The separator-divided soluble lead flow battery

Abstract

The soluble lead flow battery (SLFB) is conventionally configured with an undivided cell chamber. This is possible, unlike other flow batteries, because both electrode active materials are electroplated as solids from a common species, Pb 2+ , on the electrode surfaces during charging. Physically separating the active materials has the advantage that a single electrolyte and pump circuit can be used; however, failure mechanisms such as electrical shorting may be observed. In addition, a common electrolyte requires that any electrolyte additives are compatible with both half-cell reactions. This paper introduces two new configurations; semi-and fully divided for the SLFB. Cationic, anionic, and microporous separators are assessed for ionic conductivity in SLFB electrolytes, showing that their incorporation adds as little as a 20 mV to the cell voltage. Voltammetry shows the effect of additives on the equilibrium potential and stripping overpotential of PbO 2 . It is then demonstrated that the incorporation of a separator into the SLFB can reduce failure due to electrical shorting and permit electrode-specific additives to be used. A unit flow cell with electrode area of 100 cm 2 is shown to operate for over 300 Ah in the semi-divided configuration, more than doubling the previously reported cycle life for cells of similar size. Graphical AbstractKeywords Soluble lead · Methanesulfonic acid · Flow battery · SLFB

Experimental study of capacity and electrode structure of six cell dynamic lead acid battery

“…The battery test consists of two parts consisting of a cycle test to obtain ten cycles of charge-discharge data and a microstructure test to obtain XRD pattern data. The battery made in this study refers to the standard battery in Krishna's [3], [14], [19] and Zhang [4] where a battery system consists of Pb and PbO electrodes separated by 2 mm, with an area of 24 cm 2 for each electrodes (Figure 1 (b)). A low voltage peristaltic pump is used to circulate 30% H2SO4 electrolyte around the system.…”

“…Comparison of the performance of dynamic and static lead acid battery single cell with electrolyte methane sulfonic acid [4], [11] and sulfuric acid [12], [13] shows that dynamic batteries have better performance than the static batteries. Membrane separator [14], current density [15], long life cycle [16], electrode deposition [17] in dynamic lead acid battery has been observed by many researchers but limited to single cell battery while publication in bipolar cells infrequently found [18]. The reports of DLAB with more than 3 cells are rarely seen, so this research tries to manufacture six cell dynamic lead acid battery system and to analyze the characteristic of the battery through charge-discharge test using turnigy as battery management system (BMS).…”