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The main difference between flow batteries and other rechargeable battery types is that the aqueous electrolyte solution usually found in other batteries is not stored in the cells around the positive electrode and negative electrode. Instead, the active materials are stored in exterior tanks and pumped toward a flow cell membrane and power stack.
In contrast with conventional batteries, flow batteries store energy in the electrolyte solutions. Therefore, the power and energy ratings are independent, the storage capacity being determined by the quantity of electrolyte used and the power rating determined by the active area of the cell stack.
Flow batteries can release energy continuously at a high rate of discharge for up to 10 h. Three different electrolytes form the basis of existing designs of flow batteries currently in demonstration or in large-scale project development.
There is no simultaneous charging and discharging going on. Draw out the circuit and follow the currents. You can conceptualize the above example as 1 A charging the battery and 3 A discharging it, but the battery sees the sum. Again, draw a diagram and it should be more clear. Handwaving makes everything difficult to understand.
