KR20150143185A - Flow battery and battery module comprising thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present specification relates to a flow battery and a battery module comprising the same. The flow battery comprises: a negative electrode and a positive electrode; a negative electrode tank and a positive electrode tank; a negative electrode inflow path; a negative electrode discharge path; a positive electrode inflow path; a positive electrode discharge path; and an opening and closing unit. According to an embodiment of the present specification, a flow battery is capable of reducing effects of a shunt current when manufacturing a unit cell and a stack.

Description

FLOW BATTERY AND BATTERY MODULE COMPRISING THEREOF FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]

The present disclosure relates to a flow battery and a battery module including the same.

Power storage technology is an important technology for efficient use of energy, such as efficient use of power, improvement of power supply system's ability and reliability, expansion of new and renewable energy with a large fluctuation over time, energy recovery of mobile body, There is a growing demand for possibilities and social contributions.

The supply and demand balances of semi-autonomous regional electricity supply systems such as micro grid and the uneven output of renewable energy such as wind power and solar power are appropriately distributed and voltage and frequency fluctuations Researches on secondary batteries have been actively conducted to control the influence of secondary batteries, and expectations for utilization of secondary batteries are increasing in these fields.

The characteristics required for a secondary battery to be used for large-capacity power storage must be high energy storage density, and a flow battery is most popular as a high capacity and high efficiency secondary battery most suitable for such characteristics.

The flow battery is configured such that the positive and negative electrodes are positioned on both sides of the separation membrane. A bipolar plate for electric conduction is provided on the outside of the electrode, an anode tank and an anode tank for holding the electrolyte, and an inlet through which the electrolyte enters the electrode and an outlet through which the electrolyte again flows.

Korean Patent Publication No. 2009-0046087

The present specification intends to provide a flow battery and a battery module including the flow battery.

The present invention relates to a negative electrode and a positive electrode; A negative electrode tank and a positive electrode tank for respectively storing the negative electrode electrolyte solution and the positive electrode electrolyte solution; A negative electrode inflow path for allowing the negative electrode electrolyte to flow from the negative electrode tank to the negative electrode; A negative electrode discharge passage for discharging the negative electrode electrolyte from the negative electrode to the negative electrode tank; A positive electrode inflow path through which the positive electrode electrolyte can flow from the positive electrode tank to the positive electrode; A positive electrode discharge passage provided so that the positive electrode electrolyte can be discharged from the positive electrode to the positive electrode tank; And an opening and closing part provided in at least one of the cathode inlet path, the cathode outlet path, the anode inlet path, and the anode outlet path.

The present invention also provides a battery module including the flow battery as a unit cell.

The flow battery according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can reduce the influence of shunt current at the time of unit cell and stack fabrication.

The flow battery according to one embodiment of the present specification can prevent the backflow of the electrolyte.

The flow battery according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can prevent deterioration of the electrolyte in the electrode cell and the stack during non-operation.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a general structure of a flow battery.
2 is an enlarged view of the area 'a' of FIG.
FIG. 3 shows a state in which a valve-shaped opening and closing part according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided and a change in a valve-shaped opening and closing part according to the flow of the electrolyte.
FIG. 4 shows a state where the spinning mill type opening and closing part is provided according to one embodiment of the present invention, and a change of the spinning mill type opening and closing part according to the flow of the electrolyte.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

The present invention relates to a negative electrode and a positive electrode; A negative electrode tank and a positive electrode tank for respectively storing the negative electrode electrolyte solution and the positive electrode electrolyte solution; A negative electrode inflow path for allowing the negative electrode electrolyte to flow from the negative electrode tank into the negative electrode; A negative electrode discharge passage for discharging the negative electrode electrolyte from the negative electrode to the negative electrode tank; A positive electrode inflow path through which the positive electrode electrolyte can flow from the positive electrode tank to the positive electrode; A positive electrode discharge passage provided so that the positive electrode electrolyte can be discharged from the positive electrode to the positive electrode tank; And an opening and closing part provided in at least one of the cathode inlet path, the cathode outlet path, the anode inlet path, and the anode outlet path.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a general structure of a flow battery, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a region 'a' of FIG. The flow battery shown in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a cathode 21 and an anode 22; A cathode inlet path 41 and an anode inlet path 42 which respectively flow into the cathode 21 or the anode 22; And a cathode discharge path 31 and a cathode discharge path 32 through which the electrolyte is discharged from the cathode 21 or the anode 22.

The flow battery according to the present invention has at least one of a cathode inlet path 41, a cathode outlet path 31, a cathode inlet path 42, and a cathode outlet path 32 in the sectional view of the flow battery shown in Figs. 1 and 2 And an opening / closing part provided inside the housing.

