Salt Cavern Flow Battery Layout for Higher Electrolyte Energy Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
The energy density of salt cavern flow battery systems is low due to uneven concentration distribution of high-valence state active substances produced by the positive electrode and low-valence state active substances produced by the negative electrode during charging, which fails to meet power requirements during discharge.
Innovation Solution
A salt cavern flow battery system design that includes multiple positive and negative salt caverns connected in series through pipelines, with circulation pumps and isolation media to cyclically flow electrolytes, ensuring high-concentration oxidation and reduction products are generated during charging, thereby enhancing energy density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single salt cavern is used to store electrolyte, then the system structure is simple, but the energy density is low due to uneven concentration distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single salt cavern into multiple separate caverns (first salt cavern, second salt cavern, third salt cavern, fourth salt cavern) to store different electrolytes with different valence states. This segmentation allows each cavern to store concentrated electrolytes separately, avoiding the concentration dilution problem in a single cavern, thereby improving energy density while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple salt caverns are connected in series, then the energy density improves, but the pipeline complexity and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces isolation media (first isolation medium, second isolation medium) as intermediaries in the pipeline system connecting multiple salt caverns. These isolation media prevent direct mixing of different electrolytes while allowing the circulation system to function, thereby enabling the energy density benefits of multiple caverns without the complexity of complex valve and control systems.
3Productivity
If circulation pumps are used to push electrolyte flow, then the reaction efficiency improves, but the energy consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs isolation media with specific density characteristics that are different from the electrolytes. The density difference creates natural buoyancy forces that drive the circulation of electrolytes through the pipelines and salt caverns, reducing or eliminating the need for high-power circulation pumps and thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining efficient reaction rates.
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 system achieves improved energy density by ensuring efficient oxidation and reduction reactions during discharge, meeting power requirements and enabling large-scale, cost-effective, and economical energy storage.
Implementation Method 1
a first pusher arranged in the first closed loop to push the positive electrolyte to flow cyclically in the first closed loop; and a second pusher arranged in the second closed loop to push the negative electrolyte to flow cyclically in the second closed loop
Implementation Method 2
the isolation medium includes one or more of nitrogen and oil... a density of the isolation medium is lower than that of the positive electrolyte and the negative electrolyte
Implementation Method 3
obtain a high-concentration oxidation product produced by the positive electrode of the stack and a high-concentration reduction product produced by the negative electrode of the stack
Implementation Method 4
obtain a high-concentration oxidation product produced by the positive electrode of the stack and a high-concentration reduction product produced by the negative electrode of the stack
Implementation Method 5
a salt cavern, including n positive salt caverns for storing a positive electrolyte with different valence states separately, and m negative salt caverns for storing a negative electrolyte with different valence states separately
Data Source
AI summary
A salt cavern flow battery system includes: stack; salt cavern, including n positive salt caverns for storing a positive electrolyte with different valence states separately, and m negative salt caverns for storing a negative electrolyte with different valence states separately; a first closed loop being formed by connecting the positive electrode of the stack and the n positive salt caverns in series through a pipeline; a second closed loop being formed by connecting the negative electrode of the stack and the m negative salt caverns in series through a pipeline; a first pusher being arranged in the first closed loop to push the positive electrolyte to flow cyclically in the first closed loop, a second pusher being arranged in the second closed loop to push the negative electrolyte to flow cyclically in the second closed loop.