Patent Application
20190221863
The present invention relates to a bipolar plate, a cell frame, a cell stack, and a redox flow battery.
PTLs 1 and 2 describe a cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of cell frames, a plurality of positive electrodes, a plurality of membranes, and a plurality of negative electrodes. PTLs 1 and 2 also describe a redox flow battery that uses the cell stack. The cell frames include bipolar plates and frame bodies. The bipolar plates are disposed between the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes. The frame bodies are each provided at an outer periphery of a bipolar plate. In the cell stack, a single cell is formed by a positive electrode and a negative electrode disposed between bipolar plates of cell frames adjacent to each other such that a membrane is interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The redox flow battery is charged and discharged by circulating electrolytes in the cell where the electrodes are disposed.
PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-246061
PTL 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-228622
A bipolar plate according to the present disclosure is
a bipolar plate in which an electrode of a redox flow battery is disposed.
In a section perpendicular to a flat surface of the bipolar plate, a radius of curvature of a corner portion of an outer peripheral portion is from 0.1 to 4.0 mm.
A cell frame according to the present disclosure includes the bipolar plate according to the present disclosure and a frame body provided at an outer periphery of the bipolar plate.
A cell stack according to the present disclosure includes the cell frame according to the present disclosure.
A redox flow battery according to the present disclosure includes the cell stack according to the present disclosure.
Nowadays, there exists a need for further improvement of reliability and performance of the redox flow battery, which becomes a focus of attention as one of secondary batteries that stabilize output of renewable energy such as photovoltaic power and wind power.
Typically, the cell frames in each of which the frame body is provided around the bipolar plate are used for the redox flow battery. The cell frames are each structured by, for example, disposing the bipolar plate in an opening formed in the frame body, and a recess is formed in the frame body where the bipolar plate is provided. This opening (recess) typically has a shape corresponding to the bipolar plate. Electrodes are disposed in this recess, and a cell is structured by a space surrounded by the recess and a membrane. When the electrolytes flow through the cell, the electrolytes flow from one edge portion of the bipolar plate (electrode) toward the other edge portion of the bipolar plate facing the one edge portion in the cell.
When the cell frame is structured by disposing the bipolar plate in the opening of the frame body, an outer peripheral surface of an outer peripheral portion of the bipolar plate is disposed so as to be in contact with (in the proximity of) an inner peripheral surface of the frame body. When the electrolytes are caused to flow during operation of the redox flow battery, the bipolar plate may vibrate, and due to friction caused by this vibration, frictional heat may be generated at a contact surface of the bipolar plate with the frame body. Furthermore, due to the effect of the frictional heat at the contact surface of the bipolar plate with the frame body, breakage of the membrane and other problems can occur. Accordingly, from the viewpoint of reliability, it is desired that generation of frictional heat at the contact surface of the outer peripheral surface of the bipolar plate with the inner peripheral surface of the frame body caused by vibration of the bipolar plate be decreased so as to suppress damage to the membrane.
Thus, in order to prevent the outer peripheral surface of the bipolar plate from being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the frame body for decreasing generation of frictional heat caused by vibration of the bipolar plate, it is thought that a gap is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the bipolar plate and the inner peripheral surface of the frame body. However, when the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the bipolar plate and the inner peripheral surface of the frame body is provided, parts of the electrolytes flow into this gap and a leakage channel of the electrolytes is formed. The electrolytes having flowed into the leakage channel are unlikely to be brought into contact with the electrodes, and accordingly, do not contribute to cell reaction. When the gap formed between the outer peripheral surface of the bipolar plate and the inner peripheral surface of the frame body is increased, a flow amount of the electrolytes flowing through the leakage channel increases. Thus, degradation of battery performance such as a decrease in the discharge capacity of the redox flow battery may occur. Furthermore, when flowing of the electrolytes is stopped during a standby of the redox flow battery, the charged electrolytes remain in the leakage channel, thereby the electrolytes generate heat due to self discharge. As the flow amount of the electrolytes flowing through the leakage channel increases, a heat value of the electrolytes due to self discharge increases. Thus, due to the effect of this heat, breakage of the membrane and other problems may occur.
Accordingly, one of objects of the present disclosure is to provide a bipolar plate, a cell frame, and a cell stack with which reliability and performance of a redox flow battery can be improved. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a redox flow battery that is highly reliable and that exhibits good battery performance.
According to the present disclosure, the bipolar plate, the cell frame, and the cell stack with which reliability and performance of the redox flow battery can be improved can be provided. Also, according to the present disclosure, the redox flow battery that is highly reliable and that exhibits good battery performance can be provided.
First, content items of an embodiment according to the present invention are listed and described.
(1) A bipolar plate according to the embodiment is
a bipolar plate in which an electrode of a redox flow battery is disposed.
In a section perpendicular to a flat surface of the bipolar plate, a radius of curvature of a corner portion of an outer peripheral portion is from 0.1 to 4.0 mm.
