Iron-Based Redox Flow Battery Using Cyclic Organic Electrolytes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current redox flow batteries are hindered by high costs due to the use of expensive materials like vanadium, making large-scale commercialization of renewable energy storage challenging, as they require durable and inexpensive redox materials to achieve low cost per kilowatt-hour of energy stored.
Innovation Solution
The development of a flow battery utilizing an iron-based redox couple with a positive electrode electrolyte containing soluble iron compounds and a negative electrode electrolyte featuring a cyclic organic-based redox couple, allowing for efficient and cost-effective energy storage by using iron (II) chloride, iron (II) bromide, iron (II) sulfate, iron (II) methanesulfonate, or iron (II) sulfamate, along with cyclic organic compounds like anthraquinone disulfonic acid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If expensive materials such as vanadium are used in redox flow batteries, then the battery can achieve stable charge/discharge cycles and high durability, but the cost per kilowatt-hour of energy stored increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive vanadium materials with inexpensive iron-based redox couples and organic compounds. The iron-based electrolytes and organic molecules serve as disposable, low-cost alternatives that maintain adequate durability for energy storage applications without requiring the expensive materials traditionally used in flow batteries
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the electrolyte from vanadium-based to iron-based redox couples. This parameter change fundamentally alters the material cost structure while maintaining the electrochemical functionality needed for stable charge/discharge cycles, achieving low cost per kilowatt-hour without completely sacrificing reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If large-scale energy storage systems are deployed to balance renewable energy supply and demand, then the integration of solar and wind energy into the grid improves, but the capital cost requirement of $100/kWh becomes difficult to achieve with conventional materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive iron-based electrolytes and organic compounds as the active materials in the flow battery. These cheap materials enable large-scale deployment of energy storage systems to support renewable energy integration while meeting the target capital cost of $100/kWh, making the technology economically viable for grid-scale applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent fundamentally changes the material composition parameter from expensive vanadium to inexpensive iron and organic molecules. This parameter change directly reduces the capital cost of large-scale energy storage systems, enabling deployment at the required $100/kWh threshold while maintaining the adaptability needed for renewable energy balancing
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
This configuration achieves high power density and efficiency in electrical energy storage, reducing costs and enhancing the viability of large-scale deployment for renewable energy integration, with the iron-based system demonstrating stable charge/discharge cycles and minimal capacity fade.
Implementation Method 1
the redox materials (or electrolytes as they are often termed) are converted reversibly into their chemically oxidized and reduced forms
Implementation Method 2
The soluble iron-containing compound is reduced during discharge and oxidized during charging
Implementation Method 3
The soluble iron-containing compound is reduced during discharge and oxidized during charging
Implementation Method 4
The cyclic-based redox couple includes a cyclic organic compound. The reduction product of the cyclic organic compound being oxidized to the cyclic organic compound during discharge
Data Source
AI summary
A flow battery that includes an iron-based redox couple includes a positive electrode, a positive electrode electrolyte including a soluble iron-based redox couple, a negative electrode, and a negative electrode electrolyte including a cyclic organic-based redox couple. The positive electrode electrolyte flows over and contacting the positive electrode. The iron-based redox couple includes an iron-containing compound which is reduced during discharge. The negative electrode electrolyte flows over and contacting the negative electrode. The cyclic organic-based redox couple includes a cyclic organic compound. The reduction product of the cyclic organic compound being oxidized to the cyclic organic compound during discharge.