Abstract
We present a quantitative bibliometric study of flow battery technology from the first zinc-bromine cells in the 1870’s to megawatt vanadium RFB installations in the 2020’s. We emphasize, that the cost advantage of RFBs in multi-hour charge-discharge cycles is compromised by the inferior energy efficiency of these systems, and that there are limits on the efficiency improvement due to internal cross-over and the cost of power (at low current densities) and due to acceptable pressure drop (at high current densities). Differences between lithium-ion and vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are discussed from the end-user perspective. We conclude, that the area-specific resistance, cross-over current and durability of contemporaneous VRFBs are appropriate for commercialization in multi-hour stationary energy storage markets, and the most import direction in the VRFB development today is reduction of stack materials and manufacturing costs. Chromium-iron RFBs should be given a renewed attention, since it seems to be the most promising durable low-cost chemistry.
Reference608 articles.
1. Y. V. Tolmachev, A. Piatkivskyi, V. V. Ryzhov, D. V. Konev and M. A. Vorotyntsev, "Energy cycle based on a high specific energy aqueous flow battery and its potential use for fully electric vehicles and for direct solar-to-chemical energy conversion." J. Solid State Electrochem., 19, 2711 (2015) 10.1007/s10008-015-2805-z.
2. Y. V. Tolmachev and S. V. Starodubceva, "Flow batteries with solid energy boosters." J. Electrochem. Sci. Eng., 12, 731 (2022) 10.5599/jese.1363.
3. Y. V. Tolmachev, "Hydrogen-halogen electrochemical cells: A review of applications and technologies." Russ. J. Electrochem., 50, 301 (2014) 10.1134/S1023193513120069.
4. R. F. Savinell, "Development of a titanium/iron redox couple flow battery system." Thesis (1977)
5. R. F. L. Savinell, C. C. ; Chiang, S. H. ; Coetzee, J. F. ; Galasco, R. T., Investigation of a parallel plate fe-ti redox electrochemical cell, in J Electrochem Soc, p. C336 (1978)