# US 10,483,567 B2 · Mechanical energy storage in flow batteries to enhance energy storage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,567 B2 - Document ID: US10483567B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/397,991 - Filed: 2017-01-04 - Published: 2018-07-05 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-04 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Ahmad D. Hammad; Stamatios Souentie; Issam T. Amr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483567B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04276: Arrangements for managing the electrolyte stream, e.g. heat exchange - H01M 8/02: Details (electrodes H01M4/86 - H01M4/98) - H01M 8/18: Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells - H01M 8/188: {by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries} - H01M 8/20: Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible (H01M8/18 takes precedence) - Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A hybrid flow redox battery system includes an electrochemical cell with an ion-exchange membrane, an anode, and a cathode, an anolyte tank, a catholyte tank, one or more tank separators, a plurality of electrolyte pathways, one or more turbines, and one or more power generation circuits. The anolyte tank includes a lower anolyte opening positioned below an upper anolyte opening. The catholyte tank includes a lower catholyte opening positioned below an upper catholyte opening. The electrolyte pathways extend between the upper and lower anolyte openings and the anode and the upper and lower catholyte openings and the cathode. The turbines are fluidly coupled to the electrolyte pathways. The tank separators are positioned within one or both of the anolyte tank and the catholyte tank and are translatable in a downward direction to induce electrolyte flow from the lower anolyte and catholyte openings, through the turbines to hydroelectrically generate power. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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, 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 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; and 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 1, wherein: the one or more tank separators comprise an anolyte tank separator positioned within the anolyte tank and a catholyte tank separator positioned within the catholyte tank; the anolyte tank separator is positioned within the anolyte tank such that the anolyte tank separator separates a charged anolyte active material from a discharged anolyte active material; and the catholyte tank separator is positioned within the catholyte tank such that the catholyte tank separator separates a charged catholyte active material from a discharged catholyte active material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 1, wherein the one or more tank separators each comprise a density of from 1 ton/m3 to 5 tons/m3 and a weight of from 1 ton to 400 tons. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 1, further comprising one or more valves fluidly coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrolyte pathways, wherein: each of the one or more valves are actuatable between an open position and a closed position; the open position allows electrolyte passage through the one or more valves; and the closed position prevents electrolyte passage through the one or more valves. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 1, wherein: the one or more turbines are electrically coupled to one or more turbine generators; and electrolyte flow from one or both of the lower anolyte opening and the lower catholyte opening through the one or more turbines rotates the one or more turbines to generate an electrical current that is receivable by the one or more turbine generators to hydroelectrically generate power. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrolyte pathways comprise: a lower anolyte pathway extending between and fluidly coupling the lower anolyte opening and the anode; an upper anolyte pathway extending between and fluidly coupling the upper anolyte opening and the anode; a lower catholyte pathway extending between and fluidly coupling the lower catholyte opening and the cathode; and an upper catholyte pathway extending between and fluidly coupled the upper catholyte opening and the cathode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 6, wherein: the lower anolyte opening comprises a first lower anolyte opening; the anolyte tank further comprises a second lower anolyte opening positioned below the upper anolyte opening and fluidly coupled to the lower anolyte pathway; the lower anolyte pathway comprises a primary branch extending between the first lower anolyte opening and the anode; the lower anolyte pathway comprises a secondary branch extending between the second lower anolyte opening and the primary branch of the lower anolyte pathway; and the one or more turbines comprise an anolyte side turbine fluidly coupled to the secondary branch of the lower anolyte pathway. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 7, further comprising: a first anolyte valve fluidly coupled to the primary branch of the lower anolyte pathway between the first lower anolyte opening and an anolyte pathway convergence location of the primary branch and the secondary branch of the lower anolyte pathway; a second anolyte valve fluidly coupled to the secondary branch between the second lower anolyte opening and the anolyte side turbine; and a third anolyte valve fluidly coupled to the secondary branch between the anolyte pathway convergence location and the anolyte side turbine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 8, wherein: each of the first, second, and third anolyte valves are actuatable between a closed position and an open position; when the first anolyte valve is in the open position and the second and third anolyte valves are each in the closed position, electrolyte flow through the anolyte side turbine is impeded and; when the first anolyte valve is in the closed position and the second and third anolyte valves are each in the open position, electrolyte flow through the anolyte side turbine is not impeded. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 6, wherein: the lower catholyte opening comprises a first lower catholyte opening; the catholyte tank further comprises a second lower catholyte opening positioned below the upper catholyte opening and fluidly coupled to the lower catholyte pathway; the lower catholyte pathway comprises a primary branch extending between the first lower catholyte opening and the cathode; the lower catholyte pathway comprises a secondary branch extending between the second lower catholyte opening and the primary branch; and the one or more turbines comprise a catholyte side turbine fluidly coupled to the secondary branch of the lower catholyte pathway. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 10, further comprising: a first catholyte valve fluidly coupled to the primary branch of the lower catholyte pathway between the first lower catholyte opening and a catholyte pathway convergence location of the primary branch and the secondary branch of the lower catholyte pathway; a second catholyte valve fluidly coupled to the secondary branch between the second lower catholyte opening and the catholyte side turbine; and a third catholyte valve fluidly coupled to the secondary branch between the catholyte pathway convergence location and the catholyte side turbine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 11, wherein: each of the first, second, and third catholyte valves are actuatable between a closed position and an open position; when the first catholyte valve is in the open position and the second and third catholyte valves are each in the closed position, electrolyte flow through the catholyte side turbine is impeded and; when the first catholyte valve is in the closed position and the second and third catholyte valves are each in the open position, electrolyte flow through the catholyte side turbine is not impeded. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 1, further comprising an anolyte solution wherein one or more active materials of the anolyte solution comprises vanadium, chromium, zinc, sulfur, neptunium, uranium, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 13, wherein the anode is electrochemically configured to: oxidize a charged anolyte active material of the anolyte solution such that the charged anolyte active material outputs an electron receivable by at least one of the one or more power generation circuits upon receiving both the charged anolyte active material and a proton from the ion-exchange membrane; and reduce a discharged anolyte active material of the anolyte solution such that the discharged anolyte active material outputs a proton receivable by the ion-exchange membrane upon receiving both the discharged anolyte active material and an electron from at least one of the one or more power generation circuits. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 1, further comprising a catholyte solution wherein one or more active materials of the catholyte solution comprises vanadium, bromine, cerium, chlorine, ferricyanide, ferrocyanide, manganese, neptunium oxide, uranium oxide, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 15, wherein the cathode is electrochemically configured to: reduce a charged catholyte active material such that the charged catholyte active material outputs a proton receivable by the ion-exchange membrane upon receiving both the charged catholyte active material and an electron from at least one of the one or more power generation circuits; and oxidize a discharged catholyte active material such that the discharged catholyte active material outputs an electron receivable by at least one of the one or more power generation circuits upon receiving both the discharged catholyte active material a proton from the ion-exchange membrane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 1, wherein the ion-exchange membrane comprises a solid state proton conducting material structurally configured to provide a proton pathway between the anode and the cathode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The hybrid flow redox battery system of claim 1, further comprising one or more pumps fluidly coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrolyte pathways, wherein: the one or more pumps are structurally configured to induce electrolyte flow from one or more one or both of the upper anolyte opening and the upper catholyte opening and translate the one or more tank separators in an upward direction; 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 the power consumed by the one or more pumps to translate the one or more tank separators in the upward direction from the lowered position to the raised position. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 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.