Development of advanced batteries for utility application. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6945793

Bast, J

The interim results of a program to develop Beta (sodium-sulfur) Batteries for utility load-leveling applications are presented. The reporting period is June 1979 through June 1981. The accomplishments of the Laboratoires de Marcoussis of the Compagnie d'Electricite, France, while under subcontract to General Electric Company, are an important part of this program and are included. During this period, a cell design was established that is predicted to be cost-effective in the battery configuration for utility application. The cell electrolyte is a General Electric Generation VIII beta''-alumina ceramic, which has demonstrated excellent performance in cell tests conducted over the last six months of this period. A major technical decision was made to change from beta-alumina to beta''-alumina in the electrolyte. As a result of this decision, considerable work was performed on development of the ceramic composition and on process development of the internal seal (the seal that attaches the electrolyte to the alpha-alumina header). A composition of GE Generation VIII beta''-alumina was selected. Tests of Generation VIII beta''-alumina show no asymmetric polarization, relatively low aging rates, no corrosion on the sulfur side, and substantially less blackening than other GE beta''-alumina tubes. Scale-up of all cell components and processes for the utility cell design are either complete or progress is proceeding satisfactorily. Electrolyte scale-up is proceeding successfully. Chromized steel container materials with duplex coating consistently showed excellent performance. Considerable effort was applied to posttest examination of electrolytes to determine major degradation modes. Testing of beta-alumina cells, which achieved a maximum life of 2.25 Ah/cm/sup 2/ with a cell capacity of 52% at end of life, was discontinued in favor of cells with beta''-alumina, which have achieved life of 752 Ah/cm/sup 2/.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY (USA). Advanced Energy Programs Dept.
• OSTI ID: 6945793
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EM-2579; ON: DE82906459
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200107 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Off-Peak Energy Storage-- (1980-)
25 ENERGY STORAGE
250900* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
DATA
DESIGN
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROLYTES
ENERGY STORAGE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
NUMERICAL DATA
OFF-PEAK ENERGY STORAGE
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SAFETY
SODIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
STORAGE
TESTING