Development of alkaline zinc/ferricyanide battery

Conference · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6098751

Hollandsworth, R P; Adams, G B; Webber, B D

The zinc/ferro-ferricyanide battery system is intended for utility load leveling and solar photovoltaic/wind applications with advantages of high cyclic efficiency, high cell voltage, near-ambient temperature operation, flowing alkaline electrolyte, low toxicity, potentially long cycle life and low projected capital costs. The system demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance. Cell voltages are 1.88 V OCV and 1.61 V discharge at 35 mA/cm/sup 2/ or 57 mW/cm/sup 2/ in 2N NaOH at 40/sup 0/C (Nafion N-125 separator). Cell polarization losses are almost entirely resistive, and, within the separator. Over 800 4-h cycles have been demonstrated in cell of 60-cm/sup 2/ nominal area (70 ma.h/cm/sup 2/ capacity) with mean energy efficiency of 76.6 +- 2.1%. Similarly, a 60-cm/sup 2/ cell has demonstrated over 220, 11 to 17 hour cycles (255 +- 48 mA.h/cm/sup 2/ capacity) with a mean energy efficiency of 75.3+-5.1%. Solar acceptability has been demonstrated with random cycling without zinc strip cycles and with typical switching times of less than 5 ms for switching from load to insolation or vice versa. The self-discharge rate has been measured at 1.6%/day. Criteria for separator selection have been established and compatibility with alkaline ferricyanide has been found to be the factor determining membrane life with resistance and electrolyte transference rate, as secondary factors.

• Research Organization: Lockheed Palo Alto Research Labs., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6098751
• Report Number(s): CONF-830812-14; ON: DE83011788
• Resource Relation: Conference: 18. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Orlando, FL, USA, 21 Aug 1983; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
14 SOLAR ENERGY
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
BATTERY SEPARATORS
CAPACITY
CHARGE STATE
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROLYTES
FAILURES
FERRICYANIDES
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
STORAGE
ZINC
COMPLEXES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
IRON COMPLEXES
METALS
POWER SUPPLIES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPLEXES
250901* - Energy Storage- Batteries- Design & Development
200107 - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Off-Peak Energy Storage- (1980-)
140600 - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems