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What is exactly a lithium battery?

You wonder, what is exactly a lithium battery?

Lithium (Li) is a soft, flammable, silvery-white, ductile and very light alkali metal that is characterized by rapid corrosion when in contact with air and does not exist in a free state in nature, although it is present in compounds. as in the earth’s crust. The presence of lithium in nature is very common as it is found in 65 parts per million of the earth’s crust.

In addition, lithium cannot be immersed in water because it can burn and contact with the skin can cause injuries, so it is essential that the manufacturer of lithium batteries has materials and manufacturing methods that comply with regulations and requirements. in force.

Although there is a lot of research that states that lithium has very interesting properties that have not yet been studied in depth, currently the main use of lithium is for lifepo4 batteries, offering excellent properties compared to other types of batteries that are very common on the market. 

What is a lithium battery?

Lithium batteries are characterized by charging faster, lasting longer, having a longer useful life and offering more energy density, so that in less space you can obtain greater autonomy and get more out of lithium batteries.

There are three types of lithium batteries:

  • Lithium/cobalt oxide batteries have the benefit of their high energy density, which, although it can sometimes lead to safety problems, is usually a highly durable battery.
  • Lithium/magnesium oxide batteries, this is the most widely used battery due to its high level of safety, but its performance is not always efficient when high temperatures are experienced.
  • Lithium iron phosphate batteries, this is the battery with the best safety features with a long service life of more than 2,000 cycles.

Rechargeable lithium batteries can produce between 3.6 and 3.7 volts and can have two similar chemical compositions:

  • Cylindrical/tubular lithium ion batteries, or also known as Li-Ion batteries.
  • Flat lithium polymer lithium batteries, or also known as Li-Po batteries.

Lithium batteries compared to nickel batteries provide greater energy density, greater autonomy and less weight, since lithium is the lightest metal that exists.

What is a lithium battery with inverter?

The latest novelty on the market is lithium batteries with an inverter, these are lithium batteries that have a space inside them that incorporates an inverter capable of working in parallel with the lithium battery, allowing it to develop in a smaller space. the function of accumulator and 12v inverter.

What are the manufacturers of the best lithium batteries? And what about lithium batteries with an inverter?

Due to the complexity of lithium batteries and lithium batteries with inverter, it is necessary for the manufacturer to have experience and reputation in the sector, since the quality of the materials used, its investment in R&D&i and its journey in the market is essential for the lithium battery or the lithium battery with inverter to have the necessary characteristics so that its useful life is long and its technical characteristics remain.

For many years now, lithium batteries have been present in any electronic device around us: smartphones, laptops, motorcycles, scooters, their great efficiency and durability make them an essential instrument. With more and more competition and cheaper prices, new generation lithium batteries emerge as an indisputable resource for photovoltaic installations for self-consumption. If we compare the performance of these batteries with conventional batteries or lead acid batteries, we conclude that even the price of lithium today has no competitor.

It should be noted that they have a BMS (Battery Monitor System) protection system that verifies the status of the battery and its capacity, as well as other criteria such as voltage, temperature, etc. 

What do Lithium-Ion batteries contribute compared to conventional ones?

Lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO4) are the batteries that provide us with the greatest safety within the Lithium-Ion batteries and also the ones that offer the most opportunities in the field of renewable energies. Mainly the utilities they have compared to lead acid batteries are:

Higher voltage.

Lithium is the chemical molecule with a higher electronegativity, offering a high volume of oxidation. Lithium has 3.16 volts in contrast to 2 volts for lead. So, a LiFePO4 battery has a nominal voltage of 12.8 volts after 4 cells are connected in series or 25.6 volts if 8 cells are connected in series. However, lead acid batteries have nominal voltages of 12 or 24 volts. 12 volt lithium battery is often used in many electrical appliances in our life.

Superior speed in loading and unloading.

Since a higher voltage is available in the cell, a lower current is required in order to accommodate the same energy. While a lead acid battery would need between 8 and 12 hours, a lithium battery would need 4 hours at most.

No optimal load.

Lead acid batteries are comfortably positioned in the upper range of charge. In the area of ​​renewable energies, 20% discharge is when they are most efficient. On the contrary, lithium batteries work perfectly with incomplete charges. Actually, it is recommended that 100% charge is not reached.

It is capable of being discharged almost completely, tolerating little deterioration (unlike lead-acid batteries, which can only withstand discharges of up to 50%).

Longer shelf life.

4,000 cycles at 80% depth of discharge. 500 cycles is what a lead acid battery has. About 2000 cycles has a deep cycle monoblock. And a stationary lead-acid battery has 4000 cycles but with 50% maximum discharge.

Therefore, thanks to their energy capacity, charging speed and long useful life, these batteries are offered as an extraordinary choice for solar powered generator.

How to extend the useful life of batteries?

It is common for batteries to fail in the first few months of use or premature aging due to controllable factors. In most cases, the manufacturers already detail it in their data sheets or manuals, but it is not taken into account and the battery is damaged, so its warranty period is not applicable. 5 factors that can damage batteries:

  1. Battery discharge current

The high discharge rates cause irreversible sulfation creating small amorphous crystals that modify the homogeneous current distribution.

  1. Depth of discharge

The high depths of discharge affect the shedding causing detachment of active material to the bottom of the battery due to mechanical stress, this can significantly weaken its charge and discharge efficiency.

  1. Load speed

Charge currents above the recommended level and therefore overloads affect the corrosion of the positive plate, accelerating the process by an aggressive polarization of the electrodes. On the contrary, a high charging speed positively influences the stratification of the electrolyte, causing a good homogenization of the same. Be sure to charge the battery with a dedicated battery charger that matches the battery.

It is important to pay attention to the loading speed and the manufacturer’s recommendations in each case to avoid corrosion of the plates.

  1. Partial states of charge

If the batteries work frequently without getting full charges (for example a solar installation in winter) we will cause an increase in irreversible sulphation, in the stratification of the electrolyte and also a degradation of the active material by causing a preferential discharge. Hence, a full charge is carried out periodically, allowing the optimization of the useful life of the battery.

  1. Temperature

The installation of batteries in places of high temperatures and/or that the batteries work at high temperatures that are affected mainly by increasing the corrosion of the positive plate, since the heat is an accelerator of the chemical reaction of sulfuric acid attack on lead.

In addition, it also affects (although to a lesser extent) the degradation of the active material, mainly of the electrodes.

It is essential to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations so that the investment of the purchase of a battery is profitable, whether they are: lead acid batteries, GEL batteries, AGM batteries, stationary batteries or lithium batteries.

James Morkel

Tech website author with a passion for all things technology. Expert in various tech domains, including software, gadgets, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. Dedicated to simplifying complex topics and providing informative and engaging content to readers. Stay updated with the latest tech trends and industry news through their insightful articles.

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