Electrolyte storage tank

Abstract

An electrolyte storage tank, comprising a tank body (1) having an inner cavity (10). A liquid inlet and a liquid outlet which are communicated with the inner cavity are formed in the tank body; the tank body is formed by pouring acid-resistant concrete; a steel reinforcement framework (4) is pre-embedded in the tank body; and the inner cavity of the tank body is configured to store an electrolyte.

Description

An electrolyte storage tank Technical Field

[0001] This article relates to electrolyte storage tank technology, and in particular to an electrolyte storage tank. Background Art

[0002] Today, as new clean energy sources gradually replace traditional energy sources, energy storage systems, as an essential component of these systems, play a supporting role in the entire new power generation industry. Because new clean power generation energies (such as wind and solar energy) are significantly affected by natural environmental factors and struggle to consistently output stable and safe electricity, utilizing energy storage batteries as a link between these new power generation energies is crucial. In the energy storage battery sector, vanadium flow batteries are widely used in the energy storage industry due to their robust stability and safety, as well as their power capacity, durability, and long-term discharge capabilities, which far surpass other energy storage devices (such as lithium batteries, pumped hydro, and compressed air storage).

[0003] Currently, electrolyte storage tanks used in flow battery systems are typically made of plastics such as PP, PPH, and PE. These tanks are formed through processes such as injection molding, blow molding, die-casting, winding, or heat-melt welding or ultrasonic welding. These plastic tanks have drawbacks such as being environmentally unfriendly and non-biodegradable. Furthermore, they often require two transportation steps before reaching the customer site: from the supplier to the flow battery manufacturer and then from the manufacturer to the customer project site, resulting in high transportation costs. Furthermore, plastic tanks often have a fixed shape and volume, making them difficult to adapt to local conditions and flexibly adjust to the customer's project site. For large projects, the size of plastic tanks is a significant limitation. Furthermore, installation is difficult. Installing plastic tanks inside containers or terminals requires hoisting or forklifts, a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Furthermore, improper handling can damage the tank itself. Furthermore, while plastic tanks may be designed with ribs or other reinforcements, they are weaker and less reliable than concrete or steel structures. In addition, the volume of plastic storage tanks is often determined by the mold, and only tanks of specific sizes can be produced. It is not possible to make larger or irregular tanks according to the conditions of the project site. The flexibility is insufficient and the size is also limited.

[0004] In summary, the use of building structure storage tanks in flow battery systems has more advantages than plastic storage tanks in terms of construction cost, transportation, installation, and subsequent recycling.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides an electrolyte storage tank that can be flexibly configured, reduces the difficulty of transportation and installation, and saves costs.

[0007] The present application provides an electrolyte storage tank, comprising: a tank body having an inner cavity, the tank body being provided with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet communicating with the inner cavity, the tank body being cast by acid-resistant concrete, and the inner cavity of the tank body being configured to store electrolyte.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the tank body is pre-embedded with a steel frame.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the electrolyte storage tank further includes a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe connected to the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, and the liquid inlet pipe and the liquid outlet pipe are pre-buried in the tank body.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the inner wall surface of the tank body is provided with a protective layer, and the protective layer includes an insulating layer.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the protective layer further includes an anti-corrosion layer provided on the inner surface of the insulating layer.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the outer wall surface of the tank body is provided with a heat reflecting layer.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the electrolyte storage tank further includes an exhaust system, and the exhaust system includes an exhaust pipe communicating with the inner cavity.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the can includes a can body and a cover disposed on the can body, and the exhaust pipe is connected to the cover.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the electrolyte storage tank further comprises a protective gas protection system for inputting protective gas into the inner cavity of the tank body;

[0016] The protective gas protection system includes a protective gas delivery pipe communicated with the inner cavity of the tank body, and a protective gas generating device connected to the protective gas delivery pipe.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the tank includes a tank body and a cover disposed on the tank body, and the protective gas delivery pipe is connected to the cover.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the electrolyte storage tank further includes a liquid level detection device.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the liquid level detection device includes a liquid level detection tube with both ends communicating with the inner cavity of the tank body. The liquid level detection tube is located outside the tank body and is arranged along the height direction of the tank body.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the tank body is further provided with an electrolyte injection port communicating with the inner cavity.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment, the can includes a can body and a cover disposed on the can body, and the electrolyte injection port is disposed on the cover.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, the electrolyte storage tank further includes a guardrail arranged around the top wall of the tank body and / or a ladder arranged on the side wall of the tank body.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the tank body includes a plurality of tank bodies, and the plurality of tank bodies include a first tank body for storing a positive electrode electrolyte and a second tank body for storing a negative electrode electrolyte.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the tank body is arranged to be convex on the ground; or the tank body is arranged to be concave under the ground.

