Modelling water dissociation, acid-base neutralization and ion transport in bipolar membranes for acid-base flow batteries

The increasing share of renewables in electric grids nowadays causes a growing daily and seasonal mismatch between electricity generation and demand. In this regard, novel energy storage systems need to be developed, to allow large-scale storage of the excess electricity during low-demand time, and its distribution during peak demand time. Acid–base flow battery (ABFB) is a novel and environmentally friendly technology based on the reversible water dissociation by bipolar membranes, and it stores electricity in the form of chemical energy in acid and base solutions. The technology has already been demonstrated at the laboratory scale, and the experimental testing of the first 1 kW pilot plant is currently ongoing. This work aims to describe the current development and the perspectives of the ABFB technology. In particular, we discuss the main technical challenges related to the development of battery components (membranes, electrolyte solutions, and stack design), as well as simulated scenarios, to demonstrate the technology at the kW–MW scale. Finally, we present an economic analysis for a first 100 kW commercial unit and suggest future directions for further technology scale-up and commercial deployment.

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Acid-Base Flow Battery, Based on Reverse Electrodialysis with Bi-Polar Membranes: Stack Experiments

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr8010099 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 99 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jiabing Xia ◽

Gerhart Eigenberger ◽

Heinrich Strathmann ◽

Ulrich Nieken

Keyword(s):

Single Cell ◽

Cell Number ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Base Flow ◽

Flow Battery ◽

Acid Base ◽

Reverse Electrodialysis ◽

Bipolar Membranes ◽

Acid And Base ◽

Additional Losses

Neutralization of acid and base to produce electricity in the process of reverse electrodialysis with bipolar membranes (REDBP) presents an interesting but until now fairly overlooked flow battery concept. Previously, we presented single-cell experiments, which explain the principle and discuss the potential of this process. In this contribution, we discuss experiments with REDBP stacks at lab scale, consisting of 5 to 20 repeating cell units. They demonstrate that the single-cell results can be extrapolated to respective stacks, although additional losses have to be considered. As in other flow battery stacks, losses by shunt currents through the parallel electrolyte feed/exit lines increases with the number of connected cell units, whereas the relative importance of electrode losses decreases with increasing cell number. Experimental results are presented with 1 mole L−1 acid (HCl) and base (NaOH) for open circuit as well as for charge and discharge with up to 18 mA/cm2 current density. Measures to further increase the efficiency of this novel flow battery concept are discussed.

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Performance of five commercial bipolar membranes under forward and reverse bias conditions for acid-base flow battery applications

Journal of Membrane Science ◽

10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119748 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 640 ◽

pp. 119748 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emad Al-Dhubhani ◽

Ragne Pärnamäe ◽

Jan W. Post ◽

Michel Saakes ◽

Michele Tedesco

Keyword(s):

Reverse Bias ◽

Base Flow ◽

Flow Battery ◽

Acid Base ◽

Bipolar Membranes

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A Re-Examination of Acid-Base Flow Batteries

ECS Meeting Abstracts ◽

10.1149/ma2018-01/2/217 ◽

2018 ◽

Keyword(s):

Base Flow ◽

Acid Base ◽

Flow Batteries

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Shielded goethite catalyst that enables fast water dissociation in bipolar membranes

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-020-20131-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Muhammad A. Shehzad ◽

Aqsa Yasmin ◽

Xiaolin Ge ◽

Zijuan Ge ◽

Kaiyu Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Effective ◽

Limiting Current ◽

Water Dissociation ◽

Acid Base ◽

Bipolar Membranes ◽

Small Water ◽

Sustainable Technologies ◽

Earth Abundant ◽

Long Time

AbstractOptimal pH conditions for efficient artificial photosynthesis, hydrogen/oxygen evolution reactions, and photoreduction of carbon dioxide are now successfully achievable with catalytic bipolar membranes-integrated water dissociation and in-situ acid-base generations. However, inefficiency and instability are severe issues in state-of-the-art membranes, which need to urgently resolve with systematic membrane designs and innovative, inexpensive junctional catalysts. Here we show a shielding and in-situ formation strategy of fully-interconnected earth-abundant goethite Fe+3O(OH) catalyst, which lowers the activation energy barrier from 5.15 to 1.06 eV per HO − H bond and fabricates energy-efficient, cost-effective, and durable shielded catalytic bipolar membranes. Small water dissociation voltages at limiting current density (ULCD: 0.8 V) and 100 mA cm−2 (U100: 1.1 V), outstanding cyclic stability at 637 mA cm−2, long-time electro-stability, and fast acid-base generations (H2SO4: 3.9 ± 0.19 and NaOH: 4.4 ± 0.21 M m−2 min−1 at 100 mA cm−2) infer confident potential use of the novel bipolar membranes in emerging sustainable technologies.

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Preparation and Electrochemical Properties of Heterogeneous Bipolar Membranes with a Catalyst for the Water Dissociation Reaction

Membranes and Membrane Technologies ◽

10.1134/s251775162104003x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 231-244

Author(s):

N. V. Kovalev ◽

T. V. Karpenko ◽

N. V. Sheldeshov ◽

V. I. Zabolotsky

Keyword(s):

Electrochemical Properties ◽

Water Dissociation ◽

Dissociation Reaction ◽

Bipolar Membranes

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Extracellular Acid-Base Balance and Ion Transport Between Body Fluid Compartments

Physiology ◽

10.1152/physiol.00007.2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (5) ◽

pp. 367-379 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Julian L. Seifter ◽

Hsin-Yun Chang

Keyword(s):

Ion Transport ◽

Ph Regulation ◽

Extracellular Fluid ◽

Transport Processes ◽

Electrolyte Balance ◽

Ph Homeostasis ◽

Acid Base Balance ◽

Acid Base ◽

Base Balance ◽

Fluid Compartments

Clinical assessment of acid-base disorders depends on measurements made in the blood, part of the extracellular compartment. Yet much of the metabolic importance of these disorders concerns intracellular events. Intracellular and interstitial compartment acid-base balance is complex and heterogeneous. This review considers the determinants of the extracellular fluid pH related to the ion transport processes at the interface of cells and the interstitial fluid, and between epithelial cells lining the transcellular contents of the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts that open to the external environment. The generation of acid-base disorders and the associated disruption of electrolyte balance are considered in the context of these membrane transporters. This review suggests a process of internal and external balance for pH regulation, similar to that of potassium. The role of secretory gastrointestinal epithelia and renal epithelia with respect to normal pH homeostasis and clinical disorders are considered. Electroneutrality of electrolytes in the ECF is discussed in the context of reciprocal changes in Cl−or non Cl−anions and [Formula: see text].

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