Claims:We claim:
1. A system for improving charge-discharge rates of a power battery (302), the system comprising:
a power battery (302), wherein the power battery (302) comprises:
processed carbon impregnated negative electrodes (304); and
positive electrodes (306).
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbon impregnated negative electrodes (304) are constructed by incorporating processed carbon additive in negative active material of an electrode, and wherein the processed carbon additive comprises processed activated carbon with conductive carbon.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbon impregnated negative electrodes (304) are constructed by incorporating processed carbon additive in negative active material of an electrode, and wherein the processed carbon additive comprises processed activated carbon without conductive carbon.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power battery (302) is of pasted type, with one or more of flooded configuration, AGM configuration and gel configuration.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power battery (302) is of tubular type, with one or more of flooded configuration, AGM configuration and gel configuration.
6. A method for improving charge-discharge rates of a power battery (302), the method comprising:
incorporating a processed carbon additive in a negative active material of an electrode to create a carbon negative electrode (304);
selecting a configuration for constructing the power battery (302); and
incorporating the carbon negative electrode (304) in the power battery (302).
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processed carbon additive comprises processed activated carbon with one or more of conductive carbon, a binder and oxides of lead and zinc.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processed carbon additive comprises processed activated carbon without one or more of conductive carbon, the binder and oxides of lead and zinc.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the configuration selected for the power battery (302) is of tubular type, comprising one or more of flooded configuration, AGM configuration and gel configuration.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the configuration selected for the power battery (302) is of pasted type, comprising one or more of flooded configuration, AGM configuration and gel configuration. , Description:FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] The field of invention generally relates to the field of power batteries, and more specifically, the field of invention relates to a system and method for incorporating activated carbon in electrodes of a battery to improve dynamic parameters of battery performance.

BACKGROUND
[002] Lead acid batteries are used globally in various types of automobiles and electric vehicles. Lead acid batteries are reliable in different types of weather as they do not wear out easily.
[003] Since one of the major applications of lead acid batteries is in electric vehicles, it is also important that the batteries present inside such vehicles be devised to provide as well as absorb charge rapidly during instantaneous braking and acceleration of the vehicles.
[004] A popular type of battery is the ultra-battery comprising an asymmetrical super-capacitor and a lead acid battery in a unit cell. However, an important drawback of such a system is that the capacitor plate present in the ultra-battery is known to discharge at a lower potential than a standard negative lead plate. Moreover, such a type of ultra-battery is also difficult to construct.
[005] Currently, the existing systems do not succeed in reducing sulfation of negative electrodes in the battery occurring due to acid stratification, especially during a high rate partial state-of-charge (HRPSoC) operation. Excess sulfation of the negative electrodes in such a case results in generation of large lead sulfate crystals; consequently, resulting in a reduced capacity of the battery since bigger crystals with low surface area are difficult to reduce during the recharging process of the battery. The state-of-charge of the battery plays an important role in the sulfation process and thus, also in the capacity of the battery.
[006] Other existing systems have tried to address this problem. However, their scope is limited to the addition of a capacitor plate in the battery. The disadvantage of this system is that the capacitor would only be useful in very small capacity.
[007] Moreover, inclusion of an additional component in a battery further requires a change in design or construction of the battery.
[008] In addition to this, the problems of an average life cycle of the battery or an average power rating offered by a battery commonly known in the art are still prevalent.
[009] Therefore, there is a long-felt need of a battery system for electric vehicles and other applications that does not suffer from the problems discussed above, especially in situations wherein a structural change in the battery is required.
[0010] Thus, in light of the above discussion, it is implied that there is a need for a system and method of improving battery parameters, and construct battery components that can offer longer life span to the battery system, further enhancing battery capacity.

OBJECT OF INVENTION
[0011] The principle object of this invention is to provide a system and method to increase charge and discharge rates of a power battery.
[0012] A further object of the invention is to provide a system and method of incorporating processed activated carbon in a negative active material of an electrode in a power battery.
[0013] A further object of the invention is to provide a system and method of improving cycle life in a lead-acid battery.
[0014] Yet another object of the invention is to improve dynamic parameters of a lead-acid battery performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0015] This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which, like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.
