JP2005340029A - Redox flow battery system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a redox flow battery system and operation method of the redox flow battery system capable of reducing power loss. <P>SOLUTION: Electric energy acquired by driving a small hydraulic power generator 1 by running water 10 from a water running part such as a waterway is supplied to a load (an electric power system), and mechanical energy acquired by driving the power generator 1 is used for driving a pump 105. The redox flow battery system comprises a cell for a redox flow battery, the pump 105 for supplying electrolyte to the cell from a tank 104 for storing the electrolyte, the small hydraulic power generator 1 having a rotating shaft 11 rotating by the running water 10, and a power transmitting part 12 for driving the pump 105 by torque of the rotating shaft 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a redox flow battery system including a cell in which an electrolytic solution is supplied to perform a battery reaction, and a method for operating the redox flow battery system. In particular, the present invention relates to a redox flow battery system capable of reducing power loss and a method for operating the redox flow battery system.

The redox flow battery is conventionally used as a load leveling or a voltage drop countermeasure. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the operating principle of the redox flow battery. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same items. This battery includes a cell 100 separated into a positive electrode cell 100A and a negative electrode cell 100B by a diaphragm 101 made of an ion exchange membrane. The positive electrode cell 100A and the negative electrode cell 100B each incorporate a positive electrode 102 and a negative electrode 103. Connected to the positive electrode cell 100A is a positive electrode electrolyte tank 104A that stores the positive electrode electrolyte that is supplied to the positive electrode 102 and discharged from the positive electrode 102 via a conduit 106A that serves as a transport path for the electrolyte. . The negative electrode cell 100B is connected to a negative electrode electrolyte tank 104B that stores the negative electrode electrolyte that is supplied to the negative electrode 103 and discharged from the negative electrode 103 via a conduit 106B that serves as an electrolyte transport path. . An aqueous solution of ions such as vanadium ions whose valence changes is used for each electrode electrolyte, and is circulated by pumps 105A and 105B, and charging and discharging are performed in accordance with the valence change reaction of the positive electrode 102 and the negative electrode 103. For example, when an electrolytic solution containing vanadium ions is used, the reaction that occurs during charging and discharging in the cell is as follows.
The positive ^{electrode: V 4+ → V 5+ + e} - ( ^{charging) V 4+ ← V 5+ + e} - ( discharge)
The negative ^{electrode: V 3+ + e - → V} 2+ ( ^{charging) V 3+ + e - ← V} 2+ ( discharge)

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a conventional redox flow battery system. The redox flow battery is usually used in a structure called a cell stack 200 in which a plurality of cells are stacked. The cell stack 200 is supplied with an electrolytic solution from a tank 104 in which the electrolytic solution is stored, performs a battery reaction, and is connected to a load (electric power system) via an AC / DC converter 107 to perform charging / discharging. The electrolyte solution is supplied to the cell stack 200 by driving a pump 105 disposed in the conduit 106 by a motor 108. The motor 108 is driven by supplying power from the power system.

  In addition, in the conventional redox flow battery system, since the temperature of the electrolyte solution may increase due to the battery reaction, a cooling device 109 having a cooling mechanism such as a cooling fan 109a is provided to cool the electrolyte solution to an appropriate temperature. Yeah. The cooling fan 109a is also driven by supplying power from the power system.

  On the other hand, as a new energy, hydroelectric power generation using a relatively small amount of water such as river maintenance and discharge of existing dams, water flow in water pipes, water flow in agricultural canals, and the like, so-called small hydroelectric power generation is being performed. For this small hydropower generation, a power generator including a water turbine that is rotationally driven by running water is used, and this power generator is rotationally driven by the water turbine to generate electric power and supply electric power to a load (Patent Document 1). reference).

JP 2002-115643 A

  As described above, in the conventional redox flow battery system, during operation, power for driving a motor for driving a pump, a cooling fan for a cooling device, and the like is supplied by supply from an electric power system. For this reason, it is desired to reduce the power loss from the power system and further improve the operation efficiency.

  Thus, a main object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating a redox flow battery system that can reduce power loss. Another object of the present invention is to provide a redox flow battery system that is optimal for the above operation method.

  The present invention achieves the above object by utilizing a generator that can obtain both electrical energy and mechanical energy.

  That is, the operating method of the redox flow battery system of the present invention is to supply electrical energy obtained by driving a small hydroelectric generator by running water to a load, and to obtain mechanical energy obtained by driving the generator as a redox flow battery system. It is used for the driving | operation of.

