(Newswire.net — June 16, 2020) —
It is always prudent to understand why a warehouse battery used in various electrical handling equipment needs water. It would help if you also understood when and how the battery should be watered. The other thing is understanding what proper watering means to your battery.
Electrolysis and Gassing Processes
The main processes which are responsible for both the loss of the electrolyte levels and also the loss of electrolyte is electrolysis. This electrolysis results from an electricl current that is being passed through the medium. In such a case, the electrolyte creates a chemical change that causes the battery to do something called ” Gas.”
Gassing of the industrial lead-acid batteries is a function of and also directly related to voltage and even unused portion of current, which is being supplied by the charging equipment and not being used by the cell through the negative and positive plates. This type of electrical dissociation of the electro-type into oxygen and hydrogen is a result of the surplus charging the current.
Gassing usually begins when the cell voltage reaches approximately 2.3 volts. During this early stage, the gas is generally composed of nearly equally oxygen and hydrogen parts. As charging progress and energy starts to rise to 2.5 volts per each cell, the gas will approximately have a ratio of two hydrogen parts, and that of oxygen is usually one.
As the battery continue gassing during the charging process, as mentioned before, two factors are being involved in the electrolyte levels within the cells:
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Through the electrolysis, both oxygen and hydrogen are evolved as gasses at the whole expense of the electrolyte. They then pass into the surrounding and immediate atmosphere, thus lowering of the electrolyte levels.
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As gases continue to be released, they become the primary vehicle of transporting millions of the microscopic electrolyte droplets from the cells and then into the atmosphere, thus adding depletion of the actual electrolyte.
Others Factors which affect water loss and the warehouse safety solutions
Several factors directly affect the battery water loss through heat-related evaporation. This can also cause hazards in a warehouse, and thus there is a proper need to check. Some of them are controllable, whereas others are not. The following is a list of six factors which contribute to battery water losses:
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Evaporation from an Internal Heat
This heat rises slowly while the battery is charging and is done through an average discharge of the battery during the required work cycle.
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The Workload
A warehouse must have enough batteries for the work. If overloaded, it will also release a lot of heat and thus unnecessary evaporation. Short runs, light loads, and frequent periods of inactivity can also contribute to less heat buildup.
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Ambient Temperatures
A warehouse should have a thermostat and proper ventilation to help regulate the amount of heat being released to the atmosphere. Various heat variances will significantly affect the battery’s temperatures.
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Unavoidable Heat
There are usually unavoidable heats that are generated as a result of the charging cycle. The most significant increase comes towards the end, and never should the internal temperatures go beyond 155 degrees. When dangerous temperatures of around 120 degrees Fahrenheit is achieved, the charging current becomes unstable. There are times it may rise to an uncontrollable level, affecting the battery and the charging equipment.
The damage, if not looked at, may cause serious harm at the warehouse.
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Mismatching batteries with the charging equipment
This is outrightly straightforward. If charging equipment is changed, there are chances that temperatures may elevate abnormally.
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Using Batteries During Various Work Shifts
A battery needs to undergo a sufficient cooling down process. If care is not taken, the temperatures may rise to a potential danger zone, leading to massive water loss. It is always advisable not to leave the battery unattended for quite an extended period.