Flow-based batteries in Automobiles By: Dipto Bose, Lauren Etzwiler,and Yubin Choi

Background Approximately 28% of gas emission within the environment is transportation related. Electrical vehicles come across issues with ride range and safety, along with issues of large production costs. GE predicts that this flow battery will greatly extend driving range, reduce cost, and diminish the dependence on foreign oil. The flow battery is among one of the top contestants for alternative means of power due to its versatile structure and scale. Water-Based Flow Battery for EVs. (2013, August 21). Retrieved September 29, 2015.

Relevant history The first true battery was invented by the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta in Volta stacked discs of copper and zinc separated by cloth soaked in salty water. Wires connected to either end of the stack produced a continuous stable current. Each cell produces 0.76 Volts (V). A multiple of this value is obtained given by the number of cells that are stacked together. One of the most enduring batteries, the lead-acid battery, was invented in 1859 Still the technology used to start most internal combustion engine cars today.

Significance of Topic Long lifespan -> 20 yrs cost effective Energy produced from chemical reactions -> little to no harm on environment -> vanadium Reduction in fuel consumption reduction in pollution, thus clean energy source affordable source of energy safer -> ionic liquid are nontoxic and nonflammable content/uploads/2014/07/smart- car.jpg Skyllas-Kazacos, M., Chakrabarti, M. H., Hajimolana, S. A., Mjalli, F. S., Saleem, M. (June 17, 2011). Progress in Flow Battery Research and Development. Retrieved (October 28, 2015) from dmin/content/nfc_share_01.jpg

How it Works Two separate tanks store either a negatively charged or a positively charged fluid, outside of the battery itself. Depending on the size of the tanks, the battery can store an immense amount of energy. The charged fluids within the tanks are then pumped into a common electrode that is separated down the middle by a membrane. This membrane does not allow the liquids to mix; however, it does allow a transfer of ions (the charge particles). The reaction between charges yields chemical energy, which can then be converted into electrical energy. Conveniently, the separate tanks of solution allows variation in the battery layout, which can be decided depending on the specific use. Soloveichik, G. (2014). Electrochemistry: Metal-free energy storage. Nature, 505(7482), doi:doi: /505163a

Current State of Technology and Challenges Vanadium redox flow batteries The technology is very complex Needs other pieces of technologies such as pumps, sensors, flow and power management need large volume for large amount of energy The uses of flow batteries are relatively new and unfamiliar GE research project on flow batteries for automobiles Quant automobiles The Potential of the Nanoflowcell. Retrieved October 28, 2015 from Nyugen, T., Savinell, R. F. (Fall 2010). Flow Batteries. Retrieved Octover 28, 2015 from battery/31091/

Conclusion Flow batteries have one main architectural disadvantage compared with integrated cell architectures of electrochemical storage. They tend to have a lower volumetric energy densities than integrated cell architectures Redox flow batteries offer an economical, low vulnerability means to store electrical energy. They also offer greater flexibility to independently tailor power storing electrical energy. Redox Flow batteries are suitable for energy storage applications with power ratings from 10’s of kW to 10’s of MW and storage durations of 2 to 10 hours.

References "Q&A About Electric Vehicle Flow Battery Technology | GE Global Research." GE Global Research. 30 Aug Web. 28 Oct Water-Based Flow Battery for EVs. (2013, August 21). Retrieved September 29, Soloveichik, G. (2014). Electrochemistry: Metal-free energy storage. Nature, 505(7482), doi:doi: /505163a "Redox Flow Batteries." Redox Flow Batteries. Web. 28 Oct "Vanadium Redox-Flow Battery." Vanadium Redox-Flow Battery. Web. 28 Oct "Energy Storage: Batteries." Energy Storage: Batteries. Web. 28 Oct vm