Comparing velocities and pressures in redox flow batteries with interdigitated and serpentine channels

Macdonald, Malcolm; Darling, Robert M.

doi:10.1002/aic.16553

Comparing velocities and pressures in redox flow batteries with interdigitated and serpentine channels

Journal Article · Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 EST 2019 · AIChE Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.16553· OSTI ID:1496645

^[1]; Darling, Robert M. ^[1]

United Technologies Research Center East Hartford Connecticut

Abstract

Serpentine channels adjacent to a thin, porous medium are a potentially attractive alternative to a conventional thick flow‐through electrode for redox flow batteries. The hydrodynamics of serpentine flow fields were investigated with computational fluid dynamics, a two‐dimensional model of the porous electrode based on Darcy's law, and a resistance network model at the scale of the active area. Predictions from the three models were used to map the available design space. The optimal electrode thickness, in terms of minimizing nonuniformity, was identified and compared to the result for an interdigitated flow field. Serpentine favors thicker electrodes and higher flows than interdigitated, in qualitative agreement with experimental findings. Furthermore, interdigitated designs deliver more uniform intraelectrode velocities and lower overall pressure drops than serpentine flow fields.

View Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357

OSTI ID:: 1496645

Journal Information:: AIChE Journal, Journal Name: AIChE Journal Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 65; ISSN 0001-1541

Publisher:: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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