Storing electricity

A battery is a device that can store energy in a chemical form and convert that stored chemical energy into electrical energy when needed. There are no batteries that actually store electrical energy; all batteries store energy in some other form. There are two fundamental types of chemical storage batteries: the rechargeable, or secondary cell, and the non-rechargeable, or primary cell. In terms of storing energy or discharging electricity, they are similar, it is simply a question of whether or not the chemical processes involved permit multiple charging and discharging. The chemical reaction at the anode releases electrons and the reaction at the cathode absorbs them. When the electrical path provided by the electrolyte and an external electrical circuit connects the anode and cathode, the two simultaneous reactions proceed and the electrons freed at the anode travel through the external electrical connection and react chemically at the cathode to make the cell function.







A cathode is the electrode from which a conventional current leaves a polarized electrical device. An anode is an electrode through which electric current flows into a polarized electrical device. An electrolyte is a substance that ionizes when dissolved in suitable ionizing solvents. When electrodes are placed in an electrolyte and a voltage is applied, the electrolyte will conduct electricity. Lone electrons normally cannot pass through the electrolyte; instead, a chemical reaction occurs at the cathode, consuming electrons from the anode.

Lead acid batteries



Manufacturers of lead acid batteries


Exide Technologies has operations in more than 80 countries.


EnerSys operates over twenty manufacturing and assembly plants in Europe, North America and Asia. EnerSys also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers from over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. 

South Africa
  • First National Battery is the leading lead acid battery manufacturer in South Africa, producing over 2.2 million batteries a year. Their batteries are used in more than 40 countries and the products cover various industries and applications ranging from mining, railway and renewable energy to surface traction, telecommunications and automotive (including industrial, commercial and passenger vehicles). First National Battery manufactures and distributes the industry-leading Raylite and Exide lead acid batteries. Batteries produced by First National Battery are the first choice among South African Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) including Mercedes Benz, Toyota, Nissan, GM SA, BMW, Volkswagen SA, Renault, Ford, Nissan Diesel and MAN.
Dry cell batteries


1. Brass cap

 2. Plastic seal
 3. Expansion space
            
 4. Porous cardboard

 5. Zinc can


  6. Carbon rod


  7. Chemical mixture.







A standard dry cell comprises a zinc anode, usually in the form of a cylindrical pot, with a carbon cathode in the form of a central rod. The electrolyte is ammonium chloride in the form of a paste next to the zinc anode. The remaining space between the electrolyte and carbon cathode is taken up by a second paste consisting of ammonium chloride and manganese dioxide, the latter acting as a depolariser. In some designs, the ammonium chloride is replaced by zinc chloride. Alkaline batteries are dependent upon the reaction between zinc and manganese dioxide. A rechargeable alkaline battery allows reuse of specially designed cells. Compared with zinc-carbon batteries of the zinc chloride types, alkaline batteries have a higher energy density and longer shelf-life, with the same voltage. Button cell silver-oxide batteries have higher energy density and capacity but also have a higher cost than similar-size alkaline cells.
The alkaline battery gets its name because it has an alkaline electrolyte of potassium hydroxide, instead of the acidic ammonium chloride or zinc chloride –manganese dioxide combination).A dry cell uses a paste electrolyte, with only enough moisture to allow current to flow. Unlike a wet cell, a dry cell can operate in any orientation without spilling, as it contains no free liquid. A common dry cell is the zinc–carbon battery with a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts, the same as the alkaline battery (since both use the same zinc electrolyte of the zinc-carbon batteries. Other battery systems also use alkaline electrolytes, but they use different active materials for the electrodes.
Lithium batteries are batteries that have lithium metal or lithium compounds as a anode. They stand apart from other batteries in their high charge density (long life) and high cost per unit. Depending on the design and chemical compounds used, lithium cells can produce voltages from 1.5 V (comparable to a zinc–carbon or alkaline battery) to about 3.7 V. By comparison, lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries in which lithium ions move between the anode and the cathode, using an intercalated lithium compound as the electrode material instead of the metallic lithium used in lithium batteries.

South Africa
  • Eveready produces alkaline, lithium, zinc round cells , zinc layer cells and rechargeable cells under the brand names Eveready and Ecocell .


Lithium-ion battery





A Lithium-ion battery (sometimes Li-ion battery or LIB) is a member of a family of rechargeable battery types in which lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharge and back when charging. Handheld electronics mostly use LIBs based on lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), which offers high energy density, but presents safety risks, especially when damaged. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium manganese oxide (LMO) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) offer lower energy density, but longer lives and inherent safety. According to Frost & Sullivan, a leading growth-consulting firm, the global market of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries is projected to be worth US$23.4 billion in 2016.

