Redox flow batteries charging tomorrow’s world through the in-depth understanding and enhanced control over battery hydrodynamics

Introduction

Electrochemical energy storage is essential if we wish to increase the usage of intermittent energy sources such as windmills and solar panels. With intermittent energy sources, it is crucial that energy can be stored to meet demand when production is too low.

Challenges in Energy Storage

When targeting stationary storage with large capacity and long storage times, redox flow batteries stand out. However, in order to compete with other energy storage technologies, several fundamental challenges remain to be resolved:

1. Mass transport limitations
2. Cell resistivities
3. Pressure losses
4. Slow kinetics

These challenges still pose major barriers that result in unsatisfactory energy efficiencies and power densities.

Proposed Solution

In RECHARGE, I propose an innovative and disruptive approach. By combining for the first time pulsatile flow with precisely structured 3D electrodes, the battery’s performance can be accurately steered towards improved battery hydrodynamics. This allows us to surpass state-of-the-art in terms of:

• Maximum attainable power density
• Diminished efficiency losses
• Enhanced energy capacity

The combination of targeting an in-depth understanding of how reagent, product, and electrolyte transport is governed within the redox flow battery, by using in operando characterization, and having perfect control over the electrode geometry and flow field design through advanced engineering approaches will result in unprecedented control over the mass transport and reaction environment.

Expected Outcomes

This will yield a significantly improved redox flow battery with:

• A power density of 1000 mW/cm²
• A roundtrip efficiency above 85%

Impact of RECHARGE

RECHARGE will demonstrate the impact of achieving perfect control over the hydrodynamic and electrochemical characteristics of a redox flow battery. It can thus be considered as the first step towards a new generation of redox flow batteries that will completely redesign the electrode structure and fluid control strategies towards strongly improved battery efficiencies.