公开(公告)号：US10777913B2

公开(公告)日：2020-09-15

申请号：US15891277

申请日：2018-02-07

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC

Inventor： Craig E. Evans ,  Sean Casey

IPC: H01M10/04 ,  H01M2/20 ,  H01M8/0258 ,  H01M8/248 ,  H01M8/2485 ,  H01R4/48 ,  H01M8/18

Abstract: A leaf spring compression system comprising a mechanical assembly for securing a plurality of leaf springs on a battery cell stack of a flow battery system is disclosed. The cell stack may, comprise: a plurality of cells stacked together to form a flow battery; and a compression system comprising at least two tie rods extending through the plurality of cells clamping a spring acting at opposite ends to compress the cells together, the spring contacting at least two fulcrum elements positioned between the tie rods. In this way, the compression system may exert uniform loading on the battery cell stack, while minimizing deflection of pressure plates attached to the cell stack.

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.

公开(公告)号：US20230282862A1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-07

申请号：US18316977

申请日：2023-05-12

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

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

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/2455

CPC classification number: H01M8/188 ,  H01M8/2455

Abstract: A redox flow battery and battery system are provided. In one example, the redox flow battery includes a cell stack assembly interposed by two endplates and comprising a plurality of mated membrane frame plates and bipolar frame plates forming, at a mated interface, a plurality of negative and positive flow channels configured to distribute negative and positive electrolyte into a plurality of bipolar plates. In the battery a membrane is coupled to each of the plurality of membrane frame plates and positioned sequentially between two of the bipolar plates included in the plurality of bipolar plates.

公开(公告)号：US20230261238A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-17

申请号：US18296170

申请日：2023-04-05

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

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

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

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

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery system includes a cell stack compressed between terminal structures defining ends of the redox flow battery. The cell stack may be formed of a plurality of cells where each cell includes a deformable positive electrode in contact with a first face of a membrane separator and a negative electrode configured to be less compressible than the positive electrode and arranged at a second face of the membrane separator.

公开(公告)号：US20230253601A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-10

申请号：US18295213

申请日：2023-04-03

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：US20230253572A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-10

申请号：US18149910

申请日：2023-01-04

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

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

IPC: H01M4/88 ,  H01M4/86

CPC classification number: H01M4/8875 ,  H01M4/8668 ,  H01M4/8673 ,  H01M8/188 ,  H01M2004/8694

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a redox flow battery. In one example, the redox flow battery includes a bipolar plate assembly including a bipolar plate formed of a thermoplastic composite material. The thermoplastic composite material of the bipolar plate allows the bipolar plate to be directly bonded to a dielectric frame of the bipolar plate assembly, thereby simplifying a manufacturing process of the bipolar plate assembly.

公开(公告)号：US11502321B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-15

申请号：US17308843

申请日：2021-05-05

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

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

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/0438

Abstract: A redox flow battery and battery system are provided. In one example, the redox flow battery includes a set of pressure plates having a first pressure plate at a first terminal end and a second pressure plate at a second terminal end, the second terminal end and the first terminal end positioned on opposing longitudinal sides of the redox flow battery. The redox flow battery further includes a first cell stack positioned longitudinally between the first pressure plate and the second pressure plate, each of the first and second pressure plates includes a plurality stacking detents on a first flange and a plurality of stacking protrusions on a second flange, and the first flange and the second flange arranged on opposing vertical sides of the redox flow battery.

公开(公告)号：US20210359329A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-18

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 ,  H01M8/248 ,  H01M8/242 ,  H01M8/0247

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：US20250046849A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-06

申请号：US18922195

申请日：2024-10-21

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

Inventor： Sean Casey ,  Craig Evans

IPC: H01M8/248 ,  H01M8/18

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, the redox flow battery system has a first redox flow battery and a second redox flow battery, stacked above and in contact with the first redox flow battery along a vertical axis of the redox flow battery system. The second redox flow battery may be coupled to the first redox flow battery via nesting detents. Furthermore, operation of the first redox flow battery and the second redox flow battery may be adjustable according to a power demand.

公开(公告)号：US12095130B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-17

申请号：US17823932

申请日：2022-08-31

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Sean Casey

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M4/86 ,  H01M4/88

CPC classification number: H01M8/188 ,  H01M4/8631 ,  H01M4/8875 ,  H01M2004/8694

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.