D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.

CHAPTER-8

D.C. POWER SYSTEM

SNO.
1. 2. 3. CHEMICAL EFFECT OF CURRENT LEAD ACID BATTERY NI-CD BATTERY

4. CHARGER FUNDAMENTALS 5. CHARGER INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.2

CHEMICAL EFFECT OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT To understand chemical effect of electric current it is necessar! "no# $#hat is electric current%. When t#o chan&ed 'odies at different (otential are connected '! a metal #ire current flo# from the 'od! at hi&her (otential to the one at to#er (otential till the! 'oth ac)uire the same (otential. *! sim(le cell relation 'et#een current + electrons can 'e understand. , sim(le cell consists of a (late of co((er and a (late of -inc (artl! di((ed in dilute sulfuric acid ./2SO01 solution contained in &lass 2ar as sho#n in fi&.1
FLOW OF CURRENT

Cu ANODE

SOLN OF H2SO4 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 Zn CATHODE 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 DIRECTION OF ELECTRON FLOW

FigureDue to chemical reaction #ith dilute /2SO0 the co((er (late &ets 45e char&ed #here as -inc &ets 65e char&ed. 7t has 'een found that co((er (late ac)uires a 45e (otential of 48.09 5olts #here as -inc &ets a (otential of 68.92 5olts. Thus there is (otential difference 'et#een co((er and -inc (late. When #e connect a #ire "ee(in& series in lam( as in fi&1 then this (otential difference causes the current to flo# in the #ire + the lam( due to this li&hts u(. 7n cell electron flo#s from 6 5e (late to 45e (late throu&h the connectin& #ire 'ut the con5entional current in cell is said to flo# from 45e terminal to 65e terminal . 7n o((osite #a! if DC su((l! fed to car'on electrodes then electric current can 'rin& a'out chemical chan&es so it is said to ha5e chemical effect for e:am(le. When electric current is (assed throu&h a co((er sulfate solution '! usin& car'on electrodes then co((er metal is de(osited as a reddish la!er on the 65e char&ed car'on electrode .cathode1 as sho#n in fi&. 2.

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.;

FLOW OF CURRENT

4 C ANODE

3
SOLN OF Cu SO4

O!"gen g#$

33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33

C CATHODE L#"er %& C%''er (e)#*

Figure-2 The lon&er the current flo#s more co((er is de(osited on 65e car'on electrode. The o:!&en &as is li'erated at the 45e char&ed car'on electrode .anode1. Where as sulfuric acid formed remains in solution. The co((ers sulfate is &raduall! con5erted into sulfuric acid solution. 7n this (rocess #hen electric current is (assed throu&h co((er sulfate solution '! usin& car'on electrodes then chemical reaction ta"es (lace to from co((er metal sulfuric acid and o:!&en &as. This reaction is an e:am(le of chemical effect of current. 2CuSO0 4 2/2O Co((er Water sul(hate THEORY To understand chemicals effect of electrical current follo#in& are the t#o fundamental la#s #hich &o5ern the (henomenon of electrol!sis "no# as farada!%s la#s of electrol!sis.
$)

Electric Current 2 Cu 4 2/2SO0 4 O2 Co((er metal Sul(huric acid o:!&en

L#+

The mass of an ion li'erated at an electrode is directl! (ro(ortional to the )uantit! of electricit! #hich (asses throu&h the electrol!te. E:(lanation of 1st <a# m = mass of the ions li'erated > = >uantit! of electricit! = 7 t .7 is the current + t is the time.1 then as (er la# m> m = ?>

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.0

m = ?it #here ? is constant + "no#n as electro3chemical e)ui5alent .ECE1 of if > = 1 coulom' i.e. 7 =1 am(ere t = 1 second then m = ?

