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    Batteries and Battery Chargers

    Uploaded by

    Luis Jesus
    catalogo

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Batteries and Battery Chargers

    Uploaded by

    Luis Jesus
    133 views3 pages
    catalogo

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

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    catalogo

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    133 views3 pages

    Batteries and Battery Chargers

    Uploaded by

    Luis Jesus
    catalogo

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Batteries and battery

    chargers

    Application Sheet

    ComAp a. s.
    Copyright 2014 ComAp a. s. Kundratka 2359/17, 180 00 Praha 8, Czech Republic
    Prague, Czech Republic Tel: +420 246 012 111, Fax: +420 246 316 647
    E-mail: [email protected], www.comap.cz
    Batteries
    When we talk about batteries in regards to diesel or gas generating sets then we talk about
    battery used for cranking the engine, a lead-acid battery. It is the same battery you have in
    your car but usually bigger.

    There are many kinds of lead acid batteries. They differ by internal structure, type of
    electrolyte and by intended purpose of use, but their chemistry is always common - acid as
    an electrolyte, lead plates as electrodes.

    Lead electrodes are mainly:


    thick or tubular = used as a storage of energy , intended for frequent cycling
    (discharge and charge) - electric vehicles, telecom applications, UPS, stationary
    batteries
    thin = deliver high current for short time - cranking batteries
    Electrolyte is mostly:
    liquid (flooded batteries) = typically cranking batteries
    absorbed in glass mat (AGM batteries) = typically energy storage
    in form of gel (GEL batteries) = typically energy storage (frequent cycling)

    Battery chargers
    Lead-acid batteries should be charged in three stages:

    BULK CHARGE = constant-current charge

    In this stage is the battery charged at a constant current (voltage rises) which is usually up to 10-20%
    of its capacity. For 100Ah battery the current is up to 10-20A. As a higher current is used as the
    battery is charged faster but if too high current is used, the battery suffers from overheating and gas
    recombination inside is not fast enough, so sealed batteries (maintenance free batteries) may blow out
    and get damaged.

    This phase takes up about half of the required charge time.

    ABSORBTION CHARGE = topping charge

    In this stage is the battery charged at a constant voltage (14.0-14.5V for a 12V battery) until the
    current drops to a predefined level, usually about 3% of the rated current.
    No current drop will appear when the battery is damaged so the time limitation for this phase is
    necessary to avoid evaporating of the electrolyte.

    FLOAT CHARGE = reduced current and voltage

    This stage is used to compensate the capacity losses caused by self-discharge. It is also called trickle
    charge. Floating voltage is usually about 13.8V. The battery may be connected to this voltage all the
    time without any risk of overcharging.
    All three charging stages are shown at the diagram below.
    Some chargers also offer so called RECOVERY STAGE where short pulses are applied to the battery
    to rejuvenate slightly sulfated electrodes. This stage precedes the bulk charge.

    .. a few more tips:

    A battery should never be discharged below 12V without being charged within a few hours without a
    load connected to avoid sulfating of the negative electrode (which decreases battery performance). If
    the load is connected, the voltage should never drop below 10,5V.

    The following table may help to determine the current condition of the battery, based on its terminal
    voltage (measured when battery is rested = few hours disconnected from load or charger).

    State of charge Voltage (12V battery) Voltage (24V battery)


    100% 12,70 V 25,40 V
    90% 12,50 V 25,00 V
    80% 12,42 V 24,84 V
    70% 12,32 V 24,64 V
    60% 12,20 V 24,40 V
    50% 12,06 V 24,12 V
    40% 11,90 V 23,80 V
    30% 11,75 V 23,50 V
    20% 11,58 V 23,16 V
    10% 11,31 V 22,62 V
    0% 10,50 V 21,00 V

    Fully charged and rested battery has voltage about 12,7V.


    After voltage drop below 12V, sulfation of the negative electrode starts quickly as the voltage is low.
    The battery is fully discharged when the voltage is below 10,5V.

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