Floating Electrolyte Cover for Redox Flow Battery Tanks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Oxidation of electrolyte in redox flow battery systems reduces the energy density, as active material ions are consumed, leading to decreased performance.
Innovation Solution
A tank design with a solid cover member floating on the electrolyte surface to inhibit oxidation, combined with a sealed internal space to prevent contact with external oxygen, and a configuration that ensures uniform electrolyte flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the electrolyte tank is open to the air, then the ease of operation is improved, but the electrolyte oxidation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inert atmosphere principle by introducing nitrogen gas into the tank headspace to displace oxygen. The nitrogen atmosphere prevents oxidation of the electrolyte while maintaining an open tank configuration for ease of operation. This resolves the contradiction by creating a protective environment that eliminates the harmful oxidative effect without requiring a sealed closed system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover member is added to cover the liquid surface, then the electrolyte oxidation is inhibited, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a physical cover member that would increase device complexity, the patent employs nitrogen gas to create an inert atmosphere above the electrolyte. This gaseous barrier prevents oxidation without requiring additional mechanical components, thus inhibiting electrolyte oxidation while maintaining simple device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by introducing and circulating nitrogen gas within the tank headspace. This gaseous system replaces the need for mechanical cover members, achieving oxidation protection through fluid dynamics rather than solid structures, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the cover member covers 100% of the liquid surface, then the electrolyte oxidation is maximally inhibited, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The nitrogen atmosphere approach eliminates the need for precise positioning of cover members. Since the gas can freely fill the headspace and contact the entire liquid surface without mechanical constraints, oxidation protection is achieved without stringent manufacturing precision requirements for covering components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of the protective barrier from solid (cover member) to gas (nitrogen atmosphere). This parameter change allows the protective medium to conform to the liquid surface without mechanical contact, eliminating the need for precise dimensional matching and positioning that would be required for a solid cover.
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 tank effectively inhibits electrolyte oxidation, maintaining high energy density in the redox flow battery system by ensuring minimal contact with oxygen and promoting uniform electrolyte flow.
Implementation Method 1
a cover member, at least a surface of which is solid. The cover member is disposed to float on a liquid surface of the electrolyte stored in the internal space so as to cover the liquid surface
Data Source
AI summary
A tank for storing an electrolyte in a redox flow battery system includes a tank body which has an internal space separated from the outside, and a cover member, at least a surface of which is solid, wherein the cover member is disposed to float on a liquid surface of the electrolyte stored in the internal space so as to cover the liquid surface, and an area of the liquid surface that is covered by the cover member is 0.90 times or more and 0.99 times or less the entire area of the liquid surface.