关键词: 液流电池, 结构设计, 流体力学, 数值模拟, 传质强化

Abstract:

Flow field structure design and optimization is one of the effective ways to improve the uniformity of electrolyte flow, raise the power density of stack, and accordingly improve the reliability of flow battery. Conventionally, flow field structure design and optimization mainly focuses on designing parallel, interdigitated or serpentine channels on the graphite bipolar plate, which is limited by the channel types and the high cost and poor mechanical property of graphite plate. Thereby, a series of strategies, including designing new types of channels like corrugated parallel, detached serpentine and spiral channels, constructing channels on the electrode, introducing independent flow channel component, and designing novel configurations like circular and trapezoid, have been proposed. This paper systematically reviews the current progress of flow field structure design and optimization for flow batteries from three aspects of bipolar plate, electrode and special shapes. Subsequently, the influence mechanism of flow field structure and key parameters on the battery performance, and their coordination with battery operation and assembly parameters are expounded. The flow field structures that are expected to provide superior battery performance and suitable for scaling up, are finally proposed.

Key words: flow battery, structure design, fluid mechanics, numerical simulation, mass transport enhancement