Mechanical energy storage in flow batteries to enhance energy storage

A hybrid flow redox battery system comprising an electrochemical cell, an anolyte tank, a catholyte tank, one or more tank separators, a plurality of electrolyte pathways, one or more turbines, one or more pumps, and one or more power generation circuits, wherein:

• the electrochemical cell comprises an ion-exchange membrane positioned between and electrochemically engaged with an anode and a cathode;
• at least one of the one or more power generation circuits is electrically coupled to the anode and the cathode;
• the anolyte tank includes an upper anolyte opening and a lower anolyte opening positioned below the upper anolyte opening;
• the catholyte tank includes an upper catholyte opening and a lower catholyte opening positioned below the upper catholyte opening;
• one or more of the plurality of electrolyte pathways extend between the upper anolyte opening and the anode and extend between the lower anolyte opening and the anode to fluidly couple the anolyte tank to the anode;
• one or more of the plurality of electrolyte pathways extend between the upper catholyte opening and the cathode and extend between the lower catholyte opening and the cathode to fluidly couple the catholyte tank to the cathode;
• the one or more pumps are fluidly coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrolyte pathways;
• the one or more turbines are fluidly coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrolyte pathways;
• the one or more tank separators are positioned within one or both of the anolyte tank and the catholyte tank;
• the one or more tank separators are translatable in a downward direction to induce electrolyte flow from one or both of the lower anolyte opening and the lower catholyte opening through the one or more turbines, rotating the one or more turbines to hydroelectrically generate power;
• and
• the power generated hydroelectrically by electrolyte flow through the one or more turbines when the one or more tank separators translate from a raised position to a lowered position in the downward direction is greater than or equal to 50% of the power consumed by the one or more pumps to translate the one or more tank separators in an upward direction from the lowered position to the raised position.

A hybrid flow redox battery system comprising an electrochemical cell, an anolyte tank, a catholyte tank, one or more tank separators, a plurality of electrolyte pathways, one or more turbines, one or more valves, and one or more power generation circuits, wherein:

• the electrochemical cell comprises an ion-exchange membrane positioned between and electrochemically engaged with an anode and a cathode;
• at least one of the one or more power generation circuits is electrically coupled to the anode and the cathode;
• the anolyte tank includes an upper anolyte opening and a lower anolyte opening positioned below the upper anolyte opening;
• the catholyte tank includes an upper catholyte opening and a lower catholyte opening positioned below the upper catholyte opening;
• one or more of the plurality of electrolyte pathways extend between the upper anolyte opening and the anode and extend between the lower anolyte opening and the anode to fluidly couple the anolyte tank to the anode;
• one or more of the plurality of electrolyte pathways extend between the upper catholyte opening and the cathode and extend between the lower catholyte opening and the cathode to fluidly couple the catholyte tank to the cathode;
• the one or more valves are fluidly coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrolyte pathways;
• the one or more turbines are fluidly coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrolyte pathways;
• the one or more tank separators are positioned within one or both of the anolyte tank and the catholyte tank;
• the one or more tank separators are translatable in a downward direction to induce electrolyte flow from one or both of the lower anolyte opening and the lower catholyte opening through the one or more turbines to hydroelectrically generate power;
• when electrolyte flows from the electrochemical cell to at least one of the lower anolyte opening and the lower catholyte opening the one or more valves prevent electrolyte passage through at least one of the one or more turbines;
• and
• when electrolyte flows from at least one of the lower anolyte opening and the lower catholyte opening to the electrochemical cell, the one or more valves allow electrolyte passage through at least one of the one or more turbines.