[0025] Compared with related technologies, the embodiment of the present application is cast with acid-resistant concrete, and the manufacturing method can be on-site manufacturing, thereby reducing the transportation cost and installation cost of the electrolyte storage tank of the flow battery system. At the same time, the electrolyte storage tank of the embodiment of the present application can be designed and constructed according to the actual situation of the project site, without being restricted by volume, and is more suitable for large-scale energy storage power stations of megawatt level and above. In addition, the electrolyte storage tank of the embodiment of the present application is detachable and recyclable, and can be dismantled at any time at the end of the project life cycle, recycled and reused, thus being green and environmentally friendly.

[0026] Other features and advantages of the present application will be described in the following description, and in part will become apparent from the description, or will be understood by practicing the present application. Other advantages of the present application can be realized and obtained by the solutions described in the description and the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings are used to provide an understanding of the technical solution of the present application and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the embodiments of the present application, they are used to explain the technical solution of the present application and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solution of the present application.

[0028] FIG1 is a perspective view of an exemplary electrolyte storage tank according to the present application;

[0029] FIG2 is a front partial cross-sectional view of a tank body of an exemplary electrolyte storage tank of the present application;

[0030] FIG3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a tank body of an exemplary electrolyte storage tank of the present application;

[0031] FIG4 is a top view of an exemplary electrolyte storage tank of the present application;

[0032] FIG5 is a perspective view of an exemplary electrolyte storage tank of the present application from another angle;

[0033] FIG6 is a side view of an exemplary electrolyte storage tank of the present application;

[0034] FIG7 is a perspective view of another example of an electrolyte storage tank of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] This application describes multiple embodiments, but this description is exemplary rather than restrictive, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there may be more embodiments and implementations within the scope of the embodiments described herein. Although many possible feature combinations are shown in the drawings and discussed in the detailed description, many other combinations of the disclosed features are also possible. Unless specifically limited, any feature or element of any embodiment may be used in combination with any other feature or element in any other embodiment, or may replace any other feature or element in any other embodiment.

[0036] This application includes and contemplates combinations of features and elements known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments, features, and elements disclosed in this application may also be combined with any conventional features or elements to form a unique inventive solution defined by the claims. Any features or elements of any embodiment may also be combined with features or elements from other inventive solutions to form another unique inventive solution defined by the claims. Therefore, it should be understood that any feature shown and / or discussed in this application may be implemented individually or in any appropriate combination. Therefore, except for the limitations made according to the appended claims and their equivalents, the embodiments are not subject to other limitations. In addition, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

[0037] In addition, when describing representative embodiments, the specification may have presented the method and / or process as a specific sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the specific order of the steps described herein, the method or process should not be limited to the steps in the specific order described. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, other orders of steps are also possible. Therefore, the specific order of the steps set forth in the specification should not be interpreted as a limitation to the claims. In addition, the claims for the method and / or process should not be limited to performing their steps in the order written, and those skilled in the art can readily understand that these orders can be changed and still remain within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0038] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, an embodiment of the present application provides an exemplary electrolyte storage tank 100, comprising: a tank body 1, an inner cavity 10 for storing electrolyte formed in the tank body 1, and a liquid inlet (with a liquid inlet pipe 2 installed but not shown) and a liquid outlet (with a liquid outlet pipe 3 installed but not shown) connected to the inner cavity 10 are also provided on the tank body 1.

[0039] The electrolyte storage tank 100 also includes an inlet pipe 2 and an outlet pipe 3 connected to the inlet and outlet, respectively. These pipes are pre-buried in the tank body 1 and are used to connect to external piping. This external piping is connected to a circulation pump (not shown) that circulates the electrolyte within the internal cavity.

[0040] The tank body 1 is cast from acid-resistant concrete, such as water glass acid-resistant concrete or sulfur acid-resistant concrete. Generally, concrete is mostly corroded by acidic media. Concrete that is resistant to corrosion in acidic media is called acid-resistant concrete. Acid-resistant concrete is widely used in acid-proof tanks and electroplating tanks in the chemical industry.