[0016] The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0017] Fig. 1 depicts/illustrates a cell assembly of conventional lead acid battery, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0018] Fig. 2 depicts/illustrates an ultra-battery comprising a carbon negative electrode, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0019] Fig. 3 depicts/illustrates a carbon impregnated power battery comprising carbon impregnated negative electrode in accordance with an embodiment;
[0020] Fig. 4 depicts/illustrates a comparative analysis of a 7Ah
VRLA AGM type regular battery, an ultra-battery and a carbon impregnated power battery, at constant parameters, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0021] Fig. 5 depicts/illustrates a charge-discharge curve for a 7Ah
VRLA AGM type carbon impregnated power battery, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0022] Fig. 6 depicts/illustrates charging characteristics for 7Ah
VRLA AGM type carbon impregnated power battery at varying charging current on a voltage vs. charging time axis representation, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0023] Fig. 7 depicts/illustrates charging characteristics for 7Ah
VRLA AGM type carbon impregnated power battery at varying charging current on a current vs. charging time axis representation, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0024] Fig. 8 depicts/illustrates discharge of 7Ah
VRLA AGM type carbon impregnated power battery at varying discharge current after charging at 1.2A and 18A, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0025] Fig. 9 depicts/illustrates a voltage vs. charging time comparative representation of charging characteristics for 12V, 90Ah tubular, flooded, power and regular batteries, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0026] Fig. 10 depicts/illustrates a current vs. charging time comparative representation of charging characteristics for 12V, 90Ah tubular, flooded, power and regular batteries, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0027] Fig. 11 depicts/illustrates a current vs. duration of charging comparative representation of charging characteristics for 12V, 90Ah tubular, power and regular batteries at a charging current of 30A, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0028] Fig. 12 depicts/illustrates comparative voltage vs. duration of discharge representation for 12V, 90Ah tubular, flooded, power and regular batteries after charging at 30A, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0029] Fig. 13 depicts/illustrates discharge characteristics at 45A of 12V, 90Ah tubular, flooded, power battery after charging at 6, 18 and 30A, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0030] Fig. 14 illustrates a flowchart for a method of improving charge-discharge rates of a power battery, in accordance with an embodiment.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION
[0031] The present invention discloses a system and method for improving charge-discharge rates for a lead acid battery. The disclosed system comprises a lead-acid power battery comprising a carbon impregnated negative electrode. In the present system, the carbon impregnated negative electrode comprised in the system is constructed by incorporating processed carbon additive in negative material of an electrode, wherein the carbon additive is processed activated carbon. Further, the power battery comprises multiple positive plates/electrodes and negative plates/electrodes. In the present system, the carbon impregnated negative electrode is considered to function similar to a negative plate/electrode used in a lead-acid battery.
[0032] The carbon impregnated power battery disclosed in the present invention is used in multiple different configurations such as gel configuration, flooded configuration, and AGM configuration in pasted as well as tubular types.
[0033] The purpose of improving dynamic parameters such as charge-discharge rates of the power battery are achieved by reducing sulfation rates of the negative electrode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0035] The present invention discloses, by way of an illustrative embodiment, a system and method for improving dynamic parameters of a carbon impregnated power battery performance such as charge and discharge rate. In the present invention, the objective of improving battery parameters are achieved by the addition of processed carbon to a negative electrode of a conventional lead-acid battery. The carbon impregnated negative electrode, in the disclosed invention, is constructed by the incorporation of a processed carbon additive in the negative material of the electrode. Addition of the processed carbon additive results in lower sulfation rates of the negative electrode, thereby improving battery capacity.
[0036] In the context of the present invention, a carbon impregnated power battery may be any battery used in electric vehicles and other applications that consume energy by using a battery, wherein the carbon impregnated power battery comprises lead acid components and electrodes electrically connected to generate power in the carbon impregnated power battery. Sulfation, in the context of the present invention, is a commonly known process of lead sulfate crystals building up on a negative electrode present in a lead acid battery, thereby contributing to early failure of the lead acid battery.
[0037] For the purpose of this description, the power battery may also be hereinafter referred to as carbon impregnated to negative active material of a lead acid battery.
[0038] Throughout this description, a system and method for improving charge-discharge rates of a lead acid battery have been explained with the help of a battery comprising a carbon impregnated negative electrode, wherein the carbon impregnated negative electrode is constructed by incorporating a processed carbon additive to a negative electrode material. This embodiment should not be read as a limitation of this invention and the scope of this description covers other embodiments wherein the disclosed means of improving performance parameters of a lead acid battery using a processed carbon additive may be utilized.
