Quality Ni-Cd Batteries

By Michael Johanson


Nickel-cadmium cells have a relatively nominal cell capability of 1.2 V. This really is lower than the 1.5 V of alkaline and zinc-carbon primary cells, and thus they aren't suitable as a substitute in all programs. However, the 1.5V of a particular primary alkaline cell refers to its initial, and not average, voltage. Far apart from alkaline and zinc-carbon primary cells, a NiCd cell's terminal voltage simply adjusts a little bit as it discharges. Simply because a lot of gadgets are built to work together with primary cells which may discharge to only 0.90 to 1.0 V for every cell, the relatively constant 1.2 V of a NiCd is sufficient to allow operation. Quite a few would take into account the near-constant voltage a disadvantage mainly because it will make it challenging to discover when the battery pack charge is low.

Recent developments

Presently, all consumer NiCd battery packs utilize the "swiss roll" or perhaps a "jelly-roll" structure. This particular design and style has quite a few layers of negative and positive substance rolled into a cylindrical appearance. This particular design reduces internal resistance as there is really a significantly greater amount of electrode in touch with the active materials in every cell.

Battery characteristics

Advantages

When compared to other varieties of rechargeable battery power, the NiCd battery includes a number of unique strengths.

The battery packs are generally more difficult to breakdown as compared to other batteries, tolerating deep discharge for long durations. In fact, NiCd power packs in long-term storage are usually stored absolutely discharged. This is on the contrary, as an example, to lithium ion battery packs, which often can be significantly less dependable and will be permanently damaged if discharged less than a baseline voltage. NiCd batteries generally stay longer, when it comes to number of charge/discharge periods, than other rechargeable power packs just like lead/acid batteries.

In comparison to lead-acid power packs, NiCd batteries have a much increased energy density. The NiCd battery is actually smaller and also lighter in weight than a comparable lead-acid battery. In instances where weight and size are important considerations (one example is, aircraft), NiCd batteries are recommended over the less expensive lead-acid batteries.

Within customer applications, NiCd power packs compete straight along with alkaline power packs. The NiCd cell provides a lower total capacity in contrast to an equivalent alkaline cell, and will cost you much more. On the other hand, since the alkaline battery's chemical reaction isn't reversible, a multiple-use NiCd battery power has a tremendously lengthier total lifespan. There've been attempts to establish rechargeable alkaline battery packs, or customized battery pack chargers designed for charging single-use alkaline battery packs, but none that has observed wide utilization. The terminal voltage of the NiCd battery power decreases more slowly as it is discharged, in comparison with carbon-zinc battery packs. Due to the fact an alkaline battery's voltage declines significantly as the charge declines, almost all customer applications are well equipped to handle the a little lower NiCd voltage without having any noticeable loss of efficiency.

The terminal voltage of the NiCd battery pack is reduced more slowly as it is discharged, compared with carbon-zinc power packs. Since an alkaline battery's voltage reduces considerably as the charge declines, almost all consumer applications are well equipped to deal with the slightly reduced NiCd voltage with no noticeable loss in efficiency. The ability of a nickel cadmium battery pack is not significantly affected by high discharge voltages. Even with discharge levels as high as 50C, a nickel cadmium can provide very nearly its rated total capacity. By comparison, any lead acid battery will only provide you with around fifty percent of its rated capacity once discharged at a relatively modest 1.5C.

The primary trade-off with NiCd batteries could be the higher cost as well as the use of cadmium. This specific heavy metal is undoubtedly an ecological hazard, and is also extremely dangerous to all or any higher forms of life. NiCd power packs also are higher priced than lead-acid power packs simply because nickel and cadmium are more expensive materials.

One of many NiCd's biggest negative aspects is that the battery displays an extremely marked negative temps coefficient. It means that when the cell temps goes up, the internal resistance drops. This tends to pose extensive charging difficulties, specifically with all the relatively simple charging methods employed for lead-acid type power packs. Although lead-acid batteries are usually charged by simply connecting any dynamo to them, with a simple electromagnetic cut-out system for when the dynamo is stationary or simply an over-current occurs, the NiCd under a identical charging system would show thermal runaway, where the charging current would continue to rise until the over-current cut-out operated or the battery pack destroyed itself. This is the primary factor that prevents its usage as engine-starting batteries. Currently with alternator-based charging systems with solid-state regulators, the construction of a suitable charging system would be simple and easy, however the car makers are reluctant to give up tried-and-tested technologies.




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