first ion exchange chamber 112a. For example, the ion exchange element 111 may include a first manifold (not shown) that includes the first valve 125a and / or the first connecting conduit 122c. The first conduit arrangement 120 also includes a first supply conduit 122a that is fluidly connected or connectable between the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the first ion exchange chamber 112a via the first valve 125a. The first conduit arrangement 120 also includes a second supply conduit 122b that is fluidly connected or connectable between the second ballast tank chamber 121b and the first ion exchange chamber 112a via the first valve 125a. In other words, electrolyte can flow from the first ballast tank chamber 121a to the ion exchange element 111 via the first supply conduit 122a and the first valve 125a, and / or from the second ballast tank chamber 121b to the ion exchange element 111 via the second supply conduit 122b and the first valve 125a. That is, the first valve 125a is operable to fluidly connect the first ballast tank chamber 121a and / or the second ballast tank chamber 121b to the first ion exchange chamber 112a.

[0059] The first conduit arrangement 120 also includes a second connecting conduit 123c, and the second valve 125b is fluidly connected to the first ion exchange chamber 112a via the second connecting conduit 123c. In other embodiments, the second valve 125b is provided immediately above the end of the first ion exchange chamber 112a. For example, the ion exchange element 111 may include a second manifold (not shown) that includes the second valve 125b and / or the second connecting conduit 123c. The first conduit arrangement 120 also includes a first return conduit 123a that is fluidly connected or connectable between the first ion exchange chamber 121a and the first ballast tank chamber 121a via the second valve 125b. The first conduit arrangement 120 also includes a second return conduit 123b that is fluidly connected or connectable between the first ion exchange chamber 112a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b. In other words, electrolyte can flow from the ion exchange element 111 to the first ballast tank chamber 121a via the second valve 125b and the first return conduit 123a, and / or from the ion exchange element 111 to the second ballast tank chamber 121b via the second valve 125b and the second return conduit 123b. That is, the second valve 125b is operable to fluidly connect the first ballast tank chamber 121a and / or the second ballast tank chamber 121b to the first ion exchange chamber 112a.

[0060] In this manner, the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b are independently connected or connectable in parallel fluid loops with the ion exchange element 111. The first conduit arrangement 120 includes a fluid pump 126 operable to pump electrolyte from one or both of the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b through the first ion exchange chamber 112a and back to the same and / or the other of the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b. That is, in some embodiments, electrolyte can flow from one of the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b to the other of the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b through the ion exchange element 111, such as to control the attitude and / or stability of the vessel 1, as described above. The fluid pump 126 is a reversible fluid pump 126 such that electrolyte can flow in either direction through the first conduit arrangement 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the fluid pump 126 is disposed in the second connecting conduit 123c, but in other embodiments the pump 126 may instead be disposed in the first connecting conduit 122c. Alternatively, one or more pumps 126 may be disposed elsewhere in the first conduit arrangement 120, such as in the first supply conduit 122a, the second supply conduit 122b, the first return conduit 123a and / or the second return conduit 123b.

[0061] During operation, electrolyte may be continuously looped from either or both of the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b through the ion exchange element 111 and back to the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b, causing a gradual discharge (or filling) of electrolyte in the first ballast tank chamber 121a and / or the second ballast tank chamber 121b.

[0062] The first conduit arrangement 120 also includes a transfer conduit 124 that is fluidly connected or connectable between the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b. The first conduit arrangement 120 further includes a transfer pump 127 operable to pump electrolyte along the transfer conduit. That is, electrolyte can flow between the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b via the transfer conduit 124, such as to control the attitude and / or stability of the vessel 1. The transfer pump 127 is a reversible transfer pump 127, so that electrolyte can flow in either direction between the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b.

[0063] In some embodiments, the transfer conduit 124 and / or the transfer pump 127 are not provided. In such embodiments, the electrolyte can be flowed between the first ballast tank compartment 121a and the second ballast tank compartment 121b in any other suitable manner, such as through the ion exchange element 111 or through one or both of the first valve 125a and the second valve 125b.

[0064] In other embodiments, either the first supply conduit 122a or the second supply conduit 122b is not provided. In some such embodiments, the first valve 125a and / or the first connecting conduit 122c are not provided. This may reduce the weight and / or complexity of the system while still ensuring that electrolyte can pass from one of the ballast tank chambers 121a, 121b to the other and from each of the ballast tank chambers 121a, 121b to the ion exchange element 111.

