公开(公告)号：US20240243328A1

公开(公告)日：2024-07-18

申请号：US18409691

申请日：2024-01-10

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Joseph Brindle ,  Sean Kissick ,  Timothy J McDonald ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M16/00

CPC classification number: H01M8/188 ,  H01M16/006

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining electrolyte health of a redox flow battery system. The redox flow battery system comprising a redox flow battery cell having a positive electrode compartment and a negative electrolyte compartment, an electrolyte storage tank storing positive and negative electrolyte, the positive and negative electrolyte circulated between the electrolyte storage tank and respective positive and negative electrode compartments. The redox flow battery system further comprises a rebalancing battery including a positive electrode arranged in a flow path of the positive electrolyte and a negative electrode arranged in a flow path of the negative electrolyte.

公开(公告)号：US20240234760A9

公开(公告)日：2024-07-11

申请号：US18465841

申请日：2023-09-12

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Joseph Michael Cooley ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M8/04276 ,  F16K11/00 ,  H01M8/0289 ,  H01M8/043 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/18

CPC classification number: H01M8/04276 ,  F16K11/00 ,  H01M8/0289 ,  H01M8/043 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/188

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery system includes an electrolyte sump tank positioned below cell stacks of the redox flow battery system. The electrolyte sump tank may be configured to receive electrolyte from the cell stacks during operation of the redox flow battery system in a stand-by mode. The redox flow battery system may further include three-way valves arranged in a flow path of the electrolyte between the cell stacks and the electrolyte sump tank to control a flow of the electrolyte to the electrolyte sump tank.

公开(公告)号：US20240136551A1

公开(公告)日：2024-04-25

申请号：US18465841

申请日：2023-09-11

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Joseph Michael Cooley ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M8/04276 ,  F16K11/00 ,  H01M8/0289 ,  H01M8/043 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/18

CPC classification number: H01M8/04276 ,  F16K11/00 ,  H01M8/0289 ,  H01M8/043 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/188

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery system includes an electrolyte sump tank positioned below cell stacks of the redox flow battery system. The electrolyte sump tank may be configured to receive electrolyte from the cell stacks during operation of the redox flow battery system in a stand-by mode. The redox flow battery system may further include three-way valves arranged in a flow path of the electrolyte between the cell stacks and the electrolyte sump tank to control a flow of the electrolyte to the electrolyte sump tank.

公开(公告)号：US20240097159A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-21

申请号：US18471213

申请日：2023-09-20

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Kyle Maurice ,  Nathan Imholt

IPC: H01M8/04089 ,  F01D15/08 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/18

CPC classification number: H01M8/04089 ,  F01D15/08 ,  H01M8/04753 ,  H01M8/04776 ,  H01M8/188

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for pumping hydrogen within an electrochemical cell system. In one example, a liquid driven hydrogen pump includes an impeller positioned within a flow path of a gas, and a turbine coupled to the impeller by a shaft and positioned within a flow path of a liquid. A flow of the liquid is driven by a liquid pump based on operation of the electrochemical cell system and the flow of the liquid across the turbine drives rotation of the impeller and an increase in a flow of the gas.

公开(公告)号：US20240039026A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-01

申请号：US18480359

申请日：2023-10-03

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Thiago Groberg

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

CPC classification number: H01M8/188 ,  H01M8/2483 ,  H01M8/0438 ,  H01M8/1004

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：US11837759B2

公开(公告)日：2023-12-05

申请号：US17153766

申请日：2021-01-20

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

Inventor： Isaac Walker-Stern ,  Aaron Vanderzanden

IPC: H01M8/04186 ,  H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/04276 ,  H01M8/04955 ,  H01M8/04537

CPC classification number: H01M8/04186 ,  H01M8/04276 ,  H01M8/04574 ,  H01M8/04955 ,  H01M8/188

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an electric energy storage device are described. The systems and methods may reduce a voltage potential between a ground reference and terminals of an electric energy storage device. By lowering the voltage potential, a possibility of unintentionally discharging the electrical energy storage device to ground may be reduced.

公开(公告)号：US20230378505A1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-23

申请号：US18361626

申请日：2023-07-28

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

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

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

CPC classification number: H01M8/0693 ,  H01M8/188 ,  H01M8/0444 ,  H01M8/04753 ,  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：US20230378482A1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-23

申请号：US18363576

申请日：2023-08-01

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Yan Wu ,  Brady Thompson

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

CPC classification number: H01M8/0247 ,  H01M8/0228 ,  H01M8/188

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：US20230253583A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-10

申请号：US18301927

申请日：2023-04-17

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Timothy J. McDonald ,  Kenneth Fisher

IPC: H01M8/04276 ,  H01M8/04298 ,  H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/04119

CPC classification number: H01M8/04283 ,  H01M8/04298 ,  H01M8/188 ,  H01M8/04119

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, a method of operating a redox flow battery system includes, responsive to switching the redox flow battery system to an idle mode, initiating a first timer monitoring a first threshold period of time. An electrolyte pump may be activated when the first threshold period of time elapses, the electrolyte pump driving circulation of electrolytes through one or more electrode compartments.

公开(公告)号：US20230246218A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-03

申请号：US18162596

申请日：2023-01-31

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Neal Walters Kuperman ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M10/44

CPC classification number: H01M8/188 ,  H01M10/44 ,  H01M2004/029

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a redox flow battery. In one example, a method for the redox flow battery includes operating the redox flow battery in a short-term idle mode by discharging a current density as a pulse of a duration shorter than a duration of the short term idle mode. By discharging the current density, a plating surface at a negative electrode of the redox flow battery system may be maintained.