[0039] Referring now to the drawings, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0040] Fig. 1 depicts/illustrates a 2V cell assembly of a conventional lead acid battery 102 that is commonly known in the art, as depicted at 100. The conventional lead acid battery 102 comprises multiple negative plates/electrodes 104, wherein the negative electrodes 104/1-104/4 are made of lead (Pb). The lead acid battery 102 depicted in Fig. 1 further comprises multiple positive plates/electrodes 106/1-106/3, wherein the positive electrodes 106 are made of lead oxide (PbO2).
[0041] Fig. 2 depicts/illustrates an ultra-battery 202 at 200, in accordance with the present invention.
[0042] The ultra-battery 202 comprises a set of electrodes viz., negative electrodes 104/1-104/3 made of lead (Pb), positive electrodes 106/1-106.3 made of lead oxide (PbO2), a pair of counter electrodes 204/1-204/2, and a carbon negative electrode 206.
[0043] In an embodiment of the invention, the counter electrodes 204 are electrolytically plated with lead-di-oxide (PbO2).
[0044] An advantage of the presence of the counter electrodes 204 along with the carbon negative electrode 206 results in a higher and faster rate of charge acceptance of the ultra-battery 202.
[0045] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there may be two counter electrodes 204 present in the ultra-battery 202.
[0046] Further, depending upon requirements and battery constructions, there may be a greater number of counter electrodes 204 present in the ultra-battery 202, as per user requirements.
[0047] Fig. 3 depicts/illustrates, at 300, a 2V cell assembly of a carbon impregnated power battery 302 that is similar to the conventional lead acid battery as depicted at 100. The carbon impregnated power battery 302 comprises multiple negative plates/electrodes 306, wherein the negative electrodes 304/1-304/4 are made of carbon impregnated lead (Pb). The carbon impregnated power battery 302 depicted in Fig. 3 further comprises multiple positive plates/electrodes 306/1-306/3, wherein the positive electrodes 306 are made of lead oxide (PbO2).
[0048] In an embodiment of the invention, the carbon impregnated negative electrode 304 is constructed by incorporating a processed carbon additive in negative electrode material. Further, the processed carbon additive incorporated in the negative electrode material may be processed activated carbon with or without conductive carbon.
[0049] In an embodiment of the invention, the processed carbon additive incorporated in the negative electrode materials may be processed activated carbon with conductive carbon, whereas in another embodiment, the processed carbon additive may be processed activate carbon without conductive carbon.
[0050] The processed activated carbon, for the purpose of the invention, may be derived from any carbonaceous source materials using any process commonly known in the art, viz., pyrolysis, oxidation, carbonization, and the like.
[0051] In the present disclosure, addition of processed carbon to negative electrode 304 allows the carbon impregnated negative electrode 304 to provide functionality of a capacitor, by storing energy in its electric double layer. The presence of carbon in the carbon impregnated negative electrode 304 provides a capacitive component, which enhances the power and lifespan of the power battery 302 as the carbon acts as a buffer during discharging and charging.
[0052] A major advantage of the depicted power battery 302 is that it can fulfill power supply requirements in hybrid and electric vehicles, as the power battery 302 improves cycle life and reduces the negative plate sulfation occurring during the operation in such vehicles. Additionally, the power battery 302 is able to provide and absorb charge rapidly during vehicle acceleration and braking.
[0053] Further, incorporation of the carbon impregnated negative electrode 304 and the counter electrodes 306 can be completed without adversely affecting constructional characteristics of the lead-acid battery 102 as depicted in Fig. 1.
[0054] Additionally, the presence of the carbon impregnated negative electrode 304 in the power battery 302 depicted in Fig.3 includes benefits of processed activated carbon such as an increased specific surface area of the carbon impregnated negative electrode 304, good conductivity and high lead affinity.
[0055] Advantages of incorporating processed activated carbon in the negative electrode material of the carbon impregnated negative electrode 304 may be understood with the help of the following example:
[0056] Hybrid or electric vehicles encounter an operating condition commonly known as High Rate Partial State of Charge (HRPSoC) during travels, as conventional lead acid batteries present in said vehicles discharge only partially, and are charged using short current pulses with high intensity, for example, during braking. Charges in the conventional battery may be absorbed during acceleration of the vehicles.
