Choosing the correct battery is a task when we are bombarded with a lot of choices. Especially, when it comes to Lithium-ion batteries, which are the current buzz in the battery industry. Lithium-ion batteries are one of the most technologically advanced batteries that we have. Many of the lithium-ion battery manufacturers make high quality batteries leaving us with confusion to choose which one to buy.
What are lithium-ion batteries in the first place?
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries which means they are not disposed of once they are used but they are charged again to be used later on. John B. Goodenough is known as the father of the lithium-ion battery technology.
These batteries are widely used commercially like in mobiles, laptops and other such electronic equipment. These days they are being used for electric vehicles as well.The earlier lithium batteries used metallic lithium and theory were disposable but the lithium-ion batteries used lithium compound as one of the electrodes in the battery.
Most of these batteries differ from each other according to the way they are manufactured by the battery manufacturers. The core design remains the same but some improvisations are done by the company which manufacturers them like additives are added to improve the battery&#;s performance. Compared to their lead acid counterparts, the lithium ion batteries are much lighter, efficient and have more power storage.
Working of lithium ion battery
The lithium-ion battery has mainly 4 parts namely:
1.Anode
2.Cathode
3.Separator
4.Electrolyte
When the battery is being charged the lithium ion moves from the cathode to the anode via the electrolyte and the reverse happens during discharging. The cathode or the positive electrode is usually a lithium oxide material while the anode is graphite. The electrolyte is non aqueous and normally contains organic liquids.
While charging:
While discharging:
Why choose lithium-ion batteries?
They have a wide variety of benefits and advantages over the other conventional batteries being used. The primary features of the lithium-ion batteries that sets them apart from others are:
1.High energy-to-weight ratios,
2.high open circuit voltage,
3.low self-discharge rate,
4.Light in weight
5.Longer lifecycle
6.High operating temperature.
7.Store high capacity power
Things to consider before choosing the right lithium ion battery:
In the market there are a lot of varieties and options available while buying the lithium ion batteries. How to choose the right one is a challenge. Keep the following points in mind while making the right purchase.
1.Power you need: First check and estimate how much power you need and the time duration, be it your homes or vehicles or equipment. If your power requirement is large and for a continuous period of time, try investing in a battery that offers the desired power supply steadily for hours. Also calculate where you want to use it for and how.
2.Rate of charging: The rate of charging depends how fast the battery gets charged safely. Sometimes the battery takes a long time to charge before they can be used. This hinders the overall productivity as there is a waiting period that needs to get over. But be beware of chargers that offer to fast charge your battery, they could do more harm than good. Always use the charger that comes with the battery pack and make sure they are a genuine piece. Never charge your battery in a hurry and follow all the precautions while charging it
3.Range of operating temperature
Every lithium ion battery is different and hence you need to read the label of the battery before making sure about its details. Check at what temperature range you will be operating your battery and make sure the one you brought can be used in that temperature range.
4.Lifespan:
No battery runs for the entire life but has an expiry date. Check the expiry date before making the purchase. Lithium ion batteries have an inherent longer life due to its chemistry but every battery differs from each other depending on the type, specifications and the way they are made. High quality batteries will last longer since they are made of fine materials inside. Hence opt for the lithium ion batteries with longer life.
For more information, please visit Energyland.
Tips to take care of the lithium ion battery:
1.Dont&#;t overcharge the batteries
Take care not to overcharge the batteries. Different batteries with different voltage and capacities charge at different speeds so the time would differ. Don&#;t keep the batteries that charge in around 2 hours, charging for overnight.
2.Never deeply discharge them
Don&#;t use more than the prescribed limit of your battery&#;s capacity.
3.Use the correct battery charger
Always use the genuine right battery charger that comes with the battery .
4.Handle with care
Don&#;t drop, cut, tear or roughly handle them
5.Potect from water, fire and heat
Keep them in a place away from water, fire and heat.
