Home Lighting Chemical reactions with aluminum air batteries. Air aluminum battery uses salty water for charging. Combined sources of current

Chemical reactions with aluminum air batteries. Air aluminum battery uses salty water for charging. Combined sources of current

Chemical sources of current with stable and high specific characteristics are one of the most important conditions for the development of means of communication.

Currently, the need for electricity users for communications is covered mainly due to the use of expensive galvanic elements or batteries.

Batteries are relatively autonomous power sources, since they need a periodic charge from the network. Chargers used for this purpose have a high cost and are not always able to provide a favorable charge mode. Thus, the Sonnenschein battery, made using DryFit technology and having a weight of 0.7 kg, and the capacity of 5 A · h is charged for 10 hours, and when charging, it is necessary to observe the regulatory current values, voltages and charge time. Charge is performed first at constant toke., then with constant voltage. For this apply expensive charging device with software control.

Absolutely autonomous are electroplated elements, but they, as a rule, have low power and limited container. On the exhaustion of the energy embedded in them they are disposed of, polluting environment. An alternative to dry sources are air-metal mechanically rechargeable sources, some of the energy characteristics of which are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 - Parameters of some electrochemical systems

Electro-chemical system

Theoretical parameters

Practically implemented parameters

Specific energy, W · h / kg

Voltage, B.

Specific energy, W · h / kg

Air aluminum

Air-magnetic

Air-zinc

Nickel-metal hydride

Nickel Cadmieva

Manganese-zinc

Manganese-Lithia

As can be seen from the table, air-metal sources, in comparison with other widely used systems, possess the largest theoretical and practically real-based energy parameters.

Air and metal systems were implemented significantly later, and their development is still less intensively intensively than other sources of other electrochemical systems. However, testing of prototypes created by domestic and foreign firms showed their sufficient competitiveness.

It is shown that aluminum and zinc alloys can operate in alkaline and salt electrolytes. Magnesium - only in salt electrolytes, and its intensive dissolution goes both when generating current and pauses.

In contrast to magnesium aluminum in salt electrolytes dissolves only when generating the current. Alkaline electrolytes are most promising for the zinc electrode.

Air-aluminum current sources (VIT)

Based on aluminum alloys, mechanically rechargeable current sources with an electrolyte based on a cook salt are created. These sources are absolutely autonomous and can be used for power supply not only means of communication, but also for charge batteries, nutrition of various household equipment: radio receivers, televisions, coffee grid, electric drills, lamps, electrofeys, soldering iron, low-power refrigerators, centrifugal pumps, etc. Absolute autonomy of the source Allows you to use it in the field, in regions that do not have centralized power supply, in places of catastrophe and natural disasters.

The charge is carried out for a few minutes, which are necessary for filling electrolyte and / or replace aluminum electrodes. For charge, only the cook salt, water and the supply of aluminum anodes are needed. As one of the active materials, air oxygen is used, which is restored at carbon and fluoroplastic cathodes. Cathodes are quite cheap, provide the operation of the source for a long time and, therefore, have a slight effect on the cost of generated energy.

The cost of electricity obtained in the VIT is determined mainly, only the cost of periodically replaced by anodes, it does not include the cost of the oxidizing agent, materials and technological processesproviding the efficiency of traditional galvanic elements and, therefore, it is 20 times lower than the cost of the energy obtained from such autonomous sources as alkaline manganese-zinc elements.

table 2 - Parameters of air-aluminum current sources

Battery Type

Battery brand

Number of elements

Mass of electrolyte, kg

Capacity in the stock of electrolyte, and · h

Mass of the set of anodes, kg

Capacity in the stock of the anodes, and · h

Battery mass, kg

Submersible

Filled

The duration of continuous operation is determined by the value of the consumed current, the volume of the electrolyte is filled into the element of the electrolyte and is 70 - 100 A · b / l. The lower limit is determined by the viscosity of the electrolyte, at which its free drain is possible. The upper limit corresponds to a decrease in the characteristics of the element by 10-15%, but by its achievement to remove the electrolyte mass it is necessary to use mechanical deviceswhich can damage the oxygen (air) electrode.

