JP2014127263A - Redox flow battery - Google Patents

Abstract

A redox flow battery capable of improving energy efficiency while suppressing an increase in weight is provided.
An electrode storage container 11 including a positive electrode 14p and a negative electrode 14n, and a positive electrode storage container 12p that is provided independently of the electrode storage container 11 and stores a positive electrolyte VO ²⁺ / VO ₂ ^+. And the negative electrode electrolyte storage container 12n for storing the negative electrode electrolyte V ³⁺ / V ²⁺ is provided in the vehicle 1. The positive electrode communication path 18p that connects the space 15p in which the positive electrode 14p is built in and the positive electrode electrolyte storage container 12p in communication with each other, and the space 15n in which the negative electrode 14n is built in and the negative electrode electrolyte storage container 12n are connected in communication. Negative electrode communication path 18n. The flow direction of the positive electrode electrolyte VO ²⁺ / VO ₂ ⁺ flowing through the positive electrode communication path 18 p and the flow direction of the negative electrode electrolyte V ³⁺ / V ²⁺ flowing through the negative electrode communication path 18 n are the progression of the vehicle 1. The direction along the direction.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a redox flow battery mounted on a vehicle such as a vehicle or a ship.

  Conventionally, various types of secondary batteries are used in portable devices such as notebook computers and mobile phones, and vehicles such as automobiles and trains. For example, a lead storage battery using an electrolyte solution of dilute sulfuric acid and an alkaline secondary battery using an electrolyte solution of an alkaline aqueous solution are widely known. As a secondary battery for power storage, a redox flow battery that performs charging / discharging by changing the valence of ions while the active material is in an ionic state before and after the oxidation-reduction reaction is also known.

  An aqueous solution type secondary battery using an aqueous solution as an electrolytic solution such as a lead storage battery, an alkaline secondary battery, or a redox flow battery may cause a concentration difference in the electrolytic solution as a chemical reaction proceeds. On the other hand, since such a concentration difference causes a decrease in battery performance such as a decrease in battery capacity and a deterioration in charge / discharge efficiency, a structure in which the concentration is made uniform by circulating an electrolytic solution is used. For example, there is a battery vessel in which a forced circulation device such as a pump is provided to eliminate the concentration difference of the electrolytic solution.

  Moreover, the structure which circulates electrolyte solution without using an apparatus like a pump with respect to the secondary battery mounted in a vehicle is proposed. For example, the secondary battery described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a piston movably arranged in the traveling direction of the vehicle and a cylinder that houses the piston in the lower part of the battery container containing the electrode plate and the electrolyte. It has been. A pair of introduction pipes are connected to both ends of the cylinder via check valves, and ends of the introduction pipes opposite to the check valves are opened. When the vehicle on which the secondary battery is mounted is accelerated and decelerated, the piston in the cylinder moves back and forth in accordance with the increasing speed and decreasing acceleration of the vehicle. By such movement of the piston, the electrolytic solution is guided from one introduction pipe into the cylinder, discharged from the other introduction pipe, and stirred in the battery container. Thereby, it is supposed that the electrolyte solution in the battery container is made uniform.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-94255

  By the way, a redox flow battery, which is a kind of secondary battery, is a secondary battery in which an inactive electrode is built in and a cell that is charged and discharged is separated from an external tank that stores an electrolytic solution. Usually, a redox flow battery is provided with a pump for circulating the electrolyte in the cell and the electrolyte in the external tank. The redox flow battery can increase the battery capacity by increasing the storage amount of the electrolyte (that is, by increasing the tank capacity), and is currently used for power storage. is there.

  Since the redox flow battery has an advantage that the structure is simple and the cycle life is long, it may be mounted on a vehicle such as a vehicle or a ship and used as a power source of the vehicle. When mounted on a vehicle, it is desirable to reduce the energy consumption by reducing the weight as much as possible. Moreover, since operating the pump to circulate the electrolyte solution leads to an increase in energy consumption, it is also necessary to suppress energy required for driving the pump and improve energy efficiency.

  In addition, although using a piston instead of a pump like said patent document 1 is also considered, the weight increase of the whole battery is unavoidable by arrange | positioning a piston. In addition, while the piston moves in the acceleration and deceleration direction of the vehicle, the concentration difference of the electrolyte is generated in the vertical direction of the electrode container, and the piston movement direction and the concentration difference generation direction are different. Velocity and decelerating energy cannot be efficiently used to eliminate the electrolyte concentration difference.

  One of the purposes of the present case is to provide a redox flow battery that has been developed in view of the above-described problems and is capable of improving energy efficiency while suppressing an increase in weight. The present invention is not limited to this purpose, and is a function and effect derived from each configuration shown in the embodiments for carrying out the invention described later, and other effects of the present invention are to obtain a function and effect that cannot be obtained by conventional techniques. Can be positioned.

  (1) The redox flow battery disclosed here is provided in a vehicle, has two spaces inside, and each electrode contains a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and the vehicle is independent of the electrode storage vessel. The positive electrode storage container for storing the positive electrode electrolyte and the negative electrode storage container for storing the negative electrode electrolyte, the space in which the positive electrode is built, and the positive electrode storage container are in communication with each other A negative electrode communication path through which the positive electrode electrolyte flows, and a space in which the negative electrode is built in and the negative electrode electrolyte storage container are connected to each other so that the negative electrode electrolyte flows. A flow direction of the positive electrode electrolyte flowing through the positive electrode communication path and a flow direction of the negative electrode electrolyte flowing through the negative electrode communication path, both of which are the vehicles. Progression It is characterized in that a direction along the direction.

  (2) The space containing the positive electrode and the space containing the negative electrode are arranged in parallel in the traveling direction of the vehicle in the electrode storage container, and the positive electrolyte storage container and the negative electrode electrolysis It is preferable that any of the liquid storage containers is disposed in front of the front surface of the electrode storage container or behind the rear surface. In other words, the positive electrode electrolyte storage container, the electrode storage container, and the negative electrode electrolyte storage container are arranged in a U shape in a top view or a side view including a communication path connecting them. preferable.

  (3) At this time, a positive electrode pump that is provided separately from the positive electrode communication path, connects the space in which the positive electrode is built in and the positive electrode electrolyte storage container in communication, and pumps the positive electrode electrolyte. A negative electrode pump that is provided separately from the negative electrode communication path, and that connects the space containing the negative electrode and the negative electrode electrolyte storage container in a communicating state, and pumps the negative electrode electrolyte. It is preferable that the positive electrode pump and the negative electrode pump are arranged so that their rotation axes coincide with each other.

