Philip Kosky, Robert Balmer, William Keat, George Wise,

Chapter 17 - Electrochemical Engineering,

Editor(s): Philip Kosky, Robert Balmer, William Keat, George Wise,
Exploring Engineering (Fifth Edition),
Academic Press,
2021,
Pages 383-403,
ISBN 9780128150733,
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815073-3.00017-X.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012815073300017X)
Abstract: Electrochemistry is the science behind batteries and fuel cells. Those
devices are needed in green solar energy or wind energy schemes that are inherently
unstable or uncertain power sources. Batteries provide backup, a process known as
load leveling. A Ragone chart visually shows the characteristics of electrical
storage devices plotted as the logarithm of energy storage density (expressed as
Wh/kg) against the logarithm of power producing density (expressed as W/kg). Lead
acid batteries are familiar but are too heavy and store too little energy for their
size. The electrochemical series is useful in predetermining the voltage of a
battery or the potential required for electroplating an element such as nickel.
Modern batteries are based on lithium and/or hydrides. Their superiority is clear
on a Ragone plot. Fuel cells are reversible and continuously refueled batteries
generally consuming (or producing) hydrogen and air (oxygen). Proton exchange
membranes are their key technology.
Keywords: Anode; Batteries; Cathode; Electrochemical series; Fuel cells; Green
solar energy; Hydrides; Lead acid; Lithium; Load leveling; PEM; Proton exchange
membranes; Ragone chart; Ultracapacitors; Wind energy