ELECTRIC POWER CONVERSION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CHARGING AND DISCHARGING ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES

An electric power conversion device (1) for charging and discharging energy storage devices having at least one bidirectional voltage converter (2, 5, 6) which can be connected to a power supply network (3) and to at least one electrochemical energy converter (7-10) for an energy storage device, configured as a flow battery and having a circulation arrangement for electrolytes. The electric power conversion device (1) has a controller (11) which is connected to the voltage converter (2, 5, 6) and is designed to control the voltage converter (2, 5, 6) with regard to the power flow direction thereof, characterized in that the controller (11) is designed to control one or more of the following energy storage peripheral devices depending on the power flow direction of the voltage converter (2, 5, 6) specified by the controller (11): - pumps (33, 34) for circulating the electrolytes, - flow regulator (35, 36) for controlling the electrolyte flow volume, - temperature controller for setting the electrolyte temperature, - pressure controller for setting the electrolyte pressure, and wherein the controller (11) has at least one control port (17) for connection of at least one of these energy storage peripheral devices.