1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a segmented electrode for an energy storage system, and a method of making a stacked battery using modular components.
2. Background Art
An energy storage system includes one or more cells that store energy received from a source that charges the cell and releases the energy to a load by discharging the cell. Each cell has an anode and a cathode that an electrolyte flows across. Electrons in the electrolyte are transferred between the cathode and anode to store energy in the system. The system is charged when current is applied to terminals causing electrons to flow from the cathode to the anode. Energy is discharged from the system when a load is applied to the terminals causing electrons to flow from the anode to the cathode.
Patents that were reviewed in conjunction with preparation of this disclosure include U.S. Pat. No. 6,841,047; U.S. Pat. No. 7,261,798; U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,675; and Published Application U.S. 2010/0279558.
An energy storage cell module made according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a housing, an anode plate, a cathode plate and an electrical connector operatively connected between the anode hub and the cathode hub. The housing includes at least one separator membrane defining flow passages for the electrolyte. The anode plate includes an anode hub and the cathode plate includes a cathode hub. The anode hub and cathode hub are assembled together with the anode plate and the cathode plate disposed on opposite sides of the separator membrane. An electrical connector connects the anode hub and the cathode hub to conduct electricity between the anode plate and the cathode plate to maintain the plates at the same potential.
An electrode assembly made according to another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of anode plates and a plurality of cathode plates that are charged and discharged by an electrolyte flowing between paired anode and cathode plates on opposite sides of a membrane separator. Each electrode assembly comprises an anode hub and a cathode hub connected by a canted spring. The anode hub is provided on the anode plate and comprises a first portion of a fitting. The cathode hub is provided on the cathode plate and comprises a second portion of the fitting. The canted spring is partially disposed in a groove formed on one of the first and second portions of the fitting. The canted spring provides an electrical connection between the anode hub and the cathode hub when the first and second portions of the fitting are assembled together.
According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the cathode hub may include a base and a ring that are axially aligned with the ring defining a recess. The anode hub includes a base and a protrusion that are axially aligned. The anode hub and cathode hub may be reversed with the cathode hub having the protrusion and the anode hub having the ring. The protrusion is received in the recess of the cathode hub to assemble the anode hub to the cathode hub. The canted spring may be received in a groove that is formed on the protrusion so that the canted spring contacts the ring when assembled. The ring may have a cylindrical inner wall and the protrusion may have a cylindrical outer wall that fits within the inner wall of the ring.
According to other aspects of the present disclosure, a stacked battery system is disclosed that includes a plurality of modules including a housing wall that is disposed between an anode plate and a cathode plate. The housing wall defines part of the flow path for electrolyte. A first seal is provided on the anode hub to seal between the anode hub and the housing wall and a second seal is provided on the cathode hub to seal between the cathode hub and the housing wall. The first seal may be an O-ring received in a groove formed in a base of the anode hub. The second seal is an O-ring disposed in a groove of a ring portion of the cathode hub. The anode hub and cathode hub are on opposite sides of a split line on the outer surface of the hubs. The first seal is provided on the outer surface of the anode hub and the second seal is provided on the outer surface of the cathode hub. The seals are provided to inhibit the flow of electrolyte into the split line.
A method of making an energy storage cell is also part of the present disclosure. A method of making an energy storage cell comprises attaching an anode hub to an anode plate and a cathode hub to a cathode plate. The anode plate and cathode plate are assembled with the anode hub and the cathode hub being disposed on inwardly facing sides. First and second flow screens are secured between the anode plate and a first membrane separator and between the cathode plate and a second separator membrane. Parallel flow paths are provided on opposite sides of the cell module. A housing wall is provided that defines an opening through which the anode hub and cathode hub are connected. The anode plate of a first cell module is assembled to a first side of the housing wall with the anode hub being inserted into the opening. The cathode plate of a second cell module is assembled to the second side of the housing wall with the cathode hub being inserted into the opening. The cathode hub of the second cell module is connected to the anode hub of the first cell module.
According to other aspects of the method disclosed, a canted spring electrical connector may be partially assembled into a groove on a radially outwardly facing surface of the anode hub. A radially inwardly facing surface of the cathode hub is contacted by the canted spring electrical connector to establish an electrical connection between the anode hub and cathode hub through the canted spring. The anode hub and cathode hub are joined at a split line between a first outer surface of the anode hub and a second outer surface of the cathode hub. The method further comprises assembling a first seal between the first outer surface of the anode hub and the housing and assembling a second seal between the second outer surface of the cathode hub and the housing to inhibit the flow of electrolyte into the split line.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
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A membrane 46, or separator, is provided to define an anolyte fluid channel 48. An anolyte flow screen 50 is disposed in the anolyte fluid channel 48. The membrane 46 is preferably formed of a material that is impervious to fluid transmission, but allows electrons to flow through the membrane. One example of an appropriate membrane would be Gortex® or other similar PTFE-based membranes. The anolyte flow screen 50 is preferably a screen-like layer that includes a plurality of intersecting rods or strands. The anolyte flow screen 50 functions to mix the anolyte as it flows upwardly through the anolyte fluid channel 48.
A second membrane 52, or separator, is provided on the opposite side of the flow cell module 32 and encloses a catholyte fluid path 54 in which a catholyte flow screen 56 is disposed. The membrane 52 is formed of the same material as the membrane 46. Similarly, the membrane 52 defines the catholyte fluid path 54 through which a catholyte is directed to flow. The catholyte flow screen 56 mixes the catholyte as it flows upwardly through the catholyte fluid path 54. The catholyte flow screen could also be Nickel foam or another form of material that offers a large surface area of Nickel.
O-rings 58 are provided on the outer radial periphery of the anode hub 36 and the cathode hub 40 to provide a seal that prevents fluid from flowing between the anode hub 36 and the cathode hub 40. The O-rings 58 are disposed in an annular groove 60 that is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the anode hub 36 and the cathode hub 40.
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An anolyte flow outlet 82 is shown in
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While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.