Experimental and modeling analyses of Vanadium Redox Flow Battery

Vanadium redox flow battery is a promising and interesting storage technology that in a carbon-free scenario will have a key role in stabilizing the electric grid. Experimental activity presented in this work makes use of half-cell configuration, where the working electrode is fed with Vanadium solutions, while the other works as reference hydrogen electrode. Experimental characterization of both anode and cathode electrode with flow by feeding is presented, varying flow rate and state of charge. Moreover a 1D+1D Flow Battery model has been developed in Comsol Multiphysics, describing a single cell derived from fuel cell technology, composed by electrodes, membrane and flow field. The model includes Butler-Volmer kinetic equations, cross contamination fluxes through the membrane and mass transport phenomenon occurring in the pore of the carbon electrode. Discharge polarization curve was fitted to estimate kinetic rate constant and transfer coefficients.