Performance characterization of a vanadium redox flow battery at different operating parameters under a standardized test-bed system

This paper describes the experimental characterization of a 25cm2 laboratory scale vanadium redox flow battery (V-RFB). The unit cell performance with respect to voltage, coulombic and energy efficiencies under different performance parameters (current densities, operating temperatures, flow rates, electrolyte concentrations and material properties of 5cm×5cm electrodes) are presented. The cell exhibits different characteristics under different operating parameters; the highest energy efficiency is recorded at c.a. 82%, operating at 308K, 60mAcm−2 and 3cm3s−1 volumetric flow rate for 250cm3 electrolytes (each reservoir) of 1.6moldm−3V(III)/V(IV) in 4moldm−3 H2SO4. Formation charge of the mixture of vanadium species into single electro-active species at positive and negative electrodes are presented. Estimated time for the electro-active species to complete the formation charge using electrochemical calculation of Faraday’s constant are presented; a discrepancy of 4.5% is found between the theoretical and experimental data using current density of 80mAcm−2.