公开(公告)号：US11715840B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-01

申请号：US17450970

申请日：2021-10-14

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

Inventor： Craig Evans ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/20 ,  H01M50/60 ,  H01M8/04186

CPC classification number: H01M8/188 ,  H01M8/04186 ,  H01M8/20 ,  H01M50/60 ,  Y02E60/50 ,  Y10T137/4757

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：US11688874B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-27

申请号：US17234462

申请日：2021-04-19

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Craig E. Evans

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M4/66 ,  H01M8/0202 ,  H01M50/46

CPC classification number: H01M8/188 ,  H01M4/663 ,  H01M8/0202 ,  H01M50/46

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for manufacturing a bipolar plate for a redox flow battery. In one example, the bipolar plate is fabricated by a roll-to-roll process. The bipolar plate includes a non-conductive substrate that is coupled to a negative electrode on a first surface and coupled to a positive electrode on a second surface, the first surface opposite of the second surface.

公开(公告)号：US20230137653A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-04

申请号：US17452931

申请日：2021-10-29

Applicant: ESS Tech, Inc.

Inventor： Eric Paul Dresselhuys

IPC: H02J3/00 ,  H02J3/28 ,  G06Q20/06

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing an energy storage system. In one example, a method may include directing energy stored in the energy storage system to a cryptocurrency mining system and another consumer responsive to conditions. Other consumers may include a third party consumer of energy and conditions may include current and predicted cryptocurrency values and current and predicted availability of cyclically available renewable energy.

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：US11233257B2

公开(公告)日：2022-01-25

申请号：US15965673

申请日：2018-04-27

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Evan Doremus

IPC: H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/04082 ,  H01M8/043 ,  H01M8/2455

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a redox flow battery system may include switching the redox flow battery system to an idle mode, wherein the idle mode includes operation of the redox flow battery system outside of a charging mode and outside of a discharge mode; in response to switching to the idle mode, repeatedly cycling operation of an electrolyte pump between an idling threshold flow rate less than a charging threshold flow rate and a deactivation threshold flow rate; and in response to switching to the charging mode, maintaining operation of the electrolyte pump at the charging threshold flow rate greater than the idling threshold flow rate. In this way, a responsiveness of the redox flow battery system to charging and discharging commands can be maintained while in idle, while reducing parasitic pumping losses due to pumping and heating, and reducing shunt current losses.

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：US20210242479A1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-05

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：US20210143455A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-13

申请号：US17081695

申请日：2020-10-27

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Yang Song ,  Craig E. Evans ,  Timothy J. McDonald ,  Kenneth Fisher ,  Sean Kissick

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

Abstract: A rebalancing reactor for a redox flow battery system may include a plurality of reactor vessels arranged in stages, each vessel of the plurality of reactor vessels housing a catalyst bed. In one example, the rebalancing reactor is fluidly coupled to an electrolyte storage tank and configured to flow electrolyte through the plurality of reactor vessels, enabling a chemical rebalancing of electrolyte in the redox flow battery cell.

公开(公告)号：US20210135269A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-06

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

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：US10230125B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-12

申请号：US14588225

申请日：2014-12-31

Applicant: ESS TECH, INC.

Inventor： Craig E. Evans ,  Yang Song

IPC: H01M8/18

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided which maintain the positive and negative electrolyte pH and stability of a redox flow battery through the use of electrochemical rebalancing cells. The electrochemical cells may be activated by applying an electrical load to affect changes to the pH of the electrolytes. The use of the electrochemical cells improves long term performance stability redox flow batteries by decreasing and/or eliminating Fe(OH)3 precipitation formation.