Aluminium fuel cells - the top priority for fuel cell development

Aluminium fuel cells are also known as aluminum air cells or aluminum air cells. They are best called aluminum fuel cells. Aluminum is the cathode. If the cathode is Mg or zinc, they are called magnesium and zinc fuel cells respectively. Oxygen is the anode. According to the definition of “Fuel Cell Fundamentals” by O.Hayre et al., the fuel cell is a “factory” that feeds fuel and outputs the generated electricity. As long as raw materials (fuels) are continuously supplied, fuel cells will continue to produce products (electricity). A hydrogen fuel cell is the basic concept of hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell combustion power generation shown in Figure 3.

As the simplest schematic diagram of a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, the world's first fuel pool was invented by William Grove in 1839. In the fuel cell shown in the figure, hydrogen combustion can be divided into two semi-electrochemical reactions:

H2→←2H++2e-

1-2O2+2H++2e-=H2O

If the two reactions are separated from each other in space, then the electrons converted from hydrogen flow out through the external circuit before the above reaction, and can be used to do work to light the bulb. This spatial separation is the electrolyte, which is a sulfuric acid solution that only allows ions (charged atoms) to pass without allowing electrons to pass through. The two electrodes are made of platinum. Hydrogen gas enters from the left electrode, decomposes into protons H+ and electrons, protons (ions) flow through the electrolyte, and electrons travel from left to right through two consecutive platinum electrode wires.

China's aluminum fuel cell development

The development of aluminum fuel cells in China started in the 1990s and has now become the world’s largest aluminum fuel cell research and development and production country. However, there are still gaps in R&D technology compared to the United States and Israel. The units engaged in relevant technology research in China mainly include Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian Institute of Physical Chemistry, 712 Shipbuilding Heavy Industry, Peking University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Wuhan University, Tianjin University, Beijing Nonferrous Metal Research Institute, and Deyang East, Sichuan Province. Shenzhen New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Taizhou Very New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., and Yunnan Metallurgical Group Innovative Metal Fuel Cell Co., Ltd. As of 2016, there are about 150 large and small enterprises producing new energy power batteries in China.

Dongshen New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.

The company was established in October 2011. It is located in the high-tech industrial zone of Luyang District, Deyang City, Sichuan Province. It is a national high-tech enterprise with independent knowledge and a number of invention patents from the European Union and the United States. Currently, it is the only domestic aluminum-air metal power generation reactor. Standard filing companies, together with UL headquarters and Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), have formulated UL international standards for aluminum fuel cells, and have taken the lead in realizing the industrialization of aluminum fuel cells. This has made the development and marketization of aluminum fuel cells in China significant progress.

Currently, Dongshen New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. manufactures aluminum fuel cell systems in two major categories: capacity-type (STK-X), which is mainly applied to uninterrupted power supplies, and has large capacity and low specific power. It is used in communication base stations and mobile charging stations. , smart micro-grid, etc.; power type (FMG-X), this kind of power supply is large, small capacity, mainly used for traction power, used in vehicles, aerospace vehicles, ships and so on.

On February 24, 2017, Chen Quanxun, president of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, and the deputy chairman of the literature army, etc., excited when they visited Deyang Dongshen New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: “You have done a very meaningful thing. The theoretical discussion of aluminum fuel cells has come to industrialization. This is a breakthrough in the new energy revolution. You are pioneers.” Chen Quanxun placed great expectations on the company. He said to the company’s R&D team: “Aluminium fuel cells are a good project, but they need to be formed. There will be a lot of work to be done in commercialization and marketization. You are pioneers, and the China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association will support your product development and application, make full use of the advantages of our association, and provide assistance for you. We will continue to follow in the future. I hope your business will develop successfully."

Very New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (SUPER)

The company is located in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, and has achieved remarkable results in the research and development of aluminum fuel cells. It has developed a variety of large, medium and small power input markets, and established the "Taizhou City Very Metallic Fuel Cell Research" in cooperation with Peking University and Taizhou City Government. Center" is committed to the promotion of aluminum fuel cell systems and industrialization, development of hybrid systems and applications in the field of electric vehicles and new metal fuel cell systems.

A number of aluminum fuel cells produced by the company participated in the 2016 Las Vegas exhibition. Has a series of core technologies: preparation of aluminum alloy electrodes, suppression of anode corrosion and passivation inhibition and improvement of discharge activity; preparation of oxygen reduction catalytic materials and continuous production of air diffusion electrodes; preparation of electrolytes containing active additives and Electrolyte treatment system, can inhibit anode corrosion, reduce polarization, improve battery efficiency; electrolyte circulation system, air circulation protection system and battery group thermal management system; battery system mechanical recharging, alloy anode discharge after mechanical exchange; discharge The product and electrolyte are regenerated in a concentrated manner to produce high-purity nano-alumina, which enhances the product value and recycles all substances.

The air electrode is prepared using a new catalyst formulation, which has low cost and high performance. Its discharge density per unit area has reached the level of similar foreign products, filling the domestic blank of such products. In 2013, it took the lead in building the first continuous air electrode production line in China.

Yunnan Metallurgical Group Chuangneng Metal Fuel Cell Co., Ltd.

The company's independent research and development of key materials for aluminum fuel cells and its preparation technology fill the gaps in this field in Yunnan Province: The air is extremely low cost, and its service life is up to 7000h, which has reached the international advanced level; the independent production of special aluminum alloy anode plates not only The production cost is low, and its performance can be compared with that of Okoninco Aluminium Company's high-purity aluminum sheet; the electrolyte performance reaches the world's leading level, and the waste electrolyte is recovered in a comprehensive manner to prepare high-value-added ultra-fine alumina powder and flame-retardant Production of various products such as pharmaceuticals; 4 granted patents and 5 enterprise standards; 20MW aluminum fuel cell assembly production line has been completed; leading products include portable power supplies, medium and large standby power supplies, power supplies, auxiliary materials, etc. Ability to reach 200,000 units/year.

Aluminum Fuel Cell Development Trend

At present, both the world's power supply R&D units and manufacturing companies are putting their efforts into fuel cells, and the development of aluminum fuel cells is a top priority because aluminum fuel cells have many advantages that can be compared: aluminum is rich in resources, and its prices are reasonable. Aluminum fuel cell manufacturing costs about 500 yuan / kWh, lithium-ion battery production costs 4,000 yuan / kWh of 1/8; for automotive, operating costs and fuel vehicles is equivalent to or lower, aluminum fuel cell vehicle 100 kilometers About 3kg of aluminum, 5L of water and electrolyte are consumed, and the operating cost is about 59 yuan. The fuel consumption of ordinary passenger vehicles is about 8L/100km, which is about RMB 61 yuan at 7.63 yuan/L. The battery life is higher than that of lithium ion batteries and aluminum fuel. The specific energy of the battery can reach 350Wh/kg-500Wh/kg, which is 3 times of 120Wh-150Wh/kg of lithium ion battery. Therefore, when the quality is the same, the aluminum fuel battery carries 3 times the power of lithium-ion battery, and the mileage is also Lithium-ion battery 3 times; easy to replace, aluminum fuel cells consume aluminum and water, only need to change the aluminum plate and add appropriate amount of water during operation, easy to operate; green, aluminum fuel cell during the operation of the main production The substance is Al(OH)3, which is not only harmless to the environment, but also can be recycled into nano-sized Al2O3 powder. It is absolutely safe and will not cause combustion explosion.