Flow battery power converter

Abstract

A power converter may include an uncharged tank for storing fluid including uncharged electrolytes. The power converter may include a plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells configured to receive the fluid from the uncharged tank and an input voltage, and charge the uncharged electrolytes. The power converter may also include a charged tank configured to receive fluid from the plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells. The power converter may also include a first pump configured to pump the fluid from the plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells to the charged tank. The power converter may include a plurality of series-connected reaction cells configured to receive fluid from the charged tank and provide electric power at an output voltage.

1 . A power converter comprising:
 an uncharged tank for storing fluid including uncharged electrolytes;   a plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells configured to receive fluid from the uncharged tank and an input voltage, the parallel-connected reaction cells being configured to charge uncharged electrolytes;   a charged tank configured to receive fluid from the plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells;   a first pump configured to pump fluid from the plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells to the charged tank; and   a plurality of series-connected reaction cells configured to receive the fluid from the charged tank and provide electric power at an output voltage.   
     
     
         2 . The power converter of  claim 1 , further including:
 a tank sensor configured send a first signal indicative of an amount of fluid stored in at least one of the uncharged tank and the charged tank; and   a controller configured to:
 receive the first signal and a second signal indicative of the input voltage; and 
 control a flow rate of the first pump based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal. 
   
     
     
         3 . The power converter of  claim 2 , further including a second pump configured to pump the fluid from the charged tank to the plurality of series-connected reaction cells. 
     
     
         4 . The power converter of  claim 2 , further including:
 a shunt circuit associated with at least one of the plurality of series-connected reaction cells and including a plurality of shunt terminals; and   a plurality of switches, each switch arranged between two of the plurality of series-connected reaction cells and configured to switch between a cell terminal of one of the plurality of series-connected reaction cells and at least one of the plurality of shunt terminals of the shunt circuit.   
     
     
         5 . The power converter of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine a desired voltage level for the output voltage; and   control each of the plurality of switches based on the desired voltage level.   
     
     
         6 . The power converter of  claim 2 , further including:
 a second charged tank for storing fluid containing negatively charged electrolytes;   a third pump configured to pump fluid from at least one of the plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells to the second charged tank; and   a fourth pump configured to pump fluid from the second charged tank to the plurality of series-connected reaction cells.   
     
     
         7 . The power converter of  claim 6 , further including a second tank sensor configured to send a third signal indicative of an amount of fluid stored in the second charged tank, wherein the controller is configured to control a flow rate of the third pump and a flow rate of the fourth pump based on at least one of the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal. 
     
     
         8 - 20 . (canceled)