Blackheath Scientific Society

NEXT LECTURE

Rechargable Batteries

By Dr Ron Bennett

Friday 16th January

7.45pm

Mycenae House

Our increasing dependence  on renewables like wind turbines and solar panels as power sources  has created a need for huge quantities of energy to be stored and be available when most needed.  At the forefront to meet this need are rechargeable batteries and fuel cells which convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy on discharge; they are essentially chemical reactors.  

The talk will centre on the fundamental principles of how these devices function. Starting with Lead-acid batteries which were the first rechargeables and  still found in all gasoline, diesel and hybrid cars, then to Lithium -ion batteries the most successful of the modern era. The speed at which new technologies are being successfully developed for commercial use is astounding and these will be discussed.  With so many options it will be exciting to see the winners, Li, Fe, Na or Al  - and fuel cells ?