How to detect aging of lead-acid batteries

Are lead-acid batteries aging?

The lead–acid battery is an old system, and its aging processes have been thoroughly investigated. Reviews regarding aging mechanisms, and expected service life, are found in the monographs by Bode and Berndt , and elsewhere , . The present paper is an up-date, summarizing the present understanding.

What are the major aging processes of a battery?

The anodic corrosion, positive active mass degradation and loss of adherence to the grid, irreversible formation of lead sulfate in the active mass, short circuits and loss of water are the major aging processes. The overcharge of the battery lead to accelerated corrosion and also to accelerated loss of water.

Why does a lead-acid battery have a low service life?

On the other hand, at very high acid concentrations, service life also decreases, in particular due to higher rates of self-discharge, due to gas evolution, and increased danger of sulfation of the active material. 1. Introduction The lead–acid battery is an old system, and its aging processes have been thoroughly investigated.

What causes lead-acid battery failure?

Nevertheless, positive grid corrosion is probably still the most frequent, general cause of lead–acid battery failure, especially in prominent applications, such as for instance in automotive (SLI) batteries and in stand-by batteries. Pictures, as shown in Fig. 1 taken during post-mortem inspection, are familiar to every battery technician.

How long does a lead acid battery last?

In this role the lead acid battery provides short bursts of high current and should ideally be discharged to a maximum of 20% depth of discharge and operate at ~20°C, to ensure a good cycle life, about 1500 cycles orthree to five years of operation .

What causes a battery to age?

Stationary batteries, operated under float-charge conditions, will age typically by corrosion of the positive grids. On the other hand, service life of batteries subject to cycling regimes, will typically age by degradation of the structure of the positive active mass.