公开(公告)号：US11670792B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-06

申请号：US17308873

申请日：2021-05-05

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

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

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/0247 ,  H01M8/242 ,  H01M8/248

CPC classification number: H01M8/188 ,  H01M8/0247 ,  H01M8/242 ,  H01M8/248

Abstract: A redox flow battery and battery system are provided. In one example, the redox flow battery includes a cell stack assembly having a plate assembly positioned on a lateral side of the cell stack assembly and comprising an elastic flange including a recess mated with a section of a conductive plate and compliant in at least one of a lateral direction and a vertical direction, and a plate frame coupled to the elastic flange.

公开(公告)号：US20230073599A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-09

申请号：US17823932

申请日：2022-08-31

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Sean Casey

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M4/86 ,  H01M4/88

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for mechanical pretreatment of bipolar plates, for example, for plating electrodes in redox flow batteries. In one example, a method for disrupting surfaces of a bipolar plate may include pressing the bipolar plate between imprint plates, and removing the pressed bipolar plate from the imprint plates prior to use in a redox flow battery. In some examples, the pressed bipolar plate may include negative indentations from at least one of the imprint plates. In some examples, the imprint plates may be patterned meshes, such that the negative indentations may include patterns of asymmetric protrusions. In this way, the bipolar plate may be pretreated via pressing so as to reduce wear to manufacturing equipment (relative to other mechanical pretreatment processes, for example) while maintaining electrochemical performance of the redox flow battery.

公开(公告)号：US20230064696A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-02

申请号：US18049987

申请日：2022-10-26

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Craig E. Evans

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/04186 ,  G06V40/13 ,  G06V40/12 ,  H01M8/04537 ,  H01M8/04858 ,  H01M8/06

Abstract: A method of cleansing a redox flow battery system may include operating the redox flow battery system in a charge, discharge, or idle mode, and responsive to a redox flow battery capacity being less than a threshold battery capacity, mixing the positive electrolyte with the negative electrolyte. In this way, battery capacity degradation following cyclic charging and discharging of the redox flow battery system can be substantially reduced.

公开(公告)号：US20230062739A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-02

申请号：US17816316

申请日：2022-07-29

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Craig Evans

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/2465 ,  H01M8/1016 ,  H01M8/0438

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for electrolyte distribution, rebalancing, and storage in a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery system may include a plurality of redox flow battery cells and a plurality of storage tanks respectively fluidically coupled thereto, wherein a gauge pressure in each of the plurality of storage tanks may be maintained below a relatively low pressure (for example, below 2 psi). In some examples, the redox flow battery system may further include a plurality of rebalancing cells respectively fluidically coupled to the plurality of storage tanks, each of the plurality of rebalancing cells including a stack of internally shorted electrode assemblies. In this way, the redox flow battery system may be operated at less than the relatively low pressure, such that multiple space effective (for example, prismatic and relatively small) storage tanks may be included.

公开(公告)号：US11594750B2

公开(公告)日：2023-02-28

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 ,  H01M8/04225 ,  H01M50/60

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：US20220367898A1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-17

申请号：US17655492

申请日：2022-03-18

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

Inventor： Thiago Groberg

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/1004 ,  H01M8/0438 ,  H01M8/2483

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assembling and operating an electrode assembly for a redox flow battery system. In one example, the electrode assembly may include an inflatable housing in which a negative electrode spacer and a positive electrode may be positioned, wherein the inflatable housing may inflate responsive to applied internal pressure during operation of the redox flow battery system. In some examples, the electrode assembly may be assembled via roll-to-roll processing and may be mechanically and fluidically coupled to electrode assemblies of like configuration. In this way, tolerance stacking may be decreased, processing may be simplified, and costs may be reduced relative to molding-based processes for electrode assembly manufacturing.

公开(公告)号：US20220278340A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-01

申请号：US17650513

申请日：2022-02-09

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Yan Wu ,  Brady Thompson

IPC: H01M8/0247 ,  H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/0228

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for electrochemical and/or chemical pretreatment of bipolar plates, for example, for plating electrodes in redox flow batteries. In one example, a method may include pretreating a bipolar plate for the redox flow battery by disrupting a surface of the bipolar plate. In some examples, pretreating the bipolar plate may include positioning the bipolar plate within the redox flow battery, and thereafter charging the redox flow battery at multiple discrete plating current densities for each of one or more initial charging cycles to electrochemically etch the surface. In additional or alternative examples, pretreating the bipolar plate may include soaking the bipolar plate in solution to chemically treat the surface. In this way, the bipolar plate may be pretreated via electrochemical etching and/or chemical treatment so as to reduce electrochemical performance losses and dendrite formation in the redox flow battery.

公开(公告)号：US20220123339A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-21

申请号：US17453993

申请日：2021-11-08

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Timothy J. McDonald ,  Alexandria Behr

IPC: H01M8/06 ,  H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/0444 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/04186

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a rebalancing reactor of a flow battery system. In one example, a pH of a battery electrolyte may be maintained by the rebalancing reactor by applying a negative potential to a catalyst bed of the rebalancing reactor. A performance of the rebalancing reactor may further be maintained by treating the catalyst bed with deionized water.

公开(公告)号：US11296347B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-05

申请号：US15965722

申请日：2018-04-27

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Craig E. Evans

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  G06K9/00 ,  H01M8/04537 ,  H01M8/04858 ,  H01M8/06 ,  H01M8/04186

Abstract: A method of cleansing a redox flow battery system may include operating the redox flow battery system in a charge, discharge, or idle mode, and responsive to a redox flow battery capacity being less than a threshold battery capacity, mixing the positive electrolyte with the negative electrolyte. In this way, battery capacity degradation following cyclic charging and discharging of the redox flow battery system can be substantially reduced.

公开(公告)号：US20220037751A1

公开(公告)日：2022-02-03

申请号：US17450970

申请日：2021-10-14

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

Inventor： Craig Evans ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M50/60 ,  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.