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Lecture Slides - Battery Technology-Upload
Lecture Slides - Battery Technology-Upload
In this chapter, we will discuss the classification, construction & working of few
important batteries and fuel cells. We will also learn the advantages & disadvantages
of batteries.
Where I = Current
t= time
Electricity storage density: Electrical storage density is the amount of
electricity per unit weight which the storer can hold, its the capacity per unit
weight of the battery.
Power (Watts): Power is the power per unit weight of the battery.
*Importance of Batteries:
* Wall clock
*
Wrist Watch
*
Motor Vehicle
*
UPS- Backbone
*
Remote Control
*
Laptop Computer
*
Cameras, Battery operated gas lighter/bell
*
Cell Phones, Children toys
*
Cardiac Pacemaker, Key Chain Laser
Car Battery - Large Current - short time
Pacemaker battery Steady current long time
UPS battery Consistent & longer back-up
Laptop Computer Flexible sheetEnergy intensive
Construction:
Primary cell. The standard dry cell consists of a cylindrical zinc container that serves
as the anode & a graphite rod at the center serves as an inexpensive inertcathode.
The electrolyte is a moist paste of ammonium chloride, zinc chloride, manganese
dioxide & carbon particles. Carbon powder is mixed to improve conductivity. MnO2
acts as the depolarizing agent. A gel coated paper membrane / stretched fabric
electrically separate the two electrodes. Finally, the top of the cell is covered with
plastic cover to prevent drying & a metal cap placed at the center to provide electrical
contact. The cell has a nominal potential of l.5 V. Ammonium chloride is used as a
paste rather than as a dry solid. Solid ionic compounds do not conduct electricity - the
ions are firmly held by strong electrostatic forces & cannot move. When NH4Cl is
dissolved in water it loosens its structure & their ions are free to more & can carry an
electric current.
Working: Primary Reactions:
Anode:
Zn(s) Zn2+ (aq) +2e_
Cathode:
2MnO2(s) + H2O (l) + 2e- Mn2O3(s) + 2OH-(aq)
Net Reaction:
Zn(s) + 2MnO2(s) + H2O (l) Zn2+(aq) +Mn2O3 (s)+ 2OH-(aq)
Secondary Reactions:
NH4+(aq) + OH(aq) NH3(g) + H2O (l)
Advantages:
Ordinary dry cell is cheap to make & has low price. e.g. Pentorch cell (about 10
rupees each).
It is not toxic
Its voltage drop when current is drawn rapidly from it due to the building up of
reaction products around the electrodes. So,itis not suitable for use in a
photoflash unit of a camera.
It has limited shelf life because the zinc is corroded by the faintly acid,
ammonium chloride. Consequently, the zinc container disintegrates and the
paste comes out through the outer covering. The shelf life of dry cell is 68months.
They cannot be used once they get discharged. Attempts to recharge them results
in explosion and fire hazards.
Its emf decreases during use as the material is consumed and falls to 0.8 V as the
reaction products accumulate inside it.