  (4) In addition, the positive electrode storage container is disposed in front of the front surface of the electrode storage container and rearward of the rear surface, and the negative electrode electrolyte storage container is disposed in front of the front surface of the electrode storage container. It is preferable that it is arrange | positioned at either other of the back of a rear surface. That is, it is preferable that the positive electrode electrolyte storage container, the electrode storage container, and the negative electrode electrolyte storage container are arranged in a straight line in a top view or a side view including a communication path connecting them.

(5) Moreover, it is preferable that at least any one of the said electrode storage container, the said positive electrode electrolyte storage container, and the said negative electrode electrolyte storage container is enclosed with the compressive fluid. In addition, a first compressive fluid is sealed in at least one of the space containing the positive electrode and the positive electrode electrolyte storage container, and at least one of the space containing the negative electrode and the negative electrode electrolyte storage container It is preferable that a second compressive fluid is enclosed in the inside of the.
(6) It is preferable that a valve is provided in each of the positive electrode communication path and the negative electrode communication path.
(7) At this time, it is preferable that two positive electrode communication paths and two negative electrode communication paths are provided.

(8) The valve is a check valve that is opened by pressure, and the check valve has a flow direction opposite to each other on the two positive electrode communication paths and the two negative electrode communication paths. More preferably, it is provided.
(9) Alternatively, one of the two positive electrode communication paths is provided with a check valve that is opened by pressure, and the other is provided with an open / close valve that is opened and closed by an external force. It is preferable that either one of the communication paths is provided with a check valve that is opened by pressure, and one of the other is provided with an open / close valve that is opened and closed by an external force.

  According to the disclosed redox flow battery, by the inertia force generated by acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, the electrolyte is moved between the electrode storage container and the positive and negative electrolyte storage containers through the positive and negative communication paths, respectively, and stirred. Can be exchanged. Therefore, means such as a pump for circulating the electrolytic solution can be omitted, and an increase in weight can be suppressed. Further, if means such as a pump is provided, the electrolyte can be moved during acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle even when the pump is not operating. That is, this redox flow battery uses the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle to reduce the difference between the ion concentration of the electrolyte in the electrode storage container and the ion concentration of the electrolyte in the electrolyte storage container (ion concentration difference). The ion concentration of the electrolytic solution can be made uniform as a whole. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in battery capacity, prevent deterioration of charge / discharge efficiency, and maintain output.

  In addition, by using the inertia force, the operation time and the number of operations of the pump for circulating the electrolytic solution can be reduced, and the energy required for the pump operation can be suppressed, so that energy efficiency can be improved. it can. In addition, even if the pump does not operate due to a system failure, the electrolytic solution can be moved, so that the use as a battery can be continued and the reliability can be improved.

It is the schematic explaining the principle of operation of a general redox flow battery. It is a typical side view of the vehicle carrying the redox flow battery which concerns on 1st embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the vehicle in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the operating state of the redox flow battery of FIG. 3, (a) is at the time of vehicle acceleration, (b) is at the time of vehicle deceleration. It is a typical top view which shows the modification of the redox flow battery of FIG. 3, (a) is a 1st modification, (b) is a 2nd modification, (c) is a 3rd modification. It is a typical top view of the vehicle carrying the redox flow battery which concerns on 2nd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is merely an example, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and technical applications that are not explicitly described in the following embodiment. Each configuration of the present embodiment can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present embodiment, and can be selected or combined as necessary. In the following description, it is assumed that the traveling direction of the vehicle is the front, the left and right are determined based on the front, the direction of gravity is the lower side, and the opposite is the upper side.

[1. Basic structure of redox flow battery]
First, a basic structure of a general redox flow battery (hereinafter referred to as an RF battery) 40 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the RF battery 40 is a secondary battery in which a charge / discharge cell 41 in which an electrode 44 is built and a tank 42 for storing an electrolytic solution are separately provided. Here, an all-vanadium-based RF battery 40 in which both positive and negative electrolytes are vanadium ions (V ³⁺ / V ²⁺ , VO ²⁺ / VO ₂ ⁺ ) will be described. The reaction of the RF battery 40 is caused by a change in the valence of vanadium ions (hereinafter also referred to as V ions) contained in the positive and negative electrolytes in the charge / discharge cell 41. In the following description, in order to distinguish between the positive-side element and the negative-side element, p is given to the positive-side element and n is attached to the negative-side element. .

  The charge / discharge cell 41 is an element used for conversion between electric energy and chemical energy, and the inside thereof is divided into two spaces 45p and 45n by a diaphragm 43. In the two spaces 45p and 45n of the charge / discharge cell 41, a positive electrode 44p and a negative electrode 44n are arranged as electrodes 44, respectively. The positive electrode 44p and the negative electrode 44n are inactive electrodes, each formed of carbon fiber. A conducting wire is connected to each of the positive electrode 44p and the negative electrode 44n, and an electric load 50 is connected to the tip of the conducting wire, for example.

  The diaphragm 43 is disposed at the center of the charge / discharge cell 41 and partitions the charge / discharge cell 41 into a positive electrode space 45p and a negative electrode space 45n, and is an ion exchange membrane that allows hydrogen ions to pass but not V ions. In addition, although the case where the charging / discharging cell 41 of the RF battery 40 is one is illustrated here, a plurality of charging / discharging cells 41 are normally connected in series to form a cell group, and the output voltage of the battery is increased. .

The tank 42 includes a positive electrode tank 42p that stores a positive electrode electrolyte and a negative electrode tank 42n that stores a negative electrode electrolyte. The positive electrode tank 42p communicates with the positive electrode space 45p through the flow path 46p, and internally contains tetravalent vanadium ions (also expressed as V ⁴⁺ and VO ²⁺ ) and pentavalent vanadium ions ( V ⁵⁺ and VO ₂ ⁺ ) are stored. Hereinafter, the electrolyte solution of the positive electrode is expressed as VO ²⁺ / VO ₂ ⁺ . The negative electrode tank 42n communicates with the negative electrode space 45n through a flow path 46n, and internally contains trivalent vanadium ions (also referred to as V ³⁺ ) and divalent vanadium ions (also referred to as V ²⁺ ) that are negative electrode electrolytes. Stored). Hereinafter, the electrolyte solution of the negative electrode is expressed as V ³⁺ / V ²⁺ .

