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Different Types of Batteries!Many of you have heard of Ni Cad, Ni Metal, Lithium, and deep cycle batteries but there are literally hundreds of different chemical make ups for each battery type. Battery technology is ever changing and always researched. Battery manufacturers are constantly trying different types of metals, acids and so forth to find that perfect combination of power and run time. Primary cells - Alkaline battery, Aluminium battery, Atomic battery, Bunsen cell, Chromic acid cell, Clark cell, Daniell cell, Germ battery, Leclanché cell, Lemon battery, Lithium battery, Mercury battery, Molten salt battery, Optoelectric nuclear battery, Organic radical battery, Oxyride battery, Paper battery, Silver-oxide battery, Voltaic pile, Water-activated battery, Weston cell, Zinc-air battery, and Zinc-carbon battery Rechargeable battery or secondary cells - Alkaline battery, Lead-acid battery, Lithium-ion battery, Lithium ion polymer battery, Lithium-sulfur battery, Molten salt battery, Nickel-cadmium battery, Nickel-iron battery, Nickel hydrogen battery, Nickel metal hydride battery, Nickel-zinc battery, Rechargeable alkaline battery, Sodium-sulfur battery, Super iron battery, Super charge ion battery, Vanadium redox battery, and Zinc-bromine flow battery Batteries by usage and shape - 9V battery, AA battery, AAA battery, AAAA battery, Atomic battery, Backup battery, Battery (vacuum tube), C battery, Car battery, D battery, Lantern battery, Local battery, N Battery, Watch battery, and Battery room Disposable batteries - Not designed to be rechargeable - sometimes called "primary cells". "Disposable" may also imply that special disposal procedures must take place for proper disposal according to regulation, depending on battery type.
Reserve batteries - A reserve battery is a primary battery in which some part of the system is isolated until the battery is to be put into use. Reserve batteries are used when long storage is required, since the highly active chemicals of the cell are segregated until needed, so self-discharge is reduced. These batteries are used in missiles, projectile and bomb fuzes, radiosondes, and various weapon systems. Reserve batteries may be activated by addition of water, by adding electrolyte, by introducing a gas into the cell that is either the active cathode material or part of the electrolyte, or by heating a solid electrolyte to a temperature at which is becomes conductive. The missing element of the battery can be added before use in several ways. The battery can have water or electrolyte added manually, the battery can be activated when the system is dropped into the water (such as in a sonobouy), or electrolyte can be stored in a capsule within the battery and released by mechanical means, an electrical trigger, or by spin or shock. A molten-electrolyte battery is activated by igniting a pyrotechnic heat source; the battery delivers current for a short time (seconds to a few minutes), but some thermal batteries can be stored 10 years or more without deterioration. Reserve batteries remain uncommon because of their higher cost and relatively short life after activation. While not advertised as reserve batteries, the principle is illustrated by the sale of "dry charged" car batteries where the electrolyte is added at the time of sale, and by zinc-air batteries where the cell is sealed until use, and a tab is removed to admit air and activate the cell. Rechargeable batteries - A rechargeable lithium polymer Nokia mobile phone battery.Main articles: Rechargeable battery and Battery charger. Also known as secondary batteries or accumulators. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association has estimated that U.S. demand for rechargeables is growing twice as fast as demand for non-rechargeables. There are a few main types:
Homemade cells - Almost any liquid or moist object that has enough ions to be electrically conductive can serve as the electrolyte for a cell. As a novelty or science demonstration, it is possible to insert two electrodes made of different metals into a lemon, potato, etc. and generate small amounts of electricity. "Two-potato clocks" are also widely available in hobby and toy stores; they consist of a pair of cells, each consisting of a potato (lemon, et cetera) with two electrodes inserted into it, wired in series to form a battery with enough voltage to power a digital clock. Homemade cells of this kind are of no real practical use, because they produce far less current and cost far more per unit of energy generated than commercial cells, due to the need for frequent replacement of the fruit or vegetable. In addition, one can make a voltaic pile from two coins (such as a nickel and a penny) and a piece of paper towel dipped in salt water. Such a pile would make very little voltage itself, but when many of them are stacked together in series, they can replace normal batteries for a short amount of time. Sony has developed a biologically friendly battery that generates electricity from sugar in a way that is similar to the processes observed in living organisms. The battery generates electricity through the use of enzymes that break down carbohydrates, which are essentially sugar. Lead acid cells can easily be manufactured at home, but a tedious charge/discharge cycle is needed to 'form' the plates. This is a process whereby lead sulfate forms on the plates, and during charge is converted to lead dioxide (positive plate) and pure lead (negative plate). Repeating this process results in a microscopically rough surface, with far greater surface area being exposed. This increases the current the cell can deliver. Daniell cells are also easy to make at home. Aluminum-air batteries can also be produced with high purity aluminum. Aluminum foil batteries will produce some electricity, but they are not very efficient, in part because a significant amount of hydrogen gas is produced. Battery packs - The cells in a battery can be connected in parallel, series or in both. A parallel combination of cells has the same voltage as a single cell, but can supply a higher current (the sum of the currents from all the cells). A series combination has the same current rating as a single cell but its voltage is the sum of the voltages of all the cells. Most practical electrochemical batteries, such as 9-volt flashlight batteries and 12-volt automobile batteries, have several cells connected in series inside the casing. Parallel arrangements suffer from the problem that, if one cell discharges faster than its neighbour, current will flow from the full cell to the empty cell, wasting power and possibly causing overheating. Even worse, if one cell becomes short-circuited due to an internal fault, its neighbour will be forced to discharge its maximum current into the faulty cell, leading to overheating and possibly explosion. Cells in parallel are therefore usually fitted with an electronic circuit to protect them against these problems. In both series and parallel types, the energy stored in the battery is equal to the sum of the energies stored in all the cells. Traction batteries - AGM Battery Cutaway Drawing of Braille Carbon Battery. Click to Enlarge DetailA traction battery is a high-power battery designed to provide propulsion to move a vehicle, such as an electric car or forklift. A major design consideration is power to weight ratio since the vehicle must carry the battery. While conventional lead acid batteries with liquid electrolyte have been used, gelled electrolyte and AGM-type can also be used, especially in smaller sizes. The largest installations of batteries for propulsion of vehicles are found in submarines, although the toxic gas produced by seawater contact with acid electrolyte is a considerable hazard. Battery types commercially used in electric vehicles include
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