[RE-wrenches] discharging Rolls batteries
Bruce Geddes
bruce.g at ruralinzone.net
Sat Jan 16 01:58:15 PST 2010
Re: [RE-wrenches] discharging Rolls batteriesHi Hugh.
Positive electrode: PbO2 + 3H +HSO4 + 2e = PbSO4 + 2H2O (e= electron)
Negative electrode: Pb + HSO4 = PbSO4 + H +2e
Sorry, I can't insert the superscript symbols to show electrical charge. If it is confusing let me know and I will repost this with the charge in brackets following the ion.
In cold conditions the ion transfer rate slows so in effect the internal resistance of the cell rises. It simply can't deliver the electrons under load. If the electrons are taken out at a reduced rate then the Vdrop of the "internal resistance" is lowered and the cell terminal voltage stays up for longer.
So, to use your analogy of the bank, in cold weather the money counters operate more slowly and if the temperature rises they return to normal speed. The money is still there, it is just the rate at which it comes out that varies. In cold weather the counters simply won't deliver as much before they say "my fingers are too cold, that's all you get today!"
Bruce Geddes
PowerOn
----- Original Message -----
From: Hugh
To: RE-wrenches
Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2010 12:25 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] discharging Rolls batteries
hi
We know that batteries deliver less amphours at low temperature and at high currents. Volts drop quicker. That's my starting point. My question that I still do not hear an answer to is this:
If the battery is a bank account and its harder to get the money out in cold weather and when you want to get your hands on a lot at once... Does this actually mean that some of the money gets lost? What happens to it? Is it perhaps available later when the bank warms up or the demand gets less hectic? Is there really less money in there or does it just seem like less due to the conditions?
I notice that Ah capacity is actually defined as how much Amphours you can get out before the battery reaches a certain terminal voltage. I am wondering whether it is the ability to maintain voltage that is the limiting factor whereas the chemicals in there can still deliver amphours, given the right temperature and time later. You can certainly see recovery take place when a battery warms up and/or operates on lighter loads.
One last time what happens to the chemicals (lead and lead oxide) that represent Amphours of charge in the battery plates? For me this is a little bit like current of 10 amps entering one end of a piece of wire and only 9 amps coming out the other end. I understand that the volts go down due to voltage drop (in this analogy) but loss of current is entirely a different matter.
Thanks for any help with this rather obscure question.
Hugh
A lead-acid battery is an electro-chemical processor (just like you and other living things). When you and your battery are cold or hot, performance changes because the chemical process is affected by temperature. Cold equals sluggish chemical reaction, reduces the capacity to perform work, and affects battery performance linearly. Battery chemistry is well understood. When I get some time, I'll google for temperature-based formulas and charts unless someone else posts the links first.
----- Original Message -----
From: Hugh
To: RE-wrenches
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2010 12:02 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] discharging Rolls batteries
Hi Jamie,
Remember, as batteries cool actual capacity is reduced, so if 200AH is 50% @ 25C it is significantly more than 50% @ 5C. Thus, you are discharging more deeply.
But earlier you put it this way:
Regarding temperature effects on capacity, earlier responses are spot on as the lower capacity is totally as a result of slower reaction times as a result of lower temperatures.
There is an issue here that I need to understand better. You state that a battery has lower capacity in low temperatures. Suppose you take a fully charged, 400 Ah battery and cool it down to -5 degrees C where according to our numbers it will only have 80% of its nominal capacity. You then remove 160 Ah (say 10 amps for 16 hours). It will then be 50% discharged. Now warm it up again to 20 degrees or whatever. My question is: will you only have 200 amphours left in it now? And if so, what happened to the other 40 amphours? Does low temperature operation actually lose amphours, or is it just more sluggish? What is the chemical explanation for the lost amphours?
I understand batteries as a chemical process of converting amphours into chemical changes. I assume that a given amount of electrical charge converts a given amount of lead into lead sulphate (and likewise) back again. I understand that cooling will make this process less efficient and thereby result in a rise in charging voltage and a drop in discharging voltage. But does a low temperature actually mean that a given amount of lead being converted to sulphate actually give you less amphours electrically?
(I have similar questions in relation to Peukert's equation where high discharge rates impact on the amphour capacity. The capacity apparently 'recovers' when the discharge rate is reduced. To what extent is the capacity actually lost by using high discharge rates and to what extent is it just a voltage effect that impacts on the terminal voltage, rather than the actual chemical state of the battery?)
I hope you can follow my descriptions.
--
Hugh Piggott
Scoraig Wind Electric
Scotland
http://www.scoraigwind.co.uk
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Hugh Piggott
Scoraig Wind Electric
Scotland
http://www.scoraigwind.co.uk
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