{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853454","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9853454","title":"Vanadium redox battery energy storage system","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2011-12-20T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H02J","H02J","H02J"],"num_claims":18,"abstract":"A redox battery energy storage system including multiple energy storage stacks having multiple reactor cells is disclosed. Each of the energy storage stacks may include an integrated DC/DC converter configured to convert an output voltage of the stacks to a higher output voltage. The output of the DC/DC converts may be coupled in parallel to an energy storage system output bus. By configuring the energy storage system in this manner, inefficiencies and losses caused by shunt electrical currents in the systems may be decreased."},"analysis":{"summary":"The **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** patent (US-9853454) introduces a significant advancement in large-scale energy storage technology, specifically targeting inefficiencies prevalent in multi-cell battery systems. At its core, this innovation discloses a redox battery energy storage system composed of multiple energy storage stacks, each containing numerous reactor cells. The key technical approach involves integrating a dedicated DC/DC converter within each of these individual energy storage stacks. These converters are engineered to convert the native output voltage of their respective stacks to a higher, standardized output voltage.\n\nSubsequently, the outputs from these integrated DC/DC converters are coupled in parallel to a central energy storage system output bus. The primary problem this patent solves is the reduction of inefficiencies and power losses, particularly those caused by shunt electrical currents. Shunt currents are parasitic pathways that divert energy within complex battery arrays, leading to decreased overall system efficiency and increased operational costs. By processing and boosting the voltage at the stack level, this technology effectively mitigates these losses.\n\nThe business value and applications are substantial. This system offers enhanced efficiency, making large-scale energy storage more economically viable for utilities, renewable energy projects, and microgrids. Its modular design, facilitated by the integrated converters, also improves system reliability, scalability, and ease of maintenance. For instance, it can optimize the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind, providing a stable and reliable power supply to the grid.\n\nThe market opportunity for this technology is immense, given the global push for decarbonization and the urgent need for long-duration, high-capacity energy storage. The ability of this patent to reduce internal losses and improve overall system performance positions it as a critical enabler for the next generation of grid infrastructure, offering a more robust and cost-effective solution for energy storage deployment worldwide.","layman_explanation":"### What Problem Does This Solve?\nImagine a massive power plant that stores energy, like a giant battery for an entire city. This is crucial for renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which don't always produce power when we need it. The challenge with these huge battery systems, especially those that use liquid chemicals (like 'redox flow batteries'), is that they can be a bit leaky. Not physically leaky, but electrically. Tiny, unintended electrical currents, known as 'shunt currents,' can sneak around inside the system, diverting energy and causing it to be wasted. This means less power actually makes it out to the grid, leading to higher costs, less efficiency, and more headaches for power companies. Existing solutions often involve complex external equipment or simply tolerate these losses, limiting the true potential of large-scale energy storage.\n\n### How Does It Work?\nThis patent, the **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System**, tackles this 'electrical leakage' problem with a clever architectural design. Think of the entire energy storage system as a collection of many smaller, individual battery units, called 'stacks.' Each of these stacks has its own set of 'reactor cells' where the energy conversion happens. The innovation here is that each individual stack is equipped with its own small, smart power booster – a 'DC/DC converter.'\n\nInstead of just passively sending its raw power to a central point, each stack's DC/DC converter takes its output voltage, cleans it up, and boosts it to a higher, more consistent level. Then, all these boosted outputs from the individual stacks are connected together, in parallel, to a main 'output bus' that feeds the grid. This is like having a dedicated, efficient manager for each small team (stack) that ensures their output is perfect before it's combined with everyone else's. By doing this, the system dramatically reduces the opportunity for those wasteful shunt currents to form, making the entire process far more efficient.\n\n### Why Does This Matter?\nThis innovation matters because it makes large-scale energy storage more economical and reliable than ever before. For businesses and utilities, higher efficiency means lower operational costs and more usable energy for every dollar invested. This technology can make renewable energy more competitive by ensuring that more of the generated power actually reaches consumers. It improves grid stability by providing a more robust and predictable source of stored energy, reducing reliance on less sustainable 'peaker plants' that only run during high demand.