  • In June 2015, 24M Technologies Inc claimed that they will reduce Li-ion battery costs to 50% of today’s costs with their semi-solid lithium ion battery and that it could also fundamentally change the entire cost structure of the industry. Lithium-ion battery cells typically use graphite for the anode. Manufacturers have looked into the benefit of using silicon for the anode because silicon can hold a lot more lithium ions.
  • Researchers at MIT and Samsung, and in California and Maryland, have developed a new approach to one of the three basic components of batteries, the electrolyte. The new findings are based on the idea that a solid electrolyte, rather than the liquid used in today’s most common rechargeables, could greatly improve both device lifetime and safety — while providing a significant boost in the amount of power stored in a given space.

  • Scientists at Nanyang Technology University (NTU) have developed ultra-fast charging batteries that can be recharged up to 70 per cent in only two minutes. The new generation batteries also have a long lifespan of over 20 years, more than 10 times compared to existing lithium-ion batteries. In the new NTU-developed battery, the traditional graphite used for the anode (negative pole) in lithium-ion batteries is replaced with a new gel material made from titanium dioxide.


Manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries
A123 Systems, LLC develops and manufactures advanced Nanophosphate® lithium iron phosphate batteries ( at the cell, module and system level,) and energy storage systems (ESS). A123 Systems' head quarter is in Livonia, Michigan and employs more than 2,000 people worldwide. A123 has more than 1 million square feet of manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe and North America.

Altairnano is the first company to replace traditional graphite materials used in conventional lithium-ion batteries with a proprietary, nanostructured lithium-titanate. PowerRack is a complete industrial battery system for commercial use and fully scalable to 40 modules 

Johnson Matthey Battery Systems (formerly Axeon) is Europe’s largest independent Lithium-ion battery systems supplier, processing over 70 million cells a year and supplying volume production of batteries for global markets. The UK operation focuses on the design and manufacture of large-scale high voltage automotive grade battery systems for Electric and Hybrid Electric vehicles and batteries for mobile power products. In Poland they design and manufacture high performance battery packs for the professional cordless power tools and electric bike markets.
BYD Company Limited (BYD) is a listed company on Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange, specialized in IT, automobile and new energy industries. BYD has nearly 180,000 employees and 12 industrial parks located in Shenzhen, Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Changsha and other cities across China with an area over 15,000,000 square meters. BYD has formed a global network including branches or offices in United States, Europe, Japan, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, etc.
Electrovaya designs, develops and manufactures proprietary Lithium Ion SuperPolymer® 2.0 batteries, battery systems, and battery-related products for the transportation, grid power, consumer and healthcare markets. 
LG Chem produces cathode materials, electrolytes, and separators which are core materials of rechargeable batteries. In addition to mobile batteries used in various IT devices, they are also producing mid to large battery materials for electric cars and energy storage systems.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has concluded an agreement with Delta Electronics, Inc., a leading manufacturer of electronic devices in Taiwan, under which MHI will sell Delta its business assets, including machinery, in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. As a result MHI will shift its management resources into operations in energy storage system (ESS) products employing lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.
Development, manufacturing and sales of NiMH batteries for PEV/HEV; lithium-ion batteries and BMS (Battery Management System)
Powerwall comes in 10 kWh weekly cycle and 7 kWh daily cycle models. Both are guaranteed for ten years and are sufficient to power most homes during peak evening hours. Multiple batteries may be installed together for homes with greater energy need, up to 90 kWh total for the 10 kWh battery and 63 kWh total for the 7 kWh battery.
Tesla's Gigafactory will eventually have an annual production capacity of 35,000,000 kWh, or 35 GWh.

For home use a 2.5 kWh capacity unit with a maximum of 8 modules. They also manufacture units for commercial and industrial companies.
Produces a semi-solid lithium-ion battery that speeds up production and reduces lithium-ion battery costs by 50%.

  • StoreDot 
    StoreDot's FlashBattery technology relies on "nanodots", which are comprised of bio-organic peptides whose raw materials are abundant in nature and also self-assemble, making for a more affordable product. These form the basis of a multi-function electrode that allows for supercapacitor-like rapid charging, with a slow discharge more like a lithium-ion battery. The concept still includes lithium components in the cathode, but the company claims that its modified anode and cathode and a proprietary electrolyte and separator are responsible for the incredible recharge speeds.



Graphene and batteries

Graphene can make batteries that are light, durable and suitable for high capacity energy storage, as well as shorten charging times. It will extend the battery’s life-time, which is negatively linked to the amount of carbon that is coated on the material or added to electrodes to achieve conductivity, and graphene adds conductivity without requiring the amounts of carbon that are used in conventional batteries. Graphene can improve such battery attributes as energy density and form in various ways. Li-ion batteries can be enhanced by introducing graphene to the battery’s anode and capitalizing on the material’s conductivity and large surface area traits to achieve morphological optimization and performance.

