Battery storage container and method of use
The present disclosure relates to a battery energy storage container. The energy storage container has a cylindrical housing and a pair of end caps disposed on opposite ends of the cylindrical housing. A diaphragm is positioned between each end cap selected from the pair of end caps and the corresponding end of the cylindrical housing. In one version, the energy storage container is configured to be installed below the ground surface for geological thermal management of the energy storage container. Embodiments of the present invention further disclose various types of electrode retainers. The energy storage container is configured for use in electrochemical battery cells, Li-ion batteries, intercalation batteries, metal-air batteries, flow batteries, fuel cells, reversible fuel cells, and capacitors.
1 . A system comprising:
at least one conductive retainer having a first side and a second side;
a first plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells on the first side; and
a second plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells on the second side;
wherein the first plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells and the second plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells are arranged in series;
wherein the electrochemical cells are Li-ion batteries or capacitors;
wherein the system is inside an energy storage container that comprises end caps and a cylindrical housing and wherein each end cap comprises a pressure relief valve; and
wherein the energy storage container comprises an over-pressure fail-safe mechanism that comprises a diaphragm positioned between each end cap selected from the pair of end caps and a corresponding end of the cylindrical housing.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells and the second plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells are arranged in series with at least one more conductive retainer;
wherein the at least one more conductive retainer has a first side and a second side;
wherein the at least one more conductive retainer has a plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells on the first side of the at least one more conductive retainer; and a plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells on the second side of the at least one more conductive retainer; and
wherein the plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells on the first side of the at least one more conductive retainer and the plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells on the second side of the at least one more conductive retainer are arranged in series with the first plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells and the second plurality of parallel arranged electrochemical cells of the at least one conductive retainer.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive retainer is disc-shaped.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cells are Li-ion batteries.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the Li-ion batteries are cylindrical cells.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive retainer is electrically connected to the cylindrical housing.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the over-pressure fail safe mechanism comprises:
a pressure relief valve arranged in the container;
an envelope connected downstream to the pressure relief valve;
wherein the envelope is configured to be filled with contents of the container; wherein the over-pressure fail-safe mechanism is configured to be automatically activated in either a first mode or a second mode depending on a pressure of the contents in the container;
wherein in the first mode, the pressure relief valve releases at least some contents of the container in the envelope;
wherein in the second mode, the envelope releases a metered quantity of at least some contents of the container to an atmosphere; and
wherein the second mode is activated only after activation of the first mode when the pressure of the released contents in the envelope exceeds a set pressure.