VRFB Control System Patent Landscape 2026
The VRFB control system patent field is China-dominated and academically led, with Hefei University of Technology holding the largest portfolio among ranked filers. The field is still expanding on a multi-year basis, though annual volume has eased from its 2022 peak and the most recent years are further understated by publication lag.
Chinese institutions lead a moderately concentrated field
Hefei University of Technology tops the applicant ranking, followed closely by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and two Shanghai Electric subsidiaries. The top five filers account for 31% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, signalling moderate but not extreme concentration.
A clear tier gap exists between the top two academic/research institutions and the rest of the field. Below the top five, patent records are spread across a large number of corporate and utility filers, most holding only one or two records each, which suggests the field has not yet consolidated around a dominant commercial platform.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hefei University of Technology | 6 | |
| 2 | Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences | 5 | |
| 3 | Shanghai Electric Lingstorage Technology Co., Ltd. | 4 | |
| 4 | Shanghai Electric (Anhui) Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. | 4 | |
| 5 | ZHANGJIAKOU WIND & SOLAR POWER ENERGY DEMONSTRATIO… | 3 | |
| 6 | ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG | 2 | |
| 7 | Wuhan NARI Limited Liability Company of State Grid Electric Power Research Institute | 2 | |
| 8 | State Grid Corporation of China | 2 | |
| 9 | ThyssenKrupp AG | 2 | |
| 10 | State Grid Anhui Electric Power Co., Ltd. Electric Power Research Institute | 2 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Anhui Conch Ronghua Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. | 2 | |
| 12 | Guangdong Jinyuan Energy Storage Power Technology Co., Ltd. | 2 | |
| 13 | Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd. | 1 | |
| 14 | Sinoma Overseas Development Co., Ltd. | 1 | |
| 15 | Shaanxi CANCN Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. | 1 | |
| 16 | China Three Gorges Corporation | 1 | |
| 17 | Hubei Zhongfan Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. | 1 | |
| 18 | Sichuan Chemical Group Co., Ltd. Chengdu Engineering Branch | 1 | |
| 19 | Xi’an Jiaotong University | 1 | |
| 20 | Jilin Hengtong Power Design Co., Ltd. | 1 |
The leaders’ positions—anchored in universities and a state-linked research institute—imply that foundational control-algorithm IP is primarily held by academic actors rather than manufacturers, leaving commercializing firms relatively exposed to licensing risk or compelled to build differentiated system-integration IP.
The most recent 18–24 months of filing data are under-counted due to publication lag; the apparent slowdown in 2024–2026 should not be read as a real deceleration. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Multi-year growth driven by battery-cell control, with power-grid integration emerging
The filing trend and technology composition charts together show a field that accelerated sharply from 2021 onward and is technically anchored in electrochemical cell management, with a secondary but growing strand of grid-interface control.
Annual filing trend
Filings were sparse and irregular through 2020, then surged in 2021–2022, with 2022 marking the apparent annual peak. The three-year recent window sits 183% above the prior three-year window on a multi-year basis. The 2024 and 2025 bars reflect publication lag and should be treated as floors, not ceilings.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H01M (batteries, cells and fuel cells) dominates the IPC composition, reflecting the core focus on electrochemical stack management and electrolyte control. H02J (power supply and grid systems) is the next largest branch, indicating a secondary thread around grid integration and power conversion. All remaining branches each account for only one or two records, confirming that topics such as measurement, alarm systems, and thermal management are currently under-served adjacent areas.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Determining the state of charge of an all-vanadium…
A method for determining a charge state of a vanadium redox flow cell may comprise indirectly determining concentrations of V<sup>4+</sup> and V<sup>5+</sup> in a positive electrolyte by mixing positive and negative electrolytes with one another in particular proportions to reduce V<sup>5+</sup> present in the positive electrolyte. In this way, CT complexes… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一种全钒液流电池系统电解液流量优化控制方法 | 24 |
| 2 | 基于PLC的钒液流电池控制系统和控制方法及其控制设备 | 13 |
| 3 | 液流电池的电解液温度的控制方法及系统 | 12 |
| 4 | 一种钒电池用电解液的制备方法 | 10 |
| 5 | 一种全钒液流电池储能模块装置及其电压均衡控制方法 | 8 |
| 6 | 一种用于全钒液流电池电解液存储装置中的温控装置 | 8 |
| 7 | 一种MW液流电池储能电站多PCS智能轮换控制方法 | 6 |
| 8 | 一种电池储能系统运行控制方法、装置、设备和介质 | 5 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment
The combination of academic leadership, geographic concentration, and a field still expanding on a multi-year basis creates both entry opportunities and IP risks that R&D planners should weigh explicitly.
