Lead acid batteries are a common chemical power source, and valve regulated sealed lead-acid batteries (VRLA) are an improved version of lead-acid batteries. There are significant differences between the two in terms of structure, performance, etc., as follows:
1、 Structural Design
Lead acid battery
Structural features: Adopting an open design, the outer shell is usually made of hard rubber or engineering plastic material, and there are detachable injection holes inside.
Electrolyte state: The electrolyte is dilute sulfuric acid, existing in liquid form, and requires regular inspection and addition of distilled water to maintain the liquid level.
Plate structure: The plate material is lead antimony alloy. The addition of antimony can improve the strength of the plate, but hydrogen and oxygen are easily generated during the charging process, leading to electrolyte consumption.
Valve regulated sealed lead-acid battery
Structural features: Adopting a fully sealed design, the shell is generally made of ABS engineering plastic, sealed by hot melt or adhesive sealing, and there are no exposed injection holes.
Electrolyte state: The electrolyte is adsorbed in the ultrafine glass fiber separator (AGM) in a lean state, or a colloidal electrolyte (GEL) is used to avoid electrolyte flow.
Polar plate structure: The polar plate material is mostly lead calcium alloy, which reduces the gas evolution potential and minimizes gas generation; At the same time, the battery is designed with a gas recombination system inside. The oxygen generated by the positive electrode can reach the negative electrode through the separator and react with lead to generate water, achieving "oxygen circulation" and reducing water loss.
2、 Sealing performance and maintenance requirements
Lead acid battery
Sealing performance: Non sealed structure releases hydrogen and oxygen gas, as well as a small amount of sulfuric acid mist during charging. It needs to be used in a well ventilated environment to avoid open flames and prevent explosions.
Maintenance requirements: It is necessary to regularly check the electrolyte level and density, add distilled water or dilute sulfuric acid in a timely manner, and adjust the electrolyte concentration; At the same time, regular balanced charging is required to prevent electrode plate vulcanization.
Valve regulated sealed lead-acid battery
Sealing performance: Completely sealed, almost no gas is released during normal operation. The safety valve will only open when the internal pressure exceeds the opening pressure of the safety valve (usually 10-40kPa), releasing a small amount of gas. After the pressure drops, it will automatically close. Therefore, it can be used in indoor environments without the need for special ventilation facilities.
Maintenance requirement: No need to regularly add electrolyte, greatly reducing maintenance workload. Only need to regularly check the terminal voltage, internal resistance, and temperature of the battery, as well as the working status of the safety valve.
3、 Performance characteristics
Lead acid battery
Capacity and lifespan: The capacity range is wide, ranging from a few ampere hours to several thousand ampere hours; But the lifespan is relatively short, usually around 500-1000 charge and discharge cycles, and is easily affected by the usage environment and maintenance conditions.
Charging and discharging performance: Low charging efficiency, prone to overheating during high current charging; The discharge platform is relatively stable, but in deep discharge conditions, the electrode plates are prone to sulfurization, resulting in a decrease in capacity.
Applicable scenarios: Mainly used in situations where maintenance requirements are not high and high current discharge is required, such as car starter batteries, electric bicycle batteries, etc.
Valve regulated sealed lead-acid battery
Capacity and lifespan: The capacity range is also relatively wide, but it usually has a longer lifespan than open lead-acid batteries. Under normal usage conditions, the lifespan can reach 10-15 years, and the number of charge and discharge cycles can reach 1000-2000.
Charging and discharging performance: Strong charging acceptance ability, can adopt constant voltage current limiting charging method, high charging efficiency; The discharge platform is more stable, with a low self discharge rate, and the monthly self discharge rate does not exceed 3%.
Applicable scenarios: Widely used in communication, power, UPS power, emergency lighting and other situations that require maintenance free and high reliability.
4、 Safety and Environmental Protection
Lead acid battery
Safety: Due to the non sealed structure, there is a risk of electrolyte leakage and gas explosion, and corresponding safety measures need to be taken.
Environmental friendliness: If sulfuric acid in the electrolyte leaks, it will cause pollution to the environment, so it is necessary to properly dispose of waste batteries.
Valve regulated sealed lead-acid battery
Safety: The sealed structure avoids electrolyte leakage, while the gas recombination system reduces gas emissions and improves usage safety.
Environmental friendliness: Although it is also a lead-acid battery, due to its good sealing performance, it reduces the risk of environmental pollution, and waste batteries still need to be recycled according to environmental requirements.
summarize
Valve regulated sealed lead-acid batteries are a technological upgrade based on traditional lead-acid batteries. Through a sealed structure and gas recombination system, they achieve the characteristics of maintenance free, long life, and high reliability, making them suitable for scenarios with high reliability and maintenance requirements; However, traditional lead-acid batteries still have applications in some fields that do not require high maintenance due to their low cost and high current discharge capacity. When making a choice, it is necessary to consider the specific usage requirements, budget, and maintenance capabilities comprehensively.
