公开(公告)号：US11545688B2

公开(公告)日：2023-01-03

申请号：US17234509

申请日：2021-04-19

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：US20220231309A1

公开(公告)日：2022-07-21

申请号：US17653620

申请日：2022-03-04

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

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：US11374236B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-28

申请号：US15601560

申请日：2017-05-22

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

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：US20220149417A1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-12

申请号：US17645293

申请日：2021-12-20

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：US20220123344A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-21

申请号：US17456948

申请日：2021-11-30

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Kenneth Kiyoshi Fisher ,  Timothy McDonald

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/2455 ,  H01M8/0202 ,  H01M8/04007 ,  H01M8/04082 ,  H01M8/04089 ,  H01M8/0289 ,  H01M8/2484

Abstract: A multi-chambered electrolyte storage tank for a redox flow battery system, may include first and second electrolyte chambers, and a bulkhead, wherein the first and second electrolyte chambers are fluidly coupled to first and second sides of a redox flow battery cell, respectively, the first and second electrolyte chambers include first and second liquid electrolyte volumes, respectively, and the first and second liquid electrolyte volumes are separated by the bulkhead positioned therebetween. In this way, manufacturing and operational complexity of a redox flow battery system can be reduced.

公开(公告)号：US20210359328A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-18

申请号：US17308862

申请日：2021-05-05

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

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

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  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：US20210359327A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-18

申请号：US17308845

申请日：2021-05-05

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

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

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  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, the cell stack assembly includes a plurality of mated membrane frame plates and bipolar frame plates. For each pair of mated membrane and bipolar frame plates a negative shunt channel and a positive shunt channel are formed and the negative and positive shunt channels are in fluidic communication with a plurality of inlet and outlet distribution channels that are in fluidic communication with at least one bipolar plate.

公开(公告)号：US20210359326A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-18

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：US11043679B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-22

申请号：US14984416

申请日：2015-12-30

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Craig E. Evans ,  Yang Song ,  Jeffrey Chen

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

Abstract: An electrode for use in an all-iron redox flow battery is provided. In one example, the electrode may include a plastic mesh; and a coating on the plastic mesh. The coating may be a hydrophilic coating or a conductive coating and the electrode may have an electrode reaction potential is less than 0.8V. Further, a method of manufacturing a coated plastic mesh electrode for use in an all-iron redox flow battery is provided. In one example method, the steps include fabricating a plastic mesh, treating the plastic mesh by applying a solvent treatment or a plasma treatment or a mechanical abrasion treatment; coating the plastic mesh with a material selected from: carbon inks, metal oxides, and hydrophilic polymers.

公开(公告)号：US10923753B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-16

申请号：US16201974

申请日：2018-11-27

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Craig E. Evans

IPC: H01M4/02 ,  H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/20 ,  H01M8/00 ,  H01M8/06

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.