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Q1. Tell me a bit more about rechargeable batteries, how are they different from primary or throwaway batteries?
Q2. Why should I buy NiMH rechargeable batteries?
Q3. What are the primary advantages of NiMH batteries over Alkaline or other rechargeable batteries?
Q4. What does battery &#;mAh&#; capacity mean?
Q5. How environmentally friendly are NiMH rechargeable batteries?
Q6. How long can a rechargeable battery last over its life?
Q1. Tell me a bit more about rechargeable batteries, how are they different from primary or throwaway batteries?
Rechargeable batteries are of the same sizes (AA, AAA, C, D, Sc and 9V) and are intended for everyday use are the throwaway or primary batteries people use. The advantage of rechargeable batteries is that they can be recharged and reused up to a thousand times and generally they greatly outperform standard everyday throwaway leading brand batteries. The fact that rechargeable batteries can be used again and again represents a massive saving over their useful life. Rechargeable NiMH batteries are also very popular simply due to the fact that they are extremely environmentally friendly. Once charged, these rechargeable batteries can be used in the same way as you would with your previously throwaway batteries of the same size.
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Q2. Why should I buy NiMH rechargeable batteries?
Better performance in driving electronics and huge money saving are the two major reasons to buy NiMH (Nickel metal Hydride) rechargeable batteries. They can be charged up to 500- times and last longer than alkaline or NiCd batteries. NiMH batteries are ideally compatible with most consumer devices such as digital cameras, game boys, CD players, RC vehicles, PDA&#;s, portable two-way radios, flash units and many more high drain devices. One set of relatively inexpensive NiMH rechargeable batteries can save you from buying thousands if throwaway alkaline batteries.
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Q3. What are the primary advantages of NiMH batteries over Alkaline or other rechargeable batteries?
NiMH Batteries Have the Following Advantages :
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Q4. What does battery &#;mAh&#; capacity mean?
The mAh capacity rating refers to the storage capacity available for a particular battery. A battery with a capacity rating of mAh could deliver a current of mA for one hour. Higher mAh ratings for the same battery type will generally mean longer run times. This does not apply when comparing different types of batteries. This means that you may not be able to predict how long your electronic device will run just by looking at the capacity rating of a battery. When powering high drain electronic devices like digital cameras, computer peripherals, or portable music players, an alkaline battery will only deliver a small fraction of its rated capacity. For example AA alkaline batteries typically have a capacity rating of over 2,500 mAh and AA NiMH batteries have rated capacities of only 1,200 to 2,000 mAh. But when it comes to actually powering an electronic device like a digital camera, the NiMH batteries will often run the device for three or four times a long. Even comparing the capacity ratings of similar types of batteries won&#;t often work since different manufacturers can measure battery capacity in slightly different ways. A NiMH or NiCd battery is likely to deliver much closer to its rated capacity when it&#;s powering high drain devices. Alkaline batteries have a high rated capacity, but they can only deliver their full capacity if the power is used slowly. This means that a NiMH battery with a rated capacity of mAh can take many more photos than an alkaline battery with a rated capacity of 2,800.
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Q5. How environmentally friendly are NiMH rechargeable batteries?
Rechargeable batteries have the greenest environmental credentials. Using rechargeable batteries reduces household waste massively. Globally, 15 billion ordinary batteries are thrown away every year, all of which end up in landfill sites. Rechargeable batteries can be reused again and again which significantly reduces the impact disposable batteries have on the environment.
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Q6. How long can a rechargeable battery last over its life?
Let's say you are currently using ordinary throwaway batteries for your portable CD player and you replace the batteries once a week. For simplicity, let&#;s say there are 52 weeks in a year. You can recharge your NiMH rechargeable batteries 500 times.So the NiMH rechargeable battery can last 500 recharges / 50 weeks = 10 years. That means you could still be using the same batteries you buy today in 10 years time! Chances are that once you get into rechargeable batteries you will never use a throwaway again.
