Redox Flow Battery Tank Structure for Vortex-Suppressed Electrolyte Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In redox flow battery systems, a vortex formed by the flow of electrolyte returned from the battery cell can lead to turbulent flow, shortcuts, and stagnation, reducing the utilization factor of the electrolyte and decreasing energy density.
Innovation Solution
A tank configuration with a tank body and a first plate member that partitions the internal space into multiple regions in a specific direction, featuring holes that connect inlet and outlet regions, promoting a laminar flow state and enhancing electrolyte utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the electrolyte flows directly from the inlet to the outlet in the tank body, then the flow path is simple and device complexity is reduced, but vortex formation occurs causing turbulent flow and reducing electrolyte utilization factor
Solution Approach 1:
The tank body internal space is segmented into multiple regions by plate members with holes, dividing the single flow path into multiple sequential flow regions. This segmentation prevents vortex formation and turbulent flow while maintaining relatively simple device structure, thereby improving electrolyte utilization factor without excessive complexity increase.
2Reliability
If plate members are added to partition the tank body internal space, then electrolyte utilization factor is improved by suppressing vortex formation, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Plate members with holes are strategically positioned at specific locations within the tank body where vortex formation is most likely to occur. This localized intervention suppresses turbulent flow in critical regions while maintaining simple flow paths in other areas, optimizing the balance between electrolyte utilization and device complexity.
3Reliability
If the tank body is designed with a long flow path from inlet to outlet, then electrolyte utilization is improved, but the length of the tank body increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the tank body length to increase flow path, plate members are introduced to create flow path extensions in the vertical dimension and cross-sectional regions. This allows achieving long effective flow paths for improved electrolyte utilization while keeping the overall tank body length compact.
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 proposed tank configuration effectively suppresses decreases in the utilization factor of the electrolyte, ensuring efficient use and maintaining high energy density in redox flow battery systems.
Implementation Method 1
promoting a laminar flow state
Implementation Method 2
a vortex formed by the flow of electrolyte returned from the battery cell
Data Source
AI summary
A tank configured to store an electrolyte of a redox flow battery system, the tank including a tank body and a first plate member configured to partition an internal space of the tank body into a plurality of regions arranged in a first direction. The tank body includes an inlet for the electrolyte, the inlet being provided at a first end portion of the tank body in the first direction, and an outlet for the electrolyte, the outlet being provided at a second end portion of the tank body in the first direction. The first plate member has a plurality of holes extending through the first plate member in the first direction.