Mass Transport Optimization for Redox Flow Battery Design
The world is moving to the next phase of the energy transition with high penetrations of renewable energy. Flexible and scalable redox flow battery (RFB) technology is expected to play an important role in ensuring electricity network security and reliability. Innovations continue to enhance their v...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-04-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/8/2801 |
| _version_ | 1797570300897918976 |
|---|---|
| author | Nicholas Gurieff Declan Finn Keogh Mark Baldry Victoria Timchenko Donna Green Ilpo Koskinen Chris Menictas |
| author_facet | Nicholas Gurieff Declan Finn Keogh Mark Baldry Victoria Timchenko Donna Green Ilpo Koskinen Chris Menictas |
| author_sort | Nicholas Gurieff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The world is moving to the next phase of the energy transition with high penetrations of renewable energy. Flexible and scalable redox flow battery (RFB) technology is expected to play an important role in ensuring electricity network security and reliability. Innovations continue to enhance their value by reducing parasitic losses and maximizing available energy over broader operating conditions. Simulations of vanadium redox flow battery (VRB/VRFB) cells were conducted using a validated COMSOL Multiphysics model. Cell designs are developed to reduce losses from pump energy while improving the delivery of active species where required. The combination of wedge-shaped cells with static mixers is found to improve performance by reducing differential pressure and concentration overpotential. Higher electrode compression at the outlet optimises material properties through the cell, while the mixer mitigates concentration gradients across the cell. Simulations show a 12% lower pressure drop across the cell and a 2% lower charge voltage for improved energy efficiency. Wedge-shaped cells are shown to offer extended capacity during cycling. The prototype mixers are fabricated using additive manufacturing for further studies. Toroidal battery designs incorporating these innovations at the kW scale are developed through inter-disciplinary collaboration and rendered using computer aided design (CAD). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:22:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35797e7b2e3546dca95c516ddef0cda8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:22:59Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-35797e7b2e3546dca95c516ddef0cda82023-11-19T21:58:32ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172020-04-01108280110.3390/app10082801Mass Transport Optimization for Redox Flow Battery DesignNicholas Gurieff0Declan Finn Keogh1Mark Baldry2Victoria Timchenko3Donna Green4Ilpo Koskinen5Chris Menictas6School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaSchool of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaSchool of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaSchool of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaClimate Change Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaDesign Next, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaSchool of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaThe world is moving to the next phase of the energy transition with high penetrations of renewable energy. Flexible and scalable redox flow battery (RFB) technology is expected to play an important role in ensuring electricity network security and reliability. Innovations continue to enhance their value by reducing parasitic losses and maximizing available energy over broader operating conditions. Simulations of vanadium redox flow battery (VRB/VRFB) cells were conducted using a validated COMSOL Multiphysics model. Cell designs are developed to reduce losses from pump energy while improving the delivery of active species where required. The combination of wedge-shaped cells with static mixers is found to improve performance by reducing differential pressure and concentration overpotential. Higher electrode compression at the outlet optimises material properties through the cell, while the mixer mitigates concentration gradients across the cell. Simulations show a 12% lower pressure drop across the cell and a 2% lower charge voltage for improved energy efficiency. Wedge-shaped cells are shown to offer extended capacity during cycling. The prototype mixers are fabricated using additive manufacturing for further studies. Toroidal battery designs incorporating these innovations at the kW scale are developed through inter-disciplinary collaboration and rendered using computer aided design (CAD).https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/8/2801vanadium redox flow batterypower densitylimiting currentcell geometrymass transferelectrolyte mixing |
| spellingShingle | Nicholas Gurieff Declan Finn Keogh Mark Baldry Victoria Timchenko Donna Green Ilpo Koskinen Chris Menictas Mass Transport Optimization for Redox Flow Battery Design Applied Sciences vanadium redox flow battery power density limiting current cell geometry mass transfer electrolyte mixing |
| title | Mass Transport Optimization for Redox Flow Battery Design |
| title_full | Mass Transport Optimization for Redox Flow Battery Design |
| title_fullStr | Mass Transport Optimization for Redox Flow Battery Design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mass Transport Optimization for Redox Flow Battery Design |
| title_short | Mass Transport Optimization for Redox Flow Battery Design |
| title_sort | mass transport optimization for redox flow battery design |
| topic | vanadium redox flow battery power density limiting current cell geometry mass transfer electrolyte mixing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/8/2801 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nicholasgurieff masstransportoptimizationforredoxflowbatterydesign AT declanfinnkeogh masstransportoptimizationforredoxflowbatterydesign AT markbaldry masstransportoptimizationforredoxflowbatterydesign AT victoriatimchenko masstransportoptimizationforredoxflowbatterydesign AT donnagreen masstransportoptimizationforredoxflowbatterydesign AT ilpokoskinen masstransportoptimizationforredoxflowbatterydesign AT chrismenictas masstransportoptimizationforredoxflowbatterydesign |