The viscosity of the electrolyte increases as the suspension of aluminum hydroxide is saturated. (Aluminum hydroxide occurs in nature in the form of clay or alumina, is an excellent product for the production of aluminum and can be returned to production).

Replacing the electrolyte is carried out in minutes. With new portions of electrolyte, welcome can work until the anode resource exhaustion, which, with a thickness of 3 mm, is 2.5 A · CH / cm 2 of the geometric surface. If the anodes were dissolved, they are replaced with new ones for a few minutes.

It is very small self-discharge, even when storing with an electrolyte. BUT B. since thethat in the break between the discharge can be stored without electrolyte - his self-discord is negligible. The resource of work is limited to the service life of the plastics, from which it is made without electrolyte can be kept up to 15 years.

Depending on the requirements of the consumer, it can be modified with the fact that 1 element has a voltage of 1 V at a current density of 20 mA / cm 2, and the current removed from the VIT is determined by the electrode area.

The studies conducted in the MEI (TU) of the processes occurring on the electrodes and in the electrolyte, made it possible to create two types of air-aluminum sources of current - fill and submersible (Table 2).

Flipped Wit.

Poons are consisting of 4-6 elements. The element of the pliable will be (Fig. 1) is a rectangular tank (1), in the opposite walls of which cathode is installed (2). The cathode consists of two parts electrically connected to one electrode tire (3). Between the cathodes there is an anode (4), the position of which is fixed by the guides (5). The design of the element patented by the authors / 1 / allows to reduce the negative effect of aluminum hydroxide generated as the final product, due to the organization of internal circulation. To this end, the element in the plane perpendicular to the plane of the electrodes is divided by partitions into three sections. Partitions also perform the role of the guide anode of the transfer (5). In the middle section there are electrodes. The gas bubbles released during operation are raised together with the electrolyte stream, the suspension of the hydroxide, which is lowered to the bottom in the other two sections of the element.

Picture 1 - Element diagram

Air supply to cathodes in VIT (Fig. 2) is carried out through the gaps (1) between the elements (2). The extreme cathodes are protected from external mechanical effects by side panels (3). The impassability of the structure is ensured by using a quickly removable cover (4) with a sealing gasket (5) from porous rubber. Tension rubber gasket It is achieved by pressing the cover to the body and fix it in this state using spring locks (not shown in the figure). Resetting gas is carried out through specially designed porous hydrophobic valves (6). Elements (1) in the battery are connected sequentially. Plastic Anodes (9), the design of which is designed in MEI, have flexible current converses with an element of the connector at the end. The connector, the response part of which is connected to the cathode block, allows you to quickly disconnect and attach an anode when replacing it. When connected all the anodes, the elements are connected sequentially. The extreme electrodes are connected to the bores (10), also via connectors.

1- air gap, 2 - element, 3 - protective panel, 4 - cover, 5 - cathode tire, 6 - gasket, 7-valve, 8 - cathode, 9 - anode, 10 - Born

Figure 2. - Bulk Vait.

Immersed Vait.

Immersible waters (Fig. 3) is an overwhelmed watered on the wrong one. Cathodes (2) are deployed to the active layer outward. The capacity of the element in which the electrolyte was flooded is divided into two partition and serves for separate air supply to each cathode. In the gap through which the air was supplied to the cathodes, an anode was installed (1). It is not activated by no electrolyte fill, but immersion in the electrolyte. The electrolyte is preloaded and stored in a break between discharges in the tank (6), which is divided into 6 non-interconnected sections. As a tank, the battery monoblock is 6T-60TM.

1 - Anode, 4 - Cathodic Camera, 2 - Cathode, 5 - Top Panel, 3 - Stroke, 6 - Electro Tank

Figure 3. - immersed air-aluminum element in the module panel

This design allows you to quickly disassemble the battery, removing the module with electrodes, and manipulate when filling and unloading the electrolyte not with the battery, but with a capacity, the mass of which with an electrolyte is 4.7 kg. The module combines 6 electrochemical elements. Elements are attached on the top panel (5) of the module. Mass of the module with a set of anodes 2 kg. Serial compound The modules were gained from 12, 18 and 24 elements. The disadvantages of the air-aluminum source include rather high internal resistance, low specific power, voltage instability during the discharge and voltage failure when turned on. All these disadvantages are leveled when using a combined current source (WHP) consisting of a wield and battery.

