- Reduced Fire Risk: Flow batteries do not contain flammable electrolytes, which are common in lithium-ion batteries. The presence of water in flow battery electrolytes significantly reduces the risk of fires or explosions.
- Low Thermal Runaway Risk: The design of flow batteries limits thermal runaway, a condition that can lead to battery fires or explosions. In contrast, lithium-ion batteries are more susceptible to thermal runaway.
- Separation of Energy Storage and Power Generation: Flow batteries store energy in liquid electrolytes in external tanks and generate power in separate cell stacks. This separation reduces the risk associated with electrical faults and short circuits, as any issue is less likely to affect the entire system.
- Chemical and Thermal Stability: Flow batteries, particularly those using vanadium, are chemically and thermally robust, ensuring stable operation without significant degradation over time. This stability contributes to their enhanced safety profile compared to lithium-ion batteries.
- Scalability Without Increased Risk: As flow batteries scale up, the risk does not proportionally increase because the electrolytes are stored separately from the power generation components, maintaining safety even in larger installations.
Overall, the inherent safety of flow batteries makes them a more reliable choice for large-scale energy storage applications, especially where fire safety is a concern.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-main-safety-advantages-of-flow-batteries-over-lithium-ion-batteries/