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Jul 22,
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Lithium-ion batteries are a growing new technology in the industry, especially as the discussion of energy sources continues to be a hot topic worldwide. Existing energy sources (e.g., fossil fuels) are being called for replacement with alternative energy sources (e.g., wind, solar, nuclear) to power the world and economies. Lithium-ion batteries offer the potential for both power and energy storage but also have their own consequences too. Batteries are typically within the electrical engineering realm, but there is always some overlap in the engineering industry, so I would recommend all engineers become familiar with battery technology, regardless of their discipline background.
1. How Do Batteries Store Energy?
Batteries store electricity in a chemical form within a closed system (already you can see the overlap with chemical engineering and thermodynamics!). Some are hopeful that advances in battery technology can solve the energy crisis, and we have already advanced beyond the typical battery use as a power source in small appliances. Devices such as accumulators can store energy for future use, and battery capacity is the quantity of energy storage. Temperature influences battery capacity, with batteries at higher temperatures possessing better capacity than batteries at lower temperatures; however, extremely high temperatures can cause battery damage and undesirable reactivity (e.g., thermal runaway). Lithium-ion batteries have the danger of catching fire and undergoing thermal runaway themselves.
2. What Is Lithium and Why Is It Used in Batteries?
Lithium is the lightest of all metals and has the greatest electrochemical potential, but it can be explosive. In the periodic table (FE Reference Handbook, v 10.0.1, p. 88), lithium is a group 1 alkali metal (e.g., sodium, potassium) and has characteristics of being highly reactive with high energy density. Although lithium itself is unstable (group 1 metals are very reactive), the lithium-ion is more stable (but has a lower energy density). The lithium-ion battery was first introduced in by the Sony Corporation, and other manufacturers have since sought to commercialize the battery. Graphite and lithium-cobalt oxide are used as electrodes; lithium ions transfer between the anode and cathode. Lithium-ion cells are secondary (rechargeable) cells, so the recharging converts electrical energy back into chemical energy.
3. Why Are Batteries Disposable?
Primary batteries are disposable because the electrochemical reaction cannot be reversed; chemical energy is converted into electrical energy only. Primary cells cannot be recharged; when the cell reaction reaches equilibrium, products migrate away from the electrodes and are consumed by side reactions occurring in the cell. But secondary batteries are rechargeable because the electrochemical reaction can be reversed so voltage can be applied to the battery in the opposite direction of discharge. The electron discharge direction (originally negative to positive) is reversed, restoring power. Rechargeable batteries are often recyclable, including lithium-ion batteries. Oxidized lithium is non-toxic; it can be extracted from a battery and used as feedstock for new lithium-ion batteries.
4. What Is Battery Energy Density?
Lithium-ion batteries offer high energy density and high voltage, along with strong current to power complex mechanical devices. Battery energy density is the amount of energy a battery contains for its given weight and size. These batteries also have good longevity; their shelf-life is only 5% discharge per month. The longevity is an important factor since lithium-ion batteries do not lose their features rapidly. They can be stored and transported for long periods and still maintain their qualities. Battery weight and size is generally a limiting factor for developing electronic devices; you have probably seen it in everyday life with television remotes and other handhelds. Many of these device designs are dictated by the battery design since the battery is their power source after all.
5. How Can We Improve Batteries?
Lithium-ion batteries are also compatible with nanoscale materials, creating more possibilities for their potential (did you like the pun?). Electrodes can be optimized by designing their structures on the nanoscale level. With nanoscale technology, objects can be manufactured at the atomic and molecular level. And since nanoparticles have little volume expansion, this improves the rechargeable reversibility of lithium-ion batteries. Lithium diffusion rates are slow, so the battery can continue the reversibility cycle without losing much charge. Carbon nanotubes can serve as a potential electrode for lithium-ion batteries. Carbon can be anodic with its unique structural and mechanical properties. Remember that oxidation occurs at the anode, and reduction happens at the cathode. The anode is the positive side where the electricity moves into by attracting electrons.