su'stance

/ence ECE of a su'stance is e)ual to the mass of its ions li'erated '! the (assa&e of 1 am(ere current for 1 second throu&h its electrol!te solution or '! the (assa&e of an char&e of one coulom'. 2n, L#+ The masses of ions of different su'stances li'erated '! the same )uantit! of electricit! are (ro(ortional to their chemical e)ui5alent #ei&ht. E!'*#n#)i%n %& Se-%n, L#+ Su((ose an electric current is (assed for the same time throu&h acidic #ater solution of CuSO0 and ,&@O; then for e5er! 1.88A8 &ram of h!dro&en e5ol5ed 18A.88 &ram of sil5er and ;1.B0 &ram of Cu are li'erated. The 5alues 18A.88 and ;1.B0 re(resent the e)ui5alent #ei&ht of sil5er and co((er res(ecti5el! i.e. their atomic #ei&ht '! their res(ecti5e 5alences. The electro3chemical e)ui5alent and chemical e)ui5alent of different su'st3)ances are inter related thus C EC, of , D EC, of * = Chemical e)ui5alent of , D Chemical e)ui5alent of * Eurther if m1 + m2 are masses of ions de(osited at or li'erated from an electrode E1 + E2 their chemical e)ui5alents and ?1 + ?2 their electrochemical e)ui5alent of #ei&ht then m1 D m2 = E1DE2 = ?1D?2

CELL . /ATTERIES The term 'atter! means an assem'l! of 5oltaic (rimar! or secondar! cells. *atteries of secondar! cells are "no#n as stora&e 'atteries or accumulators. T#o t!(es 'atteries are used. a1 Primar! Cell '1 Secondar! cells

PRIMARY CELLS

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.B

7n these cells the electrochemical reactions are not re5ersi'le. This ma! 'e (rimaril! due to (h!sical factor such as a loss of electrical contact '! the chemical (roducts of the dischar&e. SECONDARY CELLS 7n the secondar! cells or 'atteries the reaction are readil! re5ersi'le. The ori&inal chemical com(ound can 'e reformed '! (assin& a direct current throu&h the cell in the re5erse direction and accumulators or 'atteries can &enerall! 'e su'mitted to man! c!cles of dischar&e and char&e in this #a!. , secondar! cell consists essentiall! of t#o electrodes held a(art '! se(arators and immersed in an electrol!te the assem'l! 'ein& lifted into a suita'le container. LEAD ACID /ATTERY 7t is a "ind of secondar! 'atter!. , 'atter! consists of &rou( of cells and each of 'atter! consists of follo#in& main (arts. a1 '1 c1 d1 e1 f1 &1 a1 Positi5e and ne&ati5e (lates Se(arators Container Electrol!te Connectin& 'ar Terminals Fent Plu&s P%$i)i0e . Neg#)i0e P*#)e$ C

, (late consists of a lattice t!(e of &rid of cast antimonial lead allo! #hich is co5ered #ith acti5e material. The &rid (ro5ide su((ort for the fra&ile acti5e material + also conducts electric current. Grids for the (ositi5e and ne&ati5e (lates are often of the same desi&n althou&h ne&ati5e (late &rid are made li&hter. Positi5e (late are usuall! (lante (lates #hereas ne&ati5e (lates are &enerall! of (asted t!(e. '1 Se'#r#)%r$ 1

These are thin sheets of a (orous material (laced 'et#een the (ositi5e and ne&ati5e (late to "ee( them e)uidistant and also acts as a dia(hra&ms to (re5ent internal short circuit or to retain the acti5e material. , se(arator must 'e sufficientl! (orous to allo# diffusion or circulation of electrol!te 'et#een the (lates. These are made of es(eciall! micro (orous PFC. 7t has hi&h de&ree of dis(osa'ilit! a lo# electrical resistance in acid and &reat dura'ilit! under normal 'atter! condition

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.9

c1

E*e-)r%*")e 1

Different concentrations of the sulfuric acid electrol!te ma! 'e used de(endin& on the a((lication for #hich the (articular 'atter! has 'een desi&ned. Generall! stationar! cells filled #ith acid of relati5e densit! 1.288 to 1.21B an! ho# it is dilute sulfuric acid #hich fills the cell com(artment to immerse the (lates com(letel!. ,2 C%n)#iner 1

7t ma! 'e made of 5ulcani-ed ru''er or moulded hard ru''er .el'onite or moulded (lastic1. , sin&le mono 'loc" t!(e container #ith 9 com(artments &enerall! used for startin& 'atteries. e1 C%nn)e-)ing 3#r1

7t is the lead allo! lin" #hich 2oins the cell to&ether in series connectin& the (ositi5e end of one cell to the 65e end of ne:t cell. f1 Ter(in#*$ 1

7t is u(#ard e:tension from each connectin& 'ar #hich (asses throu&h the cell co5er for ca'le connection to the outside circuit. Eor identification 65e terminal is smaller in diameter then the 65e terminal of 'atter!. &1 4en) P*ug$ 1