Combined sources of current

The discharge curve of the "fillible" source of 6Vit50 (Fig. 4) When charging a sealed lead battery, 2 WG10 with a capacity of 10 A · h is characterized as the power supply of other loads, a voltage failure in the first seconds when the load is connected. Within 10 -15 minutes, the voltage increases to the worker, which remains constant during the entire discharge. The depth of the failure is determined by the condition of the surface of the aluminum anode and its polarization.

Figure 4. - Discharge Curve 6Vit50 when charging 2rse10

As is known, the battery charge process only occurs when the voltage at the source that gives energy is higher than on the battery. The failure of the initial voltage will lead to the fact that the battery begins to discharge on it and, therefore, inverse processes are started on the electrodes, which can lead to the passivation of anodes.

To prevent unwanted processes in a chain between the VIT and the battery, a diode is installed. In this case, the discharge voltage is used when charging the battery is determined not only by the battery voltage, but also the voltage drop on the diode:

U wate \u003d u acc + Δu diode (1)

Introduction to a chain of a diode leads to an increase in voltage both at VIT and on the battery. The effect of the diode in the circuit illustrates Fig. 5, which presents a change in the difference in voltages and the battery when charging the battery alternately with a diode in the chain and without it.

In the process of charge the battery in the absence of a diode, the voltage difference tends to decrease, i.e. Reducing the efficiency of work, while in the presence of a diode the difference, and, consequently, the efficiency of the process tends to increase.

Figure 5. - Voltage difference 6Vat125 and 2 sg10 when charging with a diode and without it

Figure 6. - Change the current of discharge 6Vat125 and 300KK11 during consumer power supply

Figure 7. - Changing the specific energy of the KIT (VIT - lead battery) with an increase in the proportion of peak load

The means of communication is characterized by energy consumption in variable mode, including peak, loads. Such a nature of consumption was modeled by us when the consumer was powering with a base load of 0.75 A and peak 1.8 and from a whale consisting of 6Vit125 and 3kNGK11. The nature of the change in currents of the generated (consumed) components of the whale is presented in Fig. 6.

From the figure it is seen that in the basic mode, the current generates current generation sufficient to power the base load and the battery charge. In the case of peak load, consumption is ensured by a current generated by and battery.

We spent theoretical analysis showed that the specific energy of the whale is a compromise between the specific energy of the VIT and the battery and increases with a decrease in the proportion of peak energy (Fig. 7). The specific power of the whale is higher than the specific power and increases with increasing the proportion of peak load.

conclusions

New current sources based on the electrochemical system "air-aluminum" with a solution of the table salt as an electrolyte, the energy intensity of about 250 a · h and with a specific energy of more than 300 W · h / kg.

The charge of the developed sources is carried out within a few minutes by mechanical replacement of electrolyte and / or anode. Source self-discharge is negligible and therefore, they can be stored for 15 years before activation. Developed sources, characterized by the activation method.

The work of air-aluminum sources during the charge of the battery and in the combined source is investigated. It is shown that the specific energy and the specific power of the WHC are compromise values \u200b\u200band depend on the proportion of peak load.

VIT and whale based on them are absolutely autonomous and can be used for power supply not only means of communication, but also the nutrition of various household equipment: electromashes, lamps, low-power refrigerators, etc. Absolute autonomy of the source allows you to use it in field conditions in regions that do not have centralized Power supply, in places of catastrophe and natural disasters.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  1. RF Patent No. 2118014. Metal-air element. / Dyachkov E.V., Klemenov B.V., Korovin N.V., // MPK 6 H 01 m 12/06. 2/38. Prog. 06/17/97 publ. 20.08.98
  2. Korovin N.V., Kleimenov B.V., VOLIGOVA I.A. & VOLIGOV I.A.// abstr. SECOND SYMP. ON NEW MATER. For Fuel Cell and Modern Battery Systems. July 6-10. 1997. Montreal. Canada. V 97-7.
  3. Korovin N.V., Klemenov B.V. MEI Bulletin (in print).