The flow paths 46p and 46n are pipes through which the electrolytic solution flows, and a pump 47 for pumping the electrolytic solution is interposed in each of the flow paths 46p and 46n. The operation of the pump 47 is controlled by, for example, a controller (not shown). When the pump is operated, the electrolytic solution is circulated between the charge / discharge cell 41 and the tank 42. When the pump is stopped, the circulation of the electrolytic solution is stopped.
The electrode reactions of the RF battery 40 configured in this way are shown in equations (1) and (2). Formula (1) shows the battery reaction of the positive electrode, and Formula (2) shows the battery reaction of the negative electrode. Further, a reaction from left to right represents a battery reaction during discharging, and a reaction from right to left represents a battery reaction during charging.

At the time of discharging, divalent V ions are oxidized to trivalent V ions at the negative electrode in the cell, and pentavalent V ions are reduced to tetravalent V ions at the positive electrode. Thereby, in the negative electrode space 45n, the trivalent V ion concentration is increased, and the divalent V ion concentration is decreased. Further, in the positive electrode space 45p, the tetravalent V ion concentration is increased and the pentavalent V ion concentration is decreased. At this time, electrons (e ⁻ ) generated at the negative electrode move to the positive electrode side through the conducting wire, and electric power is taken out. At the same time, hydrogen ions (H ⁺ ) move through the diaphragm 43 to the positive electrode side.

On the other hand, during charging, tetravalent V ions are oxidized to pentavalent V ions at the positive electrode in the cell, and trivalent V ions are reduced to divalent V ions at the negative electrode. Thereby, in the positive electrode space 45p, the pentavalent V ion concentration increases and the tetravalent V ion concentration decreases. In the negative electrode space 45n, the divalent V ion concentration increases and the trivalent V ion concentration decreases. At this time, the electrons (e ⁻ ) generated at the positive electrode move to the negative electrode side through the conducting wire, so that electric power is stored. At the same time, the hydrogen ions (H ⁺ ) move through the diaphragm 43 to the negative electrode side. . In this way, while the electrical neutrality of the electrolytic solution is maintained, the supplied electric power is stored in the electrolytic solution as a change in the form of V ions having different valences, and can be taken out during discharge.

  In the RF battery 40, the V ion concentration of each of the active materials contained in the electrolytic solution in the charge / discharge cell 41 is changed by the charge / discharge operation. Therefore, the electrolytic solution stored in the tank 42 is sent to the charge / discharge cell 41 using the pump 47, the electrolytic solution is circulated between the charge / discharge cell 41 and the tank 42, and the electrolytic solution in the charge / discharge cell 41 is stored in the tank. Drain to 42. As a result, the electrolytic solution in the charge / discharge cell 41 and the electrolytic solution in the tank 42 are switched to maintain the electrical output by electrolysis.

[2. First embodiment]
[2-1. Construction]
Next, the RF battery 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, the present RF battery 10 is mounted under the floor of the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle that travels when the motor 2 is operated by the electric power of the RF battery 10. In addition, although the case where only the RF battery 10 is mounted on the vehicle 1 as a power source of the motor 2 is illustrated here, other than this, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery, a lithium ion polymer secondary battery, etc. A traveling battery may be mounted, and the traveling battery may be configured to be externally chargeable.

An inverter 3 is provided on a power supply circuit that connects the motor 2 and the RF battery 10. The current exchanged on the RF battery 10 side from the inverter 3 is a DC current, the current exchanged on the motor 2 side from the inverter 3 is an AC current, and the inverter 3 converts these currents from DC to AC. carry out.
The RF battery 10 is an all-vanadium RF battery having the basic structure of the general RF battery 40 described above. In the following description regarding the RF battery 10, elements having the same functions and structures as those of the general RF battery 40 are referred to by the same names as those described above, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the RF battery 10 according to the present embodiment includes a charge / discharge cell (electrode storage container) 11 containing an electrode 14 (a positive electrode 14p and a negative electrode 14n), and two positive and negative electrolyte solutions. A tank (electrolyte storage container) 12 and a communication path 18 for connecting the charge / discharge cell 11 and the two tanks 12 to each other are provided. In the RF battery 10, the charge / discharge cell 11, the tank 12, and the communication path 18 are arranged along the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 (that is, the front-rear direction). Here, the RF battery 10 has two tanks 12 arranged behind the rear surface of the charge / discharge cell 11 and has a U-shape when viewed from above.

  The charge / discharge cell 11 is partitioned into two spaces 15 by a diaphragm 13 provided along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A positive electrode 14 p is disposed in one space 15, and a negative electrode 14 n is disposed in the other space 15. Hereinafter, the space 15 in which the positive electrode 14p is disposed is referred to as a positive electrode space 15p, and the space 15 in which the negative electrode 14n is disposed is referred to as a negative electrode space 15n. The positive electrode space 15p and the negative electrode space 15n are arranged in parallel in the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 in the charge / discharge cell 11 (that is, aligned in the vehicle width direction). The two spaces 15 may be filled with a compressible fluid. This compressive fluid is preferably an inert gas such as nitrogen gas or argon gas. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the inert gas and the electrolytic solution be separated by a movable partition wall or a gas bag so that the inert gas and the electrolyte solution do not directly touch each other.

The two tanks 12 store a positive electrolyte VO ²⁺ / VO ₂ ⁺ and a negative electrolyte V ³⁺ / V ²⁺ , respectively. Hereinafter, the tank 12 in which the positive electrode electrolyte VO ²⁺ / VO ₂ ⁺ is stored is referred to as a positive electrode tank (positive electrode storage container) 12 p, and the tank 12 in which the negative electrode electrolyte V ³⁺ / V ²⁺ is stored. Is called negative electrode tank (negative electrode electrolyte storage container) 12n. The two tanks 12 may be filled with a compressive fluid. This compressive fluid is preferably an inert gas such as nitrogen gas or argon gas. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the inert gas and the electrolytic solution be separated by a movable partition wall or a gas bag so that the inert gas and the electrolyte solution do not directly touch each other. Thus, when a compressive fluid exists in the charge / discharge cell 11 and the two tanks 12, the movement of the electrolyte solution described later is aided, and the fluidity of the electrolyte solution is improved.

  The communication path 18 includes a positive electrode communication path 18p that communicates the positive electrode space 15p and the positive electrode tank 12p, and a negative electrode communication path 18n that communicates the negative electrode space 15n and the negative electrode tank 12n. The positive electrode communication path 18p and the negative electrode communication path 18n are pipes through which the electrolyte flows, and extend in the vehicle front-rear direction. Two positive electrode communication paths 18p and two negative electrode communication paths 18n are provided.