[0057] On the one hand, if the State of Charge, i.e., the SoC, of the conventional batteries in such situations is below 30%, the battery will not possess a threshold amount of power required to ignite the engine of the vehicle. However, on the other hand, if the SoC of the battery is too high, it may lower the charge during braking, thus presenting more problems.
[0058] Moreover, if conventional batteries are charged with higher current, it may lower charge acceptance in the battery by favoring hydrogen generation processes.
[0059] However, a major problem arising in such conventional batteries is the problem of sulfation of the negative plate in HRPSoC operating conditions. The HRPSoC operating conditions permit easier generation of large lead sulfate crystals on negative electrodes made of lead (Pb) in the lead acid battery. Big lead sulfate crystals have low surface area relatively compared to the volume of said lead sulfate crystals. Further, owing to their size, said crystals are arduous to reduce during a recharging process of the battery. Sulfation of the negative electrode results in severe drop in the battery capacity of the conventional lead acid battery.
[0060] Positive electrodes in the conventional battery do not undergo the process of sulfation owing to a large surface area of the positive electrodes and low pore size as compared to the negative electrodes. This further prevents uneven distribution of the sulfate that may be generated during the HRPSoC operating conditions.
[0061] In such cases, addition of processed carbon to the negative electrodes aids in improving uniformity in distribution of sulfate on the electrode surface.
[0062] In an exemplary condition where the charge/discharge cycles in the conventional lead acid battery are shorter than 5 seconds, a non-Faradaic process (commonly known in the art) is observed to be taking place.
[0063] However, in conditions where the charge/discharge cycles are of 30 seconds to 50 seconds duration, a Faradaic process (commonly known in the art) of lead electrochemical reactions is observed to be taking place. Said process affects battery capacities in a conventional lead acid battery. Therefore, in order to improve battery capacity, attempts are made to increase contributions to the capacitance processes and further hinder Faradaic processes using carbon additives.
[0064] Introduction of a carbon additive in the carbon negative electrode 304 increases available voltage in the battery during charging and discharging processes of the battery. Further, accumulation of sulfate at electrode bottom due to acid stratification occurring in the lead acid battery is prevented, thereby consequently increasing battery capacity.
[0065] The foregoing example may not be construed as limiting to the scope of the present disclosure.
[0066] For the context of the present invention and the current exemplary embodiment, the carbon additive is processed activated carbon with or without conductive carbon.
[0067] Therefore, the carbon additive, i.e., the processed activated carbon, provides various benefits in the present disclosure, such as:
i) Increasing surface area of the carbon impregnated negative electrode 304 where electrochemical reactions of lead from the counter electrodes 306 can proceed;
ii) Storing energy generated in the power battery 302 in an electric double layer as a capacitor in the carbon impregnated negative electrode 304;
iii) Preventing sulfation of the carbon negative electrode 206 by reducing growth of large sulfate crystals;
iv) Increase in duration of discharge and energy content; and
v) Increased performance which almost doubles the duration of discharge.
[0068] The construction of the carbon impregnated negative electrode 304 comprises incorporation of processed activated carbon with or without conductive carbon in the negative electrode material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processed activated carbon is in powder form. In order for the carbon powder to be held together in the carbon negative electrode 304, a binder (not shown in the figure) is used. The use of the binder in the construction of the carbon negative electrode 304 is to bind carbon particles in a compact manner, and to further provide high density and low resistance to the carbon negative electrode 304. In an embodiment of the present invention, a polymeric binder may be used, as a polymeric binder is capable of providing a particle-to-particle contact and provide mechanical integrity to the carbon impregnated negative electrode 304.
[0069] In other embodiments of the invention, any other type of binder may be used. In all embodiments of the present invention, the binder chosen is required to be inert to the electrochemical processes occurring in the power battery 302 at all times.
[0070] In an embodiment of the invention, the processed activated carbon disclosed in the foregoing description may be incorporated in the negative electrode material in a range of 0.5 to 3% by weight of the negative electrode material.
[0071] In an embodiment of the invention, the incorporation of the processed carbon additive to the negative active material of the lead acid battery may be in a flooded pasted configuration.
[0072] In yet another embodiment the incorporation of the processed carbon additive to the negative active material of the lead acid battery may be of VRLA type with AGM as separator in pasted configuration.
[0073] In yet another embodiment the incorporation of the processed carbon additive to the negative active material of the lead acid battery VRLA type may use Gel as separator in pasted configuration.