The work was carried out in the framework of the program "Scientific Research of Higher School on Priority Directions of Science and Technology"

Fans of electric vehicles have long been dreaming of batteries that will allow their four-wheeled friends to overcome more than one and a half thousand kilometers on one charge. The management of the Israeli startup PHINERGY believes that the Aluminum-Air Battery developed by the specialists will perfectly cope with this task.

CEO Phinergy, Aviv Sidon, the other day announced the start of partnerships with a large automaker. It is expected that additional funding will allow the company to establish mass production Revolutionary batteries for 2017.

On the video ( at the end of the article) The reporter of the Bloomberg news agency, Elliot Gotkin, travels around the wheel of small trains, which was converted to an electric vehicle. At the same time, in the trunk of this car, the PHINERGY aluminum battery was installed.

The Citroen C1 electric vehicle with a lithium-ion battery can pass no more than 160 km on one charge, but the aluminum-air battery PHINERGY allows him to overcome additional 1600 kilometers.

The video shows that engineers fill special tanks inside the demonstration vehicle with distilled water. Forecast on-board computer The running range of the auto is displayed on the display. mobile phone general director Phinergy.

Water serves as the basis for electrolyte through which ions pass by highlighting the energy. Electricity is powered by car electric motors. According to the engineers of the startup, the supply of water in the tanks of the demonstration car must be replenished "every few hundred kilometers".

Aluminum plates are used as an anode in aluminum-air batteries, and the outer air protrudes the cathode. The aluminum component of the system slowly destroys, since metal molecules are connected to oxygen and excrete energy.

More precisely: four aluminum atoms, three oxygen molecules and six water molecules are combined to create four hydrated aluminum oxide molecules with energy release.

Historically, the aluminum-air batteries were used only for the needs of the army. The need to periodically remove aluminum oxide and replace aluminum anode plates.

PHINERGY representatives say that the patented cathode material allows oxygen from the outer air to freely enter the battery cell, while this material does not allow carbon dioxide, which is also contained in the air, pollute the battery. It is in most cases that prevented normal operation of aluminum-air batteries for a long period. At least until now.

The company's specialists also develop that can be recharged by electricity. IN this case Metal electrodes are not destroyed so rapidly as in the case of aluminum-air analogues.

Sidon says that the energy of one aluminum plate helps the electric vehicle to overcome about 32 kilometers (this allows us to assume that the specific electricity generation on the plate is about 7 kW * h). So in the demo machine installed 50 such plates.

The whole battery, as the top manager notes, weighs only 25 kg. It follows from this that its energy density is more than 100 times higher than that of ordinary lithium-ion batteries Modern sample.

It is likely that in the case of a serial model of an electric vehicle, the battery can be significantly more severe. It will take place the equipment of the battery with a thermal air conditioning system and a protective casing, which in the prototype was not observed (judging by the roller).

In any case, the appearance of a battery with a density of energy, which is an order of magnitude higher than that of modern lithium-ion batterieswill be an excellent news for automakers who have made a bet on electrical machines - as it is essentially eliminating any problems caused by a limited distance of the course of modern electrocarbers.

We have a very interesting prototype before us, but many questions remain unanswered. How will aluminum-air batteries be operated in serial electric vehicles? How difficult will the procedure for replacing aluminum plates? How often will they change them? (after 1500 km? after 5000 km? or less often?).

In available at this stage marketing Materials It is not described what will be the total carbon trail of metal-air batteries (since the production of raw materials before installing the battery in the car) compared with modern lithium-ion analogues.

This moment probably deserves a detailed study. AND research work must be completed before the start of mass implementation new technologySince the extraction and processing of aluminum ores and the creation of a suitable metal is a very energy-intensive process.

Nevertheless, another event scenario is not excluded. Additional metal batteries can be added to lithium-ion, but they will be used only in the case of long distance travel. This option can be quite attractive for manufacturers of electric vehicles, even if the new type batteries will have a higher carbon footprint.

