Types of Batteries

How many different uses of batteries can you identify Batteries power flashlights, remote controls, calculators, hearing aids, portable CD players, heart pacemakers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and video cameras, to name a few. Batteries in cars and trucks provide electric energy to start the engine and power the vehicle s many electric lights, sound system, and other accessories, even when the engine is not running. 

A carbon (graphite) rod in the center of the dry cell serves as the cathode, but the reduction half-cell reaction takes place in the paste. An electrode made of a material that does not participate in the redox reaction is called an inactive electrode. The carbon rod in this type of dry cell is an inactive cathode. (Contrast this with the zinc case, which is an active anode because the zinc is oxidized.) The reduction half-cell reaction for this dry cell follows. 

Chemists know that the reduction reaction is more complex than this equation shows, but they still do not know precisely what happens in the reaction. A spacer, made of a porous material and damp from the liquid in the paste, separates the paste from the zinc anode. The spacer acts as a salt bridge to 

The smaii batteries (AA, AAA, C, and D) that power househoid appiiances and smaii eiectricai devices consist of singie eiectro-chemicai cells. The large battery of a car, however, consists of six electrochemical cells connected together. 

The so-called dry cell actually contains a moist paste in which the cathode haif-reaction takes piace. Q in the zinc-carbon dry ceii, the zinc case acts as the anode. o The aikaiine battery uses powdered zinc and is contained in a steei case. 

A battery is one or more voltaic cells in a single package that generates an electric current. There are several types of batteries with various applications. 

Zinc-carbon, alkaline, and mercury cells are primary batteries, which are not rechargeable. Batteries that are rechargeable are called secondary batteries, or storage batteries. A storage battery produces energy from a reversible redox reaction, which occurs in the opposite direction when the battery is recharged. A nickel-cadmium rechargeable battery is an example of a secondary battery. 

The difference is that the reachon in a fuel cell is controlled so that most of the chemical energy is converted to electrical energy instead of heat. Fuel cells produce electricity as long as fuel is supplied to them. 

What element is reduced in a standard automobile battery  

What term describes a battery that is not rechargeable  

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Dry-battery mercury anodes are pressed compacts of zinc—mercury amalgam. They were first developed and produced during World War II for walkie-talkie communica tion systems. Practically all hearing aids employ this type of battery in the 1990s. 

In Figure 1, the cutaway view of the automotive battery shows the components used in its constmction. An industrial motive power battery, shown in Figure 2 (2), is the type used for lift tmcks, trains, and mine haulage. Both types of batteries have the standard free electrolyte systems and operate only in the vertical position. Although a tubular positive lead—acid battery is shown for industrial appHcations, the dat plate battery constmction (Fig. 1) is also used in a comparable size. 

Two types of batteries having immobilized electroltye systems are also made. Tliey are most common m consumer appHcations, but their use m mdustrial and SLI appheations is mcreasmg. Both types hav e low maintenance requhements and usually can be operated m any position. Tliey are sometimes called valv e regulated or recombmant batteries because they are equipped with a one-way pressure rehef v ent and nomially operate m a sealed condition with an oxygen recombhiation cycle to reduce water loss. 

Batteries, both primary and secondary, have become very big business indeed, which moreover is growing rapidly. Salkind (1998) in a concise overview of the entire domain of battery types and technologies, estimates that in 1996, the world market in the two types of battery combined totalled ss 33 billion dollars, and that the ratio of secondary to primary battery sales is steadily edging upwards. In spite of its poor charge density per unit mass, the lead-acid battery still accounts for more than a quarter of the total, because it costs so much less than its rivals and lasts well. 

Numerous types of batteries are available. A comparison of batteries by cell type is shown in Table 17-1. Rechargeable batteries emit hydrogen to the atmosphere, and hence must be installed such that hydrogen does not accumulate to create an explosion hazard. Ventilation should be provided for battery compartments. 

The dry cell was invented by Leclanche in the 1860s. This type of battery was developed in the 19th century. In the 1940s, Rubel achieved significant progress in alkaline-zinc batteries, and manufactured zinc powder with high surface area to prevent zinc passivation. 

Focusing on the concept of the completely sealed system, the Sanyo Electric Co. developed sealed-type nickel-cadmium batteries in 1961. This type of battery enjoys a wide application range that is still expanding a large variety of nickel-cadmium batteries has been developed to meet user needs ranging from low-current uses like emergency power sources and semiconductor memories to high-power applications such as cordless drills. 

Figure 65 shows commercialized LiCo02-natural graphite cells and Table 18 shows the specification of these batteries. There are two types of batteries cylindrical and prismatic. The cylindrical-type battery in Fig. 65 is called 18650 because its diameter is 18 mm and its length is 65 mm. 

In redox flow batteries such as Zn/Cl2 and Zn/Br2, carbon plays a major role in the positive electrode where reactions involving Cl2 and Br2 occur. In these types of batteries, graphite is used as the bipolar separator, and a thin layer of high-surface-area carbon serves as an electrocatalyst. Two potential problems with carbon in redox flow batteries are (i) slow oxidation of carbon and (ii) intercalation of halogen molecules, particularly Br2 in graphite electrodes. The reversible redox potentials for the Cl2 and Br2 reactions [Eq. (8) and... 

