Sodium-Sulfur Battery Cell

2 Typical Performance Characteristics of the 40 Ah Sodium-Sulfur Battery Cell 

The 40 Ah sodium-sulfur (NajS) battery cell was developed for space applications by EaglePicher. Following are the typical performance characteristics  

This chapter identifies various secondary or rechargeable batteries and their potential applications. Lead-acid batteries are considered the oldest working horse among the rechargeable batteries. Design improvements in these lead-acid batteries have 

Performance parameters of low-temperature H2-O2 fuel cells with alkaline electrolytes are provided for communications satellite apphcations. Estimated terminal voltage and output power level of H2-O2 fuel cells as a function of current density are provided for space system applications [14]. Performance characteristics of various fuel cells are summarized in terms of fuel, oxidant, electrolyte, temperature, efficiency, power output, and suitability for specific applications. High-capacity batteries and fuel cells are suggested for which high output power is the principal requirement. The critical electrical performance parameters of a 40 Ah NajS battery best suited for military applications are summarized. 

Kerry Langa, What is the best type of battery Electronic Products (March 2011), pp. 

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The principle of operation is illustrated on Figure 4. The fast ion conductor 3-aluminium has been developed as the basic component of the sodium sulfur battery cell. Whether it will give birth to a new technological process is too early to predict. 

J. Gamer et al., Sodium Sulfur Battery Cell Space Flight Experiment, lECEC Paper No. AP-339, pp. 131-136, ASME 1995. 

Sodium-Sulfur Batteries. The sodium-sulfur battery consists of molten sodium at the anode, molten sulfur at the cathode, and a solid electrolyte of a material that allows for the passage of sodium only. For the solid electrolyte to be sufficiently conductive and to keep the sodium and sulfur in a liquid state, sodium-sulfur cells must operate at 300°C to 350°C (570°F to 660°F). There has been great interest in this technology because sodium and sulfur are widely available and inexpensive, and each cell can deliver up to 2.3 volts. 

A prerequisite of long-life sodium/sulfur batteries is that the cells contain suitable corrosion-resistant materials which withstand the aggressively corrosive environment of this high—temperature system. Stackpool and Maclachlan have reported on investigations in this field [17], The components in an Na/S cell are required to be corrosion-resistant towards sodium, sulfur and especially sodium polysulphides. Four cell components suffer particularly in the Na/S environment the glass seal, the anode seal, the cathode seal, and the current collector (in central sodium arrangements, the cell case). 

Other types Variable Variable Primary and secondary Nickel-metal hydride cells, sodium-sulfur batteries,... 

The high ionic conductivity of sodium (3"-alumina suggested that it would form a suitable electrolyte for a battery using sodium as one component. Two such cells have been extensively studied, the sodium-sulfur cell and the sodium-nickel chloride (ZEBRA) cell. The principle of the sodium-sulfur battery is simple (Fig. 6.13a). The (3"-alumina electrolyte, made in the form of a large test tube, separates an anode of molten sodium from a cathode of molten sulfur, which is contained in a porous carbon felt. The operating temperature of the cell is about 300°C. 

Research the aluminum-air battery, and the sodium-sulfur battery. Both are rechargeable batteries that have been used to power electric cars. In each case, describe the design of the battery, the half-reactions that occur at the electrodes, and the overall cell reaction. Also, describe the advantages and disadvantages of using the battery as a power source for a car. 

Stationary battery (cell) — Rechargeable -> batteries designed to be located at a fixed place. Stationary batteries are used mainly for uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and standby applications. These cells are usually designed for high reliability and very long -> cycle life under shallow depth of discharge (DOD) conditions. The common chemical systems utilized for the production of stationary batteries are the -> lead-acid and -> nickel-cadmium batteries. Less common, and more futuristic is the - sodium-sulfur battery designed for KW and... 

Among the various electrolytes, yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ) has been developed, for use in high-temperature fuel cells and oxygen sensors similarly, various S( S")-alumina materials are in development for sodium sulfur batteries. 

R. S. Gordon, W. Fischer, A, V, Virkar, in Ceramic Transactions Vol. 65, Role of Ceramics in Advanced Electrochemical Systems, P. N. Kumpta, G. S. Roher, U. Balachadran, eds., American Ceramic Society, Westerville, OH, 1996, pp. 203-237. Current review on the application of ceramics in the sodium sulfur battery and the solid oxide fuel cell. 

Another type of electrical conductivity observed in ceramics is ionic conductivity, which often occurs appreciably at elevated temperature a widely used material exhibiting this behavior is zirconia doped with other oxides such as calcia (CaO) or yttria (Y2O3). For this material, atomic oxygen is the mobile ionic species. Doped zirconia finds widespread use as oxygen sensors, especially as part of automobile emission control systems, where the oxygen content of the exhaust gas is monitored to control the air-to-fuel ratio. Other applications of ionic conducting ceramics are as the electrolyte phases in solid-oxide fuel cells and in sodium-sulfur batteries. 

The sodium/sulfur battery operates around 570-620 K and consists of a molten sodium anode and a liquid sulfur cathode separated by a solid P-alumina electrol5he (see Section 27.3). The cell reaction is ... 

Uses Polymerization catalyst for synthetic rubber laboratory reagent reagent in reductions waste oil/hydrocarbon refining coolant, heat transfer agent in nuclear reactors mfg. of tetraethyl and tetramethyl lead, sodium peroxide, sodium hydride for photoelectric cells in sodium lamps sodium-sulfur batteries radioactive forms in tracer studies and medicine Manuf./Distrib. Advanced Synthesis Tech. http //www.advancedsynthesis. com, Aldrich http //www.slgma-aldrlch.com, Alfa Aesar http //www.alfa.com. Assoc. Octel Co Ltd http //www. octel-corp. com, Atomergi c... 

Once the principles of operating in a molten salt environment have been grasped, suitable extrapolations or interpolations of materials requirements and cell and equipment designs can be made between different systems. In bringing a molten salt process into commercial operation, unique materials problems requiring special solutions often limit its progress, but practically never prevent it. Thus, if a desired result may not be achieved for theoretical reasons in any alternative electrolyte, because of electrochemical instability, for example, then initial development costs and difficulties become inconsequential. Such has been the case with thermal batteries, " sodium-sulfur batteries, molten fluoride nuclear reactors, and molten carbonate fuel... 

Electrochemical applications of a-BN include its use as carrier material for catalysts in fuel cells [297], as a constituent of electrodes in molten salt fuel cells [298, 299], as anticracking particles in the electrolyte for molten carbonate fuel cells [300, 301], and in seals for insulating terminals of Li/FeS batteries from the structural case [302], A BN-coated membrane is used in an electrolysis cell for the manufacture of high-purity rare earth metals from salt melts [381]. A porous boron nitride layer is applied to the upper outer surface of the electrolyte tube in sodium-sulfur batteries [303], and ceramic boron nitride separators are used in liquid fuel cells and batteries [304, 305]. Boron nitride powder may be included in the electrolyte of electrolytic capacitors for high-frequency utilization [306]. 

A new generation of batteries is under development that has distinct advantages over the traditional lead-sulfuric acid batteries both in terms of weight and energy density, and which can be adapted to road or rail transport. Most attention to date has been applied to the sodium-sulfur battery, in which liquid sodium and liquid sulfur are separated by a diaphragm of )8-alumina. The cell is operated at 300-350°C, and the cell reaction is... 

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