  The redox flow battery system of the present invention includes a redox flow battery cell, a pump for supplying the electrolyte from a tank storing the electrolyte to the cell, and a small hydraulic power generator having a rotating shaft rotated by running water. And a power transmission unit that drives the pump by the rotational force of the rotating shaft.

  The redox flow battery system supplies an electrolytic solution to a cell during operation. A pump is usually used to supply the electrolytic solution, and mechanical energy for driving the pump is required. Conventionally, this mechanical energy is obtained by driving a motor with electric power from an electric power system. However, since the use of a motor causes power loss, the present inventors have studied to obtain mechanical energy without using the motor. And the knowledge that the utilization of the mechanical energy obtained by driving the small hydroelectric generator used for so-called small hydropower generation, specifically, the rotational force of the rotating shaft rotated by running water is suitable. It was. Since a small hydroelectric generator has a relatively small amount of generated power, its rotating shaft is also relatively small. Therefore, the mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the pump can also have a relatively simple configuration. The present invention is defined based on this finding.

  The redox flow battery system of the present invention includes a redox flow battery cell and a pump that supplies the electrolyte from a tank that stores the electrolyte to the cell. The redox flow battery cell includes a positive electrode cell and a negative electrode cell through a diaphragm. As the electrolyte, 1. High electromotive force 2. High energy density 3. Since the electrolyte is a single element system, it can be regenerated by charging even if the cathode electrolyte and anode electrolyte are mixed Vanadium ion solutions having many advantages such as being possible are preferred. Such an electrolytic solution is stored in a tank, and is supplied from the tank to the cell during operation. At this time, a pump is used. In the present invention, mechanical energy obtained by driving a small hydroelectric generator is used as a driving source of the pump. Note that small hydropower generation is hydropower generation using small-scale power generation equipment that uses flowing hydropower, for example, what is defined as hydropower generation with a waterway of 1000 kw or less by the so-called RPS method (Renewable Portfolio Standard). .

  The small hydraulic power generator uses a rotating shaft that is rotated by running water and that can generate power by rotating the rotating shaft. That is, both electric energy and mechanical energy can be obtained by rotation of the rotating shaft. You may utilize the thing of a well-known structure. For example, it has a field that creates magnetic flux by forming magnetic poles, and an armature that induces an electromotive force to flow current, and a rotating field type that uses the field as a rotor (rotating shaft) and the armature as a stator. A synchronous generator may be used. The synchronous generator rotates at a synchronous speed, so that the frequency of the electromotive force induced in the armature can be a constant frequency. Therefore, for example, power of commercial frequencies such as 50 Hz and 60 Hz can be stably supplied to the load. Further, when a synchronous generator is used, it is preferable that the pump can be stably driven by rotating at a constant speed, specifically, a synchronous speed.

  And in this invention, in order to utilize the mechanical energy obtained by the drive of the said small hydraulic power generator, ie, the rotational force of a rotating shaft, for a drive of a pump, a power transmission part is provided. Examples of the power transmission unit include a configuration that can change the number of rotations of the rotation shaft in accordance with the performance of the pump. Specifically, for example, there is a configuration including a conversion member that changes the number of rotations of the rotation shaft and transmits the rotational force to the pump. Examples of the conversion member include a plurality of gears, specifically, a drive gear that is arranged at one end of the rotation shaft and changes the rotation speed of the rotation shaft, and a driven gear that is driven by the drive gear. At this time, the pump is provided with a transmission shaft for transmitting the rotational force of the driven gear. Moreover, in order to obtain the driving force required for the pump, adjustment may be made by appropriately changing the number of teeth of each gear.

  In the present invention, it is preferable to use a pump made of an insulating material in order to prevent problems such as a short circuit when the electrolyte contacts. Examples of the insulating material include plastic.

  Not only mechanical energy obtained from small hydroelectric generators but also electric energy can be used. For example, when a cooling device is used for cooling the electrolytic solution, electric energy from a small hydroelectric generator can be used to drive the cooling fan. At this time, both mechanical energy and electrical energy obtained from the small hydroelectric generator can be used effectively.