The opening and closing part may be provided in at least one of a cathode inlet path, a cathode outlet path, a cathode inlet path and a cathode outlet path of the flow battery. In this case, the shunt current in the electrode can be reduced.

In the present specification, the shunt current means that the microcurrent flows through the low-resistance material.

Basically, the current generated in the electrode must flow to the outside through the electrode and the current collector. The shunt current is generated when the electrolyte does not flow to the outside, and the current loss increases as the shunt current increases. .

Specifically, in a flow battery having a passage through which an electrolyte is supplied to an electrode, a current generated in the electrode does not flow to the electrode and the current collector but to a portion far from the electrode, that is, The microcurrent flowing in the electrolyte discharge path with the electrolyte discharged from the inlet path and the inside of the electrode is referred to as a "

1 and 2, the cathode inlet passage 41, the cathode outlet passage 31, the anode inlet passage 42, and the anode outlet passage 32, which are the passages through which the electrolyte is supplied to and discharged from the electrode, A minute current can flow along the electrolyte away from the electrode.

In the present specification, when the opening and closing part is provided in at least one of the cathode inlet path, the cathode outlet path, the anode inlet path and the anode outlet path of the flow battery, generation of shunt current in the electrode can be reduced, And the efficiency of the battery can be increased.

In this specification, at least a cathode inlet path and an anode inlet path of the anode inlet path, the anode outlet path, the anode inlet path, and the anode outlet path of the flow battery may be provided with open / close portions. In this case, the shunt current can be minimized in the electrode, and the electrolyte can be prevented from flowing backward from the electrode to the cathode inlet path and the anode inlet path.

The opening and closing part may be provided inside the anode inlet path, the cathode outlet path, the anode inlet path and the anode outlet path of the flow battery. In this case, it is possible to minimize the shunt current in the electrode, prevent the electrolyte from flowing backward from the electrode to the cathode inlet path, the cathode outlet path, the anode inlet path and the anode outlet path, and deteriorate the electrolyte inside the electrode .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the opening / closing part is provided in at least one of the cathode inlet path, the cathode outlet path, the anode inlet path, and the anode outlet path, It is preferable that the opening /

For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the opening and closing portions 100 and 200 may be provided at the ends connected to the inner electrodes of the cathode inlet 41.

Specifically, the opening / closing portion includes an end connected to the cathode among the inside of the cathode inlet path; An end connected to the cathode among the inside of the cathode discharge path; An end connected to the anode among the inside of the anode inlet path; And at least one of the ends of the anode discharge path connected to the anode.

In the present specification, the opening / closing part refers to a member that can repeat opening and closing of an installed inlet according to conditions. The opening / closing part may be opened when the electrolytic solution flows and closed when the electrolytic solution does not flow.

Specifically, the electrolytic solution flows through the pump, and at this time, the electrolytic solution can push through the opening and closing part by the force generated at the flow rate of the electrolytic solution. As the flow rate of the electrolytic solution decreases, the force of the electrolytic solution pushing the opening / closing part decreases, and the amount of the electrolytic solution passing through the opening / closing part gradually decreases. If the electrolytic solution does not flow, the electrolytic solution can not pass through the opening / closing part because there is no force for pushing the electrolytic solution through the opening / closing part or because the force pushing the opening / closing part can not move the opening / closing part.

The material of the opening and closing part may be a strong acid, a solvent inside the electrolyte, and a substance having a high chemical resistance to the electrolyte. The material of the opening and closing part is not particularly limited as long as it is resistant to strong acids and solvents and electrolytes in the electrolytic solution.

For example, it is possible to use polyacrylate, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene ether phthalate, polyethylene phthalate ), Polybuthylene phthalate, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), polyether imide, polyether sulfone ), Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyimide (PI), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Polytetrafluoroethylene) polyurethane, a silicone resin and a polyketone, From the group consisting of a mixture or two or more copolymer may include one kind of material selected.

The shape of the opening / closing part is not limited as long as the opening and closing of the installed passage can be repeated according to the condition, but it may be at least one of a valve-type and a wheelbarrow type.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the opening and closing part may be at least one of a valve-type and a wheelbarrow type. The shape of the opening / closing part may be different or the same depending on the position where the opening / closing part is installed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the opening and closing part may be a plate-like shape.

The valve opening / closing part is provided in at least one of a cathode inlet path, a cathode outlet path, an anode inlet path, and an anode outlet path, and one end of the opening / closing part is fixed to the inside of the passage when it is provided. Specifically, a part of the edge or the side surface of the valve-shaped opening and closing part is fixed to the inside of the passage.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the valve-opening / closing unit 100 is provided inside the inflow passage or the discharge opening, one end of the valve-closing unit 100 is fixed to the inside of the passage.

