Multichamber Electrolyte Tank for Hydrogen Separation in Flow Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional redox flow battery systems have complex layouts and high manufacturing costs due to separate tanks for positive and negative electrolytes, hydrogen gas storage, and gas/liquid separation systems, leading to increased operational complexity and capacity losses.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chambered electrolyte storage tank integrates both positive and negative electrolytes with a bulkhead, allowing for spontaneous gas-liquid separation and hydrogen storage above the liquid electrolytes, eliminating the need for additional separators and tanks, and providing an inert gas blanket to reduce oxidation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate tanks are used for positive and negative electrolytes, then each electrolyte can be stored independently, but the system footprint and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate electrolyte storage tanks into a single integrated tank with multiple chambers. The tank includes a first chamber for positive electrolyte and a second chamber for negative electrolyte, separated by a bulkhead. This merging reduces the overall system footprint while maintaining independent storage of each electrolyte type, directly addressing the contradiction between independent storage reliability and footprint reduction.
2Reliability
If separate gas/liquid separation systems are used, then hydrogen gas can be effectively separated from electrolytes, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the gas/liquid separation function directly into the electrolyte storage tank by providing a gas space above the liquid electrolyte in each chamber. This eliminates the need for separate external gas/liquid separation systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective hydrogen gas separation through the natural gas-liquid interface in the integrated tank structure.
3Reliability
If dedicated hydrogen storage tanks are used, then hydrogen can be stored at high pressure, but the system layout complexity and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates hydrogen storage functionality directly into the electrolyte storage tank by allocating the gas space above the liquid electrolyte for hydrogen storage. The tank can store hydrogen at high pressure in this integrated gas space, eliminating the need for dedicated external hydrogen storage tanks and simplifying the overall system layout while maintaining reliable hydrogen storage capability.
4Reliability
If inert gas purging is performed in separate tanks, then electrolyte oxidation is reduced, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides a single inert gas space above the liquid electrolyte in the integrated tank that can be used for inert gas purging to protect both positive and negative electrolytes from oxidation. This unified approach simplifies operational procedures compared to performing separate purging operations in multiple external tanks, reducing operational complexity while maintaining electrolyte protection.
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
This design simplifies the system layout, reduces footprint, and decreases manufacturing costs while enhancing hydrogen separation and reducing capacity losses by integrating electrolyte and gas storage within a single tank.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second electrolyte chambers include first and second liquid electrolyte volumes, respectively, and the first and second liquid electrolyte volumes are separated by the bulkhead positioned therebetween
Implementation Method 2
storage of hydrogen gas in a head space above the liquid electrolyte chambers in the multi-chambered electrolyte storage tank allows for spontaneous gas-liquid separation
Implementation Method 3
providing an inert gas blanket for the liquid electrolyte, thereby reducing oxidation of the liquid electrolyte and reducing capacity losses of the redox flow battery system
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-chambered electrolyte storage tank for a redox flow battery system, may include first and second electrolyte chambers, and a bulkhead, wherein the first and second electrolyte chambers are fluidly coupled to first and second sides of a redox flow battery cell, respectively, the first and second electrolyte chambers include first and second liquid electrolyte volumes, respectively, and the first and second liquid electrolyte volumes are separated by the bulkhead positioned therebetween. In this way, manufacturing and operational complexity of a redox flow battery system can be reduced.