Based on

Candidate of Technical Sciences E. Kulakov, Candidate of Technical Sciences S. Sevrook, Candidate of Chemical Sciences A. Pharmakovskaya.

Energy installation on air-aluminum elements is only part of the car trunk and provides a range of its run to 220 kilometers.

The principle of operation of the air-aluminum element.

The operation of the power plant on air-aluminum elements is controlled by a microposessor.

A small-sized air-aluminum element on the salt electrolyte can replace four batteries.

Science and life // illustration

Energy installation EU 92V-240 on air-allyminia elements.

Humanity, apparently, is not going to give up cars. Little of: car park The lands can soon increase by about twice as well - mainly due to the mass motorization of China.

Meanwhile, the cars carrying on the roads emit thousands of tons of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere - the very presence of which in the air in the amount, the larger ten percent equity, for a person is mortally. And in addition to carbon monoxide, many tons of nitrogen oxides and other poisons, allergens and carcinogens are incomplete combustion products of gasoline.

All over the world has long been searching for alternatives to the car with the engine internal combustion. And the most real one is considered an electric vehicle (see "Science and Life" No. 8, 9, 1978). The world's first electric vehicles were created in France and in England at the very beginning of the 80s of the last century, that is, a few years earlier than cars with internal combustion engines (DVS). And that appeared, for example, in 1899 in Russia, the first self-moving crew was electric.

The traction electric motor in such electric cars received meals from exorbitantly heavy batteries of lead batteries with the energy intensity of only about 20 watt-hours (17.2 kilocaloria) per kilogram. So, in order to "feed" the engine with a capacity of 20 kilowatts (27 horse power) at least for an hour required lead battery Weighing 1 ton. The amount of gasoline occupies the equivalent of it on the storage energy, takes a gas tank with a capacity of only 15 liters. That is why only in accordance with the invention of the FCs, the production of cars began to grow rapidly, and electric cars were considered a dead-end branch of the automotive industry to decades. And only the ecological problems arising before humanity made the designers back to the idea of \u200b\u200ban electric vehicle.

By itself, the replacement of the engine electric motor is, of course, the temptation: at the same power of the electricity of the electricity and the weight of it is easier, and in the control is easier. But even now, after more than 100 years after the first appearance car batteries, energy intensity (i.e., stored energy) even the very best of them does not exceed 50 watts-hours (43 kilocaloria) per kilogram. And therefore hundreds of kilograms of batteries remain the weight equivalent of the gas tank.

If you consider the need for a multi-hour battery charging, a limited number of cycles charge-discharge and, as a result, a relatively short service life, as well as problems with the disposal of served batteries, then you have to recognize that the battery electric car is unsuitable for mass transport.

It has come, however, the moment say that the electric motor can receive energy and from another kind of chemical sources of current - galvanic elements. The most famous of them (so-called batteries) work in portable receivers and voice recorders, in hours and pocket lanterns. The basis of such a battery, as well as any other chemical source of current, is one or another redox reaction. And it, as is known from the school course of chemistry, is accompanied by the transmission of electrons from atoms of one substance (reducing agent) to the atoms of another (oxidant). Such transmission of electrons can be carried out through an external chain, for example, through a light bulb, a chip, or a motor, and thereby make electrons work.

To this end, the redox reaction is carried out in two receptions - they split it, so to speak, into two semi-resources flowing at the same time, but in different places. On the anode, the reducing agent gives his electrons, that is, it is oxidized, and at the cathode, the oxidant takes these electrons, that is, restored. The electrons themselves, flowing from the cathode to the anode through the outer chain, just make a useful work. This process, of course, is infinite, since the oxidizing agent, and the reducing agent is gradually spent by forming new substances. And as a result, the current source has to be thrown away. It is possible, however, continuously or from time to time to derive the reaction products from the source, and instead of the new and new reagents in it. In this case, they perform the role of fuel, and precisely because such elements are called fuel (see "Science and Life" No. 9, 1990).

The effectiveness of such a source of current is determined primarily as well as the reagents themselves and their own mode are selected. With the choice of the oxidizing agent there are no special problems, since the air around us consists of more than 20% of the excellent oxidizer - oxygen. As for the reducing agent (that is, fuel), then it is more complicated with him: it has to carry it with him. And therefore, when it is elected, first of all, it is necessary to proceed from the so-called mass-energy indicator - the useful energy allocated during the oxidation of the mass unit.

