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Title: Practical thermodynamic quantities for aqueous vanadium- and iron-based flow batteries

Abstract

A simple method for experimentally determining thermodynamic quantities for flow battery cell reactions is presented. Equilibrium cell potentials, temperature derivatives of cell potential (dE/dT), Gibbs free energies, and entropies are reported here for all-vanadium, iron–vanadium, and iron–chromium flow cells with state-of-the-art solution compositions. Proof is given that formal potentials and formal temperature coefficients can be used with modified forms of the Nernst Equation to quantify the thermodynamics of flow cell reactions as a function of state-of-charge. Such empirical quantities can be used in thermo-electrochemical models of flow batteries at the cell or system level. In most cases, the thermodynamic quantities measured here are significantly different from standard values reported and used previously in the literature. The data reported here are also useful in the selection of operating temperatures for flow battery systems. Because higher temperatures correspond to lower equilibrium cell potentials for the battery chemistries studied here, it can be beneficial to charge a cell at higher temperature and discharge at lower temperature. As a result, proof-of-concept of improved voltage efficiency with the use of such non-isothermal cycling is given for the all-vanadium redox flow battery, and the effect is shown to be more pronounced at lower current densities.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1113052
Report Number(s):
SAND-2013-8072J
Journal ID: ISSN 0378-7753; PII: S0378775313020685
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Power Sources
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 269; Journal Issue: C; Related Information: Proposed for publication in Journal of Power Sources.; Journal ID: ISSN 0378-7753
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
25 ENERGY STORAGE; flow battery; thermodynamics; entropy; formal potential; Nernst equation; non-isothermal

Citation Formats

Hudak, Nicholas S. Practical thermodynamic quantities for aqueous vanadium- and iron-based flow batteries. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.12.089.
Hudak, Nicholas S. Practical thermodynamic quantities for aqueous vanadium- and iron-based flow batteries. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.12.089
Hudak, Nicholas S. Tue . "Practical thermodynamic quantities for aqueous vanadium- and iron-based flow batteries". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.12.089. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1113052.
@article{osti_1113052,
title = {Practical thermodynamic quantities for aqueous vanadium- and iron-based flow batteries},
author = {Hudak, Nicholas S.},
abstractNote = {A simple method for experimentally determining thermodynamic quantities for flow battery cell reactions is presented. Equilibrium cell potentials, temperature derivatives of cell potential (dE/dT), Gibbs free energies, and entropies are reported here for all-vanadium, iron–vanadium, and iron–chromium flow cells with state-of-the-art solution compositions. Proof is given that formal potentials and formal temperature coefficients can be used with modified forms of the Nernst Equation to quantify the thermodynamics of flow cell reactions as a function of state-of-charge. Such empirical quantities can be used in thermo-electrochemical models of flow batteries at the cell or system level. In most cases, the thermodynamic quantities measured here are significantly different from standard values reported and used previously in the literature. The data reported here are also useful in the selection of operating temperatures for flow battery systems. Because higher temperatures correspond to lower equilibrium cell potentials for the battery chemistries studied here, it can be beneficial to charge a cell at higher temperature and discharge at lower temperature. As a result, proof-of-concept of improved voltage efficiency with the use of such non-isothermal cycling is given for the all-vanadium redox flow battery, and the effect is shown to be more pronounced at lower current densities.},
doi = {10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.12.089},
journal = {Journal of Power Sources},
number = C,
volume = 269,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 2013},
month = {Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 2013}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

A One-Dimensional Stack Model for Redox Flow Battery Analysis and Operation
journal, February 2019