  As a method for cooling the electrolytic solution without using the cooling device, running water used for power generation may be used. For example, the structure which makes a flowing water contact the electrolyte solution path between the cell for redox flow batteries and a tank, and cools is mentioned. Specifically, providing the cooling part provided with the transport path which transports the flowing water for cooling electrolyte solution is mentioned. The transportation path may be a circulation path or a non-circulation path. In addition, as a configuration for transporting running water, for example, when there is a height difference between a running water section such as a water channel and a small hydroelectric generator, a portion that is in contact with running water in the electrolyte channel is arranged in the lower section. The structure by which running water is sent from a running water part by this height difference is mentioned. In addition, you may provide the 2nd pump which supplies flowing water to this transportation path. At this time, the second pump may be driven by providing a separate motor and driving the motor. The motor may be driven using electrical energy obtained by a small hydroelectric generator. Moreover, when not using a motor, you may drive a 2nd pump with the rotational force of the rotating shaft of a small hydraulic power generator. At this time, it is good to provide the 2nd power transmission part which transmits the rotational force of a rotating shaft to a 2nd pump. Similarly to the above, the second power transmission unit includes a conversion member such as a drive gear and a second driven gear that change the number of rotations of the rotation shaft to transmit the rotational force to the second pump. The second pump is provided with a second transmission shaft that transmits the rotational force of the second driven gear.

  When running water is used for cooling the electrolytic solution, it is desirable to control the temperature of the electrolytic solution so that it can be maintained within a certain range, specifically, 30 to 60 ° C. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a configuration capable of adjusting the transport state of running water. Specifically, for example, the temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the electrolyte, the adjustment unit that adjusts the transportation state of the flowing water supplied to the cooling unit, and the transportation state of the flowing water are adjusted based on the measured temperature of the temperature sensor. And a control unit that controls the temperature of the electrolytic solution transported to the electrolytic solution path to 30 to 60 ° C. Examples of the adjusting unit include a valve that can be opened and closed. Having such a configuration, for example, the temperature of the electrolyte is measured at any time with a temperature sensor, and when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the valve is opened and the electrolyte is cooled by transporting running water for a certain period of time. It is good also as a structure which cools by adjusting the flow rate of flowing water by adjusting the opening degree of a valve.

  As described above, in the present invention, the mechanical energy obtained from the small hydroelectric generator is used for the operation of the redox flow battery system, specifically, for driving the pump, so that the power system conventionally used for driving the pump is used. Therefore, the power loss can be reduced. In particular, when the system of the present invention is constructed when the distance between the existing dam and the power plant is far away, it is not necessary to connect the load in the dam and the power plant with a long-distance power line for power transmission, etc. It is preferable because energy loss can be reduced. Further, by using running water for cooling the electrolytic solution, a cooling device can be eliminated and resources can be used effectively.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a redox flow battery system of the present invention. The present invention supplies a load (electric power system) with electrical energy obtained by driving a small hydroelectric generator 1 with running water 10 from a running part such as a water channel, and mechanical energy obtained by driving the generator 1 is supplied. It is used for the operation of the redox flow battery system (in this example, driving of the pump 105). Specifically, the small hydraulic power generator 1 has a redox flow battery cell, a pump 105 that supplies the electrolyte from the tank 104 that stores the electrolyte to the cell, and a rotating shaft 11 that is rotated by the flowing water 10. And a power transmission unit 12 that drives the pump 105 by the rotational force of the rotating shaft 11. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described in detail.

