Primary batteries advantages

The air gas-diffusion electrode possesses two advantages over the metal-oxide cathode in the conventional primary batteries infinite charge... 

For these reasons Ca-metal-anode-based primary batteries have been well studied, but the presumed advantages have not yet led to any significant commercial products. Corrosion is significantly higher in Ca system than Li systems, although this problem may be improved by the addition of alternative solutes based on Ba and Sr. Ca-based electrolytes are significantly less conductive than Li electrolytes so sustainable current densities of Ca batteries are less than Li batteries. 

This report in itself is not conclusive. However it does stimulate debate on the separate collection of wastes in general. Further work is necessary in order to determine alternative solutions to reduce the differential between the negative impact of collection and the positive impact of recycling. One possible approach is to integrate the collection of primary batteries together with other suitable waste streams. Clearly such an approach will depend on the end use of the waste batteries, but the advantages in terms of minimising collection and transport impacts are obvious. 

One of the important advantages of primary batteries eonsists of very simple maintenance procedures. Most such batteries require no servicing. Before a battery is switched on, its appearance and the remaining service life are checked sometimes actual parameters are measured (open-circuit voltage (OCV) and the initial discharge voltage). Correct polarity and reliable contacts must be ensured a violation of polarity correspondence may result in serious disorders and even in the breakdown of load circuitry, especially circuits involving transistors and electrolytic capacitors. 

A qualitative comparison of the various primary battery systems is given in Table 7.2. This listing illustrates the performance advantages of the lithium anode batteries. Nevertheless, the conventional primary batteries, because of their low cost, availability, and generally acceptable performance in many consumer applications, still maintain a major share of the market. 

The advantages and disadvantages of zinc-carbon batteries, compared with other primary battery systems, are summarized in Table 8.2. A comparison of the more popular primary cell systems is given in Chap. 7. 

TABLE 12.1 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Zinc/Silver Oxide Primary Batteries ... 

Zinc/Manganese Dioxide Batteries. Several of the conventional primary battery systems have been manufactured as rechargeable batteries, but the only one currently being manufactured is the cylindrical cell using the zinc/alkaline-manganese dioxide chemistry. Its major advantage is a higher capacity than the conventional secondary batteries and a lower initial cost, but its cycle life and rate capability are limited. 

One of the potential advantages of the lithium metal rechargeable batteries is their good charge retention which, in many cases, should be similar to the charge retention characteristics of the lithium primary batteries. 

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