The best properties in this regard are hydrogen, followed by some alkaline and alkaline earth metals, and then aluminum. But the gaseous hydrogen is fire and explosive, and under high pressure is capable of leaking through metals. It is possible to lunch it only at very low temperatures, but to store is quite difficult. Alkaline and alkaline earth metals are also fire and, moreover, they are quickly oxidized in air and dissolved in water.

Aluminum has no one of these drawbacks. Always covered with a dense film of oxide, it is almost no oxidized in the air with all its chemical activity. Aluminum is relatively cheap and non-toxic, its storage does not create any problems. It is quite solvable and the task of its introduction to the current source is completely solvable: anodic plates are made of metal-fuel, which periodically - as they are dissolved - replaced.

And finally, the electrolyte. It can be any aqueous solution in this element: acid, alkaline or saline, since aluminum reacts with acids, and with alkalis, and when the oxide film is disturbed, it is dissolved in water. But it is preferable to use an alkaline electrolyte: it is simpler for the second half-reaction - the reduction of oxygen. In the acidic medium it is also restored, but only in the presence of an expensive platinum catalyst. In the alkaline environment, you can do a much cheaper catalyst - cobalt or nickel oxide or activated carbon, which are entered directly into the porous cathode. As for the salt electrolyte, it has less electrical conductivity, and the current source based on it is approximately 1.5 times less energy intensity. Therefore, in powerful car batteries, it is advisable to apply alkaline electrolyte.

He, however, also have shortcomings, the main of which is corrosion of the anode. It goes in parallel with the main toxual reaction and dissolves aluminum, transforming it into sodium aluminate with the simultaneous release of hydrogen. True, with little tangible speed, this side reaction is only in the absence of external load, it is precisely because air-aluminum current sources cannot be - unlike batteries and batteries - for a long time being charged in standby mode. Alkali solution in this case falls out of them. But on the normal current of the load, the side reaction is almost imperceptible and coefficient useful use Aluminum reaches 98%. The alkaline electrolyte of the waste is not becoming: filming it the aluminum hydroxide crystals, this electrolyte can be poured into the element again.

There is in the use of alkali electrolyte in an air-aluminum current source and another drawback: quite a lot of water is consumed during its operation. This increases the concentration of alkali in the electrolyte and could gradually change the electrical characteristics of the element. There is, however, such an interval of concentrations in which these characteristics are practically not changed, and if it is in it that is enough, it is enough to add water to electrolyte from time to time. Waste in the usual sense of the word when operating an air-aluminum current source is not formed. After all, the aluminum hydroxide hydroxide obtained by decomposition is simply white clay, that is, the product is not only absolutely clean environmentally friendly, but also very valuable as raw materials for many industries.

It is from it that, for example, is usually produced by aluminum, first heating to obtain alumina, and then exposing the melt of this alumina electrolysis. Therefore, it is possible to organize a closed resource-saving cycle of operation of air-aluminum current sources.

But aluminum hydroxide possesses both independent commercial value: it is necessary in the production of plastics and cables, varnishes, paints, glasses, coagulants for water, paper, synthetic carpets and linoleums. It is used in the radiotechnical and pharmaceutical industry, in the production of all kinds of adsorbents and catalysts, in the manufacture of cosmetics and even jewelry. After all, very many artificial precious stones - rubies, sapphires, Alexandrites are performed on the basis of aluminum oxide (corundum) with minor chromium impurities, titanium or beryllium, respectively.

The cost of "waste" of the air-aluminum source is completely commensurate with the cost of the starting aluminum, and the mass of them is three times the mass of the initial aluminum.

Why, despite all the listed advantages of oxygen-aluminum current sources, they are so long - until the very end of the 70s - were not seriously designed? Just because they were not claimed by technology. And only with the rapid development of such energy-intensive autonomous consumers as aviation and cosmonautics, military equipment and ground transport, the situation has changed.