\n\nFurthermore, the modular design, with converters integrated into each stack, offers greater flexibility and resilience. If one stack has a minor issue, the others can continue to operate seamlessly. This simplifies maintenance, extends the system's lifespan, and makes it easier to scale up or down as energy needs change. In essence, this patent provides a blueprint for a more stable, efficient, and cost-effective energy future, directly impacting the profitability and sustainability goals of energy companies and investors worldwide.\n\n### What's Next?\nThe **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** is poised to accelerate the deployment of large-scale vanadium redox flow batteries. We can expect to see this technology integrated into utility-scale projects, enhancing grid services like frequency regulation and demand response. Its impact will likely lead to more robust microgrids in remote areas and greater energy independence for large industrial campuses. Investment in companies developing and deploying this innovation will likely see significant returns as the global demand for efficient, long-duration energy storage continues to surge. It's a critical step towards a truly sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure.","technical_analysis":"The **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** patent (US-9853454) fundamentally addresses a long-standing challenge in large-scale electrochemical energy storage: the mitigation of parasitic shunt currents and the optimization of power delivery from multi-stack redox flow battery systems. This innovation centers on a novel architectural design that integrates power electronics directly within the battery stack.\n\n**Technical Architecture and Implementation Details:**\nThe system comprises multiple 'energy storage stacks,' each containing a plurality of 'reactor cells.' These reactor cells are where the electrochemical redox reactions occur, storing and releasing energy via the circulation of vanadium electrolytes. The critical departure from conventional designs is that each of these energy storage stacks is equipped with its own 'integrated DC/DC converter.' This converter is not a generic power conditioner but is specifically configured to perform two key functions: (1) to convert the output voltage of its respective stack, which can fluctuate based on state-of-charge and load, and (2) to elevate this voltage to a higher, standardized output voltage. The outputs of these individual, stack-integrated DC/DC converters are then electrically coupled in parallel to a common 'energy storage system output bus.'\n\n**Algorithm Specifics and Performance Characteristics:**\nWhile the patent abstract doesn't detail specific control algorithms, the implication is that each DC/DC converter would operate under a local control loop. This loop would likely monitor the output voltage and current of its associated battery stack and adjust its conversion ratio to maintain a stable, higher output voltage on the common bus. This distributed control allows for dynamic compensation of individual stack variations, ensuring optimal power harvesting from each. The choice of DC/DC converter topology (e.g., boost, buck-boost, or isolated variants) would depend on the desired voltage step-up ratio and isolation requirements. The parallel coupling of converted outputs is crucial; it ensures redundancy and allows for seamless scaling. A failure in one stack or its converter would not disrupt the entire system, as the other parallel paths would continue to supply power.\n\n**Integration Patterns and Performance Implications:**\nThis architecture facilitates a 'modular integration pattern.' Rather than having a single, large, and complex power conditioning unit for the entire battery array, power conditioning is distributed. This reduces the single point of failure risk and allows for more efficient thermal management of the power electronics. Performance-wise, the primary benefit is the significant decrease in shunt electrical current losses. Shunt currents arise from potential differences between cells or stacks, often exacerbated in systems with shared electrolyte manifolds. By converting and boosting voltage at the stack level, the system effectively 'isolates' the output from shunt paths, thereby increasing the overall round-trip efficiency of the energy storage system. This translates to more usable energy output for a given energy input, reducing operational costs and improving the economic viability of the system.\n\n**Code-Level Implications (Control and Monitoring):**\nFrom a software perspective, this design would require a distributed control system. Each DC/DC converter would likely have an embedded microcontroller running firmware to manage its operation, including voltage regulation, current limiting, and fault detection. A higher-level supervisory control system would then monitor the status and performance of all individual stack-converter units via a communication network (e.g., CAN bus, Ethernet). This central system would coordinate the overall charging and discharging cycles, perform load balancing, and aggregate performance data. The modularity would simplify diagnostics and maintenance, as issues could be pinpointed to specific stack-converter units rather than requiring system-wide troubleshooting. This robust, distributed control paradigm enhances the system's reliability and operational longevity.","business_analysis":"The **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** patent (US-9853454) presents a significant business opportunity within the rapidly expanding global energy storage market. Its core innovation—reducing shunt current losses through integrated DC/DC converters—addresses a critical pain point that has historically constrained the efficiency and scalability of large-scale redox flow battery deployments. This technological leap has profound implications for market opportunity, competitive advantage, and strategic positioning.