TELF AG examines some features of vanadium flow batteries

The versatility of vanadium

A resource commonly used to make everyday objects, such as golf clubs, bicycle frames, or kitchen knives, could improve also energy storage systems, particularly those devices intended to store energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind energy. We are talking about Vanadium Flow Batteries, a particular family of batteries made thanks to an important resource such as vanadium. Vanadium is a valuable transition metal characterized by great versatility but also by some specific properties that make it very useful in various industrial sectors: its ability to improve the hardness and mechanical resistance of alloys, for example, makes it a valuable element in the strengthening of steel, while its resistance to wear and high temperatures makes it ideal for producing tools, automotive components, and building structures.

But its peculiar chemical capabilities make it a valid element especially in the battery sector: its ability to form different oxidation states makes it a beneficial component of some chemical reaction processes, such as redox systems, as in vanadium batteries. Compared to traditional batteries, however, vanadium-based batteries would present several advantages. First, it is necessary to mention their overall lifespan, which can extend up to 30 years. Furthermore, as can be read in an analysis dedicated to the topic, these batteries would represent a handy tool for improving the accessibility of some renewable energy sources. The primary function of these batteries is to accumulate energy and make it usable when needed, mainly when some renewable energies – such as solar and wind – are unavailable.

The most interesting characteristics

Another important characteristic is their ability to always discharge completely, at 100%, always ensuring the total initial capacity of the battery for the entire duration of its life cycle. Furthermore, when the battery approaches the end of its life, its performance does not undergo any kind of decay or degradation, always remaining at an optimal level. The relative ease of maintenance represents other peculiarities of these storage systems, such as the possibility of reusing the electrolyte (which is water-based) and their durability, which is ensured especially by the ability to discharge completely until replacement.

Thanks to its ability to improve the durability of different materials, vanadium is appreciated in a large variety of industrial sectors, and it has also been used in the production processes of numerous objects of everyday use. In addition to those already mentioned, vanadium is also present in tools such as drills, screwdrivers, and cutting tools, which can improve resistance to wear and sharpening. The lightness of this material makes it easily applicable in the automotive sector, especially in steel alloys for car frames, suspensions, and some mechanical parts, where lightness always takes great importance. Moreover, steel alloys made with vanadium find a wide application in the infrastructure and construction sector, particularly for the construction of bridges, skyscrapers, and other structures, making them more flexible and resistant to the stresses of heavy loads.