  On the two positive electrode communication paths 18p, a check valve 19 that always keeps the flow direction of the electrolyte in one direction is interposed so that the flow direction is opposite. Similarly, a check valve 19 is interposed on the two negative electrode communication paths 18n so that the flow directions are reversed. That is, both in positive and negative directions, the electrolytic solution can circulate in one direction between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12 through the communication path 18.

The check valve 19 opens or shuts off the flow of the electrolytic solution by opening and closing (ON / OFF), and increases or decreases the flow rate of the electrolytic solution depending on the opening degree when the valve is opened. The check valve 19 here is not controlled by a controller, but is a general valve that is opened by pressure. Hereinafter, when the two positive electrode communication paths 18p and the two negative electrode communication paths 18n are distinguished depending on the flowing direction of the electrolytic solution, the communication path 18 from the charge / discharge cell 11 to the tank 12 is referred to as the first continuous path 18 ₁ (18p ₁ and 18n ₁ ), and the communication path 18 from the tank 12 to the charge / discharge cell 11 is referred to as a second communication path 18 ₂ (18p ₂ , 18n ₂ ) (see FIGS. 4A and 4B).

  The charge / discharge cell 11 communicates with the tank 12 through a pump flow path 16 provided separately from the communication path 18. The pump flow path 16 is provided with a pump 17 that pumps the electrolytic solution. That is, the positive electrode space 15p and the positive electrode tank 12p are in communication with each other by the single positive electrode pump flow path 16p provided with the positive electrode pump 17p, in addition to the two positive electrode communication paths 18p. Similarly, the negative electrode space 15n and the negative electrode tank 12n are connected to each other by a single negative electrode pump passage 16n provided with a negative electrode pump 17n, in addition to the two negative electrode communication paths 18n. The positive electrode pump 17p and the negative electrode pump 17n are arranged so that their rotation axes coincide with each other, and are driven by one pump motor (not shown).

  The operation of the pump motor is controlled by an electronic control unit 4 (hereinafter referred to as ECU 4) shown in FIGS. The ECU 4 is a CPU that executes various arithmetic processes, a ROM that stores programs and data necessary for its control, a RAM that temporarily stores arithmetic results in the CPU, and signals to and from the outside It is a computer provided with an input / output port for performing the operation, a timer for counting time, and the like. Here, the ECU 4 controls the circulation of the electrolytic solution by controlling the operation of the positive electrode pump 17p and the negative electrode pump 17n.

[2-2. Action]
Since the RF battery 10 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, when the positive electrode pump 17p and the negative electrode pump 17n are driven, as shown by arrows in FIG. It moves between tanks 12 and is stirred. Thereby, the ion concentration difference between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12 becomes small. Further, when a pressure difference is generated between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12 by the operation of the positive electrode pump 17p and the negative electrode pump 17n, the check valve 19 is opened, and the pressure increases from the higher pressure through the communication path 18. Electrolyte flows in the direction. Thus, the electrolyte circulates in one direction between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12 through the communication path 18 in addition to the pump flow path 16.

  Further, since the charge / discharge cell 11, the tank 12, and the communication path 18 are arranged along the traveling direction of the vehicle 1, the RF battery 10 accelerates and decelerates the vehicle 1 even when the pump 17 is not operating. The electrolyte solution can be moved by the inertial force that is sometimes generated. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the vehicle 1 is accelerated, an inertial force is generated in the direction opposite to the traveling direction (that is, backward), as indicated by the white arrow in the figure. Therefore, even when the pump 17 is not driven, a force opposite to the traveling direction acts on the electrolytic solution. In this case, first communicating path 18 ₁ match the direction and flow direction of the inertial force, the second communicating path 18 ₂ because of the direction and flow direction of the inertial force are opposite, the vehicle 1 accelerates When starting, the electrolyte moves from the charge / discharge cell 11 to the tank 12 only through the first continuous passage 18 ₁ (thick arrow in the figure).

When the pressure of the tank 12 rises due to the movement of the electrolyte solution, the check valve 19 of the second communication path 18 ₂ is opened and the check valve 19 of the first communication path 18 ₁ is closed. To do. Then, the electrolyte solution moves from the tank 12 to the charge / discharge cell 11 through the second communication path 18 ₂ so as to eliminate the pressure difference between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12 (thin arrow in the figure). If the pressure difference is eliminated by this, the electrolytic solution repeats the same movement under the influence of the inertial force, moves (circulates) between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12, and the inertial force no longer acts. Stop.

On the contrary, when the electrolyte moves from the tank 12 to the charge / discharge cell 11 through the second communication path 18 ₂ , the pressure of the charge / discharge cell 11 becomes higher than the pressure of the tank 12. The check valve 19 in the communication path 18 ₁ is opened again, and the check valve 19 in the second communication path 18 ₂ is closed again. At this time, since the first communication path 18 ₁ electrolytic solution to move if ongoing acceleration of the vehicle 1 is the inertial force acts, the movement of the electrolyte is boosted by the inertial force, the charge and discharge cell 11 Movement (circulation) between the tank 12 and the tank 12 is promoted. On the other hand, when the acceleration of the vehicle 1 is completed, as long as there is a pressure difference between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12, the electrolyte slowly moves (circulates) between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12. Stops when the pressure difference is resolved. When the check valve 19 has a valve opening pressure, the valve is closed when the pressure difference becomes equal to or lower than the valve opening pressure. In that case, the check valve 19 stops with a pressure difference corresponding to the check valve opening pressure remaining. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the vehicle 1 is decelerated, an inertial force in the same direction as the traveling direction (that is, forward) is generated as indicated by a white arrow in the figure. Therefore, even when the pump 17 is not driven, a force in the same direction as the traveling direction acts on the electrolytic solution. At this time, the direction of the inertia force and the flow direction of the second communication path 18 ₂ coincide with each other, and the direction of the inertia force and the flow direction of the first communication path 18 ₁ are opposite to each other. When starting, the electrolyte moves from the tank 12 to the charge / discharge cell 11 only through the second communication path 18 ₂ (thick arrow in the figure).

When the pressure of the charge / discharge cell 11 increases due to such movement of the electrolytic solution, the check valve 19 of the first communication path 18 ₁ is now opened and the check valve 19 of the second communication path 18 ₂ is opened. Close the valve. Then, in order to eliminate the pressure difference between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12, this time, the electrolyte moves from the charge / discharge cell 11 to the tank 12 through the first continuous passage 18 ₁ (thin arrow in the figure). . If the pressure difference is eliminated by this, the electrolytic solution repeats the same movement under the influence of the inertial force, moves (circulates) between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12, and the inertial force no longer acts. Stop.