\n\n**Market Opportunity Size:** The global energy storage market is projected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming decade, driven by renewable energy integration, grid modernization, and increasing demand for reliable power. Long-duration energy storage, where vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) excel, is a particularly high-growth segment. This patent enhances the economic viability and performance of VRFBs, making them more attractive for utility-scale applications, microgrids, industrial energy management, and remote power solutions. The ability to minimize energy losses directly translates to higher revenue potential for system operators and lower lifetime costs for end-users, unlocking new projects that were previously marginal.\n\n**Competitive Advantages:** This innovation provides a distinct competitive edge. By significantly decreasing inefficiencies caused by shunt currents, the system offers superior round-trip efficiency compared to conventional VRFB designs. This efficiency gain translates into a lower levelized cost of storage (LCOS), a key metric for competitive differentiation. Furthermore, the modular architecture with integrated DC/DC converters enhances system reliability and fault tolerance, reducing downtime and maintenance costs. This robustness is a strong selling point in critical infrastructure applications. The patent also enables easier scalability and simplified integration into existing grid infrastructure, offering a 'plug-and-play' advantage over more complex, centralized power conditioning setups.\n\n**Revenue Potential and Business Models:** Companies leveraging this patent could generate revenue through several models:\n1.  **System Sales:** Manufacturing and selling complete Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage Systems to utilities, independent power producers (IPPs), and large industrial consumers.\n2.  **Service & Maintenance:** Offering long-term operational and maintenance contracts, leveraging the system's modularity for efficient servicing.\n3.  **Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS):** Deploying and operating these systems, then selling stored energy or grid services (e.g., frequency regulation, peak shaving) on a subscription or per-use basis.\n4.  **Licensing:** Licensing the patented technology to existing VRFB manufacturers or new entrants seeking to enhance their product offerings.\nThe reduced operational costs due to higher efficiency directly boost profitability for EaaS models.\n\n**Strategic Positioning:** This patent strategically positions its adopters at the forefront of the long-duration energy storage market. By addressing a core technical limitation, it elevates VRFBs as a more compelling alternative to lithium-ion batteries for applications requiring extended discharge periods and high cycle counts. Companies can market their solutions as 'ultra-efficient' and 'grid-optimized,' appealing to customers prioritizing long-term value and operational performance. This positions the technology as a key enabler for a fully decarbonized and resilient energy grid.\n\n**ROI Projections:** The ROI for adopting this technology is multifaceted. For utilities, it means reduced energy curtailment from renewables, improved grid stability, and deferred capital expenditure on traditional peaker plants. For system integrators, it offers a more competitive product with higher margins. The direct reduction in energy losses (e.g., a few percentage points of efficiency gain) can translate into millions of dollars in savings over the lifespan of a large-scale system, yielding substantial long-term ROI for all stakeholders.","faqs":[{"answer":"The **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** (US-9853454) is a patented innovation in the field of large-scale energy storage, specifically for redox flow batteries. It describes a system designed to improve the efficiency and reduce energy losses in such batteries.\n\nAt its core, the invention involves multiple energy storage 'stacks,' each comprising numerous 'reactor cells.' These stacks are the fundamental units where electrochemical reactions occur to store and release energy. The unique aspect is the integration of a dedicated DC/DC converter within each of these individual energy storage stacks.\n\nThis integrated converter plays a crucial role in optimizing the power output from each stack before it's combined with others and sent to the main power grid. The goal is to make the entire energy storage process more effective and economical, especially for large-scale applications.","question":"What is Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System?"