[0065] In other embodiments, either the first supply conduit 122a or the second supply conduit 122b is not provided. In some such embodiments, the second valve 125a and / or the second connecting conduit 122c is not provided.

[0066] In other embodiments, the first conduit arrangement 120 may be configured with either no first supply conduit 122a and no second return conduit 123b, or no second supply conduit 122b and no first return conduit 123a. In such embodiments, one or both of the first valve 125a and the second valve 125b may be omitted. In this manner, the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b are connected or connectable in series to the first ion exchange chamber 112a via the transfer conduit 124. This may further reduce the complexity and weight of the battery system 100, such as by reducing the amount of piping required. In such a configuration, the battery system 100 may be configured, in use, to balance the amount of electrolyte passing between the first ballast tank chamber 121 a and the second ballast tank chamber 121 b via the transfer conduit 124 with the amount of electrolyte passing between the first ballast tank chamber 121 a and the second ballast tank chamber 121 b via the ion exchange element 111. This is to reduce the risk of charge imbalance of the electrolyte stored in the first ballast tank chamber 121 a compared to the risk of charge imbalance of the electrolyte stored in the second ballast tank chamber 121.

[0067] In other embodiments, the first conduit arrangement 120 may be provided or configured either without the first supply conduit 122a, without the second return conduit 123b, and without the transmission conduit 124, or without the second supply conduit 122b, without the first return conduit 123a, and without the transmission conduit 124. In this manner, the first ballast tank chamber 121a and the second ballast tank chamber 121b are only fluidly connected or connectable to one another via the ion exchange element 111. In such embodiments, electrolyte may be passed back and forth through the ion exchange element 111, such as by the fluid pump 126, to fill or discharge the electrolyte and / or to change the attitude of the vessel. In such embodiments, it is understood that if the electrolyte is used to set the trim of the marine vessel 1, it may not be desirable or possible to pass the electrolyte through the ion exchange element 111 to charge or discharge the battery system 100.

[0068] It is understood that the first conduit device 120 may be configured in any other suitable manner. It is also understood that in some embodiments, the first conduit device 120 may be different from the second conduit device 130. For example, the first conduit device 120 may be configured as shown in FIG. 3, while the second conduit device 130 is configured without one or more of the various conduits described above. In some embodiments, the electrolyte can flow in different directions or in the same direction through the first conduit device 120 and the second conduit device 130. That is, the electrolyte can flow in opposite directions through the first ion exchange chamber 112a and the second ion exchange chamber 112b.

[0069] The battery system 100 shown in FIG. 3 also includes a controller 150 communicatively coupled to the components of the battery system 100. In some embodiments, the controller 150 is configured to cause operation of the first valve 125a and the second valve 125b, and / or cause operation of the fluid pump 126 and / or the transfer pump 127 of the first conduit arrangement 120 to pass electrolyte through the first conduit arrangement 120 in any manner described above. The controller 150 may similarly cause operation of corresponding components of the second conduit arrangement 130. In some embodiments, the controller 150 is configured to discharge the battery system 100 by connecting the first electrode 140a and the second electrode 140b to an electrical load, such as an electrical system of the vessel 1. In other embodiments, the controller 150 is configured to charge the battery system 100 by connecting the first electrode 140a and the second electrode 140b to a power source, such as a generator on board the vessel 1, and / or by connecting to a power grid connection at a port where the vessel 1 is docked.

[0070] In some embodiments, the battery system 100 includes one or more ballast tanks 30a-30d and / or respective ballast tank compartments 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b and one or more connections for fluidly connecting the electrolyte to the ballast tank compartments 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b to a bunkering and / or debunkering system. In this manner, the battery system 100 may be charged by replacing discharged electrolyte with pre-charged electrolyte from the bunkering system. The bunkering system may be, for example, a land-based bunkering system, such as a bunkering system at a port where the vessel 1 is docked, or a sea-based bunkering system, such as a bunkering system and / or a flow battery on board another vessel 1, such as a bunkering bunker ...

[0071] 4 illustrates an exemplary method 400 of changing the attitude of the vessel 1. The method 400 includes moving 410 an electrolyte of the flow battery 110 from a first ballast tank compartment 121a to a second ballast tank compartment 121b. In some embodiments, the method 400 includes moving 420 the electrolyte through the ion exchange element 111 to charge or discharge the electrolyte. It is understood that the two blocks 410, 420 illustrated in FIG. 4 may be performed in any order or simultaneously.

