Do you know Gel battery? It is also known as a gel cell. These batteries are filled with silica type gels that suspend the electrolyte allowing flow between mats. They will also not leak if the battery is broken. The gel battery contains far less acid than a traditional battery. In fact, they are filled with a gel substance, referred to as a gel electrolyte that replaces what some of us know as battery acid. Unlike a flooded wet-cell lead acid battery, gel batteries do not need to be kept upright. They reduce the electrolyte evaporation, spillage (and subsequent corrosion issues) common to the wet-cell battery, and boast greater resistance to extreme temperatures, shock, and vibration. Chemically they are the same as wet (non-sealed) batteries except that the antimony in the lead plates is replaced by calcium.
Gel batteries are commonly used in amateur radio emergency communications. Being maintenance-free and spill-proof, they are ideal for portable operation. Properly care for a gel cell battery can provide many years of reliable service. Failure to use a charging method specifically suited to a gel cell battery's internal chemistry will dramatically shorten its useful life.
Maybe you will ask what gel is. Gel is usually produced by homogeneous dispersion of pyrogenic silica in a diluted sulfuric acid. Pyrogenic silica is a powder of very fine dispersed silicon dioxide which can absorb more than 10 times of its weight liquids, producing gel. Because of the thixotropic properties of gel (liquid by stirring and solid by resting), after a certain gelling time, the agglomerates are connecting themselves together to form a network which keeps the liquid inside and gives the gel structure, This form can be broken by stirring to single agglomerates giving again a liquid form.
Gel batteries have a few strong advantages that keep them on the market. They don't typically leak, or produce spills or corrosion. Even if they are cut open, the gel does not flow out of the battery. The batteries are not known to evaporate, which is a constant issue with traditional wet batteries. They have a better resistance to extreme temperature changes, and are more vibration-resistant and shock-resistant than other types of batteries.
When Gel batteries were introduced into the industry, they were roughly 4 times the cost of a lead acid battery. As higher volumes were produced for the Gel batteries, they rapidly reduced in price and increased in quality. Today, a gel battery will cost roughly 2 times that of a wet lead acid battery with none of the headaches, maintenance, or charging issues.
However, GEL battery is usually more expensive and do not offer the same power capacity as the same physical size AGM. They do better in slow discharge rates and slightly higher ambient operating temperatures. One disadvantage to the GEL battery is the charge profile. GEL cells must be recharged properly or the battery may prematurely fail. The charger must be designed or adjustable for GEL cells since they use lower charging voltages.
Source:
www.leoch.com
