# US 12,191,545 B2 · Redox flow cell

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- Number: US 12,191,545 B2
- Document ID: US12191545B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/434,608
- Filed: 2020-02-27
- Published: 2022-06-02
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-28
- Assignees: IP2Ipo Innovations Limited
- Applicants: IP2IPO Innovations Limited
- Inventors: Anthony Kucernak; Javier Rubio-Garcia
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191545B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/188: {by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries}
- H01M 8/06: Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues (regenerative fuel cells H01M8/18)
- H01M 8/0656: by electrochemical means (H01M8/065 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/0693: {Treatment of the electrolyte residue, e.g. reconcentrating}
- H01M 2300/0068: inorganic
- 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 method of operating a flow cell. The method comprises providing a flow cell suitable for generating electrical power from hydrogen and a metal electrolyte. Said flow cell comprises a precipitate of metal oxi and said metal oxide comprises vanadium or manganese. The method further comprises electrochemically generating a redox active precipitate removal species from a precursor species, wherein said redox active precipitate removal species is capable of converting said metal oxide. The method further comprises exposing said metal oxide to said redox active precipitate removal species to effect conversion of the metal oxide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating a flow cell, the method comprising:
providing a flow cell suitable for generating electrical power from hydrogen and a metal electrolyte, wherein said flow cell comprises a precipitate of metal oxide, and wherein said metal oxide comprises vanadium or manganese;
electrochemically generating a redox active precipitate removal species from a precursor species, wherein said redox active precipitate removal species is capable of converting said metal oxide; and
exposing said metal oxide to said redox active precipitate removal species to effect conversion of the metal oxide.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the precursor species comprises a metal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the precursor species comprises titanium.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said flow cell comprises a catholyte chamber for said metal electrolyte and wherein said electrochemically generating is conducted in said catholyte chamber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein:
said flow cell comprises a catholyte chamber for said metal electrolyte,
said electrochemically generating is conducted in an electrochemical cell separate from said catholyte chamber, and
said metal electrolyte is delivered into said separate electrochemical cell.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said electrochemically generating is conducted at or below a voltage sufficient to effect reduction of the precursor species.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said electrochemically generating is conducted at a voltage above about 0.0 V.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said electrochemically generating is conducted below a voltage at which oxidation of the precursor species occurs.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said electrochemically generating is conducted at a voltage up to about 0.5 V.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said electrochemically generating is conducted at a voltage up to about 0.1 V.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising supplying hydrogen during said electrochemically generating.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein said hydrogen is generated by water electrolysis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said flow cell comprises a catholyte chamber and wherein, prior to the step of electrochemically generating, said method comprises:
providing depleted metal electrolyte and redox active precipitate removal species to said catholyte chamber; and
charging the flow cell, thereby converting the depleted metal electrolyte into charged metal electrolyte and converting the redox active precipitate removal species into said precursor species.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the precursor species is Ti4+.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the redox active precipitate removal species is Ti3+.