[0074] In yet another embodiment the incorporation of the processed carbon additive to the negative active material of the lead acid battery may be of flooded tubular configuration.
[0075] In yet another embodiment the incorporation of the processed carbon additive to the negative active material of the lead acid battery may use AGM as a separator in tubular configuration.
[0076] In yet another embodiment the incorporation of the processed carbon additive to the negative active material of the lead acid battery may use gel electrolyte in tubular configuration.
[0077] Fig. 4 depicts/illustrates a comparative analysis of a 7Ah
VRLA AGM type regular battery, an ultra-battery and a carbon impregnated power battery 302, at constant parameters, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0078] As depicted at 400 in Fig. 4, curve 402 depicts the discharge duration of a regular battery, curve 404 depicts discharge duration of an ultra-battery and curve 406 depicts discharge duration of a power battery 302 with impregnated carbon. In the present invention, it is observed that replacing the negative electrode of the ultra-battery with carbon impregnated negative electrode 304 displays a significant increase in the performance parameters of the power battery 302. However, the performance of the power battery 302 is clearly observed to be approximately doubled as compared to its counterparts.
[0079] Fig. 5 depicts/illustrates a charge-discharge curve for a 7Ah
VRLA AGM type carbon impregnated power battery, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0080] Curve 502 depicted at 500 in Fig. 5 depicts a rate of charging at 1.5A, and curve 504 depicts a discharge rate at 1.2A.
[0081] Observations from Fig. 5 can be concluded to depict higher efficiency provided from a power battery 302 as depicted in Fig. 3.
[0082] Fig. 6 depicts/illustrates charging characteristics for 7Ah
VRLA AGM type carbon impregnated power battery at varying charging current on a voltage vs. charging time axis representation, in accordance with an embodiment.
[0083] Curve 602 depicted at 600 in Fig. 6 depicts a charging rate at 6A, curve 604 depicts a charging rate at 12A and curve 606 depicts a charging rate at 18A.
[0084] In Fig. 7, charging characteristics for 7Ah
VRLA AGM type carbon impregnated power battery at varying charging current on a current vs. charging time axis representation, in accordance with an embodiment are depicted at 700.
[0085] Curve 702 depicts a charging rate at 6A, curve 704 depicts a charging rate at 12A and curve 706 depicts a charging rate at 18A.
[0086] In Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, it is observed that a peak voltage of 14.4V is attained immediately during charging process at a charging current of 12A and 18A. It may be further observed that fall in charging current is noted after a while at a peak voltage of 14.4V for a charging current of 6A.
[0087] Fig. 8 depicts/illustrates discharge of 7Ah
VRLA AGM type carbon impregnated power battery at varying discharge current after charging at 1.2A and 18A, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0088] As depicted at 800, curve 802 depicts a rate of discharge at 6A, curve 804 depicts a rate of discharge at 12A, and curve 806 depicts a rate of discharge at 18A, after charging at 18A. Further, curve 808 depicts a rate of discharge at 6A, curve 810 depicts a discharge rate of 12A and lastly curve 812 depicts a rate of discharge at 18A, after charging at a rate of 1.2A.
[0089] Observations of Fig. 8 may be concluded as duration of discharge being constant irrespective of the charging current.
[0090] Fig. 9 depicts/illustrates a voltage vs. charging time comparative representation of charging characteristics for 12V, 90Ah tubular, power and regular batteries, in accordance with an embodiment.
[0091] Curve 902 depicted at 900 in Fig. 9 represent at rate of charging at 18A for a tubular regular battery whereas curve 904 represent rate of charging at 18A for a power battery.
[0092] Fig. 10 depicts/illustrates a current vs. charging time comparative representation of charging characteristics for 12V, 90Ah tubular, power and regular batteries, in accordance with an embodiment.
[0093] As depicted at 1000, curve 1002 depict rate of charging at 18A for a regular battery and curve 1004 depict rate of charging at 18A for a power battery.
[0094] From Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, it is observed that a peak voltage of 14.4V is attained earlier in case of a power battery than in case of a regular battery. Further, a fall in charging current is also observed quicker in a regular battery than in the power battery.
[0095] Fig. 11 depicts/illustrates a current vs. duration of charging comparative representation of charging characteristics for 12V, 90Ah tubular, regular and power batteries at a charging current of 30A, in accordance with an embodiment.