When the electrolytic solution does not flow, the electrolyte solution can not pass through the valve-opening / closing part because the portion of the valve-like opening / closing part that is not fixed to the passage in the end part of the valve-

When the electrolytic solution flows, one end of the valve-shaped opening / closing part fixed to the inside of the passage does not move and receives a pushing force due to the electrolytic solution flowing in the part that is not fixed to the inside of the passage and is separated from the inner wall of the passage, The electrolytic solution can pass through the opening and closing part. At this time, the faster the rate at which the electrolytic solution flows, the more the valve-shaped opening and closing part is bent, and consequently the amount of the electrolyte passing through the valve-shaped opening and closing part can be increased.

3, when the flow A of the electrolytic solution is generated, a portion of the end portion of the valve-closing portion 100 that has closed the passage is not fixed to the passage, And the valve-like opening / closing portion is bent like C, so that the electrolyte can pass through the opening and closing portion.

On the other hand, if the flow rate of the electrolytic solution (A) is gradually decreased, the pushing force of the electrolytic solution (A) is reduced by the flow of the electrolytic solution, so that the valve-shaped opening / closing part separated from the inner wall of the passage decreases in deflection as in D, The amount of electrolytic solution gradually decreases. When the flow A of the electrolytic solution gradually decreases and the pushing force of the electrolytic solution A can not keep the bending of the opening and closing part or the flow A of the electrolytic solution stops, The electrolytic solution can not pass through the opening and closing part.

It is preferable that the valve-shaped opening / closing part has an elastic force so as to repeat the opening and closing of the inlet provided according to the flow of the electrolytic solution.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic force of the valve-opening / closing part may be 0.1 MPa or more and 10 MPa or less. Specifically, the elastic force of the valve-shaped opening / closing part may be 0.5 MPa or more and 5 MPa or less.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shape of the opening and closing part may be a spiral shape.

The spinning mill type opening and closing part includes: a support; And a blade provided on an outer circumferential surface of the supporter. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the spinning mill type opening / closing part 200 includes a support 210; And a wing 220 provided on an outer circumferential surface of the supporter 210.

The spinning mill type opening / closing unit is provided inside at least one of a cathode inlet path, a cathode outlet path, an anode inlet path and a cathode outlet path, and both ends of the support of the spinning mill opening / closing part are fixed to the inside of the path .

When the electrolytic solution does not flow, the surface of the wing of the spinning mill opening / closing part comes into close contact with the inside of the passage, and the electrolytic solution can not pass through the spinning mill opening / closing part.

When the electrolytic solution flows, the electrolytic solution can pass through the opening and closing part while the water-milled type opening / closing part rotates about the support base by receiving the pushing force by the electrolytic solution in which the wings of the water-

4, when the flow A of the electrolytic solution is generated, the wing 220 of the spinning mill opening / closing part 200, which has closed the passage, receives a pushing force by the flow A of the electrolytic solution, And the electrolytic solution can pass through the opening and closing part while rotating around the support table 210 as indicated by C in FIG.

On the other hand, if the flow rate of the electrolytic solution A is gradually decreased, the pushing force of the electrolytic solution A is reduced by the flow of the electrolytic solution, and the rotational speed of the vane 220 is decreased. As a result, the amount of the electrolytic solution passing through the opening / When the flow A of the electrolytic solution gradually decreases and the pushing force of the electrolytic solution A can not rotate the wing 220 or the flow A of the electrolytic solution stops, The surface of the electrolytic solution 220 is brought into close contact with the inside of the passage, so that the electrolytic solution can not pass through the water shutoff unit 200.

It is preferable that the spinneret-like opening and closing part has an elastic force so that the wing of the spinneret-shaped opening and closing part can be bent and adhered when the inner wall of the spinneret contacts the inner wall of the spinneret according to the flow of the electrolyte solution.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic force of the blade may be 0.1 MPa or more and 10 MPa or less. Specifically, the elastic force of the vanes may be 0.5 MPa or more and 5 MPa or less.

The flow battery in this specification includes a negative electrode; anode; And an electrode cell including a separator disposed between the cathode and the anode.

The materials of the negative electrode, the positive electrode, and the separator are not particularly limited, and those generally used in the art can be employed.

The separation membrane may include a porous support and an ion conductor provided in the pores of the porous support.

The structure and material of the support are not particularly limited as long as the porous support includes a plurality of pores, and those generally used in the art can be used.

For example, the porous support may be formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of polyimide (PI), nylon, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene (PE) polypropylene (PP), poly (arylene ether sulfone) (PAES), and polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

The ion conductor is not particularly limited as long as it can be filled in the pores of the porous support and can perform ion exchange, and those generally used in the art can be used.

For example, the ionic conductor may be selected from the group consisting of Nafion, sulfonated polyetheretherketone (sPEEK) sulfonated polyetherketone (sPEK), polyvinylidene fluoride-graft-polystyrene (Polyvinylidene fluoride) -graft-poly (styrene sulfonic acid), PVDF-g-PSSA) and sulfonated poly (fluorenyl ether ketone).

