A three-dimensional flow-electrochemistry coupling model for optimizing the channel configuration of lithium slurry redox flow battery

Abstract

Lithium slurry redox flow batteries (SRFBs) are a promising candidate for scalable energy storage systems. The section is one of the most basic elements of the flow field. The battery performance optimization based on the section reconstruction is helpful to improve the flow distribution of active particle suspensions in flow channel, reduce the edge slurry retention, and enhance the reaction uniformity. Here, a three-dimensional numerical model of SRFB is established, and its accuracy is verified by experiments. Through multiphysics field simulation, it is proved that the rectangular section is more suitable for SRFB than the triangular and circular sections for the flow channels, but the velocity distribution is elliptical and decreases along the surrounding edge area. Such a rectangular section reconfiguration, which conforms to the velocity distribution characteristics of the slurry, is beneficial to improve the speed of the slurry edge and promote the overall uniform distribution of the slurry. Specifically, the top-arc bottom rectangular design (A1) demonstrates the best comprehensive performance. The influence of flow rates on the slurry distribution is examined. The results show that the slurry has a relatively low pressure drop and a more uniform distribution when the inlet flow rate is approximately 30 ml min−1.