Mass distribution indication of flow battery state of charge

摘要

An electrochemical device includes at least one electrochemical cell having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, a reservoir configured to store an electrolyte and a mass distribution measuring device. The mass distribution measuring device includes at least one of a scale, a first pressure sensor located in a lower portion of the reservoir and a second pressure sensor located in an upper portion of the reservoir, or at least one strain gauge or load cell configured to measure a change a weight of the at least one electrochemical cell.

主权项

1. An electrochemical device comprising: at least one electrochemical cell comprising an anode electrode and a cathode electrode; a reservoir configured to store an electrolyte; and a mass distribution measuring device comprising at least one of: a scale; a first pressure sensor located in a lower portion of the reservoir and a second pressure sensor located in an upper portion of the reservoir; or at least one strain gauge or load cell configured to measure a change in weight of the at least one electrochemical cell; wherein the electrochemical device is a flow battery; the at least one electrochemical cell comprises a stack of electrochemical cells; the electrochemical device further comprises a flow circuit connecting the stack of electrochemical cells and the reservoir; and at least one pump is located in the flow circuit, and the mass distribution measuring device is configured to measure one or more of a weight of the electrolyte in the reservoir, a weight of the reservoir, a pressure difference of the electrolyte across a given height of the electrolyte in the reservoir, or a weight of the stack of electrochemical cells; and a processor is configured to determine the state of charge based on output of the mass distribution measuring device.