What is a Lead Acid Battery?
What is a Lead Acid Battery?
A lead acid battery is a rechargeable battery that uses lead and sulphuric acid to function. The lead is submerged into the sulphuric acid to allow a controlled chemical reaction.
This chemical reaction is what causes the battery to produce electricity. Then, this reaction is reversed to recharge the battery.
MATERIALS USED FOR LEAD ACID BATTERY
The primary active materials required to construct a lead acid battery are:
- Lead peroxide (PbO2): Dark brown, hard and brittle substance to form the positive plate.
- Sponge lead (Pb): The pure lead in soft sponge conditions creates the negative plate.
- Dilute sulfuric acid (H2SO4): A strong acid and a good electrolyte. It is highly ionised, and most of the heat released in dilution comes from the hydration of the hydrogen ions. It is used for the lead acid battery with a ratio of water: acid = 3:1.
HOW DOES A LEAD ACID BATTERY WORK?
The lead acid storage battery is formed by dipping the lead peroxide plate and sponge lead plate in dilute sulfuric acid. An electric current is connected externally between these plates. In diluted sulfuric acid, the acid molecules split into positive hydrogen ions (H+) and negative sulfate ions (SO4 − −). When it reaches the PbO2 plate, the hydrogen ions receive electrons from it and become hydrogen atom which again attacks PbO2 and forms PbO and H2O (water). This PbO reacts with H2 SO4 and forms PbSO4 and H2O (water).
SO4− − ions (anions) move towards the electrode (anode) connected with the positive terminal of the DC source, where they will give up their extra electrons and become radical SO4. This radical SO4 cannot exist alone; hence reacts with PbSO4 of anode and forms lead peroxide (PbO2) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4).
WHEN A BATTERY IS CHARGED
Charging is a process that reverses the electrochemical reaction. It converts the electrical energy from the charger into chemical energy in the battery. However, a battery does not store electricity; it keeps the chemical energy necessary to produce electricity.
A battery charger reverses the current flow, providing that the charger has a greater voltage than the battery. The charger creates an excess of electrons at the negative plates, and the positive hydrogen ions are attracted to them. The hydrogen reacts with the lead sulfate to form sulfuric acid and lead, and when most of the sulfate is gone, hydrogen rises from the negative plates. The oxygen in the water reacts with the lead sulfate on the positive plates to turn them again into lead dioxide, and oxygen bubbles rise from the positive plates when the reaction is almost complete. This is called gassing.
SELF-DISCHARGE
One not-so-nice feature of lead acid batteries is that they discharge all by themselves, even if not in use. A general rule of thumb is a one per cent per day self-discharge rate. This rate increases at high temperatures and decreases at colder temperatures.
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CHANGE OF ELECTROLYTE OF LEAD ACID BATTERY AFTER CHARGING AND DISCHARGING
When the lead battery is discharged, the sulfuric acid in the electrolyte decreases continuously, the water increases gradually, and the specific gravity of the solution falls.
When the lead acid battery is charged, sulfuric acid in the electrolyte keeps increasing, water gradually decreases, and the specific gravity of the solution rises.
In practical terms, the change of electrolyte specific gravity determines the charging condition of lead acid batteries. That’s why it is important to water batteries consistently, to ensure you get the most out of the batteries.
If you are looking for a watering system to monitor and water your batteries effectively, here’s a range of watering system products such as SMART BLINKY™ and AQUA FILLING SYSTEMTM. For more information about our watering systems, get in touch!
History Of The Lead Acid Battery
Brief history of lead-acid Battery
The lead-acid battery is a type of rechargeable battery which was invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté. It was the first type of rechargeable battery ever created.
In Comparison with modern rechargeable batteries, lead-acid batteries have lower energy density, but the ability to supply high rate of current makes this kind of battery-efficient enough as starter. In addition, its low cost makes it customer friendly for use in vehicles to provide the high current required to start the motor.
The French scientist Nicolas Gautherot observed in 1801 that wires that had been used for electrolysis experiments would themselves provide a small amount of “secondary” current after the main battery had been disconnected. In 1859, Gaston Planté‘s lead-acid battery was the first battery that could be recharged by passing a reverse current through it. Planté’s first model consisted of two lead sheets separated by rubber strips and rolled into a spiral. His batteries were first used to power the lights in train carriages while stopped at a station. In 1881, Camille Alphonse Faure invented an improved version that consisted of a lead grid lattice, into which a lead oxide paste was pressed, forming a plate. This design was easier to mass-produce. An early manufacturer (from 1886) of lead-acid batteries was Henri Tudor.
Gel electrolyte battery was first created in 1930s for being used in any position. In the 1970s, the valve-regulated lead-acid battery (VRLA) was developed to introduce absorbed glass mat (AGM) type.
Surprisingly, lead-acid car battery hasn’t been changed much since the first innovation. The recuperation of grids, new additives, also modified technology to produce thinner plates with more corrosion resistance, are what can be submitted as progression in a lead-acid battery.
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