CELL AND BATTERY

ALKALINE BATTERIES
• Such batteries are ideally suited for portable work.

• The two types of alkaline batteries which are in general

use are :

nickel-iron type of Edison type.

 NICKEL IRON AND NICKEL CADMIUM CELL

• In construction there is no difference between the two

cells except that the negative plate of the nickel iron

cell is made of iron and in the nickel cadmium cell it is

of cadmium.

• High energy density battery for electric vehicles.

NICKEL IRON CELL/EDISON CELL
Parts

• Positive plate

• Negative plate

• Electrolyte

• Container

• Separators
 ACTIVE MATERIALS
• Nickel hydroxide(Ni(OH)4)for Positive plate.

• Powdered iron and its oxides for the negative

plate.

• The electrolyte is 21 per cent solution of caustic

potash KOH.
 ACTIVE MATERIALS
• Nickel hydroxide(Ni(OH)4)apple green nickel
peroxide NiO2 for Positive plate.

• 17 percent of graphite is added to increase

conductivity.

• It also contains an activating additive barium

hydroxide. It increases the service life of the
plates.
 ACTIVE MATERIALS
• Powdered iron and its oxides for the negative

plate.

• Small quantities of nickel sulphate and ferrous

sulphide are added to improve the performance of

the coil.
 PLATES
• Main designs for this battery have

been the tubular positive type and

the flat pocket plate type negative

• The number of negative plates is one

more than the positive plates.

 PLATES
• Plates of the same polarity with their pockets filled

they are welded to a common strap having a

threaded post.

• The extreme negative plates are electrically

connected to the container.

 SEPARATORS
• Ebonite separating sticks are placed between the

positive and negative plates to prevent any short-

circuiting.
 CONTAINER
• The steel containers of the batteries are press-
formed from steel and the joints are welded.

• The body and the cover are nickel-plated and have

a dull finish.

• These containers are electrically alive, no loose

wires should touch them owing to the danger of
severe sparking from short-circuits.
 CHEMICAL CHANGES
• On discharge, potassium hydroxide (KOH) splits up

into K and (OH) ions.

• OH ions travel towards the negative and oxidise the

iron.

• K ions go to the anode and reduce Ni

 CHEMICAL CHANGES
During discharge

• Positive plate

Ni(OH)4 + 2 K → Ni(OH)2 + 2 KOH

• Negative plate

Fe + 2 OH → Fe(OH)2
 CHEMICAL CHANGES
During discharge

• Positive plate

Ni(OH)4 + 2 K → Ni(OH)2 + 2 KOH

• Negative plate

Fe + 2 OH → Fe(OH)2
 CHEMICAL CHANGES
During Charging

• Positive plate

Ni(OH)2 + 2OH → Ni(OH)4

• Negative plate

Fe(OH)2 + 2K → Fe + 2 KOH
 CHEMICAL CHANGES
• No water is formed, there is no overall change in

the strength of the electrolyte.

• Its function is merely to serve as a conductor of as a

vehicle for the transfer of OH ions from one plate to

another.
 CHEMICAL CHANGES
• Specific gravity of the electrolyte remains

practically constant, both during charging and

discharging.

• Small amount of electrolyte is required which fact

enables the cells to be small in bulk.

 ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• The EMF of the cell when fully charged is 1.4V, and
it reaches to 1.2 on discharge.

• If the voltage falls below 1.15, the cell is fullly

discharged.

• The mechanical strength of plates is good since

they are made of steel.
 CHARACTERISTICS
• The cell is portable.

• The cell can withstand heavy charge and discharge

currents, and does not deteriorate even if left
discharged.

• Internal resistance is large, and so the efficiency is

lower than that of a lead acid cell.
 CHARACTERISTICS
• With increase in the temperature, the e.m.f.
increases slightly but the capacity increases
appreciably, and with a decrease in the
temperature, the capacity decreases.

• It is superior to a lead acid cell in mechanical

strength, durability and robustness.
 COMPARISON
PARTICULARS LEAD ACID CELL EDISON CELL

Lead peroxide Nickel hydroxide

Positive plate (PbO2) Ni(OH)4
Nickel oxide (NiO2)
Negative Plate Sponge lead Iron
Electrolyte Diluted H2SO4 KOH
Average EMF 2.1 V/cell 1.2 V/cell
Internal Comparatively low Comparatively higher
resistance resistance
 COMPARISON
PARTICULARS LEAD ACID CELL EDISON CELL
Efficiency: 90 - 95% Nearly 80%
Amp-hour 72 - 80% About 60%
Watt-hour
Almost twice that of
Cost Comparatively less Pb-acid cell (Easy
than alkaline cell
maintenance)
Gives nearly 1250
Life charges and Five years atleast
discharges
 COMPARISON
PARTICULARS LEAD ACID CELL EDISON CELL

Robust, mechanically
Needs much care
strong, can withstand
and
vibration, light,
maintenance.Sulph
unlimited rates of
ation occurs
Strength charge and
often due to
discharge. Can be left
incomplete
discharged, free from
charge or
corrosive liquids and
discharge.
fumes.
 ADVANTAGES
• It can withstand heavy charge and discharge
current and does not deteriorate.

• It is robust in construction and thus it can be used

even roughly.

• It is light in weight and thus it is portable.

• It can be left discharged for a long time

 ADVANTAGES

• It can work on higher temperatures also.

• It is used in electric operated vehicles, switch-gear

operations etc.
 DISADVANTAGES
• Its EMF does not remain constant.

• Its efficiency is lower than lead-acid cell.

• It has a high internal resistance.

• Its EMF is low in comparison to lead acid cell.

• If temperature is increased, its EMF will slightly

reduce