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Battery

A device for converting chemical energy into electrical energy. A group of voltaic cells connected in series.

Bichromate2 voltsDry cell1.5 volts
Bunsen1.9 voltsNickel Cadmium1.3 volts
Daniell1.08 voltsNickel Iron1.4 volts
Grove1.8 voltsZinc-silver oxide1.8 volts
Leclanche1.46 voltsClark cell1.4333 volts (absolute)
Weston cell1.0186 volts (absolute)

Note: Weston and Clark cells are standard cells used as references, all others are approximate EMF's.


The main parameters considered when selecting batteries:
  1. ampere-hour capacity
  2. cost
  3. depth of discharge
  4. lifetime
  5. rechargeability
  6. ruggedness
  7. temperature environments
  8. weight

Coulombic Efficiency

For a rechargeable battery the fraction of the electrical charge stored during charging that is recoverable during discharge.

Local Action

A continuation of current flow within a battery cell when there is no external load.

State of Charge

The charge state of a battery is often simplistically estimated from voltage. However, this can give errors as the voltage will change depending on the current demand, prior use, age, temperature etc. More sophisticated battery state monitors use temperature, impedance and history of use.

Historical Notes
1800 Alessandro Volta develops the electric battery.
1839 Fuel Cell invented by William Grove.
1932 First successful fuel cell produced by Francis Bacon.

See also: Absorbed Glass Mat Battery, Accumulator, Alkaline Battery, Battery Capacity, Battery Charger, Battery Cycle Life, Clark Cell, Concentration Cell, Coulombic Efficiency, Depth of Discharge, Electrochemistry, Electrolyte, Energy Density, Flywheel Battery, Fuel Cell, Galvanic Cell, Iron Air Battery, Lead Acid Battery, Leclanché Cell, Lithium Ion Battery, Lithium Iron Sulphide Battery, Lithium Polymer Battery, Nickel Cadmium Battery, Nickel Iron Battery, Nickel Metal Hydride Battery, Nickel Zinc Battery, Open Circuit Voltage, Power Density, Primary Cell, Rechargeable Battery, Secondary Cell, Self Discharge, Silver Zinc Battery, Sodium Nickel Chloride Battery, Sodium Sulphur Battery, State of Charge, Traction Battery, Voltaic Pile, Watt Hours per Kilogram, Weston Cell, Zinc Air Battery, Zinc Bromide Battery.

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Subjects:
Chemistry
Electronics
Physics

Weblinks:
Pure Energy Systems Wiki The community-built resource that focuses on alternative, clean, practical, renewable energy solutions.
BatteryUniversity.com An on-line resource that provides practical battery knowledge for engineers, educators, students and battery users alike.
AC Propulsion Motors, inverters, chargers, and batteries for electric vehicles.
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