# US 12,191,546 B2 · Pressure-compensated flow battery for submerged use

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- Number: US 12,191,546 B2
- Document ID: US12191546B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/483,503
- Filed: 2021-09-23
- Published: 2023-03-23
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2021-09-23
- Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
- Applicants: United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
- Inventors: Dwane F. Sample; Carl E. Lostrom
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191546B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/188: {by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries}
- H01M 8/04276: Arrangements for managing the electrolyte stream, e.g. heat exchange
- H01M 8/0273: with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
- 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 flow battery comprising: a first tank having a variable internal volume and containing a first ionic solution having a first oxidation state, and wherein the first tank is substantially evacuated of any gas; a second tank having a variable internal volume and containing a second ionic solution having a second oxidation state that is different from the first oxidation state, and wherein the second tank is substantially evacuated of any gas; a reaction chamber operatively coupled with the first and second tanks such that the first ionic solution within the reaction chamber is separated from the second ionic solution by an ion exchange membrane; a first pump configured to pump the first ionic solution through the reaction chamber; and a second pump configured to pump the second ionic solution through the reaction chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A subsea flow battery comprising:
first and second collapsible tanks configured to be positioned on a seafloor and directly exposed to ambient seawater and to contain an ionic salt solution, wherein an oxidation state of the ionic salt solution differs between the first and second collapsible tanks, wherein each collapsible tank further comprises a rigid or semi-rigid cylindrical storage reservoir;
first and second compressible, flexible hoses, each of the first and second hoses wrapped in a coil around each of the respective storage reservoirs and having opposed hose ends in fluid communication through opposite ends of the respective storage reservoir, wherein each of the first and second compressible, flexible hoses is long enough and compressible enough such that a pressure of the ionic salt solution in each of the first and second collapsible tanks is equal to an ambient pressure surrounding the subsea flow battery due to compression of the first and the second compressible, flexible hoses;
a reaction chamber in fluid communication with the first and second collapsible tanks via the respective first and second compressible, flexible hoses, wherein the ionic salt solution from the first collapsible tank is separated from the ionic salt solution from the second collapsible tank within the reaction chamber by an ion exchange membrane; and
first and second pumps configured to respectively pump the ionic salt solution through the reaction chamber from, and then back into, the respective storage reservoirs of the first and second collapsible tanks via the first and second compressible, flexible hoses.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The subsea flow battery of claim 1, wherein the respective reservoirs each comprise a plastic that is chemically resistant to seawater and to the first and the second ionic salt solutions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The subsea flow battery of claim 1, wherein the first and the second compressible, flexible hoses are made of polymer tubing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The subsea flow battery of claim 1, wherein the reaction chamber comprises an inner tube and an outer coaxial tube, wherein the inner tube is disposed coaxially within the outer tube.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The subsea flow battery of claim 4, wherein sections of a tube wall of the inner tube are made of the ion exchange membrane.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The subsea flow battery of claim 4, wherein the inner tube is entirely made of the ion exchange membrane.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The flow battery of claim 4, wherein the inner tube comprises a rigid frame supporting a plurality of panels of the ion exchange membrane such that the panels form walls of the inner tube.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The flow battery of claim 7, wherein the panels are flat such that the inner tube has a polygonal cross-section.