[0096] Curve 1102 depicted at 1100 in Fig. 11 represents a rate of charging of a power battery whereas curve 1104 represents a rate of charging for a regular battery in tubular configuration.
[0097] It is observed from Fig. 11 that a drop in charging current occurs earlier in case of power battery as compared to the regular battery. Such an observation in case of a power battery indicates a faster rate of charge acceptance in a power battery.
[0098] Fig. 12 depicts/illustrates comparative voltage vs. duration of discharge at 45A representation for 12V, 90Ah tubular, power and regular batteries after charging at 30A, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0099] Curve 1202 at 1200 represents duration of discharge for a regular battery in tubular configuration and curve 1204 represents duration of discharge for a power battery.
[00100] It is observed from a comparative analysis in Fig. 12 that the duration of discharge time is lesser for regular battery in comparison with the power battery.
[00101] Fig. 13 depicts/illustrates discharge characteristics at 45A of 12V, 90Ah tubular power battery after charging at 6, 18 and 30A, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[00102] Discharge curve 1302 depicted at 1300 represents charging time for a power battery at 6A, curve 1304 represents charging time for the power battery at 18A and curve 1306 represents charging time for the power battery at 30A.
[00103] From Fig. 13, it can be concluded that the time taken for discharging the power battery at 45A is the same when the charging current for the battery may be 6A, 18A or 30A. It may further be concluded that power batteries display higher rates of charge acceptance.
[00104] Fig. 14 illustrates a flowchart for a method of improving charge-discharge rates of a lead acid battery, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As depicted at 1400, the flowchart illustrates a method of incorporating negative active material in the electrode and further incorporating the carbon negative electrode in the lead acid battery.
[00105] Initially, at step 1402, a processed carbon additive is incorporated in the negative electrode material, wherein the carbon additive is processed activated carbon with or without conductive carbon. The negative electrode as described in the present invention is then constructed by the amalgamation of the carbon additive and the negative electrode material, along with a binder.
[00106] Further, at step 1404, a cell configuration is selected for constructing the power battery. The cell configuration may be selected from multiple different cell configurations such as flooded configuration, AGM configuration and gel configuration in pasted type or tubular type. Depending on the type of configuration chosen, the cell assembly is then constructed.
[00107] Finally, at step 1406, the carbon impregnated negative electrodes and counter electrodes are incorporated in the cell configuration to construct the power battery.
[00108] Lead-acid batteries comprising carbon impregnated negative electrodes display an outstanding lifespan performance as compared to a conventional lead acid battery.
[00109] Further major advantages of the current invention are that the system described in the invention is cost-efficient and simple to use. Moreover, the construction of the lead acid battery described in the present invention does not require any major changes in the construction of the lead acid battery.
[00110] Additionally, the carbon impregnated power battery described in the invention is durable and increases efficiency multifold. The power battery also exhibits about a 100% effective recycling rate along with longer operation periods in floating charge conditions, and a low self-discharge characteristic. The recycling rates may vary based on the battery configurations and applications.
[00111] An additional advantage is that the capacitive component provided in the invention in the foregoing description enhances the power capacity of the power battery. Additionally, the lifespan of the power battery is also increased using the system in the description.
[00112] The carbon impregnated negative electrode disclosed in the present invention maybe incorporated in a conventional lead acid battery to improve performance characteristics in various configurations viz., flooded pasted configuration, VRLA type with AGM as separator in pasted configuration, VRLA type with gel as separator in pasted configuration and the like. Similarly, the carbon impregnated negative electrode may also be used in tubular configurations such as flooded, gel or AGM but not limited to, pasted type flooded, VRLA type with gel as separator, or VRLA type with AGM as separator.
[00113] The aforementioned configurations are configurations commonly known in the art.
[00114] The current invention may further be used in electric or hybrid vehicles without requiring any particular changes in the structure of the electric or hybrid vehicles.
[00115] Disclosed power battery with novel carbon negative electrode may also find application in other heavy-duty machineries such as, but not limited to, micro-grid and remote area power supply, forklifts, uninterruptible power supplies, power tools and the like.
[00116] Carbon impregnated lead acid batteries, due to being cost and energy efficient, may also prove to be a breakthrough in the near future and provide an efficiency similar to existing but expensive technologies such as lithium-ion batteries.
[00117] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the scope of the embodiments as described here.