In the above-described bipolar plate, in the section (perpendicular section) perpendicular to the flat surface of the bipolar plate, the radius of curvature (corner R) of the corner portion of the outer peripheral portion is 0.1 mm or larger. Thus, when the cell frame is structured, the area of the outer peripheral surface of the bipolar plate in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the frame body is decreased, and accordingly, the contact area of the outer peripheral surface of the bipolar plate with the inner peripheral surface of the frame body is decreased. Thus, generation of frictional heat at the contact surface of the outer peripheral surface of the bipolar plate with the inner peripheral surface of the frame body caused by vibration of the bipolar plate can be decreased, and accordingly, damage to the membrane due to this heat can be suppressed.
In the above-described bipolar plate, the corner portion of the outer peripheral portion of the bipolar plate has a round shape in the perpendicular section. Thus, a gap is formed at the position of the corner portion between the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral surface of the frame body. When the corner R of the outer peripheral portion is 4.0 mm or smaller in sectional view of the bipolar plate, the gap formed between the outer peripheral surface of the bipolar plate and the inner peripheral surface of the frame body can be decreased, and accordingly, an enlargement of the leakage channel can be suppressed. Thus, the flow amount of the electrolytes flowing through the leakage channel is small, and accordingly, a decrease in discharge capacity of the redox flow battery can be suppressed. In addition, since the flow amount of the electrolytes flowing through the leakage channel is small, the heat value due to self discharge of the electrolytes remaining in the leakage channel when the circulation of the electrolytes is stopped is small. Accordingly, damage to the membrane due to this heat can be suppressed. Thus, with the above-described bipolar plate, reliability and performance of the redox flow battery can be improved.
(2) A cell frame according to the embodiment includes the bipolar plate according to (1) described above and a frame body provided at an outer periphery of the bipolar plate.
The above-described cell frame includes the above-described bipolar plate according to the embodiment. Thus, reliability and performance of the redox flow battery can be improved.
(3) A cell stack according to the embodiment includes the cell frame according to (2) described above.
The above-described cell stack includes the above-described cell frame according to the embodiment. Thus, reliability and performance of the redox flow battery can be improved.
(4) A redox flow battery according to the embodiment includes the cell stack according to (3) described above.
The above-described redox flow battery that includes the above-described cell stack is highly reliable and exhibits good battery performance.
Specific examples of a bipolar plate, a cell frame, a cell stack, and a redox flow battery according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference signs denote like or corresponding elements. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples. The scope of the present invention is indicated by Claims and is intended to embrace all the modifications within the meaning and range of equivalency of the Claims.
Referring to
The RF battery 1 includes the cells 100 each of which is separated into a positive electrode cell 102 and a negative electrode cell 103 by a membrane 101. The membrane 101 allows hydrogen ions to permeate therethrough. The positive electrode cells 102, in each of which a positive electrode 104 is disposed, are connected through pipes 108 and 110 to a positive electrolyte tank 106 that stores the positive electrolyte. The pipe 108 is provided with a pump 112 that pumps the positive electrolyte to the positive electrode cells 102. These members 106, 108, 110, and 112 are included in a positive electrode circulation mechanism 100P that causes the positive electrolyte to circulate. Likewise, the negative electrode cells 103, in each of which a negative electrode 105 is disposed, are connected through pipes 109 and 111 to a negative electrolyte tank 107 that stores the negative electrolyte. The pipe 109 is provided with a pump 113 that pumps the negative electrolyte to the negative electrode cells 103. These members 107, 109, 111, and 113 are included in a negative electrode circulation mechanism 100N that causes the negative electrolyte to circulate. The electrolytes stored in the tanks 106 and 107 are circulated in the cells 100 (the positive electrode cells 102 and the negative electrode cells 103) by the pumps 112 and 113 when the RF battery 1 is charged and discharged. During a standby in which the RF battery 1 is neither charged nor discharged, the pumps 112 and 113 are stopped, and circulation is not performed.
The cells 100 are typically formed in a structure referred to as a cell stack 2 illustrated in
As illustrated in
The bipolar plate 31 is formed of, for example, plastic carbon or the like. The frame body 32 is formed of, for example, plastic such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyethylene, fluororesin, or epoxy resin. The bipolar plate 31 can be formed by any of known methods such as, for example, injection molding, press molding, and vacuum forming.
The electrolytes flow into and from the cells 100 through the supply/discharge plates 210 (see the lower view in
In the present example, the electrolytes are supplied from the lower side of the bipolar plate 31 and discharged from the upper side of the bipolar plate 31. The electrolytes flow from a lower edge portion to an upper edge portion of the bipolar plate 31. In
Furthermore, annular sealing members 37 (see
One of characteristics of each of the bipolar plates 31 according to the embodiment is that, in a section (perpendicular section) perpendicular to a flat surface of the bipolar plate 31, the radius of curvature (corner R) of corner portions of outer peripheral portion is from 0.1 to 4.0 mm. Hereafter, referring to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
When the cell frame 3 is structured by disposing the bipolar plate 31 in the opening 50 of the frame body 32, as illustrated in
When the cell frame 3 (see
The bipolar plate 31 according to the embodiment produces the following operational effects.
