• Wills, Richard G. A.
• Walsh, F. C.
• Pletcher, D.
• Low, C. T. J.
• Stratton-Campbell, D.
• Collins, J.

Abstract

The history of soluble lead flow batteries is concisely reviewed and recent developments are highlighted. The development of a practical, undivided cell is considered. An in-house, monopolar unit cell (geometrical electrode area 100 cm2) and an FM01-LC bipolar (2 × 64 cm2) flow cell are used. Porous, three-dimensional, reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) and planar, carbon-HDPE composite electrodes have been used in laboratory flow cells. The performance of such cells under constant current density (10–160 mA cm?2) cycling is examined using a controlled flow rate (mean linear flow velocity &lt;14 cm s-1) at a temperature of approximately 298 K. Voltage versus time and voltage versus current density relationships are considered. High charge (&lt;90%), voltage (&lt;80%) and energy (&lt;70%) efficiencies are possible. Possible failure modes encountered during early scale-up from a small, laboratory flow cell to larger, pilot-scale cells are discussed. <br/>

Topics

• porous
• density
• impedance spectroscopy
• Carbon
• composite
• current density
• liquid chromatography