An electrical battery is a galvanic cell or a combination (interconnection) of several same cells in common housing. Originally battery marked only the interconnection of several cells, however the word meaning in the linguistic usage extended accordingly. An individually used cell is called for elucidation also mono cell. Re+rechargeable batteries are called accumulator.

Bases

The electrode materials specify the rated voltage of the cell. One receives higher tensions by connecting (series connection) several cells in series.

The capacity of a battery becomes as theoretically entnehmbare charge quantity in ampere-hours (unit: Ah) indicated (contrary to a condenser, where it is measured in charge per tension).

Predominantly for marketing reasons the capacity is not indicated in the case of not loadable batteries and is only in the data sheets of the manufacturers.

Battery capacity can be measured with a discharge process according to a given standard. Circuit symbol for BatterieDie entnehmbare capacity depends on the discharge current and the discharge voltage of the battery. There is different unloading procedures usually, among other things: Unloading with constant river, unloading over constant resistance or unloading with constant achievement. Depending upon unloading procedures the battery exhibits another capacity. In a meaningful indication of the nominal capacity must be specified therefore discharge current and unloading conclusion tension with.

The entnehmbare capacity of a battery with increasing discharge current generally decreases. Reason for this are both the increasing losses at the internal resistance of the battery and the fact that the chemical processes in the battery with limited speed run off. The decrease of the entnehmbaren capacity with increasing discharge current depends strongly on the type of the battery.

The charge quantity entnehmbare in the practical use hangs off of the battery type, the height of the discharge current, the residual voltage with unloading end, the battery age and the temperature (see also power density).

Battery capacity or the maximum stream with given tension can be increased by more largely built cells. A parallel connection from cells to the capacity increase could lead in contrast to this to mutual unloading, since individual cells differ in its open circuit voltage something, so that balancing currents between the cells would flow.

All batteries are subject to a certain self discharge with storage, dependent on the battery type and the storage temperature: The lower the temperature, the less self discharge takes place. Akkus lose their charge relatively fast. Zinc air batteries for hearing aids are however most durable, because they supply only under air supply river - and the openings at the battery are locked during the storage with a plastic adhesive.

In Germany the battery regulation regulates the cancelling and disposal of batteries. It specifies among other things that in Germany no batteries or cells may be brought with a mercury content of more than 0.0005 weight percentage into traffic. With button cells the mercury content may not be over 2,0 weight percentage. Also alkali manganese batteries contain nowadays no more mercury, while it was necessary in the first series still for the Amalgieren of the electrode material. See also battery recycling.

Not each battery type is available in each country. Therefore there is in particular flat battery adapter, which three AA-batteries take up to 1.5 V each. The adapter can be used then everywhere, where also a flat battery fits in. Useful are adapters also, because there are no loadable flat batteries up to now.

Type variations

There are commercial batteries in numerous variants both after the which is the basis chemical redox system and after the electrical values or the geometrical and/or constructional design. From in the following specified designations several can describe that together a battery type, e.g. "Alkali manganese battery - LR 6/AM-3 - AA - Mignon". Often however only a certain characteristic demanded, e.g. the size of "AA" for particularly on it a co-ordinated flashlight of a dry battery speaks one, if the electrolyte, e.g. by thickening, is present not liquid. Thus the battery in arbitrary spatial orientation, thus applicable for transportable applications, becomes in particular.

Areas of application

After the operational area there are following terms and allocations:

• Equipment batteries serve for the current supply smaller, usually portable devices, for example in flashlights. Particularly small remarks are called button cell.
• In particular for motor vehicles starting batteries are used.
• Electric vehicles have traction batteries.
• Stationary batteries are used with stationary applications as for example no-break current supplies.

Primary cells

Primary cells are galvanic cells, which cannot again again be loaded after unloading. The different types are designated after the assigned materials:

• Alkali manganese battery; 1.5 V of rated voltage per cell
• Zinc coal battery; 1.5 V per cell
• Nickel Oxyhydroxid battery; 1.5 V per cell
• Lithium batteries; depending upon cathode material 2.9 to 3.6 V
• Lithium iron sulfide battery; 1.5 V per cell
• Zinc air battery; 1.5 V per cell
• Mercury oxide zinc battery; 1.35 V per cell
• Silver oxide zinc battery; 1.55 V per cell

Secondary cells

Secondary cells or accumulators are galvanic cells, which can be loaded after unloading again. Common types are likewise designated after the used materials:

• Lead-acid battery (lead dioxide/lead); 2 V of rated voltage per cell. The electrolyte (sulfuric acid H2SO4) can be in liquid form, in fleece bound or as gel thickened (lead gel Akku) present.
• Nickel cadmium Akku; 1.2 V per cell
• Nickel Metallhydrid Akku; 1.2 V per cell
• Lithium ion Akku; 3.7 V per cell
• Lithium polymer Akku
• Alkali manganese battery (English: Reusable Alkaline Manganese, briefly: RAM); 1.5 V per cell
• Silver zinc Akku; 1.5 V per cell
• Nickel hydrogen Akku; 1.2 V per cell
• Zinc bromine battery; 1.76 V per cell

Sizes

Equipment batteries frequently the electrical batteries are called, which are used very common in the everyday life for the power supply by electrical small devices such as clocks, radio, toy, flashlights and also in firmly installed devices such as fire alarms.

Equipment batteries must be mechanically resistant compactly, independent on position applicable, easily and nevertheless. They may run out nor gas with normal storage and use in the equipment neither. They are available in a multiplicity of remarks on the basis of zinc coal or alkali manganese battery in the trade. Their designation follows the performance classes specified by the International Electronical Commission and from the ANSI standardized sizes:

Beside these "standard types" there is still large form variety in the case of product specific batteries for e.g. cameras and with button cells.

See also

Battery separator

Literature

• Lucien F. cloudy, Paul Batteries and accumulators - mobile energy sources for today and tomorrow. Springer, Berlin 1998 ISBN 3-540-62997-1
• David lime trees, Thomas's B. Reddy (Hrsg.): Handbook OF Batteries. 3. Edition. McGraw Hill, New York 2002 ISBN 0-071-35978-8
• DIN 40,729 accumulators - galvanic dummy elements - fundamental ideas

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