A new type of liquid flow battery is developed, which is non-flammable and explosive and has powerful performance

Recently, a new type of flow battery was announced that is non-consumable, non-flammable, non-explosive, and has high energy density at a very low cost.

This new type of flow battery was developed by Influit Energy, a Chicago-based company that combines proven battery technology with breakthrough low-viscosity nanofluids to provide a high-energy density flow battery that is 1.5 times that of lithium batteries. It is mainly aimed at vehicles and aircraft, providing a viable alternative to current battery technology.

Source: Influit Energy

According to public information, the new rechargeable flow battery is a new format or way to store and distribute electrical energy. It not only replaces the battery's form factor, but also has a refueling/charging unit to create a closed-loop energy distribution ecosystem. The closed-loop energy storage ecosystem is realized by a mobile flow battery cabin that can be connected to distributed or centralized intermittent renewable energy sources. Once charged, the rechargeable liquid can be pumped or transported from the pod to an electric vehicle or other device separated from the energy generation site, and the discharged liquid returns to the pod for charging.

Because no lithium, heavy metals or rare earth minerals are used, the new flow battery costs only half of that of lithium batteries.

Influit Energy states: “We functionalize solid materials by suspending them in solution and keeping them in suspension. This allows us to create composite materials with solid properties that behave like liquids and allows for a new way to transport energy, whether it is thermal, electrical or radioactive energy. We can provide electrical energy in liquid form as a non-consumable fuel, enabling closed-loop decentralized energy distribution.”

Source: Influit Energy

At the same time, the nano-electric fuel used in the new flow battery is 100% recyclable, which means that the new fuel will never be consumed like traditional fuel, but simply discharged and recharged in many cycles. In current industrial use, the energy density of the new flow battery is not only 23% higher than that of lithium-ion batteries, but also has no self-ignition and explosion, and can operate stably in the temperature range of -40°C to 80°C.

The major breakthrough of the new liquid flow battery has undoubtedly greatly promoted the progress of the battery industry. However, despite its excellent performance, given the complexity of this system, Influit Energy still needs to develop a complete "ecosystem" to commercialize it. Once it is implemented, it will break the current pattern of lithium battery dominance.