On the other hand, when the pressure of the tank 12 becomes higher than the pressure of the charge / discharge cell 11 due to the electrolytic solution moving from the charge / discharge cell 11 to the tank 12 through the first series passage 18 ₁ , The check valve 19 in the _second communication path 18 ₂ is opened again, and the check valve 19 in the first series path 18 ₁ is closed again. At this time, if the deceleration of the vehicle 1 is continuing, an inertial force acts on the electrolytic solution moving in the second communication path 18 _{2, so} that the movement of the electrolytic solution is boosted by the inertial force, and the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank The movement between 12 (circulation) is promoted. On the other hand, when the deceleration of the vehicle 1 is completed, as long as there is a pressure difference between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12, the electrolyte slowly moves (circulates) between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12. Stops when the pressure difference is resolved. When the check valve 19 has a valve opening pressure, the valve is closed when the pressure difference becomes equal to or lower than the valve opening pressure. In that case, the check valve 19 stops with a pressure difference corresponding to the check valve opening pressure remaining. .

[2-3. effect]
Thus, according to the RF battery 10 according to the present embodiment, the charge / discharge cell 11, the tank 12, and the communication path 18 that communicates these are arranged along the traveling direction of the vehicle 1. In addition, due to the inertial force generated by the deceleration, the electrolyte can be moved and stirred or exchanged between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the positive / negative tank 12 through the positive / negative communication path 18. Therefore, since the electrolyte can be circulated even when the pump 17 is not in operation, the pump 17 can be omitted. If the pump 17 is omitted, the weight of the entire vehicle 1 can be reduced.

  Further, when the pump 17 is provided, the electrolyte can be circulated when the vehicle 1 is accelerated and decelerated even when the pump 17 is not operated. That is, the RF battery 10 uses the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle 1 to reduce the difference (ion concentration difference) between the V ion concentration of the electrolytic solution in the charge / discharge cell 11 and the V ion concentration of the electrolytic solution in the tank 12. Thus, the ion concentration of the entire electrolyte can be made uniform. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in battery capacity, prevent deterioration of charge / discharge efficiency, and maintain output.

  Further, by utilizing the inertial force, the operation time and the number of operations of the pump 17 for circulating the electrolytic solution can be reduced, and the energy required for the pump operation can be suppressed, so that energy efficiency is improved. Can do. For this reason, it is possible to improve the electricity cost and extend the cruising distance of the vehicle 1 on which the RF battery 10 is mounted. Moreover, even if the pump 17 stops operating due to a system failure, the electrolytic solution can be moved, so that the use as a battery can be continued and the reliability can be improved.

  Further, the RF battery 10 of the present embodiment is arranged in a straight line because the positive electrode tank 12p and the negative electrode tank 12n are both arranged behind the rear surface of the charge / discharge cell 11 and have a U-shape when viewed from above. Compared with the case where it did, the full length (front-back direction length) of RF battery 10 can be shortened. Further, the positive and negative electrolytes can be moved in the same direction by the inertial force generated in the vehicle 1. That is, when the vehicle 1 is accelerated, the electrolyte can be moved from the charge / discharge cell 11 toward the tank 12, while when the vehicle 1 is decelerated, both the positive and negative are directed from the tank 12 toward the charge / discharge cell 11. The electrolyte solution can be moved. Thereby, the balance of the pressure of the electrolyte solution between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12 can be made equal on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side.

  In addition, the present RF battery 10 includes a positive electrode pump flow path 16p and a negative electrode pump flow path 16n, and the flow paths 16 are provided with pumps 17 for pumping the electrolyte, respectively. In addition, the electrolyte can be moved and stirred between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12 by the pump flow path 16. Thereby, irrespective of the driving | running state of the vehicle 1, the ion concentration difference of electrolyte solution can be made small.

  Further, since the positive pump 17p and the negative pump 17n are arranged so that their rotation axes coincide with each other, the two pumps 17 can be driven by one pump motor (drive means). Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide motors for driving the positive pump 17p and the negative pump 17n, and the cost and weight can be reduced.

Moreover, when the compressive fluid is enclosed in the charging / discharging cell 11 and the two tanks 12, the volume of the two spaces 15 and the tank 12 can be greatly fluctuate | varied with an inertia force (pressure). Thereby, it becomes easy to move the electrolyte solution by acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle 1, and the fluidity of the electrolyte solution can be improved. In other words, the circulating action of the electrolytic solution due to the inertial force can be further increased.
Further, since the communication path 18 is provided with a valve (check valve) 19, the flow of the electrolytic solution moving between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12 (the amount and direction of movement of the electrolytic solution) is adjusted. Thus, the difference in ion concentration can be effectively reduced.

  Further, since two positive electrode communication paths 18p and two negative electrode communication paths 18n are provided, the electrolyte can be easily moved between the charge / discharge cell 11, the positive electrode tank 12p, and the negative electrode tank 12n. Furthermore, by providing two each of the positive electrode communication path 18p and the negative electrode communication path 18n, not only can the electrolyte be moved and stirred on the same path, but also the electrolyte can be circulated and circulated in one direction. That is, the flow rate of the electrolyte solution per unit time can be easily ensured, and the difference in ion concentration can be efficiently reduced.

  In addition, since the check valve 19 is provided in the two positive electrode communication paths 18p and the two negative electrode communication paths 18n in opposite directions, the electrolyte moves due to the inertial force generated in the vehicle 1. Accordingly, the check valve 19 is sequentially opened due to the pressure difference generated between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12. Accordingly, the electrolyte can be reliably circulated in one direction without external force or valve opening / closing control, and the difference in ion concentration can be quickly eliminated to make the electrolyte uniform.

[2-4. Modified example]
A modified example of the RF battery 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, parts and structures similar to those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the above-described embodiment, and redundant description is omitted. Moreover, since the same effect as the above-described effect can be obtained from the same configuration as the above embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

(1) First Modification First, a first modification is shown in FIG. This first modification is different from the above-described configuration of the RF battery 10 except that the check valve 19 provided on each of the positive and negative communication paths 18 is replaced with an on-off valve 29. The configuration is the same as that of the above embodiment. The on-off valve 29 is a valve that opens and closes when a certain force is applied from the outside, such as an electromagnetic valve that operates electrically, a valve that operates mechanically using a motor, an actuator, human power, or the like. The operation of the on-off valve 29 is controlled by the ECU 4 described above.

