Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Current producing cell – elements – subcombinations and... – Cell enclosure structure – e.g. – housing – casing – container,...
Patent
1995-05-17
1997-07-08
Nuzzolillo, M.
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Current producing cell, elements, subcombinations and...
Cell enclosure structure, e.g., housing, casing, container,...
429175, 429185, H01M 204
Patent
active
056459572
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION--FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to long life batteries utilizing recombinant cells and to such cells.
NOMENCLATURE
As used herein the word "cell", including plurals and variants thereof, denotes a single electrochemical unit having at least one positive plate, at least one negative plate and separator material between those plates, all within a thermoplastic housing and nominally providing 2.0 volts potential.
As used herein the word "battery", including plurals and variants thereof, denotes a plurality of electrically connected cells providing a specified voltage and a specified current over a specified time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION--DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND ITS PROBLEMS
Recombinant lead-acid cells and batteries are known, being sold by a variety of manufacturers in the United States and elsewhere. One well-known supplier of recombinant lead-acid batteries is C & D Charter Power Systems, Inc., which sells recombinant lead-acid batteries under the trademark "Liberty Series. "
Recombinant lead-acid cells are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,862,861.
A continuing problem faced by manufacturers of lead-acid cells in endeavoring to provide long life batteries utilizing such lead-acid cells, especially recombinant lead-acid cells, is inherent growth of the positive plate due to corrosion and oxidation of the lead or lead alloy grid to form lead dioxide. Because the specific volume of lead dioxide is about 21% greater than that of metallic lead, as the lead dioxide corrosion product forms, the grid grows due to built up stress. This leads to gradual loss of physical contact and electrical continuity between the grid and active material pasted on the grid and may eventually cause the grid to fracture. Loss of electrical continuity may result in failure of the cell in which the grid is located.
Another common cause of failure of such cells (which is also rooted in the plate growth phenomenon) is shorting. This occurs when positive and negative plates contact, due to stresses created within the cell, as the positive plates grow.
Positive plate growth has been known for years, being reported in "Positive Grid Design Principles" published in The Bell System Technical Journal, September 1970. While the phenomenon has been long known, growth of such plates and difficulties resulting therefrom is a continuing problem in lead-acid cells intended for use in long life batteries.
An additional problem sometimes encountered in recombinant cells intended for long service life is the tendency of dendrites to grow from the negative plates, especially if free electrolyte is present in a cell. The likelihood of dendrite growth is enhanced if free electrolyte is present. Free electrolyte sometimes forms in a cell during operation. Any free electrolyte collects at the bottom of the cell and hence the likelihood of dendrite growth is greatest at the cell bottom. If a dendrite grows from a negative plate to a positive plate, the plates short, damaging and possibly disabling the cell.
Another problem in recombinant cells intended for long service life is maintenance of close contact between the positive and negative plates and the microporous separator material between those plates. Close contact is important because the electrolyte is provided in only a starved amount and only part of the starved amount of electrolyte resides within the separator material. If good contact between the plates and the separator material is not maintained, the recombinant cell will not function properly.
An example of the long life battery of the general type to which this invention relates is available from the GNB division of Pacific-Dunlap, Ltd. under the trademark "Absolyte. "
While the Absolyte system has achieved some commercial acceptance, it does not provide for external application of compression to its recombinant lead-acid cells. Such compression is desirable to assure maintenance of good plate-separator contact so that the electrolyte properly interacts with the plates.
Another problem
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Misra Sudhan S.
Wagner Franz
C & D Charter Power Systems, Inc.
Nuzzolillo M.
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