All about Lithium batteries and how they work.
Batteries are generally used to store energy for use at certain times.
Lithium Batteries
Below we explain what a Lithium battery really is and how these batteries work.
These lithium batteries were first produced in 1991 by the company Sony. Their countless advantages have meant that they are currently used in different aspects of our lives, as we will see below.
One of the sectors where they have grown the most is in the industrial sector, which has aroused some discussion between the advantages and disadvantages of these batteries.
Lithium batteries are present in electronic devices that we use in our daily lives. These batteries have multiple purposes, such as:
- Lithium batteries for vehicles
- Lithium batteries for electronic devices (tablets, mobile phones, laptops, etc.)
- For electronic health devices (pacemakers, implantable radio transmitters, defibrillators, etc.)
- Solar Panels and Panels
These types of lithium batteries are being widely used in photovoltaic installations of all types, both for isolated installations and for connection to the electricity grid, due to their long lifespan and charging capacity.
Let’s see in a more technical way what a Lithium battery is and how it actually works.
What is a Lithium battery made of?
Lithium batteries are made up of 4 key components. On the one hand, there is the cathode, which determines the capacity and voltage of the battery, and in addition, it is the source of lithium ions.
The anode allows electrical current to flow through an external circuit, and when the battery is charged, the lithium ions are stored back in the anode.
On the other hand, electrolytes, which are made up of salts, solvents and other additives, serve as lithium-ion conductors between the cathode and the anode.
The last element we found is the separator, which is the physical barrier that keeps the cathode from the anode separate.
How does a Lithium battery actually work?
Lithium batteries use a set of mineral salts as an electrolyte to “release” electrons in this way. This, together with other chemical reactions, enable the release of electrical energy, in addition to its storage.
Let’s look at all the elements that lithium batteries hide inside:
- Lithium-ion cells can be cylindrical batteries that look almost identical to AA cells, or they can be prismatic, meaning that they are square or rectangular.
- One or more temperature sensors for monitoring the temperature of the battery.
- A voltage converter and regulatory circuit to maintain safe voltage and current levels.
- A shielded connector to allow energy and information to enter and leave the battery pack.
- A voltage outlet, which monitors the energy capacity of the individual cells in the battery pack.
- A battery charge status monitor, which is a small computer that manages the entire charging process to ensure that the batteries are charged as quickly and fully as possible.
At Cuenca Solar, we are committed to lithium batteries for our solar panel installations, because they are considered energy accumulators with a better lifespan that currently exists. They have a very low self-discharge compared to other types of batteries, in addition to having a considerable depth of discharge.
Are you interested in learning more about Lithium batteries and how they work?
If you have any questions about this type of batteries or have doubts about what type of battery would be best for your photovoltaic installation, contact us without obligation:)