Batteries

Done By Eng Mohab Eweda

What is a
Battery
• collection of one or more
electrochemical cells in which
stored chemical energy is
converted into electrical energy
 Classification of Batteries
Carbon-Zinc dry cell
Primary Lithium
Mercury Oxide
Silver Oxide

Chemical
Lead Acid (Flooded/Sealed)
Secondary
Nickel Cadmium
Lithium Secondary

Batteries
Fuel Cell
Other

Physical
Energy
Lead acid
batteries architectures
• Designed for maximum energy storage capacity
Deep- and high cycle count (long life),and are rated in
Amp/Hours. This is achieved by installing thick

cycle
lead plates with limited surface area.
• Typical applications are boats, Uninterruptible
Power Supplies (UPS)

• Starter batteries are made for maximum power

Engine output, usually rated in CCA (Cold-Cranking
amps). The battery manufacturer obtains this by

Starting
adding multiple “lead plates” to obtain larger
surface area for maximum conductivity.
• Typical applications are vehicles & motorcycles
Lead-Acid Battery Construction
• Lead-acid batteries are commonly made of five basic components

• A resilient plastic container

• Positive and negative internal plates made of lead

• Plate separators made of porous synthetic material

• Electrolyte - 35% sulfuric acid and 65% water

• Battery Terminals
Types of Lead-Acid Batteries
• Lead-Acid Batteries come in several different configurations

• Flooded Lead-acid – Available in Deep cycle or Engine

starting as sealed or open variety

• Sealed Lead-acid - The liquid electrolyte is gelled into

moistened lead plate-separators, which allow the case to
be sealed. Safety valves allow venting during charge, discharge
and atmospheric pressure changes.

• Absorbed Glass Mat Batteries (AGM) - sealed lead-acid that

uses absorbed glass mats between the plates. It is sealed,
maintenance-free and the plates are rigidly mounted to
withstand extensive shock and vibration
Capacity of a
Battery
The definition of Capacity is usually given in
Amp-hours (Ah) or Cold cranking amps (CCA),
cranking amps (CA), and Reserve Capacity (RC)

• (Ah) is specifies the amount of current

(measured in Amperes) it can provide over a
20 Hours period

• (CCA) is a measurement of the number of

amps a battery can deliver at 0 ° F for 30
seconds and not drop below 7.2 volts

• (CA) is measured at 32 degrees F. This rating

is also called marine cranking amps (MCA)

• (RC) is a very important rating. This is the

number of minutes a fully charged battery at
80 ° F will discharge 25 amps until the
battery drops below 10.5 volts`
Inside of a Lead Acid Battery
Creating
Voltage
Charging a Lead-Acid Battery
• Parameters for Recharging

• Charging Current - All batteries have a “maximum current”

at which they can be safely charged

• Charging Voltage - Applying a voltage across its positive &

negative terminals that is higher than the voltage it already has
across them

• Charging Time - The charge time of a sealed lead-acid

battery is 12-16 hours (up to 36 hours for larger capacity batteries)
Electrochemistry principle of
Lead Acid battery
Discharge Chemistry

• Negative plate reaction: Pb(s) + HSO4-(aq) → PbSO4(s) + H+(aq) + 2e-

• Positive plate reaction: PbO2(s) + HSO4-(aq) + 3H+(aq) + 2e- → PbSO4(s) +

2H2O(l)

overall reaction:
• Pb(s) + PbO2(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2HSO4-(aq) → 2PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l)

• The Value of Cell Voltage when it is Fully Charged almost 2.1 V but when is
Fully discharged the Voltage become 1.7v
Electrochemistry principle of
Lead Acid battery
• Charging Chemistry

• Negative plate reaction: PbSO4(s) + H+(aq) + 2e- → Pb(s) + HSO4-(aq)

• Positive plate reaction: PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l) → PbO2(s) + HSO4-(aq) + 3H+(aq)

+ 2e-

• Overall reaction:
• 2PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l) → Pb(s) + PbO2(s) + 2H+(aq) + 2HSO4-(aq)
 Battery Testing

The most
accurate
method is
measurement of
specific gravity
and battery
voltage

Load testing is
yet another way
of testing a
battery
Battery health
Typical Battery Problems

Low charge Low Capacity

Mismatched Batteries
 • A hydrometer is an instrument used to measure specific gravity or
density of liquids. It typically consists of a glass tube with a bulb
weighted at one end and calibrated markings along the length of the
Hydrometer tube. The use of hydrometers is crucial in many industries, including
food and beverage production, automotive engineering, and scientific
and Specific research.
• By measuring the density of a liquid, hydrometers provide valuable

Gravity information that is used to determine the desired taste, texture, and
performance of products. This article will cover the working principles
of hydrometers and the correct methods for utilizing them to achieve
precise measurements of liquid density and specific gravity.
How Does a Hydrometer
Work?

