The New Energy
Not just different, but unique
nanoFlowcell® –not only different, but unique!
At present, flow cells are generally only known as garage-sized constructions for stationary energy storage in wind turbines and solar systems. But with our nanoFlowcell®, we have managed to bring a flow cell down to the size of a briefcase and at the same time increase the energy density of the electrolytes by a factor of ten. The development of nanoFlowcell® has thus rendered flow cell technology powerful and mobile, opening up completely new technical perspectives for a wide range of applications.
nanoFlowcell®
Complex technology makes clean energy simple
nanoFlowcell® is a scalable energy converter whose membrane chamber contains two electrodes separated by an ion conductor (membrane). The ion conductor consists of a semi-permeable membrane wafer that only allows a certain type of ion present in the bi-ION® molecule to pass through. This is where the ion exchange between the positively and negatively charged electrolyte liquid takes place.
The chemical energy of bi-ION® is converted into electrical energy, for example to drive an electric motor or supply energy to electrical consumers. The membrane material and design of the nanoFlowcell® make it suitable for applications ranging from mW to MW and from compact to extremely powerful.
The water purification process is an important preliminary stage in the production of our bi-ION electrolyte solution.
Our water treatment system can handle seawater as well as wastewater with the highest pollution levels - from abundant seawater to urban wastewater generated by household, industrial, and rainwater outflow.
In several technical processes the water is filtered and demineralized. A major advantage of our purification process from an economic standpoint is its simplicity and relatively low energy consumption.
Once the water is purified and meets our bi-ION production quality standards, we add metallic and non-metallic salt compositions in a precisely calculated ratio, and then enrich the solution with our specifically designed energy carrier, the bi-ION molecule.
The specific aqueous salt solution ensures that bi-ION is easy to transport as well as pumpable / usable under extreme temperature conditions.
Innovative energy
nanoFlowcell® is currently the most innovative and powerful energy carrier for mobile and stationary electric applications. Unlike conventional batteries, the energy of the nanoFlowcell® is provided in the form of liquid electrolytes (bi-ION®), which can be stored outside the cell itself. As with regular flow batteries, the positively and negatively charged electrolyte liquids are stored in two separate tanks and pumped through a transducer (the actual cell of the nanoFlowcell system) in separate circuits, just like in a traditional flow cell.
Here, the two electrolyte circuits are only separated by a permeable membrane. When the positive and negative electrolyte solutions pass along either side of the transducer membrane, an ion exchange takes place. This converts the chemical energy bound in bi-ION® into electricity, which in turn is made immediately available to electrical consumers.
Scalable energy
Thanks to the separation of energy converter and energy storage, the amount of energy stored in a nanoFlowcell® is no longer dependent on the size of the cell. This is where a flow cell differs from traditional battery types.
With a nanoFlowcell®, the amount of energy provided depends on the electrolyte concentration in the electrolyte liquid on the one hand, and on the volume of the electrolyte tanks on the other hand. nanoFlowcell® technology can therefore be flexibly adapted to a wide variety of applications thanks to its unlimited scalability.
Filling up with electricity
What is special about the nanoFlowcell® is that it no longer requires lengthy recharging like conventional batteries or flow cells. Instead, the used bi-ION® electrolyte fluid can simply be refilled.
The same procedure, only better
In mobile applications, such as the QUANT electric vehicles, used electrolyte fluid is first filtered to remove the dissolved salts and electrolytes. The filter has to be replaced about every 10,000 kilometres and can then be recycled in an environmentally friendly manner.
A generator powered by the energy from driving ensures that the remaining water is atomised into water vapour during the journey and released into the atmosphere without harming the environment. The electrolyte tanks are drained during the journey just like the tank in conventional vehicles with a combustion engine. Refilling the empty electrolyte tanks is similar to the refuelling process of a regular petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle.
Eco-friendly energy
nanoFlowcell® technology is fully eco-friendly and harmless to health. Our nanoFlowcells are manufactured in a very efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly process using common substances and raw materials that are readily available in large quantities.
Neither the cells themselves nor the bi-ION® electrolyte solution contain precious metals or rare earth metals. All raw materials required for the nanoFlowcell® and its electrolytes can be harvested sustainably, used without any health risks and then disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.
Durable and recyclable
Thanks to its extended service life, the nanoFlowcell® also sets an example when it comes to recycling raw materials. For instance, our nanoFlowcells eliminate the problem of power loss associated with conventional batteries, as they show no memory effect even after 10,000 charging cycles. This means that a nanoFlowcell® can handle up to ten times as many charging cycles as conventional Li-Ion battery systems (Li-Ion battery: approx. 1,000 charging cycles). In a car, that would correspond to a range of around 10,000,000 kilometres, thus far exceeding the service life of modern cars. What’s more, the amount of self-discharge when the cell is not in use is negligible.
