A Review on Battery and Energy Management for Redox Flow Batteries

Abstract

Battery technology has been a hot spot in the research community, owing to the radical unification of renewable sources into the electric power industry. Redox flow batteries (RFBs), which are electrolyte-based, are preferred and have found viable applications in microgrids (MGs) due to their scalable nature, operational flexibility, and environmental friendliness. Acknowledging the complexity of the MG system and the importance of effective battery operation, this paper presents a systematic and comprehensive review on battery and energy management for RFBs. Utilizing the bibliographical analysis, this research critically examines the existing literature on battery and energy management, their research trends, and associated challenges. The summary reveals that existing approaches lack the implementation of advanced techniques that enable experiential learning and tailored operational strategies required for safer, reliable operation in convergence with other energy sources. Considering the challenges, the paper emphasizes emerging technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), system modeling, and digital twins (DTs), for effective development, monitoring, and furthering reliability in RFB. IoT-integrated BMS and Energy Management System (EMS) systems can aid data collection, allowing integration of intelligence systems performing accurate forecasting and system optimization, whereas AI agents can help with cybersecurity and fault response, realizing state-of-the-art battery/EMS. Subsequently, existing drawbacks and future prospects are presented for the research community and are expected to act as a catalyst to advance EMS and BMS research, tailored for RFB.