Maximizing Energetic Efficiency in Flow Batteries Utilizing Non-Newtonian Fluids

Smith, Kyle C.; Chiang, Yet Ming; Carter, W. Craig

doi:10.1149/2.011404jes

Cited by 82 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…5 gives the specific capacity with respect to all sulfur in the system, assuming a uniform state-of-charge. Voltage is reduced below this value because the electroactive region is incompletely replenished by the flow pulse 7,28 . As a result, the solution phase of the suspension is more highly charged near the cell's inlet (nominally, Li 2 When the voltage window is widened to include precipitation, the discharge capacity is increased about four-fold to 653 mAh/g (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polysulfide Flow Batteries Enabled by Percolating Nanoscale Conductor Networks

et al. 2014

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A new approach to flow battery design is demonstrated wherein diffusion-limited aggregation of nanoscale conductor particles at ~1 vol% concentration is used to impart mixed electronic-ionic conductivity to redox solutions, forming flow electrodes with embedded current collector networks that self-heal after shear. Lithium polysulfide flow cathodes of this architecture exhibit electrochemical activity that is distributed throughout the volume of flow electrodes rather than being confined to surfaces of stationary current collectors. The nanoscale network architecture enables cycling of polysulfide solutions deep into precipitation regimes that historically have shown poor capacity utilization and reversibility, and may thereby enable new flow battery designs of higher energy density and lower system cost. Lithium polysulfide half-flow cells operating in both continuous and intermittent flow mode are demonstrated for the first time.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polysulfide Flow Batteries Enabled by Percolating Nanoscale Conductor Networks

et al. 2014

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“…Therefore, proper reactor design coupled with material selection [14,16,23] would significantly reduce the cost of the RFBs helping in their widespread commercialization [24]. Also, less conventional RFBs utilizing high-viscosity, shear-thinning suspensions of carbon black and solid active compounds required the development of various flow-mode strategies to enable efficient operation in both aqueous and non-aqueous RFBs [25][26][27][28][29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering the role of flow rate in redox-active polymer flow batteries: simulation of reaction distributions with simultaneous mixing in tanks

Nemani

Smith

2017

Electrochimica Acta

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Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are potential solutions for grid-scale energy storage, and deeper understanding of the effect of flow rate on RFB performance is needed to develop efficient, lowcost designs. In this study we highlight the importance of modeling tanks, which can limit the charge/discharge capacity of redox-active polymer (RAP) based RFBs. The losses due to tank mixing dominate over the polarization-induced capacity losses that arise due to resistive processes in the reactor. A porous electrode model is used to separate these effects by predicting the time variation of active species concentration in electrodes and tanks. A simple transient model based on species conservation laws developed in this study reveals that charge utilization and polarization are affected by two dimensionless numbers quantifying (1) flow rate relative to stoichiometric flow and (2) size of flow battery tanks relative to the reactor. The RFB's utilization is shown to increase monotonically with flow rate, reaching 90% of the theoretical value only when flow rate exceeds twenty-fold of the stoichiometric value. We also identify polarization due to irreversibilities inherent to RFB architecture as a result of tank mixing and current distribution internal to the reactor, and this polarization dominates over that resulting from ohmic resistances particularly when cycling RFBs at low flow rates and currents. These findings are summarized in a map of utilization and polarization that can be used to select adequate flow rate for a given tank size.

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“…[2][3][4][5][6][7] In the late 1970's, slurry electrodes were used in the zinc-air battery system for energy storage. [8][9][10] In the last few years, particular interest has been given to other energy storage applications, [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] particularly non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries [11][12][13][14][15] and electrochemical flow capacitors. [20][21][22][23][24][25] Table I presents a brief summary of the systems studied to date.…”

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confidence: 99%

Characterizing Slurry Electrodes Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

Petek

Hoyt

Savinell

et al. 2015

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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Techniques for interpreting electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of different flowing slurry electrodes configurations are presented based upon models developed for macrohomogeneous porous electrodes. These models are discussed with regards to three different slurry systems; particles in deionized water, in supporting electrolyte without redox active species (akin to electrochemical flow capacitors), and in electrolytes supporting aqueous redox couples (akin to redox flow batteries). Through investigating each of these systems, the individual properties of a slurry can be determined. It was found that traditional overpotential descriptions, (ohmic, activation, and mass transfer) were insufficient to fully describe the impedance and polarization of the slurry electrodes. An overpotential due to the distributed current distribution in the slurry electrode was considered in the frequency range of activation overpotentials that depends on the exchange current density and the ratio of the electronic and ionic conductivities. In slurry electrodes made with multi-wall carbon nanotube particles supporting the ferric/ferrous redox couple, the distributed overpotential was found to be about the same order of magnitude as the activation overpotential and the total voltaic efficiency was over 80% at 200 mA/cm 2 .

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Maximizing Energetic Efficiency in Flow Batteries Utilizing Non-Newtonian Fluids

Cited by 82 publications

References 54 publications

Polysulfide Flow Batteries Enabled by Percolating Nanoscale Conductor Networks

Polysulfide Flow Batteries Enabled by Percolating Nanoscale Conductor Networks

Uncovering the role of flow rate in redox-active polymer flow batteries: simulation of reaction distributions with simultaneous mixing in tanks

Characterizing Slurry Electrodes Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

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