Test Cell for Membrane Electrode Assembly of the Vanadium Redox Flow Battery

The vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is the most promising type of rechargeable power sources for medium- and large-scale energy storage devices for modern power systems. The intensive research and development activity of leading world centers aimed at optimizing the key element of the VRFB—the membrane electrode assembly (MEA)—necessarily includes testing new electrode materials, catalytic layers, electrolytes, and membranes, as well as their combination in the test cell. Here, an original design of an MEA test cell is proposed that significantly simplifies the assemblage procedure and makes it possible to increase the flow field variability by replacing massive graphite or graphite/polymer plates with sheets of extruded thermally expanded graphite. The current–voltage and power density characteristics have been measured and charge–discharge cycle tests of the MEA operation have been performed for an acidified vanadium electrolyte. The peak power density, charge–discharge cycle energy efficiency, and capacity utilization are comparable with those reported by leading research teams.