Process for charging and discharging zinc/bromine batteries

A process for charging and discharging zinc/bromine batteries with a plurality of bipolar electrodes including a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a plurality of cathode spaces associated with the positive electrode and a plurality of anode spaces associated with the negative electrode, an anolyte reservoir associated with the negative electrode for supplying a circulating anolyte fluid, a cathodelyte reservoir associated with the positive electrode for supplying a circulating cathodelyte fluid, said process comprising:

• during a charging phase, precipitating out metallic zinc at the negative electrode;
• depositing at least one of atomic and molecular bromine onto the positive electrode;
• binding bromine from an aqueous phase in a poorly water soluble complex with a complex former,
• wherein the anode spaces and the cathode spaces communicate via diaphragms,
• during a charging and a discharging phase, circulating at least one of the fluid and fluid;
• separating, within the catholyte reservoir, an oleophilic cathotyte phase from a hydrophilic catholyte phase;
• and
• after supplying or removing electrical energy from the zinc-bromine battery, passing only the aqueous phase of the catholyte fluid through the cathode spaces and thereafter effecting a temporary interruption and intermittently circulating the aqueous phase through the cathode spaces,
• wherein the circulation of the aqueous phase is initiated as a function of temperature of the anolyte fluid in the anode space.