Flow battery systems

摘要

Embodiments of the invention generally provide for flow battery cells and systems containing a plurality of flow battery cells, and methods for improving metal plating within the flow battery cell, such as by flowing and exposing the catholyte to various types of cathodes. In one embodiment, a flow battery cell is provided which includes a cathodic half cell and an anodic half cell separated by an electrolyte membrane, wherein the cathodic half cell contains a plurality of cathodic wires extending perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to and within the catholyte pathway and in contact with the catholyte, and each of the cathodic wires extends parallel or substantially parallel to each other. In some examples, the plurality of cathodic wires may have at least two arrays of cathodic wires, each array contains at least one row of cathodic wires, and each row extends along the catholyte pathway.

主权项

1. A flow battery cell, comprising:
a cathodic half cell comprising a planar cathode, a catholyte, a catholyte inlet, a catholyte outlet, a catholyte pathway extending between the catholyte inlet and outlet and within the cathodic half cell, and an open block flow screen within the catholyte pathway, wherein the open block flow screen contains a plurality of blocks comprising an electrically insulating material and a plurality of channels disposed throughout the electrically insulating material and between the blocks; an anodic half cell comprising an anode in conductive contact with an anolyte; an electrolyte membrane disposed between the cathodic half cell and the anodic half cell and in contact with the catholyte and anolyte; and a cathodic contact electrically connected with the cathode and disposed outside of the cathodic half cell.