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1
September 2010
Vantex
Technical manual
Vantex
XHP Range
Contents
The nickel-cadmium battery is the most reliable This publication details the design and operating
battery system available in the market today. Its characteristics of the Alcad Vantex battery to
unique features enable it to be used in applications enable a successful battery system to be achieved.
and environments untenable for other widely A battery which in normal application requires only
available battery systems. With the advent of the one topping-up during its entire service life but
valve-regulated lead acid battery a new concept has all the well-proven advantages of the nickel-
was available to the customer, a battery that did cadmium pocket plate battery.
not require water replenishment. However, this
was obtained at the cost of reliability. To give the
customer a highly reliable battery of zero or ultra-
low maintenance Alcad has developed the Vantex
low maintenance pocket plate battery.
In a conventional flooded electrolyte pocket During the charging process evolution of oxygen
plate nickel-cadmium battery water is lost from begins to occur a little before the positive plate
the battery on overcharge due to the following reaches its fully charged state and then becomes
reactions: the main reaction when the fully charged condition
is reached. However, the cadmium negative plate
At the positive plate
has a better charge acceptance than the positive
40H- 2H20 + 02 + 4e- plate and hydrogen is not evolved until this plate is
(Oxygen evolution) virtually fully charged.
At the negative plate The Vantex battery has been designed with an excess
of cadmium negative material to enhance this effect
4H20 + 4e- 2H2 + 40H-
and ensure that oxygen evolution commences prior
(Hydrogen evolution) to hydrogen evolution.
This corresponds to a theoretical loss of 36 g of The oxygen which is produced at the positive
water for 107 Ah of overcharge i.e. 0.335 cm3 per plate surface is collected by the special porous
Ah. Hence a conventional cell requires periodic separator and thus not allowed to escape from
addition of water. The frequency of this operation the region between the plates. Some displacement
depends upon the cumulative amount of charge of electrolyte within the separator occurs, thus
received and the operating temperature. generating extra unfilled pores for the diffusion of
oxygen directly to the adjacent cadmium negative
plate.
Terminal cover
In line with EN 50272-2 (safety) with IP2 level
Flame-arresting vent
Terminal pillars
Plate tab
Pocket plate
1.0
5 hour rate
0.8
1 hour rate
0.6
0.4
Typical de-rating factors for published
performance data for cells in floating applications
0.2
-20C -10C 0C +10C +20C +30C +40C
-4F +14F +32F +50F +68F +86F +104F
Temperature
Figure1(a): Temperature de-rating factors for L type cell for cell final voltage 1.00 V.
De-rating factor
1.1
1.0
5 hour rate
0.9
1 hour rate
0.8
0.7
30 min rate
0.6
0.5
Typical de-rating factors for published
performance data for cells in floating applications
0.4
-20C -10C 0C +10C +20C +30C +40C
-4F +14F +32F +50F +68F +86F +104F
Temperature
Figure 1(b): Typical de-rating factors for M type cell for cell final voltage 1.00 V.
80
70
+20C (+68F)
+40C (+104F)
60
50
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
90%
% of the rated capacity
80%
100%
70%
90%
60%
80%
50%
70%
40%
60%
30%
50%
20%
40%
1.45 V per cell at +20C (+68F) 0.1C5
10%
30% 1.43 V per cell at +20C (+68F) 0.1C5
1.45 V per cell at +20C (+68F) 0.2C5
0%
20%
0 5 10 15 20 1.45 V per25cell at +20C (+68F)
30 0.1C5 35
10% 1.43 V per cell at +20C (+68F) 0.1C5
Charging time (hours) 1.45 V per cell at +20C (+68F) 0.2C5
0%
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Charging time (hours)
*For charging voltages higher than 1.45 V/cell, a current limit of 0.1 C5 A is recommended
90%
% of the rated capacity
80%
100%
70%
90%
60%
80%
50%
70%
40%
60%
30%
50%
20%
40%
1.45 V per cell at +20C (+68F) 0.1C5
10%
30% 1.43 V per cell at +20C (+68F) 0.1C5
1.45 V per cell at +20C (+68F) 0.2C5
0%
20%
0 5 10 15 20 1.45 V per25cell at +20C (+68F)
30 0.1C5 35
10% 1.43 V per cell at +20C (+68F) 0.1C5
Charging time (hours) 1.45 V per cell at +20C (+68F) 0.2C5
0%
*For charging voltages higher than 1.45 V/cell, a current limit of 0.1 C5 A is recommended
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Figure 3(b): Available capacity after constant
Charging voltage charge
time (hours)
Available charge current 0.1C5 A or 0.2C5 A, for M type cell.
