Batteries

Component of Solar System

 Battery
The panel produces current in daytime but we need
the electricity at night. So in order to utilize the
electricity at night time it is necessary to store the
current.
Battery is such a device, which can store the current.
It stores D.C. electricity in it and one can use the
electricity when desired.
Each battery consists of one or more cells.
There are positive and negative plates made of Lead.
These plates are embodied in the solution of sulfuric
acid side by side. The voltage of each cell is 2 volt.
 Types
There are three types of batteries which are made of the following:
Lead acid Battery
Nickel Cadmium Battery
Lithium ion
Lead acid (VRLA) battery is what normally used in a solar system.
This type of battery is categorized as two types depending on the
material used in the battery:
Sealed battery
Sealed battery is costly compare to other types of batteries
Gel
AGM
Flooded battery
Flooded battery is also categorize as two types:
Industrial battery
Car battery ( Deep Cycle Batteries)
 Capacity of the Battery
The capacity of the battery is measured by
ampere-hour.
Ampere-hour can be obtained by multiplying
total ampere and time (hour). The charge is
stored in a battery as amount of ampere hour.
i.e. one can draw 50 amp. current from a 50
Amp-hour battery (1 amp x 50 Hours =
50amp-hour).
 Battery Charging and Discharging
When a battery is charged by an external force the process is called
charging and when the charge is taken out of the battery then it is
called discharging.
The efficiency and the life of a battery depend on proper charging
and discharging.
Charging and discharging level depends upon the type of the
battery.
Normally for a car battery discharging range is 25-30% and
remaining charge is 65-70%. Which means from a 100 amp-hour
car battery we can take a maximum of 30 amps current and 70
amps will remain. After which one has to charge the battery first to
use it again. Otherwise the life and efficiency of the battery will
deplete fast.
If a battery discharges more then the normal then it is called over-
discharging. Over-discharging limits the life of the battery.
 Depth of Discharge
The maximum level of discharge is known as
Depth of Discharge (DOD). e.g. The depth of
discharge of a 150 amp car battery is 30%
[(30/100)x150]
 Over Charging
There have also some restrictions for charging
the battery. The battery should not be charged
after its full charging .
This will create over charging which produce
gas in the battery.
The cell of the battery become hot and over
all the efficiency decreases.
Both over charging and over discharging are
harmful to the battery.
 The Description of the Liquid used in
the Battery
There are the solution of sulfuric acid and water in each cell of the
battery.
The specific gravity of the solution is 1.25. i.e. the liquid becomes
1.25 times heavier than water. Heat is produced while making this
type of solution. This solution is poured to the cell after bringing
the temperature by keeping in the air to room temperature.
When the battery is discharged then the atom of this solution
reacts with the atom of sulfur and produce led-sulfate. This led-
sulfate amasses under the cell as heavy matter. This will decrease
the density as well as specific gravity of the battery. This specific
gravity should not go down below 1.15.
Again when charging the heavy led-sulfate atom is broken and
added in the liquid, so the specific gravity again increases. Care has
to be taken so that the specific gravity does not exceed 1.28.