Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ihi Corporation

24m Technologies, Inc.

Ihi Terrasun Solutions Inc.

W Craig Carter

Yet-Ming Chiang

Marco Ferrara

Michael Goroff

Maxwell Mann

Mihai Duduta

Pimpa Limthongkul

Zheng Li

Bryan Y Ho

Alexander H Slocum, Jr

William Henry Woodford

Ahmed Helal

Garry Maskaly

Brandon James Hopkins

Xinwei Chen

Kyle C Smith

Frank Yongzhen Fan

R Edwin Garcia

Bryan H Ho

Systems and methods for optimal planning and real-time control of energy storage systems for multiple simultaneous applications are provided. Energy storage applications can be analyzed for relevant metrics such as profitability and impact on the functionality of the electric grid, subject to system-wide and energy storage hardware constraints. The optimal amount of storage capacity and the optimal operating strategy can then be derived for each application and be prioritized according to a dispatch stack, which can be statically or dynamically updated according to data forecasts. Embodiments can consist of both planning tools and real-time control algorithms.

Energy storage modeling and control

The flow cell includes first and second reservoirs having a selected volume containing a flowable redox electrode. A membrane separates charged and discharged material. An energy-extraction region includes electronically conductive porous current collectors through or adjacent to which the flowable redox electrodes flow and to which charge transfer occurs. Structure is provided for altering orientation of the flow cell whereby gravity induces flow of the flowable redox electrode between the first and second reservoirs to deliver power. By varying the angle of the cell, flow rate and power delivered on discharge or the charge rate on charge may be varied.

Gravity induced flow cell

Redox flow devices are described in which at least one of the positive electrode or negative electrode-active materials is a semi-solid or is a condensed ion-storing electroactive material, and in which at least one of the electrode-active materials is transported to and from an assembly at which the electrochemical reaction occurs, producing electrical energy. The electronic conductivity of the semi-solid is increased by the addition of conductive particles to suspensions and/or via the surface modification of the solid in semi-solids (e.g., by coating the solid with a more electron conductive coating material to increase the power of the device). High energy density and high power redox flow devices are disclosed. The redox flow devices described herein can also include one or more inventive design features. In addition, inventive chemistries for use in redox flow devices are also described.

High energy density redox flow device

Redox flow devices are described including a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector, and an ion-permeable membrane separating said positive and negative current collectors, positioned and arranged to define a positive electroactive zone and a negative electroactive zone; wherein at least one of said positive and negative electroactive zone comprises a flowable semi-solid composition comprising ion storage compound particles capable of taking up or releasing said ions during operation of the cell, and wherein the ion storage compound particles have a polydisperse size distribution in which the finest particles present in at least 5 vol % of the total volume, is at least a factor of 5 smaller than the largest particles present in at least 5 vol % of the total volume.

The present invention generally relates to energy storage devices, and to metal sulfide energy storage devices in particular. Some aspects of the invention relate to energy storage devices comprising at least one flowable electrode, wherein the flowable electrode comprises an electroactive metal sulfide material suspended and/or dissolved in a carrier fluid. In some embodiments, the flowable electrode further comprises a plurality of electronically conductive particles suspended and/or dissolved in the carrier fluid, wherein the electronically conductive particles form a percolating conductive network. An energy storage device comprising a flowable electrode comprising a metal sulfide electroactive material and a percolating conductive network may advantageously exhibit, upon reversible cycling, higher energy densities and specific capacities than conventional energy storage devices.

Metal sulfide electrodes and energy storage devices thereof

Ionic colloidal crystals (ordered multicomponent colloids formed by attractive electrostatic interactions) may be produced by controlling the surface potential and relative size of multiple populations of colloidal particles in suspension. Such suspensions are dried or otherwise caused to precipitate out the particles in ordered arrays. The crystal structure of the arrays may be controlled by appropriate choices of particle materials, sizes, and charge ratios.

Ionic colloidal crystals

Growing community of inventors

Jamaica Plain, MA, United States of America

W Craig Carter