Fe-Cr Redox Flow Battery Pairing for Peak Power and Capacity Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current redox flow battery systems face challenges in maintaining storage capacity over multiple charge/discharge cycles and managing hydrogen generation, with limited availability of materials and degradation of storage capacity over time.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an iron-chromium (Fe—Cr) redox flow battery system utilizing Fe3+/Fe2+ and Cr3+/Cr2+ redox chemistry, with chromium complexes formed with nitrogen-containing ligands to stabilize the system and reduce hydrogen production, along with a secondary redox flow battery arrangement for peak power delivery and a balance arrangement to restore storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a primary redox flow battery arrangement is used for energy storage, then storage capacity is maintained over multiple cycles, but peak power delivery capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a primary redox flow battery arrangement (with high storage capacity) and a secondary redox flow battery arrangement (with high peak power delivery capacity) into a hybrid system. The controller manages both arrangements to work together, allowing the system to achieve both reliable energy storage and sufficient peak power delivery that neither arrangement could provide alone.
2Use of energy by moving object
If redox flow battery systems operate for extended periods, then energy storage is achieved, but storage capacity degrades over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a balance arrangement that periodically restores storage capacity by managing electrolyte composition and chemical balance in the redox flow battery system. This recovery mechanism counteracts capacity degradation that occurs during extended operation, allowing the system to maintain reliable energy storage over time.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If chromium complexes with nitrogen-containing ligands are used, then hydrogen generation is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the electrolyte by using chromium complexes with nitrogen-containing ligands instead of conventional electrolyte compositions. This chemical parameter change reduces hydrogen generation during battery operation, addressing the harmful effect despite the increased chemical complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The Fe—Cr redox flow battery system maintains storage capacity with minimal degradation over 100-500 cycles and reduces hydrogen generation, while the secondary arrangement enhances peak power delivery, and the balance arrangement helps restore system balance, ensuring efficient energy storage and delivery.
Implementation Method 1
an iron-chromium (Fe—Cr) redox flow battery system utilizing Fe3+/Fe2+ and Cr3+/Cr2+ redox chemistry
Implementation Method 2
chromium complexes formed with nitrogen-containing ligands to stabilize the system and reduce hydrogen production
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment is a redox flow battery system that includes an anolyte; a catholyte; an anolyte tank configured for holding at least a portion of the anolyte; a catholyte tank configured for holding at least a portion of the catholyte; a primary redox flow battery arrangement, and a second redox flow battery arrangement. The primary and secondary redox flow battery arrangements share the anolyte and catholyte tanks and each includes a first half-cell including a first electrode in contact with the anolyte, a second half-cell including a second electrode in contact with the catholyte, a separator separating the first half-cell from the second half-cell, an anolyte pump, and a catholyte pump. The peak power delivery capacity of the secondary redox flow battery arrangement is less than the peak power delivery capacity of the primary redox flow battery arrangement.