The corner portions 40 of the outer peripheral portion 31p of the bipolar plate 31 in the perpendicular section have round shapes, and the corners R of the outer peripheral portion 31p are 0.1 mm or larger in the perpendicular section. This can decrease, when the cell frame 3 is structured, the contact area of the outer peripheral surface 31o of the bipolar plate 31 with the inner peripheral surface 32i of the frame body 32. Thus, generation of frictional heat at a contact surface of the outer peripheral surface 310 of the bipolar plate 31 with the inner peripheral surface 32i of the frame body 32 caused by vibration of the bipolar plate 31 can be decreased, and accordingly, damage to the membrane 101 due to this heat can be suppressed. As the contact area of the outer peripheral surface 31o of the bipolar plate 31 with the inner peripheral surface 32i of the frame body 32 is decreased, generation of the heat caused by vibration of the bipolar plate 31 can be decreased. Accordingly, it is preferable that the above-described corners R be, for example, 0.2 mm or larger. The ratio of the corners R to the thickness of the bipolar plate 31 (corners R/thickness of the bipolar plate 31) can be, for example, 0.01 or larger, and further, 0.1 or larger.
Furthermore, when the corners R of the outer peripheral portion 31p are 4.0 mm or smaller, the gaps 45 formed between the outer peripheral surface 31o of the bipolar plate 31 and the inner peripheral surface 32i of the frame body 32 can be decreased, and accordingly, an enlargement of the leakage channels can be suppressed. Thus, a flow amount of the electrolytes flowing through the leakage channels is small, and accordingly, a decrease in discharge capacity of the RF battery can be suppressed. In addition, since the flow amount of the electrolytes flowing through the leakage channels is small, a heat value due to self discharge of the electrolytes remaining in the leakage channels when the circulation of the electrolytes is stopped is small. Accordingly, damage to the membrane due to this heat can be suppressed. As the gaps 45 at the corners R of the outer peripheral portion 31p decrease, the flow amount of the electrolytes flowing through the leakage channels can be decreased. Accordingly, it is preferable that the corners R be, for example, 0.5 mm or smaller.
The sizes of the corners R at the corner portions 41 on the one surface side and the corner portions 42 on the other surface side may be different from each other in the bipolar plate 31 (see
The bipolar plate having a rectangular planar shape was prepared. The bipolar plate has the following size (external dimensions): 200 mm in length×200 mm in width×10.0 mm in thickness. Here, as listed in Table 1, a plurality of bipolar plates were prepared. The plurality of bipolar plates are different in radius of curvature (corner R) at the corner portions of the outer peripheral portion in the section of the bipolar plate perpendicular to the flat surface (see
The reliability was evaluated by performing charge and discharge testing on the testing samples A to F, then disassembling the RF batteries, removing the membranes, and checking the degree of damage to the membranes. The charge and discharge testing were performed under the following conditions. That is, discharge end voltage: 1 V, charge end voltage: 1.6 V, current: 120 mA/cm2, and 300 cycles. When there was no damage, it was given a grade of “A”, when there was small damage that did not cause a problem in use, it was given a grade of “B”, and when the membranes break, it was given a grade of “C”. The results are listed in Table 1.
The battery performance was evaluated in accordance with current efficiency when the above-described charge and discharge testing was performed with the testing samples A to F. Regarding the current efficiency, a charge and discharge curve was drawn in accordance with the charge and discharge testing. The current efficiency at a third cycle from the charge and discharge curve (current efficiency (%)=(discharge time/charge time)×100) was obtained. The results are listed in Table 1. As the current efficiency decreases, discharge capacity decreases.
From Table 1, it can be understood that when the corners R of the outer peripheral portion are from 0.1 to 0.4 mm in the perpendicular section of the bipolar plate, damage to the membrane can be suppressed, and in particular, when these corners R are 0.2 mm or larger, damage to the membrane can be effectively suppressed. Furthermore, when comparing current efficiency of the testing samples, the current efficiency of the testing sample F is lower than the current efficiency of the testing sample B. When calculating discharge capacity in accordance with the current efficiency, the discharge capacity of the testing sample F is lower than the discharge capacity of the testing sample B by about 35%. Furthermore, the discharge capacities of the other testing samples C, D, and E are lower than the discharge capacity of the testing sample B by about 1.0%, 1.5%, and 3.0%, respectively. As the corners R of the outer peripheral portion increase, cell resistance increases. This causes the discharge capacity to decrease. Thus, discharge capacity tends to decrease more than a percentage of a decrease in current efficiency.
From the results of the first example, it has been verified that, when the corners R of the outer peripheral portion of the bipolar plate are from 0.1 to 0.4 mm, breakage and other problems are difficult to occur in the membrane, and accordingly, the decrease in discharge capacity of the RF battery can be suppressed. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of suppressing the decrease in discharge capacity of the RF battery, it is thought that the corners R of the outer peripheral portion are preferably 0.5 mm or smaller.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2017/001615 | 1/18/2017 | WO | 00 |
