Can a flow battery be modeled?

MIT researchers have demonstrated a modeling framework that can help model flow batteries. Their work focuses on this electrochemical cell, which looks promising for grid-scale energy storage—except for one problem: Current flow batteries rely on vanadium, an energy-storage material that’s expensive and not always readily available.

What is the main problem with current flow batteries?

Current flow batteries rely on vanadium, an energy-storage material that’s expensive and not always readily available. This is the main problem with current flow batteries, despite their promising potential for grid-scale energy storage.

Does vanadium degrade in flow batteries?

Vanadium does not degrade in flow batteries. According to Brushett, 'If you put 100 grams of vanadium into your battery and you come back in 100 years, you should be able to recover 100 grams of that vanadium—as long as the battery doesn’t have some sort of a physical leak'.

What makes flow batteries different from everyday batteries?

In flow batteries, the materials that store the electric charge are liquids, not solid coatings on the electrodes. This unique design contributes to their long lifetimes and low costs.

How does a flow battery work?

A flow battery works by containing two substances that undergo electrochemical reactions. During charging, the transfer of electrons forces these substances into a state that stores extra energy.

What is 'crossover' in flow batteries?

In flow batteries, a phenomenon called 'crossover' occurs. The membrane is designed to allow small supporting ions to pass through and block the larger active species, but in reality, it isn’t perfectly selective, leading to a relatively faster form of degradation.