Electronic options batteries

Virtually all Li-ion batteries require some type of electronic option to facilitate protection and/or performance of the battery cells assembled into an arrangement commonly referred to as a pack . Thus a battery pack, either in a cell phone or hybrid electric vehicle, contains the electronic options discussed in this chapter so that the cells within that assembly operate as expected for the intended device. 

Electronic options for Li-ion batteries include the basic functions of monitoring, measuring, calculating, communicating, and controlling the cells in a battery pack. In practice, the battery pack may vary in size both physically and by the number of cells, but each will utilize some of the same electronic functions required to protect the cells and/or ensure their performance in the device. 

Further sections will then focus on electronic options arranged by device or application and the resulting size of the battery single-cell devices such as cell phones, multicell devices from tablets to laptops, and high- cell devices such as power tools and electric vehicles [ 1-3]. 

The basic functions of monitoring, measuring, calculating, communicating and controlling are a representation of electronic options to enhance the safety and maintain the performance of a collection of cells in a battery pack. Although these functions can he applied to any battery, they are not all required in any particular battery-powered device (Figure 16.1). 

As discussed, there are various electronic options that can be employed with Li-ion cells as they are constructed in to battery packs. The functions of measuring, monitoring, calculating, communicating, and controlling still apply from single-cell Li-ion smartphones to large battery arrays of kWh size. 

Mercury oxide and silver oxide button batteries are sometimes collected by jewelers, pharmacies, hospitals, and electronic or hearing aid stores for shipping them to companies that reclaim mercury or silver. Some batteries cannot be recycled. If recycling is not possible, batteries should be saved for disposing of at a hazardous waste collection. Battery recycling and button battery collection may be good options at present, but may change as the mercury concentration in the majority of button batteries continues to decrease. 

Small lithium batteries are commonly used in small, portable electronic devices such as watches, thermometers, calculators, etc., as backup batteries in computers and communication equipment, and in remote-control car locks. They are available in many shapes and sizes, with the common variety being a 3-volt coin -type manganese battery, 20 mm in diameter and 1.6-4 mm thick. The heavy electrical demands of many of these devices make lithium batteries a particularly attractive option. In particular, lithium batteries can easily support the brief and heavy current demands of devices such as digital cameras. They also maintain a higher voltage for a longer period than alkaline cells. 

Nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries have application in hybrid electric vehicles, portable electronic devices such as cameras, shavers, toothbrushes, etc. They offer a higher energy option than Ni-Cd batteries with the hydrogenabsorbing metal hydride alloy (MH) replacing the cadmium electrode in Ni-Cd cell construction. Like Ni-Cd, the Ni-MH also shows the memory effect on repetitive cycle regimes. The nickel metal hydride battery was introduced commercially in 1989. The technology is based on the development of rare earth alloys with nickel that have the ability to reversibly absorb and desorb hydrogen. The... 

---