Redox Flow Battery System for Distributed Energy Storage

Abstract

A large stack redox flow battery system provides a solution to the energy storage challenge of many types of renewable energy systems. Independent reaction cells arranged in a cascade configuration are configured according to state of charge conditions expected in each cell. The large stack redox flow battery system can support multi-megawatt implementations suitable for use with power grid applications. Thermal integration with energy generating systems, such as fuel cell, wind and solar systems, further maximize total energy efficiency. The redox flow battery system can also be scaled down to smaller applications, such as a gravity feed system suitable for small and remote site applications.

1 . A redox flow battery energy storage system, comprising:
 a plurality of flow battery cells arranged along a reactant flow path, wherein each of the plurality of flow battery cells is configured according to an expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell.   
     
     
         2 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 1 , furthering comprising flow directing structures which are configured to optimize reactant flow in each of the plurality of flow battery cells according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         3 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 1 , furthering comprising heating structures which are configured to heat reactant according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         4 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flow battery cells comprises a first electrode configured according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         5 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 4 , wherein the first electrode of each of the plurality of flow battery cells is configured with a surface area according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         6 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 4 , wherein the first electrode of each of the plurality of flow battery cells is configured with a catalyst loading according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         7 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 4 , wherein the first electrode of each of the plurality of flow battery cells is configured with a catalyst activity according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         8 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flow battery cells further comprises a separator membrane configured according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         9 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 1 , wherein each cell is configured to have a mass transport rate according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         10 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 8 , wherein each separator membrane is configured with a selectivity according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         11 . A redox flow battery energy storage system, comprising:
 a plurality of flow battery cell arrays arranged along a reactant flow path in a cascade flow orientation, wherein each of the flow battery cells in each of the plurality of flow battery cell arrays is configured according to an expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell.   
     
     
         12 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 11 , furthering comprising flow directing structures which are configured to optimize reactant flow in each of the plurality of flow battery cells according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         13 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 11 , further comprising heating structures which are configured to heat the reactant according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         14 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of flow battery cells comprises a first electrode comprising a catalyst configured according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         15 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the first electrode of each of the plurality of flow battery cells is configured with a surface area according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         16 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the catalyst of each of the plurality of flow battery cells is configured with a catalyst loading according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         17 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the first electrode of each of the plurality of flow battery cells is configured with a catalyst activity according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         18 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of flow battery cells further comprises a separator membrane configured according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         19 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 11 , wherein each cell is configured to have a mass transport rate according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell. 
     
     
         20 . The redox flow battery energy storage system of  claim 18 , wherein each separator membrane is configured with a selectivity according to the expected state of charge of reactant in each flow battery cell.