Redox Flow Battery Pressure Adjustment Non-Volatile Liquid Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing pressure adjustment mechanisms for redox flow batteries require frequent monitoring and replenishment of pressure adjusting liquids, leading to increased maintenance time and effort due to evaporation issues.
Innovation Solution
A redox flow battery with a pressure adjustment mechanism featuring a water sealed valve that uses a non-volatile liquid for pressure adjustment, including a storage container, first exhaust tube, and second exhaust tube, which discharges gas to the atmosphere and adjusts pressure to prevent tank explosion or compression, reducing the need for frequent maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure adjustment mechanism using a volatile liquid is employed, then the pressure inside the electrolyte tank can be adjusted to atmospheric pressure, but the liquid evaporates requiring frequent monitoring and replenishment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of the pressure adjusting liquid from volatile to non-volatile. By selecting a liquid with negligible vapor pressure and appropriate boiling point, the system eliminates evaporation losses while maintaining pressure adjustment functionality. This parameter change directly resolves the contradiction by making the liquid stable over long periods without requiring frequent replenishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by using a non-disposable, long-lasting non-volatile liquid. Instead of accepting that the liquid will evaporate and need replacement, the system selects a liquid specifically chosen for its stability and resistance to evaporation, thereby eliminating the need for frequent maintenance and making the component effectively permanent.
2Reliability
If a pressure adjustment mechanism is added to the redox flow battery, then the risk of tank explosion or compression is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure adjustment mechanism operates automatically without requiring external control or intervention. The non-volatile liquid self-regulates the pressure through its physical properties, eliminating the need for sensors, controllers, or complex actuation systems. This self-service approach maintains high reliability while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simple hydraulic principle with a non-volatile liquid to adjust and maintain pressure. By connecting the electrolyte tank to a pressure adjustment mechanism containing the non-volatile liquid, the system passively equalizes pressure differences through liquid displacement, providing robust safety functionality through a mechanically simple means rather than complex electronic or pneumatic control systems.
3Ease of operation
If a volatile liquid is used for pressure adjustment, then the pressure can be easily adjusted, but the volume of the liquid changes due to evaporation affecting long-term operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the volatility parameter of the pressure adjusting liquid by selecting a non-volatile substance. This parameter change ensures that the liquid volume remains stable over long periods without evaporation, while the liquid's fluidity and compressibility are maintained to preserve ease of pressure adjustment functionality.
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 solution reduces maintenance time and effort by using a non-volatile liquid that minimizes volume changes, preventing tank explosions and compression, and includes overflow and wave suppression mechanisms to manage condensation, ensuring stable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure adjustment mechanism which adjusts the pressure of a gas phase inside the electrolyte tank
Implementation Method 2
The pressure adjusting liquid is a non-volatile liquid at normal temperature and normal pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
A redox flow battery includes a battery unit, a positive electrode electrolyte tank, a negative electrode electrolyte tank, and a pressure adjustment mechanism. The battery unit includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a membrane. The positive electrode electrolyte tank stores a positive electrode electrolyte to be supplied to the battery unit. The negative electrode electrolyte tank stores a negative electrode electrolyte to be supplied to the battery unit. The pressure adjustment mechanism is attached to at least one of the electrolyte tanks and adjusts the pressure of a gas phase inside the electrolyte tank. The pressure adjustment mechanism is provided with a water sealed valve which includes a storage container that stores a pressure adjusting liquid, a first exhaust tube that extends from the gas phase inside the electrolyte tank, extends through a gas phase inside the storage container, and is open to a liquid phase inside the storage container, and a second exhaust tube whose one end is open to the gas phase inside the storage container and whose other end is open to the atmosphere. The pressure adjusting liquid is a non-volatile liquid at normal temperature and normal pressure.