JP2001216994A - Electrolyte tank for redox flow battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrolyte tank for a redox flow battery improved for higher space utilization and lower cost. SOLUTION: The electrolyte tank for the redox flow battery includes a cylindrical tank 21 extending upward. A cylindrical partition plate 24 extending upward from the bottom of the tank 21 is provided in the tank 21 for partitioning the tank 21 into two space portions. A first electrolyte is reserved in the space portion at the outside of the partition plate 24 and a second electrolyte is reserved in the space portion 23 at the inside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to an electrolyte tank for a redox flow battery, and more particularly, to an improved electrolyte tank having a small dead space and a high utilization rate of an installation space. The present invention relates to an electrolyte tank for a redox flow battery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventionally proposed redox flow battery.

A redox flow battery 1 includes a flow-through battery cell 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as a cell 2) and a positive electrode solution storage tank 3
And a negative electrode solution storage tank 4. The inside of the cell 2 is partitioned by a diaphragm 5 made of, for example, an ion exchange membrane. One side constitutes a positive electrode cell 2a and the other side constitutes a negative electrode cell 2b. Positive electrode cell 2a and negative electrode cell 2b
Inside, a positive electrode 6 or a negative electrode 7 is provided as an electrode, respectively.

The positive electrode cell 2a is provided with a positive electrode solution introducing pipe 11 for introducing a positive electrode solution. In addition, the positive electrode cell 2
a is provided with a cathode solution outlet pipe 12 for allowing the cathode solution contained in the cathode cell 2a to flow out. One end of the cathode solution inlet tube 11 and one end of the cathode solution outlet tube 12 are connected to the cathode solution storage tank 3.

[0005] The negative electrode cell 2b is provided with a negative electrode solution inlet pipe 13 for introducing a negative electrode solution. In addition, the negative electrode cell 2
b, a negative electrode solution outflow pipe 14 through which the negative electrode solution contained in the negative electrode cell 2b flows out is provided. One end of the negative electrode liquid introduction pipe 13 and one end of the negative electrode liquid outlet pipe 14 are connected to the negative electrode liquid storage tank 4.

[0006] In the redox flow battery 1 shown in FIG. 2, for example, the valence of changing the aqueous solution of ions, such as vanadium ions stored in the cathode liquid storage tanks 3 and negative electrolyte storage tank 4, which pump P ₁ or The liquid is sent to the flow-type battery cell ₂ at P2, and charge and discharge are performed by an oxidation-reduction reaction. For example, when V ⁵⁺ / V ^{4+ is} used as a positive electrode active material and V ²⁺ / V ^{3+ is} used as a negative electrode active material, and a sulfuric acid solution is used,
The battery reaction at the anodes 6 and 7 of each oxidation-reduction system is represented by the following equation.

[0007]

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[0008] The present application relates to the above-mentioned electrolyte tank of such a redox flow battery.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional square electrolytic solution tank. The inside of the tank is divided by a partition plate 30 into a positive electrode liquid tank 3 and a negative electrode liquid tank 4. Such a rectangular tank in which the positive electrode liquid tank 3 and the negative electrode liquid tank 4 are integrated is compared with, for example, a cylindrical tank in which the positive electrode liquid tank 3 and the negative electrode liquid tank 4 are separated as shown in FIG. In this case, the dead space is small and the utilization rate of the installation space is high.

[0010]

However, in the case of a rectangular tank, the stress acting on the tank wall and the partition plate is larger than that of a cylindrical tank. Therefore, when materials having the same strength are used, in the rectangular tank, the thickness of the tank wall and the partition plate is increased, and the number of places for reinforcing is increased. Therefore, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the square tank is higher than that of the cylindrical tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an electrolyte tank for a redox flow battery having a small dead space, a high utilization rate of an installation space, and a low manufacturing cost is provided. The purpose is to provide.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrolyte tank for a redox flow battery, wherein the electrolyte tank is provided in a cylindrical tank extending upward, and the tank is partitioned into two spaces. And a cylindrical partition plate extending upward from the bottom of the tank. A first electrolyte is stored in a space outside the partition plate, and a second electrolyte having a polarity different from that of the first electrolyte is stored in a space inside the partition plate. I have.

According to the present invention, since the positive electrode electrolyte tank and the negative electrode electrolyte tank are provided in one tank, the dead space is reduced, and the utilization rate of the installation space is increased. Further, since each of the positive electrode electrolyte tank and the positive electrode electrolyte tank is formed in a cylindrical shape, the manufacturing cost is reduced.

In the electrolyte tank for a redox flow battery according to claim 2, when the radius of the tank is x and the radius of the partition plate is r, the equation x = √2r is satisfied.

By satisfying the above equation, when the amount of the electrolyte stored in the cathode electrolyte tank is equal to the amount of the electrolyte stored in the anode electrolyte tank,
Their height can be made equal.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrolyte tank for a redox flow battery according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electrolyte tank for a redox flow battery has a cylindrical tank 21 extending upward.
Is provided. In the tank 21, a cylindrical partition plate 24 extending upward from the bottom of the tank 21 for partitioning the inside of the tank 21 into two space portions 22 and 23 is provided.

The positive electrode solution (or the negative electrode solution) is stored in the space 22 outside the partition plate 24. Partition plate 24
A negative electrode solution (or a positive electrode solution) having a polarity different from that of the electrolytic solution stored in the space portion 22 is stored in the space portion 23 inside.

As the material of the tank 21 and the material of the partition plate 24, a resin such as polyethylene or vinyl chloride or FRP having sufficient liquid resistance to the electrolytic solution is used.
Alternatively, any material can be used for the tank 21 and the partition plate 24 as long as the liquid contact portion is covered with a resin.

Assuming that the radius of the tank 21 is x, the radius of the cylindrical partition plate 24 is r, and the height of the electrolyte is h, if the heights of the stored electrolytes are equal, the following equation is obtained. Be satisfied.

When πr ² h = (x ² −r ² ) πh x ² = 2r ² x = √2r x is equal to √2r, the height of the electrolyte stored in the space 22 and the inner space 23 The heights of the electrolytes stored in the tanks are equal.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the space utilization is increased as in the case of the conventional rectangular tank. In addition, since the tank is cylindrical, the structure is simpler than that of a square tank, and the cost is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrolyte tank for a redox flow battery according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a basic concept of a conventional redox flow battery.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional square tank.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional electrolytic solution tank in which a cylindrical positive electrode solution tank and a cylindrical negative electrode solution tank are formed separately.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 tanks, 24 cylindrical partition plates.

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Nobuyuki Tokuda 3-3-22 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Kansai Electric Power Company F-term (reference) 5H026 AA10 CX10 HH03 RR01

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical tank extending upward, and a cylindrical partition plate provided in the tank and extending upward from the bottom of the tank for partitioning the inside of the tank into two spaces. A first electrolyte is stored in a space outside the partition plate, and a second electrolyte having a polarity different from that of the first electrolyte is stored in a space inside the partition plate. Electrolyte tank for redox flow battery in which electrolyte is stored. 2. When the radius of the tank is x and the radius of the cylindrical partition is r, the following equation is satisfied:
The electrolyte tank for a redox flow battery according to claim 1. x = √2r