  The ECU 4 opens the opening / closing valve 29 when a condition for opening the opening / closing valve 29 (opening condition) is satisfied, and always closes the opening / closing valve 29 when the opening condition is not satisfied. Alternatively, the ECU 4 closes the opening / closing valve 29 when a condition for closing the opening / closing valve 29 (closing condition) is satisfied, and always opens the opening / closing valve 29 when the closing condition is not satisfied. In other words, when the ECU 4 determines that it is better to open the opening / closing valve 29 and move the electrolytic solution between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12, the ECU 4 opens the opening / closing valve 29 and moves the electrolytic solution. When it is determined that it is better to stop the on / off valve 29, the on-off valve 29 is closed.

  For example, the ECU 4 controls the opening / closing of the on-off valve 29 based on the charge / discharge state of the RF battery 10 and the concentration of V ions. When the RF battery 10 is discharged, tetravalent V ions increase in the positive electrode space 15 p of the charge / discharge cell 11. Therefore, the ECU 4 determines that the concentration of tetravalent V ions in the electrolyte solution in the positive electrode space 15p is higher than the concentration of tetravalent V ions in the electrolyte solution in the positive electrode tank 12p, or the amount of electrolyte in the positive electrode space 15p. When the concentration of pentavalent V ions becomes lower than the concentration of pentavalent V ions in the electrolyte in the positive electrode tank 12p, the on-off valve 29 is opened.

  Alternatively, when the RF battery 10 is discharged, trivalent V ions increase in the negative electrode space 15n. Therefore, the ECU 4 determines when the concentration of trivalent V ions in the electrolyte solution in the negative electrode space 15n is higher than the concentration of trivalent V ions in the electrolyte solution in the negative electrode tank 12n, or in the electrolyte solution in the negative electrode space 15n. The open / close valve 29 may be opened when the concentration of the tetravalent V ions becomes lower than the concentration of the tetravalent V ions in the electrolyte solution in the negative electrode tank 12n. If inertial force is generated in this state, the electrolytic solution can be moved and stirred between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12, and the difference in ion concentration can be reduced.

  On the other hand, when the RF battery 10 is charged, pentavalent V ions increase in the positive electrode space 15 p of the charge / discharge cell 11. Therefore, the ECU 4 determines that the concentration of pentavalent V ions in the electrolyte solution in the positive electrode space 15p is higher than the concentration of pentavalent V ions in the electrolyte solution in the positive electrode tank 12p, or the concentration of the electrolyte solution in the positive electrode space 15p. When the concentration of tetravalent V ions is lower than the concentration of tetravalent V ions in the electrolyte solution in the positive electrode tank 12p, the on-off valve 29 is opened.

  Alternatively, when the RF battery 10 is discharged, divalent V ions increase in the negative electrode space 15n. Therefore, the ECU 4 determines that the concentration of divalent V ions in the electrolyte solution in the negative electrode space 15n is higher than the concentration of divalent V ions in the electrolyte solution in the negative electrode tank 12n, or the amount of electrolyte in the negative electrode space 15n. The on-off valve 29 may be opened when the concentration of trivalent V ions becomes lower than the concentration of trivalent V ions in the electrolyte solution in the negative electrode tank 12n. If inertial force is generated in this state, the electrolytic solution can be moved between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the positive electrode tank 12p, so that more electric power can be stored in the electrolytic solution.

  Therefore, according to the RF battery 10 according to the first modified example, the inertial force of the positive and negative electrolytes is controlled by controlling the opening and closing of the open / close valves 29 provided on the communication paths 18 each having two positive and negative signs. The movement by can be adjusted respectively. That is, when an inertial force is generated when the on-off valve 29 is in the open state, the electrolyte can be moved in the direction of the inertial force regardless of the pressure difference between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12. Further, by closing the on-off valve 29, the movement of the electrolyte can be stopped regardless of the generation of inertial force and the pressure difference between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12. Further, the positive and negative on-off valves 29 are separately controlled, so that the positive and negative electrolytes can be moved and stirred.

(2) Second Modification Next, a second modification is shown in FIG. This second modification is different from the above-described configuration of the RF battery 10 except that one of the check valves 19 provided on each of the positive and negative communication paths 18 is replaced with an on-off valve 29. The configuration is the same as that of the above embodiment. The on-off valve 29 is the same as that of the first modified example. That is, in the RF battery 10 according to the second modification, the check valve 19 is provided on the first continuous passage 18 ₁ , and the opening / closing valve 29 is provided on the second communication passage 18 ₂ .

The check valve 19 on the first communication path 18 ₁ restricts the flow direction of the electrolyte in one direction, and the on-off valve 29 on the second communication path 18 ₂ is controlled by opening and closing thereof. To regulate the distribution of For example, when an inertial force is generated during acceleration of the vehicle 1, the electrolytic solution flows to the tank 12 through the first series passage 18 ₁ . At this time, if the on-off valve 29 is opened, the electrolyte flows to the tank 12 through the second communication path 18 ₂ . Thereby, when the pressure in the tank 12 rises, the check valve 19 is closed. Here, if the on-off valve 29 is opened, the electrolyte flows through the first communication path 18 ₁ in accordance with the direction of inertia and the pressure difference between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12. If the valve 29 is closed, the flow of the electrolyte can be stopped.

  Further, by opening the on-off valve 29 when the vehicle 1 is decelerated, the electrolyte can be moved from the tank 12 to the charge / discharge cell 11 by inertia. When the pressure in the charge / discharge cell 11 increases, the check valve 19 opens, and the electrolyte circulates between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12. Conversely, by closing the release valve 29 when the vehicle 1 is decelerated, the flow of the electrolyte can be stopped even if inertial force is generated.

  Therefore, according to the RF battery 10 according to the second modification, the flow direction of the electrolytic solution can be determined in one direction by the check valve 19, and the on-off valve 29 is set according to the operation of the check valve 19 due to the pressure difference. By controlling, the electrolytic solution can be circulated between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12. Further, the flow of the electrolytic solution can be stopped by the on-off valve 29.

(3) Third Modification Next, a third modification is shown in FIG. This third modification is different from the configuration of the RF battery 10 described above except that one communication path 18 is provided for each positive and negative, and an open / close valve 29 is provided on each communication path 18. The configuration is the same as that of the above embodiment. The on-off valve 29 is the same as that of the first modified example.

  When an inertial force is generated in the vehicle 1 when the on-off valve 29 on the communication path 18 is opened, the electrolytic solution can be moved between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12. Moreover, what is necessary is just to close the on-off valve 29, when stopping the movement of electrolyte solution. Therefore, according to the RF battery 10 according to the third modification, the number of parts can be reduced, the weight can be further reduced, and the electrolytic solution can be moved between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12. .

