The traditional lead-acid battery contained liquid sulfuric acid in water. This worked well, but the liquid created practical problems. Making batteries spill-proof with gel prevented this corrosive electrolyte escaping.
Engineers Find a Way To Immobilize The Electrolyte
Engineers found a way to make batteries spill-proof with gel. They mixed a silica-based material with the sulfuric acid, turning the liquid into a thick gel. The result was the gel battery we know so well.
Early gelled lead-acid batteries appeared during the twentieth century, but the technology became particularly important through the work of Sonnenschein in Germany.
Jache Develops a Modern Gel-Based VRLA Design
Otto Jache followed up with a gel-based VRLA design during the 1950s. Commercial gel batteries followed. They found applications where conventional flooded batteries were inconvenient.
The gel did more than prevent spills. It helped keep the electrolyte in place around the plates. This meant the battery could tolerate movement and vibration better than a conventional flooded battery.
Jache Also Reduces Problems With Electrolyte Evaporation
This modification also reduced the problems associated with electrolyte evaporation. Another important advantage was reduced acid stratification as well.
In a flooded battery, the heavier acid can collect towards the bottom of the case. Immobilizing the electrolyte helps reduce this effect.
Gel Batteries Found Uses Where Maintenance Was Difficult
Gel batteries also became useful where maintenance was difficult. They could provide standby power for equipment such as alarms and emergency systems. Larger versions later found applications in energy storage and traction equipment.
However, Gel Technology Was Not Perfect Either
However, gel technology was not perfect. Gel can restrict the movement of ions compared with liquid electrolyte. This can limit the battery’s ability to deliver very high currents. But gel was none the less an important step in lead-acid development.
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