The development of a rechargeable polymer battery is being pursued worldwide. Its attraction lies in the specific weight of polymers, which is considerably lower than that of ordinary inorganic materials, as well as potential environmental benefits. In principle there are three different types of battery. The active polymer electrode can be used either as cathode (cell types 1, 2), or as anode (cell type 3), or as both cathode and anode (cell type 4) (Fig. 14). As the most common polymer materials are usually only oxidizable, recent research has concentrated on developing cells with a polymer cathode and a metal anode. 

Zinc is aiso combined with copper and tin to make brass and bronze. Finally, large amounts of zinc are used to make severai types of batteries, as discussed in Chapter 19. 

Anodic chlorine evolution by electrolysis of concentrated chloride solutions is used for the large-scale industrial production of chlorine. The cathodic reaction, which is the ionization of molecular chlorine, is used in certain types of batteries. 

The maximum values of electric power and unit output of electrochemical cells vary within wide limits. The total current load admitted by individual electrolyzers for the electrochemical production of various materials in plant or pilot installations (their capacity) is between 10 A and 200 kA, while the current loads that can be sustained by different types of battery (their current ratings) are between 10 A and 20 kA. Corresponding differences exist in the linear dimensions of the electrodes (between 5 mm and 3 m) as well as in the overall mass and size of the reactors. 

Widely used parameters are the specific energy or power per unit mass (w = W/M, in Wh/kg, orp = P/M, in W/kg). In each battery type the specific energy is a falling function of specific power. Plots of w vs. p (Ragone, 1968) yield a clear illustration of the electrical performance parameters of given types of batteries and are very convenient for their comparison (see Fig. 19.4). 

A lead-acid storage battery is only one type of battery, however. Different batteries use different metals and electrolytes to make them work. For example, alkaline batteries (the ones found in flashlights, toys, and portable electronic devices) contain powdered zinc and manganese dioxide as their electrodes. They use an electrolyte made of an alkaline solution of potassium hydroxide. Most alkaline batteries have a finite amount of chemicals in them. Once the chemicals react with one another, they are used up, and the battery goes dead (is discharged) and cannot be recharged. 

The main characteristics of cylindrical AAA size metal-air batteries with PANI/TEG catalysts, as well as standard Zn-Mn02 battery have been gathered in the Table 5. Realization of all types of batteries in the same AAA size gives the possibilities for comparison of above electrochemical systems for some applications. 

In general, we believe that new types of batteries with composite PANI/TEG catalysts can find their own diapason of practical applications depending on concrete conditions of application. 

We believe that new type of conducting polymer / expanded graphite composite electrodes as gas-diffusion cathodes will find in perspective a practical application for some types of batteries and fuel cells. 

Table 2. Types of batteries with air (oxygen) electrodes and applicable electrolytes.

These types of batteries are available in button and prismatic forms. Their main application is as power sources for hearing aids. Other applications include various specialty uses in the notebook computers, electronic pagers, portable battery chargers, various medical devices, the wireless crew communicator systems [18, 19]. 

Thus, using TEG under the same conditions, the content of graphite in the different types of batteries could be reduced as far as by the factor of 4 with corresponding raise of the capacity and voltage of batteries. At this point of time, we have few examples of experimental evidence of such phenomena. 

Battery technology has developed enormously in recent years. One of the most useful types of batteries is known as the lithium battery, but there are actually several designs only one of which will be described. In one of the types, the anode is constructed of lithium or a lithium alloy hence the name. A graphite cathode is used, and the electrolyte is a solution of Li[AlCl4] in thionyl chloride. At the anode, lithium is oxidized,... 

A cell in this type of battery has electrodes made of lead and spongy lead impregnated with Pb02. Sulfuric acid is the electrolyte, and the cell voltage is approximately 2.0 V. Depending on the number of cells linked in series, the overall voltage can be 6 or 12 (the more common type of battery). 

There are several types of battery we can envisage. A majority of the batteries we meet are classed as primary batteries, i.e. a chemical reaction occurs in both compartments to produce current, but when all the chemicals have been consumed, the battery becomes useless, so we throw it away. In other words, the electrochemical reactions inside the battery are not reversible. The most common primary batteries are the Leclanche cell, as described below, and the silver-oxide battery, found inside most watches and slim-line calculators. 

What type of battery is used in pacemakers to regulate a patient s heartbeat What are some of the benefits of this battery ... 

In recent years many stalls have been equipped with batteries with manure belts. This type of battery is based on the processing of liquid manure. By removing the manure from the belts 2-3 times a week and storing it in properly closed cellars, good stall hygiene can be achieved. 

A dry cell battery stops producing electricity when the reactants are used up. This type of battery is disposable after it has run down completely. A disposable battery is known as a primary battery. Some other batteries are rechargeable. A rechargeable battery is known as a secondary battery. The rest of this section will deal with primary batteries. You will learn about secondary batteries in section 11.3. 

Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a potential fuel for industry and transport. It can be produced by electrolysis or photolysis of water, and its oxidation produces no greenhouse gases. Moreover, it is the best fuel for fuel cells, which generate electricity directly by the reversal of electrolysis. Fuel cells have been known for almost two centuries they are a type of battery in which electricity is produced by the redox reaction between H2 and O2 in solution. They offer high thermodynamic efficiencies... 

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