These are made of (ol!st!rene or ru''er and are usuall! scre#ed in the co5er. Their function is to (re5ent esca(e of electrol!te 'ut allo# the free e:it of the &as. These can 'e easil! remo5ed for to((in& u( or ta"in& h!dro meter readin&s. ACTI4E MATERIAL OF LEAD ACID CELL These su'stances of the cell #hich ta"e (art in chemical com'ination and hence a'sor' or (roduce electricit! durin& char&in& or dischar&in& are "no#n as acti5e material of cell. 1. 2. ;. <ead (ero:ide .P'O21 for 45e (late S(on&e lead . P'1 for 65e (late Dilute sulfuric acid /2SO0 .as a electrol!te1

LEAD PERO5IDEC

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.A

7t is a com'ination of lead and O2 is dar" chocolate 'ro#n in colour and is )uite hard 'ut 'rittle su'stance. 7t is made u( of one atom of lead .P'1 and t#o atoms of o:!&en .O2 1 and its chemical formula is P'82 . 7t is form of 45e acti5e material. SPON6E LEAD C 7t is (ure lead in soft (orous condition. 7ts chemical formula is P' and forms the 65e acti5e material. DILUTE SULFURIC ACID C 7t is a((ro:imatel! ; (arts #ater + one (art acid. The chemical formula is / 2SO0. The 45e + 35e (lates are immersed in this solution #hich is "no#n as electrol!te. 7t is this medium throu&h #hich the current (roduces chemical chan&es. <ead acid cell de(ends for its action on the (resence of t#o (lates co5ered #ith P'O2 + P' in solution of dilute /2SO0 of s(ecific &ra5it! 1.21 or near a'out. C7e(i-#* -7#nge$ 8,i$-7#rging21
FLOW OF CURRENT

<oad P3O2

3
SOLN OF H2SO4

33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 33 33 33 33 33

P3

Figure-9 When cell is full! chan&ed its 45e (late P'O2 .dar" chocolate 'ro#n1 and the 65e (late or cathode is P' .slat &ra!1 #hen the cell dischar&es it sends current to the e:ternal load then /2SO0 is dissociated into (ositi5e /2 and ne&ati5e SO0 ions. ,s the current #ithin the cell is flo#in& from cathode to anode / 2 ions mo5es to anode + SO0 ions mo5e to cathode. ,t anode .P'O2 1 /2 com'ines #ith o:!&en of P'O 2 and /2SO0 attac"s to form P' SO0. P'O2 4 /2 4 /2SO0 P'SO0 4 2/2O

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.8

,t cathode .P'1 SO0 com'ines #ith it to form P'SO0 P' 4 SO0 P'SO0

7t #ill 'e noted the durin& dischar&e i1 *oth anode and cathode 'ecome P' SO0 #hich is some #hat #ithin in colour. ii1 Due to formation of #ater s(ecific &ra5it! of the acid decreases. iii1 Folta&es of the cell decreases. CHAR6IN6 When the cell is rechar&ed then /2 ions mo5e to cathode and SO0 ions &o to anode and the follo#in& chan&es ta"es (lace C ,t cathode ,t anode P' SO0 4 /2 P' SO0 4 SO0 4 2/2O P' 4 /2 SO0 P'O2 4 2/2 SO0

/ence the anode and cathode a&ain 'ecome P'O2 + P' res(ecti5el!. 7t #ill 'e noted durin& char&in&. i1 This anode 'ecome dar" chocolate 'ro#n in colour .P'O21 and cathode 'ecomes &re! metallic lead .P'1. ii1 Due to consum(tion of #ater s(ecific &ra5it! of /2 SO0 is increased iii1 There is a rise in 5olta&e. ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LEAD ACID CELL The three im(ortant features of an accumulator of interest of an en&ineers are 1. Folta&e 2 Ca(acit! ;. Efficienc! 4OLTA6E The o(en circuit 5olta&e of full! chan&ed cell is a((ro:imatel! 2.2 5olts. This 5alue is not fi:ed de(ends on .a1 len&th of time since it #as last char&ed .'1 S(ecific &ra5it! 3 5olta&e increases #ith the increase in s(ecific &ra5it! + 5ice 5ersa. The 5olta&e should not 'e allo#ed to fall lo#er than 1.8F. CAPACITY 7t is measured in ,m(ere /ours .,h1. The ca(acit! is al#a!s &i5en at a s(ecified rate of dischar&e .in hours1.

