Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-10-21 Origin: Site
Now lead-acid batteries are the oldest modern energy storage technology existing for over 100 years. Compared to the nickel-cadmium and lithium-ion systems, old-timers still prove much reliable, cost-effective, and devise leeway in a mammoth way. This paper discusses the basics of lead-acid batteries and their varied uses in different industries.
The lead-acid battery is one of the kinds of secondary cells. Its electrodes are made up of lead dioxide and sponge lead, whereas the electrolyte is sulfuric acid. It was way back in 1859 when Gaston Plante, a French physicist, first prepared this rechargeable cell for the first time in the world. Though old, even today, it is very popular for the muscular performances it gives and also for being cost-effective.
Lead-acid batteries are famous for the fact that they can provide huge currents, which are good for applications that need lots of power in a short time. Sometimes, they are also known for being robust and tolerant to harsh conditions, which has helped them stay famous in different sectors.
The basic principles of a lead-acid battery have to be known so that one can understand how it works and where it is applied. Following are the major components and processes:
Electrodes and Electrolyte: A lead-acid battery consists of two electrodes, a positive electrode of lead dioxide (PbO2), and a negative electrode of sponge lead (Pb). These are immersed in an electrolyte solution of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) – which helps to enable the chemical reactions required for storing and releasing energy.
Voltage and Capacity: A single lead-acid cell has a nominal voltage of around 2 volts. These are usually assembled in series of six cells into a lead-acid battery; hence, its total rated voltage equals 12 volts. The capacity of the lead-acid battery gives the amount of energy stored and delivered with respect to time and is usually rated in ampere-hours ( Ah).
Charge and Discharge: External electric current leads to the recharging of lead-acid batteries by causing a reversal of the chemical reactions done on discharging. There are three stages in charging: bulk, absorption, and float. It is very important to correctly charge the battery for good performance and long service life.
Maintenance：Some lead-acid batteries do require maintenance like the addition of distilled water to the electrolyte, while others are sealed (VRLA-Valve Regulated Lead Acid) and so require no maintenance whatsoever. Maximum care can also significantly enhance the life of a lead-acid battery.
The lead battery is known for its possible applications because of its versatility and reliability. Some of the most familiar applications are:
Automotive: It is one of the most common applications for lead-acid batteries in the automotive industry. They serve as starter batteries in automobiles like cars, trucks, providing enormous surge current for ignition. Besides, they find applications in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles as a secondary power source.
Motorcycles and ATVs: Motorcycles and ATVs are the most common use case for lead-acid batteries in general, due to the high power densities this chemistry can achieve at small sizes. Specifically, they are used during the ignition of the engine as well as to power on any electrical systems like lights, etc.
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS): UPS is one of the most common ways of utilizing Lead-acid batteries in uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems offer power when there is an electrical outage power otherwise known as backup power. This means that in the occurrence of a power failure, key systems for example computers, and medical devices can still function
Industrial Applications: Generally applied to industrial uses – e.g. in forklifts, golf carts, and floor scrubbers where high-power delivery and capability to handle repeated charging and discharging cycles are advantageous, these are among the most demanding applications.
Medical Equipment: Mostly, medical applications include powering lifesaving devices during power outages, such as ventilators, infusion pumps, etc. These sorts of critical applications need guaranteed power back up sources, and so the battery is immensely valuable.
Lead-acid batteries are a very good flexible and dependable energy storage solution that can cater to a wide range of applications because they like the provision of high power and can tolerate unfriendly conditions, plus the provision of power backup; hence, they offer excellent support in numerous industries. With the ongoing advancements in technology, it is quite evident that lead-acid batteries would continue maintaining their positions while other battery technologies come into play. It is in this way that the energy needs of various traditional and emerging applications will be catered to with a reliable power solution.