The basic structure of the redox flow battery cell is the same as that of the cell 100 shown in FIG. 5, and is separated into a positive electrode cell and a negative electrode cell by an ion exchange membrane (diaphragm), a positive electrode in the positive electrode cell, and a negative electrode in the negative electrode cell. The positive electrode electrolyte and the negative electrode electrolyte are supplied to each electrode. Each electrolyte is stored in a separate tank. The tank 104 and the pump 105 are made of an insulating material (in this example, plastic) so that an accident such as a short circuit does not occur even when the electrolyte contacts. In FIG. 1, only one tank 104, one conduit 106, and one pump 105 are shown, but in reality, one each for the positive electrode and one for the negative electrode are arranged in total. In this example, a positive electrode electrolyte solution containing V ⁴⁺ and a negative electrode electrolyte solution containing V ³⁺ are used.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cell stack. In this example, a plurality of cells are stacked to form a stack called a subcell stack 201, and a configuration called a cell stack 200 is used in which a plurality of subcell stacks 201 are stacked. Each cell includes a positive electrode 102 and a negative electrode 103 made of carbon felt on both sides of the diaphragm 101. A cell frame 120 is disposed outside each of the positive electrode 102 and the negative electrode 103. The cell frame 120 includes a plastic carbon bipolar plate 121 and a frame frame 122 formed on the outer periphery thereof. A plurality of liquid supply manifolds 123 for supplying an electrolytic solution to the electrodes 102 and 103 and a drainage manifold 124 for discharging the electrolytic solution from the electrodes 102 and 103 to the outside are formed in the frame frame 122. The liquid supply manifold 123 is provided below the electrodes 102 and 103, and the liquid discharge manifold 124 is provided above the electrodes 102 and 103. In the cell frame 120 shown in FIG. 4, four manifolds are provided in total, four below the electrodes 102 and 103 and four above the electrodes 102 and 103, and the two below are manifolds for supplying the positive electrolyte solution 123A. The remaining two are a negative electrode electrolyte supply manifold 123B, the upper two are a positive electrolyte drain manifold 124A, and the remaining two are a negative electrolyte drain manifold 124B. These manifolds 123 and 124 constitute a flow path for the electrolyte by stacking a large number of cells, and are connected to the conduit 106 in FIG. The frame frame 122 has a liquid supply for flowing an electrolyte between the liquid supply manifold 123 to the electrodes 102 and 103 disposed on the bipolar plate 121 and between the electrodes 102 and 103 to the drainage manifold. Slits 125A and 125B and drain slits 126A and 126B are provided, respectively.

  The manifolds 123 and 124 constitute a flow path for the electrolyte by stacking a large number of cells, and are connected to the conduit 106 in FIG. 1 via the supply / discharge plates 202 arranged on both sides of the subcell stack 201. . The supply / discharge plate 202 includes a supply port 203 for supplying an electrolyte solution and a discharge port 204 for discharging the electrolyte solution. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 4, a bipolar plate is disposed at the center on both sides of the cell stack 200, and a copper plate with an output terminal protruding is disposed through the output terminal. Supply the electrode to the load side.

  An electrolytic solution tank 104 is connected to the cell stack 200 via a conduit 106 serving as an electrolytic solution transport path. By driving the pump 105, the electrolytic solution is sent from the tank 104 to the cell. In the cell, a battery reaction is performed, and charging / discharging is performed on a power system (load) connected via the AC / DC converter 107. In the present invention, the pump 104 is driven using mechanical energy obtained by driving the small hydroelectric generator 1.

  In this example, the small hydroelectric generator 1 includes a magnetic field that forms magnetic poles to generate magnetic flux, and an armature that induces electromotive force to flow current. A rotating field synchronous generator as a stator was used. The small hydroelectric generator 1 generates power at a constant frequency (50 Hz or 60 Hz) and supplies power to a load. In this example, a power transmission unit 12 that transmits the rotational force of the rotary shaft 11 to the pump 105 is provided at one end of the rotary shaft 11. In addition, the other end of the rotating shaft 11 is provided with a turbine 13 that receives running water and rotates. Such a small hydroelectric generator 1 is preferably provided with a flowing water portion having a difference in height so that a rotational force is applied to the turbine 13 by the flowing water 10 and arranged on the low portion side.

  The power transmission unit 12 includes a driving gear 20 that changes the rotational speed of the rotating shaft 11 at one end of the rotating shaft 11 and a driven gear 21 that follows the driving gear 20. The pump 105 is connected to a transmission shaft 22 that transmits the rotational force of the driven gear 21. The number of teeth of the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 21 is adjusted so that power necessary for driving the pump 105 can be obtained.

  With the above configuration, when the turbine 13 is rotated by running water, the rotating shaft 11 is rotated, and the small hydroelectric generator 1 generates power and supplies power to the load. At the same time, due to the rotation of the rotation shaft 11, the drive gear 20 rotates and the driven gear 21 rotates, and this rotation is transmitted to the transmission shaft 22 to drive the pump 105. By driving the pump 105, the electrolytic solution is supplied from the tank 104 to the cell stack 200, and the cell stack 200 can perform a battery reaction. As described above, the present invention can eliminate the need for power supply from the power system when the redox flow battery system is operated by performing mechanical driving with the mechanical energy obtained from the small hydroelectric generator. Power loss can be reduced.

  In this example, the power for driving the cooling fan of the cooling device 109 that cools the electrolytic solution is supplied by the electrical energy from the small hydroelectric generator 1. For this reason, it is not necessary to supply power from the power system for cooling the electrolytic solution, and power loss can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in this example, since the rotating shaft can be rotated at a constant speed (synchronous speed) by using a synchronous generator as a small hydraulic power generator, the pump can be driven stably.