8.1.3 Overcharge
Overcharge is the effect of forcing current through
a battery when it is fully charged. This can be
damaging for a lead acid battery, and due to its
starved electrolyte technology, seriously reduce the
life of a VRLA battery.
In the case of Vantex, with its generous electrolyte
reserve, a small degree of overcharge will not
significantly alter the maintenance period. In the
case of excessive overcharge, water replenishment
is required but there will be no significant effect on
the life of the battery.
There are a number of methods which are used The principle sizing parameters which are of interest
to size nickel-cadmium batteries for stationary are:
floating applications. The method employed by
9.1 The voltage window
Alcad is the IEEE 1115 recommendation which is
accepted internationally. This method takes into This is the maximum voltage and the minimum
account multiple discharges, temperature de-rating, voltage at the battery terminals acceptable for the
performance after floating and the voltage window system. In battery terms, the maximum voltage gives
available for the battery. the voltage which is available to charge the battery,
and the minimum voltage gives the lowest voltage
A significant advantage of the nickel-cadmium
acceptable to the system to which the battery can
battery compared to a lead acid battery, is that it
be discharged. In discharging the nickel-cadmium
can be fully discharged without any inconvenience
battery, the cell voltage should be taken as low as
in terms of life or recharge. Thus, to obtain the
possible in order to find the most economic and
smallest and least costly battery, it is an advantage
efficient battery.
to discharge the battery to the lowest practical
value in order to obtain the maximum energy from
the battery. 9.2 Discharge profile
This is the electrical performance required from the
battery for the application. It may be expressed in
terms of amperes for a certain duration, or it may
be expressed in terms of power, in watts or kW, for
a certain duration. The requirement may be simply
one discharge or many discharges of a complex
nature.
9.3 Temperature
The maximum and minimum temperatures and the
normal ambient temperature will have an influence
on the sizing of the battery. The performance of a
battery decreases with decreasing temperature and
sizing at a low temperature increases the battery
size. Temperature de-rating curves are produced
for all cell types to allow the performance to be
recalculated.
10.3.3. Mounting
n Cells stored up to 6 months:
Verify that cells are correctly interconnected with A commissioning charge is normally not required
the appropriate polarity. The battery connection and the cells are ready for immediate use.
to load should be with nickel-plated cable lugs.
Apply a thin layer of anti-corrosion oil to protect the n Cells stored more than 6 months and up to
connectors and terminals from corrosion. 2 years:
In a correctly designed stationary application, Vantex n Cellelectrolyte levels should be checked visually
requires the minimum of attention. to ensure that the level is above the minimum
and if necessary the cells should be topped-up.
However, it is good practice with any system to carry
Use only distilled or deionized water.
out an inspection of the system once per year or
at the recommended topping-up interval period to n Thebatteries should also be checked for external
ensure that the charging system, the battery and the cleanliness, and if necessary cleaned with a damp
ancillary electronics are all functioning correctly. brush using water. Do not use a wire brush or
solvents of any kind. Vent plugs can be rinsed in
When this system service is carried out, it is
clean water if necessary.
recommended that the following actions should be
taken: n Allthe connectors must be tight. The connectors
and terminal bolts should be corrosion-protected
by coating with a thin layer of anti-corrosion oil.
In a world where autonomous sources of electric In partnership with collection agencies worldwide,
power are ever more in demand, Alcad batteries Alcad organizes retrieval from pre-collection points
provide an environmentally responsible answer to and the recycling of spent Alcad batteries. Alcads
these needs. Environmental management lies at collection network can be found on our web site:
the core of Alcads business and we take care to
www.alcad.com
control every stage of a batterys life cycle in terms
of potential impact. Environmental protection is our Ni-Cd batteries must not be discarded as harmless
top priority, from design and production through waste and should be treated carefully in accordance
end-of-life collection, disposal and recycling. with local and national regulations. Your Alcad
representative can assist with further information
Our respect for the environment is complemented
on these regulations and with the overall recycling
by an equal respect for our customers. We aim to
procedure.
generate confidence in our products, not only from
a functional standpoint, but also in terms of the
environmental safeguards that are built into their life
cycle. The simple and unique nature of the battery
components make them readily recyclable and this
process safeguards valuable natural resources for
future generations.
Alcad Limited
Sweden
Telephone: +46 491 68 100
Facsimile: +46 491 68 110
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1279 772 555
Facsimile: +44 1279 420 696
Middle East
Telephone: +357 25 871 816
Facsimile: +357 25 343 542
Asia
Telephone: +65 6 7484 486
Facsimile: +65 6 7484 639
USA
Telephone: +1 203 234 8333
Facsimile: +1 203 234 8255
www.alcad.com