US 8,778,552 B2Granted

Fuel system using redox flow battery

Assignee24M Technologies, Inc.

InventorsYet-Ming Chiang, Ricardo Bazzarella

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An automotive or other power system including a flow cell, in which the stack that provides power is readily isolated from the storage vessels holding the cathode slurry and anode slurry (alternatively called “fuel”) is described. A method of use is also provided, in which the “fuel” tanks are removable and are separately charged in a charging station, and the charged fuel, plus tanks, are placed back in the vehicle or other power system, allowing fast refueling. The technology also provides a charging system in which discharged fuel is charged. The charged fuel can be placed into storage tanks at the power source or returned to the vehicle. In some embodiments, the charged fuel in the storage tanks can be used at a later date. The charged fuel can be transported or stored for use in a different place or time.

Claims133

Dependent claims

A method of operating a portable device comprising a power system housed within the device, comprising:

providing:
(a) a plurality of secondary flow cells, each flow cell comprising:
a positive electrode current collector,
a negative electrode current collector,
an ion-permeable membrane separating said positive and negative current collectors;
wherein said positive electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane define a positive electroactive zone for accommodating a positive electroactive material;
wherein said negative electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane define a negative electroactive zone for accommodating a negative electroactive material;
wherein at least one of said positive and negative electroactive materials comprises a flowable redox composition in said electroactive zone;
and
wherein
the flowable redox composition comprises a redox-active solid which is capable of taking up or releasing a working ion of the cell and which remains a solid in all of its oxidation states;
or
the flowable redox composition comprises a redox-active condensed liquid which is capable of taking up or releasing a working ion of the cell and which remains a condensed liquid in all of its oxidation states;
(b) at least one dispensing vessel for dispensing a flowable redox composition into one of the positive or negative electroactive zone;
wherein said dispensing vessel is connected with said plurality of flow cells and in fluidic communication with said electroactive zone and the dispensing vessel is capable of being connected and disconnected from said flow cell;
and
(c) at least one receiving vessel for receiving flowable redox composition from one of the positive or negative electroactive zone, wherein said receiving vessel is connected with said flow cell and in fluidic communication with said electroactive zone and the receiving vessel is capable of being connected and disconnected from said flow cell;
and
introducing said flowable redox composition from said dispensing vessel into at least one of the electroactive zones to cause the flow cell to discharge to provide electric energy to operate the device;
and
receiving the discharged redox composition in the receiving vessel.

18 more elements

A method of operating a stationary device comprising a power system housed within the device, comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of secondary flow cells, each flow cell comprising:
a positive electrode current collector,
a negative electrode current collector,
an ion-permeable membrane separating said positive and negative current collectors;
wherein said positive electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane define a positive electroactive zone for accommodating a positive electroactive material;
wherein said negative electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane define a negative electroactive zone for accommodating a negative electroactive material;
wherein at least one of said positive and negative electroactive materials comprises a flowable redox composition in said electroactive zone;
and
wherein
the flowable redox composition comprises a redox-active solid which is capable of taking up or releasing a working ion of the cell and which remains a solid in all of its oxidation states;
or
the flowable redox composition comprises a redox-active condensed liquid which is capable of taking up or releasing a working ion of the cell and which remains a condensed liquid in all of its oxidation states;
(b) at least one dispensing vessel for dispensing a flowable redox composition into one of the positive or negative electroactive zone;
wherein said dispensing vessel is connected with said plurality of flow cells and in fluidic communication with said electroactive zone and the vessel is capable of being connected and disconnected from said flow cell;
and
(c) at least one receiving vessel for receiving flowable redox composition from one of the positive or negative electroactive zone, wherein said receiving vessel is connected with said flow cell and in fluidic communication with said electroactive zone and the vessel is capable of being connected and disconnected from said flow cell;
introducing said flowable redox composition from said dispensing vessel into at least one of the electroactive zones to cause the flow cell to discharge to provide electric energy to operate the device;
and
receiving the discharged redox composition in the receiving vessel.

16 more elements

A vehicle comprising a power system housed within the vehicle, wherein said power system comprising:

(a) a plurality of secondary flow cells, each flow cell comprising:
a positive electrode current collector,
a negative electrode current collector,
an ion-permeable membrane separating said positive and negative current collectors;
wherein said positive electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane define a positive electroactive zone for accommodating a positive electroactive material;
wherein said negative electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane define a negative electroactive zone for accommodating a negative electroactive material;
wherein at least one of said positive and negative electroactive materials comprises a flowable redox composition in said electroactive zone;
and
wherein
the flowable redox composition comprises a redox-active solid which is capable of taking up or releasing a working ion of the cell and which remains a solid in all of its oxidation states;
or
the flowable redox composition comprises a redox-active condensed liquid which is capable of taking up or releasing a working ion of the cell and which remains a condensed liquid in all of its oxidation states;
(b) at least one dispensing vessel for dispensing a flowable redox composition into one of the positive or negative electroactive zone;
wherein said dispensing vessel is connected with said plurality of flow cells and in fluidic communication with said electroactive zone and the vessel is capable of being connected and disconnected from said flow cell;
and
(c) at least one receiving vessel for receiving flowable redox composition from one of the positive or negative electroactive zone, wherein said receiving vessel is connected with said flow cell and in fluidic communication with said electroactive zone and the vessel is capable of being connected and disconnected from said flow cell;
wherein said dispensing vessel and are located to provide access for removal and replacing.

14 more elements

A power system, comprising:

(a) a plurality of secondary flow cells, each flow cell comprising:
a positive electrode current collector,
a negative electrode current collector,
an ion-permeable membrane separating said positive and negative current collectors;
wherein said positive electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane define a positive electroactive zone for accommodating said positive electrode;
wherein said negative electrode current collector and said ion-permeable membrane define a negative electroactive zone for accommodating said negative electrode;
wherein at least one of said positive and negative electrode comprises a flowable redox composition in said electroactive zone;
and
wherein
the flowable redox composition comprises a redox-active solid which is capable of taking up or releasing a working ion of the cell and which remains a solid in all of its oxidation states;
or
the flowable redox composition comprises a redox-active condensed liquid which is capable of taking up or releasing a working ion of the cell and which remains a condensed liquid in all of its oxidation states;
(b) at least one dispensing storage vessel for dispensing said flowable semi-solid or condensed liquid ion-storing redox composition into one of the positive or negative electroactive zone;
wherein said dispensing storage vessel is connected with said plurality of flow cells and in fluidic communication with said electroactive zone and the dispensing vessel is capable of being connected and disconnected from said flow cell;
and
(c) at least one receiving storage vessel for receiving flowable redox composition from one of the positive or negative electroactive zone, wherein said receiving vessel is connected with said flow cell and in fluidic communication with said electroactive zone and the receiving vessel is capable of being connected and disconnected from said flow cell.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/755,379Filed 6 Apr 2010 · us provisional application
Priority: 6 Apr 2009
Published: US 2010/0323264 A123 Dec 2010
Granted: 15 Jul 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification33 codes

H01M 8/188
Regeneration by electrochemical means: by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries
B60L 50/64
Using power supplied by batteries: constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
B60L 53/14
Characterised by the energy transfer between the charging station and the vehicle: conductive energy transfer
B60L 53/80
Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of…:…