Skip to main content

How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Application: Alkaline vs. Ni-MH vs. Lithium-Ion Batteries

As battery technology continues to upgrade, you need to know which type of battery is best for your device/product. There are many different types of batteries used in a variety of applications. From lead-acid to lithium-ion polymer batteries, different types of batteries have different properties based on different chemistries. But how do you choose batteries for your appliances/products? To better understand batteries, let’s take a look at the three types of batteries: alkaline, NiMH, and lithium ion batteries respectively.


Alkaline battery: Alkaline batteries use potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide as the standard electrolyte solution. The anode is made of zinc powder; the cathode consists of manganese dioxide. Alkaline batteries are disposable primary cells.


Ni–MH (nickel metal hydride) battery: Ni-MH batteries are a type of rechargeable battery and an evolved version of Ñ ickel- Ç admium (nickel-cadmium) batteries use potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte. The positive electrode is made of nickel oxide hydroxide. The negative electrode is a hydrogen storage alloy/metal hydride.


Lithium-ion battery: An advanced battery technology developed over many years. Using lithium metal oxide for the positive electrode and lithium carbon compound for the negative electrode, lithium ion batteries usually use ether as the electrolyte.


After introducing these three types of batteries, we can look at their salient features and the differences between them.


Energy density: Energy in watt hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) per kilogram of battery. Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density in the range of 110 to 160 Wh/kg compared to alkaline and lithium-ion batteries. NiMH batteries have an energy density in the range of 60-120 Wh/kg and alkaline batteries have an energy density of 80 Wh/kg.


Monthly self-discharge: All batteries are subject to self-discharge. Among the three types of batteries, Li-ion batteries have the lowest self-discharge rate of about 10% a month.


Recycle: Cycle life is the number of complete charge/discharge cycles that a battery can support. Lithium-ion batteries have a cycle life of 500-1000 cycles, while reusable alkaline batteries have a cycle life of only 50 cycles. Similarly, NiMH batteries have cycle lives ranging from 300-500 cycles, about half that of Li-ion batteries.


Maintenance: Reusable alkaline and Li-ion batteries require no maintenance over their lifetime. Ni-MH requires maintenance every 60-90 days.


Cost: Of the three types of batteries, reusable alkaline batteries are the least expensive and lithium ion batteries are the most expensive. The cost depends on the chemistry used in the battery, with lithium-ion batteries having much higher component prices.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Best Solar Power Batteries On The Market

One of the best ways to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels is to use solar power. You'll want to consider buying a battery system that is designed for solar power in order to store excess electricity and use it at night, during cloudy days, or when the sun isn't shining.   How solar power batteries work   Solar power batteries are a great way to store solar energy. They work by converting sunlight into electricity. This electricity can then be used to power things like lights or electronics. Solar power batteries can be used in a number of ways. They can be used to store energy when there is not enough sunlight. They can also be used to power devices when there is too much sunlight.   Best Solar Power Batteries   Looking for the best solar power batteries on the market? You ’ ve come to the right place! In this article, we will discuss some of the top solar power batteries on the market today. So, whether you are looking for a backup battery or an investment, read ...
1 comment
Read more

The Latest Commercial Solar Solution --- R6 Rooftop Solar Inverter

  With the "low-carbon" going viral, various companies contended and launched new inverter products. SAJ, focusing on residential & commercial solar inverters and solutions for years,   recently exhibited its extremely high-performance R6 Series smart commercial inverters   and smart energy management solutions, which have attracted much attention.   l What Makes SAJ On-grid Solar Inverter Unique? SAJ launches its latest grid-connected inverter R6 series to the market. With power ranges from 15-50kW and 2-4 MPPT, the R6 series is an inverter of ultra high performance, designed for small & medium commercial solar systems. R6 series is a highly efficient inverter, with 1.5 times of oversizing and 1.1 times of AC overloading, bringing extra economic benefit .   And t he PV string current of the inverter is 16A, which can perfectly adapt to the high power modules on the market. What's more worth mentioning is that the R6 Series is equipped with an AFCI anti-...
Post a Comment
Read more

Six Ways To Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient

  Home energy is a constant battle, and with the increasing cost of living, it can sometimes be hard to find ways to conserve. Take a look at these six tips for getting your home more efficient, including how to lower your energy bills and gain some peace-of-mind that you're doing your part.   Types of batteries   Batteries are needed for solar panels, windmills, and other types of renewable energy. Batteries can be found in three different materials: lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, and lithium ion. Lead-acid is the most common type of battery used today because it is cheap and easy to manage. The problem with lead-acid batteries is they produce hydrogen gas when they are discharged which can be explosive if mixed with other chemicals or gases. Nickel-cadmium is an alternative and safer to use because the gas produced is only hydrogen not dangerous chemicals like the spark from a welding torch. Lithium ion batteries are expensive but considered the safest type to use because t...
Post a Comment
Read more