[0041] The electrolyte storage tank 100 of the embodiment of the present application is cast with acid-resistant concrete, and the manufacturing method can be on-site manufacturing, thereby reducing the transportation cost and installation cost of the electrolyte storage tank of the flow battery system. At the same time, the electrolyte storage tank 100 of the embodiment of the present application can be designed and constructed according to the actual situation of the project site, and a suitable electrolyte storage tank 100 is designed and constructed without volume restrictions, and is more suitable for large-scale energy storage power stations of megawatt level and above. In addition, the electrolyte storage tank 100 of the embodiment of the present application is detachable and recyclable, and can be dismantled at any time at the end of the project life cycle, recycled and reused, thereby being green and environmentally friendly. Of course, the electrolyte storage tank 100 of the embodiment of the present application can also be prefabricated in advance and assembled on-site.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 4 , the can body 1 of the embodiment of the present application is cylindrical, and includes a can body 10 a and a cover body 10 b provided on the upper portion of the can body 10 a .

[0043] As shown in FIG2 , the tank body 1 of the electrolyte storage tank 100 of the present embodiment is pre-embedded with a steel skeleton 4. During casting, the steel bars serve as a skeleton, and then acid-resistant concrete is poured. The acid-resistant concrete is used to fill the space supported by the steel skeleton 4. The steel skeleton 4 can improve the strength and rigidity of the electrolyte storage tank 100.

[0044] As shown in FIG2 , the inner wall surface of the tank body 1 of the electrolyte storage tank 100 of the embodiment of the present application is provided with a protective layer, which includes an insulating layer 11. The protective layer also includes an anti-corrosion layer 12 provided on the inner surface of the insulating layer 11.

[0045] Because concrete contains a certain amount of water, it is not a completely insulating material but rather a poor conductor. Therefore, an insulating layer 11 is sprayed on the inner surface of the acid-resistant concrete to isolate the electrolyte and prevent direct discharge to the ground, thereby ensuring the insulation performance of the entire tank body 1. Furthermore, an anti-corrosion layer 12 is sprayed on top of the insulating layer to isolate the electrolyte from the insulating coating 11 and ensure overall acid resistance.

[0046] Generally, the insulating layer 11 is sprayed with polyurethane, which not only plays an insulating role, but also plays a heat-insulating role to prevent the external temperature from affecting the temperature of the electrolyte. The anti-corrosion layer 12 is made of acid-resistant paint.

[0047] As shown in Figure 2, the outer wall of the tank body 1 of the electrolyte storage tank 100 of the embodiment of the present application is provided with a heat reflective layer 13. The heat reflective coating 13 mainly plays the role of heat reflection. The heat reflective coating can reflect sunlight to prevent the electrolyte temperature from rising.

[0048] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the electrolyte storage tank 100 of the present embodiment also includes an exhaust system connected to the inner cavity 10 of the tank body 1 for removing harmful gases such as hydrogen and oxygen from the electrolyte. The exhaust system includes an exhaust pipe 5 connected to the inner cavity 10 and connected to the cover 10b of the tank body 1.

[0049] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the electrolyte storage tank 100 of the present embodiment also includes a protective gas protection system. The protective gas protection system includes a protective gas delivery pipe 6 connected to the inner cavity of the tank body and a protective gas generating device (not shown) connected to the protective gas delivery pipe 6. The protective gas protection system provides a protective gas such as nitrogen to protect the electrolyte from oxidation. The protective gas delivery pipe 6 is connected to the cover 10b of the tank body 1.

[0050] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the electrolyte storage tank 100 of the embodiment of the present application further includes a liquid level detection device, which includes a liquid level detection tube 7, both ends of which are connected to the inner cavity 10 of the tank body 1. The liquid level detection tube 7 is located outside the tank body 1 and is arranged along the height direction of the tank body 1 to monitor the liquid level of the electrolyte inside the tank body 1.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 , the electrolyte storage tank 100 of the embodiment of the present application further includes an electrolyte injection port 8 provided on the tank body 1 for injecting the electrolyte, and the injection port 8 is provided on the cover body 10 b.

[0052] As shown in Figures 1, 5, and 6, the electrolyte storage tank 100 of the present embodiment further includes a guardrail 91 provided around the cover 10b of the tank body 1, and / or a ladder 92 provided on the outer wall of the tank body 10a of the tank body 1. The ladder 92 is used by maintenance personnel to climb the tank, and the guardrail 91 is used to protect the safety of maintenance personnel during maintenance.