  In the first embodiment, the example in which the cooling device is used for cooling the electrolytic solution has been described. In this example, an example using running water will be described. The configuration shown in this example is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and the cell stack 200, the electrolyte tank 104, the conduit 106 for transporting the electrolyte, and the cell 104 from the tank 104 via the conduit 106 are electrolyzed. A pump 105 for supplying liquid, a small hydroelectric generator 1 having a rotary shaft 11 and a turbine 13, and a power transmission unit 12 for transmitting the rotational force of the rotary shaft 11 to the pump 105 via a transmission shaft 22 are provided. A feature of this example is that it includes a cooling unit 30 that cools the electrolytic solution. Hereinafter, this point will be described in detail.

  The cooling unit 30 adjusts the transport state 31 for transporting running water to the conduit 106 side, the cooling box 32 for cooling the transported running water by contacting a part of the conduit 106, and the transport state of the running water to the cooling box 32 And an opening / closing valve 33 to be provided. In this example, the transportation path 31 is a circulation path as shown in FIG. 2, but it may not be circulated. The tank 104 is provided with a temperature sensor 34. Then, the temperature of the electrolytic solution is measured by the temperature sensor 34. When the temperature exceeds a certain temperature, for example, when the temperature exceeds 60 ° C., the on-off valve 33 is opened and the running water 10 is transported to the transport path 31. Then, the electrolytic solution is cooled in the cooling box 32 as it passes through the conduit 106 disposed in the cooling box 32. At this time, the temperature sensor 34 is checked, and when the electrolyte reaches an appropriate temperature, for example, 30 to 60 ° C., the on-off valve 33 is closed to stop the transport of running water.

  With the above configuration, the electrolytic solution can be cooled without using a cooling device. Moreover, since the flowing water is used not only for small hydroelectric power generation but also for cooling, it is possible to efficiently use resources.

  The transport of running water in the transport path 31 may use, for example, a height difference provided in the running water section. In addition, a pump (second pump) 35 may be arranged as an auxiliary to transport the running water. At this time, when the second pump 35 is driven by arranging the motor 36 and driving the motor 36 with the electric energy obtained from the small hydroelectric generator 1, it is not necessary to supply power from the power system. Loss can be reduced.

  In the second embodiment, an example in which the second pump is driven by the electric power from the small hydroelectric generator is shown. In this example, an example using mechanical energy obtained from a small hydroelectric generator will be described. The configuration shown in this example is the same as the basic configuration of the second embodiment, except that mechanical energy obtained from the small hydroelectric generator 1 is used to drive the second pump 35 used for transporting running water. It is in. Hereinafter, this point will be described in detail.

  In this example, the second power transmission unit 40 that drives the second pump 35 by the rotational force of the rotary shaft 11 of the small hydroelectric generator 1 is provided. The second power transmission unit 40 includes a second driven gear 41 that follows the drive gear 20. The second pump 35 is connected to a second transmission shaft 42 that transmits the rotational force of the second driven gear 41 to the second pump 35. The number of teeth of the drive gear 20 and the second driven gear 41 is adjusted so that the power necessary for driving the second pump 35 is obtained.

  With the above configuration, the mechanical energy obtained from the small hydroelectric generator can be used not only for driving the pump for transporting the electrolyte solution but also for driving the pump for transporting the cooling water. Therefore, the electrical energy from the small hydroelectric generator can be sufficiently supplied to the load, and the redox flow battery system can be operated using the mechanical energy from the small hydroelectric generator.

  Further, in this example, in addition to the temperature sensor 34 and the on-off valve 33, the temperature of the electrolyte transported to the conduit 106 serving as the electrolyte path is adjusted based on the measured temperature of the temperature sensor 34 based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 34. Is provided with a control unit 37 for controlling the value within a certain range. The control unit 37 is connected to the second pump 35, the temperature sensor 34, and the opening / closing valve 33, and the measurement result from the temperature sensor 34 is sent, and based on this result, the opening / closing valve 33 is opened / closed or the amount of opening is adjusted. At the same time, a drive command or a stop command is issued to the second pump 35 to control the transport state of running water.

