Design and Modelling of Organic/Hydrogen Redox Flow Battery Systems

随着可再生能源发电水平的提高，液流电池是一种有吸引力的新兴选择，它可以提供能量存储，支持电网的稳定性。它们特别适合于需要长期能源解决方案的应用，通常在4-24小时范围内。目前的液流电池技术是基于钒电解质的使用，这仍然是昂贵的。该项目将探索新的有机液流电池化学物质，为降低储能成本提供前景。该项目与EPSRC能源存储研究领域、法拉第电池挑战等其他英国倡议以及清洁增长战略和零排放之路等政策完全一致。它还连接到EPSRC的其他关键研究领域，如能源网络。此外，该项目补充了正在进行的Shell-ICL有机氧化还原偶联-氢rfb项目。有机氧化还原液流电池在低成本高容量氧化还原液流电池方面具有重要前景，图1。最近，帝国理工大学的Kucernak小组已经开始研究有机氧化还原偶氢RFB的使用，该RFB的理论容量为20 Wh/L（是最近任何其他有机RFB系统的两倍多），并且已经取得了明显优于其他RFB系统的容量。然而，这项工作强调了与有机电解质相关的一些进一步的问题，特别是与电解质的降解和与这些系统的操作相关的具体问题。因此，该项目将实验与建模和仿真相结合，以研究基于有机氧化还原偶-氢系统的液流电池的动态响应。将在氢-有机氧化还原液流电池中测试合适的有机偶对，并对其性能进行评估。该学生将通过市售膜材料研究有机电解质的渗透，并测试由宋启雷博士实验室开发的部分膜。将研究这些系统的长期运作，并确定所涉材料的降解机制和降解率。研究人员将与建模博士生合作，提供完善有机氢RFB模型所需的输入数据。学生将进行实验工作，为模型提供输入数据，并在单元水平上进行模型验证。该学生还将与壳牌合作，使该技术的技术经济学得到考虑。有机电解质的关键目标是：(a)通过适当的膜材料（以Nafion为参考）建立电解质的渗透性。测试其他合适的材料（例如，来自宋奇雷博士实验室）(b)通过结合氮功能和单原子金属催化剂，优化电极结构，以提供有机电解质的快速电动力学(c)测试氢-有机氧化还原液流电池中材料的性能与循环次数的关系(d)与建模博士合作，使用测试单元确定的参数制作有机RFB系统模型(e)开发样品方法使用核磁共振和离子色谱法建立降解产物(f)制定缓解策略，利用(d)中确定的信息，使有机电解质具有高循环寿命（100% dod下>00次循环）(g)通过>00次循环实现有机电解质的能量容量>20 Wh/L我们的目标是对氧化还原液流电池中氢-有机电解质的操作产生基本的理解，包括从技术和技术经济角度对系统进行建模的观点。

Flow batteries are an attractive emerging option to provide energy storage in support of grid stability as increasing levels of renewable generation are added into the energy system. They are particularly well suited for applications where longer-term energy solutions are needed, typically in the range of 4-24 hours. Current flow battery technologies are based around the use of vanadium electrolytes, which remain costly. This project will explore new organic flow battery chemistries which offer the prospect of lower energy storage costs.This project aligns fully with the EPSRC Energy Storage research area and with other UK initiatives such as the Faraday Battery Challenge, and policies such as the Clean Growth Strategy and Road to Zero. It also links to other key EPSRC research areas such as Energy Networks. Furthermore, this project complements the ongoing Shell-ICL project on Organic redox couple-Hydrogen RFBs.Organic redox flow batteries hold significant promise for low cost high capacity redox flow batteries, figure 1[1]-[7]. Recently the Kucernak group at Imperial has started examining the use of Organic redox couple-Hydrogen RFBs which have theoretical capacities of >20 Wh/L (more than twice that of any other recent organic RFB system) and has achieved capacities significantly better than those achieved in other RFB systems[8]. However that work has highlighted some further issues associated with organic electrolytes, specifically associated with degradation of the electrolyte and specific issues associated with the operation of these systems.Hence, this project will combine experimentation with modelling and simulation to look at the dynamic response of a flow battery based around organic redox couple- hydrogen systems. Suitable organic couples will be tested in a hydrogen-organic redox flow battery and the performance evaluated. The student will examine organic electrolyte permeation through commercially available membrane materials and test selected membranes developed in Dr Qilei Songs laboratory. Work will be performed to look at the longer term operation of these systems and establish degradation mechanisms and degradation rates of the materials involved. The researcher will collaborate with the modelling PhD student to provide input data needed to refine the model of an organic-hydrogen RFB. The student will perform experimental work to provide input data for the model, and for model verification purposes at the cell level. The student will also work with Shell to enable the techno-economics of the technology to be considered.The key targets for the organic electrolytes are: (a) Establish electrolyte permeability through appropriate membrane materials (using Nafion as a reference). Test other appropriate materials (e.g. from Dr Qilei Songs laboratory)(b) Optimise electrode structure to provide fast electrokinetics with organic electrolytes by incorporation of nitrogen functionality and single atom metal catalysts(c) Test performance of materials in Hydrogen-organic redox flow battery as function of number of cycles(d) Collaborate with modelling PhD to produce model of organic RFB system using parameters determined from testing cell(e) Develop approaches to sample electrolyte and establish degradation products using nmr and ion chromatography(f) Develop mitigation strategies to allow high cycle life (>200 cycles at 100% dod) in organic electrolytes using the information determined from (d)(g) Achieve organic electrolyte achieved Energy capacity > 20 Wh/L with >200 cyclesWe aim to generate fundamental understanding of the operation of hydrogen-organic electrolytes in redox flow batteries including modelling of the system from a technical and technoeconomic viewpoint.