The second part of this three-part blog series on Lithium-ion batteries explains the usage of lithium-ion batteries in electronic gadgets such as laptops and mobile phones. Further, it also substantiates the need for precaution and care while opening a battery package.
Broadly speaking, batteries can be categorized into two main types:
Note that lithium batteries are different from li-ion batteries. Lithium batteries are the coin-type batteries that you might find in clocks and wristwatches and can only be used once. Contrastly, lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable and generally found in phones and laptops.
Primary battery types result in left-over waste from battery manufacturing. Factories recycle the remaining scrap from the primary cells.
Lead-acid cells are considered the king of batteries. However, today, several other variations of secondary batteries are also commonly used.
An ideal battery is made up of the following essential elements
The internal construction of a sealed VLRA battery will be different from that of a regular battery. Some of the components of the battery's construction are:
Given below are some of the features of conventional ICT based vehicles and hybrid and electric vehicles. Some of their characteristics are mentioned below:
There are different varieties of lithium-ion batteries. And each of these batteries has varying characteristics. The table below compares and contrasts the different kinds of lithium chemistries:
Characteristic | LFP | NMC | LCO | LMO | LTO |
Voltage (in PVC) | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 2.4 |
Specific Energy (in Wh/kg) | 90-120 | 150-220 | 150-200 | 100-150 | 50-80 |
Energy Density (in Wh/l) | 333 | 580 | 560 | 420 | 177 |
Charge Rate (in C) | 1 | 0.7-1 | 0.7-1 | 0.7-1 | 1 |
Charge Voltage (in VPC) | 3.5-3.65 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 2.85 |
Discharge Rate (in C) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
Life Cycle | 2000-4000 | 1000-2000 | 500-1000 | 300-700 | 3000-7000 |
Thermal Runaway (in Degree Celsius) | 270 | 210 | 150 | 250 | N.A |
Prone to Thermal Runaway | NO | YES | YES | YES | NO |
Applications | Motive power | E-bikes, medical devices | Mobile phones, cameras, laptops, and tablets | Power tools, medical equipment, electric power trains | UPS, electric power trains, solar street lighting |
When looking at the design for an electronic device, it is necessary to select the right battery type for the best performance as well as user-friendliness.
While the specifications may vary based on the device, the primary criteria for battery selection are:
You may have heard of stories where defective li-ion batteries explode or cause fires at random. Lithium-ion batteries contain many materials and chemical elements that can introduce potential health risks and safety hazards to those who don't handle them with care.
As a student, if you're working on a project that involves li-ion batteries, it is advisable not to open them unless you are in the recommended environmental conditions.
This is the second part of a three-part series, you can read the first part here and the third part here.
Furthermore, to gain hands-on training about batteries, enrol yourself in Skill-Lync's Introduction to Battery Technology course.
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