Silver zinc, secondary applications

The first practical silver—zinc battery was developed more then 60 years ago. Since then, primary and secondary silver—zinc batteries have attracted a variety of applications due to their high specific energy, proven reliability and safety, and the highest power output per unit weight and volume of all commercially available batteries. However, they find very limited use in commercial applications, because of their high price and limited cycle life. Development of a battery separator which will improve the performance and life of zinc based alkaline cells has been... 

In silver batteries, the silver oxide-zinc secondary batter has found its place in applications where energy delivered per unit of weight and space is of prime importance. The major disadvantages lie in their high cost and relatively short life. Consequently, a large pari of the silver battery market is concerned with defense and space components, See also Batteries. 

Currently, Yardney is in continuous production of secondary lithium-ion batteries, primary and secondary silver-zinc batteries and primary reserve silver-zinc batteries used on various Department of Defense applications. The primary battery applications include the Navy s Trident IID5 Fleet Ballistic Missile program, the Minuteman III ICBM, and primary power for the MK 21 re-entry vehicle. In 2012, the Trident II missile has achieved 143 successful test launches since 1989—a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle. The most prominent Li-ion batteries made by Yardney have powered the Mars Explorer Rover missions (Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity), the USAF B-2 Bomber and Global Hawk aircraft, and the US Navy Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS). One of the future applications for Yardney s Li-ion batteries is NASA s Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). 

As with the primary battery systems, significant performance improvements have been made with the older secondary battery systems, and a number of newer types, such as the silver-zinc, the nickel-zinc, nickel-hydrogen, and lithium ion batteries, and the high-temperature system, have been introduced into commercial use or are under advanced development. Much of the development work on new systems has been supported by the need for high-performance batteries for portable consumer electronic applications and electric vehicles. Figure 22.1 illustrates the advances achieved in and the projections of the performance of rechargeable batteries for portable applications. 

Secondary batteries have a lower power density than silver-zinc batteries but have a greater cycle life. They are recommended, therefore, in applications where cycle life is paramount over total weight. Applications include underwater vehicles and... 

The vendor states that MBS stabihzes heavy metals in soil, slndges, slag, ash, baghonse dnst, and sediment. Among the heavy metals treatable by the MBS process are arsenic, cad-minm, chrominm, copper, lead, mercnry, nickel, silver, and zinc. MBS technology is applicable in the following indnstries primary and secondary smelters, battery mannfactnrers and recyclers, ferrons and nonferrons fonndries, mnnicipal solid waste incinerators, anto and metal scrap recyclers, electronic mannfactnrers, electroplaters, ceramic prodnct mannfactnrers, and mineral refiners and processors. 

The electrolyte used in secondary silver cells is generally an aqueous solution (35 to 45% concentration) of potassium hydroxide (KOH). Lower concentrations of electrolyte provide lower resistivity and thus a higher voltage output under load as weU as a lower freezing point. Concentrations below 45% KOH, however, are more corrosive to the ceUulosic separators typically used in silver-based batteries and are not used for extended wet-hfe applications. Table 33.3 depicts the critical parameters of various KOH solutions. Various additives such as zinc oxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium fluoride, potassium borate, tin, and lead have been used to reduce the solubility of the zinc electrode. " ... 

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