Also maintaining and taking care of the batteries goes a long way for the longer lifespan of the batteries. If you want to buy lithium ion batteries then choose Ruchira, a noted lithium ion battery manufacturer who makes the batteries under their flagship brand &#;Akira&#;. Their batteries are compact, light weight, efficient and provide high backup. Choose from their battery range for two wheeler and three wheelers. Visit their website at www.ruchiragreenearth.com
A Lithium battery is often the most expensive element in a solar installation, and as a battery is a long term investment, it is important to take into account all aspects of a battery before buying. There are a number of parameters that are important to consider when buying batteries, for example:
Voltage and Capacity
The Voltage of a battery will have to match the Voltage of your inverter. These days, most home solar or backup installations are 48 Volts (V). The higher the voltage, the less energy losses take place inside the system.
The Capacity of a battery is the total amount of electricity that it can store, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or Ampere-hour (Ah). If the battery capacity is measured in Ah, just multiply the Voltage of the battery with the Ah rating:
Wh = Ah x V
To calculate how long a battery will last, for your intended use, you can multiply the loads you want to connect, by the duration you want to run the loads for. For example, your load is 1 kW (1,000 Watts); a battery with a useable capacity of 4 kWh will run this load for 4 hours.
Time (hours) x kW = kWh
C-rate
While capacity tells you how big your battery is, the C rate tells you how much power a battery can provide at a given moment, or how quickly the battery can be charged or discharged.
A battery with a high capacity and a low C rate would deliver a low amount of electricity (enough to run a few crucial appliances) for a long time. A battery with low capacity and a high C rate could run your entire home, but only for a few hours. The C-rate is relative to the capacity of the battery, e.g.:
In summary, 1C means that the battery is fully charged and discharged within one hour, 2C is 30 minutes, and 0.5 C means 2 hours.
Example: a Pylontech USC will have a C-rate of 0.5, while some other batteries have a 1 C-rate. To be sure that a 5 kVA / 4 kW inverter can run at its full potential, you would need at least 3 of these Pylontech batteries.
Depth of discharge (DoD)
The Depth of Discharge (DoD) of a battery refers to the amount of a battery&#;s capacity that has been used. Most battery manufacturers will specify a maximum DoD for optimal performance. For example, if a 10 kWh battery has a maximum DoD of 90 percent, you shouldn&#;t use more than 9 kWh of the battery before recharging it.
In theory, all Lithium batteries can be discharged at 100%, but this will shorten its cycle life and might affect warranties. The stated DoD in battery specifications should therefore always be considered together with the life span (see below).
Life span, warranty and back-up support
In general, most Lithium batteries will have an expected life-span of somewhere between 8 and 16 years. In most home solar systems, your battery will &#;cycle&#; (charge and discharge) daily. Over time, your battery will lose some of the charge.
This is similar to the battery in your &#; you are charging your each night, and as your gets older, the battery doesn&#;t last as long as it did when it was new. Extreme temperatures can affect the life span of a battery. The life-span of a battery is often stated in number of cycles, e.g. 4,000 cycles.
Your battery will have a warranty that guarantees a certain number of cycles and/or years of useful life, often for a certain maximum DoD. Warranty often states for example &#;10 years at a maximum (or average) DoD of 80%&#;, and that after 10 years &#;60% of the battery&#;s capacity&#; will remain. Always try to check for this statement in a battery&#;s specification, the DoD in combination with life span and remaining capacity.
Another aspect to consider is back-up support, and whether this support can be provided locally as well. For example, if a battery is assembled locally, and there is a specific battery cell that happens to be faulty, the manufacturer can come and simply swap out that cell. However, for many imported batteries, the unit has to be sent back to its origin for repairs, and you might have to wait for a long time to get your battery back once it is repaired.
Expandability
Most batteries are designed to be &#;expandable,&#; which means that you can add multiple batteries to your solar system to get extra capacity. Check for this option to make sure you can expand your system in the future.
Mounting
Some batteries can be wall-mounted, others have to be placed on the ground, and sometimes you need to buy specific cabinets. If, for example, you have limited space in your garage next to the DB board, the mounting system is something to consider as well.
Other considerations
Other aspects to consider are, whether you need extra specific battery cables, whether the battery is compatible with your brand of inverter and whether the battery is able to communicate with the inverter, and last but not least of course the what the total price is, compared to the quality of the battery. Price per kWh would be useful for comparison, taking into account, warranty, number of cycles etc; in short considering all the issues discussed above.
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