Growth stage with eased annual pace
The lifecycle evidence places VRFB control systems firmly in the Growth stage: recent three-year filings sit well above the prior three-year window. Annual volume has eased from its 2022 peak, but this reflects normal post-surge consolidation rather than field decline. Engineers entering now will find prior art accumulating but no dominant platform locked in.
Growth stageAcademic leaders, fragmented commercial tier
The top five filers hold 31% of the hundred largest filers’ combined output, and the leaders are universities and state research institutes rather than manufacturers. This means critical algorithm and control-method IP sits with institutions that may license broadly, but it also means no single commercial integrator has built a defensible IP moat yet. A new entrant focused on system-integration or field-deployment IP could differentiate without directly challenging the academic leaders.
Moderate concentrationUniversity–utility partnerships dominate co-filing
The most active co-filing pair is Shanghai Electric Lingstorage Technology and Shanghai Electric (Anhui) Energy Storage Technology, with four joint records. Hefei University of Technology co-files with State Grid Anhui Electric Power Research Institute (two records), and Wuhan NARI co-files with Zhangjiakou Wind and Solar Power Energy Demonstration (two records). ThyssenKrupp AG and ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions also show a two-record internal collaboration. The pattern is predominantly domestic Chinese university–utility partnerships, with only one non-Chinese collaboration visible.
University–utility axisChina overwhelmingly dominant; minimal Western footprint
China accounts for the large majority of jurisdiction filings in this corpus, with only one record each in Canada and the United States. This jurisdictional asymmetry means that Western manufacturers and grid operators face limited prior-art obstacles in their home markets but also have scant visibility into Chinese developments. For non-Chinese entrants, filing in China now would encounter a well-established incumbent base; filing in North America or Europe offers cleaner FTO in the near term.
China-centricGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Electric Lingstorage Technology Co., Ltd. | Shanghai Electric (Anhui) Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. | 4 |
| Hefei University of Technology | State Grid Anhui Electric Power Co., Ltd. Electric Power Research Institute | 2 |
| Wuhan NARI Limited Liability Company of State Grid Electric Power Research Institute | State Grid Jibei Zhangjiakou Wind and Solar Power Energy Demonstration Co., Ltd. | 2 |
| ThyssenKrupp AG | ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG | 2 |
| Guangdong Sanshui Hefei University of Technology Research Institute | Foshan Sizheng Energy Technology Co., Ltd. | 2 |
| Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences | China Three Gorges Corporation | 1 |
| State Grid Jibei Zhangjiakou Wind and Solar Power Energy Demonstration Co., Ltd. | Hebei University of Technology | 1 |
| State Grid Jibei Zhangjiakou Wind and Solar Power Energy Demonstration Co., Ltd. | State Grid Jibei Electric Power Co., Ltd. Electric Power Research Institute | 1 |
| State Grid Jibei Zhangjiakou Wind and Solar Power Energy Demonstration Co., Ltd. | State Grid Corporation of China | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Academic institutions lead; Shanghai Electric subsidiaries are the fastest-rising commercial filers
The ranking is led by two research universities and closely followed by a pair of corporate subsidiaries that entered recently and have moved rapidly. ThyssenKrupp represents the sole significant non-Chinese presence.
