22 Years' Battery Customization
Dec 25, 2020 Pageview：1069
Lead storage batteries, also known as lead-acid batteries, are rechargeable batteries used in cars. The car charging system ensures that the battery is recharged when the car's engine runs and the charging system is in good condition.
Therefore, the lead storage battery cannot be recharged indefinitely when the electrodes lose lead sulfate. There is the formation of a component known as lead sulfate on the plates, which prevents electrons' flow.
The lead storage battery cannot be recharged because a direct current must pass through the cells. The electrodes lose lead sulfate. It isn't easy to reverse the direction of current flow, and the electrolyte is too expensive.
However, the formation of lead sulfate can be prevented by charging the battery correctly. In case the lead sulfate reaches a point here, the lead storage cannot charge anymore, then it is good to clean the battery with Epsom salt.
Therefore, we need to look at some of the effects of lead sulfate on these lead storage batteries. We will look at the reason for recharging the lead storage battery, the battery's health, and the frequency of charge.
Lead-acid batteries can be recharged; thus, making them suitable for usage in vehicles. These batteries can store a lot of charges and provide a high current for a short time. The design of the lead-acid battery has not changed since the first time it was made.
Discharging the energy stored in the battery relies on the positive and negative plates becoming lead II sulfate and the electrolyte losing a lot of its dissolved sulfuric acid. The lead storage batteries have a moderate power density and good response time.
The battery can charge through a simple chemical process. Each cell has negative lead (Pb) and positive plates of lead IV oxide in a charged state, an electrolyte of 4.2 M sulfuric acid. The charging process is run by the forcible removal of electrons from the positive plate and the forcible introduction of electrons to the negative plate by the source of charging.
Therefore, lead storage batteries can be recharged by allowing the current in the opposite direction. The half-reactions are the exact opposite of those that occur when the cell operates as a voltaic cell.
The lead storage cell has the products of reaction at the anode and cathode as insoluble lead sulfate in each case. These substances are available to engage in the reverse reactions that recharge the cell.
Therefore, the lead storage battery can be recharged several times before they lose their ability to recharge. You should ensure that the battery recharges fully before using them, especially those using them for another purpose other than the car.
Several reasons lead to the failure of the lead storage battery. Some of these reasons are human error, while aged batteries cause others. Therefore, we shall discuss some of the things that cause these batteries to go bad.
Electrolyte loss
In non-sealed batteries, high temperatures, high charging rates, and overcharging can cause a loss of electrolytes. In sealed batteries, the same factors lead to an increase in temperature and pressure that can cause an increase the release of gas, and electrolytes can be lost through the valves.
Reduction in the electrolyte level will result in part of the plates being above the electrolyte surface, resulting in poor battery performance.
Sulfation
As the battery discharges, there is the formation of lead sulfate crystals deposited on the plates as part of the usual chemical reaction that results in electrons' flow. However, during the charging process, the chemical reaction is reversed, and the crystals are changed back to lead on the -ve electrode and lead oxide on the positive electrode.
But if the battery is left without full charge for some time or in use but not achieving full charged state, the lead sulfate crystals harden and will fail to convert back to lead or lead oxide during charging.
Full Or Near The Full Discharge
Allowing the battery to stay in a state of not being fully charged will lead to sulfation problems. Fully discharging the battery can cause such changes to the battery's chemistry that it will not readily recharge.
Separator Failure
A cell can suffer when two battery plates come into contact, making a 12-volt battery become a 10-volt battery. This can happen if the separator materials break down or plates become distorted due to excessive heat. Another thing that can cause plate distortion is overcharging the battery.
Electrolyte Stratification
The electrolyte found in lead-acid batteries is a mixture of water and sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is dense than water; thus, a situation can arise where the acid concentration is higher at the lower part of the battery than at the top. This will then reduce the performance of the battery.
Stratification can start if the battery is not fully charged. In a fully charged battery, gassing will cause a mixing of the electrolyte. However, stratification will not have a reasonable effect on the battery’s performance.
Several factors influence the number of times that a lead storage battery can be recharged. However, sealed lead acid provides about 200 to 300 discharge or charge cycles depending on discharge and operating temperature.
The main thing that causes this relatively short cycle life is grid corrosion of the positive electrode, depletion of the positive plates' active material, and expansion of the positive plates.
The charge cycles range from 100 to 200 cycles for deep cycle batteries before a gradual decline begins. Therefore, you should replace the battery once the capacity drops to 70 or 80 percent. It will be hard to work with a battery that can hold a charge for a short period.
Lead storage batteries play a crucial role in our daily activities, especially for car users. Therefore, you must understand the details of this type of battery and its maintenance. The battery should last for a reasonable period because frequent replacements are costly.
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