Importance and Working of Batteries - Research Paper Example

Batteries – One World Essay Can we imagine a day without access to electricity or any type of energy? Life would be idle without energy. In this modern world of technological advancement, advanced machineries and electrical appliances are found in every aspect of our day to day life. Batteries are integrated in most of the electronic and electrical appliances found in home or in workplace and hence can be regarded as the most important tool ever invented. This study will throw a light on the types of batteries, uses of batteries, problems that lead to the invention of batteries, limitations of batteries and what changes they have made in our lives. Battery is a source of electrical energy. It stores chemical in it and through an electrochemical reaction this chemical is changed to electrical energy. Cell is the basic unit present inside the battery that produces electricity. A battery has two or more cells, which acts like a pump that forces the electrons to run along the conductors. This force is known as Electromotive force and is measured in units called Volts (V) (Hess 2-3). 1. Types of Battery Batteries are of five types. They are as follows: 1.2. Primary Cell. In this battery, after a certain period of time one of the metals get destroyed due to the chemical reaction that takes place within the cell. Primary cell batteries are generally used for flashlights and radios. 1.3. Secondary Cells. In these types of battery, as the battery supplies voltage, the metal and the acid mixture change. The strength of the acid becomes weaker and at the same time the metals remain same. This process is known as discharging. It can be again charged by passing the current in the opposite direction. “Automotive lead acid batteries” (Toyota Sales Force 1) are secondary batteries. 1.4. Wet- Charged. These batteries are acid lead batteries filled with electrolyte. When they are built, they are fully charged, but due to storage they get discharged. They are to be periodically charged. 1.5. Dry- Charged. In these types of battery the batteries are charged, washed, dried and then sealed. Before use, one just needs to add electrolyte and charge. For 12 to 18 months it can be stored. 1.6. Low Maintenance. These batteries are considered to have low maintenance. Such batteries are used to reduce internal heat and water loss. Periodical addition of water is required (Toyota Sales Force 1). 2. How does a battery work? An electrochemical cell is a chemical device by which electricity is generated. It consists of a positive electrode and a negative electrode and an electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution is capable of conducting ions between the two electrodes, while acting as an electronic insulator. When two or more such cells are joined together electrically in series or in series-parallel combination, it results into a battery. The electrolyte may be concentrated aqueous solutions of acid, alkalis or salt. The ionic conductor may be of organic salt solution, fused salt, ceramic and polymers (Dell & Rand 10). 3. Importance of battery For storing electricity, battery was invented. Since electricity cannot be stored directly so there was a necessity for an indirect storage device. Hence batteries were invented which made it possible. Batteries are very convenient since they have different range of sizes. They are portable and supplies power instantly. They have single use or multi use options depending on the type of battery. Primary batteries are meant for single use, that is, use and throw, whereas secondary batteries are rechargeable. Today batteries are used for different purposes: Household. Batteries are used in telephones, torches, portable fluorescent lamps, lantern, security alarm, smoke alarm, central lock in the car, mixer grinder etc. (Dell & Rand 6) Entertainment. The tools of entertainment comprise radio, television, disk player, remote control, tape recorder, toys, electronic games, keyboard etc. All these accessories used batteries in different forms and shapes (Dell & Rand 6). Personal health and hygiene. Batteries find usage in pacemaker, hearing aid, blood pressure monitors, shaver, toothbrush etc (Dell & Rand 6). Other portable devices. Devices like mobile, laptop, watches, cameras etc. cannot be imagined without batteries (Dell & Rand 6). 4. Hazards in Battery usage 4.1. Environmental Impact. Batteries are one of the most usual unsafe wastes in household. But the environmental impact is not only limited to waste but also to production, distribution and end of life cycle (Battery Recycling Fact Sheet 1). 4.2. Production: Mineral resources required for the production of battery are done through mining. Mining is an extensive process and requires burning of huge amount of fossil fuel. This burning of fuel contributes towards global warming, destruction of wild life habitat, creating water and air pollution (Battery Recycling Fact Sheet 1). 4.3. Distribution. Every year thousands of millions of batteries are sold which are imported or transported to warehouses. For this transportation, fuel is burnt which causes pollution and at the same time infrastructures are created for warehousing which causes clearing of natural area. Plastics are used for packaging which again causes problem (Battery Recycling Fact Sheet 1). 4.4. End-of-Life. The chemical inside the battery can leach from the casing and can pollute land and water with heavy metals that are toxic (Battery Recycling Fact Sheet 1). 5. Factors affecting the specification of a battery 5.1 Cost. The cost of battery is a very crucial and sensitive issue to be decided. The cost of the battery is determined by the cost of the material used to build the cell, and manufacturing cost. A reduction in the overall manufacturing and raw material cost may lead to lowering the price of the battery. The pricing is also dependent on the fuel pricing (Anderson 1). 5.2. Performance. This quantifies that there is a loss in the efficiency of the performance of the battery as compared to the theoretical expectation. This means it may be the scenario that the battery was expected to work for a certain period of time but it didn’t happen in reality. This may occur due to the problem in the electrodes or in the electrolytic solution (Reddy 6.3). However, the performance of the battery depends upon charging and discharging of a battery. Various charging regimes should be followed and there are different chargers for different types of batteries (Dell & Rand 9). 