NICOP - Development of a Vanadium-Oxygen Redox Fuel cell
Abstract
Development of a Vanadium-Oxygen Redox Fuel cell:The vanadium redox flow battery (VRB) is one of the most promising technologies for large scale energy storage but its low energy density is limiting its application to stationary systemssuch as load leveling and renewable energy storage. This project will look at the development of a high energy density flow battery that employs the negative half-cell of a VRB system in conjunction with an oxygen electrode as the positive half-cell. This vanadium-oxygen redox fuel cell (VOFC) has the potential to quadruple the energy density of the current VRB and provide a system with instant recharge capability suitable for electric vehicle applications and as a portable energy system. b. The US Navy plans to derive half its energy supply from renewables by 2020, for both strategic and environmental imperatives. Technology to collect and store locally-available but intermittent solar, wind, wave or tidal energy can offer naval assets a strategically and tactically important additional capability, in place of exclusive reliance on petroleum fuels. The US Pentagon estimates the cost of refueling forward bases at up to $107 a litre. Today~s defense forces are also often involved in emergency relief and community development missions, where setting up a basic local electricity supply is a first priority. Energy storage will remains a critical component missing from the current technology portfolio and new and improved technologies will be essential to the future of renewable energy. c. Code 33 d. The desired outcomes of this research work, include improvement of the oxygen reduction catalyst on the oxygen electrode, novel fabrication techniques for the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), numerical modeling of the flow andelectrochemical conversion of oxygen in the porous oxygen electrode and electrolyte in the negative half-cell and investigation of scale up factors for prototype VOFC. Theoutcomes will be communicated through scientific journals, conferences and seminars.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 23, 2016
- Source ID
- N629091612162
Entities
People
- Chris Menictas
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of New South Wales