Internal Stress Variations in Lead‐Acid Batteries during Cycling

Abstract

Cycle life of the lead-acid battery can be improved by exerting a mechanical pressure on the active material. It reaches up to 3000 cycles in determined conditions which are described. The longest cycle lives are obtained with an exerted pressure in the range 5.104 to 10-10 ~ Pa. These results led to a study of the evolution of stresses occurring in the battery during cycling. Dynamometric rings are put in place of the apparatus exerting the external pressure. Recordings for charges and discharges suggest that internal stress evolutions originate from two causes: thermal expansion and volume change associated with the formation of sulfate. Influence of parameters such as the temperature, the number of plates, the stiffness of the experimental apparatus are studied.

Characteristics of an advanced lead-acid spiral wound deep cycle battery

“…The cylindrical case is al:so ideal in terms of containing the stresses developed during cycling from both electrochemical transformations and temperature (Alzieu, 1987). In addition, the cells are manufactured under compression to achieve greater cycle life (Takahashi, 1983).…”