6. What Are Some Commercial Applications of Batteries?
Nanotech and lithium-ion batteries can be commercialized; this combination can provide lighter, more powerful batteries that can increase user mobility and equipment life. This is the best of both worlds since you have the very small nanoscale but with high energy density. Another commercial application is that lithium-ion batteries can coexist with other renewable technologies. Because they are light, can recharge quickly, and hold charge for a long while, they have the design flexibility to be used with wind and solar generators. The lightness and power volume enable storage flexibility too.
7. What Are Some Disadvantages of Batteries?
While lithium-ion batteries can be an advantageous technology, they do have their disadvantages. Lithium-ion batteries are expensive, and the battery temperatures are delicate, so they are subject to regulations. Vibration, shock, and forced discharge can all cause undesirable battery defects, so lithium-ion batteries must follow shipment and transportation regulations. Lithium-ion batteries contain corrosive and flammable electrolytes and are considered a hazardous material by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, lithium-ion batteries must be disposed in separate recycling and waste collection points.
8. How Can You Safely Store Batteries?
The batteries also require high capacity and high operating voltage to function properly. Storage installations in the United States have demonstrated concerns over battery safety. In April , the McMicken event was one such example. Arizona Public Service (APS) is the largest electric utility in Arizona, and the company had invested heavily in batteries for energy storage projects. A grid battery fire occurred near Phoenix due to a lithium-ion battery defect; this led to an explosion that triggered a chain reaction, releasing explosive gases. While lithium-ion batteries possess good longevity, the batteries can still degrade over time, losing their shelf life. Degradation can cause a short circuit, heating up the batteries, and triggering thermal runaway.
9. What Is Thermal Runaway?
Thermal runaway is a form of uncontrollable combustion, releasing heat as an exothermic reaction. First responders were injured due to the reaction, but fortunately, the storage facility was relatively remote, so the battery accident did not result in a catastrophic loss of human life. Still, this incident delayed future battery projects for APS and discouraged confidence in pursuing lithium-ion battery technology. The primary disadvantage with lithium-ion batteries is safety concerns and rightfully so, as safety should always be first priority in the engineering industry. Thermal runaway can rapidly increase its severity causing devastating fires and explosions. Heat released speeds up the reaction which causes more heat release that can eventually lead to scorched earth, property damage, and fatalities.
10. What Happens When You Link Battery Cells?
Linking battery cells increases system energy capacity but also increases failure probability. Heat dissipation is also more difficult on larger-scale systems. There are few simulation tools that can accurately predict the probability of battery failure or degradation; testing must be conducted to achieve reasonable estimates. For lithium-ion batteries to become a mainstay of commercial energy storage, there must be improved guaranteed safety measures designed into large-scale systems. This is the trade-off; battery chemistry can produce high energy storage, but the same chemistry produces high reactivity. The key challenge is designing battery systems that can maximize energy storage but minimize reactivity; if this were achievable, you would have a truly superior battery.
Conclusion
Lithium battery technology is an exciting and growing field; there are many new challenges and opportunities ahead. Oftentimes more research and learning will lead to more questions that require further research for resolutions. For example, lithium-air batteries have recently been investigated by scientists and supposedly have a very high energy density, even greater than lithium-ion batteries. Be sure to check with School of PE for more technological and industry news, as there may be a succeeding blog post about lithium-air batteries!
Are you feeling "charged" about batteries and their importance in our daily lives? Engineers are integral in innovating and improving battery technology-if you are interested in becoming a professional engineer, a partnership with School of PE is just what you need to get started on the right track. Our subject-matter expert instructors and comprehensive materials will help you succeed on exam day! Register now for a course.
About the Author:Gregory Nicosia
Gregory Nicosia, PE is an engineer who has been practicing in the industry for eight years. His background includes natural gas, utilities, mechanical, and civil engineering. He earned his chemical engineering undergraduate degree at Drexel University () and master's in business administration (MBA) from Penn State Harrisburg (). He received his EIT designation in and PE license in . Mr. Nicosia firmly believes in continuing to grow his skillset to become a more well-rounded engineer and adapt to an ever-changing world.
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