公开(公告)号：US20200006744A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-02

申请号：US16548500

申请日：2019-08-22

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Craig Evans ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M2/36 ,  H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/20 ,  H01M8/04186

Abstract: In one example, a system for a flow cell for a flow battery, comprising: a first flow field; and a polymeric frame, comprising: a top face; a bottom face, opposite the top face; a first side; a second side, opposite the first side; a first electrolyte inlet located on the top face and the first side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte outlet located on the top face and the second side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte inlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte inlet; and a first electrolyte outlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte outlet. In this way, shunt currents may be minimized by increasing the length and/or reducing the cross-sectional area of the electrolyte inlet and electrolyte outlet flow paths.

公开(公告)号：US10439197B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-08

申请号：US15476795

申请日：2017-03-31

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Craig Evans ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M2/36 ,  H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/20 ,  H01M8/04186

Abstract: In one example, a system for a flow cell for a flow battery, comprising: a first flow field; and a polymeric frame, comprising: a top face; a bottom face, opposite the top face; a first side; a second side, opposite the first side; a first electrolyte inlet located on the top face and the first side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte outlet located on the top face and the second side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte inlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte inlet; and a first electrolyte outlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte outlet. In this way, shunt currents may be minimized by increasing the length and/or reducing the cross-sectional area of the electrolyte inlet and electrolyte outlet flow paths.

公开(公告)号：US10403919B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-03

申请号：US15711879

申请日：2017-09-21

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Craig E. Evans ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M8/20 ,  H01M8/18

Abstract: An iron redox flow battery system, comprising a redox electrode, a plating electrolyte tank, a plating electrode, a redox electrolyte tank with additional acid additives that may be introduced into the electrolytes in response to electrolyte pH. The acid additives may act to suppress undesired chemical reactions that create losses within the battery and may be added in response to sensor indications of these reactions.

公开(公告)号：US10181615B2

公开(公告)日：2019-01-15

申请号：US15182543

申请日：2016-06-14

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Craig E. Evans

IPC: H01M8/02 ,  H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/20 ,  H01M8/06 ,  H01M8/00

Abstract: A method of rebalancing electrolytes in a redox flow battery system comprises directing hydrogen gas generated on the negative side of the redox flow battery system to a catalyst surface, and fluidly contacting the hydrogen gas with an electrolyte comprising a metal ion at the catalyst surface, wherein the metal ion is chemically reduced by the hydrogen gas at the catalyst surface, and a state of charge of the electrolyte and pH of the electrolyte remain substantially balanced.

公开(公告)号：US20180316036A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-01

申请号：US15965671

申请日：2018-04-27

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Kenneth Kiyoshi Fisher ,  Timothy McDonald

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/04276 ,  H01M8/04119 ,  H01M4/86 ,  H01M2/36

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for transporting and hydrating a redox flow battery system with a portable field hydration system. In one example, the redox flow battery system may be hydrated with the portable field hydration system in a dry state, in the absence of liquids. In this way, a redox flow battery system may be assembled and transported from a battery manufacturing facility to an end-use location off-site while the redox flow battery system is in the dry state, thereby reducing shipping costs, design complexities, as well as logistical and environmental concerns.

公开(公告)号：US20180309149A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-25

申请号：US16000724

申请日：2018-06-05

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Craig E. Evans

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/00 ,  H01M8/20 ,  H01M8/06

CPC classification number: H01M8/188 ,  H01M8/004 ,  H01M8/0693 ,  H01M8/20 ,  Y02E60/528

Abstract: A method of rebalancing electrolytes in a redox flow battery system comprises directing hydrogen gas generated on the negative side of the redox flow battery system to a catalyst surface, and fluidly contacting the hydrogen gas with an electrolyte comprising a metal ion at the catalyst surface, wherein the metal ion is chemically reduced by the hydrogen gas at the catalyst surface, and a state of charge of the electrolyte and pH of the electrolyte remain substantially balanced.

公开(公告)号：US20170179516A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-22

申请号：US15436593

申请日：2017-02-17

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Craig E. Evans ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/04791 ,  H01M8/04701 ,  H01M8/04186

Abstract: A method of operating an iron redox flow battery system may comprise fluidly coupling a plating electrode of an iron redox flow battery cell to a plating electrolyte; fluidly coupling a redox electrode of the iron redox flow battery cell to a redox electrolyte; fluidly coupling a ductile plating additive to one or both of the plating electrolyte and the redox electrolyte; and increasing an amount of the ductile plating additive to the plating electrolyte in response to an increase in the plating stress at the plating electrode. In this way, ductile Fe can be plated on the negative electrode, and the performance, reliability and efficiency of the iron redox flow battery can be maintained. In addition, iron can be more rapidly produced and plated at the plating electrode, thereby achieving a higher charging rate for all iron flow batteries.

公开(公告)号：US20240162722A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-16

申请号：US18504908

申请日：2023-11-08

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Craig Evans ,  Timothy J. McDonald

IPC: H02J7/00 ,  H01M8/04858 ,  H01M8/04992 ,  H01M8/18

CPC classification number: H02J7/0013 ,  H01M8/04895 ,  H01M8/04992 ,  H01M8/188 ,  H02J7/0068

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating a battery power module. In one example, the method may include constraining an electrical parameter of the battery power module to be constant among a plurality of battery stacks of the battery power module and determining current setpoints for each of the plurality of battery stacks of the battery power module based on an estimated overpotential of each of the plurality of battery stacks of the battery power module.

公开(公告)号：US11929534B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-12

申请号：US17070852

申请日：2020-10-14

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Craig E. Evans ,  Brady Thompson

IPC: H01M8/18

CPC classification number: H01M8/188

Abstract: A method for a redox flow battery may include, interrupting cycling of the redox flow battery, including charging the redox flow battery to a threshold charge condition, draining positive and negative electrolyte from the redox flow battery, circulating a wash solution through the redox flow battery, and returning the positive and negative electrolyte to the redox flow battery, and resuming cycling of the redox flow battery. In this way, contamination of the redox flow battery system can be reduced, thereby prolonging the life and increasing performance of the redox flow battery system.

公开(公告)号：US20240047707A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-08

申请号：US18486073

申请日：2023-10-12

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Craig E. Evans ,  Sean Casey ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M8/0258 ,  H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/0239 ,  H01M4/88 ,  H01M8/20 ,  H01M8/0245

CPC classification number: H01M8/0258 ,  H01M8/188 ,  H01M8/0239 ,  H01M4/8817 ,  H01M4/8803 ,  H01M8/20 ,  H01M4/8828 ,  H01M8/0245 ,  Y02E60/50

Abstract: A redox flow battery may include: a membrane interposed between a first electrode positioned at a first side of the membrane and a second electrode positioned at a second side of the membrane opposite to the first side; a first flow field plate comprising a plurality of positive flow field ribs, each of the plurality of positive flow field ribs contacting the first electrode at first supporting regions on the first side; and the second electrode, including an electrode spacer positioned between the membrane and a second flow field plate, the electrode spacer comprising a plurality of main ribs, each of the plurality of main ribs contacting the second flow field plate at second supporting regions on the second side, each of the second supporting regions aligned opposite to one of the plurality of first supporting regions. As such, a current density distribution at a plating surface may be reduced.