Publication

Design and experimental validation of an optimal remixing procedure for vanadium flow batteries affected by faradaic imbalance

Journal Article (2024)

Journal

Journal of Power Sources

Pages

235487

Volume

624

Doc link

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2024.235487

File

Download the digital copy of the doc pdf document

Abstract

A novel optimised partial remixing procedure for recovering the capacity loss in vanadium flow batteries that suffer from electrolyte imbalance is implemented and its practical performance is thoroughly evaluated in this paper. The proposed optimal remixing method is assessed by means of experimental tests and compared to the conventional total remixing and to the hydraulic bypass connection between the electrolyte tanks. Special attention is given to the interaction between stoichiometric imbalance, caused by crossover through the membrane, and faradaic imbalance, caused by side reactions that produce a shift in the average oxidation state of the electrolyte. Consistently with the theoretical predictions, it is shown that in actual flow batteries operation, the effectiveness of the conventional remixing methods is very limited when oxidation constitutes the main source of imbalance. In contrast, the proposed optimal remixing allows a substantial capacity recovery, mitigating up to a 67% of the capacity loss originated by oxidation without requiring any additional equipment.

Categories

optimisation, storage automation.

Author keywords

Vanadium flow battery, State of Health, side reactions, capacity loss, electrolyte imbalance

Scientific reference

T.P. Puleston, A. Trovò, G. Marini, M. Serra, R. Costa and M. Guarnieri. Design and experimental validation of an optimal remixing procedure for vanadium flow batteries affected by faradaic imbalance. Journal of Power Sources, 624: 235487, 2024, to appear.