5.3. Life cycle. The life cycle of a battery depends upon the chemistry of the battery, that is, which chemicals are used, depth of discharge, temperature of the battery and lastly the termination level of the battery capacity (Hoffart 1) 6. Computer batteries Life in this 21st century seems impossible without Lead acid battery. Battery reduces our dependency on the electrical utilities by providing backup for the computers. Previously when there was any disturbance in the power supply, work used to get disturbed. But, battery played an important and fundamental role for the IT system by providing uninterrupted power supply to the computer equipments and thus helps in smooth functioning of day to day work (Batteries for IT Systems: Environmental Issues 1-2). Batteries are directly used to provide power back up to the computers. This in turn helps the IT system by providing backup to data center, desktop, laptop, servers and network infrastructure. The uses of computer batteries have gained importance because of the different reasons. The ongoing increase in electronic devices requires a continuous supply of power. There is unreliability on the commercial power sources. A rapid growth of the IT industry (Batteries for IT Systems: Environmental Issues 1-2). 7. Bad impact of the computer batteries 7.1. Environmental Concern. Use of batteries has grown like anything in the recent times. Lead is an important component for manufacturing battery. USA is the biggest consumer along with the Asian countries like China, Korea, Japan and European countries like UK, Germany, France and Italy. Every year, about 3 million metric tons of lead is mined, with 75% of production coming from the six countries like “China, Australia, U.S.A., Peru, Canada and Mexico” (Batteries for IT Systems: Environmental Issues 3). The lead mining done underground or on surface results in “open mine shaft, Collapsed mine shaft and subsidence area” which causes damage to the life and property and at the same time creates avenues for water to enter and leave the mine. This water contains toxic materials which mix with the local ground water, surface water and spring water. Thus it leaves the natural resource like water contaminated (Batteries for IT Systems: Environmental Issues 3-4). While lead- acid batteries are properly disposed and recycled in US, still a large number of batteries are not sold and end up into the waste stream. The battery which goes to the waste stream mixes with other solid waste, vaporizes toxic material and mixes with the air to pollute water and air. The batteries which are buried in landfills also mixes with water. In both the cases the toxic material enters into the food chain and affects people, plant and animals. Globally 50% of lead used in manufacturing battery is generated from recycling of the existing lead. In USA about 80% of the lead used for domestic purpose is from batteries (Batteries for IT Systems: Environmental Issues 3-4). 7.2. Social Concern. Lead is not readily absorbed by the skin. The fumes and dust which are produced in the lead manufacturing creates respiratory and eye problem and several other complications by damaging kidney, nervous system and reproductive system. Lead is categorized as cause of probable human carcinogen by EPA and International Agency for Research on Cancer. Also, lead gets attached to the body parts and clothes of the workers, which they carry back home and the children at home also gets affected. A recent study in the United Sates showed that many children have traces of lead in their blood which is because parents come back home with lead attached to their clothes or body. More hazardous exposure occurs from lead when it is exposed to fire (Batteries for IT Systems: Environmental Issues 3-4). 8. Ways to prevent Hazards from battery Handlers are the people who manage the battery waste. Handler of waste battery means operator who receives universal waste batteries from another handler and sends it for recycling. The steps that hander should follow to stop environmental hazards are: Prevention. The release of the batteries should be prevented so that it does not pollute the environment. Labeling. Proper labeling should be done specifying waste batteries in the container so that it does not mix with other wastes. Closing Container. Container should be properly closed to avoid any type of mixing or vaporizing in the air Training. Proper training should be imparted to the handlers and common people regarding handling of waste battery Recycling. The waste batteries should not be kept for long time. It should be sent to be recycled as soon as possible. Shipment. During shipment of waste batteries, special care has to be takes so that the toxic material does not mix with natural resources (Universal Waste” Batteries: Management Requirements for Handlers and Transporters 2-3) Apart from all these, the individual also has to find other ways to reduce disposal of batteries. Using of rechargeable batteries can be one of the solutions (Battery recycling 1). 9. Conclusion Batteries have become an inevitable part of our day to day life. If replacement of battery is thought, no ideas can come to our mind. However, science and technology is advancing everyday and so from that one can expect a new or modified version of batteries. Fuel batteries are quite promising in this aspect. This battery can replace some old batteries and can be effectively used in laptop computer too. Fuel cell also operates in the same way as other batteries that are creating electricity from chemicals. The only difference is that in this case, fuel like hydrogen or other natural gases are used to create electricity. Yet it is suffering from barriers regarding cost and fuel supply (The Past, Present and Future of Batteries and Microbatteries 7). Lithium-ion batteries are generally found in laptop computers, cars and power grids. As per the new report from research firm HIS, the battery market is going to increase up to $5.8 billion a year between 2012 and 2020 (Roach). This shows how the battery companies are going to experience huge growth. For the instant and foreseeable future, batteries will be deemed as small, portable power equipment. Works Cited Anderson, David. An Evaluation Of Current And Future Costs For Lithium-Ion Batteries For Use In Electrified Vehicle Powertrains. Dukespace, 2009. Web. 22 Dec. 2012. Battery Recycling Fact Sheet, National Recycling Week, Planet Ark, 2012. PDF file Toyota Sales Force. Batteries, USA Inc. n.d. PDF file Batteries for IT Systems: Environmental Issues, Green IT. 2005. PDF file Dell, Ronald M. & David Anthony James Rand. Understanding Batteries. UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2001. Print Hess, Ander. Which battery is better? Science Buddles. 1999. PDF file Hoffart, Fran. Proper Care Extends Li-Ion Battery Life. Power Electronic Technology, 2008. PDF file Reddy, Thomas. Linden's Handbook of Batteries, 4th Edition. McGraw Hill Professional, 2010. Print Roach, John. “Battery tech improving as demand soars.” NBC News, 2012. Web. 28 Dec. 2012. < http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/battery-tech-improving-demand-soars-120509> The Past, Present and Future of Batteries and Microbatteries, n.d. PDF file “Universal Waste” Batteries: Management Requirements for Handlers and Transporters, Environmental Factsheet, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Practices, 2010. PDF file Read More