[0053] As shown in FIG7 , another example of an electrolyte storage tank 100 ′ of the present application is different from the electrolyte storage tank 100 mainly in shape. For other details, please refer to the electrolyte storage tank 100 ′ and the electrolyte storage tank 100 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0054] In this embodiment, the electrolyte storage tank 100' comprises a plurality of rectangular tank bodies 1', including a first tank body 1a for storing positive electrolyte and a second tank body 1b for storing negative electrolyte. The positive and negative tank bodies 1a and 1b are arranged together to simplify balancing piping.

[0055] The electrolyte storage tanks 100 and 100' of the embodiment of the present application are configured to be convex on the ground or concave under the ground. The concave under the ground is manufactured in the form of a liquid storage pool or liquid storage tank, which saves more ground space.

[0056] In other embodiments, the electrolyte storage tank may also be in any other shape and may be made into other shapes according to on-site conditions.

[0057] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "one side", "the other side", "one end", "the other end", "side", "relative", "four corners", "periphery", ""mouth"-shaped structure", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the structure referred to has a specific orientation, is constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0058] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "connect," "directly connect," "indirectly connect," "fixedly connect," "install," and "assemble" should be understood broadly. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections. The terms "install," "connect," and "fixedly connect" may refer to direct connections, indirect connections via an intermediary, or internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0059] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that all or some of the steps, systems, and functional modules / units in the methods disclosed above may be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and appropriate combinations thereof. In hardware implementations, the division between the functional modules / units mentioned in the above description does not necessarily correspond to the division of physical components; for example, a physical component may have multiple functions, or a function or step may be performed by several physical components in cooperation. Some or all components may be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a digital signal processor or a microprocessor, or implemented as hardware, or implemented as an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit. Such software may be distributed on a computer-readable medium, which may include a computer storage medium (or non-transitory medium) and a communication medium (or temporary medium). As is well known to those skilled in the art, the term computer storage medium includes volatile and non-volatile, removable, and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information (such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data). Computer storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and can be accessed by a computer. In addition, it is well known to those skilled in the art that communication media generally embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and may include any information delivery media.

Claims

1. An electrolyte storage tank, characterized in that: include: A tank body having an inner cavity is provided with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet communicated with the inner cavity. The tank body is cast by acid-resistant concrete, and the inner cavity of the tank body is configured to store electrolyte.

2. The electrolyte storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tank body is pre-embedded with a steel bar skeleton.

3. The electrolyte storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe connected with the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, and the liquid inlet pipe and the liquid outlet pipe are pre-buried in the tank body.

4. The electrolyte storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall surface of the tank body is provided with a protective layer, and the protective layer includes an insulating layer.

5. The electrolyte storage tank according to claim 4, characterized in that: The protective layer also includes an anti-corrosion layer arranged on the inner surface of the insulating layer.

6. The electrolyte storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer wall surface of the tank body is provided with a heat reflection layer.

7. The electrolyte storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: An exhaust system is also included, and the exhaust system includes an exhaust pipe communicated with the inner cavity.

8. The electrolyte storage tank according to claim 7, characterized in that: The can body comprises a can body and a cover body which is covered on the can body, and the exhaust pipe is connected to the cover body.

9. The electrolyte storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: Also included is a protective gas protection system for inputting protective gas into the inner cavity of the tank body; The protective gas protection system comprises a protective gas delivery pipe communicated with the inner cavity of the tank body, and a protective gas generating device connected to the protective gas delivery pipe.

10. The electrolyte storage tank according to claim 9, characterized in that: The tank body comprises a tank body and a cover body which is arranged on the tank body, and the protective gas delivery pipe is connected to the cover body.

11. The electrolyte storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: Also included is a liquid level detection device.

12. The electrolyte storage tank according to claim 11, characterized in that: The liquid level detection device comprises a liquid level detection tube whose two ends are both connected with the inner cavity of the tank body. The liquid level detection tube is located outside the tank body and is arranged along the height direction of the tank body.

13. The electrolyte storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The tank body is also provided with an electrolyte injection port communicated with the inner cavity.

14. The electrolyte storage tank according to claim 13, characterized in that: The can body comprises a can body and a cover body which is covered on the can body, and the electrolyte injection port is arranged on the cover body.

15. The electrolyte storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: It also includes a guardrail arranged around the top wall of the tank body and / or a ladder arranged on the side wall of the tank body.

16. The electrolyte storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The tank body includes a plurality of tank bodies, and the plurality of tank bodies include a first tank body for storing a positive electrode electrolyte and a second tank body for storing a negative electrode electrolyte.

17. The electrolyte storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The tank body is arranged to be convex on the ground; or the tank body is arranged to be concave under the ground.

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