Commercial Graphene-enhanced battery products 


Electric vehicle batteries



An electric vehicle battery (EVB) or traction battery is a battery used to power the propulsion of a battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Rechargeable batteries are usually the most expensive component of BEVs, being about half the retail cost of the car. Since the late 1990s, advances in battery technologies have been driven by demand for laptop computers and mobile phones, with consumer demand for more features, larger, brighter displays, and longer battery time driving research and development in the field. The BEV marketplace has reaped the benefits of these advances, but costs remain too high and, along with limited range, provide a key barrier to the use of rechargeable batteries in electric vehicles. The cost of electric vehicle batteries has been reduced by more than 35% since 2008. Rechargeable traction batteries are routinely used all day, and fast–charged all night. Forklifts, for instance, are usually discharged and recharged every 24 hours of the work week. The predicted market for automobile traction batteries is over $37 billion in 2020.
On an energy basis, the price of electricity to run an EV is a small fraction of the cost of liquid fuel needed to produce an equivalent amount of energy (energy efficiency). The cost of replacing the batteries dominates the operating costs.

Vehicle
Battery
Chevy Volt
16.5 kWh
Nissan Leaf
24 kWh
Chevy Bolt
60 kWh
Tesla Model S
70 kWh / 85 kWh


Liquid metal batteries
Initially based on magnesium and antimony as the negative and positive electrodes, respectively, and a low cost molten salt electrolyte, but transitioned to using a higher voltage and lower cost chemistry. All three active components are in liquid form when the battery operates. The two liquid electrodes are separated by a molten salt electrolyte, and these liquid layers float on top of each other based on density differences and immiscibility. The system operates at elevated temperature maintained by self-heating during charging and discharging. The result is a low-cost and long lifespan storage system.



Vanadium redox Flow Batteries

Connventional technologies for the chemical storage of electricity (e.g. electrolyzer, methanation, fuel cells) show a relatively low efficiency. Redox Flow Batteries (RFB), however, show a DC-efficiency of up to 80% – depending on the system and consideration – which is within the range of efficiencies of conventional secondary batteries (lithium-ion, lead or nickel-metal-hydride batteries). In contrast to conventional battery systems in which power and storage capacity are interrelated, Redox Flow Batteries have the ability to scale power and storage capacity independently of each other. Basically the RFB can cover a storage requirement of several hours to a few days.





Capacitor storage


A capacitor (originally known as a condenser) is a passive two-terminal electrical component used to store energy electrostatically in an electric field. The forms of practical capacitors vary widely, but all contain at least two electrical conductors (plates) separated by a dielectric (i.e. insulator). A capacitor can store electric energy when disconnected from its charging circuit, so it can be used like a temporary battery, or like other types of rechargeable energy storage system. Capacitors are commonly used in electronic devices to maintain power supply while batteries are being changed. Conventional capacitors provide less than 360 joules per kilogram of energy density, whereas a conventional alkaline battery has a density of 590 kJ/kg. In car audio systems, large capacitors store energy for the amplifier to use on demand.

Flywheel energy storage 


Flywheel energy storage (FES) works by accelerating a rotor (flywheel) to a very high speed and maintaining the energy in the system as rotational energy. When energy is extracted from the system, the flywheel's rotational speed is reduced as a consequence of the principle of conservation of energy; adding energy to the system correspondingly results in an increase in the speed of the flywheel. Most FES systems use electricity to accelerate and decelerate the flywheel, but devices that directly use mechanical energy are being developed. Since FES can be used to absorb or release electrical energy such devices may sometimes be incorrectly and confusingly described as either mechanical or inertia batteries.

Advanced FES systems have rotors made of high strength carbon fiber composites, suspended by magnetic bearings, and spinning at speeds from 20,000 to over 50,000 rpm in a vacuum enclosure. Such flywheels can come up to speed in a matter of minutes – reaching their energy capacity much more quickly than some other forms of storage.


Uninterruptible power supply


An uninterruptible power supply, also uninterruptible power source, (UPS) or battery/flywheel backup, is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source, typically mains power, fails. A UPS differs from an auxiliary or emergency power system or standby generator in that it will provide near-instantaneous protection from input power interruptions, by supplying energy stored in batteries, supercapacitors, or flywheels. The on-battery runtime of most uninterruptible power sources is relatively short (only a few minutes) but sufficient to start a standby power source or properly shut down the protected equipment.
An UPS is typically used to protect hardware such as computers, data centers, telecommunication equipment or other electrical equipment where an unexpected power disruption could cause injuries, fatalities, serious business disruption or data loss. UPS units range in size from units designed to protect a single computer without a video monitor (around 200 volt-ampere rating) to large units powering entire data centers or buildings. The world's largest UPS, the 46-megawatt Battery Electric Storage System (BESS), in Fairbanks, Alaska, powers the entire city a

Using nature to grow batteries


No comments:

Post a Comment