Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Performance of lead--acid gelled electrolyte batteries in the deep ocean environment. Final report, October 1977--September 1978

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5943529
Standard lead--acid batteries with liquid electrolyte experience dramatic capacity losses when charged and discharged under deep ocean conditions. Recently developed commerical lead--acid batteries with gelled electrolyte were tested to determine their performance at high pressure and low temperature. Batteries from three manufacturers were divided into control and test groups. The test groups were modified to allow pressure compensation with white mineral oil. The performance of the test battiers was not degraded by exposure to the mineral oil or high pressure (10,000 psig). An average loss of capacity of 10% was experienced when the batteries were cycled cold (32 degree F) and at pressure (10,000 psig). However, this capacity loss is significantly less than the 35-70% loss experienced in previous tests with standard batteries in similar conditions. Thus, lead-acid batteries with gelled electrolyte were found to be suitable for use in deep ocean conditions in a pressure compensated mode.
Research Organization:
Civil Engineering Lab. (Navy), Port Hueneme, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5943529
Report Number(s):
AD-A-060422
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English