Redox flow batteries possess several key advantages that make them well suited for grid-scale energy-storage applications. However, the capital cost of flow batteries has been a major barrier to commercialization of this technology. One attractive path to cost reduction is the development of flow-battery cells with substantially higher power densities than conventional flow-battery cells. The cost of the cells comprises a significant portion of the total flow-battery system cost, especially at low production volumes, since cell parts are custom-built components. UTRC has developed high power density vanadium-redox battery cells utilizing a material set similar to conventional cells. This advanced cell technology can theoretically be applied to other flow-battery chemistries as well. This breakthrough in cell performance should motivate additional development of flow-battery technologies, since a realistic path to substantial cost reduction, which can be realized even at low production volumes, has now been demonstrated.
A quantitative investigation has been carried out to examine the effect of through-plane temperature difference on water transport across the membrane electrode assembly ͑MEA͒ of a proton exchange membrane ͑PEM͒ fuel cell. The presence of a temperature difference across the cell was found to cause a significant amount of water to transport through the MEA in the direction towards the colder side; the water transport rate increased with temperature and temperature gradient. This study reveals the importance of thermo-osmosis in PEM fuel cells ͑PEMFCs͒ and the need to consider the through-plane temperature profile in water management design and operation in PEMFCs.
A waste-free method was developed to prepare electrolytes using reducing agents for vanadium redox flow battery. Via this approach, both the electrolyte cost and waste can be reduced by 33% which are favored financially and environmentally. Thermodynamic-model calculations show 100% conversion on reaction between fully-charged vanadium positive solution (VO 2 + ) and oxalic acid. The kinetics on the redox reaction is discussed as well.
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