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.H

EFFICIENCY ,m(ere hours efficienc! of lead acid cell is a'out H8 to HBI .. in #att hours 1 In,i-#)i%n$ %& &u**" -7#rge, -e** 1 11 21 ;1 Gassin& Folta&e S(ecific Gra5it!

11 6#$$ingC #hen cell is full! char&ed it freel! &i5es off / 2 at cathode and O2 at the anode. Gassin& at 'oth (lates indicate that current is no lon&er doin& an! useful #or" hence char&in& should 'e sto((ed. 21 4%*)#ge C The 5olta&e causes to rise #hen cell is full! chan&ed. The a((ro:imate 5alue of emf 'ein& 2.1F. ;1 S'e-i&i- gr#0i)" %& E*e-)r%*")e 6 The 5alue of densit! #hen the cell is full! chan&ed is a'out 1.21 and 1.18 #hen dischar&ed u( to 1.8 F.

NIC:LE CADMIUM CELL 7t is "ind of secondar! cell as in these cells chemical reactions are readil! re5ersi'le. The ori&inal chemical com(ound can 'e reformed '! (assin& a direct current throu&h the cell in re5erse direction and cell can &enerall! 'e su'mitted to man! c!cles of dischar&e and char&e in this #a!. This is a "ind of al"aline cell and ha5e follo#in& acti5e materials. ,. *. C. 4Fe (late 6Fe (late Electrol!te

,. @ic"el /!dro:ide .@i.O/101 + a((le &reen nic"el (ero:ide .@iO21 for (ositi5e (late is used. ,'out 1A I of &ra(hite is added to increase (roducti5it!. 7t also contains an acti5atin& additi5e 'arium h!dro:ide #hich is a'out 2 I of the acti5e material. This additi5e increase the ser5ice life of (late. *. Material used for ne&ati5e (late is cadmium .Cd1 #ith small (ortion of iron. *oth ha5e emf of 1.2F cadmium &i5es the nic"el cadmium cell + a lo#er char&in& 5olta&e and reduced ohmic resistance .

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.18

C. Dilute (otassium h!dro:ide .JO/1 is used for electrol!te ha5e relati5e densit! a'out 1.;88 a small amount of lithium h!dro:ide .<iO/1 some times added. The electrol!te ta"es no a((arent (art in the reaction and its densit! remains su'stantiall! constant. CHEMICAL REACTIONS Positi5e 2 @i.O/1; /2O 2@iOO/ 4 2/4 4 2e3 2@i.O/12

@e&ati5e Cd 4 2O/3

Cd.O/12 4 2e3

The re5ersi'le (otential of these reactions are E4 = 4 8.0HF and E3 = 38.81F &i5in& an o(en circiut emf (er cell E = 1.;8F The o5er all reaction Dischar&e 2 @iOO/ 4 2 /2O4 Cd 2@i.O/12 4 2/4 4 Cd.O/12 Char&e These cells can stand indefinitel! in an! state of chan&e (ro5ided the (late are "e(t immersed. The time for full char&e is A hour the 5olta&e (er cell risin& from a'out 1.0F at the start to a'out 1.AF after B.B hour and then remainin& constant. The in(ut in am(ere hours should 'e 1.0 to 1.B times as &reat as (re5ious dischar&e. ,l"aline cells are not dama&ed '! o5erchar&in& if full normal char&e can 'e &i5en irres(ecti5e of state of cell. AD4ANTA6ES The chemistr! of this cell reaction can 'e e:(lained sim(l! '! sa!in& that an! O 2 (roduced at 4Fe electrode durin& char&e is immediatel! a'sor'ed '! cadmium in the ne&ati5e electrode and this is con5erted to cadmium o:ide. The ne&ati5e char&e is therefore used to reduce this cadmium o:ide and no &ases h!dro&en is e5ol5ed . Sealed cells re)uire no to((in& u( e5ol5e no 5a(our or s(ra! and can 'e installed in e)ui(ments #ithout ha-ard. CHAR6ER FUNDAMENTALS There are t#o 'asic methods of char&in& 'atteries 11 21 The constant current s!stem The constant 5olta&e s!stem

THE CONSTANT CURRENT SYSTEM 7n this s!stem char&in& current is "e(t constant '! 5ar!in& the su((l! 5olta&e to o5er come the increased 'ac" emf of cells. The current is controlled '! 5ar!in& the rheostat connected in the circuit. The 5alue of char&in& current should 'e so

