Improved VRFB announced19 Jul 2019 14:30
This is probably one for Alfa or someone with similar knowledge of physics/chemistry but the inventor of the VRFB, Maria Skyllas-Kazacos, has continued her studies into V batteries and has come up with a way to significantly increase energy density up to 80% more than is currently possible. That must surely increase the range of applications suitable for V batteries eg domestic and, who knows, perhaps even the Holy Grail, EV.
As a consequence, this improvement has the potential to materially increase global demand for vanadium.
Vanadium Oxygen Fuel Cell Utilising High Concentration Electrolyte
Abstract
A vanadium oxygen fuel cell is a modified form of a conventional vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) where the positive electrolyte (VO2+/VO2+ couple) is replaced by the oxygen reduction (ORR) process. This potentially allows for a significant improvement in energy density and has the added benefit of overcoming the solubility limits of V (V) at elevated temperatures, while also allowing the vanadium negative electrolyte concentration to increase above 3 M. In this paper, a vanadium oxygen fuel cell with vanadium electrolytes with a concentration of up to 3.6 M is reported with preliminary results presented for different electrodes over a range of current densities. Using precipitation inhibitors, the concentration of vanadium can be increased considerably above the commonly used 2 M limit, leading to improved energy density.
https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/5/1/24