Friends, today in this article we will know about the merits and demerits of lead-acid battery, maintenance of acid accumulator battery. In this article, I am going to give information about all these in a very good way. So let’s get started.
Advantages and disadvantages of lead-acid batteries
Lead acid battery has the following defects-
(i) Twisting of plates – This defect is usually caused by over-charging or discharging or over-charging the battery. In this defect the plates are twisted. There is also a short circuit in the plates. To avoid this defect, the battery should be charged and immersed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
(ii) Sulphation – The battery capacity decreases due to the deposition of white colored sulphate on the plates. This defect occurs due to over charge or over discharge of the battery. This defect also occurs due to keeping the battery without charge for a long time. To keep this defect away, a little carbonate soda is added to the electrolyte or the battery has to be kept on a trickle charge.
(iii) Sedimentation – The accumulation of money in the sedimentation after falling from the plate is called sedimentation. This increases the chances of short path in the money and debt plates. The electrolyte becomes dirty to remove this defect, the electrolyte should be changed.
Short path in cells
- Short path faults are usually caused by
- Due to the hard lead sulfate active substance.
- Due to the twisting of the plates of the cells.
- Due to the deposition of sediment at the bottom of the cell.
Indications of short path cell
- Dissolves rapidly.
- The battery draws a lot of current while charging.
- When measured, the voltage of the faulty cell is slightly less than the other cells.
Substance used in lead acid battery
Three types of materials are used in each secondary accumulator cell, which are described below.
(i) Lead peroxide – It is an active substance, which contains one atom of lead and two atoms of oxygen. It is chemically denoted as PbO. The color of lead peroxide (PbO2) is dark chocolate brown. It is quite hard and brittle. It is called the plus (+) active substance.
(ii) Sponge lead – It is pure lead, occurs in concentrated or spongy condition. It is also called negative (-) active substance. The container is often sealed to prevent the electrolyte from falling. Holes are made in the vent plug for the gas to escape from the plates. Pure water is poured into the acid only by opening the vent plug.
(iii) Dilute sulfuric acid – The third active substance in the cell is electrolytic, in which both the active plates are immersed. The electrolyte that is used is a mild solution of sulfuric acid prepared by mixing three parts water and one part sulfuric acid.
The specific gravity of an electrolyte is about 1.26. It is chemically known as Dil. H is denoted by SO4. The entire assembly is sealed from above by placing the entire assembly of cells or batteries in a container made of hard rubber, glass, ebonite or other bituminous compound.
Maintenance of Lead Acid Storage Battery
- The cell should never be immersed below 1.8 volts otherwise insoluble PbSO, will form and settle on the plates in the form of ions and consequently the cell will become useless.
- The base of the electrolyte should be placed 10 to 15 mm above the plates.
- The cell must occasionally be overcharged so that the insoluble PbSO4 deposited on the plates is cleared.
- Lead acid batteries should be placed on wooden or rubber blocks.
- Battery terminals and connections must be kept free from corrosion at all times. If oxide accumulates, it should be cleaned with soda and water or with a solution of dilute ammonia.
- The terminals of the battery should be kept with Vaseline or petroleum jelly so that they are not affected by corrosion.
- Never bring flame or spark near the battery.
- The battery should never be kept in an immersed state for a long time, otherwise the insoluble crystals of PbSO4 will start to form on the plates. To make up for the lack of electrolyte in the cell, only distilled water should be added to it.
- The cell should be charged soon after it has been immersed.
- The battery should be charged and immersed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- A.D. of the electrolyte of the cell. The cell should be observed after being charged and immersed.
- If the battery is not used continuously, it should be put on trickle charging to keep it fresh. The polarity of the battery and the supply must be proper.
- The battery should generally not be overcharged.
- The temperature of the electrolyte should not rise above 50°C during charge.
- The connection must be secure on the terminal peg.
- The battery should never be charged and immersed too quickly, otherwise there is a high possibility of damage to the positive plates.
- The battery should always be charged at the proper rate.
- The battery should always be kept in a ventilated room. Must be free from dust, soil so as not to be contaminated by fumes in the acid.
what did you learn today :-
Now you must have known that maintenance of acid accumulator battery, materials used in lead acid battery, merits and demerits of lead-acid battery. You must have got the answer of all these questions very well.
I hope that you have liked the information given by me, if you have any question / suggestion in your mind, then you can tell me by commenting below, I will definitely answer your comment. If you liked this post then you can also share it with your friends and relatives.