Hefei University of Technology
Hefei University of Technology holds 6 patent records, the largest portfolio in the ranked field. Its technical focus spans H01M 8 (battery and fuel cell systems) and H02J 7 (power supply and charging), with a single record in G05F 1 (variable electric/magnetic control), suggesting breadth across both electrochemical and grid-interface control. Its momentum is flagged as a new entrant in the recent window, indicating that its current position has been built quickly.
patent records: 6Shanghai Electric (dual subsidiary cluster)
Shanghai Electric Lingstorage Technology and Shanghai Electric (Anhui) Energy Storage Technology each hold 4 patent records and share an identical technical profile concentrated in H01M 8 and H02J 3 and H02J 15 (grid integration and energy storage dispatch). Both are flagged as new entrants in the recent filing window, meaning their entire portfolio was built in the recent period. Their joint co-filing of four records confirms they operate as a coordinated IP unit, making them the most active commercial cluster in the field.
patent records: 4 each| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Hefei University of Technology | 1 | ▲ new entrant |
| Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences | 4 | ▲ new entrant |
| Shanghai Electric Lingstorage Technology Co., Ltd. | 4 | ▲ new entrant |
| Shanghai Electric (Anhui) Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. | 4 | ▲ new entrant |
Measurement and alarm-systems branches are sparse relative to their technical relevance
Several IPC branches appear in the VRFB control-system corpus with very low record counts. These observations reflect current sparsity and should be assessed for technical fit and commercial relevance before being treated as investment targets.
G01R · Electric and magnetic measurement
Only 2 records are classified under G01R in this corpus, representing a 3% share among the top branches. In-situ state-of-charge estimation, electrolyte concentration sensing, and stack impedance monitoring are all technically necessary for closed-loop VRFB control, yet patent activity here is minimal. An entrant with sensor-integration or real-time measurement IP could fill a genuine functional gap, provided the prior art in adjacent electrochemical-sensor fields does not create FTO issues.
Search this in Eureka →G08B · Signalling and alarm systems
G08B also appears with only 2 records in this corpus. Fault detection, leakage alerting, and thermal runaway warning are increasingly required for grid-scale VRFB deployments under safety regulations, yet dedicated alarm and signalling IP remains sparse. The Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics holds both G08B records, suggesting limited competitive overlap. Entrants with embedded safety-monitoring or fault-tolerant control architectures may find this an accessible differentiation point.
Search this in Eureka →How leaders differ by technology route
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | H01M 8 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | H02J 7 · Power supply & grid systems | H02J 3 · Power supply & grid systems | H02J 15 · Power supply & grid systems | G01R 31 · Electric & magnetic measurement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hefei University of Technology | Strong · 6 | Strong · 5 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Shanghai Electric (Anhui) Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. | Strong · 4 | Moderate · 2 | Strong · 3 | Moderate · 2 | Absent |
| Shanghai Electric Lingstorage Technology Co., Ltd. | Strong · 4 | Moderate · 2 | Strong · 3 | Moderate · 2 | Absent |
| Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences | Strong · 5 | Emerging · 1 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| State Grid Anhui Electric Power Co., Ltd. Electric Power Research Institute | Strong · 2 | Strong · 2 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Anhui Conch Ronghua Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. | Strong · 2 | Moderate · 1 | Absent | Absent | Moderate · 1 |
| State Grid Jibei Zhangjiakou Wind and Solar Power Energy Demonstration Co., Ltd. | Strong · 3 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The evidence covers 45 patent families in scope for VRFB control systems.
Hefei University of Technology leads with 6 patent records, followed by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with 5.
Yes, on a multi-year basis: recent three-year filings are 183% above the prior three-year window. Annual volume peaked in 2022 and has eased since, but the most recent years are further understated by publication lag, so the field should be characterised as Growth stage rather than declining.
China accounts for the large majority of jurisdiction filings in this corpus. Canada and the United States each have one record, confirming that meaningful Western patent activity in this specific area remains very limited.
Yes. The most active co-filing partnership is between Shanghai Electric Lingstorage Technology and Shanghai Electric (Anhui) Energy Storage Technology, with 4 joint records. Other notable pairs include Hefei University of Technology with State Grid Anhui Electric Power Research Institute, and Wuhan NARI with Zhangjiakou Wind and Solar Power Energy Demonstration, each with 2 joint records.
The most-cited patent in the evidence is a method for optimising electrolyte flow control in an all-vanadium flow battery system, with 24 citations. A PLC-based vanadium flow battery control system and method follows with 13 citations, and a method for controlling electrolyte temperature in a flow battery has 12 citations.
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Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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