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Sealed lead acid batteries are still used today because they are an inexpensive and reliable power source. Over the 140 years since the invention of the lead acid battery, various modifications and improvements have been made.
Wet cell batteries are the oldest version of lead acid battery, and are either serviceable or maintenance free. Serviceable batteries have vented, removable caps so the electrolyte can and should be checked regularly. This type of battery is the least expensive, and may last longer if properly maintained. However, they must be installed in a particular orientation, and can present a danger from leaking acid if damaged.
Maintenance free batteries are sealed for life and as the name implies, the water level does not need to be maintained or monitored. These batteries are much safer, but still must be installed upright and could present a danger from leaking acid if damaged.
Both types of wet cell batteries are somewhat temperature sensitive since the electrolyte solution can freeze or evaporate. They are also prone to gassing, which means they produce Hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous, flammable gas if overcharged.
Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries, or Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries are safer and more forgiving of ambient temperature changes than wet cell batteries. They are designed to prevent evaporation of the electrolyte, and that prolongs battery life and reduces gassing. The two types of Sealed Lead Acid batteries are Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) and Gel batteries.
Gel batteries were developed in the &#;s in Germany, and were popular in the &#;s. A silica-gelling agent is added to the sulfuric acid electrolyte liquid to turn it into a paste, making the electrolyte gel like and immobile, and the battery maintenance free. They are mainly used for UPS (uninterruptable power supply) systems. They work reliably in higher temperatures than other batteries, and they can be mounted in any direction. They last longer than other batteries, and they operate near their peak output for a longer time, until they quickly drop off.
AGM batteries, also called dry cell batteries or sealed lead acid batteries, came into wide use in the &#;s because they were lighter and more reliable than wet cell or gel batteries for specific applications. An AGM battery is similar to a wet cell battery, except the electrolyte is being held next to the plates in the fiberglass mats, as opposed to freely flooding the plates. Like gel batteries, this makes the AGM battery spill proof, as the acid is contained within the matting technology. They are more vibration resistant, and can withstand colder temperatures than a typical wet cell battery. They cost a little more, and are sensitive to overcharging, which can make them un-suitable for some applications.
AGM batteries outsell gel batteries. They are less expensive, and they are easier to recharge. They also offer more available power for the size. Gel batteries are more useful in applications where the temperature is hotter and a slower rate of discharge is a priority.
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Batteries don&#;t always receive the consideration from end users that they deserve. They power crucial equipment, including large floor care machines, and allow janitors to work untethered for extended periods of time.
But these days, advancement in battery technology has created a whole host of options for end users. And with battery jargon running wild &#; sealed, flooded, VRLA, AGM, gel, TPPL &#; it&#;s hard for even discerning customers to keep up.
To make matters worse, misunderstanding battery types can lead to poor battery maintenance, which is a sure way to shorten the life cycle of a battery.
Most of the batteries used in the cleaning industry are lead acid batteries, which come in two types: flooded and sealed. Although much of today&#;s floor care equipment runs on flooded batteries, which are generally less expensive and have a longer cycle life, the jan/san industry is seeing growing interest in sealed batteries, also known as valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries.
&#;Flooded batteries are still the desired battery for most floor maintenance equipment,&#; says Fred Wehmeyer, senior vice president of engineering for U.S. Battery Manufacturing Co., Corona, California, &#;although there are a number of customers switching to sealed lead acid batteries, primarily because of maintenance issues.&#;
Flooded batteries require the addition of water, whereas sealed batteries do not, thereby making them &#;maintenance-free&#; &#; an attractive feature for some facilities.
&#;The electrochemical reaction in flooded and sealed batteries is the same,&#; says Stacy Delzeit, senior applications engineer for Trojan Battery, Santa Fe Springs, California. &#;Both use lead and sulfuric acid as the electrolyte. What&#;s different is flooded batteries use an additive to the lead called antimony, which causes the battery to gas and generate hydrogen. When those batteries gas they lose water, which is why you have to add water back to them. Valve-regulated batteries don&#;t have antimony; therefore, they don&#;t gas, so they don&#;t lose water. Because valve-regulated batteries don&#;t lose water, you never have to add water back to them, thereby taking maintenance out of the equation.&#;
Wehmeyer tells his customers that a flooded lead acid battery that is well-maintained will always outlast a sealed lead acid battery. But a flooded lead acid battery that is poorly maintained will not last as long as a sealed lead acid battery that doesn&#;t require maintenance.
&#;It boils down to what type of maintenance program you have in the facility,&#; says Wehmeyer. &#;There are also applications where maintenance could be difficult or impossible to do, so in those situations the sealed lead acid battery would be the preferred technology.&#;
But maintenance programs aren&#;t the only consideration when choosing between batteries. Some facilities mandate the use of sealed lead acid batteries for safety reasons.
&#;All batteries generate some amount of hydrogen gas when they&#;re charging, and hydrogen can be explosive in sufficient quantities, depending on the size of the room or container,&#; says Delzeit. &#;Flooded batteries generate a lot more hydrogen because of venting; batteries are open, so hydrogen gets into the atmosphere. You&#;re not going to have that hydrogen gassing concern with valve-regulated batteries, because they are sealed.&#;
The sealed battery has a one-way valve designed to release any excess pressure if the battery is overcharged. Unlike flooded batteries, a sealed battery will not spill acid when tipped on its side, allowing it to be mounted in different positions.
&#;Unless it&#;s operating upside down, a VRLA battery should never leak acid,&#; says Wehmeyer. &#;That&#;s a huge advantage for applications where you might be in an office environment or a food storage application, where you don&#;t want any chance of acid spillage.&#;
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Defining VRLA Batteries, AGM Batteries And TPPL Batteries
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