1 kW/1 kWh advanced vanadium redox flow battery utilizing mixed acid electrolytes

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 2013 · Journal of Power Sources

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.02.045· OSTI ID:1423423

Kim, Soowhan; Thomsen, Edwin; Xia, Guanguang; Nie, Zimin; Bao, Jie; Recknagle, Kurtis; Wang, Wei; Viswanathan, Vilayanur; Luo, Qingtao; Wei, Xiaoliang; Crawford, Alasdair; Coffey, Greg; Maupin, Gary; Sprenkle, Vincent

This paper explores demonstration of an advanced vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) using a mixed acid (sulfuric and hydrochloric acid) supporting electrolyte in a kW scale. The prototype VRFB is capable of delivering more than 1.1 kW in the whole operation range (15~85% state of charge) at 80 mA/cm2 with high energy efficiency of 82% and energy content of 1.4 kWh. The system has been operated stably without any precipitation even at elevated electrolyte temperatures of > 45°C, while the control tests with the conventional sulfuric acid electrolyte suffered from precipitation after 80 cycles. The mixed acid system enabled operation at elevated temperature (> 40°C), providing unique advantages over the conventional pure sulfate system; 1) high stack energy efficiency due to better kinetics and low electrolyte resistance, 2) low viscosity, resulting in reduced pumping loss, 3) elimination of additional heat exchanger, 4) high system efficiency and 5) simple system design and operation.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1423423
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-92689; TE1400000
• Journal Information: Journal of Power Sources, Journal Name: Journal of Power Sources Journal Issue: C Vol. 237; ISSN 0378-7753
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

advanced vanadium redox flow battery
efficiency
redox flow battery
stack