Applications alkaline manganese, primary

The demand for electrically operated tools or devices that can be handled independently of stationary power sources led to a variety of different battery systems which are chosen depending on the field of application. In the case of rare usage, e.g., for household electric torches or for long-term applications with low current consumption, such as watches or heart pacemakers, primary cells (zinc-carbon, alkaline-manganese or lithium-iodide cells) are chosen. For many applications such as starter batteries in cars, only rechargeable battery systems, e.g., lead accumulators, are reasonable with regard to costs and the environment. 

Similar analyses can be made for specific commercial and industrial applications. For example, the cost of the use of zinc/alkaline/manganese dioxide primary batteries versus nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries in a typical portable electronic device applications are compared in Table 6.4. If the usage rate is low and the drain rate moderate, the primary battery is more cost-effective besides offering the convenience of not having to be periodically recharged. 

Lithium primary batteries, with their outstanding performance and characteristics, are being used in increasing quantities in a variety of applications, including cameras, memory backup circuits, security devices, calculators, watches, etc. Nevertheless, Uthium primary batteries have not attained a major share of the market as was anticipated, because of their high initial cost, concerns with safety, the advances made with competitive systems and the cost-effectiveness of the alkaline/manganese battery. World-wide sales of Uthium primary batteries for 1999 have been estimated at 1.1 billion. ... 

Leclanche and alkaline manganese batteries retain the great majority of the primary battery market for portable-in-use applications. They are widely available in a variety of equivalent cylindrical sizes. 

Alkaline manganese batteries are a direct competitor to the standard carbon-zinc (Leclanch6) battery over which, in certain applications, they enjoy advantages in performance. The primary alkaline manganese battery, which first became available in 1960, represents a major advance over the standard carbon-zinc battery and meets the growing need for a high-rate source of electiical energy. 

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