How Batteries Works ?

What is a Battery?

Figure:1

A Battery is a device which can converts stored chemical energy to electrical energy, the battery consists of single or multiple electrochemical cells connected in series which can be charged or discharged.

As per figure 1, Generally a battery works from the movement of ions through electrolyte & electrons movements in the external load from cathode to anode and Viceversa for Charging & Discharging.

Cathode is a Positive electrode

Anode is a Negative electrode

Electrolyte is a medium in which ions travel from one electrode to other.

Seperator is a material which placed inbetween anode and cathode which physically seperates them still facilitates ion movements while charging and discharging.

Unlike Anode and cathode in power electonics components where Diodes anode is Positive and cathode is Negative, the Battery Anode is Negative and Cathode is Positive.

Types of Batteries:

1.Flooded Batteries ( Wet Batteries)

2.Non Flooded Batteries (Dry Batteries)

1.Flooded Batteries ( Wet Batteries)

  

Figure 2: Panasonic Lead Acid Battery               Figure 2: Lead Acid Battery internal Cell connections

Lead Acid batteries like the ones we are using in our Bikes,Cars,Autos,Heavy Vehicles,Generators  for starting an engine are Flooded batteries.

These batteries are easy to construct and are cheap to manufacture, The electrolytes are 35 to 40% sulfuric acid & 60 to 65%% distilled water.

Since we need to refill the electrolytes and also the chances of leakage of electroyte was observed in these batteries hence it is called as Flooded or Wet batteries.

2.Non Flooded Batteries (Dry Batteries)

These dry batteries are the advanced Lead Acid Batteries which donot need refilling of electrolytes,

Examples like Gel and AGM batteries.

AGM - Absorbent Glass Mat Batteries 

• These Gel or AGM batteries have different electrolyte compared to Wet batteries, 

• In Gel battery the electrolyte is a sulfuric acid in gel state.

• In AGM batteries the electrolyte stuffed in between fibre glass mesh which absorbs and holds the (water & Sulfuric acid) and acts like a sponge or cushion and will allow only required amounts of electrolytes to pass for the ion movements.

Since these batteries doesnt need topping of electrolytes it is called as Dry batteries.

Lithium Ion batteries are also a Dry battery. 

Click To know more about Lithium-ion battery.