Lockheed Martin Energy, LLC

Joseph Johannes Henricus Pijpers

John Goeltz

Steven Y Reece

Paravastu Badrinarayanan

Thomas Harry Madden

Jeremy S Loretz

Srivatsava Venkataranga Puranam

Timothy B Grejtak

Curtis Warrington

Helen Elizabeth Vanbenschoten

Parasitic reactions, such as production of hydrogen and oxidation by oxygen, can occur under the operating conditions of flow batteries and other electrochemical systems. Such parasitic reactions can undesirably impact operating performance by altering the pH and/or state of charge of one or both electrolyte solutions in a flow battery. Electrochemical balancing cells can allow rebalancing of electrolyte solutions to take place. Electrochemical balancing cells suitable for placement in fluid communication with both electrolyte solutions of a flow battery can include: a first chamber containing a first electrode, a second chamber containing a second electrode, a third chamber disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, an ion-selective membrane forming a first interface between the first chamber and the third chamber, and a bipolar membrane forming a second interface between the second chamber and the third chamber.

Flow battery balancing cells having a bipolar membrane for simultaneous modification of a negative electrolyte solution and a positive electrolyte solution

Electrochemical cells, such as those present within flow batteries, can have an electrode and a bipolar plate in at least one half-cell interfacially bonded together with an electrically conductive adhesive. Bonding the bipolar plate to the electrode can decrease contact resistance and sometimes lessen the incidence of parasitic reactions in the electrochemical cell. Flow batteries containing these features can include: a first half-cell containing a first electrode in interfacial contact with a first bipolar plate, a second half-cell containing a second electrode in interfacial contact with a second bipolar plate, and a separator disposed between the first half-cell and the second half-cell. An electrically conductive adhesive interfacially bonds at least one of the first electrode to the first bipolar plate and the second electrode to the second bipolar plate. Each electrode maintains fluid communication with its corresponding bipolar plate.

Flow batteries having an interfacially bonded bipolar plate-electrode assembly and methods for production and use thereof

Parasitic reactions, such as evolution of hydrogen at the negative electrode, can occur under the operating conditions of flow batteries and other electrochemical systems. Such parasitic reactions can undesirably impact operating performance by altering the pH and/or state of charge of one or both electrolyte solutions in a flow battery. Electrochemical balancing cells can allow adjustment of electrolyte solutions to take place. Electrochemical balancing cells suitable for placement in fluid communication with both electrolyte solutions of a flow battery can include: a first chamber containing a first electrode, a second chamber containing a second electrode, a third chamber disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, a cation-selective membrane forming a first interface between the first chamber and the third chamber, and a bipolar membrane, a cation-selective membrane, or a membrane electrode assembly forming a second interface between the second chamber and the third chamber.

Three-chamber electrochemical balancing cells for simultaneous modification of state of charge and acidity within a flow battery

State of charge determination within electrochemical systems, such as flow batteries, can often be difficult to measure, particularly in an in situ manner. Methods for assaying the condition of an electrochemical system can include: interacting electromagnetic radiation with a first electrolyte solution at a location within the electrochemical system, the electromagnetic radiation being delivered through an optical material configured to exhibit attenuated total reflectance at an interface between the optical material and the first electrolyte solution; receiving at a detector electromagnetic radiation that has interacted with the first electrolyte solution via one or more attenuated total reflectances within the optical material; and measuring an absorbance of at least one of an oxidized form or a reduced form of a first coordination compound within the first electrolyte solution via the electromagnetic radiation that is received at the detector.

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Joseph Johannes Henricus Pijpers