Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Technology Category/ Market
Category- Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications– Redox Flow Batteries used for energy storage
Industry- Energy Storage, Fuel Cells, Battery
Market- The flow battery market size is expected to reach USD 0.76 billion in 2023 growing at a CAGR of 15.4% to reach USD 1.55 billion by 2028.
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Problem Statement
- Flow batteries offer efficient energy storage, but they face challenges related to factors like electrode efficiency, ion crossover, and material selection.
- Felt electrodes are a promising option for flow batteries, but they suffer from issues like increased pressure drop, flow channel blockage, and uneven electrolyte distribution.
- These problems can lead to decreased energy efficiency and reduced performance in flow batteries and fuel cells.
- Thus, there is a need to develop an enhanced electrolyte circulation for enhanced performance of the batteries.
Technology
- The present invention presents a flow battery cell with a headers and a flow field in which short pillar-like support structures are located in the headers to support the electrode felt in order to improve the performance of the cell.
- The headers in the flow fields such as the interdigiated flow field as shown in Figure 2, are highly prone to felt intrusion leading to unwanted side effects therein.
- A flow battery cell according to the present invention, comprises of: a) electrodes having an electrode felt; b) a flow field with one or more headers; and c) pillar supports in the one or more headers.
Key Features/ Value Proposition
Enhanced Flow Distribution:
- The invention introduces pillar supports within flow battery headers, mitigating the problem of electrode felt intrusion into flow channels. This innovation significantly improves flow distribution within the battery.
Reduced Flow Blockage:
- The pillar supports prevent the porous felt electrodes from bulging into the flow channels, reducing the risk of flow blockage, uneven electrolyte distribution, and increased pressure drop.
Improved Battery Performance:
- By maintaining a consistent flow of electrolyte and reactants, the invention enhances the overall performance of flow batteries, ensuring efficient energy storage and discharge.
Application Versatility:
- This technology can be applied to various types of electrodes, including chemically or thermally active electrodes, making it adaptable to a wide range of energy storage applications.
Optimization Potential:
- The location and distribution of pillar supports can be customized for specific headers and flow fields, allowing for optimization to meet the unique requirements of different battery designs.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Sreenivas Jayanti,
Department of Chemical Engineering
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 1859
- IN 430901 – Patent Granted
Technology Readiness Level
TRL – 3
Proof of concept stage