A system and method for servicing a flow battery includes a servicing office in communication with a flow battery and capable of receiving a status from the flow battery and dispatching a portable servicing facility to service the flow battery. The flow battery includes a service port and the portable servicing facility includes a corresponding servicing coupler. The portable servicing facility is capable of replacing depleted electrolyte from the flow battery with charged electrolyte. The portable servicing facility can also update the flow battery status in the servicing office after servicing the flow battery.

Electrochemical cells can include flow channels designed to provide an electrolyte solution more efficiently to an electrode or ionically conductive separator. Such electrochemical cells can include an ionically conductive separator disposed between a first half-cell and a second half-cell, a first bipolar plate in the first half-cell, and a second bipolar plate in the second half-cell. At least one of the first bipolar plate and the second bipolar plate are a composite containing a conductive material and a blocking material. The blocking material defines a plurality of flow channels that are spaced apart from one another and extend laterally through the composite with respect to the ionically conductive separator. The plurality of flow channels are also in fluid communication with one another in the composite. Such electrochemical cells can be incorporated in electrochemical stacks and/or be fluidly connected to a fluid inlet manifold and a fluid outlet manifold.

Electrochemical cells can include flow channels designed to provide an electrolyte solution more efficiently to an electrode or ionically conductive separator. Such electrochemical cells can include an ionically conductive separator disposed between a first half-cell and a second half-cell, a first bipolar plate in the first half-cell, and a second bipolar plate in the second half-cell. At least one of the first bipolar plate and the second bipolar plate are a composite containing a conductive material and a blocking material. The blocking material defines a plurality of flow channels that are spaced apart from one another and extend laterally through the composite with respect to the ionically conductive separator. The plurality of flow channels are also in fluid communication with one another in the composite. Such electrochemical cells can be incorporated in electrochemical stacks and/or be fluidly connected to a fluid inlet manifold and a fluid outlet manifold.

A redox flow battery stack cell frame comprising a support frame and a monolithic bipolar plate integrated within the support frame is disclosed. The bipolar plate comprises a plurality of interdigitated flow channels on at least one surface. The support frame comprises an inlet manifold formed into a facing surface of the first side of the frame, the inlet manifold comprising fluid inlet distribution channels in a serpentine arrangement, each fluid inlet distribution channel aligned with a single inlet flow channel of the bipolar plate; and an outlet manifold formed into the facing surface of the opposing side of the frame, the outlet manifold comprising fluid outlet distribution channels in a serpentine arrangement, each fluid outlet distribution channel aligned with a single outlet flow channel of the bipolar plate. Redox flow battery stack cells and stacks comprising the stack cell frame are also disclosed.

A redox flow battery stack cell frame comprising a support frame and a monolithic bipolar plate integrated within the support frame is disclosed. The bipolar plate comprises a plurality of interdigitated flow channels on at least one surface. The support frame comprises an inlet manifold formed into a facing surface of the first side of the frame, the inlet manifold comprising fluid inlet distribution channels in a serpentine arrangement, each fluid inlet distribution channel aligned with a single inlet flow channel of the bipolar plate; and an outlet manifold formed into the facing surface of the opposing side of the frame, the outlet manifold comprising fluid outlet distribution channels in a serpentine arrangement, each fluid outlet distribution channel aligned with a single outlet flow channel of the bipolar plate. Redox flow battery stack cells and stacks comprising the stack cell frame are also disclosed.

A method for replenishing an electrolyte of a molten carbonate fuel cell stack includes: preparing an electrolyte colloidal solution containing 10% to 20% of the electrolyte and having a viscosity of 200 to 800 Pa.Math.s; replenishing the electrolyte of the cell stack using the electrolyte colloidal solution prepared in step 1 to allow the electrolyte to adhere to an electrode and an internal channel of the cell stack; discharging excess electrolyte colloidal solution in the cell stack; and drying and discharging water or an organic solvent in the cell stack under an inert gas condition to complete replenishment of the electrolyte of the cell stack, and performing a discharge performance test.

A method for replenishing an electrolyte of a molten carbonate fuel cell stack includes: preparing an electrolyte colloidal solution containing 10% to 20% of the electrolyte and having a viscosity of 200 to 800 Pa.Math.s; replenishing the electrolyte of the cell stack using the electrolyte colloidal solution prepared in step 1 to allow the electrolyte to adhere to an electrode and an internal channel of the cell stack; discharging excess electrolyte colloidal solution in the cell stack; and drying and discharging water or an organic solvent in the cell stack under an inert gas condition to complete replenishment of the electrolyte of the cell stack, and performing a discharge performance test.

The fuel cell (100) includes an oxidant flow plate (212), an adjacent cathode substrate layer (216) having a cathode catalyst (222), a matrix (224) for retaining a liquid electrolyte (230), wherein the matrix (224) is secured adjacent and between the cathode catalyst (222) and an anode catalyst (232). A first anode substrate (102) is secured adjacent the anode catalyst (232), and at least a second duplicate anode substrate layer (108) is secured adjacent the first anode substrate layer (102) for providing greater pore volume for storage of the liquid electrolyte (230) and to limit obstruction of the pore volume of the anode substrates (102, 108). The duplicate anode substrate layer (108) may be partially filled with the liquid electrolyte (230) at the beginning of life of the fuel cell (100).

The present invention relates to a redox flow battery having at least one battery module which consists of a battery cell, an electrolyte tank, an electrolyte flow path, a fluid control unit, and a pressure generating unit, wherein each of the battery modules is charged and discharged by independently circulating an electrolyte.

The present invention relates to a redox flow battery having at least one battery module which consists of a battery cell, an electrolyte tank, an electrolyte flow path, a fluid control unit, and a pressure generating unit, wherein each of the battery modules is charged and discharged by independently circulating an electrolyte.