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A lead-acid flow battery for utility scale energy storage and load levelling

A lead-acid flow battery for utility scale energy storage and load levelling
A lead-acid flow battery for utility scale energy storage and load levelling

This thesis describes the chemistry, electrochemistry and characterisation of a lead-acid flow battery with no membrane separator and a single electrolyte, concentrated lead(II) in aqueous methanesulfonic acid.

Voltammetry at rotating disc electrodes is used to investigate the electrode reactions and define conditions suitable for high rate deposition/dissolution of lead and lead dioxide from aqueous methanesulfonic acid.  The solubility of lead(II) in aqueous methanesulfonic acid was determined and the conductivity of the electrolyte was assessed as a function of Lead(II) and methanesulfonic acid concentrations.

A small, parallel plate flow battery was constructed and its performance studied as a function of current density, temperature, electrolyte composition, flow rate, interelectrode spacing, state of charge and electrical connection to the electrodes.

The performance is shown to be modified by the addition of various additives to the electrolyte.  Inorganic ions (Ni2+, Fe3+ and Br3+) were investigated as possible additives for co-depression at the positive electrode to enhance the electrical properties of the PbO2 deposit. Sodium ligninsulfonate and polyethylene glycol-200 were investigated as possible additives to suppress the formation of dendritic Pb growths and promote the deposition of smooth, compact Pb layers.  The former was found to improve the performance of the battery.

University of Southampton
Wills, Richard George Andrew
e59310c5-e2a3-4ac4-bcf0-51c808523a6b
Wills, Richard George Andrew
e59310c5-e2a3-4ac4-bcf0-51c808523a6b

Wills, Richard George Andrew (2004) A lead-acid flow battery for utility scale energy storage and load levelling. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

This thesis describes the chemistry, electrochemistry and characterisation of a lead-acid flow battery with no membrane separator and a single electrolyte, concentrated lead(II) in aqueous methanesulfonic acid.

Voltammetry at rotating disc electrodes is used to investigate the electrode reactions and define conditions suitable for high rate deposition/dissolution of lead and lead dioxide from aqueous methanesulfonic acid.  The solubility of lead(II) in aqueous methanesulfonic acid was determined and the conductivity of the electrolyte was assessed as a function of Lead(II) and methanesulfonic acid concentrations.

A small, parallel plate flow battery was constructed and its performance studied as a function of current density, temperature, electrolyte composition, flow rate, interelectrode spacing, state of charge and electrical connection to the electrodes.

The performance is shown to be modified by the addition of various additives to the electrolyte.  Inorganic ions (Ni2+, Fe3+ and Br3+) were investigated as possible additives for co-depression at the positive electrode to enhance the electrical properties of the PbO2 deposit. Sodium ligninsulfonate and polyethylene glycol-200 were investigated as possible additives to suppress the formation of dendritic Pb growths and promote the deposition of smooth, compact Pb layers.  The former was found to improve the performance of the battery.

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Published date: 2004

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Local EPrints ID: 465520
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/465520
PURE UUID: 26b0ab63-031a-4793-a575-369590e77472

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Date deposited: 05 Jul 2022 01:34
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 20:13

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Contributors

Author: Richard George Andrew Wills

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