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Title: Development of advanced batteries for utility application. Interim report. [168 Ah, 100-kWh modules]

Abstract

The interim results of a program to develop sodium-sulfur batteries for utility load-leveling applications are presented. The reporting period is October 1977 through May 1979. During this period a major scale-up to the first full-size (615 mm x 49.3 mm od, 168 Ah) cells was acomplished. Safety tests demonstrated the need for a safety insert for the sodium to limit the rate sodium and sulfur could react in the event of a beta tube failure. Performance testing demonstrated a cell capacity greater than the 168 Ah design value, but the electrical resistance was approximately 30% greater than the design value. Two concepts for a 100-kWh battery module were investigated. The first uses forced-convection nitrogen cooling. The second uses liquid organic coolant; it is more compact and less costly, and provides better temperature control. However, the organic coolant design introduces potential fire hazards and corrosion concerns. The use of beta'' electrolyte in test cells was deferred in favor of beta electrolyte because the resistance of the beta'' was found to increase rapidly with time and the ceramic had a short lifetime. Thus, the advantages of the low initial resistivity of beta'' compared to beta were lost after a few cycles ofmore » operation. The duplex chromized cell containers continued to show excellent corrosion resistance during cell tests of up to 17 months' duration. A model was developed and experiments were performed to characterize the performance of the resistive mat between the polysulfides and the ceramic electrolyte. Also, a new measurement of the entropy change associated with the sodium-sulfur reaction was completed. These measured values are lower than previously published values. In exterior seal development, the thermocompression bond seals were successfully used with full-sized cells, and tests showed seal strength of approx. 27.6 x 10/sup 6/ pascals (approx. 4000 psi).« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY (USA). Energy Systems Programs Dept.
OSTI Identifier:
5445168
Report Number(s):
EPRI-EM-1341
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
25 ENERGY STORAGE; OFF-PEAK ENERGY STORAGE; SODIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES; ELECTROLYTES; PERFORMANCE TESTING; SAFETY; SEALS; ALUMINIUM OXIDES; COOLANTS; CORROSION RESISTANCE; ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; GRAPHS; HAZARDS; SERVICE LIFE; ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS; CHALCOGENIDES; DATA; DATA FORMS; ELECTRIC BATTERIES; ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES; ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS; ENERGY STORAGE; ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS; INFORMATION; METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES; NUMERICAL DATA; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; STORAGE; TESTING; 250901* - Energy Storage- Batteries- Design & Development

Citation Formats

Mitoff, S. P. Development of advanced batteries for utility application. Interim report. [168 Ah, 100-kWh modules]. United States: N. p., 1980. Web. doi:10.2172/5445168.
Mitoff, S. P. Development of advanced batteries for utility application. Interim report. [168 Ah, 100-kWh modules]. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5445168
Mitoff, S. P. 1980. "Development of advanced batteries for utility application. Interim report. [168 Ah, 100-kWh modules]". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5445168. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5445168.
@article{osti_5445168,
title = {Development of advanced batteries for utility application. Interim report. [168 Ah, 100-kWh modules]},
author = {Mitoff, S. P.},
abstractNote = {The interim results of a program to develop sodium-sulfur batteries for utility load-leveling applications are presented. The reporting period is October 1977 through May 1979. During this period a major scale-up to the first full-size (615 mm x 49.3 mm od, 168 Ah) cells was acomplished. Safety tests demonstrated the need for a safety insert for the sodium to limit the rate sodium and sulfur could react in the event of a beta tube failure. Performance testing demonstrated a cell capacity greater than the 168 Ah design value, but the electrical resistance was approximately 30% greater than the design value. Two concepts for a 100-kWh battery module were investigated. The first uses forced-convection nitrogen cooling. The second uses liquid organic coolant; it is more compact and less costly, and provides better temperature control. However, the organic coolant design introduces potential fire hazards and corrosion concerns. The use of beta'' electrolyte in test cells was deferred in favor of beta electrolyte because the resistance of the beta'' was found to increase rapidly with time and the ceramic had a short lifetime. Thus, the advantages of the low initial resistivity of beta'' compared to beta were lost after a few cycles of operation. The duplex chromized cell containers continued to show excellent corrosion resistance during cell tests of up to 17 months' duration. A model was developed and experiments were performed to characterize the performance of the resistive mat between the polysulfides and the ceramic electrolyte. Also, a new measurement of the entropy change associated with the sodium-sulfur reaction was completed. These measured values are lower than previously published values. In exterior seal development, the thermocompression bond seals were successfully used with full-sized cells, and tests showed seal strength of approx. 27.6 x 10/sup 6/ pascals (approx. 4000 psi).},
doi = {10.2172/5445168},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5445168}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1980},
month = {Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1980}
}