The flow battery of the present invention may further include a negative electrode electrolyte injected into and discharged from the negative electrode, and a positive electrode electrolyte injected into and discharged from the positive electrode.

The negative electrode electrolytic solution and the positive electrode electrolytic solution may include an electrolyte and a solvent, respectively.

The electrolyte and the solvent are not particularly limited, but those generally used in the art can be employed.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flow battery uses a V (IV) / V (V) redox couple as the positive electrode electrolyte and a V (II) / V have.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the flow battery may use a halogen redox couple as a positive electrode electrolyte and a V (II) / V (III) redox couple as a negative electrode electrolyte.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the flow battery may use a redox couple as a cathode electrolyte and a sulfurized redox couples as a cathode electrolyte.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the flow battery may use a halogen redox couple as a positive electrode electrolyte and a zinc redox couple as a negative electrode electrolyte.

The flow battery of the present invention may further include a negative electrode tank storing a negative electrode electrolyte solution or a positive electrode electrolyte solution, and a pump connected to the positive electrode tank to supply the electrolyte solution to the negative electrode or the positive electrode.

The flow battery may be a redox flow battery.

The redox flow battery includes, but is not limited to, a vanadium redox flow battery, a lead redox flow battery, a polysulfide bromine (PSB) redox flow battery, a zinc-bromine (Zn-Br) redox flow Battery or the like.

The shape of the flow battery is not limited, and may be, for example, a coin, a flat plate, a cylinder, a horn, a button, a sheet or a laminate.

The present specification provides a battery module including the flow battery as a unit cell.

The battery module may be formed by stacking a bipolar plate between flow batteries according to one embodiment of the present application.

The battery module may be specifically used as a power source for an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a power storage device.

1: Housing
10: Membrane
21: cathode 22: anode
25: cathode collector
31: cathode exhaust passage 32: anode exhaust passage
41: cathode inlet line 42: anode inlet line
45: passage of cathode inlet path
100: valve-
200: Spindle type opening / closing part
210: support 220: wing
A: Flow of electrolyte in negative electrode inlet
B: Flow of electrolyte in the cathode

Claims (11)

Cathode and anode;
A negative electrode tank and a positive electrode tank for respectively storing the negative electrode electrolyte solution and the positive electrode electrolyte solution;
A negative electrode inflow path for allowing the negative electrode electrolyte to flow from the negative electrode tank into the negative electrode;
A negative electrode discharge passage for discharging the negative electrode electrolyte from the negative electrode to the negative electrode tank;
A positive electrode inflow path through which the positive electrode electrolyte can flow from the positive electrode tank to the positive electrode;
A positive electrode discharge passage provided so that the positive electrode electrolyte can be discharged from the positive electrode to the positive electrode tank; And
And an opening / closing portion provided in at least one of the cathode inlet path, the cathode outlet path, the anode inlet path, and the anode outlet path. [3] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening / closing part includes: an end connected to the cathode of the inside of the negative electrode inflow path; An end connected to the cathode among the inside of the cathode discharge path; An end connected to the anode among the inside of the anode inlet path; And at least one of the ends of the inside of the anode discharge path connected to the anode. The flow battery according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing portion is provided in each of the cathode inlet passage, the cathode outlet passage, the anode inlet passage, and the anode outlet passage. [4] The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the opening / closing part includes: an end connected to the cathode among the inside of the cathode inlet path; An end connected to the cathode among the inside of the cathode discharge path; An end connected to the anode among the inside of the anode inlet path; And an end portion connected to the anode of the inside of the anode discharge path. The flow battery according to claim 1, wherein the opening and closing part is at least one of a valve-type and a spinning-wheel type. The flow battery according to claim 5, wherein the elasticity of the valve-shaped opening and closing part is 0.1 MPa or more and 10 MPa or less. [6] The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the spinning mill opening / closing part comprises: And a wing provided on an outer circumferential surface of the support. The flow battery according to claim 7, wherein the elastic force of the blade is 0.1 MPa or more and 10 MPa or less. The flow battery according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing part is opened when the electrolytic solution flows and closes when the electrolytic solution does not flow. [3] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening and closing part is made of polyacrylate, polyethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene ether phthalate, Polyethylene phthalate, polybuthylene phthalate, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), polyetherimide, polyetherimide, Polyether sulfone, polyether sulfone, polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyimide (PI), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyurethane, silicone resin, and polyketone. Wherein the flow cell comprises one material selected from the group consisting of a single polymer, a mixture of two or more, or two or more copolymers. A battery module comprising the flow battery of any one of claims 1 to 10 as a unit cell.

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