Fermented Anthraquinone Electrolyte for Low-Carbon Flow Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current redox flow batteries face challenges in achieving competitive cost, low carbon footprint, high stored capacity, high energy density, high power density, and stability, while existing solutions often fail to meet these criteria simultaneously, particularly due to the high production costs and greenhouse gas emissions associated with active materials.
Innovation Solution
The use of a fermented anthraquinone compound synthesized via a one-step fermentation process as an active material in an aqueous organic redox flow battery, which reduces production costs and carbon footprint, and enhances energy and power densities, stability, and cyclability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional active materials (vanadium ore, lithium-ion) are used in redox flow batteries, then energy storage capacity is achieved, but production cost increases and greenhouse gas emissions are released during extraction and refinement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the active material from conventional vanadium ore or lithium-ion to fermented organic compounds (such as ferulic acid, vanillic acid, and their derivatives). This parameter change eliminates the need for ore extraction and refinement processes, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and production costs while maintaining energy storage capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive organic compounds derived from fermentation processes as active materials. These organic compounds can be produced at low cost through microbial fermentation of biomass, replacing expensive and environmentally harmful conventional materials like vanadium and lithium, thus achieving economical energy storage
2Object-generated harmful factors
If organic redox compounds are used to reduce cost and carbon footprint, then energy density and power density improve, but stability and cyclability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite electrolyte systems combining multiple organic redox compounds (fermented compounds such as ferulic acid, vanillic acid, and their derivatives) with optimized concentrations and pH conditions. This composite approach enhances the stability and cyclability of the battery while maintaining low carbon footprint and high energy density
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes operational parameters including pH (maintained between 12-14 through KOH addition), temperature, and flow rate to enhance the stability of organic redox compounds during cycling. These parameter optimizations prevent degradation of organic materials while maintaining high energy density and low carbon footprint
3Ease of operation
If standard electrolytes (dihydroxy-anthraquinone versus ferrocyanide) are used at pH 13, then redox flow battery operation is achieved, but stored capacity, energy density, and cyclability require improvement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pH parameter to range between 12-14 (using KOH) and adjusts the concentration of organic redox compounds in the electrolyte. These parameter optimizations significantly enhance stored capacity and energy density while maintaining ease of operation and improving cyclability compared to standard electrolyte conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The fermented anthraquinone compound achieves a low levelized cost of storage (LCOS) below 0.05 €/kWh, making the redox flow battery system economically viable and environmentally friendly, with improved performance under real operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Redox flow batteries (RFB) are flow batteries that employ a couple of redox compounds (active materials) in each half-cell electrolyte
Implementation Method 2
a fermented anthraquinone compound synthesized via a one-step fermentation process
Data Source
AI summary
A redox flow battery includes at least one aqueous electrolyte including the fermented compoundand/or an ion, and/or a salt and/or a reduced form of the anthraquinone member of compound (I). X1-X8 are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an ether group of formula —O-A′, a linear, cyclic or branched, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted, hydrocarbon group including 1-10 carbon atoms, a OH group, a —R1 group and a —O-A-R1 group. A′ represents a linear, cyclic or branched, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted, hydrocarbon group including from 1-10 carbon atoms. A represents a linear, cyclic or branched, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted, hydrocarbon group including 1-10 carbon atoms. R1 represents COOH, SO3H, or a salt thereof. One to three of X1-X8 is OH. Exactly one of X1-X8 is —O-A-R1. A method for generating electricity with such compounds is also described.