COMPARISON ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF BATTERIES

Sl.

Basis of Comparison

Anode

Cathode

Pb02
Self supporting thick plates
made of 99.99% pure Lead.
Pb
Leads to hydrogen gas
evolution

Lead Acid (Tubular) in Hard

Rubber / PP Container
Pb02
Lead Antimony alloy support
structure
Pb
Lead Antimony: Leads to hydrogen
gas evolution

Lead Acid (Tubular) in

Transparent SAN Container
Pb02
Lead Antimony alloy support
structure
Pb
Lead Antimony: Leads to hydrogen
gas evolution

H2SO4
Takes part in chemical reaction
during charge/discharge
process. Therefore, Electrolyte
Specific Grabvity is a direct
indicator of the state of charge.

H2SO4
Takes part in chemical reaction
during charge/discharge process.
Therefore, Electrolyte Specific
Gravity is a direct indicator of the
state of charge.

H2SO4
Takes part in chemical reaction
during charge/discharge process.
Therefore, Electrolyte Specific
Gravity is a direct indicator of the
state of charge.

Lead Acid (Plante)

Lead Acid (VRLA)

Pb02
Pb-Ca Alloy support structure

Ni-Cd Type
NiOOH

Pb
Lead Calcium Alloy: No hydrogen gas Cd
evoluation
KOH
H2SO4
Electrolyte does not take part in
Takes part in chemical reaction
chemical reaction during
during charge/discharge process.
charge/discharge process and there
Therefore, Electrolyte Specific Gravity
is no easy method of ascertaining
is a direct indicator of the state of
the state of charge of a Ni-Cd battery
charge.
during use.

Electrolyte

Cell Voltage

2V

2V

End Cell Voltage

1.85 V at 10 Hr rate

1.85 V at 10 Hr rate

1.85 V at 10 Hr rate

1.80 V at 10 Hr rate

1 V at 5 Hr rate

Container

Transparant SAN container

enables visual monitoring.

Opaque HR/PP container, visual

monitoring not possible.

Transparant SAN container

enables visual monitoring.

Opaque PP/ABS container, visual

monitoring not possible.

Opaque / translucent PP container,

visual monitoring not possible.

Vent Plugs

Microporous Vent Plugs

Explosion proof safety valve type

Conventional type vent plugs

Monitoring state of Charge

Application

10
11

Number of Cells
Cyclic Capability

Microporous Vent Plugs

- By measuring electrolyte
specific gravity
- visual monitoring through
transparent containers
Stand-by float application in
power plants, substations, UPS
System and other critical
applications. High discharge
Less
Limited

12

Reliability

Most reliable in float operations Quite reliable.

13

Susceptibility to high temperature

Satisfactory operations upto

40/45 deg C electrolyte
temperature

14

Air Conditioning required

15

ventilation

16
17
18

Corrosive fumes
Acid / Alkali Proof Flooring
Possibility of Spillage and Leaks

19

Battery Room

20
21
22
23
24

Retention of Charge (ROC)

Recovery from deep discharge
High rate discharge characteristic
Charge Acceptance
Energy Density

25

Topping up frequency

2V

No
Special ventilation with exhaust
fans
Very Low
Required
Very Low
Requires separate Battery
Room
Very Good
Good
Very Good
Very good
Low (Big Cells)
Topping up with distilled/ DM
water once in 12 - 18 months

Microporous Vent Plugs

- By measuring electrolyte specific
- By measuring electrolyte specific gravity
gravity
- visual monitoring through
transparent containers
Robust battery, suitable for both
Robust battery, suitable for both
frequest charge / discharge cyclic frequest charge / discharge cyclic
duties as well as for stand by
duties as well as for stand by
applications.
applications.
Less
Less
Excellent
Excellent
Very reliable.

Satisfactory operations upto 40/45 Satisfactory operations upto 40/45

deg C electrolyte temperature
deg C electrolyte temperature
No
Special ventilation with exhaust
fans
Low
Required
Low

No
Special ventilation with exhaust
fans
Low
Required
Very Low

1.2 V

2V

No easy method to ascertain state of No easy method is available to

charge
ascertain the state of charge.
Short time backup with low depth of Good for delivering high current for
discharge. Occational use in stand by special starting duties and also for
float application.
cycling duties.
Less
Good
Reliable, but prone to unexpected
malfunctioning
Prolonged operation at high ambiant
temp curtails battery life by 50% per 8
deg C above 25 deg C ( Ref IEEE
Spec 1189-1996)
YES

High (60% more than Lead Acid)

Excellent

Normal ventilation

Special ventilation with exhaust fans

Nill
Not required
Spill and leak proof
Does not require separate Battery
room
Excellent
Average
Very Good
Good
Very Good

Nil
Required
Low

Requires separate Battery room

Requires separate Battery room

Excellent
Very good
Good
Good
Good
Topping up with distilled/ DM water
once in 6 months.

Excellent
Very good
Good
Good
Good
Topping up with distilled/ DM water
No topping up required
once in 6 months.

Reliable but prone to memory effect.

Satisfactory operations upto 48/50
deg C electrolyte temperature
No

Requires separate Battery room

Poor
Excellent
Excellent
Good
Excellent
Topping up with DM water 2/3 times
a year

COMPARISON ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF BATTERIES

Sl.

