Large Scale Liquid Metal Batteries

TL;DR

This paper develops numerical models for large-scale liquid metal batteries, analyzing MHD effects and demonstrating stable operation potential by reusing existing aluminium electrolysis infrastructure.

Contribution

It introduces detailed 3D and shallow layer models for the three-layer liquid metal batteries, highlighting their stability and practical implementation insights.

Findings

Stable operation can be achieved with existing aluminium infrastructure.

MHD effects are critical in understanding liquid metal battery behavior.

Numerical examples illustrate key principles of battery stability.

Abstract

Liquid metal batteries are possible candidates for large scale energy storage offering a possible breakthrough of intermittent wind and solar energy exploitations. The major concern over their practical implementation is the operation at elevated temperatures and sensitivity to liquid motion. The concept of liquid metal battery bears a close similarity to aluminium electrolytic production cells. The two liquid layer MHD effects can be projected to the three liquid layer self-segregated structure of the batteries. This paper presents numerical models for the three density-stratified electrically conductive liquid layers using 3D and shallow layer approximation accounting for specific MHD effects during periods of battery activity. It is demonstrated that a stable operation of these batteries can be achieved if reusing an infrastructure of existing aluminium electrolysis pot lines. The basic principles of the MHD processes in the cells are illustrated by the numerical example cases.