One of the major drawbacks of alternative energy is that it happens intermittent and the same solar energy greatly depends on weather conditions. Despite the relatively good level of development of solar panels, this technology can be greatly improved. At least, it is this and engaged scientists from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, creating a hybrid device combining in its structure a solar panel and running the battery. Moreover, the new development has a much greater efficiency than all previous inventions in this field.
As a means for energy, the scientists decided to use a not widely used lithium-ion batteries, and flow batteries, consisting of 2 tanks of negatively and positively charged electrolytes. The tanks are separated by a small monophonically membrane.
Diagram of the device
Flow batteries are much more easily scalable and more suitable from the point of view of security of use. Indeed, in the event of a failure of traditional batteries, there will be a chemical reaction producing heat and running the battery is very easy to block tanks with the electrolytes and to prevent the development of a chemical process.
A group of engineers under the direction of the song Genie from the University of Wisconsin in Madison have developed a device that can give to 14.1% of energy falling on solar panel. In the previous model, this figure could barely reach 5-7%. In the upper part of a device for obtaining alternative energy is that logically, a solar panel and under it is the battery. For all elements of the battery are connected the control unit to switch between modes (flow battery, charging from the sunlight as a solar panel).
The operation scheme of the device in different modes
The battery electrolyte circulating through the tubes with built-in pumps. The composition of each electrolyte includes substances that can change its charge. Depending on what electrodes are used currently, the device undergoes various redox electrochemical processes. During a series of tests it turned out that the battery is able to produce a voltage of 1.25 volts, and the efficiency as a solar panel made up 26.1%.
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Developed effective the battery from solar panel and running the battery
Vladimir Kuznetsov