Primary cells

A type of cell, that creates an electric current through an irreversible

electromical reaction occurring in the cell. A primary cell is a battery that is
designed to be used only one time. When a primary cell is discharged, it is
discarded, and not recharged again like the secondary cell “rechargeable
battery”.

A primary cell is basically a galvanic cell, a galvanic cell or voltaic cell, is an

electrochemical cell that derives electrical energy from spontaneous redox
reactions taking place within the cell.

A good primary cell should produce enough voltage to supply enough

current or energy to the load connected.

It should made up of low-cost materials.

It’s internal resistance and back EMF should not be greater, otherwise, it
wont be able even to provide low current.

Some examples of primary cells are: zinc-carbon(Leclance) cells, alkaline

zinc-manganese dioxide cells, and metal-air- depolarized batteries. Primary
lithium cells are now available. After use, primary batteries are discarded
or, if legally required or for material cost-saving reasons, chemically
reprocessed.

Primary cells are found in many common consumer products such as

remote-control garage door openers, remote automobile door locks, home
smoke detectors, and remote control for consumer electronic products such
as television and stereo sets.

Secondary cells

A type of Cell in which the physical and chemical state of the electrodes
and electrolyte can be restored through charging is called a Secondary
Cell. A secondary cell can be charged and discharged so many times,
while the primary batteries are supplied fully charged and discarded after
use, after a long series of experiments on the primary cells, some type of
the cells are invented in which the chemical reactions can be reversed with
the help of electric current through the charging process, such cells are
called Secondary cells.

In case if High voltage and High current are needed, the secondary cells
can be connected in series and parallel combinations to achieve the
desired voltage and current, such type of the battery is called a storage
battery or Accumulator. A secondary cell is also known as the storage cell.

The voltage of a secondary cell depends on the type of electrolyte and the
material of electrodes. The capacity of a secondary cell depends on the
area of the plates used, larger the plates area, greater will be the cell
capacity. These cells are connected in different styles to make the storage
batteries. When these batteries are discharged, then specially designed DC
power supplies are used to charge these batteries again, this process is
called the battery charging process. Charging and discharging is the main
feature of the Secondary cells. These batteries are used in Grid Stations,
telephone exchanges, Radios, Transmitters, telegraphs, military
equipment, Cars, Buses, Air Planes, with UPS inverters, DC room coolers,
DC ceiling fans, etc. These batteries can deliver hundreds of Amps for a
short period of time and can deliver low current for long periods of time.
This is the Self discharging of the secondary cell/battery.