Safety guaranteed
Another advantage of the nanoFlowcell® over other battery systems is that it is easy to monitor its state of charge, as there is only one electrolyte. There is no need for equalisation charges like in conventional Li-Ion or Li-Po systems. Hazards that can occur in a battery due to unwanted reactions or deep discharge can be technically ruled out with the nanoFlowcell.
Efficiency
In contrast to an internal combustion engine, the efficiency of the nanoFlowcell® stands at over 90 percent; in electric mobility applications, the operating temperature is only between 90ºC and 130ºC. Moreover, the entire nanoFlowcell® system is very reliable and requires little maintenance, as it has no moving parts except for the electrolyte pumps.
bi-ION® – energy carrier for tomorrow’s electricity
bi-ION® is the brand name for nanoFlowcell’s proprietary electrolyte liquid. It consists of salts, water and the actual energy carriers – specially designed molecules. In a nanoFlowcell®, the chemical energy bound in bi-ION® is converted into electrical energy.
The electrolyte solution has a power density comparable to modern lithium-ion batteries, but an energy density that is five times higher. bi-ION® is the perfect propellant for environmentally compatible and sustainable electric drives as well as clean energy for stationary and mobile applications.
The more you have, the further you go
The mathematics behind a nanoFlowcell® powered vehicle are straightforward: The greater the quantity of bi-ION® onboard, the more energy is at your disposal, resulting in an extended range. This concept parallels our understanding of petrol-powered vehicles. Unlike conventional batteries, the efficiency of a nanoFlowcell® doesn't rely on the size of the cell but rather on the concentration and volume of the electrolyte liquid it receives.
Innovative charge carrier
bi-ION® stands as one of our paramount innovations, playing a pivotal role in shaping the performance attributes of the nanoFlowcell system. After years of dedicated research, we've achieved a breakthrough by crafting specialized charge carriers that bestow our electrolyte liquid with a substantially superior power and energy density compared to any liquid battery presently accessible in the market.
Within our cutting-edge digital simulation laboratory, we delved into novel molecular structures and charge transport mechanisms. Leveraging our advanced digital simulation capabilities, we dramatically expedited the development process of bi-ION®. This acceleration enabled us to formulate an initial physical model and commence in-vivo testing within a mere five-year timeframe.
Mini-Max
The charge carrier we've pioneered enables a significantly higher concentration compared to prior electrolytes in conventional flow cells. Unlike the massive electrolyte tanks found in stationary systems, which often span thousands of litre, our QUANTiNO 48VOLT achieves equivalent performance with a tank volume comparable to that of a standard car.
At the current stage of development, bi-ION® boasts an impressive energy density of 600 Wh per litre. When compared to the lithium-ion batteries commonly found in modern electric vehicles, a nanoFlowcell® running on bi-ION delivers sufficient energy for five times the range of a conventional electric vehicle.
Non-political energy
Unlike fossil fuels, which are primarily sourced and refined in a limited number of countries, the bi-ION® electrolyte solution has the potential to be manufactured locally almost anywhere globally, provided that the necessary production equipment is available.
Safe, Sustainable, and Cost-Effective
Diverging from conventional energy carriers like petrol, diesel, hydrogen, and lithium-ion batteries, bi-ION® stands out for its innate safety, being entirely non-toxic to health and the environment, while also lacking flammability and explosiveness.
Moreover, the production of bi-ION® can be executed sustainably, in harmony with the environment. In terms of cost-effectiveness, the industrial production of its electrolyte liquid proves significantly more economical than the processes involved in refining fossil fuels or manufacturing and utilizing lithium-ion batteries.
Filling up as usual
Refueling nanoFlowcell-powered electric vehicles with bi-ION® is remarkably straightforward. The process of replenishing the electrolyte liquid closely resembles refueling a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle, with the distinction that nanoFlowcell vehicles require the simultaneous filling of two separate tanks — one for the positive and another for the negative electrolyte solution.
Furthermore, there's no need to establish a dedicated filling station network for bi-ION® distribution. Only minimal modifications to the pumps and nozzles are required, allowing existing filling stations to accommodate bi-ION® seamlessly. Thanks to its unique characteristics, bi-ION® electrolyte liquid doesn't fall under hazardous materials regulations, in stark contrast to fossil fuels. As a result, the production, transportation, and distribution of bi-ION® pose no significant challenges.
Refilling nanoFlowcell-powered electric vehicles with bi-ION®
Currently, flow cells are typically associated with large-scale, garage-sized installations for stationary energy storage in wind turbines and solar systems. However, our groundbreaking nanoFlowcell® technology has successfully downsized a flow cell to the dimensions of a briefcase while simultaneously boosting the energy density of the electrolytes by a factor of ten. This breakthrough in nanoFlowcell® development has revolutionized flow cell technology, making it both highly potent and portable, thereby unlocking a multitude of new technical possibilities across a wide spectrum of applications.