The development of optimal anode compositions - an electrolyte with high energy characteristics at low corrosion speeds began, inexpensive aircatons with maximum electrochemical activity and a large service life were selected, optimal modes were calculated for long operationAnd for a short time.

The schemes of energy installations containing, besides actually sources of current, and a number of auxiliary systems - air supply, water, circulation of electrolyte and cleaning, thermostat, etc. Each of them is quite complex, and for the normal functioning of power plants in general A microprocessor control system was required, which sets the work algorithms and interact all other systems. An example of building one of the modern air-aluminum installations is shown in Figure (p. 63.): It is denoted by thick lines of liquids (pipelines), and thin - informational relations (signals of sensors and control commands.

In recent years, the Moscow State Aviation Institute (Technical University Tom) - MAI together with the Scientific and Production Complex of the current sources "Alternative Energy" - IT "ALTEN" was created a whole functional range of energy plants based on air-aluminum elements. Including - Experimental setting 92V-240 for electric vehicle. Its energy intensity and, as a result, the mileage of the electric car without recharging turned out to be several times higher than when using batteries - both traditional (nickel-cadmium) and newly developed (sulfur-sodium). Some specific characteristics of the electric vehicle on this power plant are shown on the adjacent color tab in comparison with the characteristics of the car and the electric vehicle on the batteries. Comparison This, however, requires explanation. The fact is that only the mass of fuel (gasoline) is taken into account for the car, and for both electric cars - the mass of current sources as a whole. In this regard, it should be noted that the electric motor has significantly smaller weight than gasoline, does not require transmission and saves energy several times. If you consider all this, it turns out that the real winning of the current car will be 2-3 times smaller, but still quite large.

There is 92VA-240 installation and others - purely operational - advantages. Recharge the air-aluminum batteries does not require an electrical outlet, but comes down to mechanical replacement Exhaust aluminum anodes are new, which takes no more than 15 minutes. It is even easier and faster there is a replacement of electrolyte to remove aluminum hydroxide precipitate from it. On the "filling" station, the exhaust electrolyte is subjected to regeneration and are used to re-refuel electric lei, and aluminum hydroxide separated from it is directed to recycling.

In addition to the electromotive power plant on air-aluminum elements, the same specialists have created a number of small power plants (see "Science and Life" No. 3, 1997). Each of these installations can be mechanically rechargeed at least 100 times, and the number is determined mainly by the resource of the porous air cathode. And the shelf life of these settings in an inaccurate state is not limited at all, since there is no loss of capacity during storage - there is no self-discord.

In small air-aluminum sources, the current can be used to prepare an electrolyte not only alkali, but also the usual table salt: the processes in both electroles are flowing likewise. True, the energy intensity of salt sources is 1.5 times less than alkaline, but the user they cause much less hassle. The electrolyte in them is completely safe, and you can even trust the child with it.

Air-aluminum sources of current for the supply of low-power household appliances are already produced, and the price is quite accessible. As for the automotive power installation of 92VA-240, it still exists only in experienced parties. One experimental sample with a rated power of 6 kW (at a voltage of 110 V) and a capacity of 240 amps-hours costs about 120 thousand rubles in 1998 prices. According to preliminary calculations, this cost after turning out of mass production will decrease at least 90 thousand rubles, which will allow to produce an electric vehicle with a price not much more than a car with an internal combustion engine. As for the cost of the operation of the electric vehicle, it is now quite comparable to the cost of operating the car.

The case remains for small - to produce a deeper assessment and extended tests, and then with positive results to begin trial operation.

The French company RENAULT offers to use aluminum-air batteries from Phinergy in future electric vehicles. Let's take a look at their prospects.

Renault decided to make a bet on a new type of battery, which can allow to increase the range of run from one charging seven times. When preserving the dimensions and weight of today's batteries. Aluminum-air (AL-AIR) Elements have a phenomenal energy density (8000 W / kg, against 1000 W / kg in traditional batteries), producing it when the aluminum oxidation reaction in the air. This battery contains a positive cathode and a negative anode made of aluminum, and between the electrodes contains a water-based liquid electrolyte.

