Types of electric cells

Piyush Singh Class – X Roll no. - 18

Different types of electric cells

Electrochemical cells

Electrolytic cell

Solar cell

Fuel cell

Galvanic cell

Cylindrical cell

Button cell

Prismatic cell

Pouch cell

ELECTRO CHEMICAL CELL

It is of three types› Electrolytic cell › Fuel cell› Galvanic cell

An electrolytic cell is an electrochemical cell that undergoes a redox reaction when electrical energy is applied. It is most often used to decompose chemical compounds, in a process called electrolysis

An electrolytic cell has three component parts: an electrolyte and two electrodes (a cathode and an anode). The electrolyte is usually a solution of water or other solvents in which ions are dissolved.

When driven by an external voltage applied to the electrodes, the electrolyte provides ions that flow to and from the electrodes, where charge-transferring (also called faradic or redox) reactions can take place. Only for an external electrical potential of correct polarity and sufficient magnitude can an electrolytic cell decompose a normally stable, or inert chemical compound in the solution.

Electrolytic cell

A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.[1] Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used.

Fuel cells are different from batteries in that they require a constant source of fuel and oxygen/air to sustain the chemical reaction.

In 1838, German Physicist Christian Friedrich Schönbein invented the first crude fuel cell.

The first commercial use of fuel cells was in NASA space programs to generate power for probes, satellites and space capsules.

Fuel cells are used for primary and backup power .They are used to power fuel cell vehicles, including

automobiles, buses, forklifts, airplanes, boats, motorcycles and submarines.

FUEL CELL

A galvanic cell, or voltaic cell, named after Luigi Galvani, or Alessandro Volta respectively, is an electrochemical cell that derives electrical energy from spontaneous redox reaction taking place within the cell. It generally consists of two different metals connected by a salt bridge, or individual half-cells separated by a porous membrane.

Volta was the inventor of the voltaic pile, the first electrical battery. In common usage, the word "battery" has come to include a single galvanic cell, but a battery properly consists of multiple cells.[1]

GALVANIC CELL

The cylindrical cell continues to be one of the most widely used packaging styles for primary and secondary batteries. The advantages are ease of manufacture and good mechanical stability. The tubular cylinder has the ability to withstand internal pressures without deforming.

The cylindrical cell design has good cycling ability, offers a long calendar life, is economical but is heavy and has low packaging density due to space cavities

The metallic cylinder measure 18mm in diameter and 65mm the length. The larger 26650 cell measures 26mm in diameter. 

CYLINDRICAL CELL

Smaller devices required a more compact cell design, and the button cell met this need. The desired voltage was achieved by stacking the cells into a tube. Early cordless telephones, medical devices and security wands at airports used these batteries.

A drawback of the button cell is swelling if charged too rapidly. Button cells have no safety vent and can only be charged at a 10- to 16-hour charge.

Most button cells in use today are non-rechargeable and can be found in medical implants, watches, hearing aids, car keys and memory backup.

BUTTON CELL

The prismatic cell satisfies the demand for thinner sizes and lower manufacturing costs. Wrapped in elegant packages resembling a box, prismatic cells make optimal use of space by using the layered approach.

These cells are predominantly found in mobile phones with lithium-ion.

The prismatic cell improves space utilization and allows flexible design but it can be more expensive to manufacture and have a shorter cycle life than the cylindrical design.

The prismatic cell requires a slightly thicker wall to compensate for the decreased mechanical stability from the cylindrical design, resulting in a small capacity drop.

PRISMATIC CELL

In 1995, the pouch cell surprised the battery world with a radical new design. Rather than using a metallic cylinder and glass-to-metal electrical feed-through for insulation, conductive foil tabs welded to the electrode and sealed to the pouch carry the positive and negative terminals to the outside.

POUCH CELL

The pouch cell offers a simple, flexible and lightweight solution to battery design. Exposure to high humidity and hot temperature can shorten service life.

The pouch cell makes the most efficient use of space and achieves a 90 to 95 percent packaging efficiency, the highest among battery packs.

No standardized pouch cells exist; each manufacturer builds the cells for a specific application.

Pouch packs are commonly Li-polymer. Its specific energy is often lower and the cell is less durable than Li-ion in the cylindrical package.

THE POUCH CELL

Swelling can occur as part of gas generation. Battery manufacturers are at odds why this happens. A 5mm (0.2”) battery in a hard shell can grow to 8mm (0.3”), more in a foil package.

To prevent swelling, the manufacturer adds excess film to create a “gas bag” outside the cell.

During the first charge, gases escape into the gasbag, which is then cut off and the pack resealed as part of the finishing process. Expect some swelling on subsequent charges; 8 to 10 percent over 500 cycles is normal.

SWELLING POUCH CELL

A solar cell (also called a photovoltaic cell) is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. It is a form of photoelectric cell (in that its electrical characteristics—e.g. current, voltage, or resistance—vary when light is incident upon it) which, when exposed to light, can generate and support an electric current without being attached to any external voltage source.

A solar cell made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer with its contact grid made from busbars (the larger strips) and fingers the (smaller ones).

Solar cells can be used devices such as this portable monocrystalline solar charger.

SOLAR CELL

STRUCTURE OF SOLAR CELL

Piyush Singh Class – X Roll no. - 18