OPERATING A REDOX FLOW BATTERY WITH A NEGATIVE ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE

摘要

Loss of flow battery electrode catalyst layers during self discharge or charge reversal may be prevented by establishing and maintaining a negative electrolyte imbalance during at least parts of a flow battery"s operation. Negative imbalance may be established and/or maintained actively, passively or both. Actively establishing a negative imbalance may involve detecting an imbalance that is less negative than a desired threshold, and processing one or both electrolytes until the imbalance reaches a desired negative level. Negative imbalance may be effectively established and maintained passively within a cell by constructing a cell with a negative electrode chamber that is larger than the cell"s positive electrode chamber, thereby providing a larger quantity of negative electrolyte for reaction with positive electrolyte.