[0072] In some embodiments, the method 400 includes discharging the flow battery by electrically connecting the ion exchange element to an electrical load, such as the vessel's electrical system. In some embodiments, the method 400 includes charging the flow battery by electrically connecting the ion exchange element to a power source, such as the vessel's generator or power grid, such as while anchored in port. In some embodiments, the ion exchange element includes electrodes, and the method 400 includes connecting an electrical load and / or electrical supply to the electrodes. In some embodiments, charging and / or discharging the flow battery includes transferring electrolyte from one or both of the first ballast tank compartment and the second ballast tank compartment to the ion exchange element and back to one or both of the first ballast tank compartment and the second ballast tank compartment, respectively.

[0073] In some embodiments, the method 400 includes bunkering and / or debunkering electrolyte from the first and / or second ballast tank chambers, such as by connecting one or more ballast tanks 30a-30d and / or each ballast tank chamber 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b to a bunkering system as described above.

[0074] In other examples, method 400 includes any other function performed by the battery system 100 described above. In some examples, method 400 is performed by controller 150 of battery system 100 or any variation thereof discussed herein.

[0075] It will be understood that two or more of the above described embodiments may be combined and that features of one embodiment may be combined with features of one or more other embodiments.

[0076] Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be made to the described embodiment within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery system for a marine vessel, comprising: the vessel includes a hull; The battery system includes: a flow battery including an ion exchange element; a first ballast tank disposed within the hull and defining a first ballast tank chamber for storing an electrolyte for the flow battery.

2. 2. The battery system of claim 1, including a first supply conduit through which the electrolyte can flow from the first ballast tank compartment to the ion exchange element.

3. 3. The battery system according to claim 1, The battery system includes: a second ballast tank disposed within the hull and defining a second ballast tank chamber for storing an electrolyte for the flow battery; a first conduit system through which the electrolyte can flow from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment; a battery system.

4. the first conduit arrangement includes the first supply conduit and a second supply conduit; 4. The battery system of claim 3 dependent on claim 2, wherein the ion exchange element is fluidly connected or connectable to the first ballast tank compartment and the second ballast tank compartment by the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit, respectively.

5. 4. The battery system according to claim 3, the first conduit arrangement includes a first transfer conduit configured to allow the electrolyte to flow from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment without passing through the ion exchange element.

6. 4. The battery system according to claim 3, The battery system includes a first flow moving device operable to move the electrolyte from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment along the first conduit arrangement.

7. 4. The battery system according to claim 3, The battery system, wherein the first conduit arrangement is configurable such that the electrolyte is flowable from one of the first ballast tank chamber and the second ballast tank chamber through the ion exchange element to the other of the first ballast tank chamber and the second ballast tank chamber.

8. The hull and 4. A hull assembly for a marine vessel comprising: the battery system of claim 3, wherein the first ballast tank is disposed within the hull.

9. 9. The hull assembly of claim 8, wherein the second ballast tank is disposed within the hull, and the first ballast tank and the second ballast tank are disposed on opposite sides or opposite longitudinal ends of the hull.

10. 10. The hull assembly of claim 8 including two or more flow batteries.

11. A marine vessel comprising the battery system according to claim 1 .

12. 1. A method for altering an attitude of a vessel, comprising: The ship includes a hull, a flow battery, and a first ballast tank room and a second ballast tank room within the hull, The method includes transferring the electrolyte for the flow battery from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment.

13. the flow battery comprising an ion exchange element; 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method includes transferring the electrolyte of the flow battery from one or both of the first ballast tank compartment and the second ballast tank compartment to the ion exchange element and back to one or both of the first ballast tank compartment and the second ballast tank compartment, respectively, to charge and / or discharge the electrolyte.

14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the mobile electrolyte for the flow battery from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment includes transferring the mobile electrolyte for the flow battery from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment using a first flow transfer device through a transfer conduit configured to allow the electrolyte to flow from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment without passing through the ion exchange element.

15. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the mobile electrolyte for the flow battery from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment comprises transferring the electrolyte from the first ballast tank compartment to the second ballast tank compartment through the ion exchange element.

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