},{"answer":"The **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** works by employing a distributed power conditioning architecture. Each energy storage stack, which is a modular unit of the battery system, has its own integrated DC/DC converter.\n\nWhen a stack generates electricity, its output voltage can vary. The integrated DC/DC converter's job is to take this variable output voltage, convert it, and then elevate it to a higher, standardized voltage level. This process ensures that the power leaving each stack is optimally conditioned.\n\nCrucially, the outputs from all these individual, stack-integrated DC/DC converters are then connected in parallel to a central energy storage system output bus. This parallel configuration of *converted* outputs allows for efficient power aggregation while significantly mitigating internal energy losses, particularly those caused by shunt electrical currents.","question":"How does Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System work?"},{"answer":"The **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** primarily solves the problem of inefficiencies and energy losses, specifically 'shunt electrical currents,' that commonly occur in large-scale redox battery systems. In multi-cell or multi-stack battery configurations, unintended electrical pathways can form through shared electrolyte manifolds.\n\nThese shunt currents divert a portion of the generated energy, causing it to be wasted internally rather than being delivered to the grid. This reduces the overall round-trip efficiency of the battery system, increases operational costs, and limits its effective capacity.\n\nBy integrating DC/DC converters at the stack level, the invention minimizes the potential differences that drive these shunt currents, thereby 'plugging' these electrical leaks and ensuring that more of the stored energy is efficiently utilized. This makes large-scale energy storage more economical and reliable.","question":"What problem does Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System solve?"},{"answer":"The patent data provided indicates that the inventors and assignee for the **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** patent (US-9853454) are not specified in the abstract. Typically, this information is found in the full patent document's front page.\n\nHowever, the concept of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs) as a technology has been developed by numerous researchers and companies globally over decades. This specific patent represents an architectural advancement in how these systems are designed and managed for improved efficiency and performance.\n\nTo identify the specific inventors and assignee for this particular patent, one would need to consult the complete patent document available through official patent databases.","question":"Who invented Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System?"},{"answer":"The **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** offers several key benefits, significantly enhancing the performance and economic viability of large-scale energy storage:\n\nFirstly, it dramatically reduces inefficiencies caused by shunt electrical currents. This directly leads to a higher overall round-trip energy efficiency, meaning more of the stored energy is delivered for use.\n\nSecondly, the integrated DC/DC converters enable optimized voltage management at the stack level, leading to greater system reliability and stability. This modular approach also improves fault tolerance, as a problem in one stack is less likely to affect the entire system. Lastly, this architecture facilitates easier scalability, allowing for seamless expansion of energy storage capacity as needed, which is critical for growing renewable energy grids.","question":"What are the key benefits of Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System?"},{"answer":"The **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** distinguishes itself from prior art through its innovative distributed power conditioning architecture. Earlier redox flow battery systems often relied on a single, centralized power conditioning unit (PCU) to manage the output of multiple battery stacks.\n\nThis centralized approach was more susceptible to shunt current losses and presented challenges in managing voltage imbalances across a large array of cells and stacks. A failure in the single PCU could also lead to a complete system shutdown. In contrast, this patent integrates a dedicated DC/DC converter directly into *each* energy storage stack.\n\nThis localized conversion and voltage elevation, followed by parallel coupling, fundamentally re-architects how power is managed. It directly attacks the problem of shunt currents at their source, offers greater modularity, improved fault tolerance, and superior overall efficiency compared to traditional centralized or less integrated designs.","question":"How is Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System different from prior art?"},{"answer":"The **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** is poised to significantly impact several key industries, primarily those involved in energy generation, distribution, and consumption:\n\n**Utility-Scale Energy:** It will enable utilities to integrate higher percentages of intermittent renewable energy (solar, wind) into the grid more efficiently, providing greater grid stability, reliability, and reducing reliance on fossil fuel peaker plants. This supports grid modernization efforts globally.