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Will secondary batteries replace primaries?
(BU50)
Consumer market put aside, the largest users of primary (non-rechargeable)
batteries are the military, specialty emergency services and forest
fire fighters. High energy density, long storage and operational
readiness are among their strong attributes. No charging and priming
is required before use. Logistic is simple and battery power can
be made available at remote locations that are unmanned and have
no electrical power. Disposal is easy because most primary cells
contain little toxic materials.
Primary
batteries have the highest energy density. Although the secondary (rechargeable)
batteries have improved, a regular household alkaline provides 50% more power
than lithium-ion, one of the highest energy-dense secondary batteries. The primary
lithium battery used in cameras holds more than three times the energy of a lithium-ion
battery of same size.
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Figure
1: Energy comparison of rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries. |
The negative on the primary batteries is its relative high internal
resistance, which inhibits current flow. High internal resistance
has little affect when powering low-current devices such as a TV
remote control or a kitchen clock. The problem arises with digital
cameras and other power-hungry devices. A power drill on an alkaline
would be unthinkable. The voltage would imply collapse.
The comparison of the energy densities was done in an unfair way.
Whereas most secondary batteries are rated at a 1C discharge, the
alkaline was discharged at only 25mA to 0.8 volts. We now take the
same batteries and run them under a load. The yellow bars in Figure
2 represent the usable energy if the batteries were used in such
a device as a digital camera.
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Figure
2: Energy comparison under load. The alkaline works
well for a kitchen clock but fails on a digital camera. |
Capacity rating of alkaline cells
With moderate load, the energy density of alkaline batteries is
very high. Figure 3 illustrates the rated capacities of the AAA,
AA, C, D cells and the 9V pack. Note that these batteries only deliver
the specified mAh if discharged through a high resistive load typical
of portable entertainment devices.
Battery
type
|
Nominal
Voltage
|
Rated
Capacity* mAh
|
Voltage
cut-off
|
Rated
Load
|
9V
|
9
volts
|
570
|
4.8
volts
|
620
Ohm
|
AAA
|
1.5
volts
|
1,150
|
0.8
volts
|
75
Ohm
|
AA
|
1.5
volts
|
2,870
|
0.8
volts
|
75
Ohm
|
C
|
1.5
volts
|
7,800
|
0.8
volts
|
39
Ohm
|
D
|
1.5
volts
|
17,000
|
0.8
volts
|
39
Ohm
|
Figure 3: Industrial Alkaline Battery specifications (Courtesy
of Panasonic).
* The mAh ratings are for reference only. The actual
ratings may vary depending on discharge rate
Run-time estimation
The most distinct limitation of the primary battery is its one-time
use. Because of this, the cost of power is about 30 times higher
than that of rechargeables. The pricing becomes even more excessive
if the packs are replaced after each mission, regardless of length.
A general of the US Army said that half of the batteries discarded
still have 50% energy left. Throwing away partially used batteries
is widespread. Keeping track of these packs in the military and
public sector is time-consuming and awkward. It is much simpler
to issue fresh packs before each activity.
It is possible to read the state-of-charge of primary batteries.
The most basic method is measuring the open terminal voltage but
the result is inaccurate. The increase in internal resistance with
lower state-of-charge adds to run-time estimations. A better method
is counting the out-flowing energy units, also known as coulombs.
This requires a circuit and a display unit on the battery. Due to
high cost and inherent inaccuracies, especially during pulsed loading,
this method is seldom used on primary batteries. A more accurate
state-of-charge measurement is possible with a rapid-test instrument
that examines the chemical integrity of the battery. The test is
non-invasive and takes only a few seconds to complete
The switch to secondary batteries
During the last ten years, armies and emergency response teams have
gradually been switching to rechargeable batteries. Improvements
in battery technology, better charge methods and more readily available
power sources made this possible. The most important single reason,
however, is cost.
In the
US Army, rechargeable batteries are being used predominately for
training. Officials are now exploring their suitability for combat
missions. Rechargeables have advantages that go beyond cost issues.
For one, the batteries can be re-used and do not burden the supply
channels. In the absence of electric power, charging can be done
through solar power, windmills and hand-crank generators. Even kinetic
power is being explored in which an electric generator is built
in the sole of the soldier's boot. Rechargeable batteries are able
to providing power when no supply of fresh batteries is possible.
Another advantage of secondary batteries is low internal resistance.
This allows high current on demand, an attribute that is essential
for digital devices and instruments needing high inrush currents.
Power tools, for example, could not be run effectively on alkaline
batteries.
But rechargeable batteries have their limitations. Beside marginal
energy density, secondary batteries have a defined shelf life and
lose the ability to hold charge as they age. Similar to a spring
under tension, a secondary battery seeks to revert back to its lowest
denominator.
Battery aging is subject to cycling, storage temperature and state-of-charge.
While a primary battery has a shelf life of 10 years, lithium-based
batteries are good for 2-3 years in normal use. Cool storage at
a 40% charge level prolongs longevity. Nickel-based batteries are
good for 5 years and longer but require priming to regain performance
after long storage.
Another negative of rechargeable batteries is the high self-discharge.
nickel-based batteries exhibit a 10-20% self-discharge per month.
This compares with 5-10% for lithium and lead-based batteries. The
self-discharge increases at higher temperatures. For this reason,
secondary batteries are not an effective media for long-term energy
storage; primary batteries are better suited. A secondary battery
can never be removed too far from the charger. It needs to be fed
before each activity.
Secondary batteries have a limited cycle count. The number of cycles
achieved is based on the depth of discharge, environmental conditions,
charge methods and maintenance procedures. Each battery chemistry
behaves differently in terms of aging and wear.
Secondary batteries need some level of battery maintenance. Only
if periodically discharged do nickel-based batteries provide the
cost-effective and reliable service expected in a fleet environment.
The deep discharge reverses the crystalline formation (memory) that
occurs if a nickel-based battery is repeatedly charged on top of
a residual charge. lithium and lead-based batteries have no memory
and an occasional discharge is applied to verify performance. Battery
maintenance is best done with a battery analyzer.
_________________________
Created: March 2003, Last edited: November 2005
About the
Author Isidor Buchmann is the founder and CEO of Cadex Electronics Inc.,
in Vancouver BC. Mr. Buchmann has a background in radio communications and has
studied the behavior of rechargeable batteries in practical, everyday applications
for two decades. Award winning author of many articles and books on batteries,
Mr. Buchmann has delivered technical papers around the world. Cadex Electronics
is a manufacturer of advanced battery chargers, battery analyzers and PC software.
For product information please visit www.cadex.com.
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©
Copyright 2003 - 2005 Isidor Buchmann
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