Physics, electrochemistry, chemistry, and electronics of the vanadium redox flow battery by analyzing all the governing equations.

Abstract

The vanadium redox flow battery has been intensively examined since the 1970s, with researchers looking at its electrochemical time varying electrolyte concentration time variation equations (both tank and cells, for negative and positive half cells), its thermal time variation equations, and fluid flow equations. Chemistry behavior of the electrolyte ions have also been intensively examined too. In this perspective, all of the phenomena have been examined, unified and presented together with their physical chemistry shown in the appropriate equations. This is done by providing the field equations for the battery, which are electronic, electrochemical, chemical, physics of fluid dynamics, and thermal physics of heat transport, in character. They are interpreted in new analytical equations providing fundamental scientific insights, as well as allowing engineering and manufacturing assessments. Graphs of pressure trend in electrodes, power and temperature tables for electrode and current collector loss mechanisms are provided. Current density, concentration, electrostatic, and overpotential functional dependences in the electrodes are given.