What is the electrolyte of a flow battery

How does a flow battery store energy?

A flow battery stores energy in two soluble redox couples, which are comprised of exterior liquid electrolyte containers. During charging, one electrolyte is oxidized at the anode, while during discharging, another electrolyte is reduced at the cathode.

What is a flow battery?

Decarbonisation requires renewable energy sources, which are intermittent, and this requires large amounts of energy storage to cope with this intermittency. Flow batteries offer a new freedom in the design of energy handling. The flow battery concept permits to adjust electrical power and stored energy capacity independently.

What are the elements of a flow battery?

Electrolytes: The two most important elements of a flow battery are the positive and negative electrolytes, typically stored in separate external tanks. These electrolytes are usually in liquid form and contain ions that facilitate the battery’s energy conversion process.

How does a flow battery differ from a conventional battery?

In contrast with conventional batteries, flow batteries store energy in the electrolyte solutions. Therefore, the power and energy ratings are independent, the storage capacity being determined by the quantity of electrolyte used and the power rating determined by the active area of the cell stack.