\n\n**Renewable Energy Development:** Developers of large solar and wind farms will benefit from more efficient and reliable energy storage solutions, maximizing their project's output and economic viability. **Microgrids and Remote Power:** Communities, military bases, and industrial campuses can leverage this technology for highly reliable and efficient microgrids, ensuring energy independence and resilience. **Industrial and Commercial Energy Management:** Large industrial facilities can use this system for peak shaving, demand charge reduction, and backup power, leading to significant cost savings and reduced carbon footprint. Its impact will be felt across the entire clean energy value chain.","question":"What industries will Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System impact?"},{"answer":"The patent for the **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** (US-9853454) was filed on **December 20, 2011**.\n\nIt was subsequently published and granted on **December 26, 2017**. This timeline shows a multi-year process from the initial application to the final grant, during which the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) examined the innovation for novelty, non-obviousness, and utility. The publication date marks when the patent became publicly accessible, detailing its claims and specifications.","question":"When was Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System filed/granted?"},{"answer":"The **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** has a wide range of critical commercial applications, primarily in the rapidly expanding energy storage market:\n\n**Grid-Scale Energy Storage:** This is the most significant application, enabling utilities to store vast amounts of renewable energy for later dispatch, balance grid loads, and provide ancillary services like frequency regulation and voltage support. The enhanced efficiency makes these projects more economically attractive.\n\n**Renewable Energy Integration:** Co-located with solar and wind farms, it can store excess generation, smooth out power output fluctuations, and firm up intermittent renewable power, making it a more reliable source for the grid. **Microgrids and Off-Grid Solutions:** For remote communities, islands, or critical infrastructure, this system provides a robust, long-duration energy source, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and enhancing energy resilience. **Industrial Load Management:** Large industrial users can employ this technology for peak shaving (reducing electricity consumption during high-cost periods), demand response, and ensuring uninterruptible power supply. Its modularity and efficiency make it a versatile solution for diverse energy challenges.","question":"What are the commercial applications of Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System?"},{"answer":"Future developments for the **Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System** are likely to focus on further optimization, integration, and expanded deployment:\n\n**Cost Reduction:** Continuous efforts will be made to reduce the manufacturing costs of the integrated DC/DC converters and the overall system, making the technology even more competitive. This includes optimizing materials, manufacturing processes, and supply chains for vanadium electrolytes. **Advanced Control Systems:** Development of more sophisticated, AI-driven control algorithms could further enhance the efficiency and predictive maintenance capabilities of the distributed converters, allowing for even finer-grained optimization of stack performance and system response.\n\n**Broader Integration:** Expect to see this system integrated into more complex smart grid architectures, potentially combining with other energy management technologies for holistic energy solutions. **Increased Deployment:** As the global demand for long-duration energy storage grows, the enhanced efficiency and reliability offered by this patent will drive its widespread adoption in utility-scale projects, microgrids, and industrial applications worldwide, accelerating the transition to a fully decarbonized grid. This patent sets a strong foundation for the next generation of highly efficient and reliable energy storage solutions.","question":"What are the future developments expected for Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System?"}],"topics":["vanadium redox battery","energy storage system","DC/DC converter","shunt current reduction","grid energy storage","global","energy","transition"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System - Patent US-9853454","description":"Discover the Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System patent (US-9853454) for reducing energy losses from shunt currents. Learn about its integrated DC/DC converters and enhanced efficiency.","keywords":["vanadium redox battery","energy storage system","DC/DC converter","shunt current reduction","grid energy storage","renewable energy","battery efficiency","US-9853454 patent","flow battery technology","power electronics","sustainable energy"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853454","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853454","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Vanadium redox battery energy storage system\" (US-9853454). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853454","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853454","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9853454","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-06-06T04:11:21.242Z"}