• Hydrometers work based on the Principle of

Buoyancy, which states that an object
immersed in a fluid experiences an upward
force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid.
A hydrometer typically consists of a glass tube
with a large weighted glass bulb on the bottom
and a scale to read the measurement.
• When a hydrometer is placed in a liquid, it
displaces a certain volume of the liquid and
experiences an upward force equal to the
weight of the displaced liquid. The reading on
the scale indicates the density or specific
gravity of the liquid.
• Density is the mass per unit volume of a
substance, while specific gravity is defined as
the relative density, which is the ratio of the
density of a substance to the density of a
reference substance, usually water. A liquid
with a higher density or specific gravity will
cause hydrometers to sink deeper and give a
higher specific gravity reading on the scale
 Specific Gravity:
• The following chart shows the approximate specific gravity values of
batteries at various states of charge. Note the two columns , one
showing a temperate climate the other showing a tropical climate.
The values shown are for a cell in various states of charge with its
ability to crank an engine at 80 degrees F.

• SG for Lead Acid cell is based on ambient Temp of 15 C . Correction to

SG value at another Temp as Follow :
• Add 0.007 to Reading Above 15 C for Each 10 C
• Subtract 0.007 From Reading Below 15 C for Each 10
Typical Battery Problems

Conversion Efficiency

This denotes how well it converts an electrical charge into chemical

energy and back again. The higher this factor, the less energy is converted
into heat and the faster a battery can be charged without overheating. The
lower the internal resistance of a battery, the better its conversion efficiency.

Sulfation

Sulfation of lead-acid batteries starts when the electrolyte’s specific

gravity falls below 1.225. It results in a salt-like substance forming on the
battery plate surface and it can harden on the battery plates if left long
enough, reducing and eventually blocking chemical reaction between the
lead plate and the electrolyte. Equalization is the solution for this
problem.
 Typical Battery Problems

Gassing Self-Discharge
Batteries start to gas when you attempt The self-discharge rate is a measure of
to charge them faster than they can how much batteries discharge on their
absorb the energy. The excess energy own. The self-discharge rate is
is turned into heat, which then causes governed by the construction of the
the electrolyte to boil and evaporate. is battery and the properties of the
the suitable method for reduce this is components used inside the cell (alloy
good ventilated area. of the lead, sulfuric concentrations of
the electrolyte, etc.).
Temperature Effects for Battery
Operation

• The optimum operating temperature for the lead-acid battery is 25°C

(77°F).

• As a guideline, every 8°C (15°F) rise in temperature will cut the battery life
in half.

• A VRLA, which would last for 10 years at 25°C (77°F), will only be good for 5
years if operated at 33°C (95°F).

• Theoretically the same battery would last a little more than one year at a
desert temperature of 42°C (107°F)
Battery sizes
Maintenance of
Batteries
• Ensure proper maintenance of engine starting batteries
due to the extreme importance of getting a ship under
way in any circumstances

• Attention should be paid to the electrolyte level and

specific gravity for vented batteries

• A boost charge shall be given if the specific gravity of

the battery cells meet the conditions stipulated by
manufacturer

• Ensure that the battery is not being overcharged

• Keep engine starting batteries clean, dry and free of

seawater

• Period of inactivity for the ship of a week or more, give

the battery a normal charge
Maintenance of
Batteries
• Inspected for height of electrolyte once each week

• The electrolyte level shall never be allowed to fall below

the top of the separators

• Add pure distilled water at any time to replace that

which has evaporated

• Add water just before the battery is placed on charge, as

the water remains on top of the electrolyte until mixed
with it by charging

• After adding water, replace and tighten the vent plugs

• Remove all water or electrolyte spilled during watering

and make sure that the tops and sides of the cells are
clean and dry
Maintenance of Batteries
• Ensure that distilled water that is to be used for watering batteries and
mixing electrolyte does not contain impurities

• Use only premixed electrolyte when replacing spilled electrolyte

• Fully charged specific gravity between the limits of 1.220 and 1.210
specific gravity at 27° C (80° F)

• The specific gravity of a cell that has fallen below 1.210 shall not be
increased by the addition of acid until it has been definitely ascertained by
test that the low-gravity condition is not due to sulfation

• The addition of acid to increase the specific gravity of a sulfated cell will
aggravate the existing condition
Maintenance of
Batteries

The specific gravity of cells which Sulfuric acid of a specific gravity

exceed 1.220 shall be cut by the greater than 1.350 shall not be
removal of an appropriate amount added to a battery
of electrolyte and the addition of
distilled water
Battery Maintenance
Summary:
1. Keep Cell Tops Clean and Dry
2. Check Tightness of Terminal Nuts
3. Apply a smear of petroleum jelly to terminal
nuts to prevent corrosion
4. Use protective rubber gloves and eye goggles
and be careful when handling battery
electrolyte such as using hydrometer
5. Isolate your tools to prevent short cct .
Safety Precautions for
Battery Installation
Safety precautions for battery installations for both types
of batteries are similar, and they are:
❑ Battery room should be well ventilated, clean and dry.
❑ Both types generate hydrogen gas during charging so
smoking and naked flames must be prohibited in the
vicinity of batteries.
❑ Steelwork and decks adjacent to lead-acid batteries
should be covered with acid-resisting paint and alkali
resisting paint used near Ni-cad batteries.
❑ Acid cells must never be placed near alkaline cells
otherwise rapid electrolytic corrosion to metalwork
and damage to both batteries is certain.
❑ Never use lead-acid battery maintenance elements
(hydrometer, topping up bottles, etc.) on an alkaline
battery or vice-versa otherwise a damage to both
batteries is certain.