VRB ESS - Vanadium Redox Battery

The VRB Energy Storage System (VRB-ESS) is an electrical energy storage system based on the patented vanadium-based redox regenerative fuel cell that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. Energy is stored chemically in different ionic forms of vanadium in a dilute sulphuric acid electrolyte. The electrolyte is pumped from separate plastic storage tanks into flow cells across a proton exchange membrane (PEM) where one form of electrolyte is electrochemically oxidized and the other is electrochemically reduced. This creates a current that is collected by electrodes and made available to an external circuit. The reaction is reversible allowing the battery to be charged, discharged and recharged.

it consists of two electrolyte tanks, containing active vanadium species in different oxidation states (positive: V(IV)/V(V) redox couple, negative: V(II)/(III) redox couple). These energy-bearing liquids are circulated through the cell stack by pumps. The stack consists of many cells, each of which contains two half-cells that are separated by a membrane. In the half-cells the electrochemical reactions take place on inert carbon felt polymer composite electrodes from which current may be used to charge or discharge the battery.

The VRB-ESS employs vanadium ions in both half-cell electrolytes. Therefore, cross-contamination of ions through the membrane separator has no permanent effect on the battery capacity, as is the case in redox flow batteries employing different metal species in the positive and negative half-cells. The vanadium half-cell solutions can even be remixed bringing the system back to its original state.

The open circuit cell voltage at a concentration of 2 mole per liter for each vanadium species is 1.6 V when fully charged. The relatively fast kinetics of the vanadium redox couples allows high Coulombic and voltage efficiencies to be achieved without costly catalysts. The same current is passed through all of the cells as they are arranged in series. Such systems have many admirable properties including high efficiency, long cycle life, ease of scalability and negligible environmental impact.

http://www.vrbpower.com/index.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• vrb
• vanadium
• redox
• battery
• energy
• storage
• electricity

[credogreen]

Does any one know the W/kg, specific power of these things?

[Dilekz]

@URTARDS You know that 99% of the hydrogen today is created out of oil?

Making hydrogen out of electricity cost loads and loads more money then creating it out of oil.

Hydrogen is inefficient. We have few cells at school. Cost ALOT. And they need buffers for large energy draw. Probably need super capacitors etc. And they will lose efficiency every hour you use it. Just like a battery.

[URTARDS]

@Dilekz - Hydrogen does have a place though. It can be generated using solar, wind, hydro etc.. to replace propane or natural gas applications. Just as propane uses a agent to make it smell the way it does hydrogen may need some mod to make it more friendly but more important "visible" as flames are hard to see.

[URTARDS]

@Dilekz - I feel the same way. People most often choose the easy option rather then the right one. It's sad to say but this country is breeding lazy cry babies by the nano second who sit back on the economy while the rest of us pay for it all. It's a 90-10 society, 90% losers while the other 10% rule it.

[sschoon86]

It doesn't matter WHO makes it, all I care is that it is a benefit to our world. I am not too worried about the economy... that is a temporary problem and with time will resolve itself... but to have a real power storage solution that will retain a charge for long periods of time, can recharge/discharge 100%, has a life greater than 10,000 cycles, and be produced from affordable, available materials that are reasonably eco-friendly. This is an awesome technology.

[OprahGlide]

They sold out to CHINA in January!!!!

[TURBOVOLT]

you can hire some Electrical Experts from the Retrenched Auto workers, (instead of moving it to china..)...mass produce it and Make some installations in Developing countries with financing from thier goverments, Maybe INDIA, BRAZIL, ARGENTINA, etc....Keep up the Great American Spirit of Innovation..God bless your Team..

[TURBOVOLT]

Dear VRB-ESS

This a Great technology..Kudos to all the people to strived to develop it, This is what we need to Revive America from the current economic slowdown, If only you could Built it en masse , maybe move manufacturing to Detroit,

[Dilekz]

I think this is alot better then the fuel cell system with hydrogen ( wich is promoted to much and will never work ) And lifepo4 battery's for vehicles.. ( still needs development ).

These battery's as a buffer in large windmill plant's. We must accept what nature has given us.. the energy we can get from it without damaging it. We people do have the knowledge. i still don't understand why people are so blind.