[3. Second embodiment]
Next, the RF battery 10 'according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing the configuration of the RF battery 10 of the first embodiment, and shows a state in which the RF battery 10 ′ according to this embodiment is mounted on the vehicle 1. This RF battery 10 'is the same as the structure of the first embodiment except that the overall shape is different. Hereinafter, parts and structures similar to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and redundant description is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the RF battery 10 ′ according to the present embodiment has a positive electrode tank 12 p disposed in front of the front surface of the charge / discharge cell 11 and a negative electrode tank 12 n disposed behind the rear surface of the charge / discharge cell 11. Yes. The positive electrode communication path 18p and the positive electrode pump flow path 16p that connect the positive electrode space 15p and the positive electrode tank 12p, and the negative electrode communication path 18n and the negative electrode pump flow path 16n that connect the negative electrode space 15n and the negative electrode tank 12n, Is also mounted on the vehicle 1 such that the flow direction of the electrolyte is along the traveling direction of the vehicle 1. That is, in the present RF battery 10 ′, the positive electrode tank 12 p, the charge / discharge cell 11 and the negative electrode tank 12 n are arranged in a straight line in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the communication path 18 and the pump flow path 16 connecting them are also in the vehicle front-rear direction. It is extended to.

According to the RF battery 10 ′ configured as described above, the electrolyte can be moved and stirred without an external force by the inertial force generated when the vehicle 1 is accelerated and decelerated. That is, when the vehicle 1 is accelerated, an inertial force that is opposite to the traveling direction is generated. Thereby, on the positive electrode side, the electrolytic solution moves from the positive electrode tank 12p to the positive electrode space 15p of the charge / discharge cell 11 through the first communication path 18p _{1 in} which the direction of inertial force and the flow direction coincide.

When the pressure of the positive electrode space 15p becomes higher than that of the positive electrode tank 12p due to such movement of the electrolyte, the check valve 19 of the second communication path 18p ₂ is now opened and the reverse of the first series of communication paths 18p ₁ . The stop valve 19 is closed. Therefore, this time the electrolyte is moved to the positive electrode tank 12p from the positive electrode space 15p through the second communication path 18p _2. If the pressure difference is eliminated by this, the electrolytic solution repeats the same movement under the influence of the inertial force, moves (circulates) between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12, and the inertial force no longer acts. Stop. When the check valve 19 has a valve opening pressure, the valve is closed when the pressure difference becomes equal to or lower than the valve opening pressure. In that case, the check valve 19 stops with a pressure difference corresponding to the check valve opening pressure remaining. .

Also, if the electrolyte by moving through the second communication path 18 ₂ from the positive electrode space 15p to the positive electrode tank 12p, the pressure of the cathode tank 12p conversely becomes higher than the pressure of the cathode space 15p, first The check valve 19 in the communication path 18n ₁ is opened again, and the check valve 19 in the second communication path 18n ₂ is closed again. In this way, the electrolyte circulates between the positive electrode space 15p and the positive electrode tank 12p.

On the other hand, the negative electrode side, the electrolytic solution through the first communication path 18n ₁ in which the orientation and flow direction of the inertial force are matched to move from the negative electrode space 15n of the charge and discharge cell 11 to the negative electrode tank 12n. When the pressure in the anode tank 12n by the movement of such electrolyte is increased, this time with the check valve 19 of the second communicating path 18n ₂ is opened, first communication check valve 19 of the path 18n ₁ is closed I speak. Therefore, the electrolytic solution moves from the negative electrode tank 12n to the negative electrode space 15n of the charge / discharge cell 11 through the second communication path 18n ₂ this time. If the pressure difference is eliminated by this, the electrolytic solution repeats the same movement under the influence of the inertial force, moves (circulates) between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12, and the inertial force no longer acts. Stop. When the check valve 19 has a valve opening pressure, the valve is closed when the pressure difference becomes equal to or lower than the valve opening pressure. In that case, the check valve 19 stops with a pressure difference corresponding to the check valve opening pressure remaining. .

Further, if the electrolytic solution is moved from the anode tank 12n through the first communication path 18 ₁ to the negative electrode space 15n, the pressure of the anode space 15n conversely becomes higher than the pressure of the negative electrode tank 12n, the The check valve 19 in the series passage 18n ₁ is opened again, and the check valve 19 in the second communication path 18n ₂ is closed again. In this way, the electrolyte circulates between the negative electrode space 15n and the negative electrode tank 12n.

  That is, the RF battery 10 ′ according to the present embodiment is different from the RF battery 10 according to the first embodiment described above in that the electrolyte solution moves on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side. The same effect can be obtained. That is, by the inertia force generated by acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle 1, the electrolyte can be moved between the charge / discharge cell 11 and the tank 12 through the positive / negative communication path 18 to be stirred or exchanged. Therefore, since the electrolyte can be circulated even when the pump 17 is not in operation, the pump 17 can be omitted. If the pump 17 is omitted, the weight of the entire vehicle 1 can be reduced.

  Further, when the pump 17 is provided, the electrolyte can be circulated when the vehicle 1 is accelerated and decelerated even when the pump 17 is not operated. In other words, the RF battery 10 ′ uses the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle 1 to calculate the difference (ion concentration difference) between the V ion concentration of the electrolyte in the charge / discharge cell 11 and the V ion concentration of the electrolyte in the tank 12. The ion concentration of the entire electrolytic solution can be made uniform by reducing the size. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in battery capacity, prevent deterioration of charge / discharge efficiency, and maintain output.

  Further, by utilizing the inertial force, the operation time and the number of operations of the pump 17 for circulating the electrolytic solution can be reduced, and the energy required for the pump operation can be suppressed, so that energy efficiency is improved. Can do. For this reason, it is possible to improve the electricity cost and extend the cruising distance of the vehicle 1 on which the RF battery 10 is mounted. Moreover, even if the pump 17 stops operating due to a system failure, the electrolytic solution can be moved, so that the use as a battery can be continued and the reliability can be improved.

Furthermore, since the RF battery 10 ′ according to the present embodiment is arranged in a straight line in the vehicle front-rear direction, the length in the vehicle width direction can be reduced as compared with the RF battery 10 of the first embodiment.
In addition, the effect similar to an above-described effect is acquired from the structure similar to 1st embodiment. In addition, it is naturally possible to apply the first modification, the second modification, and the third modification described in the description of the first embodiment to the RF battery 10 ′ according to the present embodiment.