Basis of Comparison

Lead Acid (Tubular) in Hard

Rubber / PP Container
Battery to be kept clean and dry Battery to be kept clean and dry
and terminals & connections to and terminals & connections to be
be checked periodically
checked periodically
State of charge/ cell condition
State of charge/ cell condition
should be regularly monitored
should be regularly monitored by
by measuring electrolyte sp.
measuring electrolyte sp. Gravity
Gravity and voltages
and voltages
No of Cells & the intercell
No of Cells & the intercell
connectors to be checked are
connectors to be checked are less
less

Lead Acid (Tubular) in

Transparent SAN Container
Battery to be kept clean and dry
and terminals & connections to be
checked periodically
State of charge/ cell condition
should be regularly monitored by
measuring electrolyte sp. Gravity
and voltages

Lead Acid (Plante)

Lead Acid (VRLA)

Battery to be kept clean and dry and
terminals & connections to be
checked periodically

Ni-Cd Type
Battery to be kept clean and dry and
terminals & connections to be
checked periodically

26

Cleaning requirements

27

Monitoring state of charge

28

No. of Cells & Intercell Connectors

29

Carbonation & requirement of change

of electrolite

No possibility of carbonation
leading to requirement of
change of electrolite

No possibility of carbonation
leading to requirement of change
of electrolite

No possibility of carbonation
Possibility of carbonation is high and
No possibility of carbonation leading
leading to requirement of change of
it may call for replacement of
to requirement of change of electrolite
electrolite
electrolyte once in every 6/7 years.

Recharge

Capable of quick recharge by

Boost charging upto 2.7 V/Cell
and 0.25 C10 Amps recharge
current. Normal float- cumboost charger can be used

Capable of quick recharge by

Boost charging upto 2.7 V/Cell.
Normal float- cum- boost charger
can be used

Capable of quick discharge by

Boost charging upto 2.7 V/Cell.
Normal float- cum- boost charger
can be used

These batteries require special CCCV

charging. Regular boost charging is
not recommended. To be maintained
only on float charge at 2.23 V/cell.
Quick recharge limited to fast
charging upto 2.3 V Cell and 0.15
C10 Amps limit current

Requires frequent equalising charge

to maintain full capacity in float
condition since charge retention of
the system is poor

Ageing

Plante Capacity does not drop

rather increases in service life.

Degrades continuously during

service life and falls to about 80%
of the initial rated capacity in 8-10
years. 25% compensation to
added while sizing

Degrades continuously during

service life and falls to about 80%
of the initial rated capacity in 8-10
years. 25% compensation to added
while sizing

Degrades gradually during service life

and falls to about 80% of the initial
rated capacity in 8-10 years. 25%
compensation to added while sizing

Degrades gradually during service

life and therefore 25% compensation
to added while sizing depending on
application

Life expectancy in Stand-by float

application
Internal resistance
Sensitivity to over charge and under
charge

15 - 20 years

10-12 years

14-15 years

8-10 years

15 - 20 years

Low

High

High

Very low

Very low

Moderately sensitive

Mildly sensitive

Mildly sensitive

Extremely sensitive

Moderately sensitive

Space requirement

High

Moderate (40% more space than

VRLA)

Moderate (40% more space than

VRLA)

Lowest (Compact - Less Foot Print)

Low (40% more space than VRLA)

30

31

32
33
34
35

No of Cells & the intercell

connectors to be checked are less

Voltage and physical condition of the Voltage and physical condition of the
battery to be monitored regularly
battery to be monitored regularly
No of Cells & the intercell connectors No of Cells & the intercell connectors
to be checked are less
to be checked are 60% more

36

Stacking

37
38

Thermal Runaway
Dry Out

Need to be stacked vertically

only
Not susceptible
Not Applicable

39

Memory effect

Not Present

Not Present

Not Present

Not Present

40

Cost of Electricity consumption during

float charge

Minimum

Moderate

Moderate

Good

Retains full charge at

recommended float charge even
after prolonged float operation and
hence, no float charge correction
factor is required during sizing

Retains full charge at

recommended float charge even
after prolonged float operation and
hence, no float charge correction
factor is required during sizing

Retains full charge at recommended

float charge even after prolonged float
operation and hence, no float charge
correction factor is required during
sizing

Ni -Cd batteries experience a "Float

effect" - a lowering of the average
discharge voltage during long- term
operation

Minimum 90% to 75% resp.

Minimum 90% to 75% resp.

Minimum 90% to 75% resp.

Very low. Around 50/ 60% only.

41

Effect of prolonged float operation

42

Ah and Wh efficiency

Retains full charge at

recommended float charge
even after prolonged float
operation and hence, no float
charge correction factor is
required during sizing
Minimum 90% to 75% resp.

Need to be stacked vertically only

Need to be stacked vertically only

can be stacked in any direction

Need to be stacked vertically only

Not susceptible
Not Applicable

Not susceptible
Not Applicable

Highly susceptible
Very Susceptible

Not susceptible
Not Applicable
Susceptible and hence prone to
sudden failure during emergency
High (as recharge factor high 1.4 or
1.5)

COMPARISON ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF BATTERIES

Sl.

Basis of Comparison

43

Scrap value

44

Recyclibility

45

Price of a Battery Bank

price as 'X')

Lead Acid (Tubular) in Hard

Rubber / PP Container
Very high (High lead content)
High (Moderate lead content)
Well established processes and Well established processes and
many approved / recognised
many approved / recognised
agencies
agencies
Lead Acid (Plante)

(ref. VRLA

3X to 4X

1.4X to 1.5X

Lead Acid (Tubular) in

Transparent SAN Container
High (Moderate lead content)
Well established processes and
many approved / recognised
agencies
1.6X to 2.0X

Lead Acid (VRLA)

Low (Low lead content)

Ni-Cd Type
Nil.

Well established processes and many

Difficult
approved / recognised agencies
X

3.5X to 4.5X