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.11

choosen that there #ould 'e no e:cessi5e &assin& durin& final sta&es of char&in& and also the cell tem(. does not e:ceed 0BKC. This method ta"es a com(arati5el! lon&er time. THE CONSTANT 4OLTA6E SYSTEM 7n this method the 5olta&e is "e(t constant 'ut it results in 5er! lar&e chan&in& current in the startin& #hen the 'ac" emf of cells is lo# and a small current #hen their 'ac" emf increases on 'ein& char&ed. 7n this method time of char&in& is almost reduced to half. 7t increases the ca(acit! '! a((ro:imatel! 28I 'ut reduces the efficienc! '! 18 I. 4 7 F 3 Ei&30 7n fi&.0 #hen a 'atter! is 'ein& char&ed then the emf of cells acts in o((osition to the a((lied 5olta&e. 7f F is the a((lied 5olta&e #hich sends a char&in& current of 7 a&ainst the 'ac" emf. E' then in(ut is F.7. 'ut the (o#er s(ent in o5ercomin& the o((osition is E'7. This (o#er E'7 is con5erted into the chemical ener&! #hich is stored in cells. The char&in& current can 'e calculated '! the follo#in& e)uation. 7 = .F3E'1 D R R =Total resistance of circuit includin& resistance of 'atter! 7 = Char&in& current 555555 R E'

*! 5ar!in& R. The char&in& current can 'e "e(t constant throu&h out. INDUSTRIAL CHAR6IN6 SYSTEM 7ndustrial char&in& e)ui(ment ha5e t#o modes for 'atteries char&in& 1. 2. Eloat Char&er *oost Char&er

FLOAT CHAR6ER This char&er has onl! constant 5olta&e mode. 7t is ca(a'le to su((l! tric"le char&in& current to 'atter! and the connected load.

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.12

/OOST CHAR6ER This t!(e of char&er has t#o modes of o(eration constant 5olta&e mode and constant current mode. 7n constant 5olta&e mode it #or"s same as float char&er and in constant current mode it is used to 'oost char&e the 'atter!. When ,.C. (o#er fails 'atter! su((lies the load and dischar&es to the e:tent de(endin& u(on duration of ,.C. failure. When ,.C. (o#er is restored the 'atter! needs to 'e char&ed. Eor char&in& the 'atter! or &i5in& e)uali-in& char&e to the 'atter! 'oost char&er is used in its constant current mode. CHAR6ER INSPECTION AND AD;USTMENT Eollo#in& ins(ection are carried out 'efore installation of char&er. . I.R. Te$) 8+i)7 <==4 D.C. Megger2

Test the char&er for insulation resistance 'efore connectin& the ca'les to the char&er terminals 'efore the test ta"e out the (lu&s of SCR controller + disconnected lo# 5olta&e o(erated rela!s. Chec" 7R 5alues 'et#een follo#in& terminals. i1 ii1 iii1 ,C terminals and earth 'us DC terminals and earth 'us ,C terminals and DC terminals

7n all the three cases 7R 5alue should not 'e less than 2 me&a ohms. 2. F*%#) C7#rger C7e->ing

<oad the char&er u(to full load + o'ser5e DC 5olta&e re&ulation that should under 41 I of desi&ned 5olta&es. 9. /%%$) -7#rger -7e->ing

Curren) (%,e Connected the resisti5e load + raise current u( to desi&ned 5alue. Once set #ill remain constant in s(ite of 5ariation of load.

D.C. POWER SYSTEM 8.1;

4%*)#ge M%,e <oad the char&er u( to desi&ned 5alue of current + o'ser5ed that DC out(ut 5olta&e should 'e constant in s(ite of 5ariation of load. R%u)ine In$'e-)i%n @ormall! float char&er is "e(t in ser5ice #ith tric"le char&in& the 'atter! as #ell as su((l! the load. *oost char&er #ill 'e "e(t out of ser5ice #hen ,C mains fails then float char&er #ill 'ecome out + 'atter! starts su((l!in& load demand. ,fter restoration of ,C su((l! 'atter! has to char&es #ith 'oost char&er settin& the constant current mode #hen 'atter! is full! char&ed the 'oost char&er is ta"en out of ser5ice and 'atter! is allo#ed across float char&er for tric"le char&in&. A,?u$)(en) *atter! char&er 5olta&e should 'e ad2usted 2ust a'o5e the 'atter! 5olta&e other #ise char&in& #ill not ta"e (lace .