The company's battery developer PHINERGY stated that it has reached great progress in the development of such batteries. Their proposal is to use a catalyst made of silver, which allows you to effectively use oxygen contained in conventional air. This oxygen is mixed with a liquid electrolyte, and thus frees the electrical energy, which is contained in the aluminum anode. The main nuance is air cathode", Which acts as a membrane in your winter jacket - passes only O2, and not carbon dioxide.

What is the difference from traditional batteries? In the last fully closed cells, while Al-AIR elements need an external element, "triggering" reaction. An important advantage is the fact that the Al-Air Battery acts as a diesel generator - it produces energy only when you turned it on. And when you "blocked the air" such a battery, all of its charge remains in place and does not disappear over time, like conventional batteries.

During the operation of the AL-AIR battery, an aluminum electrode is used, but it can be replaced as a cartridge in the printer. Charging should be done every 400 km, it will be to top up the new electrolyte, which is much easier than waiting until the usual battery is charged.

The company PHINERGY has already created an electric CITROEN C1, which is equipped with a 25 kg battery with a capacity of 100 kWh. It gives a stroke of 960 km. With a capacity of 50 kW (about 67 horsepower), the machine develops a speed of 130 km / h, accelerates to hundreds in 14 seconds. A similar battery is also tested on Renault Zoe, but its capacity is 22 kWh, the maximum speed of the car is 135 km / h, 13.5 seconds to "hundreds", but only 210 km of the turn of the stroke.

New batteries are easier, twice cheaper than lithium-ionic and in perspective is easier to operate, rather than modern. And so far, their only problem is an aluminum electrode, which is composed of production and replacement. As soon as this problem decides - you can safely expect even greater waves of the popularity of electric vehicles!

  • , Jan 20, 2015


Batteries are devices that transcribe chemical energy into electrical energy. They have 2 electrodes, there is a chemical reaction between them, which electrons are used or produced. Electrodes are connected with a solution with a solution called an electrolyte, with which ions can move by performing an electrical circuit. Electrons are formed on the anode and can pass through the outer chain on the cathode, this is the movement of electrical electrons that can be used to perform the simple devices.
In our case battery It can be formed with two reactions: (1) reactions with aluminum, which generates electrons per one electrode, and (2) Oxygen reactions, which uses electrons on another electrode. To help electrons in the battery, gain access to oxygen in the air, you can make a second electrode material that can carry out electricity, but is not active, for example, coal, which consists mainly of carbon. Activated coal is very porous and this sometimes leads to a large surface area, which is supplied to the atmosphere. One gram of activated carbon can be more square than a whole soccer field.
In this experience you can build batterywhich uses these two reactions and the most amazing thing that these batteries can feed a small motor or light bulb. To do this, you will need: aluminum foil, scissors, activated carbon, metal spoons, paper towels, salt, small cup, water, 2 electrical wires with clips at the ends and a small electrical device, such as an engine or LED. Cut the piece of aluminum foil size, which will be approximately 15x15cm., Prepare a saturated solution, a mixture of salt in a small cup with water until the salt will no longer dissolve, fold the paper towel to a quarter and feed it with brine. Put this towel on the foil, add a spoon of activated carbon to the top of a paper towel, pour the brine at coal to moisten it. Be sure that the coal is wet everywhere. In order not to touch the water directly you must melt 3 layers as in the sandwich. Prepare your electrical devices for use, one end of the electrical wire is attached to the download, and the other end of the wire is connected to the aluminum foil. Tightly press the second wire to a pile of coal and see what happens if the battery works fine, it is likely that you will need another item to turn on your device. Try to increase the area of \u200b\u200bcontact between your wire and charcoal, folding the battery and squeezing. If you use the engine, you can also help him start cooling the shaft with your fingers.
The first modern electrical battery was made from a number of electrochemical cells and is called a volt pillar. Repeat the first and third step to build an additional aluminum-air elementconnecting 2 or 3 air-aluminum element You will get a more powerful battery with each other. Use the multimeter to measure the voltage and current obtained from your battery.
How to change your battery so that it becomes more voltage or larger current - calculate the output power from your battery by means of its voltage and current. Try connecting other devices to your battery.

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