Development of a Membraneless Organic Redox Flow Battery
The development of a novel electrochemical energy storage system, specifically a redox flow batteries (RFB), is discussed in this work. It has the distinction of not requiring an ion-selective membrane due to novel chemical compounds. The techno-economic aspects of a low-cost 3D printed flow cell and system design tailored for a novel chemistry is discussed. The organic compounds employed are inexpensive, have a long lifespan, and as mentioned enable the system to be membraneless. All these substantially decrease the capital and maintenance costs. Suitable systems were developed and tested using chemically compatible 3D printed materials for the flow cells. The estimated cost per kWh is lower than the Department of Energy’s target cost of $150/kWh for grid storage capacity. A commercial scale system, rated for a 1 MW, 5-hour discharge time, has an estimated cost of $65/kWh. The proposed technology could revolutionize the energy storage industry and help with the construction of a more stable and efficient energy grid.