  For example, when the temperature of the electrolytic solution exceeds 60 ° C., the control unit 37 issues an opening command to the on-off valve 33 and also issues a driving command to the second pump 35 to drive it to transport running water. When the electrolyte temperature approaches an appropriate temperature, the controller 37 issues an adjustment command for the opening amount of the on-off valve 33 to adjust the transport amount of running water. Then, a stop command is issued to the second pump 35 to stop the transport of running water. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which a timer is provided so that an opening command is issued to the on-off valve 33 for a certain period of time, a temperature measurement is performed after a certain period of time, and an on-off valve 33 is closed if the temperature is appropriate. The driving of the control unit 37 may be performed using electric power obtained from the small hydroelectric generator 1.

  The redox flow battery system of the present invention and the operation method thereof are suitable for performing small hydropower generation using maintenance water discharge of existing dams, agricultural water, or the like. In particular, it is preferable to construct the system of the present invention when the distance between the dam and the power plant is long because energy loss can be effectively reduced.

It is a schematic block diagram of this invention redox flow battery system. It is a schematic block diagram of this invention redox flow battery system, Comprising: The example which provides the cooling part using flowing water is shown. It is a schematic block diagram of this invention redox flow battery system, Comprising: The example which shows the structure which can adjust the cooling part using flowing water and the transport state of flowing water is shown. It is a schematic block diagram of the cell stack utilized for a redox flow battery system. It is explanatory drawing of the principle of operation of a redox flow battery. It is a schematic diagram which shows the outline | summary of the conventional redox flow battery system.

Explanation of symbols

1 Small hydroelectric generator 10 Flowing water 11 Rotating shaft 12 Power transmission part 13 Turbine
20 Drive gear 21 Driven gear 22 Transmission shaft
30 Cooling section 31 Transport path 32 Cooling box 33 On-off valve 34 Temperature sensor
35 Second pump 36 Motor 37 Controller
100 cells 100A positive electrode cell 100B negative electrode cell 101 diaphragm 102 positive electrode
103 Negative electrode 104 Tank 104A Positive electrolyte tank
104B Anode electrolyte tank 105,105A, 105B Pump 106,106A, 106B Conduit
107 DC / AC converter 108 Motor 109 Cooling device 109a Cooling fan
200 cell stack

Claims (10)

  A redox flow battery system characterized in that electric energy obtained by driving a small hydroelectric generator by running water is supplied to a load, and mechanical energy obtained by driving the generator is used for operation of the redox flow battery system. Driving method.   2. The method of operating a redox flow battery system according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical energy is used to drive a pump for supplying an electrolyte to the redox flow battery cell.   2. The operating method of the redox flow battery system according to claim 1, further comprising cooling the electrolyte supplied to the redox flow battery cell by flowing water.   4. The operating method of the redox flow battery system according to claim 3, wherein the mechanical energy is used to drive a pump for supplying flowing water to the electrolyte side. A redox flow battery cell;
A pump for supplying the electrolyte from the tank storing the electrolyte to the cell;
A small hydroelectric generator having a rotating shaft rotated by running water;
A redox flow battery system comprising: a power transmission unit that drives a pump by the rotational force of the rotating shaft.   6. The redox flow battery system according to claim 5, wherein the power transmission unit includes a conversion member that changes the number of rotations of the rotation shaft and transmits the change to the pump.   6. The redox flow battery system according to claim 5, wherein a synchronous generator capable of generating power at a constant frequency is used as the small hydroelectric generator. Furthermore, a cooling unit is provided in the electrolyte path between the cell and the tank to cool the electrolyte,
The cooling part is
A transport path for transporting running water for cooling the electrolyte;
A second pump for supplying running water to the transport path;
6. The redox flow battery system according to claim 5, further comprising a motor that drives the second pump and is driven by electric energy obtained by a small hydroelectric generator. Furthermore, a cooling unit is provided in the electrolyte path between the cell and the tank to cool the electrolyte,
The cooling part is
A transport path for transporting running water for cooling the electrolyte;
A second pump for supplying running water to the transport path;
6. The redox flow battery system according to claim 5, further comprising a second power transmission unit that drives the second pump by the rotational force of the rotating shaft. Furthermore, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the electrolyte solution;
An adjustment unit for adjusting the transport state of running water supplied to the cooling unit;
A control unit that adjusts a transport state of running water based on a temperature measured by the temperature sensor and controls a temperature of the electrolyte transported to the electrolyte path to 30 to 60 ° C. The redox flow battery system according to 8 or 9.

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