2 – Viable energy storage systems

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the viable energy storage systems. All battery technologies offer some solution to the peak power problem but internal resistance of the cell is the only parameter that ultimately matters. Internal resistance is more related to cell geometry than cell chemistry. Building a string of cells is one of the options and the problem of automatic assembly of so many cells can be easily accomplished using welding robots. The development of advanced battery chemistries with increased power and energy density places even greater demands on cell packaging and a new family of optimum proportions needs to be designed for the job. Low cost, abundancy, and high-energy storage are the factors that make aluminum the ideal choice for making batteries. The battery operates over a very wide temperature range. Two types of fuel cell are attractive for use in vehicles—the proton exchange membrane (PEM) and the alkaline types. A fuel cell is a complex system and the key problems are that the feedstock must be kept pure and power consumption minimized in the auxiliaries.