Redox Flow Battery Electrolyte Purification by Single-Pass Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for purifying electrolyte liquids in redox flow batteries are inefficient and energy-intensive, failing to effectively reduce contaminants such as copper, silver, gold, arsenic, antimony, and platinum group elements to low enough concentrations for optimal battery performance.
Innovation Solution
A single-pass electrolyte purification method using a conventional redox flow battery, where a mixture of positive and negative electrolyte liquids is circulated through negative and positive half-cells, applying a voltage to electrochemically deposit contaminants on the negative electrodes, followed by cleansing to remove them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional purification methods (chemical purification, filtration, chelate resin) are used to reduce contaminants in electrolyte liquid, then contaminant concentration is reduced to some extent, but the purification process is time-consuming and energy-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/chemical purification methods (filtration, chelate resin treatment) with an electrochemical method. By applying a voltage to the electrolyte liquid in a redox flow battery system, contaminants are selectively deposited on electrodes through electrochemical reactions, achieving rapid purification without time-consuming mechanical processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the purification approach by applying electrical voltage as a key parameter. By controlling the voltage applied to the electrolyte liquid, the system enables selective deposition of contaminants on electrodes, transforming the purification process from chemical/physical methods to an electrochemically controlled process that is both fast and efficient.
2Manufacturing precision
If chemical purification methods are used to remove contaminants, then some contaminants are reduced, but excessive energy is consumed and the process is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces energy-intensive chemical purification processes with an electrochemical method. By applying voltage to drive selective deposition of contaminants on electrodes, the system achieves effective purification with lower overall energy consumption compared to conventional chemical treatment methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The purification process utilizes the redox flow battery's own electrochemical system to remove contaminants. The electrolyte liquid itself serves as the medium for electrochemical reactions that deposit contaminants on electrodes, enabling the system to purify itself without requiring separate high-energy chemical treatment processes.
3Reliability
If contaminants are not sufficiently removed from electrolyte liquid, then battery performance is maintained, but hydrogen development occurs and efficiency is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electrochemical deposition to remove hydrogen catalyst contaminants from the electrolyte liquid. By applying voltage, contaminants such as copper, silver, gold, arsenic, antimony, and platinum group elements are selectively deposited on electrodes, preventing them from catalyzing hydrogen development and thus maintaining battery efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the contaminant removal mechanism by applying electrical voltage as a controlling parameter. This enables selective electrochemical deposition of hydrogen catalyst contaminants on electrodes, effectively reducing their concentration in the electrolyte liquid below the threshold that would cause harmful hydrogen development, while maintaining overall battery reliability.
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 method efficiently reduces contaminants to low concentrations, enhancing battery performance by preventing pore clogging and hydrogen production, while being faster and more energy-efficient than previous methods.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage is applied to the one or more cell stacks of the purifying redox flow battery and the electrolyte liquid in the negative half-cells is electrochemically reduced in the process, and that at least some of the contaminants in the electrolyte liquid are deposited on negative electrodes of the negative half-cells
Implementation Method 2
The positive and negative half-cells of a cell separated by a semipermeable membrane, typically an ion exchange membrane
Data Source
AI summary
In order to efficiently reduce the concentration of contaminants in an electrolyte liquid suitable for a redox flow battery, the electrolyte liquid, after passing through the negative half-cells of the one or more cell stacks, passes through positive half-cells of the one or more cell stacks of the purifying redox flow battery, without passing through a second tank, via a connecting device that connects the negative half-cells and the positive half-cells of a cell stack to one another.