[4. Others]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
In the RF battery 10 according to the first embodiment (including the first to third modifications), the rotation axis of the positive electrode pump 17p and the rotation axis of the negative electrode pump 17n are arranged to coincide with each other. Although illustrated, the rotating shaft of the positive electrode pump 17p and the rotating shaft of the negative electrode pump 17n may be shifted from each other. In this case, a pump motor for driving the positive electrode pump 17p and a pump motor for driving the negative electrode pump 17n may be provided, respectively, so that the positive electrode pump 17p and the negative electrode pump 17n can be controlled.

  Moreover, although RF battery 10 which concerns on 1st embodiment illustrated what the positive electrode tank 12p and the negative electrode tank 12n were arrange | positioned in the back of the rear surface of the charge / discharge cell 11, on the contrary, in front of the front surface of the charge / discharge cell 11 A positive electrode tank 12p and a negative electrode tank 12n may be disposed. In addition, here, the RF battery 10 in which the positive electrode tank 12p and the negative electrode tank 12n are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction and has a U-shape when viewed from above has been described. However, the positive electrode tank 12p and the negative electrode tank 12n They may be arranged side by side and may have a U shape in side view.

  Further, in the RF battery 10 according to the first embodiment, the positive electrode tank 12p and the negative electrode tank 12n may be integrally provided as long as the positive electrode electrolyte and the negative electrode electrolyte can be stored separately. . For example, a partition partitioning into two spaces may be provided inside one container, and the positive electrode electrolyte may be stored in one space, and the negative electrode electrolyte may be stored in the other space. Similarly, the charge / discharge cell 11, the positive electrode tank 12p, and the negative electrode tank 12n may be provided integrally as long as the above requirements are satisfied.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the flow direction of the electrolyte flowing through the communication path 18 and the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 coincide with each other is illustrated, but these may not completely coincide with each other. The communication path 18 should just be arrange | positioned so that the distribution direction of electrolyte solution may follow the direction which is easy to receive the inertial force which generate | occur | produces by the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle 1 at least.

  Further, in the RF batteries 10 and 10 ′ according to each of the above-described embodiments, a valve may not be provided on the communication path 18. Further, the pump 17 for pumping the electrolytic solution and the pump flow path 16 may not be provided. According to these, the configuration can be further simplified, and the weight can be further reduced.

Further, the RF batteries 10 and 10 'are not limited to those described above, and may be iron (Fe ²⁺ / Fe ³⁺ ) -chromium (Cr ³⁺ / Cr ²⁺ ) based on different types of positive and negative electrolytes. Alternatively, an electrolyte solution other than these may be employed.
The vehicle on which the above-described RF batteries 10 and 10 'are mounted is not limited to the vehicle 1, but is applicable to vehicles such as hybrid vehicles and trains, vehicles such as ships, aircrafts, rockets, and the like that have a general direction of travel. Is possible.

1 Vehicle (vehicle)
10,10 'RF battery (redox flow battery)
11 Charge / discharge cell (electrode storage container)
12p positive electrode tank (positive electrolyte storage container)
12n negative electrode tank (negative electrode electrolyte storage container)
13 Diaphragm 14p Positive electrode 14n Negative electrode 15p Positive electrode space (space in which positive electrode is incorporated)
15n negative electrode space (space containing negative electrode)
16p Positive electrode pump flow path 16n Negative electrode pump flow path 17p Positive electrode pump 17n Negative electrode pump 18p Positive electrode communication path 18n Negative electrode communication path 19 Check valve (valve)
29 On-off valve (valve)
VO ²⁺ / VO ₂ ⁺ cathode of the electrolytic solution V ³⁺ / V ²⁺ anode of the electrolyte

Claims (9)

An electrode storage container provided in the vehicle, having two spaces inside, each containing a positive electrode and a negative electrode;
A positive electrode storage container for storing a positive electrode electrolyte and a negative electrode electrolyte storage container for storing a negative electrode electrolyte;
A space in which the positive electrode is built in and the positive electrode electrolyte storage container are connected in a communicating state, and a positive electrode communication path through which the positive electrode electrolyte flows;
A redox flow battery comprising: a space in which the negative electrode is built in and the negative electrode electrolyte storage container is connected in a communicating state; and a negative electrode communication path through which the negative electrode electrolyte flows.
The flow direction of the positive electrode electrolyte flowing through the positive electrode communication path and the flow direction of the negative electrode electrolyte flowing through the negative electrode communication path are both directions along the traveling direction of the vehicle. Redox flow battery. The space containing the positive electrode and the space containing the negative electrode are arranged in parallel in the traveling direction of the vehicle in the electrode storage container,
2. The redox flow battery according to claim 1, wherein each of the positive electrode electrolyte storage container and the negative electrode electrolyte storage container is disposed in front of the front surface of the electrode storage container or rearward of the rear surface. A positive electrode pump flow path that is provided separately from the positive electrode communication path, has a positive electrode pump that pressure-feeds the positive electrode electrolyte solution, and connects the positive electrode built-in space and the positive electrode electrolyte storage container in communication with each other; ,
A negative electrode pump channel provided separately from the negative electrode communication path, having a negative electrode pump for connecting the space containing the negative electrode and the negative electrode electrolyte storage container in a communicating state, and pumping the negative electrode electrolyte; With
The redox flow battery according to claim 2, wherein the positive electrode pump and the negative electrode pump are arranged such that their rotation axes coincide with each other. The positive electrode electrolyte storage container is disposed on either the front of the front surface of the electrode storage container or the rear of the rear surface,
The redox flow battery according to claim 1, wherein the negative electrode electrolyte storage container is disposed on the other front side of the front surface of the electrode storage container and the rear side of the rear surface. The compressive fluid is sealed in at least any one of the electrode storage container, the positive electrode electrolyte storage container, and the negative electrode electrolyte storage container. The redox flow battery according to any one of the above. The redox flow battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a valve is provided in each of the positive electrode communication path and the negative electrode communication path. The redox flow battery according to claim 6, wherein two positive electrode communication paths and two negative electrode communication paths are provided. The valve is a check valve that opens by pressure,
8. The redox flow battery according to claim 7, wherein the check valve is provided on the two positive electrode communication paths and the two negative electrode communication paths in opposite directions. Either one of the two positive electrode communication paths is provided with a check valve that is opened by pressure and the other is provided with an open / close valve that is opened and closed by an external force.
8. A check valve that opens by pressure is provided on one of the two negative electrode communication paths, and an on-off valve that is opened and closed by an external force is provided on either of the two negative electrode communication paths. Redox flow battery.

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